Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Featured Stories
U.S. Chemical Safety Board Applauds the St. Louis Board of Aldermen for Implementing Recommendations From the Loy-Lange Investigation
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- The U.S. Chemical Safety Board issued the following news release on Jan. 23, 2026:
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U.S. Chemical Safety Board Applauds the St. Louis Board of Aldermen for Implementing Recommendations from the Loy-Lange Investigation
Today the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) commended the city of St. Louis, Missouri, Board of Aldermen for implementing two important recommendations from the CSB's investigation of the tragic explosion at the Loy-Lange Box Company in April 2017 that resulted in the deaths of four people.
On April 3, 2017, an explosion occurred
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- The U.S. Chemical Safety Board issued the following news release on Jan. 23, 2026:
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U.S. Chemical Safety Board Applauds the St. Louis Board of Aldermen for Implementing Recommendations from the Loy-Lange Investigation
Today the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) commended the city of St. Louis, Missouri, Board of Aldermen for implementing two important recommendations from the CSB's investigation of the tragic explosion at the Loy-Lange Box Company in April 2017 that resulted in the deaths of four people.
On April 3, 2017, an explosion occurredat Loy-Lange when a pressure vessel catastrophically failed. The explosion fatally injured a Loy-Lange employee working nearby. The explosion also launched the pressure vessel out of the Loy-Lange building into the air, after which the vessel crashed through the roof of a nearby business, killing three other people.
When the CSB issued the agency's final report for the investigation in July 2022, the CSB recommended that the Board of Aldermen revise the city's Mechanical Code to adopt a national consensus standard to govern the requirements for the in-service inspection of boilers and pressure vessels in the city. The CSB also recommended that the Board of Aldermen revise the Mechanical Code to require that pressure vessel inspections be performed by an inspector meeting the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors' (NBBI) standards for in-service (IS) inspections.
In response to the CSB recommendations, the Board of Aldermen recently approved revisions to the city's Mechanical Code that standardize in-service inspections for pressure vessels and establish minimum qualifications for personnel conducting in-service inspections of boilers and pressure vessels. The updated ordinance, which took effect November 15, 2025, strengthens in-service inspections by requiring that they be conducted in accordance with the National Board Inspection Code. The updated ordinance also requires that such inspections be performed by a NBBI IS commissioned inspector.
CSB Chairperson Steve Owens said, "The Board of Aldermen have taken an extremely important step toward helping prevent another tragic incident like the one at Loy-Lange from happening again."
The only remaining open recommendation from the CSB's Loy Lange investigation was issued to the Mayor of St. Louis. The CSB recommended that the Mayor distribute and communicate the findings of the CSB's investigation report to all licensed stationary engineers and all entities in St. Louis registered as owning/operating boilers and pressure vessels in the city. The CSB and the Mayor's office have been actively communicating about the recommendation. The CSB is looking forward to the implementation of this final Loy Lange recommendation in the near future.
The CSB is an independent, nonregulatory federal agency charged with investigating incidents and hazards that result, or may result, in the catastrophic release of extremely hazardous substances. The agency's core mission activities include conducting incident investigations; formulating preventive or mitigative recommendations based on investigation findings and advocating for their implementation; issuing reports containing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations arising from incident investigations; and conducting studies on chemical hazards.
The agency's board members are appointed by the President subject to Senate confirmation. The Board does not issue citations or fines but makes safety recommendations to companies, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA.
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Original text here: https://www.csb.gov/us-chemical-safety-board-applauds-the-st-louis-board-of-aldermen-for-implementing-recommendations-from-the-loy-lange-investigation/
National Portrait Gallery Announces Winners of the Seventh Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition and Opening of "The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today"
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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National Portrait Gallery Announces Winners of the Seventh Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition and Opening of "The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today"
Kameron Neal Receives $25,000 and New Commission as First-Prize Winner of the National Triennial
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The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery has announced Brooklyn-based artist Kameron Neal as the first-prize winner of the seventh national Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. Neal's two-channel video installation "Down the Barrel (of a Lens)"
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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National Portrait Gallery Announces Winners of the Seventh Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition and Opening of "The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today"
Kameron Neal Receives $25,000 and New Commission as First-Prize Winner of the National Triennial
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The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery has announced Brooklyn-based artist Kameron Neal as the first-prize winner of the seventh national Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. Neal's two-channel video installation "Down the Barrel (of a Lens)"(2023) draws upon his time as a public artist in residence at New York City's Department of Records, and it places the audience between two screens of declassified New York Police Department surveillance footage filmed between 1960 and 1980. As the first-prize winner, Neal will receive $25,000 and a commission to create a portrait of a living individual for the museum's permanent collection. "Down the Barrel (of a Lens)" will be on view as part of "The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today" exhibition, co-curated by the competition's director Taina Caragol, the Portrait Gallery's senior curator of painting and sculpture, and Charlotte Ickes, the Portrait Gallery's curator of time-based media art and special projects.
