Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Featured Stories
SBA Acting Chief Counsel for Advocacy Woodel Issues Letter to Congressional Leaders on Diesel Emissions Mandates on Farm Equipment
WASHINGTON, May 21 (TNSletter) -- Small Business Administration Acting Chief Counsel for Advocacy Everett M. Woodel Jr. issued the following letter to congressional leaders on diesel emissions mandates on farm equipment:
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Here is the text of the letter:
May 19, 2026
The Honorable Mike Johnson
Speaker of the House of Representatives
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
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The Honorable Glenn "GT" Thompson
Chairman
House Committee on Agriculture
1301 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
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The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries
House Minority Leader
H-204, The Capitol
Washington,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 21 (TNSletter) -- Small Business Administration Acting Chief Counsel for Advocacy Everett M. Woodel Jr. issued the following letter to congressional leaders on diesel emissions mandates on farm equipment:
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Here is the text of the letter:
May 19, 2026
The Honorable Mike Johnson
Speaker of the House of Representatives
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
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The Honorable Glenn "GT" Thompson
Chairman
House Committee on Agriculture
1301 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
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The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries
House Minority Leader
H-204, The Capitol
Washington,DC 20515
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The Honorable Angie Craig
Ranking Member
House Committee on Agriculture
1010 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries, Chairman Thompson, and Ranking Member Craig:
The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) appreciates the actions to address costly diesel emissions mandates on farm equipment in H.R. 7567 - Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. By agreeing to H.Amdt.207 offered by Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN05), the House of Representatives offers American agriculture a sorely needed respite from increased farm equipment operating costs.
Per Advocacy's mission and administrative priorities, such as President Donald J. Trump's Executive Order 14219 that asks agencies to identify "regulations that impose undue burdens on small business and impede private enterprise and entrepreneurship," the office has been communicating directly with small businesses across the country through site visits and roundtables. The cost of inefficient diesel equipment mandates has been a key concern raised by numerous small businesses across sectors of the American economy, including mining, construction, transportation, and agriculture.
As it relates to this amendment, farmers have shared their concerns with our Regional Advocates that these diesel regulations cause their equipment to frequently break down, incur excessive maintenance burdens, and decrease the useful life of their engines, thereby significantly increasing the cost of providing food to Americans.
Advocacy will continue to seek small business feedback and work towards reducing the impacts of diesel emissions mandates on the American economy. We look forward to continuing to work with Congress on this and other regulatory matters restraining economic opportunities for America's small businesses.
We applaud the House for providing small farmers with this desperately needed regulatory relief.
Sincerely,
Everett M. Woodel, Jr., Acting Chief Counsel for Advocacy
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Original text and footnotes here: https://advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Advocacy-Ltr-to-House-Leadership-RE-FFNS-Diesel-Emissions-5-2026.pdf
News Release here: https://advocacy.sba.gov/2026/05/19/office-of-advocacy-applauds-house-passage-of-farm-bill-highlights-key-diesel-relief-amendment/
NASA-Developed AI Could Help Track Harmful Algae
PASADENA, California, May 21 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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NASA-developed AI Could Help Track Harmful Algae
By fusing data from different space missions, AI could someday support 'maps without gaps' when it comes to noxious blooms.
NASA scientists have developed an artificial intelligence tool to take on a longstanding challenge in ocean waters. In a study recently published in AGU Earth and Space Science, researchers reported the tool was able to fuse data from multiple satellites and detect harmful algal blooms that occurred in western Florida
... Show Full Article
PASADENA, California, May 21 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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NASA-developed AI Could Help Track Harmful Algae
By fusing data from different space missions, AI could someday support 'maps without gaps' when it comes to noxious blooms.
NASA scientists have developed an artificial intelligence tool to take on a longstanding challenge in ocean waters. In a study recently published in AGU Earth and Space Science, researchers reported the tool was able to fuse data from multiple satellites and detect harmful algal blooms that occurred in western Floridaand Southern California.
