Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Featured Stories
Major National Archives Exhibition Explores Origins and Inspiration for the Declaration of Independence
WASHINGTON, April 1 -- The National Archives and Records Administration issued the following news release on March 31, 2026:
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New Major National Archives Exhibition Explores Origins and Inspiration for the Declaration of Independence
"Free and Independent" to open April 25, 2026, in celebration of America's 250th birthday
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The National Archives will open Free and Independent: A Celebration of the Declaration, a major special exhibition in Washington, DC on April 25, 2026.
Free and Independent will tell the riveting story behind America's most important founding document by transporting
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WASHINGTON, April 1 -- The National Archives and Records Administration issued the following news release on March 31, 2026:
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New Major National Archives Exhibition Explores Origins and Inspiration for the Declaration of Independence
"Free and Independent" to open April 25, 2026, in celebration of America's 250th birthday
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The National Archives will open Free and Independent: A Celebration of the Declaration, a major special exhibition in Washington, DC on April 25, 2026.
Free and Independent will tell the riveting story behind America's most important founding document by transportingvisitors back into the 18th century, exploring daily life in British America and getting to know some of the men who risked everything --including their lives-- by signing America's Declaration of Independence. This exhibition will also chronicle how this very precious and fragile piece of parchment has been preserved over 250 years, from its adoption in Philadelphia in 1776 to its permanent encasement behind layers of protective glass in the National Archives.
The bold and revolutionary words in the Declaration of Independence helped motivate and inspire American colonists to take up arms against Great Britain. The colonies became states, the states became united, and a new nation was born. Free and Independent will document this story using original records and state-of-the-art machine learning technology.
The exhibition will consist of 40 original artifacts from the National Archives collections and other lenders, including a 1763 Broadside from King George, Lafayette's Oath of Allegiance, and a playful selection of Centennial and Bicentennial related artifacts and ephemera.
Jim Byron, Senior Official at the National Archives performing the duties of the Archivist of the United States, said: "Our nation's entire origin story can be traced back to the Declaration of Independence. The Free and Independent special exhibition will take visitors back in time to see and hear what motivated the colonists to advocate for revolution. The National Archives is proud to play a leading role in America's 250th anniversary celebrations, and welcome millions of visitors to tour this exhibition and come away with a personalized appreciation of arguably the most seminal document in human history."
The exhibition will also explore the Declaration's cultural impacts over time, through visual arts and music, and spotlight the 1976 Bicentennial Celebrations, still a fresh memory for many Americans today. Exhibition visitors can be part of history by submitting photos of their own Independence Day traditions which will be displayed as part of the exhibition.
"The National Archives Foundation is proud to support this new exhibition that will thoughtfully tell the story of our nation's founding," said National Archives Foundation Chief Executive Officer Patrick Madden. "Free and Independent is part of our critical mission in this banner 250th year to connect more Americans to the document that sparked the constitutional democracy we cherish today."
This special exhibition will run through July 5, 2027 and is free and open to the public. Advance tickets can be reserved online at visit.archives.gov/visit.
Free and Independent: A Celebration of the Declaration is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of The Boeing Company, Comcast Corporation, Microsoft, and P&G. Additional support provided by Ancestry, John Hancock, and C&G Partners.
This special exhibition is one of many National Archives initiatives for America's 250th, including the ongoing Freedom Plane National Tour , as well as Opening the Vault Across America, wherein the National Archives is loaning many of the nation's seminal documents to Presidential Libraries.
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About the National Archives
The National Archives and Records Administration is a federal agency that serves the American people by preserving and making available the records of the United States Government through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries. The National Archives is the custodian of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, on display for all to experience in Washington, DC. Learn more about the holdings of the National Archives at www.archives.gov.
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About the National Archives Foundation
The National Archives Foundation is an independent nonprofit foundation that increases public awareness of the National Archives, inspires a deeper appreciation of our country's heritage, and encourages citizen engagement in our democracy. The Foundation generates financial and creative support for National Archives exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, introducing America's records to people around the U.S. and the world. Learn more at www.archivesfoundation.org.
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Original text here: https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2026/nr26-2
STRI Special Events, March 2026
PANAMA CITY, Panama, April 1 -- The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute issued the following news:
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Special Events
STRI special events, March 2026
43rd Mid-Continent Paleobotanical Colloquium, Congratulations Helene Muller-Landau! and more!
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43rd Mid-Continent Paleobotanical Colloquium
STRI hosted the 43rd Mid Continent Paleobotanical Colloquium (MPC), bringing together researchers and students to share new findings on ancient plant life and its role in shaping past ecosystems. Founded in the early 1980s, the MPC is a rotating annual meeting that has become a respected forum for
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PANAMA CITY, Panama, April 1 -- The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute issued the following news:
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Special Events
STRI special events, March 2026
43rd Mid-Continent Paleobotanical Colloquium, Congratulations Helene Muller-Landau! and more!