Held every three years, the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition is dedicated to supporting the next wave of contemporary portraiture in the U.S. "The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today" will be on view at the museum Jan. 24 through Aug. 30. From the exhibition's opening through April 5, visitors--in person and online--can vote for their favorite artwork to receive the People's Choice Award.
Previous first-prize winners of the national competition include David Lenz (2006), Dave Woody (2009), Bo Gehring (2013), Amy Sherald (2016), Hugo Crosthwaite (2019) and Alison Elizabeth Taylor (2022).
Second prize for the 2025 competition was awarded to Jared Soares of Washington, D.C., for his photograph "Misidentified by Artificial Intelligence: Alonzo and Carronne" (2023), a portrait of a Maryland resident who was falsely accused of a crime and arrested based on facial recognition software. Third prize was awarded to David Antonio Cruz of New York City for his painting "isaiditoncebefore,butnowIfeelitevenmore_feelin'pretty,pretty,pretty" (2023). Part of the artist's "chosenfamilies" series, the painting shows the artist with Archel, one of his lifelong friends. Soares and Cruz will receive $10,000 and $7,500, respectively.
"As the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition rounds the corner on two decades since its founding in 2006, it continues to highlight contemporary artists working in portraiture who push to expand preconceived notions of the centuries-old genre," Caragol said. "The 2025 competition-based triennial invites visitors to explore how artists are engaging with portraiture, sometimes embracing its tradition and other times redrawing the boundaries of the genre, with the intent of examining what it means to be human."
"The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today" includes 34 portraits (by 35 artists) in mediums ranging from painting, photography and sculpture to immersive, time-based media installations. The artworks were chosen from more than 3,300 submissions to an anonymous open call, which was juried by experts in the fields of portraiture and contemporary art. The finalists include portraits by artists based in 12 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
Jurors for the 2025 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition were Carla Acevedo-Yates, curator, writer and member of the artistic team for documenta 16; Huey Copeland, the Andrew W. Mellon Chair and Professor of Modern Art and Black Study, Department of History of Art and Architecture, University of Pittsburgh; LaToya Ruby Frazier, artist; and Daniel Lind-Ramos, artist. "The Outwin 2025" co-curators Caragol and Ickes also served on the jury with Rhea L. Combs, the Portrait Gallery's former director of curatorial affairs. The full list of exhibiting artists is below.
"The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today" will be accompanied by a fully illustrated catalog available at the museum's store or online.
The competition and exhibition are made possible by the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition Endowment, which was established by Virginia Outwin Boochever, a longtime docent at the National Portrait Gallery. The endowment is sustained by her family.
National Portrait Gallery
The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery tells the multifaceted story of the United States through the individuals who have shaped American culture. Spanning the visual arts, performing arts and new media, the Portrait Gallery portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists whose lives tell the nation's story.
The National Portrait Gallery is located at Eighth and G streets N.W., Washington, D.C. Smithsonian Information: (202) 633-1000. Connect with the museum at npg.si.edu and on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Note to Editors: The use of diacritics on individual names reflects personal use by the artist and does not necessarily obey Spanish grammar rules.
"The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today" Artist List:
Ron Anteroinen, New York City
Gloriann Sacha Antonetty-Lebron and Juan Pablo Vizcaino, Carolina, Puerto Rico
Sandra Bacchi, Pittsburgh
Ramon Miranda Beltran, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Philip Cheung, Los Angeles
Rachel Cox, Iowa City, Iowa
David Antonio Cruz, New York City*
Ruth Dealy, Providence, R.I.
Mar Figueroa, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Joseph Mario Giordano, Baltimore
Steven Harwick, Brooklyn, N.Y.
LaToya Hobbs, Baltimore
Kevin Hopkins, Richmond, Va.