Severe blooms can pose health risks and cost coastal economies in the United States tens of millions of dollars every year. Areas in Florida such as Tampa Bay and Sarasota have wrestled with the problem for decades. A species called Karenia brevis can thrive in Gulf of America waters, spawning harmful algal blooms that kill wildlife, foul beaches, and sicken swimmers. On the West Coast, blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia have poisoned hundreds of dolphins, California sea lions, and other marine animals in recent years. Toxins from algae can even enter the air and cause respiratory illness in humans.
To manage the risk, health agencies regularly test waters and issue warnings or beach closures when necessary. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) works with states and other local partners to issue harmful algal bloom forecasts, like weather forecasts, during bloom seasons.
On-site testing requires hours in a boat to manually collect water samples that must be sent to a lab for analysis, taking a day or more and requiring multiple tests. It's even more challenging to know where to test before a bloom starts spreading.
NASA's Earth-orbiting satellites already track harmful algal blooms with their unique global view. By bringing together diverse datasets, the new AI tool could serve as a force multiplier to help communities determine where to focus their efforts.
"At the very least, a tool like this can help us know where and when to collect water samples as an algal bloom is starting," said one of the paper's coauthors, Michelle Gierach, a scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. "It can also drive collaboration between specialists, fostering new ways to conduct the science and deliver decision-support products."
Today, satellites can detect a variety of clues that signal an algal bloom. A hyperspectral sensor aboard NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite, for example, can identify algal communities by their size, shape, and pigment. Other instruments like TROPOMI (Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument) pick up on the faint red glow emitted by species such as K. brevis as they photosynthesize.
The study team, consisting of Gierach, Kelly Luis of NASA JPL, and research data scientist Nick LaHaye of Spatial Informatics Group, brought together findings from five space missions or instruments, including PACE and TROPOMI.
The challenge for them was the quantity of raw data involved. How would AI distinguish between deep water and a coastline? Could it recognize a bloom across different data streams? Would it ever be able to handle inputs from both satellites and sensors in the water?
The team developed a self-supervised machine learning system, designed to learn patterns from multiple kinds of satellite data and compare them with field observations. This approach enables AI to recognize relationships between different data sources without needing any labeling in advance.
The system was trained on satellite data collected in 2018 and 2019. Field and lab measurements were then used to add real-world context to the patterns that the system was recognizing. The scientists evaluated the tool's performance across later time periods in the same geographic areas. Initial results indicate that it can correctly identify and map harmful blooms, including specific species like K. brevis, performing well even in complex coastal waters swirling with sediment, plants, and runoff.
"Applying self-supervised AI to massive streams of satellite data is rapidly becoming a powerful tool for generating actionable ocean intelligence," said Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, lead program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
The team is now improving the tool with more data from more coastlines and expanding tests to other kinds of water bodies, including lakes, with the goal of making it accessible to decision-makers in coming years.
"The aim of this work is to start to bridge technologies to better serve end users and their needs, from aquaculture to tourism," Luis said. "To do that, we're going to bring all our NASA assets to the table."
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Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-developed-ai-could-help-track-harmful-algae/
Late-Day Incoming Wire Transfer Fee Calculation Takes Effect June 21, 2026
DALLAS, Texas, May 21 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news release:
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Late-Day Incoming Wire Transfer Fee Calculation Takes Effect June 21, 2026
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To ensure fairness and consistency across our cooperative, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (Bank) is changing how late-day incoming wires are handled. Due to limitations on the Bank's ability to invest funds received late in the business day, the Bank will assess a fee on any wire greater than $100,000 that is received after 4:00 p.m. CT.
This fee will be
... Show Full Article
DALLAS, Texas, May 21 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news release:
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Late-Day Incoming Wire Transfer Fee Calculation Takes Effect June 21, 2026
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To ensure fairness and consistency across our cooperative, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (Bank) is changing how late-day incoming wires are handled. Due to limitations on the Bank's ability to invest funds received late in the business day, the Bank will assess a fee on any wire greater than $100,000 that is received after 4:00 p.m. CT.
This fee will beapplied regardless of the purpose of the incoming wire, including wires intended to pay off maturing advances on the same day.
Beginning June 21, 2026, the late incoming wire fee will be calculated as follows:
Late Incoming Wire Fee = Wire Amount x Daily DDA Rate x Number of Calendar Days Until the Next Business Day.
