Featured Stories
SEC Charges Real Estate Investment Trust Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., Founders With Fraud in Alleged $152 Million Scheme
WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 8:26 cv 02186; M.D. Fla. filed July 29, 2026):
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. RAD Diversified REIT, Inc., et al., No. 8:26 cv 02186 (M.D. Fla. filed July 29, 2026)
On July 29, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed charges against RAD Diversified REIT, Inc. ("RADD"), a real estate investment trust ("REIT"), and its founders Brandon "Dutch" Mendenhall and Amy Vaughn, for raising at least $152 million from more than 5,500 retail investors nationwide through an alleged
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WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 8:26 cv 02186; M.D. Fla. filed July 29, 2026):
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. RAD Diversified REIT, Inc., et al., No. 8:26 cv 02186 (M.D. Fla. filed July 29, 2026)
On July 29, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed charges against RAD Diversified REIT, Inc. ("RADD"), a real estate investment trust ("REIT"), and its founders Brandon "Dutch" Mendenhall and Amy Vaughn, for raising at least $152 million from more than 5,500 retail investors nationwide through an allegedfraudulent real estate investment scheme in which Mendenhall and Vaughn collectively misappropriated nearly $5 million of investor funds.
According to the SEC's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, from November 2019 through March 2024, the defendants systematically deceived investors about RADD's profitability, stock valuation practices, and liquidity, through an extensive marketing campaign using unregistered sales agents and high-pressure tactics, and invoking Christian values and patriotism to gain investor trust. The complaint alleges that the defendants falsely claimed that RADD was a profitable REIT and that "zero investors have ever lost money on their investment," when in reality, RADD suffered millions of dollars in annual losses. The complaint also alleges that the defendants claimed RADD's ever-increasing stock price was based on independent appraisals or valuations of the REIT's properties and would be regularly updated; however, the properties were not independently valued, and defendants never updated RADD's stock beyond July 2023, despite widespread property foreclosures and internal findings showing the stock price was significantly overstated. The defendants allegedly assured investors of liquidity, while routinely denying or ignoring redemption requests, which RADD ultimately froze in February 2024, later filing for bankruptcy in March 2026. Moreover, the complaint alleges that the defendants diverted approximately $54 million of investor funds to relief defendant The Seminar Solution, LLC ("TSS"), an entity owned by Mendenhall and Vaughn, who then misappropriated millions for personal expenses, including IRS taxes, private jet charters, luxury goods, and recreational activities.
The SEC's complaint charges RADD, Mendenhall, and Vaughn with violating Sections 5(a), 5(c), and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. Relief defendant TSS is charged with unjust enrichment. The SEC seeks permanent injunctions and disgorgement with prejudgment interest against all defendants, and civil penalties, conduct-based injunctions, and officer and director bars against Mendenhall and Vaughn. The SEC also seeks disgorgement with prejudgment interest against relief defendant TSS.
The SEC's investigation was supervised by Assistant Directors Jason R. Berkowitz and Fernando Torres, Acting Supervisory Trial Counsel Russell Koonin, and was conducted with assistance from Senior Accountant Mark Dee, under the supervision of Associate Director Stephanie N. Moot of the SEC's Miami Regional Office. The SEC's litigation will be led by Mr. Koonin and Trial Counsel Michael Mikulic.
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Resources
* SEC Complaint (https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/complaints/2026/comp26596.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26596
FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Issues Public Notice: Updated Lifeline Minimum Service Standards and Indexed Budget Amount
WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 11-42):
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By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces the minimum service standards for Lifeline-supported services as required by the 2016 Lifeline Order./1 The 2016 Lifeline Order established minimum service standards for certain Lifeline-supported services and established annual increases in those standards either in the Commission's rules or pursuant to calculations set out in the Order and the Commission's rules./2
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WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 11-42):
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By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces the minimum service standards for Lifeline-supported services as required by the 2016 Lifeline Order./1 The 2016 Lifeline Order established minimum service standards for certain Lifeline-supported services and established annual increases in those standards either in the Commission's rules or pursuant to calculations set out in the Order and the Commission's rules./2Accordingly, we announce the minimum service standards for fixed and mobile broadband data usage allowance. These standards will continue until December 1, 2027. Additionally, we announce that the budget for federal universal service support for the Lifeline program for calendar year 2027 will be $3,053,892,630./3
Fixed and mobile broadband minimum service standard for data capacity. On July 1, 2026, the Bureau issued a waiver for one year pausing the increases in the Lifeline minimum service standards for the fixed and mobile broadband data usage allowance. As such, the standards will continue to be 1280 GB per month for fixed broadband and 4.5 GB per month for mobile broadband./4
Mobile voice telephony minimum service standard. The 2016 Lifeline Order established an automatic update to the Lifeline minimum service standard for mobile voice service through November 30, 2018./5 Accordingly, pursuant to the 2016 Lifeline Order, on December 1, 2026, the Lifeline minimum service standard for mobile voice service will remain unchanged, at 1000 minutes per month./6
Annual budget. The 2016 Lifeline Order adopted an initial budget of $2.25 billion for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2017./7 The 2016 Lifeline Order also stated that the budget amount will be indexed to inflation in accordance with the Consumer Price Index for all items from the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics./8 To perform this calculation, the Bureau used the annual percent change factor for the preceding year (here, 2025) to the year in which the calculation is being performed./9 Based on this calculation, the indexed budget for federal universal service support for the Lifeline program for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2026 was $2,976,503,538,/10 and the indexed budget for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2027 will be $3,053,892,630.
