Federal Regulatory Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal regulatory agencies
Featured Stories
NRC Proposes Significantly Restructured Hearing Timeline to Minimize Delays
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Proposes Significantly Restructured Hearing Timeline to Minimize Delays
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a proposed rule for comment, which would streamline Atomic Safety and Licensing Board adjudicatory hearings on most license applications, including new reactors and reactor license renewals.
This rule is part of broader reforms from Executive Order 14300 aimed at increasing U.S. nuclear capacity and to reestablish the United States as the global leader in nuclear energy. EO 14300
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WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Proposes Significantly Restructured Hearing Timeline to Minimize Delays
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a proposed rule for comment, which would streamline Atomic Safety and Licensing Board adjudicatory hearings on most license applications, including new reactors and reactor license renewals.
This rule is part of broader reforms from Executive Order 14300 aimed at increasing U.S. nuclear capacity and to reestablish the United States as the global leader in nuclear energy. EO 14300directs the NRC to complete licensing actions within 12 to 18 months, or faster. Historically, NRC adjudications have extended well past these timeframes. This rulemaking would enable the NRC to meet these deadlines for applications even when they are the subject of hearing requests by reforming its contested hearing process to accelerate timelines, simplify procedures, reduce burdens, while preserving due process. Specifically, the amendment would:
* Resolve evidentiary hearings in a few months.
* Start hearings as early as possible after a challenge is admitted for hearing; ensure that later-filed challenges do not unnecessarily delay NRC licensing decisions.
* Reduce discovery burdens for all parties and accelerate appeals.
* Ensure independent legal and technical judges would still preside over contested hearings, maintaining fairness for all parties and accurate decisions that protect public safety and security. Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted until April 2, following publication in the Federal Register.
Comments can be submitted, referencing Docket ID NRC-2025-1501, at regulations.gov; the Register notice will include additional instructions.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was created as an expert, technical agency to protect public health, safety, and security, and regulate the civilian use of nuclear materials, including enabling the deployment of nuclear power for the benefit of society. Among other responsibilities, the agency issues licenses, conducts inspections, initiates and enforces regulations, and plans for incident response. The NRC is collaborating with interagency partners to implement reforms outlined in new Executive Orders and the ADVANCE Act to streamline agency activities and enhance efficiency.
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Original text here: https://www.nrc.gov/sites/default/files/cdn/doc-collection-news/2026/26-027.pdf
NRC Begins Special Inspection at Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Begins Special Inspection at Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission launched a special inspection at the Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station to review the circumstances of a loss of offsite power during a recent winter storm. The plant, operated by PSEG Nuclear LLC, is in Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey. The NRC determined a special inspection was warranted because switchyard issues caused the plant to unexpectedly lose its preferred source of
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WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Begins Special Inspection at Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission launched a special inspection at the Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station to review the circumstances of a loss of offsite power during a recent winter storm. The plant, operated by PSEG Nuclear LLC, is in Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey. The NRC determined a special inspection was warranted because switchyard issues caused the plant to unexpectedly lose its preferred source ofelectrical power for safety systems.
"We want to ensure PSEG is taking appropriate steps to understand the conditions that caused the power loss," said acting Region I Administrator Ray McKinley. "Our inspectors will evaluate the company's analysis of the event, as well as the steps being taken to ensure the plant avoids similar events in the future."
On Feb. 23, plant operators declared an Unusual Event and safely shut down the plant after safety systems lost connection to incoming power lines. Emergency generators automatically started to provide power to essential plant equipment. The plant restored offsite power later that day, and the reactor remains safely shut down.
Once the inspection is complete, NRC inspectors will document their findings in a publicly available inspection report, which will be distributed electronically to listserv subscribers and available on the NRC website (https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/oversight/listofrpts-body.html#hope).
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The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was created as an expert, technical agency to protect public health, safety, and security, and regulate the civilian use of nuclear materials, including enabling the deployment of nuclear power for the benefit of society. Among other responsibilities, the agency issues licenses, conducts inspections, initiates and enforces regulations, and plans for incident response. The NRC is collaborating with interagency partners to implement reforms outlined in new Executive Orders and the ADVANCE Act to streamline agency activities and enhance efficiency.
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Original text here: https://www.nrc.gov/sites/default/files/cdn/doc-collection-news/2026/26-002-i.pdf
NRC Taps Jeremy Bowen to Lead New Office for Advanced Reactors
WASHINGTON, March 3 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Taps Jeremy Bowen to Lead New Office for Advanced Reactors
"Jeremy is the right leader at the right time for this important role and will be a strong asset in enabling safe and secure nuclear energy for America."
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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced the appointment of Jeremy S. Bowen to head the Office of Advanced Reactors. The creation of OAR is part of a larger agency reorganization as directed by White House Executive Order 14300 and is slated for completion in September.
"Jeremy
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WASHINGTON, March 3 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Taps Jeremy Bowen to Lead New Office for Advanced Reactors
"Jeremy is the right leader at the right time for this important role and will be a strong asset in enabling safe and secure nuclear energy for America."
