Weekly civic intelligence report · v2.2
Trump administration cleared the path for Nippon Steel's investment in US Steel, contingent on meeting government-specified national security terms. This represents executive intervention in a major foreign direct investment decision with conditions tied to national security.
Executive approval of foreign investment with national security conditions represents routine use of CFIUS authority. Rule_of_law (2) reflects standard regulatory process with conditions. Separation (2) reflects executive authority over foreign investment review, within established framework. Capture (3) reflects potential influence of domestic steel industry lobbying and economic nationalism considerations. Corruption (1) minimal - conditional approval rather than outright block or unconditional approval. Policy_change mechanism modifier 1.15 applied as this sets terms but follows existing CFIUS framework. Federal scope 1.2. B-score moderate: media_friendliness (3) for business/national security angle, novelty (2) for Trump reversing Biden's block, outrage_bait (2) for economic nationalism framing. Layer2 mismatch (2) between national security framing and economic protectionism reality. Both scores below 25 threshold, and this represents standard executive authority over foreign investment with national security implications - routine CFIUS process.
Monitor actual national security conditions imposed and whether they represent substantive safeguards or protectionist barriers. Track if this establishes precedent for more aggressive executive intervention in foreign investment beyond traditional CFIUS scope.