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Footnotes:
1/ See Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization et al., WC Docket No. 11-42 et al., Third Report and Order, Further Report and Order, and Order on Reconsideration, 31 FCC Rcd 3962, 3989-97, paras. 73-98 (2016) (2016 Lifeline Order); 47 CFR Sec. 54.408(c).
2/ 2016 Lifeline Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 3988-4000, paras. 69-106; 47 CFR Sec. 54.408(b)-(c).
3/ See 2016 Lifeline Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 4110, para. 403; 47 CFR Sec. 54.423(a)(2).
4/ See Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization et. al., Docket No. 11-42, Order, DA 26-651, 1, 3, paras. 1, 7 (WCB 2026).
5/ See 47 CFR Sec. 54.408(b)(3); 2016 Lifeline Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 3998-99, paras. 100-02.
6/ See 47 CFR Sec. 54.408(b)(3)(iii) ("On and after December 1, 2018, the minimum standard will be 1000 minutes."); 2016 Lifeline Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 3999, para. 102.
7/ 47 CFR Sec. 54.423(a)(1); 2016 Lifeline Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 4110, paras. 400-02.
8/ 47 CFR Sec. 54.423(a)(2); 2016 Lifeline Order, 31 FCC Rcd at 4110, para. 403.
9/ See United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Databases, Tables & Calculators by Subject, (last visited June 29, 2026), https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUUR0000SA0?output_view=pct_12mths (annual average 12-month percent change for 2025 was 2.6%).
10/ Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Updated Lifeline Minimum Service Standards & Indexed Budget Amount, WC Docket No. 11-42, Public Notice, 40 FCC Rcd 4984, 4985 (WCB 2025).
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-796A1.pdf
FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Issues Public Notice: Comments Invited on AT&T's Section 214 Application to Discontinue Domestic Legacy Voice Service as Part of Technology Transition
WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 26-192):
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Unless otherwise specified, the following procedures and dates apply to the application(s) (the Section 214 Discontinuance Application(s)) listed in the Appendix.
The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau), upon initial review, has found the Section 214 Discontinuance Application(s) listed herein to be acceptable for filing and subject to the procedures set forth in Section 63.71 of the Commission's rules./1 The application(s) request authority,
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WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 26-192):
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Unless otherwise specified, the following procedures and dates apply to the application(s) (the Section 214 Discontinuance Application(s)) listed in the Appendix.
The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau), upon initial review, has found the Section 214 Discontinuance Application(s) listed herein to be acceptable for filing and subject to the procedures set forth in Section 63.71 of the Commission's rules./1 The application(s) request authority,under section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended,/2 and section 63.71 of the Commission's rules,/3 to discontinue, reduce, or impair certain domestic telecommunications service(s) (Affected Service(s)) in specified geographic areas (Service Area(s)) as applicable and as fully described in each application.
In accordance with section 63.71(f) of the Commission's rules, the Section 214 Discontinuance Application(s) listed in the Appendix will be deemed granted automatically on August 29, 2026, the 31st day after the release date of this public notice, unless the Commission notifies any applicant(s) that their grant will not be automatically effective./4 We note that the date on which an application for Commission authorization is deemed granted may be different from the date on which applicants are authorized to discontinue service ("Authorized Date"). Any applicant whose application has been deemed granted may discontinue their Affected Service(s) in their Service Area(s) on or after the authorized discontinuance date(s) specified in the Appendix, in accordance with their filed representations. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(f), and the terms outlined in each application, absent further Commission action, each applicant may discontinue the Affected Service(s) in the Service Area(s) described in their application on or after the authorized discontinuance date(s) listed in the Appendix for that application. For purposes of computation of time when filing a petition for reconsideration, application for review, or petition for judicial review of the Commission's decision(s), the date of "public notice" shall be the later of the auto grant date stated above in this Public Notice, or the release date(s) of any further public notice(s) or order(s) announcing final Commission action, as applicable. Should no petitions for reconsideration, applications for review, or petitions for judicial review be timely filed, the proceeding(s) listed in this Public Notice shall be terminated, and the docket(s) will be closed.
