Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump administration canceled national climate assessments and pulled climate.gov offline — The White House canceled contracts that produced legally mandated national climate assessments and removed climate.gov, a widely used public portal containing climate preparation resources, from public view. These actions eliminated critical data and guidance relied upon by local governments, states, businesses, and residents to prepare for climate events.

Supporting reports

• CBS News announces new editorial philosophy de-emphasizing expert analysis — New CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil posted a video declaring CBS's new editorial philosophy under Bari Weiss, stating that the press has "taken into account the perspective of advocates and not the average American" and put "too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites." The announcement prompted criticism from media figures and analysts who argued that journalism requires expert knowledge and context, not just aggregation of public opinion.

Supporting reports

• DHS adjusts civil monetary penalties for inflation; corrects Coast Guard and TSA codified amounts — The Department of Homeland Security issued a final technical rule correcting clerical errors in its 2025 civil monetary penalty inflation adjustments. The Coast Guard's codified penalty table inadvertently omitted five properly adjusted penalties; TSA's penalties were updated to reflect a May 2024 statutory amendment raising maximum penalty authority under 49 U.S.C. 46301. The rule became effective immediately upon publication, with adjusted penalties applicable to violations occurring after November 2, 2015.
• EPA publishes notice of Environmental Impact Statements filed December 19–26, 2025 — The Environmental Protection Agency published a notice of availability for Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) received during the week of December 19–26, 2025, pursuant to Section 309(a) of the Clean Air Act and CEQ guidance under 42 U.S.C. 4332. The notice lists one final EIS: TVA's Spring Valley II Solar Project in Alabama, with a review period ending January 30, 2026. EPA's comment letters on EISs are available through the EPA's CDX database.
• FDA announces receipt of petition for partial exemption of radiology AI devices from premarket notification requirements — The Food and Drug Administration published a notice announcing receipt of a petition requesting partial exemption from premarket notification (510(k)) requirements for certain radiology computer-aided detection, diagnosis, and triage software devices. The petition, submitted on behalf of Harrison.ai, seeks exemption for four device types when manufacturers meet specified conditions including prior 510(k) clearance, robust post-market surveillance plans, and continued compliance with quality systems and establishment registration. FDA is soliciting public comments through February 27, 2026, and will issue a final determination within 120 days of this notice.
• FDA Determines Regulatory Review Period for ADZYNMA Patent Extension — The Food and Drug Administration determined the regulatory review period for ADZYNMA (ADAMTS13, recombinant-krhn), a biologic product for congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, as 4,059 days (3,821 testing phase, 238 approval phase). The determination spans from the IND effective date of September 30, 2012, through FDA approval on November 9, 2023. This establishes the maximum potential patent extension period for five related patents held by the Regents of the University of Michigan and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.
• FDA Determines Regulatory Review Period for ALHEMO Patent Extension — The Food and Drug Administration determined the regulatory review period for ALHEMO (concizumab-mtci), a biologic product approved for hemophilia treatment, as 3,475 days (2,625 testing phase, 850 approval phase) spanning June 18, 2015 to December 20, 2024. This determination establishes the maximum potential patent extension period under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act. The applicant, Novo Nordisk A/S, seeks 1,826 days of patent term extension for U.S. Patent No. 8,361,469. Public comment period closes February 27, 2026; petitions regarding due diligence due by June 29, 2026.
• FDA determines regulatory review period for LEQEMBI patent extension — The Food and Drug Administration has determined that the regulatory review period for LEQEMBI (lecanemab-irmb), an Alzheimer's disease treatment, is 4,546 days, consisting of 4,300 days in the testing phase and 246 days in the approval phase. This determination, made pursuant to the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, establishes the maximum potential length of patent extension for U.S. Patent No. 8,025,878 held by BioArctic AB. The USPTO will apply statutory limitations to calculate the actual patent extension period, with the applicant seeking 5 years of extension. Comments on the accuracy of the dates may be submitted until February 27, 2026.
• FDA determines regulatory review period for OJEMDA patent extension — The Food and Drug Administration determined the regulatory review period for OJEMDA (tovorafenib), a pediatric low-grade glioma treatment, as 4,942 days (4,705 testing phase, 237 approval phase) for purposes of patent term extension under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984. The testing phase ran from October 14, 2010 (investigational new drug exemption effective date) through August 31, 2023 (initial NDA submission), and the approval phase from August 31, 2023 through April 23, 2024 (approval date). The determination establishes the maximum potential patent extension length; the USPTO will apply statutory limitations to calculate actual extension. Comments on date accuracy are due February 27, 2026; petitions regarding applicant due diligence are due June 29, 2026.
• FDA Determines Regulatory Review Period for ROMVIMZA Patent Extension — The Food and Drug Administration determined the regulatory review period for ROMVIMZA (vimseltinib), a drug approved for treating symptomatic tenosynovial giant cell tumor, to be 3,020 days (2,777 testing phase, 243 approval phase). The determination, made pursuant to the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, establishes the maximum potential patent extension length. The applicant seeks 1,632 days of patent term extension. Comments on date accuracy are due by February 27, 2026; petitions regarding due diligence must be filed by June 29, 2026.
