Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
OAH Joins PEN America Letter Urging Rescission of Censorship Policies
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana, Feb. 12 -- The Organization of American Historians issued the following news on Feb. 11, 2026:
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OAH Joins PEN America Letter Urging Rescission of Censorship Policies
The Organization of American Historians has joined as a signatory a letter (https://pen.org/pen-america-partners-call-on-texas-am-rescind-censorship-policies/) by PEN America to the Board of Regents of Texas A&M University. The February 10 letter requests Texas A&M rescind two policies that have resulted in the censorship of academic courses across the institution and the announced closure of the University's
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BLOOMINGTON, Indiana, Feb. 12 -- The Organization of American Historians issued the following news on Feb. 11, 2026:
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OAH Joins PEN America Letter Urging Rescission of Censorship Policies
The Organization of American Historians has joined as a signatory a letter (https://pen.org/pen-america-partners-call-on-texas-am-rescind-censorship-policies/) by PEN America to the Board of Regents of Texas A&M University. The February 10 letter requests Texas A&M rescind two policies that have resulted in the censorship of academic courses across the institution and the announced closure of the University'sWomen's & Gender Studies Program. Nearly 40 organizations have signed on in support of the letter.
This is the second time the OAH has stood up for academic freedom in Texas. Last year, the OAH also submitted a letter to Texas State University affirming academic freedom and shared governance. Facilitated by OAH's Committee on Academic Freedom, the letter urged university leaders to "uphold due process and resist actions that could set damaging precedents for the academic profession."
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Original text here: https://www.oah.org/2026/02/11/oah-joins-pen-america-letter-urging-texas-am-rescind-censorship-policies/
[Category: Economics]
Institute for Energy Research: EPA Revokes Endangerment Finding: What You Need to Know
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- The Institute for Energy Research issued the following commentary:
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EPA Revokes Endangerment Finding: What You Need to Know
EPA's Regulatory Overreach on GHGs
By Kenny Stein
The EPA's claim of authority over greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act effectively gives it control over nearly all human activity--including respiration--since GHGs are ubiquitous byproducts. This violates the major questions doctrine, which requires clear and explicit congressional authorization for such sweeping powers. No such authorization exists.
No Congressional Intent for Broad
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- The Institute for Energy Research issued the following commentary:
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EPA Revokes Endangerment Finding: What You Need to Know
EPA's Regulatory Overreach on GHGs
By Kenny Stein
The EPA's claim of authority over greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act effectively gives it control over nearly all human activity--including respiration--since GHGs are ubiquitous byproducts. This violates the major questions doctrine, which requires clear and explicit congressional authorization for such sweeping powers. No such authorization exists.
No Congressional Intent for BroadGHG Regulation
Congress designed the Clean Air Act to address toxic compounds and visible pollution, not greenhouse gases. Legislative history shows repeated rejection of broad GHG controls: failed cap-and-trade proposals, limited and later-weakened methane provisions, and separate laws targeting specific GHGs, like HFCs, all indicate that Congress deliberately excluded broad GHG regulation from the Clean Air Act.
Direct Conflict Between CAA and CAFE Standards
Regulating CO2 emissions from vehicle tailpipes under the Clean Air Act conflicts with Congress's separate Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program, which was created specifically to address fuel efficiency. The Clean Air Act was intended to address toxic emissions that can be reduced with add-on technologies such as catalytic converters, not to regulate inherent combustion byproducts such as CO2.
Flaws in the Massachusetts v. EPA Decision
The 2007 Supreme Court ruling interpreted the Clean Air Act to include greenhouse gases, but this broad reading is now contradicted by the major questions doctrine. The term "pollutant" in the Act should apply to substances causing direct toxic harm, not indirect climate effects from GHGs. Otherwise, the statute could absurdly extend to regulating water vapor or other natural byproducts.
Indirect and Speculative Nature of Claimed GHG Harms
Greenhouse gases do not directly harm human health. Any alleged harms are indirect, projected far into the future, and rest on climate model scenarios rather than clear, observed evidence of imminent danger beyond general temperature increases. Regulating based on potential future risks does not fit the Clean Air Act's framework for addressing immediate pollutants.
Weak Scientific Foundation for the Finding
The 2009 endangerment finding relies heavily on climate models driven by extreme, implausible emissions scenarios that overestimate future emissions and produce alarmist projections unsuitable for policymaking. The EPA should limit its analyses to more realistic and plausible emissions pathways for credible, policy-relevant assessments.
Rescinding the 2009 Endangerment Finding
The EPA is correct to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding to restore alignment with congressional intent and recent Supreme Court precedents. If greenhouse gas regulation is desired, Congress--not the EPA--must pass specific legislation clearly defining the authority, purpose, and objectives.