This approach ensures that all members benefit equitably from the Bank's cooperative structure and that the cost of late-day funds is allocated consistently. Our goal is to maintain transparency and set clear expectations so members can plan funding activity accordingly.
Our Banking Operations team is available at processingandreview@fhlb.com or 214.441.8010 to answer questions or to assist you.
Sincerely,
Gustavo Molina
EVP and Chief Banking and Digital Transformation Officer
***
Original text here: https://www.fhlb.com/library/bulletins/2026/late-day-incoming-wire-transfer-fee-calculation-ta
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics: Astronomers Uncover Why Some Solar Eruptions Die
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, May 21 (TNSjou) -- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics issued the following news release:
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Astronomers Uncover Why Some Solar Eruptions Die
New multi-telescope observations show why a powerful blast never became a true mass ejection.
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A team of scientists has recorded one of the most detailed views ever of a failed solar eruption, a powerful blast from the Sun that never broke free.
In March 2024, the Sun produced an intense solar flare from a large, magnetically complex active region. A prominence, or an ejection of relatively cool, dense gas,
... Show Full Article
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, May 21 (TNSjou) -- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics issued the following news release:
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Astronomers Uncover Why Some Solar Eruptions Die
New multi-telescope observations show why a powerful blast never became a true mass ejection.
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A team of scientists has recorded one of the most detailed views ever of a failed solar eruption, a powerful blast from the Sun that never broke free.
In March 2024, the Sun produced an intense solar flare from a large, magnetically complex active region. A prominence, or an ejection of relatively cool, dense gas,rose above the Sun's surface, carried by the Sun's twisting magnetic fields that can drive material outward as a coronal mass ejection (CME). Instead, the prominence suddenly slowed, halted, and fell back.
"This strong flare should have produced a big eruption," said lead author Tingyu Gou, astronomer at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), part of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. "Instead, we saw that the eruption stalled and collapsed shortly after its initiation."
Failed eruptions are not a new discovery; astronomers have observed them, but how and why they occur remains largely a mystery. The team took advantage of a rare observing opportunity to help answer these questions, using data from multiple spacecraft viewing the same event from different angles, and at many wavelengths of light.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and the Hinode satellite saw the event from near Earth, while the European Space Agency's (ESA) Solar Orbiter viewed it from the side. Further radio and ultraviolet observations came from ground-based telescopes and NASA's IRIS mission.
These combined views, often called multi-messenger observations, allowed the team to track both the hot, X-ray-emitting plasma and the cooler prominence material, and to connect what they saw to a map of the Sun's underlying magnetic field.
They found that the breaking and rejoining of magnetic field lines was happening at more than one site at the same time. Below the rising magnetic structure, a reconnection of swirling magnetic fields helped push the eruption upward, as is usual in solar flares.
Above it, however, a second reconnection process cut into the top of the erupting magnetic structure itself.
"That upper reconnection weakened the forces that were driving the eruption, which helped to shut it down," explained Katharine Reeves, astronomer at SAO and coauthor on the paper.
At the same time, very strong overlying magnetic fields acted like a magnetic cage. The scientists' data showed that these outer fields decayed too slowly to allow the eruption to become unstable and escape. So, the combination of erosion from above and confinement from outside ultimately stopped the eruption in its tracks.
The results help explain a long-standing puzzle in stellar astronomy: why we see many flares on other Sun-like stars, but far fewer clear signs of stellar CMEs. If complex magnetic fields frequently cause eruptions to fail, then some stellar CMEs may die close to the star, and therefore remain hidden from our telescopes, the scientists suggest.
"By watching this failed eruption on our own Sun in detail, we gain a window into how flares and eruptions may work throughout the galaxy," said Gou. "This work can, in turn, help us understand the physical mechanisms of successful eruptions and space weather environments of distant stars and planets."