• FDA determines regulatory review period for ZELSUVMI patent extension — The Food and Drug Administration has determined the regulatory review period for ZELSUVMI (berdazimer sodium), a topical treatment for molluscum contagiosum approved for marketing on January 5, 2024. The FDA calculated a total regulatory review period of 4,144 days (3,778 days testing phase, 366 days approval phase), beginning September 2, 2012, when the investigational new drug exemption became effective. This determination establishes the maximum potential patent extension period; the applicant seeks 1,280 days of actual patent term extension from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• FDA Proposes Withdrawal of Three Drug Approvals — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed withdrawing approval for three abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) due to the holders' failure to submit required annual reports. The affected drugs include bacitracin-neomycin sulfate-polymyxin B sulfate ointment, captopril tablets, and piroxicam capsules. The ANDA holders have until January 28, 2026, to request a hearing to contest the withdrawal. If no hearing is requested, the approvals will be withdrawn, and the drugs cannot be legally marketed.
• FDA submits PET drug manufacturing information collection to OMB for review and clearance — The Food and Drug Administration submitted a proposed information collection to the Office of Management and Budget for review under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The collection implements current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations governing positron emission tomography (PET) drugs under 21 CFR Part 212. The submission covers recordkeeping and disclosure requirements for PET drug production facilities, including academic, hospital, and commercial operations. Estimated annual burden is 98,833 recordkeeping hours and 83 disclosure hours. Public comment period closes January 28, 2026.
• OSHA grants permanent variance to CBNA/Halmar for Potomac River Tunnel compressed-air work — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final notice granting a permanent variance to CBNA/Halmar Joint Venture for construction of the Potomac River Tunnel Project in Washington, DC. The variance permits the contractor to deviate from three specific OSHA compressed-air standards (29 CFR 1926.803(f)(1), (g)(1)(iii), and (g)(1)(xvii)) by using alternative decompression protocols based on the 1992 French Decompression Tables, staged decompression with oxygen supplementation, and existing man-locks instead of a separate decompression chamber. The variance applies only to hyperbaric interventions during tunnel-boring machine operations and remains in effect until project completion or OSHA revocation. OSHA determined the alternatives provide worker safety equivalent to or exceeding the standard requirements.
• OSHA grants permanent variance to McNally/ASI Marine for compressed-air tunnel work exceeding standard pressure limits — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final notice granting a permanent variance to McNally Tunneling Corp./ASI Marine for the Southerly Tunnel and Consolidation Project in Cleveland, Ohio. The variance permits workers to be exposed to compressed-air pressures up to 58 p.s.i.g. (exceeding the standard 50 p.s.i.g. limit), allows use of alternative 1992 French Decompression Tables instead of OSHA-mandated tables, permits staged decompression without automatic controls, and authorizes use of existing man-locks instead of a separate decompression chamber. The variance applies only to this specific project and requires strict compliance with a project-specific Hyperbaric Operations Manual, medical oversight, worker training, equipment inspections, and detailed incident reporting to OSHA.
• FCC Seeks Public Comment on Workplace Discrimination Complaint Forms Collection — The Federal Communications Commission published a notice requesting public comments on its information collection for workplace discrimination complaints (FCC Forms 5621 and 5622) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection covers complaints filed by FCC employees and related individuals alleging discrimination or retaliation under the Civil Rights Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Rehabilitation Act. The FCC estimates 22 annual respondents, 2.5–5 hours per response, and 89 total annual burden hours. Written comments are due by February 27, 2026.
• EPA announces final risk evaluation finding 1,3-butadiene poses unreasonable risk to human health; initiates risk management action. — The Environmental Protection Agency released its final risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 1,3-butadiene, a high-volume petrochemical used in rubber and plastic manufacturing. Based on the weight of scientific evidence, EPA determined that 1,3-butadiene presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health under 11 specific conditions of use, driven primarily by non-cancer and cancer risks to workers from inhalation exposure. EPA will now proceed to propose risk management regulatory actions to address the identified unreasonable risk.
• EPA corrects categorization of Clean Harbors Lone Mountain no-migration variance notice — The Environmental Protection Agency issued a correction notice on December 30, 2025, recategorizing a document originally published on December 11, 2025, as a "Proposed Rule" but now properly designated as a "Notice." The document concerns a no-migration variance from land disposal restrictions for the Clean Harbors Lone Mountain facility in Oklahoma under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The correction clarifies the document's administrative status without altering its substantive content or the underlying variance proposal.
