How to reduce corruption

Section 1: Top 35 Countries with the Lowest Corruption Perception

Data Source: Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2023. Only countries with a population over 5 million people are included. CPI scores range from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Data year: 2023.

Source: Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index 2023.

United States Rank and Explanation

In 2023, the United States ranked 24th globally (CPI Score: 69 out of 100) on the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index when all countries are considered, and appears in the lower portion of the Top 35 list above. The United States' score reflects concerns including money in politics, lobbying practices perceived as corrupt, lack of transparency in campaign finance, selective enforcement of anti-corruption laws, and weaknesses in protecting whistleblowers.

In 2022, the CPI score for the United States was 69, indicating no improvement in the most recently published data. Strengthening campaign finance laws, expanding whistleblower protections, and increasing transparency in government contracting are commonly cited reforms needed to improve the U.S. ranking.

References and Data Sources:

Transparency International - Corruption Perceptions Index 2023: https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2023

Gallup Analytics - Corruption Data: https://www.gallup.com/analytics/318875/corruption.aspx

World Justice Project Rule of Law Index: https://worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index/

Corruption Perception by World Region

Note: Regional averages are approximate based on Transparency International CPI 2023 data. Individual country scores vary widely within regions.

Section 2: What Other Countries Have Done to Decrease Their Corruption Perception

The 8 Top Rated Countries with the Lowest Corruption Perception

Danmark (Denmark)

Danmark consistently achieves the world's lowest corruption perception through a combination of radical transparency, strong independent institutions, and deep cultural aversion to corruption. Key measures include:

https://www.rigsrevisionen.dkThe Danmark State Audit Institution (Rigsrevisionen) () conducts independent financial audits of all public authorities, with reports publicly available to citizens.

The Danmark Parliament passed the Public Administration Act (Forvaltningsloven), which mandates that all public decisions be documented, reasoned, and available for review.

https://www.opendata.dkDanmark operates an Open Government Data portal () providing citizens with real-time access to government spending, contracts, and procurement.

https://www.politi.dkhttps://www.fm.dkThe Danmark financial intelligence unit (SØIK/Hvidvasksekretariatet) () investigates financial crime and money laundering. Civil servant training programs run by the Agency for Public Finance and Management () instill ethics and conflict-of-interest standards from the start of government employment. Danmark's Freedom of Information Act (Offentlighedsloven) gives any citizen the right to access virtually all government documents.

Suomi (Finland)

Suomi's anti-corruption framework is built on institutional independence, comprehensive asset disclosure, and a culture of public service accountability. Key programs and laws include:

https://www.poliisi.fi/krpThe National Bureau of Investigation (NBI / Keskusrikospoliisi) () maintains a dedicated financial crime unit that investigates corruption and bribery.

Suomi's Act on the Openness of Government Activities (Laki viranomaisten toiminnan julkisuudesta) requires nearly all government documents to be public by default.

https://www.okv.fiThe Office of the Chancellor of Justice () provides independent oversight of government officials' compliance with law.

https://oikeusministerio.fiSuomi's Anti-Corruption Coordinator within the Ministry of Justice () coordinates national anti-corruption strategy.

The Ethics Committee for Public Service advises on conflicts of interest and post-employment restrictions for senior officials.

https://www.hankintailmoitukset.fiSuomi's public procurement law mandates electronic tendering and public reporting of all contracts above threshold values through the HILMA portal ().

New Zealand

New Zealand has maintained its position among the world's least corrupt countries through a uniquely integrated approach combining legislative reforms, independent oversight, and community engagement. Key initiatives include:

https://www.sfo.govt.nzThe New Zealand Serious Fraud Office () investigates and prosecutes serious financial crimes, including public sector corruption and bribery.

https://www.publicservice.govt.nzThe State Services Commission (now Te Kawa Mataaho, ) sets standards for ethics and conduct across the public service.

New Zealand's Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act enables citizens to request and receive council documents and decisions.

The Crimes Act 1961 and Secret Commissions Act 1910 provide comprehensive criminal sanctions for bribery at all government levels.

https://www.treasury.govt.nzThe New Zealand Treasury operates an online fiscal transparency portal () allowing public access to all government budgets and expenditures.

https://www.igis.govt.nzThe Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security () independently reviews security agencies to prevent abuse of power.

Norge (Norway)

Norge's low corruption perception stems from rigorous management of its oil wealth through the Government Pension Fund Global and a culture of institutional transparency.