Comments objecting to the application listed in the Appendix must be filed with the Commission on or before August 13, 2026. Comments should refer to the specific WC Docket No. and Comp. Pol. File No. listed in the Appendix for the Section 214 Discontinuance Application. Comments should include specific information about the impact of the proposed discontinuance on the commenter, including any inability to acquire reasonable substitute service. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the Web site for submitting comments. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. In completing the transmittal screen, filers should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket number./5
Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial courier, or by the U.S. Postal Service. All filings must be addressed to the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. Hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary are accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. by the FCC's mailing contractor at 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building. Commercial courier deliveries (any deliveries not by the U.S. Postal Service) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. Filings sent by U.S. Postal Service First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express must be sent to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.
This proceeding shall be treated as a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules./6 Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter's written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.
People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530.
For further information, please see the contact(s) for the specific discontinuance proceeding you are interested in as listed in the Appendix. For further information on procedures regarding section 214 please visit https://www.fcc.gov/general/domestic-section-214-discontinuance-service.
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Footnotes:
1/ 47 CFR Sec. 63.71.
2/ 47 U.S.C. Sec. 214.
3/ 47 CFR Sec. 63.71.
4/ See 47 CFR Sec. 63.71(f)(1) (stating, in relevant part, that an application filed by a non-dominant carrier "shall be automatically granted on the 31st day... unless the Commission has notified the applicant that the grant will not be automatically effective"); see also 47 CFR Sec. 63.71(f)(2)(i) (stating that "[a]n application to discontinue, reduce, or impair an existing retail service as part of a technology transition, as defined in Sec. 63.60(i), may be automatically granted... if: The applicant provides affected customers with the notice required under paragraph (a)(6) of this section, and the application contains the showing or certification described in Sec. 63.602(b)"); Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment, WC Docket No. 17-84, Order, DA 25248, para. 6 (WCB Mar. 20, 2025) (waiving the Adequate Replacement Test's "single replacement service" requirement for a period of two years when a carrier seeks to discontinue a legacy voice service pursuant to section 214(a), thereby allowing carriers to satisfy all three prongs of the Adequate Replacement Test with a bundled service); Technology Transitions, GN Docket No. 13-5, Order on Clarification, DA 25-250, para. 6 (WCB Mar. 20, 2025) (clarifying the applicability of the testing methodology and parameters required for meeting the streamlining criteria when a carrier submits a technology transition discontinuance application relying on the "totality of the circumstances" under the Adequate Replacement Test).
5/ Please note that Commission staff may share filed comments with the applicant(s), along with the commenter's contact information, in order to allow applicant(s) to identify affected customers and fully respond.
6/ 47 CFR Sec. 1.1200 et seq.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-790A1.pdf
VitalSource Technologies to Pay $150,000 in EEOC Disability Charge Conciliation
WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release:
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VitalSource Technologies to Pay $150,000 in EEOC Disability Charge Conciliation
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Education technology company agrees to early resolution of charge alleging failure to provide reasonable accommodation for hospitalized employee
RALEIGH, N.C. -VitalSource Technologies, LLC, a Raleigh-based education technology solution company, agreed to pay $150,000 in compensatory damages and back pay to voluntarily resolve a disability discrimination investigation by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
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WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release:
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VitalSource Technologies to Pay $150,000 in EEOC Disability Charge Conciliation
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Education technology company agrees to early resolution of charge alleging failure to provide reasonable accommodation for hospitalized employee
RALEIGH, N.C. -VitalSource Technologies, LLC, a Raleigh-based education technology solution company, agreed to pay $150,000 in compensatory damages and back pay to voluntarily resolve a disability discrimination investigation by the U.S. Equal Employment OpportunityCommission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
The EEOC's charge investigation found reasonable cause to believe that the employee informed the company about her hospitalization and requested leave to cover both her absences and anticipated recovery. The company was aware of her need for leave to accommodate her disability but decided to terminate her in June 2024 because of her medical absences and exhaustion of paid leave.
