Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Featured Stories
SBA and Office of Advocacy Applaud President Donald J. Trump's Restoration of Pacific Fishing Grounds
WASHINGTON, June 13 -- The Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy issued the following news release on June 12, 2026:
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SBA and Office of Advocacy Applaud President Donald J. Trump's Restoration of Pacific Fishing Grounds
Trump action reopens nearly half a million square miles to commercial fishing, boosting small businesses and coastal economies
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Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) applauded President Donald J. Trump for restoring U.S. commercial fishing access in three Pacific marine national monuments covering nearly half
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WASHINGTON, June 13 -- The Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy issued the following news release on June 12, 2026:
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SBA and Office of Advocacy Applaud President Donald J. Trump's Restoration of Pacific Fishing Grounds
Trump action reopens nearly half a million square miles to commercial fishing, boosting small businesses and coastal economies
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Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) applauded President Donald J. Trump for restoring U.S. commercial fishing access in three Pacific marine national monuments covering nearly halfa million square miles -- a major win for small, family-owned fishing businesses and the coastal communities they support. By lifting blanket bans that kept American boats out of these productive waters, the President's action reopens critical fishing grounds to U.S.-flagged vessels, strengthens America's seafood supply, and helps U.S. fishermen compete on a more level playing field with foreign fleets, consistent with his April 2025 Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.
"For years, Washington bureaucrats told American fishermen to tie up their boats while foreign fleets filled their nets with fish off our Pacific coast," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "By restoring commercial access to these fishing grounds, President Trump is putting America's fishermen first, strengthening our domestic seafood supply chain, and helping lower grocery costs for American families -- while restoring the ability of small, family-owned businesses to grow, invest, and hire thanks to the President's America First Fishing Policy."
"The majority of American fishermen are small businesses, and the fishing industry is one of the most heavily regulated sectors of the economy," said Advocacy Acting Chief Counsel Everett M. Woodel, Jr. "President Trump's actions demonstrate his unwavering commitment to cutting regulatory red tape for the U.S. seafood industry."
Yesterday's proclamation is one of several steps the President and the Department of Commerce are taking under Executive Order 14276, which directs agencies to reconsider regulations that overly burden America's commercial fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing industries. Earlier this year, the President also helped fishermen on the Atlantic coast by reopening the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts National Monument to commercial fishing, reversing Biden- and Obama-era designations that crushed local industries.
Marine national monuments are areas of the ocean where fishermen are prevented from catching fish. When wide swaths of the nation's waters are declared off-limits to fishing, it has significant impacts on small businesses not only in the fishing industry, but also those that are supported by the fishing industry.
Earlier this year, Advocacy placed burdensome marine national monument and sanctuary designations on its "Small Businesses' Most Wanted Reform" list, highlighting the heavy burdens these closures impose on small fishing enterprises. Commercial fishermen have participated in Advocacy roundtables and met with regional staff to explain how monument closures have limited their ability to earn a living, supply American seafood, and support crew jobs and local economies -- especially in communities where fishing is the backbone of Main Street.
SBA and the Office of Advocacy will continue working on behalf of President Trump to restore American seafood competitiveness, ensure small fishing businesses have a strong voice in federal policymaking, and connect fishermen and shoreside small businesses with the capital they need to expand operations, upgrade vessels and equipment, and bring more American-caught seafood to market.
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Created by Congress in 1976, the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration is a voice for small business within the federal government. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy directs the office. The Chief Counsel advances the views, concerns, and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policymakers. Economic research, policy analyses, and small business outreach help identify issues of concern. Regional Advocates and an office in Washington, DC, support the Chief Counsel's efforts. For more information on the Office of Advocacy, visit advocacy.sba.gov or call (202) 205-6533.
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Original text here: https://advocacy.sba.gov/2026/06/12/sba-and-office-of-advocacy-applaud-president-donald-j-trumps-restoration-of-pacific-fishing-grounds/
Following White House Small Business Summit, SBA and GSA Take Action to Prioritize American-Made Products in Federal Purchasing
WASHINGTON, June 13 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on June 12, 2026:
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Following White House Small Business Summit, SBA and GSA Take Action to Prioritize American-Made Products in Federal Purchasing
Agencies Partner to Remove Foreign Imposters from List of Approved Federal Product Offerings
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Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in collaboration with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), announced new action to remove nearly two dozen foreign product offerings from GSA Advantage!, the list of approved vendors for federal
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WASHINGTON, June 13 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on June 12, 2026:
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Following White House Small Business Summit, SBA and GSA Take Action to Prioritize American-Made Products in Federal Purchasing
Agencies Partner to Remove Foreign Imposters from List of Approved Federal Product Offerings
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Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in collaboration with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), announced new action to remove nearly two dozen foreign product offerings from GSA Advantage!, the list of approved vendors for federalagency procurement. The action comes as a result of meetings held at the White House Small Business Summit, and in response to President Donald J. Trump's recent directive and executive order requiring federal agencies to prioritize purchasing American-made goods, in support of American workers and businesses.