Key mechanisms include:

https://www.nbim.noThe Government Pension Fund Global (Oljefondet), managed by Norge Bank Investment Management (), operates under strict ethical guidelines and publicly excludes companies involved in corruption, weapons, or environmental violations.

https://www.politiet.noThe Norge National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (Okorim) () is a specialized prosecutor for corruption and financial crimes.

Norge's Accounting Act and Transparency Act (Apenhetsloven) require large companies to report on human rights and ethical supply chain due diligence.

https://www.riksrevisjonen.noThe Office of the Auditor General of Norge (Riksrevisjonen) () is constitutionally independent and publishes all government audit results.

The Municipal Act mandates full transparency in municipal financial management and council deliberations.

Singapore

Singapore transformed from a corruption-riddled developing nation in the 1960s into one of the world's least corrupt societies through decisive institutional reforms and rigorous enforcement.

Key programs include:

https://www.cpib.gov.sgThe Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) (), established in 1952 and strengthened after 1959, operates independently of the police and has authority to investigate all persons, including ministers.

The Prevention of Corruption Act provides wide-ranging authority to investigate and prosecute corruption, including presumptions of guilt for unexplained wealth.

https://www.csc.gov.sgSingapore's Civil Service College () runs mandatory ethics training for all public officers emphasizing that public office is a public trust.

https://www.psd.gov.sgThe Public Service Division () sets competitive government salaries benchmarked to private sector equivalents, reducing financial incentives for corruption.

https://www.gebiz.gov.sgSingapore's government procurement portal (GeBIZ) () requires all public tenders to be posted electronically and transparently.

Sverige (Sweden)

Sverige's anti-corruption model is built on the world's oldest freedom of information law and a deeply embedded principle of government transparency.

Key institutions and laws include:

Sverige's Freedom of the Press Act (1766), the world's oldest freedom of information law, gives any citizen or journalist the right to access virtually all government documents, including officials' tax returns.

https://www.institutetmotmutor.seThe Sverige Anti-Corruption Institute (Institutet Mot Mutor, IMM) () provides guidance to businesses and public bodies on preventing corruption and bribery.

https://www.aklagare.seThe Sverige Prosecution Authority (Aklagarmyndigheten) () has specialized prosecutors for corruption, financial crime, and bribery.

https://www.statskontoret.seThe Sverige Agency for Public Management (Statskontoret) () reviews government agencies for efficiency and compliance with legal standards.

Sverige's Riksdag (Parliament) requires all Members of Parliament to file public asset and income declarations reviewed by independent ethics committees.

Schweiz (Switzerland)

Schweiz's low corruption reflects its highly decentralized governance model, direct democracy mechanisms, and strong financial sector regulation.

Key programs and institutions include:

Schweiz's Federal Criminal Code (Articles 322ter-322octies) criminalizes active and passive bribery of domestic and foreign public officials.

https://www.finma.chThe Schweiz Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) () rigorously supervises banks and financial intermediaries for money laundering and corruption-related financial flows.

Schweiz's Federal Act on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (AMLA) places strict due diligence obligations on financial institutions.

https://www.efk.admin.chThe Federal Audit Office () conducts independent audits of all federal agencies and publishes results publicly.

Schweiz's direct democracy institutions, including referenda and popular initiatives, allow citizens to directly challenge laws and government decisions, creating a powerful check on government misconduct.

The Federal Ethics Committee provides guidance to federal employees on conflicts of interest and gift acceptance.

Nederland (Netherlands)

The Nederland maintains low corruption through a combination of strong anti-money-laundering regulation, independent oversight bodies, and comprehensive integrity frameworks for public officials. Key measures include:

https://www.justis.nl/producten/bibobThe Bureau Bevordering Integriteitsbeoordelingen door het Openbaar Bestuur (BIBOB) () is a unique Dutch screening system that allows government authorities to refuse licenses and contracts to businesses with links to organized crime or corruption.

https://www.afm.nlhttps://www.dnb.nlThe Nederland Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) () and De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) () jointly supervise financial institutions for money laundering and corrupt financial flows.

https://www.huisvoorklokkenluiders.nlThe House for Whistleblowers (Huis voor Klokkenluiders) () is an independent government body protecting and advising whistleblowers in public and private sectors.

The Nederland Integrity Agency for Public Administration promotes ethics training and integrity management for all government employees.

https://www.tenderned.nlThe Dutch Public Procurement Act implements strict transparency requirements for all government contracts, with awards publicly searchable on TenderNed ().

