A Green Light for Crooks
A critique of the Trump administration's decision to dismantle anti-corruption rules regarding anonymous shell companies. The author argues that the Treasury's move to destroy data on company ownership facilitates money laundering and tax evasion.
Why it matters
Highlights a significant shift in financial regulation that impacts global transparency and domestic anti-corruption efforts.
The Treasury has made the American economy a safe space for corruption.
Illustration by Matteo Giuseppe Pani / The Atlantic. Source: Getty. August 14, 2026 Share Save Ever since Donald Trump returned to the White House, his administration has taken a sledgehammer to anti-corruption efforts, destroying policy after policy dedicated to preventing bribery and money laundering in the country. But this week brought the biggest blow yet: The Treasury has obliterated a recent rule to deter devious shell companies, handily reopening the American economy to anyone looking to hide their illicit wealth.
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