During the White House Small Business Summit, President Trump and SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler met with New York-based Sherrill Manufacturing where the small business raised concerns that China-based companies were falsely marketing products on GSA Advantage as "Made in America," even though they were only partially assembled or finished in the United States.
As a result, federal agencies risked purchasing foreign-made goods under misleading claims of domestic origin in violation of the Buy American Act, the Trade Agreements Act, and related country-of-origin requirements, putting companies like Sherrill Manufacturing--the only U.S. manufacturer of stainless steel flatware that is 100% Made in America--at a distinct disadvantage in the federal marketplace. The Berry Amendment (10 U.S.C. Sec. 4862) mandates that covered items purchased by the U.S. Department of War (Dow), including stainless steel flatware, must be grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced entirely in the United States to support American warfighters and critical supply chains.
At the request of President Trump, Administrator Loeffler took immediate action to investigate the imposter product offerors. In coordination with SBA, the GSA identified and de-listed 22 falsely labeled foreign-made flatware product offerings from the Advantage! platform.
"As part of our commitment to rebuilding American industry and supply chains, the Trump SBA believes that every taxpayer dollar spent by the federal government should go to support American businesses, workers, and products. So when foreign companies were caught falsely claiming 'Made in America' status in the federal procurement system, President Trump directed the SBA and GSA to take aggressive action," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "In less than three weeks, we investigated and removed nearly two dozen foreign companies that were cheating federal agencies and taxpayers alike. Consistent with a zero-tolerance policy on waste, fraud and abuse, the Trump Administration is sending a clear message that we will not tolerate foreign imposters that hijack Made in America labels, or those that undercut honest, generational, American small businesses like Sherrill Manufacturing."
"The factory where Sherrill Manufacturing and Liberty Tabletop produce their flatware has a manufacturing history dating back to supplying America's armed forces during World War I. Since purchasing the facility in 2005, we have been proud to continue that tradition of American manufacturing and craftsmanship here in Sherrill, New York," said Matthew Roberts, Co-Founder and CEO of Sherrill Manufacturing and Liberty Tabletop. "As the only flatware manufacturer in the United States, we deeply appreciate President Trump, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, and GSA Administrator Ed Forst along with their offices for their continued efforts to keep American manufacturing alive and restore pride in products made in the USA. Their commitment to prioritizing American-made purchasing strengthens our economy, supports domestic industry, protects critical supply chains, and ensures that government agencies receive high-quality products made from American steel."
Since Day One, President Trump has fought to rebuild America's industrial base by prioritizing domestic manufacturing through fair trade, investing in critical supply chains, and ensuring taxpayer dollars support American workers and job creators instead of foreign competitors. As part of that priority, the SBA has introduced numerous initiatives to empower domestic manufacturers - 98% of whom are small businesses - to thrive.
The agency announced a new 90% Made in America loan guarantee for small manufacturers, waived loan fees for manufacturing NAICS codes in Fiscal Year 2026, and established the first-ever loan program dedicated to American manufacturers. Last year, the SBA also launched its Make Onshoring Great Again Portal, a free tool that connects small businesses to more than one million domestic suppliers to help locate domestic producers for their supply chains. The agency will continue close coordination with the GSA, the Department of Justice, and federal partners to root out impostors, enforce compliance with domestic sourcing requirements, and protect the integrity of federal procurement for honest American manufacturers.
