Can the U.S. Still Lead on Anti-Corruption? Understanding the Combating Global Corruption Act

Can the U.S. Still Lead on Anti-Corruption? Understanding the Combating Global Corruption Act

From The Just Security Podcast by Just Security

December 18, 2025 · 38 min · Season 1 · Episode 131

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of the Combating Global Corruption Act and its impact on U.S. foreign policy and accountability.

The Combating Global Corruption Act marks a new chapter in how the U.S. approaches corruption abroad. For the first time, the State Department must publicly rank foreign governments based on their anti-corruption efforts–evaluations that may carry real consequences for foreign aid, diplomacy, and sanctions. Yet the rollout comes at a moment of contradiction. As the United States positions itself to evaluate corruption abroad, it is facing an erosion of accountability mechanisms at home. In th...

Topics covered

  • anti-corruption
  • foreign aid
  • diplomacy
  • sanctions
  • U.S. policy
  • accountability

Keywords

  • corruption
  • foreign governments
  • anti-corruption efforts
  • U.S. leadership
  • global corruption

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: State Department, Combating Global Corruption Act

Places: United States

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