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The U.S. Department of Labor issued a final rule to adjust civil monetary penalties for inflation, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. This rule, effective January 15, 2025, ensures that penalties keep up with inflation, applying a cost-of-living adjustment multiplier based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The adjustments apply to penalties assessed after the effective date, maintaining the penalties' deterrent effect. This regulation does not consider public comments due to the non-discretionary nature of the inflation adjustments mandated by the Act.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has revised its rules to improve the conciliation process, which aims to encourage employers to settle discrimination charges before going to court. The new rules require the EEOC to provide clear information to employers about the claims, the legal basis, and the relief sought, with the goal of making the process fairer and more transparent. This change is expected to lead to more successful resolutions, helping employees receive quicker relief and reducing the need for lengthy and expensive litigation. The rule will take effect on February 16, 2021.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking public comments on a proposal concerning the collection of information related to COVID-19 tests for airline passengers entering the United States. This proposal requires passengers to present either a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days before their flight or documentation of recovery from the virus. There are some exemptions, such as for certain federal personnel and urgent humanitarian cases. The CDC aims to prevent COVID-19 transmission while acknowledging the potential costs and efforts involved in implementing these requirements.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has announced its intent to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget for a new data collection project focused on Long COVID. This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the AHRQ's Long COVID Care Network, which has been set up to improve healthcare access and services for Long COVID patients, particularly those from underserved communities. The project will include interviews and surveys with healthcare providers and aims to gather insights into how well the care strategies are working and their reach. Public comments on this proposal are invited until February 18, 2025.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has updated its regulations to adjust for inflation the civil monetary penalties under its jurisdiction. This action is aligned with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act and is mandatory for ensuring penalties keep their deterrent power. For 2025, the penalties for false certifications related to VA-guaranteed loans have been increased from $27,894 to $28,619, and penalties for false claims to VA have risen from $13,946 to $14,308. The changes take effect on January 10, 2025, and were made without public comments due to the statutory requirements.

The Executive Order establishes the Wildland Fire Management Policy Committee to improve coordination among federal agencies dealing with wildland fire management. It aims to reduce unnecessary duplication and to manage resources more efficiently by consolidating existing interagency working groups. The order sets policies for better coordination with state, local, and tribal governments, and focuses on workforce development and reducing wildfire risks. It also requires the newly formed Subcabinet to create and implement a strategic plan for wildland fire management, developing performance measures and integrating new technologies.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has proposed a new rule to update its regulations on claims collection. This rule aims to comply with the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 by requiring USAID to refer certain overdue debts to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. By revising definitions and processes and ensuring conformity with existing statues, USAID seeks to improve the effectiveness of its debt collection procedures. Public comments on the proposed rule were invited until March 31, 2021.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), part of the Department of Transportation, is proposing new procedures to implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). These procedures establish categorical exclusions (CEs), which are categories of actions deemed to typically have minimal environmental impacts. PHMSA invites public comments on these proposed CEs and procedures, aiming to ensure their activities minimize environmental effects and involve public and governmental engagement. Comments must be submitted by January 9, 2025.

The Department of Education is inviting applications for the 2021 fiscal year for the Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) Program. The program aims to enhance arts education for students, especially those who are disadvantaged or have disabilities, by providing professional development for educators, developing arts-based educational resources, and fostering arts partnerships in communities. Eligible applicants include local education agencies, higher education institutions, and nonprofit organizations among others. The Department has set aside an estimated $16.5 million for this program, with awards ranging from $375,000 to $2 million.

The Department of Transportation issued a final rule that updates the penalties for violations of certain DOT regulations to account for inflation, as required by legislation from 2015. These updates affect various areas such as air and motor vehicle safety, hazardous materials transportation, and railroad operations. The changes include adjustments in the minimum and maximum fines that can be imposed for different types of violations. The rule was implemented immediately and did not include a notice and comment period, as per the stipulations of the legislation enabling these adjustments.