Read the Institute for Energy Research's full comment on the Reconsideration of 2009 Endangerment Finding and Greenhouse Gas Vehicle Standards.
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Kenny Stein is the Vice President of Policy and has worked for the Institute for Energy Research since 2017. Kenny received his J.D. from the University of Houston and his B.A. in international relations from American University.
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Original text here: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/regulation/epa-revokes-endangerment-finding-what-you-need-to-know/
[Category: Energy]
Great University of the Lord': President Oaks' Vision Enshrined at BYU
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Feb. 12 -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints issued the following news release:
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Great University of the Lord': President Oaks' Vision Enshrined at BYU
At a special presentation following his devotional address at Brigham Young University (BYU) on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, a plaque was unveiled honoring President Dallin H. Oaks of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with an inscription from his talk.
"I firmly believe," the quote says, "that it is the destiny of Brigham Young University to become what past and present prophets knew it could
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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Feb. 12 -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints issued the following news release:
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Great University of the Lord': President Oaks' Vision Enshrined at BYU
At a special presentation following his devotional address at Brigham Young University (BYU) on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, a plaque was unveiled honoring President Dallin H. Oaks of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with an inscription from his talk.
"I firmly believe," the quote says, "that it is the destiny of Brigham Young University to become what past and present prophets knew it couldbecome. With the consecration and leadership of this community, BYU will become the great university of the Lord -- not in the world's way but in the Lord's way."
This plaque will be placed at the Carillon Bell Tower and will accompany a separate one from former Church President Spencer W. Kimball's dedication of the musical landmark on BYU's campus on October 10, 1975.
"Just as these bells will lift the hearts of the hearers when they hear the hymns and anthems played to Thy glory," President Kimball said during the university's centennial year, "let the morality of the graduates of this university provide the music of hope for the inhabitants of this planet."
The 97-foot-tall tower was erected in 1975 as a centennial gift donated by students, faculty, and alumni. President Oaks was president of BYU when the tower was installed. During the academic semesters and spring and summer terms, a carillonneur plays a 30-minute recital on most weekdays beginning at noon. The "Come, Come, Ye Saints" theme is played automatically on the hour.
Designed to endure, the tower has 53 bells, all of which were cast in Holland. The largest bell weighs 3 tons, or 6,000 pounds. The smallest bell weighs about 211/2 pounds.
At the tower's dedication in 1975, President Oaks called it a "landmark to signal the completion of our first century and to remind us of lofty hopes with which we inaugurate our second century."
More than 50 years after the bells first rang, the addition of President Oaks' words ensures that BYU's mission remains anchored to its "lofty hopes" and its identity as the "great university of the Lord."
Watch President Oaks' February 10 address at BYU, "Coming Closer to Jesus Christ (https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-oaks-first-public-address-byu-devotional-come-closer-jesus-christ)."
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Original text here: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-oaks-byu-carillon-bell-tower
[Category: Religion]
Families USA: New Report - Wasteful Spending and Unchecked Growth of Medicare Advantage Threatening the Future of Medicare
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (TNSrpt) -- Families USA, a nonpartisan consumer health advocacy organization, issued the following news release on Feb. 11, 2026:
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NEW REPORT: Wasteful Spending and Unchecked Growth of Medicare Advantage Threatening the Future of Medicare
Medicare Advantage costs more than traditional Medicare yet often delivers lower quality care, according to a new report released today by Families USA. Now covering more than 33 million older Americans, the Medicare Advantage program has become a massive driver of wasteful spending and corporate profiteering that undermines Medicare's
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (TNSrpt) -- Families USA, a nonpartisan consumer health advocacy organization, issued the following news release on Feb. 11, 2026:
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NEW REPORT: Wasteful Spending and Unchecked Growth of Medicare Advantage Threatening the Future of Medicare
Medicare Advantage costs more than traditional Medicare yet often delivers lower quality care, according to a new report released today by Families USA. Now covering more than 33 million older Americans, the Medicare Advantage program has become a massive driver of wasteful spending and corporate profiteering that undermines Medicare'spromise to seniors and drives up costs for the federal government, taxpayers and health care consumers.
The report details how the program's flawed payment system has allowed insurers to inflate their payments from the federal government without following through on the promise of providing better care to seniors.
"For too long, big health care corporations have been rigging the system so they can bring home the highest possible profits rather than delivering the highest quality care, and our nation's seniors are paying the price," said Sophia Tripoli, senior director for health policy at Families USA. "Reducing excessive payments to Medicare Advantage insurance companies would save money that could be used to lower out-of-pocket costs or expand coverage in traditional Medicare for dental, hearing and vision care. It is long overdue for policymakers to take action to stop Medicare Advantage overpayments so that we can improve coverage for people in traditional Medicare."