Vikesh Kapoor, Los Angeles
Clementine Keenan, Berkeley, Calif.
Luisiana Mera, New York City
Stella Nall, Missoula, Mont.
Kameron Neal, Brooklyn, N.Y.*
Arcmanoro Niles, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Aliza Nisenbaum, New York City
Katie O'Keefe, Baltimore
Al Rendon, San Antonio, Texas
Sandy Rice, Canton, Mich.
Adrian Roman, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Sarah Smith, Oakland, Calif.
Jared Soares, Washington, D.C.*
Christian Soto-Martin, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Edra Soto, Chicago, Ill.
TT Takemoto, Daly City, Calif.
Vicente Telles, Albuquerque, N.M.
Daniel Terna, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Rupy C. Tut, Oakland, Calif.
Samantha Yun Wall, Portland, Ore.
Stephanie J. Woods, Albuquerque, N.M.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/national-portrait-gallery-announces-winners-seventh-outwin-boochever-portrait
SBA Opens Review of Over $88 Million in Planned Parenthood Paycheck Protection Program Loans
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Small Business Administration posted the following news release on Jan. 22, 2026:
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SBA Opens Review of Over $88 Million in Planned Parenthood Paycheck Protection Program Loans
Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued letters Link is external to 38 affiliates of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (PPFA), the largest provider of abortions in the United States, requiring them to produce documentation proving they were eligible to receive more than $88 million in COVID-era relief through the SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) while
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Small Business Administration posted the following news release on Jan. 22, 2026:
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SBA Opens Review of Over $88 Million in Planned Parenthood Paycheck Protection Program Loans
Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued letters Link is external to 38 affiliates of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (PPFA), the largest provider of abortions in the United States, requiring them to produce documentation proving they were eligible to receive more than $88 million in COVID-era relief through the SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) whilethe program was operational. The letters, part of a new review by the agency, aim to uncover whether PPFA affiliates misrepresented the size of their respective organizations or the nature of their affiliation with PPFA to fraudulently qualify for the loans.
Affiliates who fail to provide the required material may face a determination that they were ineligible for the PPP loan and any subsequent loan forgiveness. Affiliates who are found to have provided incorrect or false eligibility certifications will be subject to severe penalties, including repayment of the loan, ineligibility for loan forgiveness, and possible referral for civil or criminal penalties.
"At the height of the pandemic, affiliates of Planned Parenthood took $88 million in taxpayer dollars to fund their abortion-on-demand agenda - and the Biden Administration made sure they got nearly every cent forgiven, even after the first Trump Administration protested," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "Six years later, the Trump SBA holds the same conviction: Planned Parenthood Federation of America was never eligible to receive a dime in pandemic-era relief from taxpayers. As part of the review underway, not only will we expose the Planned Parenthood affiliates who took advantage of the American people - we will take every necessary step to force every bad actor to pay them back."
The PPP Program was designed to support small entities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and applicants were required to self-certify their size and affiliate eligibility status. Each Planned Parenthood affiliate certified that they were an independent qualified entity with fewer than 500 employees. However, during the first Trump Administration in 2020, the SBA preliminarily concluded that none of them were eligible for PPP due to numerous indicators of PPFA's control over them and their services - including requirements to perform on-site abortions - in violation of SBA's affiliation standards.
The Biden Administration later forgave many of those loans without engaging in a meaningful review of their respective applications. Prior loan forgiveness does not prevent the SBA from exercising its authority to reopen a review of the loans.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2026/01/22/sba-opens-review-over-88-million-planned-parenthood-paycheck-protection-program-loans
SBA Issues Clarifying Guidance That Race-Based Discrimination is Not Tolerated in the 8(a) Program
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Small Business Administration posted the following news release on Jan. 22, 2026:
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SBA Issues Clarifying Guidance That Race-Based Discrimination is Not Tolerated in the 8(a) Program
Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued formal guidance to SBA program officials reiterating, in alignment with policy changes implemented by Administrator Kelly Loeffler last year, that race-based discrimination within the 8(a) Business Development Program is unconstitutional and unlawful. The agency reiterated that SBA does not deny any small business owner admission
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Small Business Administration posted the following news release on Jan. 22, 2026:
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SBA Issues Clarifying Guidance That Race-Based Discrimination is Not Tolerated in the 8(a) Program
Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued formal guidance to SBA program officials reiterating, in alignment with policy changes implemented by Administrator Kelly Loeffler last year, that race-based discrimination within the 8(a) Business Development Program is unconstitutional and unlawful. The agency reiterated that SBA does not deny any small business owner admissionto the 8(a) Program simply because they are white. The agency does not consider any business owner to be "socially disadvantaged" - and therefore eligible to participate in the program - simply because they are a member of a certain minority group. No American, including white Americans, can be denied government services based on race. Finally, as has been the case since the Trump Administration began, SBA will not approve admissions to the program based solely on unsubstantiated claims or Biden-era narratives of racial discrimination, or provide guidance to applicants to help them construct such narratives that bolster claims of discrimination, as was the practice during the Biden Administration. These reforms are just the first steps in a broader process of remediating the deficiencies in the 8(a) Program, which have been in progress for some time.
