Government Regulation and Public Sector Law

Congress faces mounting pressure to address the nation's long-term fiscal challenges, including rising debt, growing interest costs, and projected Social Security funding shortfalls. A bipartisan fiscal commission, paired with shared political risk and commitment to action, could help lawmakers tackle these critical issues before a crisis forces more painful solutions.

One comment can change the entire meeting. Under Maryland's new Worker Freedom Act, effective October 1, 2026, employees may walk out of certain mandatory meetings without fear of discipline. With such an expansive law, employers are bound to have a few questions.

A federal judge has ruled New York's Climate Change Superfund Act unconstitutional, marking the second such decision in under a month. The ruling permanently enjoins enforcement of the law that sought to retroactively hold fossil fuel producers liable for $75 billion in climate adaptation costs based on historical emissions. This decision adds to growing legal uncertainty around state and local efforts to pursue climate damages through the court system.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has published comprehensive amendments to Cuba sanctions regulations, expanded Iran sectoral sanctions to include automotive and rail industries, and targeted multiple transnational criminal networks including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel. Meanwhile, the UK and EU have strengthened Russia sanctions enforcement while providing targeted exemptions for specific energy projects, and Asia-Pacific nations are navigating complex sanctions compliance challenges.

The US Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control conducted one of the Trump administration's most extensive crackdowns on cartel operations, designating 56 individuals and entities tied to the Sinaloa Cartel and Tren de Aragua. These sweeping sanctions targeted not only cartel leadership but also money launderers, corrupt Mexican officials, and financial facilitators, marking a significant escalation in Washington's network-focused approach to disrupting transnational criminal organizations

Treasury's Operation Economic Outcast is expanding beyond traditional sanctions to target foreign banks, digital-asset platforms, and shadow-banking networks that facilitate Iran's access to the global financial system. Through a combination of OFAC designations, FinCEN prohibitions, and actions against intermediary infrastructure, the administration is demonstrating its willingness to employ multiple punitive measures to achieve economic isolation. Financial institutions must now assess Iran-risk not just

On October 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) announced that it had, in July 2026, issued its first civil enforcement penalty under the Outbound Investment Security Program, often referred to as the Outbound Investment Rule (the “OIR”). Treasury levied a $200,000 penalty against Amidi, LLC (“Amidi”) for failing to submit a required notification of an investment by its controlled foreign entity into a “Chinese embodied artificial intelligence company.”

The Department of Energy has released an Expression of Interest seeking input on transferring surplus critical minerals and rare earth elements from five former nuclear weapons production and energy research sites. These materials, including aluminum, lithium, tungsten, and other strategic resources, could help reduce US dependence on foreign mineral imports while supporting domestic advanced manufacturing and defense industries.

On Oct. 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the first civil penalty under the Outbound Investment Security Program (OISP), which prohibits or requires notification of certain U.S.

Congress faces mounting pressure to address the nation's long-term fiscal challenges, including rising debt, growing interest costs, and projected Social Security funding shortfalls. A bipartisan fiscal commission, paired with shared political risk and commitment to action, could help lawmakers tackle these critical issues before a crisis forces more painful solutions.

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.

Congressional appropriators face mounting challenges as FY27 budget negotiations stall while the federal debt surpasses $40 trillion. The White House's attempt to reshape NIH grant decisions through political appointees sparked immediate pushback from key lawmakers, raising fundamental questions about executive authority over congressionally mandated funding processes.