No Corporate Crooks Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3680
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-03: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T08:05:31Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "No Corporate Crooks Act" (H.R. 3680) aims to prevent individuals who have served as chief executive officers (CEOs) of companies and been convicted of specific serious crimes from holding positions in the U.S. executive branch of government. The goal is to promote ethical standards and reduce potential conflicts of interest in federal service.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility Restriction: Any person who was a CEO at a company and has a final conviction for a "covered crime" is barred from being appointed to any role in the executive branch (which includes agencies like the Department of Justice or Treasury).
- Definition of Covered Crimes: These include:
- Bribery (offering or accepting something of value to influence official actions).
- Copyright infringement (unauthorized use of protected creative works).
- Corruption (abuse of power for personal gain).
- Cybercrime (computer-related offenses like hacking).
- Embezzlement (misappropriating funds entrusted to one's care).
- Fraud (deception for financial gain).
- Insider trading (using non-public information for stock trades).
- Wage theft (unlawfully withholding employee pay).
- Tax evasion (illegally avoiding taxes).
- Enforcement Penalty: If someone violates this rule (e.g., by being appointed despite a conviction), they must be removed from their executive branch position.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new, specific barrier to federal employment based on prior corporate leadership and convictions for listed crimes. Current U.S. law already disqualifies people with certain criminal records (like felonies) from some government roles, but it does not explicitly target former CEOs or create a predefined list of "covered crimes" tied to corporate misconduct. This expands restrictions to focus on white-collar and ethical offenses common in business settings.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Executive branch offices would need to screen applicants more thoroughly for CEO backgrounds and convictions, potentially slowing hiring but improving perceived integrity in leadership roles.
- On Citizens: It could deter qualified individuals with past convictions from public service, while reassuring the public that federal officials have cleaner ethical records; no direct effects on everyday citizens' rights or services.
- On International Relations: Minimal impact, though it might signal stronger U.S. commitment to anti-corruption standards, indirectly affecting diplomatic trust in American governance.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Former CEOs and Corporate Executives: Directly barred from executive branch roles if convicted of covered crimes, limiting their post-conviction career options in government.
- Executive Branch Agencies and Employees: Impacted through revised hiring and removal processes to enforce the rule.
- Congress and Oversight Bodies: The bill was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which would handle implementation and potential amendments.
- The Public and Taxpayers: Indirectly benefited by aiming to prevent "corporate crooks" from influencing federal policy or resources.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The broad terms like "corruption" or "cybercrime" could lead to court challenges over vagueness (unclear definitions), requiring judges to interpret what qualifies as a covered crime. It builds on existing federal ethics laws but adds a targeted disqualification.
- Constitutional Implications: May raise due process concerns under the Fifth Amendment if applied retroactively or without clear appeal mechanisms; it does not infringe on free speech or equal protection but could be seen as a form of "bill of attainder" (punishing a specific group without trial) if overly narrow.
- Political Implications: Reinforces bipartisan efforts to address corporate influence in government, potentially sparking debates on rehabilitation versus permanent bans; as an introduced bill in the 119th Congress (2025), its passage would depend on committee approval and floor votes, highlighting tensions between accountability and second chances.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
Cosponsors (10)
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18], Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-03: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2025-06-03: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- No Corporate Crooks Act — issued 2025-06-03 — PDF (2 pages)