In its totality, this guidance clarifies that the 8(a) Program is open to job creators of every race - consistent with court orders Link is external, notices Link is external from the U.S Department of Justice (DOJ), and President Trump's broader effort to eliminate DEI across the federal government - and that any race-based presumptions of social disadvantage have been inoperative since 2023. In addition to issuing this guidance, and to avoid any confusion, the SBA has further removed from its website the Biden-era "Guide for Demonstrating Social Disadvantage."
"The Biden Administration expanded and then abused the 8(a) Program to hand out billions in taxpayer-funded government contracts to favored minorities at the direct expense of honest small businesses, which is why we ended the practice on Day One," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "Since then, the Trump SBA has been working to reverse the damage - and today, we're reiterating one simple fact: the Biden-era practice of discriminating against white Americans is over, and reforms to enshrine that fact are well underway. The SBA is ending DEI in federal contracting - and our programs will remain open to all eligible job creators in compliance with federal law."
The 8(a) Program was dramatically expanded under the Biden Administration as a vehicle for partisan and DEI preferences in federal contracting - crowding out legitimate job creators, especially white men. Since Day One, the Trump SBA has been working not only to hold bad actors accountable for abusing the program, but to ensure that it benefits only deserving entrepreneurs instead of favored minorities. As evidence of this fact, the Trump SBA accepted just 65 new 8(a) firms into the program last year - compared to over 2,100 who were accepted during the Biden Administration.
The Trump SBA is also cracking down on widespread fraud and abuse in the 8(a) Program to further ensure compliance with federal law, taking the following actions:
* In February 2025, on the first day of Administrator Loeffler's term, the Trump SBA cut the Small Disadvantaged Business contracting goal back to its statutory 5% and ended the practice of approving firms based solely on unsubstantiated claims of racial discrimination.
* In June 2025, SBA launched the first-ever audit of the 8(a) Program in its nearly 50-year history - initiating an investigation into all high-dollar and limited-competition contracts going back over a period of fifteen years.
* In July 2025, the agency rescinded the independent 8(a) contracting authority of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) after a DOJ investigation uncovered a $550 million bribery scheme involving several 8(a) contractors.
* That same month, SBA issued a letter of warning to all federal contracting officers, outlining the penalties for failing to report suspected fraud, waste, and abuse within the 8(a) Program.
* In October 2025, SBA suspended Link is external numerous 8(a) contractors following allegations of fraud involving more than $253 million in previously issued contract awards.
* In November 2025, SBA cleared the Biden-era backlog of 2,700 Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) applications, which accumulated after the prior Administration diverted all resources away from VetCert to increase certification approvals for the 8(a) Program.
* In December 2025, SBA ordered all 4,300 8(a) contractors to produce three years' worth of financial documents for review by the agency in the effort root out pass-through abuse and fraud by shell companies.
* In January 2026, SBA suspended over 1,000 contractors from participation in the 8(a) Program after they failed to submit the documents SBA requested in December.
* Additionally, as core users of these contractors, the U.S. General Services Administration, Department of the Treasury and Department of War began their own internal audits of the 8(a) Program.
Any job creator who believes they have been unconstitutionally excluded from participation in the 8(a) Program is encouraged to contact the SBA at certifications@sba.gov. Additionally, to address fraud, illegality, and Constitutional concerns in the 8(a) program, the SBA is hiring additional program officers who can help administer the 8(a) Program as a race-neutral vehicle for small business success in a fair and lawful manner. If you are interested in applying, you may inquire about open roles at HR4U@sba.gov by submitting an email with "8(a)" in the subject line.
