On December 20, 2021, the Vice President, the National Security Advisor, a majority of the President’s Cabinet, among other top government officials,1 must submit their proposals to President Joseph Biden on how the U.S. government can “significantly bolster” its ability to “prevent and combat corruption,” “combat all forms of illicit finance,” and “hold accountable corrupt individuals.” This is in response to a mandate issued by the President entitled “Memorandum on Establishing the Fight Against Corruption as a Core United States National Security Interest” (hereinafter “Anti-Corruption Memorandum” or “Memorandum”). That Memorandum placed the fight against corruption as a “core” policy of the United States.
These top officials are required to address how to utilize various strategies to “promote good governance; bring transparency to the United States and global financial systems; prevent and combat corruption at home and abroad, and make it increasingly difficult for corrupt actors to shield their activities.” Why did enhancing the government’s ability to combat corruption become such a high priority? As the Memorandum explained: “Corruption corrodes public trust; hobbles effective governance; distorts markets . . . undercuts development efforts; contributes extremism . . . and provides authoritarian leaders a means to undermine democracies worldwide.”
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