The Biden administration is taking significant steps to enhance the scrutiny of foreign investments in the United States, aiming to bolster national security. A key focus of these efforts is the expansion of powers for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which will now have a 'sharper scalpel' for reviewing transactions. This initiative includes raising the maximum fines for violations of national security rules to $5 million. The Department of Justice has echoed this stance, with antitrust officials advocating against merger clearance settlements unless they include strong divestiture proposals. The Treasury Department's proposal seeks to strengthen CFIUS's ability to obtain information and enforce higher fines, particularly in light of increasing U.S.-China investment scrutiny. This move is part of a broader effort to ensure critical industries are shielded from foreign interference, amid congressional investigations into deals involving companies like Nippon and TikTok.