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43rd Mid-Continent Paleobotanical Colloquium
STRI hosted the 43rd Mid Continent Paleobotanical Colloquium (MPC), bringing together researchers and students to share new findings on ancient plant life and its role in shaping past ecosystems. Founded in the early 1980s, the MPC is a rotating annual meeting that has become a respected forum forresearch on fossil plants, palynology, and plant evolution. The 2026 program featured oral presentations, poster sessions, workshops, and field excursions across Panama, giving participants the opportunity to study the region's geological and botanical diversity and explore its rich paleobotanical record. Among the attendees was Scott L. Wing, paleoecologist and Research Geologist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, known for his work on fossil plants and ancient climate change, particularly during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum.
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Congratulations Helene Muller-Landau!
STRI is proud to announce that she has been elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The AAAS Council selects Fellows whose contributions to science or its applications are considered scientifically or socially distinguished. Helene received this honor for her leadership in research on tropical forest carbon cycling and plant diversity, including her direction of ForestGEO's Global Carbon Program and her contributions to global syntheses and models of biomass variation and functional trait ecology.
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The Panama Chamber of Commerce visited the Punta Culebra Nature Center
During the visit, Oris Sanjur, STRI's Deputy Director, gave a presentation on the Smithsonian's work in Panama, followed by a guided tour of the center's exhibitions. It was an opportunity to share STRI's scientific mission and strengthen connections with the country's business sector.
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Cool Fest
Cool Fest took place on Wednesday the 25th across various STRI facilities, where the community enjoyed fruit popsicles, ice cream, and shaved ice during lunchtime. It was a simple and refreshing activity that offered a nice moment to disconnect and share with others. The event was organized thanks to the STRI Community Committee.
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Life on a Sustainable Planet fellows 2026 cohort workshop in Panama
The second cohort of Smithsonian Life on a Sustainable Planet fellows met to kick off a two-day workshop at the Biomuseo in Panama City, led by COMPASS Science Communication and hosted by STRI. The first of a four-part professional development series, the workshop focused on Strategic Change and Community Engagement. Fellows from multiple Smithsonian units, including STRI, were joined by STRI director Joshua Tewskbury and STRI staff scientist and Adrienne Arsht Community-Based Resilience Solutions Initiative director Ana Spalding, as well as Science Communicator at the Office of the Under Secretary for Science and Research and LSP Shelby Brown. The fellows also got to engage with experts Rachel Graham, founder and executive director of MarAlliance, and Ricardo Moreno, STRI research associate and founder of Fundacion Yaguara Panama, who shared their experiences on adapting to the environment and engaging with communities.
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Original text here: https://stri.si.edu/story/stri-special-events-march-2026
SBA Announces New "Made in America Loan Guarantee" to Restore Manufacturing Dominance
WASHINGTON, April 1 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news releaseon March 31, 2026:
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SBA Announces New "Made in America Loan Guarantee" to Restore Manufacturing Dominance
90% Loan Guarantee will Help Manufacturers Reshore American Industry, Jobs, and National Security
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Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that small manufacturers across the country will soon be eligible for enhanced support through the SBA's International Trade Loan (ITL) Program. The loans, which come with a 90% federal guarantee, will help manufacturers expand facilities,
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WASHINGTON, April 1 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news releaseon March 31, 2026:
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SBA Announces New "Made in America Loan Guarantee" to Restore Manufacturing Dominance
90% Loan Guarantee will Help Manufacturers Reshore American Industry, Jobs, and National Security
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Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that small manufacturers across the country will soon be eligible for enhanced support through the SBA's International Trade Loan (ITL) Program. The loans, which come with a 90% federal guarantee, will help manufacturers expand facilities,hire workers, and increase production - as part of the Trump Administration's broader effort to rebuild America's industrial dominance and strength. In addition, the SBA recently expanded ITL eligibility to include small businesses across the food supply chain, including those in the agriculture, production, and logistics industries.
"Industrial dominance is essential to our national security and strength, and the Trump Administration has taken historic action to incentivize "Made in America" through tax cuts, deregulation, fair trade and energy dominance - all of which are restoring American industries and jobs," said SBA Administrator Loeffler. "Today, the SBA is taking another step to support reindustrialization with our new Made in America loan guarantee, which will give U.S. manufacturers additional financing to expand operations, modernize equipment, and supercharge domestic production. Small businesses make up 98% of all manufacturers in America, and as I've traveled across the country meeting with industry leaders, the demand for additional capital to expand and hire is evident. This Administration is transforming America into a nation of builders once again, as part of an industrial comeback that is being led by small businesses."
The ITL program unlocks long-term, affordable financing to support American producers - offering borrowers additional flexibility through an increased SBA guarantee of 90% compared to the standard 75% guarantee for the agency's flagship 7(a) Loan Program. This expanded support will give lenders greater confidence to deploy capital into domestic manufacturing, driving investments in machinery, facilities, and production capacity.