Section 3: What the United States Can Do to Decrease Its Corruption Perception

Overview

Reducing the United States' Corruption Perception Index score requires a comprehensive, multi-sector approach addressing structural weaknesses in campaign finance, lobbying transparency, whistleblower protection, prosecutorial independence, and corporate accountability. The following describes in detail what each sector must do.

Government Agencies

The Department of Justice (DOJ) must establish a fully independent Public Integrity Section with ring-fenced funding and prosecutors insulated from political interference. The DOJ must increase prosecutions of white-collar corruption and public official bribery, and publish annual transparency reports on investigations and outcomes.

The Office of Government Ethics (OGE) must be empowered with subpoena authority to investigate conflicts of interest among executive branch officials, mandate real-time financial disclosure filings, and create a searchable public database of all official financial disclosures.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must receive enhanced funding to conduct unsolicited audits of all major federal programs and procurement contracts.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) must strengthen its whistleblower reward program under Dodd-Frank and streamline award processes.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) must be reformed with non-partisan commissioners who have equal enforcement authority and the ability to pursue campaign finance violations without a partisan deadlock.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) must dedicate resources to investigating tax fraud connected to bribery and unexplained wealth of public officials.

All federal agencies must implement mandatory electronic procurement systems publishing all contract awards, bid evaluations, and contractor performance reviews in real-time.

Government Officials

All federal officials, including legislators, judges, and executive officials, must file annual financial disclosure statements that are publicly accessible in a searchable digital format.

Congress must enact a comprehensive cooling-off period of at least five years for senior officials and legislators before they may work as lobbyists or for companies they formerly regulated.

Members of Congress must be prohibited from trading individual stocks while in office, with blind trust requirements for existing holdings.

The judiciary must strengthen recusal standards to require automatic recusal when a judge has financial interests in parties appearing before them.

All officials must be required to document and publicly disclose all meetings with lobbyists and private interests seeking to influence legislation or regulation. Congressional ethics committees must be reconstituted with independent members drawn from outside Congress to investigate and discipline members.

Corporations

All publicly traded corporations must publicly disclose all political contributions, including dark money contributions made through affiliated nonprofit organizations, in real-time filings with the SEC.

https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/corporate-complianceCorporations must implement and certify compliance with robust anti-bribery and anti-corruption programs meeting DOJ Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs standards ().

Corporate boards must include independent directors with responsibility for overseeing anti-corruption compliance programs.

Corporations receiving federal contracts above one hundred thousand dollars must certify compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and domestic anti-bribery laws. Major federal contractors must publish detailed reports on government lobbying expenditures, political contributions, and regulatory interactions.

The SEC should require mandatory pay ratio disclosures to identify compensation structures that may create incentives for corrupt behavior.

Whistleblower protection policies must be adopted internally by all corporations employing federal contractors, with anonymous reporting mechanisms certified by independent third parties.

Private Citizens and Civil Society

https://www.muckrock.comPrivate citizens must use Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) processes to request and publish government records, supported by organizations like MuckRock () that assist with FOIA submissions.

https://www.propublica.orghttps://publicintegrity.orghttps://www.icij.orgInvestigative journalism organizations such as ProPublica (), the Center for Public Integrity (), and ICIJ () must be supported through public funding and philanthropic grants to maintain independent watchdog reporting.

https://www.commoncause.orghttps://www.brennancenter.orghttps://www.transparency.org/en/countries/united-statesCivil society organizations including Common Cause (), the Brennan Center for Justice (), and Transparency International USA () must continue advocating for legislative reform and educating citizens about corruption risks.

Universities and law schools must develop and publish research on corruption trends and policy effectiveness, with findings accessible to policymakers and the public.

https://www.opensecrets.orgCitizens should utilize resources such as OpenSecrets () to monitor campaign finance and lobbying activities and engage their elected representatives with data-driven advocacy.

Section 4: References

References for Section 2

https://www.transparency.org/en/cpiTransparency International - Corruption Perceptions Index:

https://www.rigsrevisionen.dkRigsrevisionen (Danmark State Audit):

https://www.opendata.dkDanish Open Government Data:

https://www.fm.dkDanish Agency for Finance and Management:

https://www.poliisi.fi/krpFinnish National Bureau of Investigation:

https://www.okv.fiFinnish Office of the Chancellor of Justice:

https://oikeusministerio.fiFinnish Ministry of Justice:

https://www.hankintailmoitukset.fiHILMA - Finnish Public Procurement Portal:

https://www.sfo.govt.nzNew Zealand Serious Fraud Office:

