Trump admin ranks companies on loyalty while handing out favors to Big Tech

In a significant shift, the Trump administration has ceased potential enforcement actions against numerous tech companies, as well as a total of 165 corporations, according to a report by the nonprofit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen. This move aligns with the administration's commitment to end what it describes as the 'weaponization' of federal authority. The report highlights that within just six months, the Trump administration has withdrawn or halted enforcement actions against a variety of corporations, with technology firms notably benefiting. Approximately one in four of those companies that had enforcement actions paused or dropped hail from the tech sector, which has invested a staggering $1.2 billion in political influence surrounding the 2024 elections. A significant portion of this spending, amounting to $352 million, is linked to Elon Musk. Public Citizen's findings indicate that, at the onset of Trump’s second term, over 104 tech firms were subjected to at least 142 federal investigations and enforcement actions. The administration's recent actions have effectively paused or withdrawn around one-third of these targeted inquiries. Specifically, the report notes that 47 enforcement actions involving 45 tech corporations have either been halted or withdrawn, with 38 actions withdrawn and nine currently on hold. In a separate development, Axios reported that the White House has developed an internal scorecard assessing 553 companies and trade associations based on their support for President Trump’s 'One Big Beautiful Bill.' This internal document reportedly evaluates corporate loyalty to the administration, categorizing support as strong, moderate, or low. A senior White House official explained to Axios that this tool serves to identify which organizations actively support the administration versus those that merely offer superficial backing. According to the reports, companies deemed as 'good partners' include Uber, DoorDash, United Airlines, Delta, AT&T, Cisco, and the Steel Manufacturers Association, among others. This ranking system provides senior aides with valuable insights when addressing corporate requests, highlighting the intertwining of corporate influence and political favor in the current administration.