Starting May 1st, manufacturers across NAICS Sectors 31-33 will become eligible for the expanded ITL Program. Eligible businesses may use the funds to:
* Upgrade or replace equipment to improve productivity and reduce unit costs.
* Modernize facilities and production lines to meet customer and national security requirements.
* Diversify supply chains away from foreign adversaries and bring critical production back to the United States.
* Build more resilient inventory positions.
* Expand operations and capacity through strategic acquisitions.
The enhanced SBA funding builds on the Trump Administration's broader commitment to reshoring American industry and domestic supply chains. President Trump's Working Family Tax Cuts include major incentives for small manufacturers - including 100% expensing on factory equipment, no tax on overtime, and a permanent 20% small business deduction. The tax cut and fair trade agenda is already driving new demand and growth for small businesses, as weekly wages in the manufacturing sector surged by 5.1% in February.
In support of this agenda, the SBA launched its Made in America Manufacturing Initiative last year. The agency waived loan fees for small manufacturers in Fiscal Year 2026 and established the first-ever loan program dedicated to American manufacturers. The SBA also launched its Make Onshoring Great Again Portal, a free tool designed to connect small businesses with a database of more than one million domestic suppliers and producers - and cut over $100 billion in red tape crushing small businesses, including manufacturers.
Lenders and small businesses interested in the updated International Trade Loan program can contact SBA's national team of Finance Managers for more information. SBA's Finance Manager team not only supports the ITL program but also serves as the agency's working capital specialists and can help lenders and borrowers understand how ITL can be paired with SBA's expanding suite of working capital solutions - including the MARC and Working Capital Pilot.
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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/2026/03/31/sba-announces-new-made-america-loan-guarantee-restore-manufacturing-dominance
ICYMI: EPA's New Guidance Removes Requirement for Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Sensors, Saves American Operators Billions
WASHINGTON, March 31 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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ICYMI: EPA's New Guidance Removes Requirement for Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Sensors, Saves American Operators Billions
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WASHINGTON -On Friday, March 27, 2026, at the White House Great American Agriculture Celebration on the South Lawn, President Trump announced U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin has issued new guidance making it clear DEF sensors are no longer required, and NOx sensors can be used instead to meet regulatory requirements. Yesterday, while in
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WASHINGTON, March 31 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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ICYMI: EPA's New Guidance Removes Requirement for Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Sensors, Saves American Operators Billions
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WASHINGTON -On Friday, March 27, 2026, at the White House Great American Agriculture Celebration on the South Lawn, President Trump announced U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin has issued new guidance making it clear DEF sensors are no longer required, and NOx sensors can be used instead to meet regulatory requirements. Yesterday, while inNorth Carolina, Administrator Zeldin spoke to local press about this decisive action to address nationwide concerns from farmers, truckers, motor coach operators, and other diesel equipment operators regarding DEF system failures and save Americans billions of dollars annually.
The new guidance is part of a series of Trump EPA actions to provide much needed relief and give American operators countless hours of lost time and productivity back. In August 2025, Administrator Zeldin issued guidance urging manufacturers to revise DEF system software in existing vehicles and equipment to massively reverse deratements that burdened Americans across the country. In February 2026, EPA demanded critical data on DEF system failures from the 14 manufacturers that account for over 80 percent of all products used in DEF systems. The same month, EPA reaffirmed American farmers and operators have the Right to Repair their own equipment, including faulty DEF systems. Additionally, in the near future, EPA will be issuing a new deregulatory proposal to completely remove all DEF deratements for new vehicles and engines. The Trump EPA will never stop pursuing ways to help our farmers.
Read coverage below on the Trump EPA's commitment to addressing the DEF issue rapidly.
Trucking Dive: EPA Axes Diesel Exhaust Fluid Sensor Requirements Exit EPA's website
"Diesel vehicles have relied on DEF since 2010 to meet federal emission standards. Over the past 15 years, however, trucking and agriculture businesses have repeatedly reported system malfunctions that make otherwise working equipment inoperable. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin described the issue as a 'nationwide disaster,' citing widespread failures and their operational impact. The agency said it reviewed preliminary manufacturer data on the faulty systems before deciding to remove the sensor requirement, the release said. Trucking industry groups welcomed the reversal."
Pick-up Truck Talk: Trump EPA Removes Diesel DEF Quality Sensor to Save Farmers, Truckers $13B Exit EPA's website
"The Trump EPA announced today they are removing the DEF sensor for diesel engines in yet another move to provide financial relief for farmers and truckers. Specifically, the EPA is stating the removal of the urea quality sensor. This sensor has been a constant irritant for diesel engine owners leading to reduced performance on various occasions. Instead, the EPA supports a more reliable NOx sensor to achieve the same results."