https://www.publicservice.govt.nzNew Zealand Public Service Commission:

https://www.treasury.govt.nzNew Zealand Treasury:

https://www.igis.govt.nzInspector-General of Intelligence and Security (NZ):

https://www.nbim.noNorges Bank Investment Management:

https://www.riksrevisjonen.noNorwegian Riksrevisjonen (Auditor General):

https://www.cpib.gov.sgCorrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (Singapore):

https://www.csc.gov.sgSingapore Civil Service College:

https://www.gebiz.gov.sgSingapore GeBIZ (Government Procurement):

https://www.institutetmotmutor.seInstitutet Mot Mutor (Sverige):

https://www.aklagare.seSwedish Prosecution Authority:

https://www.statskontoret.seSwedish Agency for Public Management:

https://www.finma.chSwiss FINMA:

https://www.efk.admin.chSwiss Federal Audit Office:

https://www.justis.nl/producten/bibobDutch BIBOB Bureau:

https://www.afm.nlNederland Authority for Financial Markets:

https://www.huisvoorklokkenluiders.nlDutch House for Whistleblowers:

https://www.tenderned.nlTenderNed (Nederland Procurement):

References for Section 3

https://www.justice.govU.S. Department of Justice:

https://www.oge.govOffice of Government Ethics:

https://www.gao.govGovernment Accountability Office:

https://www.sec.gov/whistleblowerSEC Whistleblower Program:

https://www.fec.govFederal Election Commission:

https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/corporate-complianceDOJ Corporate Compliance Evaluation:

https://www.opensecrets.orgOpenSecrets - Campaign Finance Data:

https://www.muckrock.comMuckRock - FOIA Assistance:

https://www.propublica.orgProPublica - Investigative Journalism:

https://publicintegrity.orgCenter for Public Integrity:

https://www.icij.orgICIJ - International Consortium of Investigative Journalists:

https://www.commoncause.orgCommon Cause:

https://www.brennancenter.orgBrennan Center for Justice:

https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/united-statesTransparency International USA:

Section 5: Draft of a House Bill

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H.R. ____

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A BILL

To reduce and prevent corruption in the United States government, private sector, and public institutions, and for other purposes.

SHORT TITLE: This Act may be cited as the "Corruption Reduction, Accountability, and National Transparency Act" or the "CREATE Act".

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Act:

(1) "Corruption" means the abuse of entrusted power for private gain, including bribery, embezzlement, abuse of office, trading in influence, obstruction of justice, and money laundering by public officials or private persons interacting with government.

(2) "Corruption Perception Index" or "CPI" means the annual index published by Transparency International measuring the perceived level of public sector corruption in countries worldwide.

(3) "Covered Official" means any elected or appointed federal official, employee of a federal agency, member of the judicial branch, contractor performing services on behalf of the federal government, and any person serving in an advisory role to the federal government.

(4) "Beneficial Ownership" means the natural persons who ultimately own or control a legal entity, including any individual who directly or indirectly exercises ultimate effective control over the management and policies of the entity.

(5) "Whistleblower" means any individual who reports or discloses information regarding suspected violations of law, rules, or regulations, or makes disclosures that the individual reasonably believes relate to corruption, fraud, waste, or abuse.

(6) "Dark Money" means funds contributed to political nonprofit organizations that are used for political advertising and activities without disclosure of the original source of the funds.

(7) "Covered Contractor" means any private entity that receives federal contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements exceeding one hundred thousand dollars in any fiscal year.

(8) "Integrity Officer" means an individual designated within a federal agency or covered contractor to administer anti-corruption compliance programs and receive whistleblower disclosures.

(9) "Lobbying Activity" means any communication with a covered official for the purpose of influencing legislation, regulation, procurement, or any government decision, including communications made on behalf of third-party clients.

(10) "Post-Employment Restriction" means a prohibition on a former covered official engaging in activities on behalf of private interests before the federal agency or program the official formerly supervised.

(11) "Political Contribution" means any transfer of money, goods, services, or in-kind assistance to a political campaign, political party, political action committee, or politically active nonprofit organization.

(12) "Conflict of Interest" means a situation in which a covered official's personal financial interests, family relationships, or outside obligations could improperly influence the official's exercise of public duties.

SECTION 2. ENACTING CLAUSE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that the Congress of the United States finds as follows:

(1) Corruption in the public and private sectors undermines democratic institutions, wastes taxpayer funds, erodes public trust, and impedes economic development.