"An employer must consider providing unpaid leave as a reasonable accommodation so long as it does not create an undue hardship for the employer," said EEOC Raleigh Area Office Director Johnnie Barrett. "The purpose of the ADA's reasonable accommodation obligation is to require employers to change the way things are customarily done to enable employees with disabilities to work."
Such alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations that allow employees to do their jobs, unless the accommodations would create an undue hardship.
Without admitting liability, VitalSource Technologies LLC entered into a conciliation agreement with the employee and the EEOC. In addition to paying the employee $150,000, the company is also required to maintain non-discrimination policies and procedures; conduct training on reasonable disability accommodations in accordance with federal law for employees, managers and human resources personnel; post a notice concerning equal employment opportunity rights; and report its progress to the agency for one year.
For more information on disability discrimination in the workplace, visit https://www.eeoc.gov/disability-discrimination-and-employment-decisions.
The EEOC's Raleigh Area Office has jurisdiction over the State of North Carolina counties of Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Chatham, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, New Hanover, Onslow, Orange, Pamlico, Pender, Person, Pitt, Roberson, Sampson, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne, and Wilson.
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/vitalsource-technologies-pay-150000-eeoc-disability-charge-conciliation
USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year Reviews Concerning Vertical Shaft Engines From China
WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The U.S. International Trade Commission issued the following news release on July 28, 2026:
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USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Vertical Shaft Engines from China
The U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission or USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders on vertical shaft engines from China would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.
As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the existing orders on
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WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The U.S. International Trade Commission issued the following news release on July 28, 2026:
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USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Vertical Shaft Engines from China
The U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission or USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders on vertical shaft engines from China would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.
As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the existing orders onimports of this product from China will remain in place.
Chairman Brett W. Doyle and Commissioners David S. Johanson, Jason E. Kearns, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative.
Today's action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.
The Commission's public report, Vertical Shaft Engines from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-637 and 731-TA-1471 (Review), USITC Publication 5771, August 2026), will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.
The report will be available on the USITC website (https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library) by September 3, 2026.
BACKGROUND
The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.
The Commission's institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information. Generally, within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the USITC's notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.
The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews. Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission's prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the reviews, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.
The five-year (sunset) reviews concerning Vertical Shaft Engines from China were instituted on February 2, 2026.
On May 8, 2026, the Commission determined to conduct expedited five-year reviews. Commissioners David S. Johanson, Jason E. Kearns, and Amy A. Karpel concluded that the domestic interested party group responses were adequate and the respondent interested party group responses were inadequate, and voted for expedited reviews. Chairman Brett W. Doyle did not participate in the adequacy votes.
A record of the Commission's vote to conduct expedited reviews is available on the investigations page for Vertical Shaft Engines from China; Inv. No. 701-TA-637 and 731-TA-1471 (Review).
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Original text here: https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2026/er0728_68983.htm
FCC Updates Covered List to Include Foreign-Produced Advanced Robotic Devices and Power Inverters
WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on July 28, 2026:
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FCC Updates Covered List to Include Foreign-Produced Advanced Robotic Devices and Power Inverters
Update Follows Determinations by Executive Branch Agencies That These Devices Threaten National Security
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Today, the Federal Communications Commission updated its Covered List to include two new categories of devices--"advanced robotic devices" (defined as mobile robots, such as humanoids and quadrupeds) and, separately, connected power inverters produced in foreign countries.
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WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on July 28, 2026:
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FCC Updates Covered List to Include Foreign-Produced Advanced Robotic Devices and Power Inverters
Update Follows Determinations by Executive Branch Agencies That These Devices Threaten National Security
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Today, the Federal Communications Commission updated its Covered List to include two new categories of devices--"advanced robotic devices" (defined as mobile robots, such as humanoids and quadrupeds) and, separately, connected power inverters produced in foreign countries.The action follows determinations, for both robots and inverters, by a White House-convened Executive Branch interagency body with appropriate national security expertise, which determined that these foreign-made products, regardless of the nationality of origin, "pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons."
In their determinations, national security agencies referenced, among other things, unacceptable risks, including that these devices could create supply chain vulnerabilities that could disrupt U.S. economic and national security and could create a cybersecurity risk that threatened American critical infrastructure.