Commercial Carrier Journal: EPA Strikes DEF Sensor Requirement, Seeks to End Derates Over Fluid Quality Exit EPA's website
"Earlier this year, EPA sought data on DEF system failures from the manufacturers that account for over 80% of all products used in DEF systems. Thus far, the agency said it has received data from 11 of the 14 manufacturers, and less than a month later, the preliminary findings helped inform this new guidance. 'Failing DEF systems are not an East Coast or West Coast or Heartland issue; it is a nationwide disaster,' said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin."
The Drive: EPA Tells Diesel Engine Makers to Ditch One of the Most Unreliable Emissions Components Exit EPA's website
"The U.S. EPA has changed its tune on diesel emissions regulation. Whereas it once ruled with a heavy hand, fining engine manufacturers and aftermarket companies at every turn, the agency is now on a deregulation spree with Administrator Lee Zeldin at the helm. The EPA has already called on manufacturers to eliminate immediate power derating when diesel exhaust fluid runs low, and now, the federal organization is strongly encouraging companies to ditch one of modern emissions systems' most problematic components."
CDL Life: EPA Removes DEF Sensor Requirement in Move to Save Truckers and Farmers 'Countless Hours of Lost Time' Exit EPA's website
"The U.S. EPA announced a major move intended to save farmers, truckers, and other diesel equipment operators 'billions of dollars in repairs and lost productivity.' On March 27, 2026, the EPA announced new guidance to remove the Diesel Exhaust Fluid sensor requirement for all diesel equipment in an action that officials say will save Americans 'countless hours of lost time and productivity.' The guidance was issued after a February 3, 2026, call from the EPA for manufacturers to submit data on DEF system failures."
Landline Media: EPA Takes Aim at DEF Sensors That Sideline Truckers Exit EPA's website
"When it comes to equipment, one of the biggest complaints truck drivers have is with diesel exhaust fluid. It's a gripe the EPA has been hearing and addressing. DEF has been a thorn in the side of truck drivers and farmers for years. In addition to reports of poorer engine qualities, deratings or inducements can shut down a diesel engine with little to no warning. Last August, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin delivered his first gift to truck drivers struggling with DEF system failures."
Heavy Duty Trucking: EPA Targets DEF Sensor Failures Behind Truck Derates Exit EPA's website
"In the Trump administration's latest steps to address the frustrations that truckers have with diesel exhaust sensors and so-called 'de-rates' when DEF runs out or is diluted, the EPA is allowing engine manufacturers to use a different type of sensor than the frustrating DEF sensors...The EPA has been working since last August to address the sudden speed losses and shutdowns caused by DEF system failures, saying they compromise safety and productivity for truckers as well as for farmers."
WITN: EPA Administrator Visits Rocky Mount to Discuss Diesel Engine Regulations Exit EPA's website
"The EPA's administrator visited Rocky Mount to discuss plans to help farmers who are drawing concern from some regarding the environment. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin highlighted diesel engine fluid regulations during a press conference on Monday. 'The farmer would tell me the story about how they have had tractors stop four times in harvest over the course of the past year, and that the fluid was in the system, but the tractor would still stall because of a faulty depth sensor,' Zeldin said. Because of conversations like those, he said they plan to propose eliminating derates, or enforced reductions in a diesel engine's power and speed altogether."
AgWeb: Trump Signals More DEF Rollbacks, Pushes Manufacturers to Lower Equipment Costs Exit EPA's website
"In front of a gathering of farmers, ranchers and growers at the White House, President Trump and EPA announced new guidance that will remove the DEF sensor requirements, which the Small Business Administration estimates will save farmers $4.4 billion a year and translate into $13.79 billion for Americans. Administrator Lee Zeldin says the move impacts farmers, truckers, motor coach operators and other diesel equipment operators."
Freight Waves: DEF Sensors no Longer Required on Trucks, Other Diesel Equipment: EPA Exit EPA's website
"...'I have heard from truck drivers, farmers, and many others complaining about DEF and pleading for a fix in all 50 states I visited during my first year as EPA Administrator,' EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in the EPA's prepared statement. 'Americans are justified in being fed up with failing DEF system issues.' That statement said 'preliminary review of the warranty data suggests that DEF sensor failures are a significant source of warranty claims and DEF-related inducement.' EPA said the sensors are more formally known as urea quality sensors. The new guidelines also said the sensors can be switched over to nitrous oxide sensors."
Spectrum News: EPA Ends Diesel Exhaust Fluid Sensor Requirements to Help Farmers and Truckers Save Money Exit EPA's website
"EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says the removal of diesel exhaust fluid sensors is a long time coming for people in the industry. 'I was blown away. How many people were complaining about the implementation of diesel exhaust fluid system, standards requirements,' Zeldin said. 'It's about being responsive to the concerns. And farmers and others who have reached out to us.' Nash County farmer Sue Leggett says farmers like herself are happy about this change because DEF technology impacted their day-to-day work in a negative way."