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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced the appointment of Jeremy S. Bowen to head the Office of Advanced Reactors. The creation of OAR is part of a larger agency reorganization as directed by White House Executive Order 14300 and is slated for completion in September.
"Jeremyis the right leader at the right time for this important role and will be a strong asset in enabling safe and secure nuclear energy for America," said NRC Chairman Ho K. Nieh, "He has a successful track record in leading new and advanced reactor licensing and is the most qualified person to launch this new office."
OAR will license and oversee new and advanced reactors and is responsible for the expeditious review of advanced reactor applications and deployment of innovative technology. In this new role, Bowen will lead the team issuing permits and licenses for new reactor facilities and serve as the programmatic lead for construction inspection. He will report to the Deputy Executive Director for Reactor and Preparedness Programs. His appointment will be effective upon the establishment of OAR.
Bowen is currently serving as the Acting Deputy Director for New Reactors in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, where he leads the regulatory licensing and oversight of all new and advanced reactor technologies. He joined the NRC in 2007. Prior to his selection to the Senior Executive Service, he served in various staff capacities involving reactor licensing and oversight. Bowen's SES assignments included roles in the NRC's Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, the Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards, the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, and NRR. Prior to joining the NRC, Bowen served as a Naval Submarine Officer. He holds a bachelor's degree in systems engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and is a graduate of the NRC's Leadership Development Program and SES Candidate Development Program.
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The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was created as an expert, technical agency to protect public health, safety, and security, and regulate the civilian use of nuclear materials, including enabling the deployment of nuclear power for the benefit of society. Among other responsibilities, the agency issues licenses, conducts inspections, initiates and enforces regulations, and plans for incident response. The NRC is collaborating with interagency partners to implement reforms outlined in new Executive Orders and the ADVANCE Act to streamline agency activities and enhance efficiency.
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Original text here: https://www.nrc.gov/sites/default/files/cdn/doc-collection-news/2026/26-026.pdf
Lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold increases (2026)
WASHINGTON, March 3 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following record:
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Lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold increases (2026)
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The Federal Election Campaign Act and Commission regulations require certain political committees to disclose information about lobbyists/registrants and lobbyist/registrant PACs whose bundled contributions within a covered period exceed a specified threshold amount. The Commission must adjust the threshold amount at the beginning of each calendar year.
The threshold is calculated by multiplying the $15,000 statutory threshold by the difference
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WASHINGTON, March 3 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following record:
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Lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold increases (2026)
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The Federal Election Campaign Act and Commission regulations require certain political committees to disclose information about lobbyists/registrants and lobbyist/registrant PACs whose bundled contributions within a covered period exceed a specified threshold amount. The Commission must adjust the threshold amount at the beginning of each calendar year.
The threshold is calculated by multiplying the $15,000 statutory threshold by the differencebetween the preceding year's consumer price index, as certified by the Secretary of Labor, and the price index for the base period (CY 2006). The resulting amount is rounded to the nearest multiple of $100. Based on this formula ($15,000 x 1.59695), the lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold for 2026 is $24,000.
The lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold was published in the Federal Register on March 3, 2026 at 91 Fed. Reg. 10393.
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Original text here: https://www.fec.gov/updates/lobbyist-bundling-disclosure-threshold-increases-2026/
JACO Coach Company, LLC to Pay $95,000 Settlement Following Sexual Harassment Finding by the EEOC
WASHINGTON, March 3 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release:
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JACO Coach Company, LLC to Pay $95,000 Settlement Following Sexual Harassment Finding by the EEOC
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Resolves charge that Louisville limousine company failed to address repeated employee complaints
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - JACO Coach Company, LLC, a Louisville transportation company, entered into a public conciliation agreement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to resolve a sexual harassment charge, the federal agency announced today.
In the charge, a former employee
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WASHINGTON, March 3 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release:
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JACO Coach Company, LLC to Pay $95,000 Settlement Following Sexual Harassment Finding by the EEOC
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Resolves charge that Louisville limousine company failed to address repeated employee complaints
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - JACO Coach Company, LLC, a Louisville transportation company, entered into a public conciliation agreement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to resolve a sexual harassment charge, the federal agency announced today.
In the charge, a former employeealleged that during her employment she was subjected to sexual harassment and unwanted touching around January 2024 by a male coworker. The EEOC determined there was reasonable cause to believe the company violated federal anti-discrimination law when it failed to remedy workplace sexual harassment for the individual who filed the charge, and for a class of female coworkers also affected by the harassment. The EEOC's charge investigation found that the same coworker had been the subject of complaints going back to 2023 and the company, having received these repeated complaints, failed to take appropriate action.
Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment.
"We commend JACO Coach Company for choosing to resolve this charge and for putting in place measures that will benefit all employees," said Richard Burgamy, acting district director of the EEOC's Indianapolis District Office. "This resolution highlights the importance of sexual harassment training, policies, and clear ways to report unwelcome behavior."