About the 8(a) Business Development Program
The SBA certifies small businesses considered to be socially and economically disadvantaged under its nine-year 8(a) Business Development Program. The 8(a) program helps these firms develop and grow their businesses through one-to-one counseling, training workshops and management and technical guidance. It also provides access to government contracting opportunities, allowing them to become solid competitors in the federal marketplace.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2026/01/22/sba-issues-clarifying-guidance-race-based-discrimination-not-tolerated-8a-program
New member appointed to Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The U.S. Postal Service issued the following news release:
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New member appointed to Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
The U.S. Postal Service today announced the appointment of Susana Rodriguez de Tembleque, a technology executive and creative director, to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, or CSAC.
Members are appointed by the postmaster general to provide expertise in business, history, science, technology, art, education, sports and other areas of public interest. Working together, they make recommendations for future stamp subjects.
Rodriguez de Tembleque
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The U.S. Postal Service issued the following news release:
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New member appointed to Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
The U.S. Postal Service today announced the appointment of Susana Rodriguez de Tembleque, a technology executive and creative director, to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, or CSAC.
Members are appointed by the postmaster general to provide expertise in business, history, science, technology, art, education, sports and other areas of public interest. Working together, they make recommendations for future stamp subjects.
Rodriguez de Temblequeserves as the vice president of design for IBM's data platform. In this role, she focuses on crafting a user-friendly experience, ensuring that IBM's AI data products provide trusted, clear and contextual insights in real time.
Previously, she served as vice president of design for IBM Research, where she built and led a multidisciplinary organization focused on delivering an exceptional and distinctive end-to-end experience.
Before her time at IBM Research, she was vice president and executive brand director for IBM Watson, overseeing the brand's expression across products, marketing and communications.
Rodriguez de Tembleque has also held the position of creative director of retail at Apple, where she played a key role in developing Today at Apple, a global initiative that transformed the technology giant's stores into spaces for learning, creativity and connection.
Originally from Madrid, Rodriguez de Tembleque is based in New York City. She is the mother of four children, ages 19 to 25.
Submitting Stamp Suggestions
Because of the time required for research and approval in the stamp selection process, ideas for stamp subjects should be received at least three years prior to the proposed issuance. Each submission should include pertinent historical information and important dates associated with the subject. Proposals must be in writing and submitted by U.S. Mail. No in-person appeals, phone calls or emails are accepted. Mail your suggestion (one topic per letter) to the address below:
Stamp Development
Attn: Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3300
Washington, DC 20260-3501
Postal Products
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, first-day-of-issue ceremonies and stamp-inspired products can be found at stampsforever.com.
The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to more than 170 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is celebrating its 250th year of service to customers amidst a network modernization plan aimed at restoring long-term financial sustainability, improving service, and maintaining the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands.
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter ; Instagram ; Pinterest ; Threads ; and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.
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Original text here: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2026/0123-new-member-appointed-to-citizens-stamp-advisory-committee.htm
ICYMI: Administrator Zeldin Unveils 500 Top Environmental Wins During President Trump's First Year Back in the White House
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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ICYMI: Administrator Zeldin Unveils 500 Top Environmental Wins During President Trump's First Year Back in the White House
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WASHINGTON - On Tuesday, Jan 20, 2026, marking exactly one year since President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin shared 500 top environmental accomplishments EPA has achieved to fulfill the agency's statutory obligations and core mission under President Trump's leadership.
These 500 accomplishments
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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ICYMI: Administrator Zeldin Unveils 500 Top Environmental Wins During President Trump's First Year Back in the White House
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WASHINGTON - On Tuesday, Jan 20, 2026, marking exactly one year since President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin shared 500 top environmental accomplishments EPA has achieved to fulfill the agency's statutory obligations and core mission under President Trump's leadership.
These 500 accomplishmentsare part of Pillar 1 of Administrator Zeldin's Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative : Delivering clean air, land and water to all Americans. The progress includes the signing of a historic new agreement between the United States and Mexico to mark additional significant advancement to permanently and urgently end the decades-long Tijuana River sewage crisis, a proposed rule returning Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 to its proper statutory purpose to protect water quality and eliminate regulatory overreach, the decision to regulate dozens of applications of five widely used phthalate chemicals to Make America Healthy Again and address environmental and workplace risks, accelerated enforcement efforts to stop foreigners from profiting off sending poisons and pollution to the United States, billions of dollars in funding to reduce lead in drinking water, and so much more.