The Fence Post: Zeldin: EPA Removes Diesel Exhaust Fluid Requirement Exit EPA's website
"EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has announced that EPA has removed the requirement that diesel equipment contain Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) sensor equipment...'EPA understands that sudden speed losses and shutdowns caused by DEF system failures that compromise safety and productivity are unacceptable and problematic,' the announcement said."
Successful Farming: EPA Eliminates DEF Sensor Requirement, Projects Saving Farmers $4.4 Billion Annually Exit EPA's website
"EPA on Friday announced the removal of the DEF sensor requirement for all diesel equipment, stating that the sudden speed losses and shutdowns caused by DEF system failures unacceptably compromise safety and productivity. The agency vowed to continue to pursue all legal avenues to address American's complaints and keep farmers from losing days in the field."
Transport Topics: EPA Moves to Address DEF System Failures Exit EPA's website
"...'Americans are justified in being fed up with failing DEF system issues,' EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a March 27 news release. 'EPA understands this is a massive issue and has been doing everything in our statutory power to address this.' Under the agency's updated guidance, manufacturers will be permitted to replace Urea Quality Sensors with nitrogen oxide sensors. The guidance also said that approved NOx sensor-based software updates can be installed on existing engines without being treated as illegal tampering under the Clean Air Act."
Texas Farm Bureau: EPA Takes Additional Action to Address DEF Failures Exit EPA's website
"U.S. President Donald Trump made the announcement at an event celebrating American agriculture on the White House lawn Friday, March 27. 'We had a ridiculous Washington restriction called the Diesel Exhaust Fluid requirement. It was a basic disaster,' Trump said. 'We're announcing new guidelines drastically limiting these ridiculous DEF rules, saving farmers and consumers billions and billions of dollars.' According to EPA guidance, manufacturers can now stop inaccurate DEF system failures by removing traditional emission sensors, or urea quality sensors, and switching to nitrous oxide sensors."
ACT News: EPA Targets DEF System Failures, Offering Relief for Heavy-Duty Truck Operations Exit EPA's website
"For heavy-duty trucking operations, a single sensor failure can take a truck off the road, derail a delivery, and trigger cascading costs across an entire network. That reality has defined the industry's experience with DEF systems in recent years, and it is exactly what the U.S. EPA is now attempting to address. In its latest action, EPA announced it is removing the requirement for DEF quality sensors, a change intended to reduce unnecessary derates, breakdowns, and downtime tied to malfunctioning sensors, while maintaining overall emissions compliance, according to the agency."
Michigan Farm News: DEF Sensors Dropped: What To Know About EPA's $14B Decision Exit EPA's website
"... President Donald J. Trump announced the DEF sensor rollback during the Great American Agriculture Celebration, held on the White House lawn March 27, saying his administration is 'drastically limiting these ridiculous DEF rules, saving farmers and consumers billions.' According to EPA, those savings net farmers $4.4 billion a year in repairs and lost productivity and provide $13.79 billion a year of savings to Americans."
The Trucker: What Truckers Think About EPA's Decision to Drop DEF Sensor Requirement Exit EPA's website
"...According to the EPA, removing DEF sensors will provide immediate relief and save billions of dollars in repairs and lost productivity. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, the new guidance will save farmers $4.4 billion a year and this action will provide $13.79 billion a year of savings to Americans."
Truck News: EPA Removes DEF Sensor Requirement for Diesel Engines Exit EPA's website
"... EPA said the DEF measure does not weaken or remove emissions standards, but instead 'ensures that those standards are met in a way that actually works in the real world.'... The agency also affirmed that approved NOx sensor-based software updates can be installed on existing engines without being treated as illegal tampering under the Clean Air Act. In the coming months, EPA said it will issue a new deregulatory proposal that will completely remove all DEF deratements for new vehicles and engines."
Power Progress: US EPA Removes Requirement for DEF Sensors on Diesel Engines Exit EPA's website
"... The move was made to help eliminate issues caused by faulty DEF sensors. Failure of these parts can put diesel engines into 'limp home' mode, effectively taking the vehicle or machine out of service until the part can be replaced. Due to the cost of repairs and reduced productivity, the government puts forward the change will save farmers about $4.4 billion savings across all American diesel users could reach $13.79 billion per year."
Progressive Farmer: EPA Issues New DEF Guidance Exit EPA's website
"Farmers frustrated with DEF shutdowns may see fewer breakdowns under new EPA guidance, though the agency's new guidance on DEF stopped short of eliminating the emissions systems altogether. EPA did not eliminate the DEF rules, which have been a problem for farmers because of failure rates, but issued new guidance last week, giving major machinery manufacturers more flexibility in how they monitor exhaust emissions. EPA will now allow equipment manufacturers to use nitrous oxide (NOx) sensors to reduce problems with tractors and semi-trucks 'de-rating' during operations."