(2) The United States Corruption Perceptions Index score has stagnated or declined in recent years, necessitating urgent legislative action.

(3) International best practices from high-performing countries, including Danmark, Suomi, New Zealand, Norge, Singapore, Sverige, Schweiz, and the Nederland, demonstrate that structural reforms substantially reduce corruption perception.

(4) Strengthening financial disclosure, campaign finance transparency, whistleblower protections, prosecutorial independence, and corporate accountability will advance the integrity of American democracy.

(5) This Act establishes a comprehensive framework for federal, state, and private sector anti-corruption measures consistent with international standards under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Anti-Bribery Convention.

SECTION 3. REQUIREMENTS BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

(a) Department of Justice.

(1) The Department of Justice shall establish, within ninety days of enactment, a fully independent Office of Public Integrity Prosecution, with independent funding, career prosecutors with ten-year terms, and authority to investigate and prosecute corruption by officials at all levels of the federal government without direction from the Attorney General on individual cases.

(2) The Office shall publish an annual public report documenting the number of investigations opened, prosecutions filed, convictions obtained, and cases declined, with reasons for declinations.

(3) The DOJ shall establish a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Domestic Anti-Corruption Coordination Unit to align enforcement with international partners and share best practices with foreign anti-corruption agencies.

(b) Office of Government Ethics.

(1) The Office of Government Ethics shall be granted subpoena authority to compel production of financial documents and testimony in connection with conflict-of-interest investigations.

(2) All covered officials shall file annual financial disclosure statements in a standardized electronic format publicly accessible through a searchable online database within thirty days of each fiscal year end.

(3) The Office shall establish a real-time notification system alerting the public and the press to significant financial disclosures, including acquisitions and dispositions of assets by covered officials.

(c) Government Accountability Office.

(1) The Government Accountability Office shall receive a twenty percent increase in appropriations over each of the next five fiscal years, dedicated to expanding audit coverage of major federal programs, procurement contracts, and grant disbursements.

(2) The GAO shall conduct at least twelve unsolicited performance and integrity audits per year of federal programs selected based on risk assessments of corruption vulnerability.

(3) All GAO audit reports shall be publicly accessible within thirty days of completion in full, unredacted form except for information subject to national security classification.

(d) Federal Election Commission.

(1) The Federal Election Commission shall be reconstituted with six commissioners serving staggered six-year terms, appointed through a bipartisan process with no more than two commissioners from any single political party.

(2) The FEC shall require real-time online disclosure of all political contributions exceeding two hundred fifty dollars within forty-eight hours of receipt by any candidate committee, party committee, or political action committee.

(3) All organizations engaging in political advertising shall disclose the true source of funds, eliminating the use of dark money in federal elections.

(e) Agency Procurement and Contracting.

(1) All federal agencies shall implement electronic procurement systems publishing all contract solicitations, bids received, award decisions, evaluation criteria, and contractor performance assessments in a searchable public database within ten days of each action.

(2) All contracts above one hundred thousand dollars shall require beneficial ownership certification from the contracting entity identifying all natural persons with ownership interests exceeding twenty-five percent.

(3) Agencies shall designate Integrity Officers responsible for receiving and protecting whistleblower disclosures related to procurement fraud.

SECTION 4. REQUIREMENTS BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

(a) Financial Disclosure.

(1) All Members of Congress, federal judges, senior executive branch officials at the GS-15 level and above, and all Schedule C political appointees shall file annual financial disclosure statements electronically within sixty days of the start of each calendar year.

(2) Financial disclosures shall include all assets, liabilities, income sources, positions held, agreements with outside parties, and political contributions made by the official and the official's spouse and dependent children.

(3) Financial disclosures shall be made publicly available within ten days of filing through a searchable online database maintained by the Office of Government Ethics.

(b) Stock Trading Prohibitions.

(1) Members of Congress, their spouses, and their dependent children shall be prohibited from purchasing or selling individual stocks, bonds, commodity futures, or options in any company regulated by or contracting with the federal government.

(2) All such holdings existing at the time of enactment shall be divested within one hundred and eighty days or placed in a qualified blind trust meeting standards established by the Office of Government Ethics.

(3) Violations of trading prohibitions shall be subject to civil penalties of up to three times the gain or loss avoided, and forfeiture of the relevant proceeds.

(c) Post-Employment Restrictions.

(1) Senior officials and Members of Congress shall be subject to a five-year prohibition on lobbying or representing private interests before the federal agency, committee, or program they formerly supervised.