The FBI is cracking down on False Claims related to Made in America in federal procurement. False Made in America Claims can be reported directly to: Section Chief Dom Coppo, Financial Crimes Section: dmcoppo@fbi.gov or, to maintain anonymity, via: https://tips.fbi.gov/home or by phone (800) 225-5324.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2026/06/12/following-white-house-small-business-summit-sba-gsa-take-action-prioritize-american-made-products
FAA Urged to Revise Its Approach to Radiation Exposure for Flight Crewmembers
WASHINGTON, June 13 (TNSrep) -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release:
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FAA Urged to Revise its Approach to Radiation Exposure for Flight Crewmembers; Current Approaches Are Insufficient, Says New Report
The Federal Aviation Administration should exert its existing regulatory authority over ionizing radiation as an occupational hazard to ensure the health and safety of airplane flight crews, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The report finds that in-flight
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WASHINGTON, June 13 (TNSrep) -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release:
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FAA Urged to Revise its Approach to Radiation Exposure for Flight Crewmembers; Current Approaches Are Insufficient, Says New Report
The Federal Aviation Administration should exert its existing regulatory authority over ionizing radiation as an occupational hazard to ensure the health and safety of airplane flight crews, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The report finds that in-flightcosmic radiation exposure warrants attention as an occupational hazard, but current approaches to monitoring exposure and communicating with affected workers are inconsistent and insufficient.
From natural radiation exposure during flight, crewmembers on commercial flights receive among the highest occupational exposures to radiation among workers in the United States, but they lack regulatory protections comparable to other radiation-exposed workers. Although the radiation dose received during any individual flight is generally low, evidence indicates the cumulative dose accrued over the course of a career may increase the risk of cancer and other adverse health outcomes, and therefore merits monitoring and tracking. Additionally, the tools for monitoring exposure and educating workers are available, but they are not uniformly used or deployed.
"Radiation exposure is an unavoidable part of a flight crewmember's job, and we need to do more to ensure that flight crew health and safety are sufficiently prioritized," said Jonathan Samet, professor of epidemiology and of occupational and environmental health and former dean of the Colorado School of Public Health, and chair of the committee that wrote the report. "We hope our report will be a guide to revising approaches to the problem, strengthen oversight, and empower crewmembers with the information they need to make decisions about their health."
The report notes that while available evidence from studies of flight crew does not definitively establish associations between occupational radiation exposure and specific health outcomes, there are opportunities to improve understanding of cumulative exposure during a career and the associated risks. Additionally, there is a need for greater understanding and characterization of solar particle events, when higher doses may be received. The report concludes that current scientific knowledge, operational tools, and computational models provide a sufficient foundation to improve occupational radiation management now, while continuing to make progress in strengthening research and exposure assessment over time.
Immediate Actions
Existing regulatory and operation frameworks are limited. The FAA has recognized radiation exposure as an occupational consideration for flight crews since 1990, but monitoring and management practices are neither required nor formalized, in contrast to those used in other occupations. The FAA should begin exerting its regulatory authority over ionizing radiation exposure of flight crewmembers, the report says.
In addition to asserting its regulatory authority, the FAA should build upon its investment in the CARI dose model developed by the FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, and create a user-friendly, web-based application for the model to help crewmembers track their own exposure levels, the report says. It noted that tracking radiation dose at an individual level is an interim step while more comprehensive methods are developed.
Short-Term Actions
In the near term, the report urges the FAA to require U.S. commercial airlines to implement comprehensive radiation safety programs aligned with best practices for occupational radiation protection.
In addition, the FAA should work with appropriate agencies to establish a dose-tracking system for flight crew that would allow airlines and individual employees to monitor radiation exposure. Such a system would also provide the data needed to facilitate epidemiologic research and support assessment of the population health of flight crew. Concurrently, the FAA should work in conjunction with other federal agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA on sustained, real-world radiation characterization measurement campaigns to provide more data and modeling on radiation exposure under different flight conditions.
Airlines and labor organizations should collaborate on scheduling practices that reduce exposure for workers such as pregnant crewmembers seeking lower-dose routes, the report adds.
Long-Term Actions
To address the longer-term challenges and improve computational models for estimating radiation dose, the FAA and collaborating organizations should systematically evaluate and compare radiation exposure models under realistic operating conditions. The report recommends development of an ensemble modeling approach to do so.
The report also encourages federal agencies, industry stakeholders, and flight crew organizations to build a coordinated long-term research strategy to address occupational radiation exposure and health outcomes.
Undertaken by the Committee on Assessing Radiation Exposure, Health Outcomes, and Mitigation Strategies for Flight Crewmembers, the study was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
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The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine. They operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.
