Policy Updates are short-form analyses from Griffin & Prescotts's Government Affairs team on legislative, regulatory, and policy developments that affect our clients. They are published as developments warrant rather than on a fixed schedule.

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Policy UpdateAugust 9, 2026

Executive Order 14416 Expands Federal Oversight of the Smithsonian Institution

On July 24, 2026, President Trump signed Executive Order 14416, directing federal officials to review and revise content and programming at the Smithsonian Institution to align…

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Policy UpdateAugust 9, 2026

EPA Closes Comment Period on Proposed PFAS Rule Rescission and Extended PFOA/PFOS Compliance Deadlines

The Environmental Protection Agency has closed the public comment period on two proposed rules that would materially reshape the federal regulatory framework for per- and…

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Policy UpdateAugust 9, 2026

Executive Order 14417 Establishes Presidential Commission on Military Spouses and Families

On August 3, 2026, President Trump signed Executive Order 14417, establishing a Presidential commission tasked with advising the administration on federal policies affecting…

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Policy UpdateAugust 8, 2026

DOL's 2026 Rule List Signals Major Wage and Hour Regulatory Overhaul

In early July 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor released its 2026 agency rule list, previewing a substantial slate of regulatory activity from the Wage and Hour Division for the…

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Policy UpdateAugust 8, 2026

DOL Final Rule Overhauls LM-2 Financial Reporting for Large Labor Organizations

The U.S. Department of Labor has finalized a rule that significantly revises the financial reporting obligations imposed on labor organizations under the LM-2 framework. The rule,…

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Policy UpdateAugust 8, 2026

SEC Modernizes Staff Delegations of Authority in Final Rule

On July 15, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted a final rule, Release No. 33-11431, amending the rules that delegate authority to Commission staff. The amendments…

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Policy UpdateAugust 7, 2026

EPA Aligns EPCRA Hazardous Chemical Inventory Reporting with OSHA HazCom Standards, Effective August 21, 2026

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a rule that meaningfully reshapes how facilities classify and report hazardous chemicals under the Emergency Planning and…

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Policy UpdateAugust 7, 2026

HHS Proposes Rescission of Head Start Wage and Benefits Requirements

On August 6, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking…

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Policy UpdateAugust 7, 2026

CMS Proposes CY 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: Conversion Factor Cuts, MIPS Revisions, and Extended Telehealth Flexibilities

On July 14, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Calendar Year 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule (CMS-1848-P). The proposal…

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Policy UpdateAugust 7, 2026

Executive Order 14415 Tightens Defense Supply Chain Sourcing Rules and Waiver Limits

On July 20, 2026, President Trump signed Executive Order 14415, Securing America's Defense Supply Chains and Domestic Critical Materials . The order directs the Department of War…

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Policy UpdateAugust 6, 2026

OMB Releases 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda: What Clients Should Anticipate

On July 3, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget published the 2026 Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. Together, these…

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Policy UpdateAugust 6, 2026

DHS Ends 'Duration of Status' for F, J, and I Visa Holders: What Fixed Admission Periods Mean for Employers and Students

On July 17, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security published a final rule that fundamentally restructures how F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and I nonimmigrant foreign…

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