United States: Government Policy & Public Finance

Congress faces a December 11 funding deadline with unfinished FY27 appropriations bills, and the path forward depends on more than just election results. Will lawmakers complete the bills in a lame duck session, extend funding into 2027, or pursue a hybrid approach? The answer hinges on whether negotiators can reach a funding agreement quickly enough and whether congressional leaders and the White House will support the necessary compromises.

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed imposing fees of $70,000 for initial Optional Practical Training periods and $30,000 for subsequent periods including STEM extensions, with schools bearing the direct cost burden. The proposal aims to combat fraud and abuse within the OPT program while protecting U.S. workers, but could significantly impact international student hiring strategies and the availability of OPT talent for employers.

Delaware continues to issue verified report notices that can require companies to certify their unclaimed property reporting and provide supporting information within specified deadlines.

NCBFAA President Karen Damon shares critical insights from the association's Government Affairs Conference, discussing the urgent need for advance notice on tariff changes, the evolving role...

Minnesota's Pollution Control Agency has published information on approximately 23,500 products containing intentionally added PFAS, representing about 16% of reports received as of October 2026. The agency has launched a new web page to help the public access this data, including information provided under waivers from the PFAS Reporting Information System for Manufacturers (PRISM).

As Congress enters its October recess and shifts into campaign mode, a growing fight over executive spending authority is complicating year-end funding negotiations. The Trump Administration's repeated testing of congressional control over federal funding has prompted bipartisan pushback from appropriators, raising the prospect of new guardrails in future appropriations bills to protect grant-making processes and prevent pocket rescissions.

The FDA has proposed a significant overhaul to the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) notification system, making notifications mandatory for the first time since the system's inception. With only a two-month comment period ending December 9, 2026, food manufacturers and suppliers face critical decisions about compliance strategies and risk management. The proposed rule maintains existing GRAS criteria but introduces new notification requirements, streamlined submission options, and extended review timelin

The executive branch possesses substantial authority to reshape federal cannabis policy without waiting for Congress. Through strategic use of existing statutes, the President could direct agencies to establish scientific pilot programs for medical and adult-use marijuana, initiate descheduling reviews, and create regulatory frameworks that demonstrate workable alternatives while building pressure for comprehensive legislative reform.

On September 25, 2026, EPA published a final rule that codifies its existing interpretations regarding when and whether “applicable requirements” established in other Clean Air Act (CAA) programs may be reviewed, modified, and/or implemented through the Title V operating permit program. 91 Fed. Reg. 61026 (Sept. 25, 2026). In particular, the final rule clarifies (1) the limited situations in which requirements under the New Source Review (NSR) preconstruction permitting program would be reviewed using the EPA’s Title V oversight authorities, and (2) the EPA’s “well-established” position that the CAA’s General Duty Clause is not an “applicable requirement” implemented through the Title V program.