by firing IGs and hamstringing regulators, Trump 2.0 consistently enables waste, fraud and abuse

US regulators collected 61 per cent less in fines for money laundering and sanctions breaches in 2025, after watchdogs took a more lenient approach under President Donald Trump.

Total fines imposed by the US for dirty money offences were just under $1.7bn in the year to December 19, a sharp drop from the $4.3bn in such penalties the previous year, according to data provided to the Financial Times by compliance software provider Fenergo.

Since Trump’s inauguration, he has ordered the top US financial watchdogs to take a more business-friendly approach. Since then, they have retreated from several investigations, including into crypto companies.

The drop in US penalties for breaches of sanctions, terrorism finance and anti-money laundering rules came despite a jump in such fines elsewhere in the world, suggesting Washington is pulling back from its role as the top policeman of the global financial system.
https://www.ft.com/content/46826bb8-...c-cb73231e8987