• EPA corrects duplicate regulatory text in fuel standards rule — The Environmental Protection Agency published a technical correction to 40 CFR Part 1090, removing duplicate instances of paragraphs (c)(10) and (c)(20) from section 1090.95 in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (revised as of July 1, 2025). This CFR correction addresses an editorial error in the most recent annual revision of the regulations governing fuels, fuel additives, and regulated blendstocks. The correction was filed on December 30, 2025, and published in the Federal Register on December 31, 2025.
• EPA issues correction to South Carolina regional haze air plan approval — The Environmental Protection Agency published a correction to its December 11, 2025 final rule approving South Carolina's Second Planning Period Regional Haze Plan under 40 CFR Part 52. The correction removes an erroneous reference to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from the document heading. The underlying rule addresses air quality and visibility protection requirements for the state.
• EPA submits information collection renewal for grain elevator emissions compliance monitoring — The Environmental Protection Agency submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval a renewal of its information collection request (ICR 1130.14, OMB Control Number 2060-0082) governing New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for grain elevators under 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart DD. The renewal extends compliance monitoring and reporting requirements for 254 grain elevator facilities, including initial notifications, performance tests, periodic reports, and maintenance records. The estimated annual burden is 584 hours across all respondents, with an estimated annual cost of $80,000. Public comment period extended to January 29, 2026.
• EPA submits information collection renewal for nonroad spark-ignition engine certification compliance requirements to OMB for review — The Environmental Protection Agency submitted an information collection request (ICR 1695.15, OMB Control Number 2060-0338) to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The ICR covers certification and compliance requirements for nonroad spark-ignition engines and represents a proposed extension of the currently approved collection through December 31, 2025. The submission includes 393 estimated respondents (engine manufacturers) and an estimated annual burden of 1,390 hours per respondent, with total estimated annual costs of $102,388,928.41. A 30-day public comment period is open through January 28, 2026.
• EPA submits information collection request for kraft pulp mill emissions monitoring to OMB for review and approval — The Environmental Protection Agency submitted an information collection request (ICR Number 1055.14, OMB Control Number 2060-0021) to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The ICR covers New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for kraft pulp mills under 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart BB, requiring affected facilities to submit initial notifications, performance tests, and periodic compliance reports. The current approval expires December 31, 2025; this notice opens a 30-day public comment period (closing January 29, 2026) on the proposed extension.
• EPA submits information collection request for Safe Management of Recalled Airbags Rule to OMB for review and approval — The Environmental Protection Agency submitted an information collection request (ICR No. 2589.06, OMB Control No. 2050-0221) to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed extension of the currently approved ICR through December 31, 2025. The collection requires airbag handlers to maintain records of off-site shipments and receipt confirmations for hazardous waste airbag modules and inflators for no less than three years. An additional 30-day public comment period is open through January 29, 2026.
• EPA submits pesticide data call-in information collection request to OMB for renewal — The Environmental Protection Agency submitted an information collection request (ICR No. 2288.21, OMB Control No. 2070-0174) to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The request covers data call-ins issued under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) section 3(c)(2)(B), requiring pesticide registrants to provide scientific data on health and environmental effects. The current approval expires December 31, 2025. EPA previously requested public comments on May 9, 2025; this notice opens a 30-day additional comment period ending January 29, 2026.
• EPA submits TSCA Section 5 information collection request to OMB for renewal — The Environmental Protection Agency submitted an information collection request (ICR Number 1188.16, OMB Control Number 2070-0038) to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The ICR covers premanufacture review reporting and exemption requirements for new chemical substances, significant new use reporting for existing chemicals, and significant new use rules. This is a proposed extension of the currently approved collection through December 31, 2025. Public comments are invited through January 29, 2026.
• FCC Invites Public Comments on Tariff Review Plan Information Collection — The Federal Communications Commission published a notice requesting public comments on an extension of its currently approved information collection under OMB Control Number 3060-0400, which governs Tariff Review Plans (TRPs) filed by incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) to support interstate access service tariff revisions. The collection affects approximately 2,747 respondents with an estimated annual burden of 60,476 hours. Comments are due by March 2, 2026.
• Census Bureau submits questionnaire pretesting research clearance to OMB for review — The U.S. Census Bureau submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget for extension of a generic clearance (OMB Control Number 0607-0725) authorizing questionnaire pretesting research. The collection involves approximately 5,500 annual respondents, 1 hour per response, and 5,500 total burden hours. Data collection is voluntary and authorized under Title 13 of the U.S. Code. The notice invites public comment for 30 days via reginfo.gov, following a prior 60-day comment period in July 2025.