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View report here: https://www.nationalacademies.org/projects/DELS-NRSB-25-01/publication/29261
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Original text here: https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/faa-urged-to-revise-its-approach-to-radiation-exposure-for-flight-crewmembers-current-approaches-are-insufficient-says-new-report
SBA Reforms 8(a) Business Development Program to End Racial Discrimination in Federal Contracting
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on June 11, 2026:
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SBA Reforms 8(a) Business Development Program to End Racial Discrimination in Federal Contracting
Agency issues new proposed rule to dismantle race-based admissions
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Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) released a proposed rule to end racial discrimination in the 8(a) Business Development Program and dismantle the race-based admissions framework that previously barred Americans of certain races from accessing 8(a) set-aside and sole-source contracting opportunities.
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WASHINGTON, June 12 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on June 11, 2026:
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SBA Reforms 8(a) Business Development Program to End Racial Discrimination in Federal Contracting
Agency issues new proposed rule to dismantle race-based admissions
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Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) released a proposed rule to end racial discrimination in the 8(a) Business Development Program and dismantle the race-based admissions framework that previously barred Americans of certain races from accessing 8(a) set-aside and sole-source contracting opportunities.Under the new rule, individuals will no longer be considered "socially disadvantaged," and therefore eligible for the 8(a) program, simply because they are a member of a racial minority group. Likewise, no individual may be barred from the 8(a) program simply because they are white. Instead, all applicants will be required to prove their social disadvantage status by submitting verifiable, fact-based evidence.
"The Biden Administration weaponized the 8(a) program as a vehicle for partisan and DEI preferences in federal contracting, using race to steer exclusive opportunities to favored groups while shutting out other deserving Americans," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "This proposed rule will dismantle the race-based admissions framework of the past and replace it with one standard for all applicants, rooted in verifiable, fact-based evidence of social disadvantage. It will restore equal treatment under clear, objective criteria and help ensure the program serves legitimate job creators instead of political friends, shell companies, or bad actors."
The 8(a) program was dramatically expanded during the Biden Administration as a vehicle for partisan and DEI preferences in federal contracting - crowding out legitimate job creators, especially white Americans. Even after a federal court ruled in 2023 that the rebuttable presumption providing de facto race-based 8(a) eligibility for certain minority groups was unconstitutional, the Biden SBA continued using race and ethnicity to steer exclusive contracting opportunities to favored groups. From 2021 through 2024, the Biden Administration approved roughly 2,100 new 8(a) firms, compared with just 65 approved to date under the Trump Administration.
The Trump SBA ended the practice of approving admissions to the 8(a) program based solely on unsubstantiated claims or Biden-era narratives of racial discrimination immediately upon taking office. Today's proposed rule will make the change permanent by replacing race-based eligibility with one standard for all applicants and requiring verifiable, fact-based evidence of social disadvantage. It will end a system of racial favoritism, restore equal treatment under clear and objective criteria, and keep the 8(a) program open to job creators of every race. Importantly, Americans discriminated against by unlawful DEI and race-based practices in the public and private sector can now qualify for 8(a) contracts.
The changes apply only to individually owned firms participating in the 8(a) Business Development Program. Eligibility standards for entity-owned participants, including businesses owned by Indian tribes, Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs), Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs), and Community Development Corporations (CDCs), remain unchanged.
Ending race-based discrimination in 8(a) admissions is only one part of the Trump SBA's broader effort to clean up a program distorted by favoritism, abuse, and weak oversight. The agency is also pursuing an aggressive campaign to root out fraud, abuse, and misconduct in 8(a) contracting, protect taxpayer dollars, and ensure the program serves legitimate small businesses instead of favored groups, shell companies, and corrupt contractors. Since last year, the agency has taken the following actions:
* In February 2025, on the first day of Administrator Loeffler's term, the Trump SBA cut the Small Disadvantaged Business contracting goal back to its statutory 5% and ended the practice of approving firms based solely on unsubstantiated claims of racial discrimination.
* In June 2025, SBA launched the first-ever audit of the 8(a) Program in its nearly 50-year history - initiating an investigation into all high-dollar and limited-competition contracts going back over a period of fifteen years.
* In July 2025, the agency rescinded the independent 8(a) contracting authority of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) after a DOJ investigation uncovered a $550 million bribery scheme involving several 8(a) contractors.
* That same month, SBA issued a letter of warning to all federal contracting officers, outlining the penalties for failing to report suspected fraud, waste, and abuse within the 8(a) Program.