The determination included an exemption for advanced robotics devices and power inverters that the Department of War (DoW) or (in the case of power inverters) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have granted "Conditional Approval" after finding that such device or class of devices do not pose such unacceptable risks. Producers of advanced robotics devices and power inverters are encouraged to submit an application for Conditional Approval using the guidance for advanced robotics devices and power inverters attached to the determination. Applications should be submitted to conditional-approvals@fcc.gov.
As outlined below, today's action does not impact a consumer's continued use of devices they previously acquired. Nor does it prevent retailers from continuing to sell, import, or market relevant models approved previously through the FCC's equipment authorization process. By operation of the FCC's Covered List rules, the restrictions imposed today apply to new device models. It also does not impact purchase or use by the federal government at all.
Chairman Carr issued the following statement:
"I welcome these Executive Branch national security determinations, and I am pleased that the FCC has now added foreign produced advanced robotics and power inverters to the FCC's Covered List. Following President Trump's leadership, the FCC will continue to do our part to secure America's critical supply chains and, with today's action, the FCC is acting in lock step with our national security agencies to do just that."
Additional Background:
* The FCC's Covered List is a list of communications equipment and services that are deemed t- pose an unacceptable risk t- the national security of the U.S. or the safety and security of U.S. persons.
* Under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, the Commission can update the Covered List only at the direction of national security authorities. In other words, the Commission cannot update this list on its own and is required t- implement determinations that are made by our national security agency experts.
* Equipment on the Covered List ("covered equipment") is prohibited from getting FCC equipment authorization. Most electronic devices require FCC equipment authorization prior to importation, marketing, or sale in the U.S. Covered equipment is banned from receiving new equipment authorizations, preventing new devices from entering the U.S. market.
* The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency encourages organizations to use the Covered List for risk management analysis in their regulatory compliance efforts.
* In recent months, the FCC has taken similar action with regard to both Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and UAS critical components, as well as consumer-grade routers.
The National Security Determinations:
* The foreign-produced power inverter National Security Determination states:
- "The lack of a secure U.S. supply chain for inverters and the continuous inflow of foreign-produced or controlled inverters and inverter components poses threats to U.S. economic and national security . . . Inverters' remote connectivity introduces additional vulnerabilities which compound as inverter-based resources proliferate on the U.S. grid. These vulnerabilities could enable foreign firms to turn off the inverters or use them to collect and exfiltrate data, facilitate remote access and surveillance by foreign government actors, or be otherwise exploited through a cyberattack."
- As a result of the threats described in the National Security Determination, the Executive Branch interagency body determined that power inverters produced in a foreign country pose the following unacceptable risks to the United States: (1) "facilitating a supply chain vulnerability that could disrupt U.S. economic security, including sectors critical to national security"; and (2) "creat[ing] a cybersecurity risk that threatens the security of critical infrastructure and the safety of U.S. persons."
* The foreign-produced advanced robotic devices National Security Determination states:
- "The networked capabilities of advanced robotic systems create extensive vulnerabilities and vectors for attacks that can manipulate the data and physical operation of the advanced robotic system. Relying on foreign-produced advanced robotic devices presents unacceptable supply chain and cybersecurity vulnerabilities . . . Advanced robotic devices collect data that could be leveraged by malign actors to surveil Americans, enhance the capabilities of foreign intelligence services, or to remotely commandeer the robots."
- As a result of the threats described in the National Security Determination, the Executive Branch interagency body determined that advanced robotic devices produced in foreign countries presented the following unacceptable risks: (1) "posing a supply chain vulnerability that could disrupt U.S. economic and national security"; and (2) "creating a cybersecurity risk that threatens the security of critical infrastructure and thus the safety and security of U.S. persons."
What does this mean?
* New foreign-produced advanced robotic devices and power inverters are generally prohibited from receiving FCC authorization to be imported, marketed, or sold in the U.S. This update to the Covered List does not prohibit the import, sale, or use of any existing models of advanced robotic device and power inverters the FCC previously authorized.
* This action does not affect any previously purchased devices.
* This action does not affect sales to, or use by, the federal government or federal agencies.
* Producers of advanced robotic devices and power inverters that receive Conditional Approval from DoW or DHS can continue to receive FCC equipment authorizations. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit applications to conditional-approvals@fcc.gov.
For more information, please see our FAQ page.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-423682A1.pdf
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Deputy Director Paoletta Issues Remarks at Meeting of Financial Literacy & Education Commission
WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued the following remarks on July 27, 2026, by Deputy Director Mark Paoletta at a public meeting of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission:
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Good afternoon. I want to thank Secretary Bessent and the staff of the Treasury Department for convening this meeting, and for their leadership on digital financial literacy.
