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The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a new rule adding 16 entities to the Entity List because they are involved in activities against U.S. national security or foreign policy interests. These entities, mostly located in China and a couple in Singapore, are contributing to the development of advanced computing technology that could be used for military and surveillance purposes. As a result, they are now subject to additional licensing requirements for exporting, reexporting, or transferring items covered by U.S. regulations. This rule is effective from January 16, 2025, and was enacted without a prior proposal due to its relevance to national security.

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission will conduct a public hearing on February 20, 2025, in Washington, DC, focusing on China’s relationships with Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The hearing aims to analyze China’s strategic partnerships with these countries, including economic ties, trade, sanctions evasion, and cooperation in security and technology. Public participation is encouraged, with options to attend in person or watch via a live webcast. Queries and accommodation requests can be directed to Jameson Cunningham at the commission.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a final rule amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to clarify the scope of export controls on certain vaccines and medical products. These changes are based on decisions from the Australia Group's June 2019 Plenary meeting. The aim is to ensure greater consistency and harmonization of international export controls, enhancing national security by preventing dual-use items from contributing to the development of chemical or biological weapons. The rule modifies controls on vaccines containing specific biological agents to only require licenses for export to a limited number of countries of concern.

The Department of Defense has announced the removal of two companies, IDG Capital Partners Co., Ltd. and Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc. China, from the list of "Chinese military companies." This decision was made by the Deputy Secretary of Defense based on updated information under the guidelines of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. This removal is referenced in a previous Federal Register notice published on April 2, 2024.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has issued a final rule concerning the review of transactions involving information and communications technology and services (ICTS) linked to foreign adversaries. This rule establishes procedures to evaluate such transactions for risks to national security, potentially prohibiting them or requiring mitigation measures if they pose undue threats. The rule includes new definitions and procedural updates to clarify transaction reviews, address public comments, and streamline processes. The measures aim to safeguard the ICTS supply chain from foreign threats, enhance transparency, and provide guidelines for penalties if regulations are violated.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has made changes to the Export Administration Regulations. This includes adding the China National Offshore Oil Corporation Ltd. to the Entity List due to activities against U.S. national security. The Military End-User (MEU) List now includes Beijing Skyrizon Aviation Industry Investment Co., Ltd., while two entities from Russia have been removed from the MEU List to fix duplicate entries. These decisions aim to strengthen control over exports to entities acting detrimentally to the security and policy interests of the United States.

In a proclamation dated March 14, 2025, President Donald J. Trump addresses the activities of Tren de Aragua (TdA), a foreign terrorist organization involved in illegal activities such as drug trafficking and violent crimes, which is infiltrating the United States. The proclamation authorizes the use of the Alien Enemies Act to apprehend, detain, and remove TdA members in the U.S. who are not naturalized or lawful permanent residents. The proclamation directs government agencies to collaborate and enforce these measures, emphasizing that TdA poses a significant threat to the safety and security of the United States. The directives apply across all U.S. territories, and any property linked to hostile activities by TdA is subject to seizure.

The Department of State has announced a 30-day period for public comments regarding a proposed information collection aimed at certain visa applicants. This proposal seeks to gather additional information such as travel, address, and employment history over the past 15 years, as well as details about family members, for applicants who may require extra scrutiny for national security reasons. The information is intended to improve the evaluation process for visas and align with protocols for assessing potential security risks. Public comments will help assess the necessity and burden of this information collection.

The Executive Order 14129 mandates that all federal executive departments and agencies will be closed on December 24, 2024, allowing their employees the day off before Christmas. However, the heads of these departments can require certain offices to remain open for reasons such as national security or other public needs. The closures are also aligned with existing laws regarding employee pay and leave. The order ensures that it doesn't affect any existing legal authority or create new legal rights.

The Department of Commerce is starting an investigation to understand how importing pharmaceuticals and their ingredients might affect national security. This examination is under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. They are asking the public for comments, data, and insights by May 7, 2025. They are particularly interested in the demand for these drugs in the U.S., the impact of foreign supply chains, and possible ways to boost local production.