Federal Regulatory Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal regulatory agencies
Featured Stories
NRC Receives Application for Advanced Microreactor at University of Illinois
WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Receives Application for Advanced Microreactor at University of Illinois
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has received an application from the University of Illinois to build a next-generation research reactor on its UrbanaChampaign campus, marking a step forward in the development of advanced microreactor technology in the United States.
The application, submitted March 31, proposes a reactor based on NANO Nuclear Energy's KRONOS Micro Modular Reactor design. The system
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WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Receives Application for Advanced Microreactor at University of Illinois
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has received an application from the University of Illinois to build a next-generation research reactor on its UrbanaChampaign campus, marking a step forward in the development of advanced microreactor technology in the United States.
The application, submitted March 31, proposes a reactor based on NANO Nuclear Energy's KRONOS Micro Modular Reactor design. The systemwould use helium cooling and a molten-salt heat transfer process, an advanced approach intended to enhance safety and efficiency.
The NRC is reviewing the application to determine whether it is complete. If accepted, the agency will begin a detailed technical evaluation of the reactor's safety and security and publish a notice of opportunity to request an adjudicatory hearing on the application before the NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.
If the construction permit is granted, the university would need to submit a separate operating license application and receive NRC approval before the reactor could begin operation.
If approved, the project would support research, education, and workforce development while helping demonstrate emerging microreactor technology.
Visit nrc.gov for more.
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Original text here: https://www.nrc.gov/sites/default/files/cdn/doc-collection-news/2026/26-043.pdf
FCC Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau Issues Public Notice on Expanding Scope of Disaster Information Reporting System, Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative for Sinlaku
WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Federal Communications Commission Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued the following public notice (Docket No. DA 26-371) on April 15, 2026:
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The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) is expanding its disaster data collection to include the U.S. Territory of Guam (Guam) in its entirety.
On April 13, 2026, PSHSB, in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), announced the activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) and the Mandatory Disaster
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WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Federal Communications Commission Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued the following public notice (Docket No. DA 26-371) on April 15, 2026:
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The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) is expanding its disaster data collection to include the U.S. Territory of Guam (Guam) in its entirety.
On April 13, 2026, PSHSB, in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), announced the activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) and the Mandatory DisasterResponse Initiative (MDRI) in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that was impacted by Super Typhoon Sinlaku./1 With this Public Notice, PSHSB expands the activation area of the DIRS and the MDRI for Guam in response to Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
DIRS is a web-based system that communications providers, including wireless, wireline, broadcast, cable, and interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers use to report communications infrastructure status and situational awareness information during times of crisis.
PSHSB requests communications providers that provide service to any areas listed below expeditiously submit and update information through DIRS regarding, inter alia, the status of their communications equipment, restoration efforts, and power (i.e., whether they are using commercial power or back-up power). Communications providers can accomplish this by accessing DIRS at https://www.dirs.fcc.gov. Providers that have not previously done so will be asked to first provide contact information and obtain a User ID when they access DIRS. There is a link on the login page that will allow a new user to obtain a User ID and a password. If a user does not remember their password, they should use the forgotten password link on the login page. If a user has any problems accessing DIRS, please reach out to any of the contact numbers listed below.
In DIRS, this activation has the following name: SUPER TYPHOON SINLAKU. DIRS Reports are due by 6:00 a.m. (EDT) / 8:00 p.m. (ChST) on Thursday, April 16, 2026 and every day thereafter by 6:00 a.m. (EDT) / 8:00 p.m. (ChST) until DIRS is deactivated. Cable communications providers, wireless service providers, wireline communications providers, and interconnected VoIP providers are not required to make submissions in the Network Outage Reporting System (NORS) pertaining to any incidents that arise during the DIRS activation that are timely reported in DIRS./2 To promote a comprehensive and effective disaster response, PSHSB encourages other communications providers to voluntarily report in DIRS using forms applicable to their infrastructure.
