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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is inviting public and federal agency comments on their information collections related to the foreign tax credit and notifications of foreign tax redeterminations. This initiative is part of their ongoing efforts to reduce paperwork and the burden on respondents, as stipulated by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments need to be submitted by April 5, 2021, to be considered. The information collection requirement affects businesses or other profit-driven organizations, with an estimated annual burden of 56,065 hours across 13,500 respondents.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the public comment period for Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) notices. These statements are published to inform about the potential environmental effects of proposed projects by various federal agencies. The public now has until April 10, 2025, to provide their feedback. This extension includes input on significant projects, such as the relicensing of the Shawmut Project and operations at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

The Executive Order 14243, published under the title "Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos," aims to improve the efficiency of government operations by removing barriers to data sharing among federal agencies. It mandates Agency Heads to facilitate access to unclassified data for federal officials, promote sharing between agencies, and assess current regulations that may hinder this process. The order instructs agencies to review their policies on classified information to ensure data isn't unnecessarily restricted. These efforts seek to prevent duplication and improve the government's ability to detect and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.

The memorandum from January 27, 2021, outlines President Biden's commitment to restoring trust in government through scientific integrity and evidence-based policymaking. It directs federal agencies to ensure that their scientific and technological processes are free from improper political interference and are based on sound scientific and technological methods. Agencies must update their scientific integrity policies, designate chief science officers, and establish practices that promote diversity and transparency in scientific advisory committees. Additionally, it emphasizes making federal data open and accessible for research to support informed and equitable policy decisions.

The Executive Order titled "Protecting America's Bank Account Against Fraud, Waste, and Abuse" aims to improve financial integrity within the federal government. It instructs the Department of the Treasury to enhance systems and guidance for verifying government payments to prevent fraud and improper payments. The order mandates federal agencies to consolidate their financial management systems and work with the Treasury to ensure funds are properly managed. Additionally, it focuses on increasing the transparency and efficiency of financial transactions to safeguard taxpayer dollars.

The Executive Order, "Advancing United States Leadership in Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure," seeks to bolster AI development in the U.S. by encouraging the creation of domestic AI infrastructure. It aims to enhance national security and economic competitiveness while ensuring sustainable energy use and community support. The order outlines plans for collaboration between federal agencies and private sectors to construct AI data centers powered by clean energy, with the long-term goal of maintaining U.S. leadership in AI technology. It includes steps for expediting permits, addressing energy demands, supporting global AI infrastructure development, and ensuring that the growth of AI benefits both national interests and local communities.

The Executive Order, titled Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, aims to eliminate race and sex-based preferences in government and private sector policies, which it labels as discriminatory and illegal. It orders federal agencies to end such practices and enforces civil-rights laws by revoking prior executive orders that promoted diversity and inclusion initiatives. This order emphasizes individual merit and hard work, instructing federal agencies to ensure compliance with civil-rights laws and discouraging diversity policies that contradict these laws. It gives specific instructions to the Attorney General and agency heads to develop strategies to prevent discriminatory practices in the private sector, while also ensuring state and local education agencies comply with specific legal decisions.

The Executive Order titled Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government seeks to address the misuse of law enforcement and intelligence agencies in pursuing political opponents under the previous administration. It mandates the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence to review actions taken by various agencies over the past four years to ensure no misconduct occurred, and to recommend necessary remedial actions to prevent future misuse. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of adhering to document-retention policies and outlines that the order should not interfere with lawful governmental functions or create enforceable rights.

The Department of Justice has lodged a proposed Consent Decree with a court to settle a lawsuit involving the United States, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and FMC Corporation over natural resource damages at a site in Front Royal, Virginia. FMC Corporation will pay over $1.6 million, with most going to the U.S. government's fund for environmental restoration projects, and part to Virginia for similar purposes. Four federal agencies are also involved in the settlement, contributing nearly $2.5 million for restoration projects. The agreement includes a period for public comment and protects the parties from further liability related to this issue as of the settlement date.

The Executive Order titled "Emergency Measures To Provide Water Resources in California and Improve Disaster Response in Certain Areas" was issued by the President to address the devastating wildfires in Southern California. It mandates federal agencies to take all necessary actions to ensure adequate water resources are available, even overriding state or local laws if needed. The order calls for reviewing and potentially revising regulations to prevent delays in water supply projects and emphasizes improving disaster response for both California and North Carolina. It also highlights a need to evaluate California's land and water management practices and recommends better use of federal funds to address disaster preparedness and response in these affected areas.