Federal Regulatory Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal regulatory agencies
Featured Stories
SEC Obtains Final Consent Judgment as to Alleged Orchestrator of $100 Million Fraudulent Scheme Involving Two Mutual Funds
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 21-cv-05429; S.D.N.Y. filed June 21, 2021) involving an alleged orchestrator of $100 million fraudulent scheme:
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On February 25, 2026, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a final consent judgment as to Ofer Abarbanel, the manager of two mutual funds: the Income Collecting 1-3 Months T-Bills Mutual Fund and the State Funds - Enhanced Ultra-Short Duration Mutual Fund. The Securities and Exchange Commission previously charged Abarbanel and others
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 21-cv-05429; S.D.N.Y. filed June 21, 2021) involving an alleged orchestrator of $100 million fraudulent scheme:
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On February 25, 2026, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a final consent judgment as to Ofer Abarbanel, the manager of two mutual funds: the Income Collecting 1-3 Months T-Bills Mutual Fund and the State Funds - Enhanced Ultra-Short Duration Mutual Fund. The Securities and Exchange Commission previously charged Abarbanel and otherswith an alleged scheme to defraud investors in these two mutual funds.
As alleged in the SEC's amended complaint, Abarbanel diverted fund assets to shell companies under his control using unauthorized, uncollateralized loan transactions that violated the terms set forth in the funds' public filings, prospectuses, and other documents issued to investors. The SEC charged Abarbanel and others with violating the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws, named as relief defendants six companies that had received investor assets in furtherance of the scheme, and obtained an asset freeze to safeguard the remaining investor funds. The SEC previously reached settlement agreements with two of the co-defendants in this matter, returned the frozen assets to harmed investors, and dismissed the action against one co-defendant and the six relief defendants. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York also charged Abarbanel with defrauding investors in a parallel criminal case. Abarbanel pled guilty in September 2022 and was later sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to forfeit and pay restitution to victims in the amount of $106 million.
The final consent judgment permanently enjoins Abarbanel from future violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, Sections 206(1), (2), and (4) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 206(4)-8 thereunder, and Section 34(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The judgment further orders disgorgement in the amount of $106,530,000 plus prejudgment interest in the amount of $3,639,277, offset by $88,785,385 collected through the asset freeze and returned to investors, with the remaining amount deemed satisfied by the criminal forfeiture and restitution orders entered against Abarbanel by the United States District Court in United States v. Abarbanel, No. 21-cr-532 (S.D.N.Y.). The final judgment imposes no civil money penalty against Abarbanel in light of his conviction and sentence in the parallel criminal action.
The Commission also instituted a settled follow-on administrative proceeding barring Abarbanel from association with any broker, dealer, investment adviser, municipal securities dealer, municipal advisor, transfer agent, or nationally recognized statistical rating organization.
The SEC's continuing litigation is being conducted by Derek Bentsen under the supervision of James Carlson, with the assistance of investigative staff Alexandra M. Arango, David Becker, Gregory Padgett, and Virginia M. Rosado Desilets. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Cook Islands Financial Intelligence Unit.
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Resources
* Final Judgment (https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/litreleases/2026/judg26494.pdf)
* Order Instituting Proceedings (https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/admin/2026/ia-6949.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26494
SEC Dismisses Civil Enforcement Action Against Ex-Chief Financial Officer
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 5:23-cv-03300-BLF; N.D. Cal. filed July 3, 2023) involving Ex-Chief Financial Officer Vidul Prakash:
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On February 27, 2026, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a joint stipulation with Vidul Prakash to dismiss, with prejudice, the Commission's civil enforcement action against him.
As stated in the joint stipulation, the Commission's decision to exercise its discretion and seek dismissal is "based on the facts and circumstances of this case and its ongoing review of the
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 5:23-cv-03300-BLF; N.D. Cal. filed July 3, 2023) involving Ex-Chief Financial Officer Vidul Prakash:
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On February 27, 2026, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a joint stipulation with Vidul Prakash to dismiss, with prejudice, the Commission's civil enforcement action against him.