This impressive work highlights just a portion of what EPA accomplishes on a daily basis to advance the agency's core mission of protecting human health and the environment while growing the economy, and following through on policies that lower costs, unleash American energy, streamline permitting reform and advance cooperative federalism, make America the AI capital of the world, and revitalize the U.S. auto industry.
To see all 500 of the extraordinary accomplishments to ensure the cleanest air, land and water and keep Americans safe and healthy, click here.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/icymi-administrator-zeldin-unveils-500-top-environmental-wins-during-president-trumps
EPA Hosts Roundtable Discussion with Data Center Coalition on Clean Air Resources and Energy Reliability
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Hosts Roundtable Discussion with Data Center Coalition on Clean Air Resources and Energy Reliability
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WASHINGTON -On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) convened a roundtable with the Data Center Coalition, led by senior Trump EPA officials, to discuss how the rapid growth of data centers can be harnessed to make the U.S. the AI capital of the world while keeping energy prices low and ensuring clean air, land, and water for all Americans. During the discussion,
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Hosts Roundtable Discussion with Data Center Coalition on Clean Air Resources and Energy Reliability
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WASHINGTON -On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) convened a roundtable with the Data Center Coalition, led by senior Trump EPA officials, to discuss how the rapid growth of data centers can be harnessed to make the U.S. the AI capital of the world while keeping energy prices low and ensuring clean air, land, and water for all Americans. During the discussion,EPA program office leaders detailed regulatory and operational considerations related to the nationwide data center build-out, including clean air requirements and ensuring grid reliability, and officials also hit on the valid concerns in many communities about data center development and what the agency is doing to ensure these concerns are appropriately addressed.
Making the U.S. the AI capital of the world is a key pillar of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin's Powering the Great American Comeback initiative. The Trump EPA is committed to ensuring U.S. data centers and related facilities are powered and operated in a clean manner with American-made energy. The roundtable with DCC represents a critical step in delivering on that commitment.
"Ensuring clean air for all Americans, advancing cooperative federalism, and making America the AI capital of the world are all pillars of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin's Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative. In the Office of Air and Radiation (OAR), we are diligently working to ensure we move these goals forward, and do so as quickly as possible," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Air Aaron Szabo. "At the end of 2025, my office launched the Clean Air Act Resources for Data Centers webpage to provide data center developers, local communities, and Tribes with a central location for Clean Air Act-related resources. EPA will also be announcing permitting reform to cut burdensome red tape in the near future. We are doing all of this with one goal in mind-help Americans successfully build data centers while following the law and ensuring human health and the environment are protected."
"EPA is committed to furthering AI development and accessibility for local communities and developers. This roundtable supported coordination across the Agency and engagement with industry on how clean air considerations and energy reliability intersect with infrastructure development," said EPA Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Pouya Lavian.
"The Office of Water was pleased to participate in today's roundtable with the Data Center Coalition. Water is a critical input supporting the datacenter and AI revolution happening in the U.S. We look forward to continuing the conversation and exploring opportunities for EPA and the private sector to work together on policies that both reinforce the nation's position as number one in AI while strengthening water resources," said Deputy Assistant Administrator for Strategic Initiatives Caitlin McHale.
President Trump's Executive Order 14179, "Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI)," boldly calls for America to advance dominance in technological innovation through the creation of an AI Action Plan. "America's AI Action Plan," released in July 2025, is comprised of three pillars-innovation, infrastructure, and international diplomacy and security-that provide the foundational framework for victory in this hypercompetitive global race. EPA is focused on strengthening America's energy foundation and ensuring our nation remains the global leader in AI and the infrastructure that powers it. In fact, the agency has already taken great strides in turning that vision into reality.
In December 2025, EPA launched the Clean Air Act Resources for Data Centers webpage to provide data center developers, local communities and Tribes with a central location for Clean Air Act (CAA)-related resources. These resources provide state and private sector partners with regulatory information, guidance and technical tools that can assist with modeling, air quality permitting, and regulatory interpretations relevant for data centers and AI facility development.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-hosts-roundtable-discussion-data-center-coalition-clean-air-resources-and-energy