* In October 2025, SBA debarred numerous 8(a) contractors following allegations of fraud involving more than $253 million in previously issued contract awards.
* In November 2025, SBA cleared the Biden-era backlog of 2,700 Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) applications, which accumulated after the prior Administration diverted all resources away from VetCert to increase certification approvals for the 8(a) Program.
* In December 2025, SBA ordered all 4,300 8(a) contractors to produce three years' worth of financial documents for review by the agency in the effort to root out pass-through abuse and fraud by shell companies.
* In January 2026, SBA suspended over 1,000 contractors from participation in the 8(a) Program after they failed to submit the documents SBA requested in December.
* In February 2026, SBA took action to terminate over 150 Washington, D.C.-based 8(a) firms that failed to meet "economic disadvantage" eligibility requirements.
* In March 2026, SBA initiated termination proceedings to remove another 620 firms that refused to submit the documents SBA requested in December.
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About the 8(a) Business Development Program
The SBA certifies small businesses considered to be socially and economically disadvantaged under its nine-year 8(a) Business Development Program. The 8(a) program helps these firms develop and grow their businesses through one-to-one counseling, training workshops and management and technical guidance. It also provides access to government contracting opportunities, allowing them to become solid competitors in the federal marketplace.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2026/06/11/sba-reforms-8a-business-development-program-end-racial-discrimination-federal-contracting
Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.95 Trillion in May
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- Ginnie Mae issued the following news release:
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Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.95 Trillion in May
Ginnie Mae's mortgage-backed securities (MBS) portfolio outstanding grew to $2.95 trillion as of May 2026. In addition, Ginnie Mae issued $54.9 billion in total MBS, resulting in net portfolio growth of $20 billion. Ginnie Mae facilitated the pooling and securitization of more than 271,000 loans for first-time homebuyers year-to-date.
Key highlights from the March issuance include:
* $52.9 billion in Ginnie Mae II MBS.
* $1.9 billion in
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- Ginnie Mae issued the following news release:
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Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.95 Trillion in May
Ginnie Mae's mortgage-backed securities (MBS) portfolio outstanding grew to $2.95 trillion as of May 2026. In addition, Ginnie Mae issued $54.9 billion in total MBS, resulting in net portfolio growth of $20 billion. Ginnie Mae facilitated the pooling and securitization of more than 271,000 loans for first-time homebuyers year-to-date.
Key highlights from the March issuance include:
* $52.9 billion in Ginnie Mae II MBS.
* $1.9 billion inGinnie Mae I MBS, including $1.8 billion for multifamily housing loans.
* The pooling and securitization of loans for more than 157,000 American households, including more than 61,600 first-time homebuyers.
For detailed information on monthly MBS issuance, unpaid principal balance, Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC) issuance, and a broader analysis of global market trends, visit Ginnie Mae Disclosure.
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About Ginnie Mae
Ginnie Mae is a wholly government-owned corporation that attracts global capital into the housing finance system to support homeownership for veterans and millions of homeowners throughout the country. Ginnie Mae MBS programs directly support housing finance programs administered by the Federal Housing Administration, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Public and Indian Housing, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service. Ginnie Mae is the only MBS to carry the explicit full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Additional information about Ginnie Mae is available at www.ginniemae.gov and on X, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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Original text here: https://www.ginniemae.gov/newsroom/Pages/PressReleaseDispPage.aspx?ParamID=376
EPA Fulfills Statutory Obligation by Transmitting Four California Waiver Rules to Congress
WASHINGTON, June 12 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Fulfills Statutory Obligation by Transmitting Four California Waiver Rules to Congress
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WASHINGTON - Today, in accordance with the Congressional Review Act (CRA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) transmitted four California waiver rules to Congress that have given the state the authority to enact its own emission standards for cars, trucks, lawn mowers, and other equipment used daily by Americans. EPA has determined that each of these waivers is a rule under the CRA, and because
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WASHINGTON, June 12 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Fulfills Statutory Obligation by Transmitting Four California Waiver Rules to Congress
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WASHINGTON - Today, in accordance with the Congressional Review Act (CRA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) transmitted four California waiver rules to Congress that have given the state the authority to enact its own emission standards for cars, trucks, lawn mowers, and other equipment used daily by Americans. EPA has determined that each of these waivers is a rule under the CRA, and becauseprevious Administrations failed to transmit them to Congress, as mandated under the CRA, Congress has not been provided with its statutorily required opportunity to review these rules.