As stated in the joint stipulation, the Commission's decision to exercise its discretion and seek dismissal is "based on the facts and circumstances of this case and its ongoing review of theevidence, including evidence developed in discovery" and "does not reflect the SEC's position on any other case."
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Resources
* Joint Stipulation for Voluntary Dismissal and Releases
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26495
SEC Commissioner Uyeda Issues Statement on the Adoption of Final Rules Under the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following statement on Feb. 27, 2026, by Commissioner Mark T. Uyeda:
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Statement on the Adoption of Final Rules Under the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act
Today, the Commission amends its rulebook to implement the requirements of the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act ("HFIA Act"). The final rules ("HFIAA Rules") generally require every person who is a director or an officer of a foreign private issuer to file Section 16 reports on EDGAR.[1]
The HFIA Act and the HFIAA Rules can promote transparency in
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following statement on Feb. 27, 2026, by Commissioner Mark T. Uyeda:
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Statement on the Adoption of Final Rules Under the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act
Today, the Commission amends its rulebook to implement the requirements of the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act ("HFIA Act"). The final rules ("HFIAA Rules") generally require every person who is a director or an officer of a foreign private issuer to file Section 16 reports on EDGAR.[1]
The HFIA Act and the HFIAA Rules can promote transparency inU.S. markets by providing information on insider securities transactions. The HFIA Act levels the playing field for foreign private issuers that choose to voluntarily register their securities in the United States in order to take advantage of the liquidity and efficiencies of U.S. markets. They will now be subject to requirements that have been long applicable to domestic issuers.
When implementing statutory directives, the Commission should seek to implement the plain text of the statute rather than taking expansive interpretive views that can impose significantly greater costs to market participants without commensurate benefits. This is especially true when adopting rules that would expand the categories of persons subject to aspects of SEC rules. The SEC's "clawback" rulemaking is an example of a rulemaking where the Commission adopted rules that likely went beyond the Congressional directive.[2] Specifically, Congress indicated that the clawbacks should apply to "executive officers, a very limited number of employees."[3] However, the final clawback rules captured persons far beyond the narrow scope contemplated by Congress. I am pleased that the Commission does not repeat this error today.
Notably, the HFIAA Rules do not apply to persons who beneficially own more than 10 percent of any class of equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act ("10 percent holders"). This outcome is consistent with a plain reading of statutory amendments enacted by the HFIA Act. As the Commission's release for HFIAA Rules notes, the text and the legislative history of the HFIA Act indicate that its scope is limited to directors and officers. In fact, the final legislation specifically did not include language contained in an earlier bill that would have covered 10 percent holders. The legislative text was changed to specifically cover only directors and officers.[4] While the section title of HFIA Act references "principal stockholders," the Commission's release appropriately notes that legislative titles do not override the plain text of statutes.[5]
I thank the staff in the Division of Corporation Finance's Office of International Corporate Finance, the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis, the Office of International Affairs, the Office of the General Counsel, and the many other offices that have contributed to this release.
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[1] More specifically, a foreign private issuer with a class of equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act"). See Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act Disclosure, Release No. 34-104903 (Feb. 27, 2026), available at https://www.sec.gov/files/rules/final/2026/34-104903.pdf.
[2] Statement on the Final Rule Related to Listing Standards for Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation, Commissioner Mark T. Uyeda (Oct. 26, 2022).
[3] Id.; Report of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, S.3217, Report No. 111-176 at 136 (Apr. 30, 2010).
[4] HFIAA Rules, n. 11.
[5] Id. citing Dubin v. United States, 599 U.S. 110, 121 (2023) (quoting Fulton v. Philadelphia, 593 U.S. 522, 536 (2021)); Bhd. of R.R. Trainmen v. Balt. & Ohio R.R., 331 U.S. 519, 528-529 (1947).