Link to paper: Tingyu Gou, Katharine K. Reeves, Peter R. Young, Astrid M. Veronig, Xingyao Chen, Sijie Yu, Bin Chen & Bin Zhuang (2026) Multi-viewpoint observation of a failed prominence eruption on the Sun (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-026-02872-z), Nature
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Original text here: https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/astronomers-uncover-why-some-solar-eruptions-die
GSA Announces OneGov Agreement with Snowflake to Accelerate Data-Driven Technology Adoption
WASHINGTON, May 21 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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GSA Announces OneGov Agreement with Snowflake to Accelerate Data-Driven Technology Adoption
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Federal agencies can now save up to 50% on transformational tools for IT enhancement and data streamlining through this new OneGov Agreement
WASHINGTON -Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced a new OneGov agreement with Snowflake, the AI Data Cloud company, to empower federal workers to break down data silos, enhance mission effectiveness, and accelerate their IT modernization
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 21 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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GSA Announces OneGov Agreement with Snowflake to Accelerate Data-Driven Technology Adoption
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Federal agencies can now save up to 50% on transformational tools for IT enhancement and data streamlining through this new OneGov Agreement
WASHINGTON -Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced a new OneGov agreement with Snowflake, the AI Data Cloud company, to empower federal workers to break down data silos, enhance mission effectiveness, and accelerate their IT modernizationinitiatives.
"GSA's OneGov agreement with Snowflake supports President Trump's priority to accelerate technological innovation by giving agencies streamlined access to a shared data platform that breaks down long-standing silos," said GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst. "With stronger cross-agency data capabilities, we can accelerate AI tools tailored to each agency's mission. We're already seeing promising early projects, and through OneGov, GSA is delivering a unified federal approach that saves taxpayer dollars and increases value for the American people."
All new U.S. Snowflake customers will automatically receive:
* A 20% discount on computer services.
* A 26.67% discount on storage.
* Potential eligibility for higher-tier discounts of up to 50% reduced consumption cost on compute, as overall usage increases.
The one year agreement is available until September 30, 2027 through GSA's Multiple Award Schedule under the OneGov framework.
"Federal agencies are seeking efficiency in cost, enterprise scaled performance, intuitive design driven tools for the workforce and simplicity in contracting - we are the only multi-cloud data platform that can meet this charge on day one," said Snowflake CEO, Sridhar Ramaswamy. "Our participation in the GSA OneGov program is part of our commitment to our nation's public servants. We are removing procurement barriers so agencies can focus on what truly matters: leveraging their data to make faster, more informed decisions that better serve the American people."
GSA is building on the momentum of the OneGov initiative by extending agreements, expanding access to services, deepening collaboration and laying the groundwork for more scalable AI infrastructure across the government, in alignment with the goals of the White House AI Action Plan [PDF].
About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government. GSA manages a nationwide real estate portfolio of approximately 360 million rentable square feet, oversees more than $126 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivers technology services to millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA's mission is to deliver exceptional customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.
Contact
press@gsa.gov
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Original text here: https://www.gsa.gov/about-gsa/newsroom/news-releases/gsa-announces-onegov-agreement-with-snowflake-to-accelerate-datadriven-technolo-05212026
FHLB Dallas and First National Bank Texas Celebrate Groundbreaking of Affordable Housing Community in Los Lunas, New Mexico
DALLAS, Texas, May 21 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news release:
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FHLB Dallas and First National Bank Texas Celebrate Groundbreaking of Affordable Housing Community in Los Lunas, New Mexico
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LOS LUNAS, NEW MEXICO, May 21, 2026-The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas), First National Bank Texas (FNBT), NewLife Homes Inc. and local leaders today celebrated the groundbreaking of Plaza Luna Lofts, a housing development in Los Lunas, New Mexico, that will create 57 affordable apartment homes for
... Show Full Article
DALLAS, Texas, May 21 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news release:
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FHLB Dallas and First National Bank Texas Celebrate Groundbreaking of Affordable Housing Community in Los Lunas, New Mexico
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LOS LUNAS, NEW MEXICO, May 21, 2026-The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas), First National Bank Texas (FNBT), NewLife Homes Inc. and local leaders today celebrated the groundbreaking of Plaza Luna Lofts, a housing development in Los Lunas, New Mexico, that will create 57 affordable apartment homes foradults 55 years and older. Supported in part by a $1.4 million Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant, the project will expand housing options in a rapidly growing community, strengthening long-term housing stability for older residents.