Since 2007, inflated spending in Medicare Advantage has cost the federal government nearly $600 billion. As program enrollment increases, so does the level of overspending. In 2025 alone, Medicare is projected to pay 20% more to cover enrollees in Medicare Advantage than it would spend if those same beneficiaries were enrolled in traditional Medicare -- a difference that amounts to $84 billion in extra spending in just one year. This wasteful spending is a direct threat to the sustainability of the Medicare program overall.
In the report, Families USA identifies six solutions to rein in Medicare Advantage overpayments, stop industry abuses and restore integrity and fairness to the program.
1. Cracking down on upcoding and corporate gaming through strong risk adjustment reform and full implementation of the bipartisan No UPCODE Act.
2. Modernizing Medicare Advantage benchmarks and bidding to ensure taxpayer dollars reward efficiency and real quality improvement.
3. Reforming the quality bonus program to be budget neutral and impose penalties for poor performance.
4. Tightening oversight of vertically integrated insurers to stop them from hiding profits and violating medical loss ratio protections.
5. Expanding transparency so the public and policymakers know whether Medicare Advantage plans deliver real value and access to care.
6. Investing in traditional Medicare by adding dental, vision and hearing benefits and a cap on out-of-pocket costs -- promoting healthy competition between Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare to ensure beneficiaries have meaningful, high-quality choices.
Families USA experts are available to speak with media on this issue upon request.
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REPORT: https://familiesusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Medicare-Advantage_final.pdf
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Original text here: https://familiesusa.org/press-releases/new-report-wasteful-spending-and-unchecked-growth-of-medicare-advantage-threatening-the-future-of-medicare/
[Category: Sociological]
Cato Institute: Wrecking Ball Politics? A Case for Strategic Adjustment
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Cato Institute issued the following news release:
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Wrecking Ball Politics? A Case for Strategic Adjustment
It is past time to return leadership of European security affairs to Europeans.
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As the Munich Security Report 2026 warns of "wrecking-ball politics" putting the international order "under destruction," Cato Institute's Justin Logan and Josh Shifrinson offer a different take in Foreign Affairs: Having achieved its strategic goals in Europe long ago, it is past time to return leadership of European security affairs to Europeans.
Their analysis makes the case
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Cato Institute issued the following news release:
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Wrecking Ball Politics? A Case for Strategic Adjustment
It is past time to return leadership of European security affairs to Europeans.
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As the Munich Security Report 2026 warns of "wrecking-ball politics" putting the international order "under destruction," Cato Institute's Justin Logan and Josh Shifrinson offer a different take in Foreign Affairs: Having achieved its strategic goals in Europe long ago, it is past time to return leadership of European security affairs to Europeans.
Their analysis makes the casefor deliberate U.S. troop withdrawals, Europeanizing NATO leadership, and shifting America's role to that of an offshore balancer -- saving at least $70 to $80 billion annually while freeing resources for Asia and domestic priorities.
Logan and Shifrinson are available for interviews and commentary throughout the Munich Security Conference. Please contact Cato PR at pr@cato.org.
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Original text here: https://www.cato.org/news-releases/wrecking-ball-politics-case-strategic-adjustment#
[Category: Sociological]
CALSTART: Federal Highway Administration's New 'Buy America' Proposal Will Harm U.S. Manufacturing
PASADENA, California, Feb. 12 -- CALSTART, an organization that says it works with member companies to build a clean transportation industry, issued the following news release on Feb. 11, 2026:
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Federal Highway Administration's New 'Buy America' Proposal Will Harm U.S. Manufacturing
WASHINGTON, D.C.: On Tuesday, February 10, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released a proposal to update the Build America, Buy America waiver for manufactured products, bringing the required percentage of components used to make electric vehicle (EV) chargers purchased through funded programs from
... Show Full Article
PASADENA, California, Feb. 12 -- CALSTART, an organization that says it works with member companies to build a clean transportation industry, issued the following news release on Feb. 11, 2026:
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Federal Highway Administration's New 'Buy America' Proposal Will Harm U.S. Manufacturing
WASHINGTON, D.C.: On Tuesday, February 10, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released a proposal to update the Build America, Buy America waiver for manufactured products, bringing the required percentage of components used to make electric vehicle (EV) chargers purchased through funded programs from55 to 100 percent.
