🌾USDA Ends Race and Sex-Based Preferences in Assistance Programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has independently determined that it will no longer employ the race- and sex-based "socially disadvantaged" designation to provide increased benefits based on race and sex in the programs at issue in this regulation. The USDA has faced a long history of litigation stemming from allegations of discrimination in the administration of its farm loan and benefit programs. However, over the past several decades, USDA has undertaken substantial efforts to redress past injustices, culminating in comprehensive settlements, institutional reforms, and compensatory frameworks. These actions collectively support the conclusion that past discrimination has been sufficiently addressed and that further race- and sex-based remedies are no longer necessary or legally justified under current circumstances.
Learn More💰New Regulations on TSP Loan Reamortization Impacting Federal Employees
The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) is amending a regulation to require the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) record keeper to combine the accrued interest with the outstanding principal when reamortizing a loan.
Learn More🌱USDA Interim Final Rule on NEPA Regulations Revisions
This interim final rule modifies the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and removes various USDA agency regulations for implementing NEPA. USDA is taking this action in response to the Council on Environmental Quality's rescission of its NEPA implementing regulations (which USDA's NEPA regulations were designed to supplement), statutory changes to NEPA, executive orders, and case law. Comments are voluntarily requested on this action to inform USDA's decision-making.
Learn More📄Removal of Obsolete Regulations on Federal Grants and Contracts
This DFR removes obsolete grant and contract regulations in the Department of Labor's regulations. These grant and contract regulations were superseded by the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) Guidance for Grants and Agreements, codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which the Department of Labor adopted and gave regulatory effect to in 2014.
Learn More⚖️DOL Rescinds Unnecessary Notice and Comment Regulations
This final rule rescinds the Secretary's policy to engage in notice and comment rulemaking, even where the Administrative Procedure Act does not require notice and comment rulemaking. The result of this final rule is the Department will generally follow the default requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act.
Learn More💰2025 Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties by HUD
This rule provides for 2025 inflation adjustments of civil monetary penalty amounts required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (the 2015 Act). This rule also removes an obsolete regulation relating to the imposition of civil monetary penalties.
Learn More💰Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties by SBA for 2025
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is amending its regulations to adjust for inflation the amount of certain civil monetary penalties that are within the jurisdiction of the agency. These adjustments comply with the requirement in the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, to make annual adjustments to the penalties.
Learn More📊Proposed Changes to TSP Loan Reamortization Procedures
The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) proposes to amend a loan reamorization rule that requires payment of all accrued interest prior to allowing payments on the principal and current interest. Under the proposed rule, the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) record keeper would combine the accrued interest with the outstanding principal when reamortizing a loan.
Learn More💼2025 Annual Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties by AmeriCorps
The Corporation for National and Community Service, which operates as AmeriCorps, is updating its regulations to reflect required annual inflation-related increases to the civil monetary penalties under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Act) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance.
Learn More💼2025 Civil Penalty Adjustments by the National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is adjusting the maximum civil monetary penalties (CMPs) that may be imposed for violations of the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act (PFCRA) and the NEA's Restrictions on Lobbying to reflect the requirements of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (the 2015 Act). The 2015 Act further amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (the Inflation Adjustment Act) to improve the effectiveness of civil monetary penalties and to maintain their deterrent effect. This final rule provides the 2025 annual inflation adjustments to the initial "catch-up" adjustments made on June 15, 2017, and reflects all other inflation adjustments made in the interim.
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