MDRI EXPANDED TO INCLUDE GUAM:
As a result of PSHSB's expansion of the DIRS activation area, the MDRI has also been expanded to include Guam in response to Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
Upon the release of this Public Notice, all facilities-based mobile wireless providers operating in such areas are required to: (1) provide for reasonable roaming under disaster arrangements when technically feasible; (2) activate mutual aid arrangements with other facilities-based mobile wireless providers; (3) take reasonable measures to enhance municipal preparedness and restoration; (4) take reasonable measures to increase consumer readiness and preparation; and (5) take reasonable measures to improve public awareness and stakeholder communications on service and restoration status./3
Facilities-based mobile wireless providers that serve the above-referenced areas and that have provided contact information in DIRS will be individually notified that the MDRI has been activated in their area.
PSHSB will announce when the MDRI has been deactivated by subsequent Public Notice. Providers should familiarize themselves with the Commission's MDRI requirements./4 Details on the Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative can be found on the Commission's website at https://www.fcc.gov/wireless-network-resiliency-during-disasters.
DIRS AND THE MDRI REMAIN ACTIVATED IN THE FOLLOWING GEOGRAPHIC AREAS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS (CNMI):
CNMI: Rota, Saipan, and Tinian
Please continue to provide information to the Commission for the impacted geographic areas that are already located in the disaster area.
The Commission continues to monitor this event and may amend the DIRS or the MDRI activation area in the coming days.
For further information on this DIRS activation, please contact:
Michael Caiafa, (202) 418-1311, michael.caiafa@fcc.gov
Juan Chapa, (202) 418-0431, juan.chapa@fcc.gov
John Healy, (215) 847-8094, john.healy@fcc.gov
FCC 24/7 Operations Center, (202) 418-1122, FCCOPS@fcc.gov
For further information concerning this MDRI activation, please contact:
Justin Cain, (202) 853-7365, (202) 418-2924, justin.cain@fcc.gov
Logan Bennett, (202) 418-7790, logan.bennett@fcc.gov
FCC 24/7 Operations Center, (202) 418-1122, FCCOPS@fcc.gov
For more information on the Commission's response to Super Typhoon Sinlaku, please visit https://www.fcc.gov/Sinlaku.
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Footnotes:
1/ The Federal Communications Commission Activates the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) and the Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative (MDRI) in Response to Super Typhoon Sinlaku, Public Notice, DA 26-359 (PSHSB) (rel. April 13, 2026).
2/ See 47 CFR Sec. 4.18(b).
3/ 47 CFR Sec. 4.17(a)(3)(i)-(v); see also FCC, Wireless Network Resiliency During Disasters (June 4, 2024), https://www.fcc.gov/wireless-network-resiliency-during-disasters.
4/ 47 CFR Sec. 4.17.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-371A1.pdf
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Launches National Recall Fraud Effort as Part of Trump Administration's Anti-Fraud Initiative
WASHINGTON, April 15 -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the following news release:
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Launches National Recall Fraud Effort as Part of Trump Administration's Anti-Fraud Initiative
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Agency Seeks Public Input on How to Strengthen Tools to Detect and Deter Fraud and Abuse in Consumer Recalls
WASHINGTON -The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced a national effort to tackle fraud and abuse in consumer product recalls. CPSC is seeking public input on how to better prevent recall fraud without making it harder for
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WASHINGTON, April 15 -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the following news release:
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Launches National Recall Fraud Effort as Part of Trump Administration's Anti-Fraud Initiative
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Agency Seeks Public Input on How to Strengthen Tools to Detect and Deter Fraud and Abuse in Consumer Recalls
WASHINGTON -The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced a national effort to tackle fraud and abuse in consumer product recalls. CPSC is seeking public input on how to better prevent recall fraud without making it harder forconsumers to access remedies or increasing compliance burdens for companies.
Comments can be submitted here and must be received within 60 days of publication in the Federal Register.
CPSC is seeking input from businesses, recall administrators, consumer advocates, and the public on:
* The scope and characteristics of recall fraud
* The costs and impacts on recall programs and consumers
* Effective tools and strategies to detect and deter fraud
* Ways to reduce fraud without increasing burdens on legitimate consumers
* Potential actions the Commission can take under its existing authorities
"Consumer product recalls are one of our most important safety tools," said CPSC Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman. "Recall fraud is not a victimless offense. It undermines product safety, drains resources, and makes it harder to get dangerous products out of American homes."