In response, CALSTART Head of Policy, Trisha DelloIacono, issued the following statement:
"CALSTART strongly supports the goal of expanding U.S. manufacturing and creating American jobs. It is central to our mission and to the future of the U.S. transportation sector. However, domestic manufacturing goals must be aligned with real-world supply chain capacity. Without corresponding domestic production capacity in place, this proposal would undermine the very manufacturing growth it seeks to promote.
"The original waiver for EV chargers was not designed to give the industry preferential treatment, but to reflect the reality that key components like LCD displays, transformers, charging cables, circuit boards, and connectors are simply not manufactured at sufficient scale in the United States. Without viable manufacturing for these complex components, requiring 100 percent domestic manufacturing essentially blocks the implementation of critical infrastructure, weakening U.S. manufacturers and threatening the jobs tied to this growing industry.
"Federal investments in EV charging through programs such as the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program, the Carbon Reduction Program, and the Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities program are helping build the backbone of a competitive American EV industry. Slowing charger deployment at this critical stage risks weakening U.S. manufacturers, suppliers, and fleet operators who are working to compete in a rapidly electrifying global market.
"As the global auto industry accelerates its transition to EVs, U.S. competitiveness depends on building the charging infrastructure that supports that shift. Policies that disrupt this build-out at a critical moment will not strengthen American industry but make it harder for U.S. companies to compete and lead in the next generation of transportation."
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About CALSTART
A mission-driven industry organization focused on transportation decarbonization and clean air for all, CALSTART has offices in New York, Michigan, Colorado, California, Florida, and Europe. CALSTART is uniquely positioned to build the national clean transportation industry by working closely with its nearly 200 member companies and building on the lessons learned from the major programs it manages for the State of California. CALSTART manages more than $1 billion in vehicle incentive and technical assistance programs in the United States and is leading a global effort to build the zero-emission commercial vehicle market.
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Original text here: https://calstart.org/federal-highway-admin-new-buy-america-proposal-will-harm-us-manufacturing/
[Category: Environment]
14 Public Interest Groups Urge Meta to Act on Scam Ads
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- The National Consumers League issued the following news release on Feb. 11, 2026:
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14 Public Interest Groups Urge Meta to Act on Scam Ads
Today, the National Consumers League and 13 other public interest groups urged Meta to implement new policies to combat the epidemic of scam ads on its platforms, which includes Facebook and Instagram. The advocacy effort comes after reporting that the company at one point projected 10% of its revenue to come from advertisements for scams and banned goods. Meta also privately estimated that the company facilitated a third of all
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- The National Consumers League issued the following news release on Feb. 11, 2026:
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14 Public Interest Groups Urge Meta to Act on Scam Ads
Today, the National Consumers League and 13 other public interest groups urged Meta to implement new policies to combat the epidemic of scam ads on its platforms, which includes Facebook and Instagram. The advocacy effort comes after reporting that the company at one point projected 10% of its revenue to come from advertisements for scams and banned goods. Meta also privately estimated that the company facilitated a third of allsuccessful scams in the United States.
"Preventing the proliferation of scams is one of the most effective ways to protect the public from further losses," said John Breyault, NCL Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud. "Meta is uniquely positioned to stop a massive amount of fraud before it even happens. We believe it has a responsibility to do so."
The consumer groups are pushing Meta to establish a victim restitution program, strengthen its oversight of advertisers, and increase transparency into its handling of suspected scam ads.
The organizations also indicated that they are exploring ways to support new state and federal legal requirements, including the enforcement of existing statutes prohibiting unfair and deceptive practices and the enactment of new legislation regarding the facilitation of scam advertisements.
"Given Meta's enormous size and the scale of its platforms, it is one of the entities in the fraud ecosystem best positioned to combat these crimes," wrote the groups.
The full letter can be found here.
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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America's pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.
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February 11, 2026
Mark Zuckerberg
Meta Platforms, Inc.