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/uyeda-statement-adoption-final-rules-under-holding-foreign-insiders-accountable-act-022726
SEC Chairman Atkins Issues Statement on Final Rules for the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following statement on Feb. 27, 2026, by Chairman Paul S. Atkins:
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Statement on Final Rules for the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act
Today, the Commission amended its rules and forms under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934[1] to reflect and conform to statutory changes implemented by the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act (the "HFIA Act").[2] I am pleased that the Commission enacted these amendments more than two-and-a-half weeks ahead of the deadline established by the HFIA Act.[3]
The
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following statement on Feb. 27, 2026, by Chairman Paul S. Atkins:
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Statement on Final Rules for the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act
Today, the Commission amended its rules and forms under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934[1] to reflect and conform to statutory changes implemented by the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act (the "HFIA Act").[2] I am pleased that the Commission enacted these amendments more than two-and-a-half weeks ahead of the deadline established by the HFIA Act.[3]
TheHFIA Act requires directors and officers of certain foreign private issuers to report their holdings and transactions in the issuer's securities, effective 18 March 2026.[4] These requirements will align the reporting obligations of foreign executives with those of U.S. executives. However, when enacting the HFIA Act, Congress also recognized the possibility that some foreign laws may already impose substantially similar requirements on executives and gave the Commission authority to exempt persons, securities, or transactions from the HFIA Act's requirements.[5] The Commission staff is actively evaluating whether it will recommend that the Commission exercise this exemptive authority.
Thank you to the following members of the Commission staff for their work on today's amendments to the rules and forms under Section 16.
* Division of Corporation Finance: James Moloney, Sebastian Gomez Abero, Ted Yu, Michael Coco, Kateryna Kuntsevich, Kelsey Glover, Luna Bloom, Valian Afshar, Dennis Hermreck, Mark Vilardo, Anna Rice Abramson, and Jessica Ansart.
* Division of Economic and Risk Analysis: Oliver Richard, Lyndon Orton, Charles Woodworth, Angela Huang, Evan Avila, PJ Hamidi, Robert Luby, and Matt Pacino.
* Office of International Affairs: Kathleen Hutchinson, Morgan Macdonald, Michael Ferrario, Lesli Sheppard, and Matthew Greiner.
* Office of the General Counsel: Bryant Morris, Cynthia Bien, Johanna Losert, Rebecca Orban, and David Russo.
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[1] Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act Disclosure, Release No. 34-104903 (Feb. 27, 2026), available at https://www.sec.gov/files/rules/final/2026/34-104903.pdf.
[2] Sec. 8103 of the National Defense Authorization Act (cited as Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act, or HFIA Act), Pub. L. No. 119-60, [X] Stat. [X] (Dec. 18, 2025), Sec. 8103.
[3] See id. at 8103(d)(1).
[4] Id. at Sec. 8103(b).
[5] Id. at Sect. 8013(b)(1)(D).
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/atkins-statement-final-rules-holding-foreign-insiders-accountable-act-022726
NRC Announces Opportunity to Request a Hearing on Holtec's Limited Work Authorization Application at Palisades
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Announces Opportunity to Request a Hearing on Holtec's Limited Work Authorization Application at Palisades
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has announced in the Federal Register the opportunity to request an adjudicatory hearing on a Limited Work Authorization application from SMR, LLC, a Holtec International subsidiary. The LWA is related to the proposed Pioneer dualunit SMR-300, a small modular reactor plant that, if approved, would be co-located with the Palisades Nuclear Plant in Covert,
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Announces Opportunity to Request a Hearing on Holtec's Limited Work Authorization Application at Palisades
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has announced in the Federal Register the opportunity to request an adjudicatory hearing on a Limited Work Authorization application from SMR, LLC, a Holtec International subsidiary. The LWA is related to the proposed Pioneer dualunit SMR-300, a small modular reactor plant that, if approved, would be co-located with the Palisades Nuclear Plant in Covert,Michigan.