JACO Coach Company disputes the allegations but entered into a conciliation agreement with the EEOC. The company agreed to pay $95,000 to the affected parties, provide training to employees and establish sexual harassment policies and reporting procedures. Additionally, the company will post a notice to all employes about the resolution of this charge and their rights under federal anti-discrimination law. The EEOC will monitor compliance for the agreement's three-year term.
For more information on sexual harassment, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/sexual-harassment.
The EEOC's Indianapolis District includes Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan.
The EEOC is the sole federal agency authorized to investigate and litigate against businesses and other private sector employers for violations of federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. For public sector employers, the EEOC shares jurisdiction with the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. The EEOC also is responsible for coordinating the federal government's employment antidiscrimination effort. More information about the EEOC is available at www.eeoc.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/jaco-coach-company-llc-pay-95000-settlement-following-sexual-harassment-finding-eeoc
Coordinated party expenditure limits adjusted for 2026
WASHINGTON, March 3 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following record:
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Coordinated party expenditure limits adjusted for 2026
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The 2026 coordinated party expenditure limits are now available.
* For Senate nominees, the 2026 limits range from $130,600 to $4,071,800, depending on each state's voting age population (VAP).
* For House nominees in states that have only one U.S. House Representative, the limit is $130,600.
* For House nominees in states that have more than one U.S. House Representative, and for the District of Columbia and territories that elect individuals
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WASHINGTON, March 3 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following record:
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Coordinated party expenditure limits adjusted for 2026
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The 2026 coordinated party expenditure limits are now available.
* For Senate nominees, the 2026 limits range from $130,600 to $4,071,800, depending on each state's voting age population (VAP).
* For House nominees in states that have only one U.S. House Representative, the limit is $130,600.
* For House nominees in states that have more than one U.S. House Representative, and for the District of Columbia and territories that elect individualsto the office of Delegate or Resident Commissioner, the limit is $65,300.
For the complete list of 2026 limits, visit our coordinated party expenditure limits page. This page lists the state-by-state coordinated party expenditure limits for Senate nominees. It also includes information on which types of party committees have the authority to make coordinated party expenditures.
The limits are calculated according to a statutory formula that accounts for the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The applicable COLA for 2026 is 6.52944.
Coordinated party expenditure limits are separate from the contribution limits. Unlike contributions, the national senatorial and congressional committees do not have separate coordinated party expenditure limits; however, they may receive authorization to spend against the national limit or state party limits. Coordinated party expenditures also differ from contributions in that the party committee must spend the funds on behalf of the nominee rather than give the money directly to the campaign. These expenditures may be made in consultation with the nominee; however, only the party committee making the expenditure-not the candidate committee-must report them. Coordinated party expenditures are reported on Form 3X, line 25, and are always itemized on Schedule F, regardless of amount.
The coordinated party expenditure limits were published in the Federal Register on March 3, 2026 at 91 Fed. Reg. 10393.
Note: The United States Supreme Court is currently considering the constitutionality of the coordinated party expenditure limits in the case NRSC v. FEC, No. 24-621 (U.S. oral argument Dec. 9, 2025). Unless and until the Supreme Court decides otherwise, however, the coordinated expenditure limits remain in force.
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Original text here: https://www.fec.gov/updates/coordinated-party-expenditure-limits-adjusted-for-2026/
Appeals court affirms dismissal of McDonald v. FEC (25-10830)
WASHINGTON, March 3 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following news release:
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Appeals court affirms dismissal of McDonald v. FEC (25-10830)
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WASHINGTON - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Monday issued a per curiam Opinion in McDonald v. FEC (Case No. 25-10830), affirming an order of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas granting the Commission's Motion to Dismiss.
In February 2025, the Plaintiff filed suit against the Commission challenging as unconstitutional the reporting requirements of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, March 3 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following news release:
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Appeals court affirms dismissal of McDonald v. FEC (25-10830)
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WASHINGTON - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Monday issued a per curiam Opinion in McDonald v. FEC (Case No. 25-10830), affirming an order of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas granting the Commission's Motion to Dismiss.
In February 2025, the Plaintiff filed suit against the Commission challenging as unconstitutional the reporting requirements of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971,as amended (the Act), that apply to certain contributions that are earmarked through conduits or intermediaries of amounts of up to $200, alleging that the disclosure requirements violate the First Amendment.
In its July 2025 Opinion, the district court concluded that the Plaintiff had failed to demonstrate an injury in fact and, therefore, lacked standing to bring a constitutional challenge. On appeal, the Plaintiff argued that the district court erred because anonymous speakers suffer an injury in fact when the government violates their right to remain unknown, and because laws requiring donor disclosure chill speech and association, which is itself an injury. The appeals court disagreed and affirmed the district court's judgment.
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign finance laws. The FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, the Presidency and the Vice Presidency. Established in 1975, the FEC is composed of six Commissioners who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
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Original text here: https://www.fec.gov/updates/appeals-court-affirms-dismissal-of-mcdonald-v-fec-25-10830/
