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The U.S. Small Business Administration has issued a notice about an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration for Idaho due to a landslide on Highway 95. This disaster was declared on April 21, 2025, and continues to affect the area. Businesses in the affected regions can apply for loans online through the MySBA Loan Portal until January 21, 2026. Counties mainly impacted include Adams, Gem, Valley, and nearby regions in Idaho and Oregon.

The Office of Fossil Energy & Carbon Management of the Department of Energy (DOE) has released a study evaluating the effects of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports on the economy, environment, and energy security. This study includes detailed analyses of potential impacts on domestic energy prices, greenhouse gas emissions, and effects on local communities where gas production occurs. DOE encourages public comments on the study but does not plan to make revisions based on these comments, aiming instead to use them to guide decisions on LNG exports in countries without free trade agreements with the U.S. Those interested can provide their feedback electronically by February 18, 2025.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has issued an amendment to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration for California, originally dated July 7, 2020. This amendment defines the period of civil unrest that qualifies for assistance as lasting from May 26, 2020, to December 28, 2020. Applications for these loans must be submitted by April 7, 2021. Other details from the initial declaration remain unchanged.

In this Executive Order, the President has decided to temporarily pause the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) to boost American economic and national security. Over the next 180 days, the Attorney General will review current policies related to FCPA investigations and enforcement, stopping new FCPA actions unless exceptions are deemed necessary. During this time, existing investigations will also be evaluated to ensure that FCPA enforcement is within appropriate boundaries, aligning with U.S. foreign policy and economic interests. The Attorney General is tasked with updating guidelines and can extend this review period if needed.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in collaboration with the Department of the Treasury, issued an interim final rule implementing amendments from the Economic Aid Act to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The rule extends the PPP, a program designed to provide financial aid to small businesses impacted by COVID-19, allowing them to apply for loans through March 31, 2021. It also includes updated guidelines for loan forgiveness, borrower and lender eligibility, and how loans can be used, with new rules for calculating maximum loan amounts and requirements for loan forgiveness applications. The Economic Aid Act amendments aim to streamline the application process and ensure fair access to the program for all eligible borrowers.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is reviewing an application from the North Pacific Fisheries Research Foundation for an exempted fishing permit (EFP). If approved, the permit will allow the testing of new salmon excluder devices during summer pollock fishing in the Bering Sea, particularly aimed at reducing the bycatch of chum salmon. The experiment will involve exemptions from certain regulations to facilitate this testing. Public comments on the application are invited until April 11, 2025, and the application will be considered during a virtual meeting of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council in late March and early April 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced the receipt of an application from the Alaska Seafood Cooperative for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP), aiming to reduce bycatch of halibut in the North Pacific flatfish fishery by testing new excluder devices. This permit would allow the Cooperative to conduct field testing between August 2021 and December 2022 to develop a design that minimizes target species loss while reducing halibut bycatch. Public comments on this application can be submitted through February 12, 2021, and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council will consider the application during its meeting from February 1 to February 12, 2021. This experiment aligns with the goals of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

The Rural Housing Service has issued a final rule to update regulations for the Single Family Housing Direct Loan Program and the SFH Guaranteed Loan Program. This change aims to provide borrowers with more purchase options and enhance the overall experience of these programs. Key updates include allowing the purchase of existing manufactured homes according to safety standards and extending land-lease terms for new energy-efficient homes. The rule also revises definitions and removes some administrative requirements, reflecting public feedback to improve access to affordable housing in rural areas.

The United States International Trade Commission is preparing its 2025 report on the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, covering trade in 2023 and 2024. A public hearing for this report is scheduled for February 20, 2025, and will be held at the Commission's building in Washington, DC, with a remote access option via WebEx. Important deadlines include February 5 for requesting to appear at the hearing, and March 13 for submitting all other relevant written documents. These reports assess the impact of the Act on U.S. industries, consumers, and the economies of beneficiary countries.

The State Department announced a Delegation of Authority document signed by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on December 20, 2024. This document delegates all the powers and duties of the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment to Geoffrey R. Pyatt, until a new Under Secretary is confirmed. The delegation comes into effect on January 10, 2025, and will be officially published in the Federal Register.