NewsNation: Trump Hosts 800+ Farmers at White House, Announces Agriculture Push Exit EPA's website
"... Trump also announced that the EPA is removing the diesel exhaust fluid, or DEF, sensor requirement for all diesel equipment -a change the administration says will save farmers $4.4 billion annually and provide $13.79 billion in total annual savings to American operators. DEF systems, which have been required on most diesel trucks and farm equipment since 2010, have drawn complaints for triggering sudden speed reductions or shutdowns when sensors malfunction. Friday's guidance allows manufacturers to switch from traditional urea quality sensors to NOx sensors, which the EPA says will significantly reduce erroneous failure alerts."
Overdrive: Trump, EPA, Congress Hope to Save Truckers Billions with Diesel Liberation Act, New Guidance Exit EPA's website
"President Donald Trump on Friday announced the Environmental Protection Agency was removing the DEF sensor requirement for all diesel equipment used by farmers, truckers, and bus drivers... 'The EPA has significant concerns about ongoing reports of DEF inducements due to the failure of [Urea Quality Sensors] impacting the owners and operators of diesel-powered equipment unnecessarily,' EPA's guidance said."
WRAL News: EPA Diesel Rollback Could Save Farmers Billions: Clean-Air Advocates Worry About Risks Exit EPA's website
"New regulatory guidance for diesel engines could save U.S. industries billions of dollars for farmers and truckers, but clean-air advocates say it could pose a significant risk to public health. Lee Zeldin, the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was in Rocky Mount Monday to tout his agency's decision last week to remove a requirement for exhaust fluid sensors on diesel equipment. The move comes in response to concerns raised by farmers, truckers, motor coach operators and other diesel equipment operators over diesel exhaust sensor failures that can eat into productivity, the EPA says."
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/icymi-epas-new-guidance-removes-requirement-diesel-exhaust-fluid-def-sensors-saves
Fed IG: Conclusion of the Audit of the Board's Gifts and Decorations and Nonfederally Sponsored Travel Programs
WASHINGTON, March 31 (TNSLrpt) -- The Federal Reserve Inspector General issued the following report on March 30, 2026, entitled "Conclusion of the Audit of the Board's Gifts and Decorations and Nonfederally Sponsored Travel Programs."
Here are excerpts:
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Background
The Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act and Board policy allow the agency's employees to accept certain gifts from foreign governments offered as a souvenir or mark of courtesy and approved decorations offered in recognition of outstanding performance. A foreign gift can include a tangible or intangible present received from a
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WASHINGTON, March 31 (TNSLrpt) -- The Federal Reserve Inspector General issued the following report on March 30, 2026, entitled "Conclusion of the Audit of the Board's Gifts and Decorations and Nonfederally Sponsored Travel Programs."
Here are excerpts:
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Background
The Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act and Board policy allow the agency's employees to accept certain gifts from foreign governments offered as a souvenir or mark of courtesy and approved decorations offered in recognition of outstanding performance. A foreign gift can include a tangible or intangible present received from aforeign government, and a decoration refers to an item like a medal or award received from a foreign government. Board employees may accept foreign gifts if the item's value, or total value of items gifted at the same time, does not exceed a minimum value established by the U.S.
General Services Administration and may not accept and retain decorations without prior approval of the Board's administrative governor.
Federal law and Board policy also permit nonfederally sponsored foreign travel in specific circumstances.
Board employees may participate in their official capacities in programs sponsored by a foreign 1 Nonfederally sponsored travel is travel in which an approved sponsor, not the Board, pays the travel costs.
government, foreign academic institution, or international organization when participating will further Board programs or operations. In those instances, the foreign entities may reimburse the Board for the employees' travel expenses. Board staff must submit nonfederally sponsored foreign travel requests through the Board's electronic travel system. The relevant employee's division director or designee provides an initial review of the suitability of the request and the Board's Ethics Office determines whether the sponsor of the travel is permissible.
Results of Scoping
Our audit scoping activities included determining the processes and controls related to the Board's management of foreign gifts, decorations, and nonfederally sponsored foreign travel. To address our audit objective, we interviewed Board personnel and reviewed Board policies and procedures to gain an understanding of the two programs and to identify controls relevant to our audit objective. We reviewed Board ethics guidance related to gifts and decorations provided to employees and senior officials, including the members of the Board of Governors; publicly reported foreign gifts above the minimum threshold reported by the Board; and foreign gift receipt forms submitted by Board members to the Office of the Secretary (OSEC) for review.4 We also tested all 185 nonfederally sponsored foreign trips involving Board employees from January 2024 to July 2025 to ensure compliance with agency policy.5 We found that the Board has implemented controls across several divisions to track foreign gifts received by its employees, assess the value of those items, determine the permissibility of those gifts, and report foreign gifts that exceed the minimum threshold to the U.S. Department of State. We also determined that the Board has implemented controls across several divisions to review, approve, and report nonfederally sponsored foreign travel involving foreign entities to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.