"Plaza Luna Lofts is a meaningful step forward in ensuring that Los Lunas residents have access to high-quality, affordable housing," said NewLife Homes Inc. Executive Director John Bloomfield. "This project was made possible through collaborative partnerships and a shared vision for supporting the long-term well-being of our older residents."
The $1.4 million AHP grant was awarded through FNBT, an FHLB Dallas member institution.
"The FHLB Dallas AHP grant allows us to expand and extend our support for impactful housing initiatives across the communities we serve," said FNBT Community Development Manager Jeremy Munden. "Developments like this ensure that residents who are 55 or older have access to affordable homes, which strengthens the long-term health of our neighborhoods."
AHP funds are awarded through FHLB Dallas member institutions and assist FHLB Dallas members in financing the purchase, construction and rehabilitation of owner-occupied, rental or transitional housing and housing for homeless individuals. The funds must be used to benefit households with incomes at or below 80 percent of the median income for the area.
"This project is a clear example of how the AHP strengthens housing security for communities across our District," said Greg Hettrick, senior vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. "By helping to finance Plaza Luna Lofts, we're supporting the long-term resilience and stability of the Los Lunas community."
Learn more about the FHLB Dallas Affordable Housing Program.
About First National Bank Texas
First National Bank Texas (FNBT) and its divisions First Convenience Bank, First Community Mortgage and First Heroes National Bank, remain dedicated to building strong financial futures for our customers, employees and the communities that we serve. Our bank was originally founded in 1901 in the Central Texas town of Killeen, only 19 years after the city was established. From our humble beginnings, we have grown to over $4.5 billion in assets and now operate over 350 branches located throughout Texas, Arizona, Arkansas and New Mexico.
About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $97.1 billion as of March 31, 2026, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 780 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit fhlb.com.
Contact Information:
Corporate Communications
Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
fhlb.com
214.441.8445
***
Original text here: https://www.fhlb.com/library/press-releases/2026/fhlb-dallas-and-first-national-bank-texas-celebrat
EPA Provides $232,000 to Illinois to Monitor Water Quality at Beaches and Protect Swimmers
WASHINGTON, May 21 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Provides $232,000 to Illinois to Monitor Water Quality at Beaches and Protect Swimmers
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Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing $232,000 in grant funding that Illinois will use to monitor water quality at beaches and to notify the public if elevated levels of bacteria make swimming unsafe.
"Illinois communities rely on vibrant lakeshores to power summer traditions and local economies," said EPA Regional Administrator Anne Vogel. "Today's support strengthens on-the-ground
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 21 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Provides $232,000 to Illinois to Monitor Water Quality at Beaches and Protect Swimmers
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Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing $232,000 in grant funding that Illinois will use to monitor water quality at beaches and to notify the public if elevated levels of bacteria make swimming unsafe.
"Illinois communities rely on vibrant lakeshores to power summer traditions and local economies," said EPA Regional Administrator Anne Vogel. "Today's support strengthens on-the-groundscience and local partnerships so families can enjoy the water with confidence all season long."
This funding is authorized by the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act and advances EPA's goals of enhancing cooperative federalism and ensuring that every American has access to clean and safe water, two key pillars of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin's Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative Exit EPA's website.
Learn more about BEACH Act grants Exit EPA's website.
Before heading to the beach, check the relevant state, Tribal or territorial beach program website Exit EPA's website for closing or advisory information.
Background
To be eligible for BEACH Act grants, states, Tribes, and territories must have coastal or Great Lakes recreational waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access used by the public. They must also have a water quality standards program and EPA-approved numeric recreational water quality standards for coastal waters. Additionally, eligible entities must meet 11 performance criteria for implementing the monitoring, assessment, and notification components of their beach program. Each grantee receives an amount based on the length of the beach season, the number of miles of shoreline and the populations of coastal counties.
