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The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration decided to withdraw a proposed rule that aimed to revise regulations related to the National Apprenticeship Act of 1937. This proposed rule, initially published in January 2024, sought to enhance the quality and equity of registered apprenticeship programs. The withdrawal follows extensive feedback from over 2,000 stakeholders who highlighted the need for further discussion and refinement of proposed changes. The Department plans to continue engaging with interested parties to consider potential future enhancements before introducing a new proposal.

The Coast Guard is proposing updates to the special regulations for various marine events like parades and regattas in the Ohio Valley area. These changes will include adding new events, revising details of current events, and removing ones that no longer happen. The proposal aims to make the rules more efficient by minimizing administrative costs and keep the public informed. The Coast Guard is inviting the public to provide comments by March 25, 2021, to help shape this rulemaking process.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice have announced a further delay in the implementation of the "Security Bars" final rule until December 31, 2025. This rule was originally intended to define certain public health concerns as threats to U.S. security, affecting asylum eligibility. The delay is due to potential conflicts with other existing regulations and the absence of current public health conditions that would activate the rule. The departments are seeking public comments on the postponement, but not on the potential modification or cancellation of the rule.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is updating its regulations to increase the maximum fines it can impose for violations. These changes are required by a federal law that adjusts penalties for inflation. For violations of the Atomic Energy Act, the penalty will increase from $362,814 to $372,240 per violation, per day. Additionally, for false claims under the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act, the penalty will increase from $13,946 to $14,308. These new penalties take effect on January 15, 2025.

The Department of Transportation has withdrawn a proposed rule that was meant to update its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures. The original proposal, introduced in 2020, aimed to revise existing procedures for considering environmental impacts, but these changes were never finalized. This decision comes following updates to the NEPA statute in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 and improved management practices in environmental reviews. The department plans to issue any new revisions for public review and comment before finalization.

The Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation (FCSIC) has issued a final rule addressing adjustments to civil money penalties (CMPs), in compliance with the 2015 amendments to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990. These adjustments ensure that penalties remain effective as a deterrent by accounting for inflation, with new amounts applying from January 15, 2025, for any conduct from November 2, 2015, onward. The updated penalty for violations under section 5.65(c) or (d) of the Farm Credit Act is $264 per day. This rule bypasses standard procedure for public comment due to statutory requirements.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has finalized a rule that updates the State Energy Program regulations. This rule incorporates changes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, mandating states to include transmission and distribution planning support in their energy conservation plans. These changes were initially made in an interim rule released in April 2024, and as no comments were received, the interim rule is now adopted without any modifications. The final rule becomes effective on December 12, 2024.

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), which is part of the Department of Justice, has decided to withdraw a proposed rule from February 5, 2024. This rule aimed to replace the existing Victim Compensation Program Guidelines and update requirements under the Victims of Crime Act. OJP made this decision after receiving a large number of comments and recognizing that more time is needed to consider the feedback properly. For now, the current guidelines remain in place, and OJP may explore a new rule in the future based on further discussions with stakeholders.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has issued a final rule to adjust maximum civil monetary penalties for inflation for the year 2021 as mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. These adjustments apply to penalties for false loan guaranty certifications and fraudulent claims related to VA programs. The rule, which became effective on February 2, 2021, specifies increased penalty amounts based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The VA has complied with requirements and regulations, finding no need for public comment or impact on small entities.

The U.S. Department of the Interior has issued final regulations revising the rules that implement Tribal Self-Governance as part of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. This update was created through negotiations among Self-Governance and non-Self-Governance Tribes and the Department. The new regulations aim to give Tribes more control over certain federal programs and associated funding, reduce bureaucratic barriers, and better align these regulations with Tribal sovereignty and self-determination principles. These rules also establish procedures for future involvement and input from Tribal nations, along with setting standards for managing federal programs and responsibilities.