These controls include the Board's Ethics Office's review of the appropriateness of the foreign sponsor paying for the travel. For both programs, each division is aware of and understands its responsibilities.
Our scoping effort did not identify any internal control concerns that warrant continuing the audit.
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The report is posted at: https://oig.federalreserve.gov/reports/board-gifts-decorations-mar2026.pdf
Fed IG: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Financial Statements as of and for the Years Ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, and Independent Auditors' Reports
WASHINGTON, March 31 (TNSLrpt) -- The Federal Reserve Inspector General issued the following report on March 12, 2026,, entitled "Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Financial Statements as of and for the Years Ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, and Independent Auditors' Reports."
Here are excerpts:
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System:
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of the Board of Governors of the
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WASHINGTON, March 31 (TNSLrpt) -- The Federal Reserve Inspector General issued the following report on March 12, 2026,, entitled "Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Financial Statements as of and for the Years Ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, and Independent Auditors' Reports."
Here are excerpts:
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System:
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of the Board of Governors of theFederal Reserve System (the Board) as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the related statements of operations, and cash flows for each of the years then ended and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements). We also have audited the Board's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Board as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the Board maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
Basis for Opinions
The Board's management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Board's financial statements and an opinion on the Board's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Board in accordance with the relevant requirements related to our audit.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB, in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, and in accordance with the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
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The report is posted at: https://oig.federalreserve.gov/reports/board-financial-statement-audit-mar2026.pdf
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Fact Sheet: Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in the Democratic Republic of Congo
WASHINGTON, March 31 -- U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following fact sheet:
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NONSTATE VIOLATORS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC)
Introduction
Against the backdrop of prolonged political instability, weak state authority, and chronic insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)--a vast and resource-rich yet poverty-stricken country that has faced recurring armed conflict since the mid-1990s--nonstate actors have recently escalated attacks on religious communities. Such armed groups operate with relative impunity
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WASHINGTON, March 31 -- U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following fact sheet:
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NONSTATE VIOLATORS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC)
Introduction
Against the backdrop of prolonged political instability, weak state authority, and chronic insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)--a vast and resource-rich yet poverty-stricken country that has faced recurring armed conflict since the mid-1990s--nonstate actors have recently escalated attacks on religious communities. Such armed groups operate with relative impunityamid ongoing gaps in governance, contested territorial control, and limited civilian protection, particularly in the country's eastern provinces.
Within this context, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), also known as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria - the Democratic Republic of Congo (ISIS-DRC), has posed an especially alarming threat to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in the DRC by violently targeting religious communities and their houses of worship, particularly in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. The group's affiliation with Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) and its invoking and forcibly applying a violent interpretation of Islam have fueled its intensified attacks on religious communities-- especially Christians--and their leaders.
This publication provides an overview of these worsening religious freedom conditions in the DRC at the hands of nonstate actors, with an emphasis on the ADF. It also evaluates state and international responses to these challenges while considering ongoing implications for religious freedom in the country.
State Fragility and Demographic Complexity
The DRC is one of Central Africa's most diverse countries, with more than 200 ethnic and tribal groups within a population of approximately 115 million. About 95 percent of the population identify as Christian, approximately one to two percent identify as Muslim, and three to four percent likely adhere to indigenous or other religious beliefs.
Political and societal instability--resulting from decades of weak state authority, disputed governance, and a series of armed insurgent movements--have plagued the DRC's eastern region in particular, since conflict and mass displacement spilled over from neighboring Rwanda in the aftermath of that country's genocide in the mid1990s. Nonstate actors have long proliferated in eastern DRC, including groups such as Mai-Mai militias, the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO), and the dominant March 23 (M23) movement. M23 first rebelled near Goma in 2012 and has staged a resurgence since 2021 with reported Rwandan support, despite a recent peace agreement.
The ADF: Acute Threat to Religious Freedom
The ADF has long posed a direct and significant threat to religious freedom in the DRC. The group first emerged in the mid-1990s in nearby Uganda as a collaboration of militants espousing a violent interpretation of Islam with armed opposition elements that sought to overthrow the Ugandan government. Ugandan military operations forced the group to relocate to eastern DRC in the early 2000s, where it sought to establish a long-term foothold in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. Although the ADF began its operations in the DRC as a localized insurgency with limited ideological coherence, it quickly gained a reputation for its horrific violence against civilians as well as its mass looting and exploitation of local resources-- including metals and rare earth minerals that have long attracted violent competition rather than economic prosperity--to sustain its operations.