CPSC uses recalls as a critical tool to remove hazardous products from the marketplace, often working with companies to provide consumer-friendly remedies such as refunds, repairs, or replacements that incentivize consumers to stop using unsafe products. Fraud can drive up costs, reduce participation, distort data, and ultimately make recalls less effective.
Today's announcement is part of the Trump administration's broader, whole-of-government strategy to combat fraud, improve program integrity, and ensure taxpayer and private-sector resources are used efficiently.
Contact: Shira Rawlinson
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Original text here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2026/US-Consumer-Product-Safety-Commission-Launches-National-Recall-Fraud-Effort-as-Part-of-Trump-Administrations-Anti-Fraud-Initiative
SEC Approves Exemptive Order and Proposed Rule Change to Permit Customer Cross-Margining in the U.S. Treasury Market
WASHINGTON, April 15 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following news release:
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SEC Approves Exemptive Order and Proposed Rule Change to Permit Customer Cross-Margining in the U.S. Treasury Market
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The Securities and Exchange Commission today issued a conditional exemptive order that permits customer cross-margining of cash market positions in U.S. Treasury securities cleared by a registered clearing agency and futures positions in U.S. Treasury securities cleared by a registered derivatives clearing organization.
The order provides for an exemption from the broker-dealer
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WASHINGTON, April 15 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following news release:
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SEC Approves Exemptive Order and Proposed Rule Change to Permit Customer Cross-Margining in the U.S. Treasury Market
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The Securities and Exchange Commission today issued a conditional exemptive order that permits customer cross-margining of cash market positions in U.S. Treasury securities cleared by a registered clearing agency and futures positions in U.S. Treasury securities cleared by a registered derivatives clearing organization.
The order provides for an exemption from the broker-dealercustomer protection rule for a broker-dealer that is dually-registered as a futures commission merchant with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and is a joint clearing member of the clearing agency and derivatives clearing organization, to permit the broker-dealer to make cross-margining available to certain customers in a futures account provided the conditions of the order are met.
In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved a proposed rule change filed by the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (FICC) pursuant to which it would enter into a proposed Third Amended and Restated Cross-Margining Agreement with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. (CME) and incorporate that agreement into the FICC Government Securities Division rules, along with related rule changes. The agreement would extend the availability of cross-margining to positions cleared and carried for customers by a dually registered broker-dealer and futures commission merchant that is a common member of FICC and CME. The agreement and related rules are consistent with the exemptive order. Prior to today only clearing members could cross-margin futures positions in U.S. Treasury securities cleared at CME with cash market positions in U.S. Treasury securities cleared at FICC.
"Today's issuance of orders completes another step in the implementation of Treasury clearing," said SEC Commissioner Mark T. Uyeda, who has been leading the SEC's efforts in this area. "It advances the goal of both the SEC and the CFTC to unlock additional liquidity and helps ensure the market for U.S. Treasury securities remains resilient."
The exemptive order and order approving the proposed rule change will be available on SEC.gov before publication in the Federal Register, and a related CFTC exemptive order will be available on CFTC.gov and also in the Federal Register.
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-36-sec-approves-exemptive-order-proposed-rule-change-permit-customer-cross-margining-us-treasury-market
FTC Testifies Before Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
WASHINGTON, April 15 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release:
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FTC Testifies Before Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
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The Federal Trade Commission testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation today to highlight the agency's accomplishments in the last year and a half and its ongoing work to protect consumers and promote competition on behalf of the American people.
These accomplishments reflect the agency's continued work in support of the Trump-Vance administration's pro-consumer, pro-competition agenda,
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WASHINGTON, April 15 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release:
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FTC Testifies Before Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
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The Federal Trade Commission testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation today to highlight the agency's accomplishments in the last year and a half and its ongoing work to protect consumers and promote competition on behalf of the American people.