• DEA and HHS extend telemedicine flexibilities for controlled-substance prescribing through December 31, 2026 — The Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Health and Human Services issued a fourth temporary extension of COVID-19 telemedicine flexibilities, authorizing DEA-registered practitioners to prescribe Schedule II-V controlled substances via telemedicine to patients without prior in-person medical evaluation through December 31, 2026. The extension prevents an abrupt "telemedicine cliff" that would restrict patient access to care and provides time for DEA to finalize permanent regulations. The rule applies to prescriptions issued for legitimate medical purposes via interactive telecommunications systems meeting specified conditions.
• DEA establishes 2026 aggregate production quotas for Schedule I and II controlled substances and assessment of annual needs for List I chemicals. — The Drug Enforcement Administration issued a final order establishing aggregate production quotas (APQs) for Schedule I and II controlled substances and assessment of annual needs (AAN) for ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine for calendar year 2026. The order followed a 15-day public comment period (November 28–December 15, 2025) during which DEA received 5,044 comments from patients, healthcare providers, manufacturers, and advocacy groups. Key issues included concerns about opioid and ADHD medication shortages, pharmacy ordering thresholds imposed by distributors, and diversion estimation methodology. DEA adjusted quotas for certain substances upward (d,l-amphetamine, d-amphetamine, dimethyltryptamine, lisdexamfetamine, morphine, oripavine, psilocybin, psilocyn) in response to comments and established quotas for newly scheduled synthetic substances.
• EPA extends steam electric power plant wastewater compliance deadlines to 2034 — The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule extending compliance deadlines for steam electric power plants under the Clean Water Act. The rule postpones zero-discharge limitations for flue gas desulfurization wastewater, bottom ash transport water, and combustion residual leachate from December 31, 2029, to December 31, 2034. It also extends the Notice of Planned Participation deadline for plants permanently ceasing coal combustion from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2031, and creates site-specific timing flexibilities for unexpected circumstances. The EPA cited energy demand surges, supply-chain delays, and grid reliability concerns as justification.
• OSHA extends OMB approval for Susan Harwood Training Grant Program information collection requirements — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a notice requesting public comments on extending Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of information collection requirements for the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program. The program requires nonprofit grant recipients to submit quarterly progress reports (GQPR Form OSHA 171) documenting training activities, attendance, expenditures, and progress toward grant objectives. OSHA estimates the burden at 6,324 hours for 93 respondents submitting 372 responses. The agency notes that use of the GrantSolutions system reduces processing time. Public comments are due by March 2, 2026.
• OSHA grants DEKRA Certification Inc. expanded NRTL recognition and adds two test standards — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final notice granting DEKRA Certification Inc. expansion of its Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) scope of recognition. The expansion includes thirty-two additional test standards covering household electrical appliances and hand-held motor-operated tools, and recognition of a new testing facility in Dresden, Germany. OSHA also added two new standards (UL 60335-2-69 and UL 60335-2-79) to the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards. The expansion becomes effective December 31, 2025.
• DEA publishes notice of Maridose LLC bulk manufacturer application for controlled cannabis substances — The Drug Enforcement Administration published a notice that Maridose LLC applied on January 1, 2026, to be registered as a bulk manufacturer of cannabis-derived controlled substances (marihuana extract, marihuana, and tetrahydrocannabinols) for supply to DEA-registered researchers conducting approval studies. The comment period closes March 24, 2026, and registered bulk manufacturers and applicants may submit objections or request a hearing by that date.
• EPA adds sodium perfluorohexanesulfonate to Toxics Release Inventory reporting requirements — The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule adding sodium perfluorohexanesulfonate (CASRN 82382-12-5), a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), to the list of chemicals subject to mandatory toxic chemical release reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). The addition implements a statutory mandate from the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 and becomes effective January 1, 2026, with reporting obligations beginning in 2027. The chemical is designated as a "chemical of special concern" and excluded from certain burden-reduction reporting options.
• Federal Election Commission adjusts coordinated party expenditure limits and lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold for inflation — The Federal Election Commission published notice of annual inflation adjustments to coordinated party expenditure limits and lobbyist bundling disclosure thresholds, effective January 1, 2026. House expenditure limits in multi-district states increased to $65,300; Senate limits vary by state voting-age population, ranging from $130,600 to $4,071,800. The lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold increased to $24,000. Adjustments are mandated by the Federal Election Campaign Act and indexed to the consumer price index.
• GSA establishes Calendar Year 2026 mileage reimbursement rates for federal employee travel and relocation — The General Services Administration published Notice-MA-2026-01 establishing mileage reimbursement rates for privately owned vehicles (POV), airplanes, and motorcycles for calendar year 2026. The rates, detailed in FTR Bulletin 26-02, apply to official temporary duty and relocation travel performed January 1–December 31, 2026. GSA sets the POA rate by statute to match the IRS standard mileage rate; airplane and motorcycle rates are determined through independent annual cost reviews evaluating fuel, depreciation, maintenance, insurance, taxes, and consumer price index data.