Petitions to intervene in a hearing must be filed by April 28 by anyone whose interest may be affected by the proposed LWA and who wishes to participate as a party in the proceeding. Additional information on the hearing process is available on the NRC website.
The NRC staff has determined that the application contains sufficient information for the agency to formally docket it and begin its detailed technical review. Docketing the application does not indicate whether the agency will grant the LWA.
The company submitted the application on Dec. 31, 2025, seeking an LWA for certain construction activities for two potential SMR-300 units, each of which would produce approximately 300 megawatts of electricity. The application covers activities such as soil compaction, backfilling, and installing foundations. Information about the NRC's interactions regarding the SMR-300 project is available on the NRC website.
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Original text here: https://www.nrc.gov/sites/default/files/cdn/doc-collection-news/2026/26-025.pdf
FEC Issues Digest for Week of Feb. 23-27, 2026
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following weekly digest:
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Commission meetings and hearings
No open meetings or executive sessions were scheduled this week.
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Litigation
Giffords v. FEC (Case No. 25-5188) On February 26, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a Brief of Amicus Curiae in Support of Appellees and Dismissal or Affirmance in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Seegers v. FEC (Case No. 26-276) On January 30, Plaintiff filed a Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief in the U.S. District
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following weekly digest:
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Commission meetings and hearings
No open meetings or executive sessions were scheduled this week.
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Litigation
Giffords v. FEC (Case No. 25-5188) On February 26, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a Brief of Amicus Curiae in Support of Appellees and Dismissal or Affirmance in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Seegers v. FEC (Case No. 26-276) On January 30, Plaintiff filed a Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief in the U.S. DistrictCourt for the District of Columbia, alleging that the Commission failed to act on Plaintiff's administrative complaint.
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Reports Due in 2026
The Commission has posted the 2026 Congressional Pre-Election Reporting Dates. Reporting schedules for all filers in 2026 are also available.
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Outreach
On February 28, Chair Shana M. Broussard was the keynote speaker at the 58th Annual Mid-Atlantic Law Students Association Regional Convention in Philadelphia, PA.
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Election Dates
The Commission has posted a list of 2026 Congressional Primary Dates.
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Employment opportunities
The Commission is accepting applications for the position of IT Specialist (APPSW/ENTARCH) in the Office of the Chief Information Officer's Applications Branch through March 4, 2026.
The Commission is accepting applications for the position of Attorney-Adviser (Ethics) in the Deputy General Counsel of Law Division of the Office of General Counsel through March 13, 2026.
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Upcoming educational opportunities
March 3-4, 2026: The Commission is scheduled to host a webinar for political party committees.
March 18, 2026: The Commission is scheduled to host a webinar for Nonconnected PACs.
March 25, 2026: The Commission is scheduled to host a FECFile webinar for PACs and party committees.
April 1, 2026: The Commission is scheduled to host a FECFile webinar for candidate committees.
For more information on upcoming training opportunities, see the Commission's Trainings page.
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Upcoming reporting due dates
March 20: March Monthly Reports are due. For more information, see the 2026 Monthly Reporting schedules.
The Commission has posted filing information regarding the Georgia 14th District Special General Election, scheduled for March 10, 2026, and Special Runoff Election (if necessary), scheduled for April 7, 2026.
The Commission has posted filing information regarding the New Jersey 11th District Special General Election, scheduled for April 16, 2026.
The Commission has posted filing information regarding the California 1st District Special General Election, scheduled for June 2, 2026, and Special Runoff Election (if necessary), scheduled for August 4, 2026.
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Additional research materials
Contribution Limits: In addition to the current limits, the Commission has posted an archive of contribution limits that were in effect going back to the 1975-1976 election cycles.
Federal election results are available. The data was compiled from the official vote totals published by state election offices.