These accomplishments reflect the agency's continued work in support of the Trump-Vance administration's pro-consumer, pro-competition agenda,which prioritizes lower costs, fair markets and accountability across the economy.
FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson testified at the hearing along with Commissioner Mark R. Meador and outlined the Commission's priorities and recent achievements on behalf of consumers, workers and honest businesses. This includes staff preparations for the enforcement of the TAKE IT DOWN Act, which is set to go into effect on May 19. The act, which was signed into law last year by President Trump, protects the victims of online abuse and exploitation by requiring, among other things, online platforms to take down nonconsensual intimate images.
As part of the agency's broad mandate to protect consumers, the FTC has worked to combat deceptive fees that drive up costs in areas ranging from automobiles, online food delivery, concert tickets and online subscriptions. The Commission is fighting for consumer privacy rights and working to stop illegal robocalls and telemarketing scams.
The testimony also showcased the Commission's ongoing fight against anticompetitive practices in the marketplace. This included a renewed focus on preserving competition in the healthcare market through the creation of a Healthcare Task Force to ensure healthcare is available, affordable and effective for the American people.
The Commission has also taken action to protect workers from anticompetitive labor practices such as unreasonable noncompete agreements, no-hire provisions and DEI collusion.
The Commission vote to approve the testimony was 2-0.
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Original text here: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/04/ftc-testifies-senate-commerce-science-transportation-committee
FTC Takes Action Against Noncompete Agreements, Securing Protections for Workers
WASHINGTON, April 15 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release:
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FTC Takes Action Against Noncompete Agreements, Securing Protections for Workers
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The Federal Trade Commission today ordered Rollins, Inc.-one of the largest pest-control companies in the United States-to stop enforcing noncompete agreements against more than 18,000 employees nationwide. The agency also sent warning letters to 13 other companies in the pest-control industry that employ many thousands more workers, urging the firms to review their employment agreements to ensure they do not contain
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WASHINGTON, April 15 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release:
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FTC Takes Action Against Noncompete Agreements, Securing Protections for Workers
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The Federal Trade Commission today ordered Rollins, Inc.-one of the largest pest-control companies in the United States-to stop enforcing noncompete agreements against more than 18,000 employees nationwide. The agency also sent warning letters to 13 other companies in the pest-control industry that employ many thousands more workers, urging the firms to review their employment agreements to ensure they do not containany unfair or anticompetitive noncompete provisions.
The FTC's action against Rollins-the parent company of brands including Orkin, HomeTeam, and Critter Control-is the latest in a series of enforcement actions taken by the Trump-Vance FTC to free American workers from labor practices that limit small business formation, employee mobility, and wage and job growth.
Rollins imposed noncompete agreements on nearly all its employees, which typically prohibited them from working in the pest-control industry for two years after ending employment with Rollins. The company's noncompete agreements prohibited employees from working in pest control within a predetermined distance, typically within a 75-mile radius from one of Rollins' more than 700 locations in the U.S., the FTC's complaint alleges.
Under the proposed FTC order, Rollins must, among other obligations, stop enforcing noncompete agreements against thousands of current and former Rollins workers, which will free them from these alleged unfair and anticompetitive agreements.
"Once again, the FTC is fighting for American workers to ensure that they have the freedom to pursue new job opportunities and better pay," said Daniel Guarnera, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition. "The American economy runs best when workers are not limited by noncompete agreements that distort competition and prevent workers from changing jobs, starting competing businesses, and earning higher wages. The FTC's actions today build on its work to enforce the antitrust laws to protect American workers."
Rollins' noncompete agreements covered a broad range of employees, including pest-control technicians, customer-service representatives, and other employees earning relatively low wages. According to the FTC's complaint, Rollins imposed these agreements on employees who had no ability to negotiate, received no extra compensation or other incremental consideration for signing the agreement, and were asked to sign these agreements with little or no opportunity to fully consider and understand what they meant.
As alleged in the complaint, Rollins issued hundreds of threatening cease-and-desist letters to former employees, citing an alleged breach of their noncompete agreements. In addition, Rollins has filed multiple lawsuits against former employees challenging an alleged noncompete agreement breach.