(2) All former officials subject to post-employment restrictions shall register with the Office of Government Ethics within thirty days of leaving government service and shall file annual compliance certifications.

(3) Violations of post-employment restrictions shall be subject to criminal penalties of up to five years imprisonment and civil penalties of up to one million dollars.

(d) Lobbyist Meeting Disclosure.

(1) All covered officials shall publicly disclose within forty-eight hours all meetings and communications with registered lobbyists, including the name of the lobbyist, the client represented, and the subject matter of the communication.

(2) Congressional offices shall publish monthly summaries of all lobbyist meetings on official websites in a standardized machine-readable format.

(e) Judicial Ethics.

(1) Federal judges shall be required to recuse themselves from any proceeding in which they hold a financial interest, including through investment funds, in any party before the court.

(2) The Supreme Court shall adopt a binding Code of Conduct consistent with the standards applicable to lower federal court judges.

(3) Violations of judicial ethics standards shall be subject to review by an independent judicial conduct commission with authority to recommend discipline or removal.

SECTION 5. REQUIREMENTS BY CORPORATIONS.

(a) Political Contribution Disclosure.

(1) All corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and other legal entities that make political contributions or expenditures exceeding ten thousand dollars in any calendar year shall file quarterly disclosure reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(2) Disclosure reports shall identify all contributions by recipient, amount, date, and purpose, including contributions made to politically active nonprofit organizations.

(3) The SEC shall maintain a public database of all corporate political disclosures, searchable by contributor, recipient, and time period, with reports available within ten days of filing.

(b) Anti-Corruption Compliance Programs.

(1) All covered contractors shall adopt and maintain anti-corruption compliance programs meeting the standards established in the Department of Justice Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs, including designated compliance officers, anonymous reporting hotlines, and regular third-party audits.

(2) All publicly traded corporations shall include an annual compliance certification in their annual reports to the SEC certifying compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and domestic anti-bribery laws.

(3) Corporations with annual revenues exceeding one billion dollars shall publish annual transparency reports disclosing political expenditures, lobbying activities, and anti-corruption compliance program details.

(c) Beneficial Ownership Reporting.

(1) In accordance with the Corporate Transparency Act, all corporations, limited liability companies, and similar entities formed or registered to do business in the United States shall file beneficial ownership information reports with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

(2) Entities shall report any change in beneficial ownership within thirty days of the change, and shall file annual confirmation reports certifying the accuracy of beneficial ownership information on file.

(d) Whistleblower Protections.

(1) All corporations employing five hundred or more persons shall adopt written whistleblower protection policies prohibiting retaliation against employees who report suspected corruption, fraud, or violations of law.

(2) Corporations shall provide confidential reporting mechanisms including anonymous hotlines, online portals, and direct access to compliance officers.

(3) Corporations shall not require employees to execute non-disclosure agreements that prevent disclosure of illegal activity to government authorities.

(e) Supply Chain Due Diligence.

(1) Corporations with annual revenues exceeding five hundred million dollars shall conduct and publicly report annual due diligence assessments of their supply chains for corruption risk, consistent with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct.

(2) Supply chain due diligence reports shall be filed with the SEC and made publicly available on corporate websites within ninety days of the end of each fiscal year.

SECTION 6. REQUIREMENTS BY PRIVATE CITIZENS.

(a) Freedom of Information Enhancement.

(1) Citizens shall have an affirmative right to submit Freedom of Information Act requests electronically through a standardized online portal maintained by each federal agency.

(2) Agencies shall respond to FOIA requests within fifteen business days for routine requests and thirty business days for complex requests, with automatic fee waivers for requests made by nonprofit journalism organizations.

(3) The Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) shall be strengthened to mediate FOIA disputes and shall publish annual compliance reports on agency FOIA performance.

(b) Whistleblower Incentives and Protections.

(1) Private citizens who report corruption resulting in government recovery of funds in excess of one hundred thousand dollars shall be eligible for financial awards under the SEC, DOJ, and IRS whistleblower programs.

(2) Whistleblowers shall be protected from retaliation in employment, civil litigation, and criminal prosecution arising from lawful disclosures to federal authorities.

(3) Anti-retaliation protections shall apply from the moment an individual takes reasonable steps to report suspected corruption, not solely upon formal complaint filing.

(c) Civic Education.

(1) The Department of Education shall incorporate civic education on government transparency, anti-corruption principles, and citizen oversight mechanisms into federally funded K-12 educational curricula.