1 Meta Way
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Dear Mr. Zuckerberg,
The fourteen undersigned public interest advocacy groups are deeply concerned by recentreporting that Meta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue--approximately $16 billion--wouldcome from ads promoting scams and banned goods, and that a 2025 internal Meta presentationestimated that the company's platforms facilitated a third of all successful scams in the United States.1 Meta also reported that its platforms deliver 15 billion scam ads to users each day, inaddition to exposing them to 22 billion other scam attempts outside of ads. In another recentreport, Meta knowingly tolerated high levels of scam ads from Chinese advertisers, generatingover $3 billion in revenue in 2024.2
These recent reports are not isolated incidents but rather follow a troubling pattern of behaviorwhere Meta has enabled and profited from scams. In one deeply disturbing case, Meta generated$49 million in revenue from deepfake video ads featuring public figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk promoting made-up government benefits.3 Internal company data also shows that upto 70% of newly active advertisers promote low quality or fraudulent products while the platformallows them to accumulate up to 32 strikes before suspending them.4 In other reported cases,Meta has allowed scammers to run fraudulent investment ads,5 scam ads offering fake 'tariffrelief' credits6 and health scams promoting fake medical products.7Behind these reported cases are real-world stories of seniors, veterans, and other impactedconsumers who have suffered serious harm. Here are just a few examples of consumers whohave been harmed by scam ads on Meta or scams originating on the company's platforms: A 65-year-old woman lost her entire 401k from a 'pump and dump investment scam afterclicking on a Facebook ad.8
* Pennsylvania consumers lost tens of thousands of dollars after clicking on fraudulentinvestment scam ads on Facebook.9
* A 69-year-old man from Massachusetts lost $140,000 from a crypto scam promotedthrough Facebook and Instagram ads that he only recovered thanks to the efforts of thestate's Attorney General.10
* A disabled veteran in Iowa reportedly lost $20,000 from a government impersonationscam after receiving an unsolicited friend request on Facebook.11
* An 82-year-old father and grandfather committed suicide after losing his life savingsfrom a romance scam that originated on Facebook.12
Current efforts by Meta to combat scams on its platforms are clearly insufficient. The substantialrevenue generated from fraudulent activity appears to create a major conflict of interest,undermining the company's incentive to protect its users and prevent harm. This raises seriousconcerns regarding Meta's interest in protecting its users. To better address the issue of massivefraud on its platforms, the undersigned organizations strongly urge Meta to take the followingactions:
1. Lower the Threshold for Fraud Enforcement - Meta should reduce its currentenforcement threshold so that advertisers are no longer allowed to continue operatinguntil fraud is detected with near certainty. Instead, advertisers identified as posing amoderate risk of fraud should face immediate suspension, quarantine, or heightenedinvestigation, rather than merely being subject to higher fees.
2. Strengthen Identity Verification for Advertisers - Meta should require robust Know Your Business (KYB) verification for all advertisers, particularly thoseoperating in high-risk categories such as financial and investment services, gambling,and healthcare. This should include periodic re-verification, enhanced scrutiny for repeat offenders, escrow requirements for high-risk advertisers, and integration offraud intelligence systems.
3. Establish a Victim Restitution Program - Meta should create a dedicated
compensation fund to reimburse users harmed by fraudulent ads run on its platforms.
Once fraud is confirmed, impacted users should be proactively contacted and offeredrestitution through direct reimbursement or equivalent compensation vehicles.
4. Expand Human Oversight and Real-Time Monitoring - Automated systems
should be augmented by dedicated human review teams with authority to rapidlysuspend or terminate suspected fraudulent advertising campaigns. A specializedrapid-response unit should be empowered to act on high-risk reports within hours.
5. Label Ads Under Review and Increase Enforcement Transparency - Meta shouldintroduce clear labeling for ads under review or deemed high-risk. The companyshould also add to its quarterly Community Standards Enforcement Reports a sectionon scams, detailing enforcement actions, scam prevalence, and remediation measures.
6. Require Independent Audits and External Oversight - Meta should commissionregular, independent audits of its fraud detection and ad review processes andestablish an external advisory body composed of consumer advocates and fraudexperts. Findings and progress updates should be made publicly available.
7. Deepen Cooperation with Regulators and Law Enforcement - Meta should
proactively share data on fraudulent advertisers and emerging scam patterns withrelevant regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies at the federal and state levelto facilitate swift enforcement and coordinated takedown efforts.
Taken together, these measures would demonstrate a clear commitment to prioritizing consumerprotection and integrity within Meta's advertising ecosystem. Given Meta's extraordinaryoperations, reach, and influence, the company has both the capacity and responsibility to ensurethat its platforms do not serve as conduits for large-scale fraud and exploitation.
The undersigned public interest advocates are also exploring state and federal legal requirements,including the enforcement of existing statutes prohibiting unfair and deceptive practices and theenactment of new legislation regarding the facilitation of scam advertisements. Given Meta'senormous size and the scale of its platforms, it is one of the entities in the fraud ecosystem bestpositioned to combat these crimes.
Sincerely,
National Consumers League
Alliance for Retired Americans
Center for Countering Digital Hate
Center for Democracy & Technology
Check My Ads
Common Cause
Consumer Federation of America
Consumer Reports
Eko
Electronic Privacy Information Center
National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients)
Tech Oversight Project
UltraViolet
US PIRG
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Original text here: https://nclnet.org/14-public-interest-groups-urge-meta-to-act-on-scam-ads/
[Category: Consumer Services]