The noncompete agreements have denied workers access to job opportunities, restricted worker mobility, and likely resulted in lower wages and salaries, reduced benefits, less favorable working conditions, and personal hardship, the FTC's complaint alleges. The agreements have also suppressed competition by preventing the entry and expansion of Rollins' competitors, while also discouraging Rollins employees from starting new businesses that could compete in the pest-control industry, the complaint further alleges.
The FTC's proposed consent order states, among other things, that:
* Rollins must cease and desist from, directly or indirectly, entering or attempting to enter into, maintaining or attempting to maintain, enforcing or attempting to enforce, or threatening to enforce a noncompete agreement; and
* Rollins must provide notice to current and former employees that they are no longer subject to a noncompete agreement and that they can compete against Rollins, including by starting their own business.
Warning Letters
Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson also issued warning letters to 13 other companies in the pest control industry advising recipients that noncompete agreements deployed elsewhere in the industry may have harms similar to Rollins' noncompete agreements.
These adverse effects can include restricted worker mobility and access to job opportunities, reduced wages, salaries, and benefits, less favorable working conditions, personal hardships, and impeded entry, expansion, and growth of competitors. The letters urge recipients to conduct a comprehensive review of their employment agreements-including any noncompetes-to ensure they are appropriately tailored and comply with the law.
The FTC has prioritized investigating and prosecuting deceptive, unfair, and anticompetitive labor-market practices, including through the creation of a cross-agency Joint Labor Task Force.
The Trump-Vance FTC has brought several actions to stop anticompetitive labor practices including:
* Ordering the nation's largest pet cremation business to stop enforcing noncompete agreements against nearly 1,800 workers;
* Stopping building services contractor Adamas Amenity Services LLC (Adamas) and its affiliated businesses from enforcing no-hire agreements; and
* Issuing letters to several large healthcare employers and staffing firms urging them to conduct a comprehensive review of their employment agreements to ensure they are appropriately tailored and comply with the law.
The Commission vote to issue the complaint and accept the proposed consent agreement for public comment was 2-0. Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson issued a statement joined by Commissioner Mark R. Meador.
The public will have 30 days to submit comments on the proposed consent agreement package. Instructions for filing comments appear on the docket. Once processed, they will be posted on Regulations.gov.
NOTE: The Commission issues an administrative complaint when it has "reason to believe" that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. When the Commission issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force of law with respect to future actions.
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Original text here: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/04/ftc-takes-action-against-noncompete-agreements-securing-protections-workers
CFTC Approves Order to Further Strengthen U.S. Treasury Market Liquidity
WASHINGTON, April 15 -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued the following news release:
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CFTC Approves Order to Further Strengthen U.S. Treasury Market Liquidity
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The Commodity Futures Trading Commission approved an order to grant a limited exemption necessary for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation to make their existing cross-margining arrangement available to certain customers with appropriate safeguards.
The order permits joint clearing members of CME and FICC that are dually registered as broker-dealers with the Securities
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 15 -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued the following news release:
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CFTC Approves Order to Further Strengthen U.S. Treasury Market Liquidity
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The Commodity Futures Trading Commission approved an order to grant a limited exemption necessary for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation to make their existing cross-margining arrangement available to certain customers with appropriate safeguards.
The order permits joint clearing members of CME and FICC that are dually registered as broker-dealers with the Securitiesand Exchange Commission and futures commission merchants with the Commission to hold futures customer funds in a commingled customer account at FICC. Prior to today's exemptive order, only clearing members could cross-margin futures positions in U.S. Treasury securities cleared at CME with cash market positions in U.S. Treasury securities cleared at FICC.
"Today's joint action supports both the CFTC's and SEC's broader effort to strengthen the resilience and liquidity of the U.S. Treasury market," said Chairman Michael S. Selig. "By enabling more efficient risk management across related products, this proposal moves us closer toward a more modern, robust market structure."
The exemptive order will be available on CFTC.gov and published in the Federal Register. A related SEC exemptive order will be available on SEC.gov and published in the Federal Register.
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Original text here: https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9214-26