From Local Insurgency to Transnational Alignment
The ADF began to align itself with ISCAP in 2017, adopting aspects of the terrorist group's ideology, rhetoric, and tactics. It formally pledged allegiance to ISCAP in 2019, rebranding itself as ISIS-DRC and strengthening its operational capabilities as well as its ideological alignment with the broader network of ISIS affiliates across central Africa. While experts have debated the actual degree of ISCAP's oversight and involvement in the ADF's operations, both groups have since shared responsibility for committing religious freedom violations of escalating brutality, including mass killings, abductions, and other attacks explicitly targeting religious communities.
Presently, the ADF does not exercise sustained or significant territorial control, instead pursuing dominance through a combination of transient, elusive presence and tactical operations in select areas of eastern DRC. As such, it does not meet the standard for designation as an entity of particular concern (EPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, as amended by the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016.
The ADF's Escalation: Targeted Assaults on Christian Communities
The ADF has stepped up its operations in the last two years, carrying out a sustained pattern of attacks in eastern DRC that represents a direct assault on religious freedom, particularly for Christian communities in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. In 2024, ADF fighters reportedly carried out multiple assaults on predominantly Christian villages and church gatherings in and around Beni, North Kivu, including attacks on prayer meetings and the killing of local pastors and congregants. Over the course of one week in July that year, the ADF killed an estimated 40 Christians, which led to a series of abductions and forced displacement that prompted some churches to suspend services or close altogether.
This pattern intensified in 2025 with several high-profile massacres linked to religious settings and gatherings. In February of that year, ADF assailants abducted civilians from Christian villages in North Kivu and later killed dozens at a Protestant church in the Kasanga area. In July 2025, the group carried out a major assault on worshipers attending a night vigil at a Catholic church in Komanda, Ituri Province, killing dozens of men, women, and children gathered for prayer. Attacks throughout the year continued to strike Christian villages, funeral wakes, and facilities, reinforcing community members' fears that religious spaces made them more vulnerable rather than offering them a refuge from violence. These incidents drew heightened international concern from governments, human rights bodies, and religious freedom advocates.
Early 2026 has brought no respite from ADF violence, as the group has continued to carry out attacks on predominantly Christian areas. In one display of its depravity, the group executed around 70 civilians in a Christian village in North Kivu in February, beheading men, women, children, and elderly victims alike.
Peacebuilding Efforts and Persistent FoRB Challenges
Despite its ongoing struggle to establish long-term stability and comprehensive governance, the DRC government has collaborated over the last five years with regional and multilateral partners to stem ADF, M23, and other nonstate violence. In 2021, it deployed the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) in sustained operations against the ADF--including the joint Operation Shujaa with Ugandan forces--and increased patrols in Beni, Lubero, and Ituri. The DRC's cooperation with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) has further bolstered its troop presence and civilian protection. In 2025, a military court convicted 23 people for collaborating with or supporting the ADF.
U.S. Engagement in Multilateral Efforts toward Regional Peace
In late 2025 and early 2026, the United States has directly engaged in efforts to address insecurity in eastern DRC; in 2025, the administration of President Donald J. Trump helped broker the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity between the DRC and Rwanda while also supporting related diplomatic initiatives, targeted sanctions against armed groups, and humanitarian and democratic assistance programs.
Despite these efforts, insecurity remains high in eastern DRC as authorities face serious challenges in safeguarding civilians and preventing reprisals. The ADF and other nonstate actors represent persistent threats to religious communities in the area, as mass killings, abductions, and attacks on places of worship continue to generate widespread fear, drive displacement, and disrupt communal religious life. These challenges highlight the pressing need for sustained security operations, strengthened accountability, and robust civilian protection measures in the DRC to ensure that all are able to live, worship, and practice their religion or belief freely.
Professional Staff
Michael Ardovino
Policy Analyst
Gretchen Birkle
Senior Advisor
Susan Bishai
Senior Policy Analyst
Mollie Blum
Policy Analyst
Guillermo Cantor
Director of Research and Policy
Serena Doan
Supervisory Policy Analyst
Kaylee Fisher
Public Affairs Specialist
Andrew Hamm
Victims List Database Specialist
Sema Hasan
Senior Policy Analyst
Thomas Kraemer
Chief Administrative Officer
Kirsten Lavery
Supervisory Policy Analyst and
International Legal Specialist
Veronica McCarthy
Government Affairs Specialist
Hilary Miller
Policy Analyst
Nora Morton
Operations Specialist
Molly Naylor-Komyatte
Policy Analyst
Dylan Schexnaydre
Policy Analyst
Katherine Todd
Policy Analyst
Ross Tokola
Policy Analyst
Brett Warner
Administrative Specialist
Scott Weiner
Supervisory Policy Analyst
Kurt Werthmuller
Supervisory Policy Analyst
Nathan Wineinger
Chief of Public Affairs
Jean Wu
Policy Analyst
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief.
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Original text here: https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/2026%20DRC%20Factsheet.pdf
