What They Are Saying: Leader Schumer’s Landmark Legislation To Create First-Ever Anti-Corruption Bureau “Meets The Moment”

What They Are Saying: Leader Schumer's Landmark Legislation To Create First-Ever Anti-Corruption Bureau "Meets The Moment"

Endorsements Roll In From Watchdog Groups, Democracy Organizations, & More

Powerful New Independent Bureau Would Investigate Executive Branch Corruption, Enforce Anti-Corruption Laws & Be Protected From Presidential Interference

After Trump promised to "drain the swamp" then proceeded to cash in on the Presidency to the tune of two billion dollars, Senate Democrats launched an anti-corruption initiative to demonstrate the harm of Trump's actions to American families and work to ensure lasting safeguards against presidents who exploit public office for personal profit. Today, as a part of this initiative, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced the Anti-Corruption Bureau Creation Act, landmark legislation to create the nation's first independent federal bureau dedicated to rooting out corruption across the executive branch and stopping presidents from turning public power into private profit.

There has been a groundswell of approval for the legislation, which would be a part of the Democrats' affirmative agenda if they reclaim the majority.

The legislation is endorsed by Public Citizen, Common Cause, Campaign Legal Center, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Protect Democracy, and Defend the Vote Action Fund.

Below are quotes from supporting organizations:

"Combatting the massive array of corrupt and fraudulent schemes perpetrated over the last 18 months by Donald Trump and his gang of greedy grifters simply can't be done by the gutted and ineffective systems of the past. Trump has created a corruption crisis that demands an innovative and aggressive response using every tool in the toolbox," said Lisa Gilbert, the Co-President of Public Citizen. "Senator Schumer's "Anti-Corruption Bureau Creation Act of 2026" is exactly that. It replaces sleeping lapdogs with a powerful new anti-corruption watchdog and empowers state attorneys general to sue the pants off corrupt federal officials who abuse their positions to enrich themselves and stuff their cronies' pockets full of public funds. Without effective anti-corruption enforcement, crooks think the laws on the books don't apply to them. Senator Schumer's bill is the kind of bold approach this moment demands to fight corruption, enforce the law, and get the people's money back."

"The norms that once constrained brazen corruption have been shattered, and there's no going back," said Omar Noureldin, Senior Vice President of Policy and Litigation at Common Cause. "The Anti-Corruption Bureau Creation Act meets the moment: it replaces a patchwork of watchdogs that were never built for this occasion into one dedicated anti-corruption agency, and it lets private citizens sue when the government won't."

"The administration's vast pay-to-play schemes have highlighted how our nation's anti-corruption laws are going largely unenforced," said Adav Noti, executive director at the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center. "We've seen shocking examples of the president putting the interests of his donors and his family's businesses above the public interest. Without strong anti-corruption enforcement, Americans are left vulnerable to unaccountable government officials who abuse their power. The Anti-Corruption Bureau Creation Act would help fix this by creating an enforcement structure capable of holding powerful officials accountable and ensuring that no one is above the law. Campaign Legal Center applauds this important step towards a more accountable and transparent government."

"Corruption is harming our national security and making life for everyday Americans unaffordable," said Debra Perlin, Vice President for Policy at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). "Protecting our country's safety, security and financial wellbeing requires a concerted effort to root out corruption wherever we find it. CREW applauds Leader Schumer's focus on anti-corruption efforts and is particularly pleased that the senator is creating a private right of action that will enable the public to help recover civil penalties and forfeitures, which is particularly important when the Department of Justice is failing to enforce our most basic anti-corruption laws. CREW looks forward to working with Leader Schumer and all congressional leadership to protect our democracy by passing meaningful anti-corruption reforms."

"Members, family, and friends of the Trump Administration are engaging in a staggering amount of corruption to enrich themselves," said Justin Vail, Head of Washington Office at Protect Democracy. "The shady no-bid contracts, get-rich-quick crypto schemes, slush funds, acceptance of lavish gifts in exchange for preferential treatment, and pay-to-play pardon arrangements show how officials are abusing their positions to put personal profits above the public interest. When this happens, democracy declines. Government services get worse and Americans' costs go up. The Anti-Corruption Bureau Creation Act would create powerful new tools to stop the corruption and get back the money that belongs to the American people."

"Americans are paying the price for a political system that too often works for the powerful instead of the people. Every day, families face higher costs while billionaires, special interests, and the well-connected profit from a rigged system. Voters are fed up with corruption making their lives more expensive, and they want leaders who are willing to clean it up," said Defend The Vote Action Fund Executive Director Brian Lemek. "Senator Schumer has introduced legislation to create real accountability, enforce the rules, hold those who abuse the public trust accountable, and ensure government serves working families instead of corrupt politicians, billionaire donors, and corporate lobbyists. Congress should move quickly to pass this legislation, make government more accountable, and begin lowering the cost of corruption for American families."

"In the face of unprecedented government corruption, Americans across the political spectrum want to see lawmakers put forward ambitious solutions like the Anti-Corruption Bureau Creation Act of 2026," said Dan Weiner, Director of the Elections and Government Program, Brennan Center for Justice. "It's not enough to have laws on the books. We need to make sure they actually work. Earlier this year, we called on Congress to create a strong new government ethics agency. That's what Leader Schumer's new legislation would do. We applaud the introduction of this legislation and hope to see members of Congress continue to put forward bold proposals that can help reclaim the public's trust."

The legislation is also co-sponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Andy Kim (D-NJ).

The Anti-Corruption Bureau Creation Act would:

• Create the nation's first independent Anti-Corruption Bureau: Establish a new federal bureau led by a seven-member, Senate-confirmed board with fixed terms, strict independence protections and partisan-balance requirements.
• Give the Bureau real teeth: Equip the Bureau with sweeping investigative, subpoena, oversight, enforcement and public-reporting powers.
• Claw back money obtained through corruption: Allow private plaintiffs, including state attorneys general, to sue in the name of the United States to recover money obtained through corruption by presidents, senior officials, key campaign figures and major government contractors.
• Bring federal anti-corruption enforcement under one roof: Consolidate the Federal Election Commission, Office of Government Ethics and Office of Special Counsel within the new Bureau.
• Prevent a president from disabling the watchdog: Establish a special three-judge division of the D.C. Circuit empowered to appoint temporary Bureau members when vacancies, obstruction or crises threaten its continued operation-ensuring that a president cannot render it powerless by removing its leaders or refusing to fill vacancies.
• Protect its funding from presidential retaliation: Create the Freedom From Influence Fund as a dedicated, self-financing source of revenue, preventing a president from using the budget process to starve the Bureau into submission.

A summary of the legislation can be found here. The full text of the legislation can be found here.

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