• GSA revises foreign gifts and decorations minimal value threshold to $525.00 — The General Services Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Department of State, revised the minimal value threshold for foreign gifts and decorations received by federal employees, effective January 1, 2026. The threshold increased from $480.00 to $525.00, reflecting an 8.99 percent rise in the Consumer Price Index over the preceding three years. Foreign gifts and decorations above this value become federal property and must be reported to GSA for disposal or official use tracking.
• EPA approves Colorado air quality procedural rule revisions — The Environmental Protection Agency issued a direct final rule approving minor administrative revisions to Colorado's State Implementation Plan submitted by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on May 20, 2022. The revisions update the Procedural Rules (5 CCR 1001-1) and Common Provisions Regulation (5 CCR 1001-2) with non-substantive grammatical and clerical changes, including a numbering format update and clarification on materials incorporated by reference. The rule becomes effective March 3, 2026, unless adverse comments are received by February 2, 2026.
• EPA Delegates NESHAP Authority to Oklahoma — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule delegating authority to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) to implement and enforce certain National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) as they existed through June 30, 2023. This delegation includes areas of Indian country in Oklahoma, except for specific excluded lands. The rule becomes effective on February 2, 2026, allowing ODEQ to manage these standards statewide, enhancing local control over air quality regulations.
• EPA finalizes nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emission limits for five taconite facilities in Michigan and Minnesota, modifying Upper Predictive Limit equations and requiring electronic reporting. — The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a revision to the Federal Implementation Plan addressing Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) requirements for taconite facilities. The EPA established nitrogen oxide (NOx) limits ranging from 1.5 to 3.0 lbs NOx/MMBtu and sulfur dioxide (SO2) limits ranging from 17.0 to 247.8 lbs SO2/hr for indurating furnaces at five facilities: Tilden (Michigan), Hibbing, Minorca, Northshore, and United Taconite (Minnesota). The EPA also modified the Upper Predictive Limit equations used to calculate these limits and revised reporting requirements to mandate electronic submission. The rule becomes effective February 2, 2026, following procedures established in prior 2013 and 2016 FIP revisions. Conservation groups opposed the action, arguing the EPA failed to conduct required BART analyses and improperly relaxed emission limits.
• EPA revokes 2024 rule requiring major HAP sources to maintain major source standards after reclassification to area sources — The Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule revoking the September 2024 "Review of Final Rule Reclassification of Major Sources as Area Sources Under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act" pursuant to Congressional Review Act joint resolution S.J. Res. 31, signed into law by President Trump on June 20, 2025 as Public Law 119-20. The revocation restores the 2020 rule allowing major sources of persistent and bioaccumulative hazardous air pollutants to reclassify as area sources and avoid major source emission standards. The EPA issued this ministerial action without public comment, citing Administrative Procedure Act good-cause exemption. Estimated regulatory cost savings are $935.8 million in present value.
• FDA determines MYSOLINE primidone suspension withdrawn for safety reasons, bars generic approvals — The Food and Drug Administration determined that MYSOLINE (primidone) suspension, 250 mg/5 mL, was withdrawn from sale in 2001 for reasons of safety or effectiveness due to antimicrobial contamination concerns, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The agency will remove the drug from the Orange Book list of approved products and will not accept or approve abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) referring to this formulation. No reformulated version has been approved for reintroduction.
• TSA submits Pipeline Corporate Security Reviews information collection to OMB for 30-day public comment period — The Transportation Security Administration forwarded an Information Collection Request (OMB control number 1652-0056) to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval of a revision to its currently approved collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection enables TSA to assess security practices in the pipeline industry through its voluntary Pipeline Corporate Security Review program and to enforce mandatory cybersecurity requirements under TSA Security Directive Pipeline-2021-02 series. The revision updates the collection title and seeks a maximum 3-year approval period. Estimated annual burden: 80,231 hours across approximately 100 respondents.
• EPA renews Local Government Advisory Committee charter for two years and solicits nominations for Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee membership. — The Environmental Protection Agency published notice that the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) charter has been renewed for an additional two-year period under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The LGAC, composed of elected and appointed government officials, advises the EPA Administrator on environmental issues affecting local governments. Concurrent with renewal, the EPA is soliciting nominations for membership on the LGAC's Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee, with a deadline of January 15, 2026. Nominees must hold elected positions or full-time appointed positions with local, tribal, state, or territorial governments.