Under the superb leadership of Acting Director Vought, the CFPB is advancing the Trump Administration's expansive efforts to improve financial literacy and increase early access to financial empowerment opportunities.
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WASHINGTON, July 29 -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued the following remarks on July 27, 2026, by Deputy Director Mark Paoletta at a public meeting of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission:
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Good afternoon. I want to thank Secretary Bessent and the staff of the Treasury Department for convening this meeting, and for their leadership on digital financial literacy.
Under the superb leadership of Acting Director Vought, the CFPB is advancing the Trump Administration's expansive efforts to improve financial literacy and increase early access to financial empowerment opportunities.These efforts will help American families and strengthen the overall economy.
Unlike the Biden administration's former CFPB Director, Rohit Chopra, this administration does not view financial education as "harmful." Although difficult to believe, that's how Chopra described financial education before this very body in 2022. Chopra lectured this Commission, devoted to Financial Education, that such education can make "individuals worse off."
Chopra even claimed that financial education gives consumers "a deep sense of shame, reducing engagement, and creating reluctance to find a path to a more stable financial situation."
While Chopra claimed that there is some worthwhile financial education out there, it was only going to be provided on Chopra's own terms, and limited ones at that, as our citizens are not to be trusted to get financially literate on their own. Rather, they must listen only to us.
Chopra's whole focus was on scaring consumers to only listen to what Big Government said is trustworthy, and his approach to financial literacy was yet another manifestation of the Biden administration's view of our countrymen - just as with Covid, one should not have been doing any independent research or thinking.
We have seen this playbook before, much like the disreputable Anthony Fauci telling Americans that they are too ill-informed and dumb to do their own research and make their own informed choices during COVID.
Instead of educating and empowering consumers to make their own informed financial decisions, Director Chopra devoted the CFPB's resources only after consumers suffered financial harm. What does that mean? He did not invest in financial education nor allowed his staff to do meaningful work educating consumers - and staff confirmed to me that Director Chopra had little interest in doing that. Instead, he hired 100 new enforcement attorneys to harass and destroy businesses that served consumers.
I suppose enforcement actions demanding extortionate penalties garner more headlines than consumers making informed and educated choices in their daily lives that align with their families' needs and values and that help consumers avoid being exploited by predatory businesses.
Needless to say, an argument that consumer education is harmful is disgraceful and anti-American. It only shows contempt for hard-working Americans, who struggled with affordability due to misguided policies implemented during the Biden-Chopra era.
Nor is Chopra's view supported by our statutory mandate to educate and empower consumers. I urge you to read former Director Chopra's shameful remarks in their entirety as this is Marxism at work that President Trump has been battling.
Today, the Vought-led CFPB works to be a source of unbiased, objective information consumers can trust. Our financial education products have been accessed over 11 million times, and we are exploring additional data-driven approaches for the application of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to optimize access and delivery of CFPB educational resources.
The CFPB is continuing to develop targeted educational materials about fraud and scams and other topics that are important to Americans. We are working to reach critical groups such as servicemembers, veterans, older Americans, and young adults, who would benefit the most by increased access to financial literacy resources.
Our Financial Literacy Report published in May of this year, which is available to the public on our website, explains the many initiatives we have undertaken in these areas.
Our research has found that people are more likely to absorb and use information if it is connected to a decision that matters to them, at the time they can put it to use.
President Trump's superb leadership in restoring the American Dream is exemplified by his recent launch of Trump Accounts, which will help young Americans grow wealth and are a wonderful opportunity to promote financial literacy.
Trump Accounts provide an opportunity for kids to learn about investing and watch their money grow over time. To support teachers, parents, and communities, CFPB has begun to develop resources related to Trump Accounts to teach how investing early is a wise strategy for reaching financial goals, to build children's financial skills, and to bolster the long-term success of Trump Accounts.
CFPB is committed to helping our administration promote financial education literacy and identify opportunities for all Americans so they can have access to accurate and unbiased information. We believe in American consumers to educate themselves and to be empowered to make the right choices for their families. This is the American spirit! This is President Trump's America!
It is an honor to work for President Trump, who has done more than any other President to restore the American Dream and to bring financial opportunities to Americans. And it is a pleasure to work alongside Acting Director Vought and Secretary Bessent, and our colleagues across the administration who are here today to help implement President Trump's America First agenda.
Thank you.
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Original text here: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/deputy-director-mark-paolettas-remarks-to-the-financial-literacy-and-education-commission/
