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The U.S. Office of Government Ethics has issued a final rule to adjust the fines for violations of the Ethics in Government Act in 2025, as required by law to keep up with inflation. These changes, effective January 15, 2025, include increasing penalties for activities such as falsifying financial disclosure reports and misuse of public reports. The adjustments ensure that penalties remain a deterrent and are calculated based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. These updates only affect violations occurring after November 2, 2015, that are addressed after the new rule's effective date.

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 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing changes to its Privacy Act regulations, in line with the Social Security Number Fraud Prevention Act of 2017. These changes would restrict the use of full Social Security numbers (SSNs) in documents sent by physical mail unless deemed necessary by the Secretary of Homeland Security. DHS aims to further define what "necessary" means and to ensure that SSNs are redacted whenever possible. The agency also plans safeguards to protect SSNs, ensuring they're never visible on the outside of mail packages.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized amendments to the Standards of Performance for Volatile Organic Liquid Storage Vessels, initially established for storage vessels built after July 23, 1984. These amendments now allow operators of storage vessels with external or internal floating roofs to optionally comply with the National Emission Standards for Storage Vessels (Tanks)—Control Level 2, which can reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by preventing the need to empty and degas tanks for inspections. The rule is expected to save costs and decrease environmental impact without sacrificing inspection rigor. The final rule went into effect on January 19, 2021.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), specifically the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), announced that it is extending the collection of information for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program without any changes. This notice, published in the Federal Register, allows an additional 30 days for the public to comment on this extension. The document outlines that comments can focus on the necessity and efficiency of the data collection and suggests that individuals limit the personal information they share in their submissions, as these will be made public. Additionally, it provides estimates of the number of respondents and the public's time and cost burden associated with this information collection.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), part of the USDA, has announced a funding opportunity under the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program for 2024. This program will help lenders provide loans to entities looking to build or improve sawmills and wood processing facilities near priority U.S. Forest Service lands. Over $200 million will be available starting in 2025, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The goal is to support ecological restoration efforts by using byproducts from these projects and to advance rural economic opportunities, while prioritizing climate change mitigation and racial equity.

The U.S. Department of Education is opening applications for new grants under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), as part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA). This initiative is aimed at public and nonprofit universities and colleges that did not receive prior funding under a similar program in the CARES Act. The CRRSAA provides about $22.7 billion for higher education, with grants intended to cover pandemic-related costs, support student activities, and offer financial aid to students. The Department will automatically provide supplemental funds to eligible institutions that have already received grants from the previous CARES Act but requires new applications from institutions that did not.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a final rule allowing for the electronic issuance of aircraft registration and dealer certificates, moving away from the traditional method of printing and mailing paper certificates. This change aims to improve efficiency and reduce costs related to printing, mailing, and handling paper certificates. The electronic certificates can be delivered almost instantly via email, while paper copies may still be requested. The move is part of the broader CARES system upgrade initiative, which aims to modernize the FAA’s registry system using digital technology.

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have proposed new regulations that require corporations engaging in specific tax-free separations to report their transactions annually to ensure compliance with tax laws. These rules focus on Section 355 transactions, which involve the tax-free distribution of a corporation’s stock. The new regulations mandate detailed reporting to prevent tax evasion, and this must be done via a new form attached to the corporation's annual tax return over a multi-year period. The proposed changes are intended to help narrow the federal tax gap by improving the IRS's ability to track and address potential noncompliance.

The final rule from the United States Department of the Interior updates how the Federal government acknowledges Indian Tribes by allowing previously denied petitioners a chance to re-petition. This change responds to court decisions that found the prior re-petition ban to be arbitrary. Under the new rule, petitioners have five years to show new evidence or changes in regulations that could alter previous denial outcomes, though re-petitioning is still limited by certain conditions to balance fairness and finality interests. The rule aims to enhance fairness in recognizing Tribes while maintaining efficient administrative processes.