Supporting reports

• EPA announced increase in safe formaldehyde exposure levels — The Environmental Protection Agency announced it is nearly doubling the amount of formaldehyde it considers safe to breathe. Formaldehyde is used in products ranging from building materials and leather goods to craft supplies and causes cancer, miscarriage, asthma, and other health issues by altering DNA. Chemical industry lobbyists have worked for years to water down government regulation of formaldehyde. The method of assessment behind the proposed new rule could change government regulation of other carcinogens as well.
• Trump EPA proposes weakening formaldehyde cancer risk assessment — The Trump administration's EPA announced a proposal to increase exposure levels to formaldehyde it considers safe, reversing Biden-era findings that any exposure to the carcinogenic chemical poses cancer risk. The agency would reverse five of 58 unreasonable-risk scenarios Biden's EPA identified and weaken restrictions for the remaining 53 by adopting a threshold-based risk model instead of the linear approach. Two former American Chemistry Council executives now lead the EPA's chemical safety office.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration pauses NIH grants on health equity and structural racism — The Trump administration announced it will pause new funding for National Institutes of Health grants focused on terms like "health equity" and "structural racism" while it conducts a review to determine whether the grants "may potentially be associated with misalignment with the administration's priorities."

Supporting reports

• RFK Jr. removed language from CDC website stating vaccines do not cause autism — As HHS Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed language from the CDC website that stated vaccines did not cause autism. This action occurred amid a measles outbreak in South Carolina affecting 111 people, mostly in Spartanburg County. The removal of this public health messaging undermines vaccine confidence at a critical moment when higher vaccination rates are needed to control disease spread. The CDC had previously stated that vaccines do not cause autism, a claim supported by extensive scientific evidence.
• RFK Jr. appointed anti-vaccine activist Vicky Pebsworth to ACIP — HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed Vicky Pebsworth, research director of the National Vaccine Information Center (an anti-vaccine advocacy group), to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. For decades, Pebsworth has argued that the MMR vaccine caused her son to develop autism, a claim contradicted by extensive scientific evidence. Her appointment to the federal committee that develops vaccine recommendations represents a significant shift in the composition of the committee toward vaccine skepticism.
• RFK Jr. appointed Robert Malone as vice-chair of ACIP — HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed Robert Malone as vice-chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Malone, dubbed a "COVID misinformation star" by the New York Times, has promoted false claims about vaccine safety. When a child died after contracting measles in 2025, Malone published a newsletter claiming the child died from other causes, contradicted by the hospital's statement that the child was receiving treatment for measles complications and had no underlying health conditions.

