The U.S. is the easiest place in the world for a criminal, terrorist, tax cheat, or kleptocrat to open an anonymous shell company to launder their money with impunity. Anonymous corporations are great ways to hide money and other assets — they can hold a bank account or buy a yacht. Criminals often layer anonymous corporations, with one owning another and so on, making it even harder for law enforcement to “trace the money” and figure out who is directing the company’s activity. It’s time to ending the use of anonymous shell companies as vehicles for illicit activity by requiring that the true owners of U.S. companies be disclosed at the time of formation and updated upon any change.
Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee released its draft appropriations bills for fiscal year 2023 that provided just $189 million to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). While it is an increase above FY2022 enacted levels, the Senate figure falls short of the funding approved last week by the House and requested by the President by a sum of $21 million.
This new appropriations budget represents a 31 percent increase in FinCEN’s budget over FY2022 enacted levels and meets the amount requested by the Biden Administration in the President’s discretionary budget request earlier this year.
Today, the House of Representatives passed a six-bill appropriations package (H.R. 8294) for fiscal year 2023 that includes $210.33 million for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
To tackle global corruption, the U.S. must start by cleaning up its own house through the reforms discussed in this blog, as well as by working collaboratively with African nations, civil society actors, and professionals to properly stem the root causes and key loopholes that enable capital flight, illicit financial flows, and corrupt or criminal financial abuses.
FACT Testimony to Senate Appropriation’s Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Emphasizes Need for FinCEN Funding
Today, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) to urge increased funding for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