(2) The Department of Justice and Office of Government Ethics shall jointly publish and freely distribute public education materials explaining citizens' rights to access government information, report corruption, and participate in oversight.

(d) Non-Governmental Oversight Support.

(1) The federal government shall create a Civic Anti-Corruption Grant Program, administered by the Department of Justice, providing annual grants to nonprofit organizations that conduct government watchdog activities, investigative journalism, or anti-corruption research.

(2) Grant amounts shall not exceed five hundred thousand dollars per recipient per year, and shall be subject to open competition and public disclosure of all awards.

SECTION 7. PENALTY CLAUSES.

(a) Criminal Penalties.

(1) Any covered official who solicits or accepts a bribe or corrupt payment in connection with official duties shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than twenty years, a fine of not more than the greater of two hundred fifty thousand dollars or three times the value of the corrupt payment, and permanent disqualification from federal employment or office.

(2) Any person who offers or provides a bribe or corrupt payment to a covered official shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than fifteen years and a fine of not more than the greater of two hundred fifty thousand dollars or three times the value of the corrupt payment.

(3) Any covered official who willfully fails to file accurate financial disclosure statements shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than five years and a fine of not more than fifty thousand dollars.

(4) Any person who retaliates against a whistleblower in violation of this Act shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than ten years and a fine of not more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars.

(b) Civil Penalties.

(1) Civil violations of financial disclosure requirements shall be subject to penalties of not less than five thousand dollars and not more than fifty thousand dollars per violation.

(2) Civil violations of post-employment restrictions shall be subject to penalties of not less than fifty thousand dollars and not more than one million dollars.

(3) Corporations that fail to comply with beneficial ownership reporting requirements shall be subject to penalties of five hundred dollars per day for each day of non-compliance, up to a maximum of ten thousand dollars per violation.

(4) Corporations that engage in political activity without required disclosures shall be subject to penalties equal to three times the amount of the undisclosed contribution or expenditure.

(c) Administrative Remedies.

(1) Government agencies may debar or suspend covered contractors that violate anti-corruption provisions of this Act from participating in federal procurement for periods of up to ten years.

(2) The SEC may revoke the registration of publicly traded corporations that willfully and repeatedly fail to comply with disclosure and compliance requirements of this Act.

(3) The Department of Justice may seek disgorgement of profits obtained through corrupt activities from corporations and individuals as part of any civil settlement or criminal prosecution.

SECTION 8. EFFECTIVE DATES AND IMPLEMENTATION.

(a) General Effective Date.

(1) Except as otherwise provided, this Act shall take effect one hundred and eighty days after the date of enactment.

(b) Phased Implementation.

(1) The requirements of Section 3 related to agency procurement electronic systems shall be implemented in phases, with civilian agencies required to comply within twelve months of enactment and national security agencies within twenty-four months of enactment.

(2) The requirements of Section 5(a) related to beneficial ownership reporting shall take effect in accordance with the implementation schedule established under the Corporate Transparency Act, as amended.

(3) The requirements of Section 6(c) related to civic education curriculum integration shall be implemented in federally funded educational institutions within two academic years of enactment.

(c) Rulemaking.

(1) Each federal agency responsible for implementing provisions of this Act shall publish proposed regulations within ninety days of enactment and final regulations within one hundred and eighty days of enactment.

(2) Regulations shall provide for a notice-and-comment period of not less than sixty days to allow public participation in the rulemaking process.

(d) Interagency Coordination.

(1) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall coordinate implementation across federal agencies, establish performance metrics for corruption reduction, and publish an annual progress report to Congress and the public.

(e) Review.

(1) Each provision of this Act shall be reviewed by the Government Accountability Office at the five-year and ten-year anniversaries of enactment, with reports submitted to Congress on the effectiveness of each provision in reducing corruption perception.

SECTION 9. APPROPRIATIONS OR BUDGETARY NOTES.

(a) Authorization of Appropriations.

(1) There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Justice, for the Office of Public Integrity Prosecution established under Section 3(a), fifty million dollars for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030.

(2) There is authorized to be appropriated to the Office of Government Ethics, for the implementation of financial disclosure and conflict-of-interest oversight programs under Sections 3(b) and 4(a), twenty-five million dollars for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030.

(3) There is authorized to be appropriated to the Government Accountability Office, for expanded audit and investigation activities under Section 3(c), seventy-five million dollars above its current appropriation for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030.

(4) There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Justice, for the Civic Anti-Corruption Grant Program established under Section 6(d), twenty million dollars for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030.