FEC Notify: Want to be notified by email when campaign finance reports are received by the agency? Sign up here.
The Combined Federal State Disclosure and Election Directory is available. This publication identifies the federal and state agencies responsible for the disclosure of campaign finances, lobbying, personal finances, public financing, candidates on the ballot, election results, spending on state initiatives, and other financial filings.
The Presidential Election Campaign Fund Tax Checkoff Chart provides information on balance of the Fund, monthly deposits into the Fund reported by the Department of the Treasury, payments from the Fund as certified by the FEC, and participation rates of taxpayers as reported by the Internal Revenue Service. For more information on the Presidential Public Funding Program, see the Public Funding of Presidential Elections page.
The FEC Record is available as a continuously updated online news source.
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Original text here: https://www.fec.gov/updates/week-of-february-23-27-2026/
FCC Approves Charter-Cox Combination
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on Feb. 27, 2026:
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FCC Approves Charter-Cox Combination
Deal Promotes Rural Builds, Creates Jobs, and Protects Against DEI Discrimination
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Today, the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau approved Charter Communications' $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Enterprises, Inc.'s residential cable, commercial fiber, and managed IT and cloud businesses. As approved by the FCC, the resulting combination will provide significant benefits to Americans, including in rural parts of the country, from increased
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on Feb. 27, 2026:
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FCC Approves Charter-Cox Combination
Deal Promotes Rural Builds, Creates Jobs, and Protects Against DEI Discrimination
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Today, the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau approved Charter Communications' $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Enterprises, Inc.'s residential cable, commercial fiber, and managed IT and cloud businesses. As approved by the FCC, the resulting combination will provide significant benefits to Americans, including in rural parts of the country, from increasedinvestment in rural infrastructure builds to more job opportunities on U.S. soil and anti-discrimination protections.
Chairman Brendan Carr issued the following statement:
"By approving this deal, the FCC ensures big wins for Americans. This deal means that jobs are coming back to America that had been shipped overseas. It means that modern, high-speed networks will get built out in more communities across rural America. And it means that customers will get access to lower priced plans. On top of this, the deal enshrines protections against DEI discrimination."
Bringing Greater Connectivity and Economic Opportunity to Rural America. After this transaction, Charter will invest billions of dollars to upgrade its network and deliver high-speed service to homes and businesses across the country. This means that Americans will see faster broadband and lower prices. Additionally, Charter's Rural Construction Initiative is activating new services across rural states, which can bring better service and job opportunities to rural America.
Onshoring of Jobs and Services. Charter has committed to onshoring jobs to the benefit of American workers and their customers alike. With this transaction, Charter will onshore all of the job functions currently handled off-shore by Cox within 18 months, matching Charter's own, longstanding commitment to a 100% U.S.-based customer sales and service employee workforce. Charter has also committed to extending its industry leading jobs practices, including a $20/hour minimum starting wage, to Cox workers. All employees receive full benefits, including "Invest in America" Trump accounts and opportunities for investment and growth.
Enshrining Protections Against DEI Discrimination. Charter has committed to new safeguards to protect against DEI discrimination and has reaffirmed the merged entity's commitment to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination. Specifically, Charter commits to recruiting, hiring, and promoting individuals based on the factors that matter most: skills, qualifications, and experience.
Additional Background Information:
On May 16, 2025, Cox, Charter, and Charter Holdings, entered into an agreement under which Charter will acquire Cox and the licensees from CEI. Through this acquisition, Charter acquires Cox's residential cable, commercial fiber, and managed IT and cloud businesses. The combined company will take the Cox name and use the brand name Spectrum for the consumer market, becoming the largest residential Internet Service Provider in the market. Charter will now indirectly control Cox's residential broadband, video, mobile, and voice businesses; its advertising and enterprise businesses; and its Segra, UPN, and RapidScale businesses.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-419093A1.pdf
