🦅 Executive Branch |
Federal Register |
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HUD has delayed when new income and asset rules from the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act must be used until January 1, 2027 (the rules were first set for January 1, 2024, and were last pushed to January 1, 2026). Local agencies and groups that run HUD community programs—like HOME, HOME‑ARP, the Housing Trust Fund, HOPWA, CDBG, ESG, Continuum of Care, and similar HUD competitive programs—have to follow the new rules by that date, but they can start using parts of the rules sooner if they choose. HUD says it needs more time to finish computer fixes, give clear guidance, and train staff, and it is letting agencies use some simpler income‑check options now to make things easier. This matters because the changes affect how people’s income is counted for housing help, which can change who gets help, what kind of help they get, and how much they pay. Read full document →
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The State Department changed the arms-export rules (ITAR) so that, starting December 30, 2025, U.S. companies registered with the Defense Trade Controls office, U.S. government agencies, UK national-level and Australian federal agencies, and approved “Authorized Users” in those three countries can move defense items, provide defense services, or act as brokers between those countries without getting a separate U.S. license — but only if the transfer happens inside Australia, the United Kingdom, or the United States, the item is not on a new “Excluded Technology List,” the dollar limits already in the rules are not exceeded, and the transfer does not involve making major military equipment abroad; the rule also updates how certain dual-national employee transfers are handled. These groups must follow the new rule as of December 30, 2025 (the Department had already been speeding some reviews since September 1, 2024 and says more than 700 Authorized Users have enrolled). This matters because it cuts red tape and speeds collaboration between allies, which can help defense projects and jobs, but it does not remove other security rules or clearance requirements. Read full document →
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NASA is changing its rule at 14 CFR part 1264 to put into effect the Administrative False Claims Act so NASA — not a court — can investigate and fine people or companies who send false claims or false written statements to NASA; this change implements a law signed on December 23, 2024, and NASA published the proposed rule on December 30, 2025 and is taking public comments until February 13, 2026. Anyone who does business with NASA — contractors, grant recipients, vendors, and others who submit bills, reports, or statements to NASA — must follow the rule once it is finalized. Under the new rule NASA could seek up to $14,308 in civil penalties for each false claim, can handle cases through an administrative process for claims or related groups of claims up to $1,000,000, and may send a notice of possible liability up to 6 years after the wrong act (or within 3 years after learning about it), but no more than 10 years after the act. This matters because it makes it easier and faster for NASA to stop and punish fraud, protect taxpayer money, and require repayment when people or companies lie to NASA. Read full document →
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The Commodity Futures Trading Commission changed rules in 17 CFR Part 23 (subpart H) and §23.504 that apply to swap dealers and major swap participants (the big firms that trade “swaps,” which are complex financial contracts); the Final Rule takes effect on January 29, 2026. The rule lets these firms skip certain paperwork and pre-trade disclosures when a trade is meant to be cleared right away by a clearinghouse (called an “ITBC Swap”) or when the trade is done under a qualifying prime-broker setup, and it removes two prior requirements: the pre-trade “mid‑market” price note (PTMMM) and a requested scenario analysis. For trades that are rejected by the clearinghouse, the rule generally requires the trade to be treated as if it never happened unless the parties agreed otherwise. This matters to everyday people because it is meant to speed up trading, lower costs, and increase liquidity in markets that affect interest rates, foreign exchange, and other prices people and businesses use, while changing what information certain public or institutional buyers get before a trade. Read full document →
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The Departments of Homeland Security and Justice changed a 2020 immigration rule so that some technical changes to how fear screenings are written down are removed, but the main public‑health part of that 2020 rule still goes into effect: starting December 31, 2025 (with the technical withdrawals effective December 29, 2025), asylum officers, immigration judges, and other DHS/DOJ staff must follow the rule that says when a communicable disease has triggered a federal public‑health emergency, people who show symptoms or who were exposed within the disease’s known incubation/contagion period can be found ineligible for asylum or withholding of removal (these changes will be codified at 8 CFR 208.13(c)(10), 1208.13(c)(10), 208.16(d)(2), and 1208.16(d)(2)); this matters because it changes how people seeking refuge at the border are handled during epidemics and can affect whether sick or recently exposed migrants may get asylum protection. Read full document →
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