"EPA is accountable to Congress, but most importantly we must be accountable to the American people," said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. "It is important for EPA to fulfill our statutory obligation to submit these California waivers to Congress for their review pursuant to the law."
EPA is committed to promoting consumer choice and ensuring affordable vehicles for all Americans, while following the best reading of the law. The four rules have prospective, national effects, giving California and the states that adopted the waivers under Clean Air Act section 177 the force of federal law, supplanting EPA authority.
Rules Being Transmitted to Congress
Current National Implication of the Rules
Motor Vehicle Evaporative Emissions and Greenhouse Gas ("Advanced Clean Cars I" (ACC I))
This rule allows California to impose vehicle emissions requirements stricter than federal standards. This has resulted in a push towards electric vehicles across the nation.
Reinstatement of ACC I
Following the Trump Administration revoking ACC I, the Biden EPA reinstated it, allowing California once again to impose costly vehicle emission requirements higher than federal standards.
Small Offroad Engine (SORE) Amendments
This rule imposes costly emission requirements for lawn and garden equipment and has resulted in the push towards electrification of these tools. SORE leaves small businesses, landscapers, and homeowners forced to use expensive and impractical electric tools.
Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards - 2009 and Subsequent Model Years
This rule allows California to enforce strict greenhouse gas standards. Automakers are forced to make a vehicle fit California's standards instead of the federal standards and consumers pay for this through higher vehicle costs.
Background
In early 2025, EPA transmitted to Congress three emission waivers granted to California by the Biden Administration. In June 2025, all three CRA resolutions disapproving the vehicle emission waiver rules were signed into law by President Trump, repealing EV mandates and restoring consumer choice.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-fulfills-statutory-obligation-transmitting-four-california-waiver-rules-congress
Bridging the Homeownership Gap in Wisconsin's Northwoods
CHICAGO, Illinois, June 12 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news:
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Bridging the Homeownership Gap in Wisconsin's Northwoods
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In Michigan's Western Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin's Northwoods region, the path to homeownership presents a unique challenge. While homes may be affordable, the local economy doesn't always provide wages to match, and much of the rental stock has been converted to vacation properties. For Carmen Schipferling, Home Lending Specialist at IncredibleBank, FHLBank Chicago's Downpayment
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CHICAGO, Illinois, June 12 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news:
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Bridging the Homeownership Gap in Wisconsin's Northwoods
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In Michigan's Western Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin's Northwoods region, the path to homeownership presents a unique challenge. While homes may be affordable, the local economy doesn't always provide wages to match, and much of the rental stock has been converted to vacation properties. For Carmen Schipferling, Home Lending Specialist at IncredibleBank, FHLBank Chicago's DownpaymentPlus (r) (DPP (r) ) Program has become an essential tool for bridging that gap.
"After moving to the area, I saw firsthand how hard it was for families to get into homes," Schipferling said. "DPP has helped open doors for people who never thought homeownership was possible."
IncredibleBank, a community bank with eight lenders serving the country from their offices in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Florida, has leveraged DPP as its primary down payment assistance program since Schipferling first used it in 2016. The program's simplicity and substantial grant amount has made a meaningful difference for first-time homebuyers who might otherwise remain locked out of the market.
Since 2024, the partnership has accelerated, with IncredibleBank helping approximately 30 families achieve homeownership through DPP, most receiving the maximum funding. One story stands out: a single mother raising her three-year-old daughter and teenage sister arrived at closing needing only one dollar to complete her purchase.
"She was in tears," Schipferling recalled. "She said, 'I never thought this would happen. And now here I am buying a house with one dollar.'"
Behind every successful closing is the support of FHLBank Chicago's DPP team. Schipferling credits Community Investment Operations Specialist Kait Decker with going above and beyond-once resolving a critical issue just two days before closing. "She makes us feel well cared for," said Schipferling. "There's never anything too small to ask."
Looking ahead, all IncredibleBank lenders have enrolled in DPP training for 2026, with the goal of offering the program to every qualifying customer. "DPP has become an essential part of how we support first-time homebuyers," Schipferling said. "Our goal is to make sure it's available to as many qualifying families as possible."
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Original text here: https://www.fhlbc.com/news/news-detail/2026/06/10/bridging-the-homeownership-gap-in-wisconsin's-northwoods