(5) There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Education, for civic anti-corruption education programs under Section 6(c), ten million dollars for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030.

(b) Offset.

(1) The costs of this Act shall be offset by reductions in duplicative federal programs as identified through the expanded GAO audit activities authorized under this Act, by the recovery of funds through enhanced whistleblower programs, and by civil and criminal penalties collected under Section 7.

(c) Budgetary Impact.

(1) The Congressional Budget Office shall, within sixty days of enactment, produce an analysis of the budgetary impact of all provisions of this Act, including projected recoveries from anti-corruption enforcement activities, and shall update this analysis annually for the first ten years following enactment.

(d) Scoring.

(1) All expenditures authorized under this Act shall be subject to the statutory pay-as-you-go requirements and discretionary spending limits applicable to each fiscal year in which appropriations are made.

Endnotes

https://www.rigsrevisionen.dk1. Danmark: Rigsrevisionen Act (State Audit); Offentlighedsloven (Freedom of Information Act)

https://www.finlex.fi2. Suomi: Act on the Openness of Government Activities (Julkisuuslaki)

https://www.legislation.govt.nz3. New Zealand: State Sector Act; Official Information Act

https://www.regjeringen.no4. Norge: Municipal Act; Government Pension Fund Act

https://sso.agc.gov.sg5. Singapore: Prevention of Corruption Act

https://www.riksdagen.se6. Sverige: Freedom of the Press Act (1766); Offentlighets- och sekretesslagen

https://www.admin.ch7. Schweiz: Federal Criminal Code (Arts. 322ter-322octies); Federal Audit Office Act

https://wetten.overheid.nl8. Nederland: BIBOB Act; Wet openbaarheid van bestuur (Government Information Act)

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca9. Canada: Conflict of Interest Act —

https://www.legislation.gov.au10. Australia: Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act

https://www.legislation.gov.uk11. England: Bribery Act 2010

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de12. Deutschland: Gesetz zur Bekämpfung der Korruption (Anti-Corruption Act)

https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr13. République française: Loi Sapin II (Anti-Corruption Law)

https://www.fsa.go.jp14. Nippon: Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds

https://www.mofcom.gov.cn15. Zhongguo: Anti-Unfair Competition Law; Anti-Corruption provisions of Criminal Law

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the United States rank globally on corruption perception?

The United States ranked 24th globally on the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index in 2023, with a CPI score of 69 out of 100. This score has shown no improvement from 2022, placing the U.S. in the lower portion of the top 35 least corrupt nations.

What are the main factors driving corruption concerns in the United States?

Key concerns include money in politics, lobbying practices perceived as corrupt, lack of transparency in campaign finance, selective enforcement of anti-corruption laws, and weak whistleblower protections. These systemic issues contribute to declining public trust in government institutions.

What reforms are most commonly recommended to reduce corruption in the U.S.?

Experts most commonly recommend strengthening campaign finance laws, expanding whistleblower protections, and increasing transparency in government contracting. These reforms are modeled on practices already proven effective in top-ranked countries like Denmark and Finland.

What has Denmark done to achieve the world's lowest corruption perception?

Denmark combines radical transparency, strong independent institutions, and a cultural aversion to corruption. Key tools include the independent State Audit Institution (Rigsrevisionen), a Freedom of Information Act, an Open Government Data portal, and mandatory ethics training for all civil servants.

How does Finland maintain one of the lowest corruption rates in the world?

Finland's anti-corruption framework relies on institutional independence, comprehensive asset disclosure, and public service accountability. A dedicated financial crime unit within the National Bureau of Investigation, combined with a law requiring nearly all government documents to be public by default, form the backbone of this system.

Where can citizens find reliable data on global and U.S. corruption levels?

Reliable data sources include the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index at transparency.org, Gallup Analytics corruption data, and the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index at worldjusticeproject.org. These sources provide both country-level scores and regional comparisons updated annually.

About the Author

Ronald Bonfilio has devoted his career to public service spanning more than five decades. His service began with the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968, where he conducted medical laboratory research at Fort Detrick and at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. He subsequently held a distinguished series of federal positions, including roles with the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Agency for International Development (Vietnam), the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, and the U.S. State Department (Iraq), where he served as a Senior Economic Advisor and Agricultural Advisor. He also served 15 years with the U.S. Government Accountability Office as a Program Analyst and Auditor.

Ronald Bonfilio holds a degree in Economics from the University of Maryland, and degrees in Chemistry and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts. He is a former Certified Public Accountant.