🦅 Executive Branch |
White House |
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On August 7, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order directing the Secretary of Labor to review and possibly change rules about how retirement plans like 401(k)s can invest in “alternative assets,” which include things like private companies, real estate, digital assets, and infrastructure projects. This order affects millions of Americans who save for retirement through employer plans by aiming to make it easier for their retirement funds to include these kinds of investments, which the order says could help improve returns and diversify savings. The order also asks the Labor Department to reduce legal risks for those managing these plans and to work with other agencies like the SEC to update related rules within 180 days. While the order says this will help workers get better investment options, it is based on the administration’s view that current rules and lawsuits have unfairly limited access to these assets. Read full document →
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On August 7, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order aimed at stopping banks and financial companies from refusing service to people or businesses because of their political or religious beliefs, or because of legal business activities the banks don’t like. The order says that banks should make decisions based only on clear and fair financial risks, not on politics or religion. It requires federal banking regulators, like the Small Business Administration, to remove rules that encourage this kind of unfair treatment within 180 days and to find and fix past cases where people were unfairly denied banking services within 120 days. The order also directs the Treasury Secretary to create a plan to stop these unfair practices and lets regulators punish banks that break the rules. This matters because it aims to protect Americans’ access to banking and financial services regardless of their beliefs or lawful activities, but the order’s claims about past government actions and bank behavior are presented without independent proof. Read full document →
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On August 7, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued a memorandum directing the Secretary of Education to improve how colleges report their admissions data. This action affects all colleges and universities that get federal money, requiring them to share more detailed information about how they admit students starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The goal, according to the memorandum, is to make sure schools are not using race unfairly in admissions by making their data easier to find and check for accuracy. The Secretary of Education must update the online system that collects this data, make the new reporting rules public within 120 days, and take steps if schools do not provide complete or correct information. This effort is said to promote fairness and transparency in higher education, though the memorandum itself does not create new legal rights or benefits for anyone. Read full document →
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On August 7, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order aimed at changing how the government gives out federal grants, which are funds given to organizations for projects. The order requires leaders of government agencies that give grants to pick senior officials to carefully check new grant opportunities and the grants themselves to make sure they match government priorities and serve the national interest. It also says these officials should not just accept recommendations without thinking independently and should avoid funding projects that promote racial preferences, deny biological sex, support illegal immigration, or harm public safety. The order directs the Office of Management and Budget to update rules so grants can be ended early if they no longer fit priorities, and limits how much money can be used for administrative costs. This affects many government agencies and organizations that apply for or receive federal grants. The order says it is meant to stop wasteful spending and ensure taxpayer money is used wisely, but it relies on agency leaders’ judgment and does not guarantee any specific grant will be approved. Read full document →
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Federal Register |
- The government is proposing new rules to allow drones to fly beyond the pilot’s sight, called Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, safely and regularly in U.S. airspace. These rules apply to drone makers, operators, and companies providing important data services to support drone flights. Operators must get a permit or certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before flying BVLOS drones, and drones must meet safety standards including weight limits up to 1,320 pounds and flying below 400 feet. The rules also require trained supervisors and flight coordinators to manage drone operations and set strict safety, maintenance, and cybersecurity requirements. These changes matter because they will help drones deliver packages, inspect farms and infrastructure, and assist in emergencies more efficiently and safely, while protecting people on the ground and other aircraft. Comments on the proposal are open until October 6, 2025. Read full document →
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