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The United States Sentencing Commission is considering changes to the federal sentencing guidelines, and they are seeking public comments through March 2025. The proposed amendments aim to provide courts with more flexibility in making sentencing decisions, including changes to supervised release terms and drug offense guidelines. These include updating how drug quantities and roles in drug trafficking are assessed, altering the approach to methamphetamine cases, and revising enhancements related to machineguns and fentanyl distribution. The Commission is actively seeking feedback on various aspects of these proposals to better tailor federal sentencing guidelines to current needs.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has finalized a rule that changes Regulation V of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to protect medical information in credit decisions. Previously, there was an exception allowing creditors to use medical debt information when deciding if someone qualifies for credit. With this new rule, creditors cannot use this information unless specific exceptions apply, and consumer reporting agencies are limited in what medical debt information they can share with creditors. This change aims to safeguard consumers' privacy and ensure medical information isn't wrongly used. The rule will become effective on March 17, 2024.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is proposing updates to the rules governing operational contract support (OCS) outside the United States. These changes aim to broaden the scenarios where contracted support can be used, improve accountability and reporting of contractor personnel, and clarify the responsibilities of those involved. The updated rule seeks to enhance integration and oversight of contracted support as a vital defense capability, addressing areas identified as high-risk by the Government Accountability Office. Overall, these efforts intend to minimize wastage and improve the effectiveness of military operations supported by contractors.

The Executive Order 13981, issued by President Donald J. Trump, focuses on protecting the United States from security risks associated with Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) made by foreign adversaries. The order outlines steps to prevent the use of taxpayer money for buying UAS that present security threats, calls for assessments of current government UAS use, and encourages prioritizing domestically produced UAS. It defines "covered UAS" as those manufactured or containing components from nations like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea and emphasizes examining how these systems are used by federal agencies. The order also directs agencies to consider replacing these UAS in future budgets.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) released details on the 2025 cost recovery fee percentages for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Program. The fee percentages are set for different sectors: 3.0% for the Shorebased Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program, 0.1% for the Catcher/Processor (C/P) Co-op Program, and 3.0% for the Mothership (MS) Co-op Program. The fees are used to recover costs associated with managing and enforcing these fishing programs. Additionally, the average 2025 price for Pacific whiting, used in fee calculations for the C/P Co-op Program, is set at $0.09 per pound.

The document outlines an interim final rule by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), under the Homeland Security and Treasury Departments, to implement regulations for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This rule amends existing regulations to provide guidance on preferential tariff treatment and related customs measures for various goods, including textiles and automotive products. It establishes certification requirements for importers and manufacturers, recordkeeping responsibilities, and procedures for protests and verifications. The rule aims to ensure compliance with the new trade agreement and streamline the process for benefiting from the preferential treatment under the USMCA.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing changes to the boundaries of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) in Florida and South Carolina. This involves revising maps to add and remove certain areas based on their development status and suitability to be coastal barriers. The proposed changes will impact several counties, including the addition of new units and the adjustment of existing boundaries, and the public is invited to review and comment on these proposed modifications. Final recommendations will be submitted to Congress after considering public input and further evaluations.

In this final rule, the Department of Labor revises the way it calculates prevailing wage levels for alien workers in the U.S. to ensure wages align more accurately with those of U.S. workers with similar skills. This change applies to H1-B, H1-B1, and E-3 visa programs as well as certain immigrant visa categories. The rule lowers the previous wage level estimates, transitioning over a phased implementation period, to better protect U.S. worker job opportunities by eliminating financial incentives for using lower-paid foreign labor over similarly capable American workers. The rule also provides steps to ensure a smooth transition to these new wage levels.

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration announced updates to the Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR) for H-2A temporary agricultural workers in the U.S. These wage rates are the minimum amounts employers must pay to ensure that the U.S. workers' wages and conditions are not negatively impacted. The new AEWRs, effective December 16, 2024, or December 30, 2024, for certain states due to a court order, apply to specific agricultural job categories. The rates are based on the USDA's Farm Labor Report and ensure that employers pay workers adequately according to established wage data.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Office intends to issue an amendment for grant applications to improve power grid resilience under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This amendment, expected in February 2025, will allow current and new applicants to seek formula grant allocations for fiscal year 2025. To apply, new applicants must complete several pre-application tasks, including registration with relevant systems, before submission. It emphasizes modernizing grid infrastructure and supporting clean energy goals.