EPA Region 5 :
Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians $50,000
Grand Portage Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe $50,000
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community $50,000
Illinois $232,000
Indiana $205,000
Michigan $260,000
Minnesota $203,000
Ohio $216,000
Wisconsin $220,000
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-provides-232000-illinois-monitor-water-quality-beaches-and-protect-swimmers
EPA Cuts Biden-Era Refrigerant Rules, Saving Americans Over $2.4 Billion and Lowering Food Costs
WASHINGTON, May 21 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Cuts Biden-Era Refrigerant Rules, Saving Americans Over $2.4 Billion and Lowering Food Costs
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WASHINGTON -Alongside President Trump in the Oval Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin today announced two actions that together are estimated to save American families and businesses more than $2.4 billion, with savings expected to flow directly to consumers. The actions, a final rule revising the Biden-Harris Administration's 2023 Technology Transitions Rule
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 21 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Cuts Biden-Era Refrigerant Rules, Saving Americans Over $2.4 Billion and Lowering Food Costs
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WASHINGTON -Alongside President Trump in the Oval Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin today announced two actions that together are estimated to save American families and businesses more than $2.4 billion, with savings expected to flow directly to consumers. The actions, a final rule revising the Biden-Harris Administration's 2023 Technology Transitions Ruleand a proposed technical fix to the 2024 Emissions Reduction and Reclamation (ER&R), address costly overreaching restrictions limiting the type of refrigerants American businesses and families can use. Together, the Biden-era rules significantly increased grocery prices and the transportation of refrigerated goods to grocery stores and restaurants, among other essential items. The savings delivered by the Trump EPA's actions add to the extensive other regulatory relief EPA has already delivered under Administrator Zeldin's leadership.
The Trump EPA's final revisions to the 2023 Technology Transitions Rule extend compliance deadlines for the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), making a wider variety of refrigerants available to businesses while still meeting statutory requirements under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. This added flexibility will be felt by supermarkets, in home AC systems, the manufacturing of semiconductor chips, and in the transportation of medical supplies. This will lower food prices across the nation and ensure the U.S. remains competitive on the world stage, while following the law and prioritizing human health and the environment.
"Americans were right to be frustrated with the Biden-era refrigerant rules. They didn't protect human health or the environment and instead piled on costly, unattainable restrictions beyond what the law requires," said EPA Administrator Zeldin. "Today, the Trump EPA is fulfilling President Trump's promise to lower costs and is fixing every problem we can under the authority Congress gave us. Our actions allow businesses to choose the refrigeration systems that work best for them, saving them billions of dollars. This will be felt directly by American families in lower grocery prices."
EPA is also proposing to exempt all road refrigerant transport appliances from HFC leak repair requirements established in the 2024 ER&R Rule, removing burdens for owners and major U.S. operators of these appliances. The Biden Administration made an error in its final 2024 rule, subjecting the refrigerant transport sector to these leak requirements, even though it presents a low risk to human health. The agency will also be reconsidering the rest of the 2024 ER&R Rule in the future. EPA is committed to fulfilling its statutory obligations pursuant to the AIM Act, which must be met unless and until Congress amends federal law.
The savings at a glance include:
* Over $900 million from revisions to the 2023 Technology Transitions Rule, including more than $800 million at the supermarket
* Up to $1.5 billion in projected savings for transporters of refrigerated goods under the proposed ER&R technical fix if finalized
* More than 350,000 high-skilled American jobs safeguarded
For more information, please visit EPA's website.
Background
On March 12, 2025, Administrator Zeldin announced that the agency was reconsidering the 2023 Technology Transitions Rule. In August 2025, Administrator Zeldin joined Vice President J.D. Vance to tour Alta Refrigeration in Peachtree City, Georgia. Shortly following that trip, in September 2025, EPA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to reform the 2023 Technology Transitions Rule.
The Biden Administration finalized the 2023 Technology Transitions Rule to force companies to change to specific refrigerants. With insufficient time to safely meet the new costly compliance deadlines and a narrow scope of options, the rule posed a grave risk to human health and the ability for Americans to afford everyday essentials. Had the 2023 Technology Transitions Rule been fully implemented, grocery stores would not have been able to afford equipment to store perishable foods, semiconductor manufacturing would have come to a halt, and families would have been left without AC in the summer.
The 2024 ER&R rule established, among other provisions, leak repair requirements for appliances that contain at least 15 pounds of HFC refrigerants used to transport perishable goods, despite most appliances in the transportation sector utilizing over 15 pounds of refrigerant.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-cuts-biden-era-refrigerant-rules-saving-americans-over-24-billion-and-lowering