Supporting reports

• EPA scrubbed climate change references from website — The Washington Post reported on December 9 that the Environmental Protection Agency has scrubbed references to human-caused climate change from its website, including a statement from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that said, "It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land." While some pages still include mentions of "natural causes" of climate change, other pages have been completely removed.

Supporting reports

• FDA announces vaccine regulation changes based on unconfirmed death claims without releasing supporting evidence — The FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research announced sweeping changes to vaccine regulations following unconfirmed claims that Covid vaccination caused deaths in children and adults. Director Vinay Prasad claimed without evidence that Covid vaccination killed 10 children. The agency promised to release details "soon" but has not provided data, autopsy reports, or peer review. All 12 former FDA heads condemned the moves as a threat to evidence-based policy. Democratic lawmakers and Republican Senator Bill Cassidy called for transparency and data before policy changes proceed.

Supporting reports

• ACIP changes hepatitis B vaccination recommendation after RFK-appointed advisers vote to alter childhood immunization guidance — The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), reconstituted by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy after he fired previous members, voted to change the hepatitis B vaccination recommendation for US children. The panel includes anti-vaccine activists and presented unsubstantiated claims about vaccine safety and cumulative risk. The decision will affect state policies and insurance coverage. Public health experts warn the vote creates confusion, access barriers, and jeopardizes the entire childhood vaccine schedule as measles cases surge and the US risks losing measles-elimination status.
• CDC Advisory Committee votes to limit hepatitis B vaccine recommendations for newborns — The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, whose members were hand-picked by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., voted 8-3 on Friday to remove the longstanding universal recommendation that all newborns receive hepatitis B vaccination at birth. The new guidance shifts to "shared clinical decision-making" for infants whose mothers test negative for hepatitis B, effectively deferring the decision to parents and healthcare providers. The committee also recommended delaying the vaccine from birth to two months and adding blood tests after the first shot—an untested approach. Trump administration officials welcomed the change, with the president signing a memo to review child immunization recommendations.

Supporting reports

• FDA official claimed COVID vaccines caused child deaths without evidence — The Washington Post reported that the country's top vaccine regulator told officials in an email without offering evidence that "at least 10 children have died after and because of receiving" a COVID-19 vaccine. He added that the FDA will take a stricter approach to approving federal vaccines, including revising the flu vaccine framework and reviewing whether people should receive multiple vaccines simultaneously.

Supporting reports

• RFK Jr breaches promise to Senator Cassidy on CDC vaccine webpage — When the Senate voted to confirm Robert F Kennedy Jr as health secretary, Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy cast the deciding vote but extracted a concession: Kennedy promised to leave intact the CDC webpage stating that vaccines do not cause autism. Kennedy has since breached that promise by allowing the CDC to alter its website to reflect his vaccine-autism claim. Senator Cassidy expressed shock but has refused to directly challenge Kennedy on the broken commitment.
• CDC alters website to reflect RFK Jr's vaccine-autism claim — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention altered its website to reflect US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr's claim of a causal link between vaccines and autism, a position contradicted by dozens of scientific studies. The change prompted immediate responses from autism advocacy organizations, including the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and Association of University Centers on Disabilities, who demanded public health officials listen to autistic voices and directed communities to alternative, evidence-based sources of health information.

Supporting reports

• White House issued presidential memorandum directing HHS and CDC to review childhood vaccine recommendations against peer developed countries' practices — The White House issued a presidential memorandum on December 5, 2025, directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review the United States' core childhood vaccine recommendations against practices in peer developed countries. The memorandum states that the U.S. recommended vaccinations for 18 diseases as of January 2025, compared to 10 in Denmark, 14 in Japan, and 15 in Germany. It directs HHS and CDC to study whether peer countries' practices are superior and, if so, to update the U.S. schedule accordingly while preserving vaccine access.
• White House issues fact sheet on presidential memorandum directing vaccine schedule review — The White House issued a fact sheet on December 5, 2025, describing a Presidential Memorandum signed by President Trump directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the CDC Director to review U.S. core childhood vaccine recommendations against practices in peer developed countries. The memorandum instructs officials to update the U.S. schedule if they determine foreign practices are superior, while preserving vaccine access. The fact sheet states the U.S. currently recommends 18 diseases for universal childhood vaccination, compared to 10–15 in peer nations.

Supporting reports

• Federal advisory panel votes to recommend scrapping infant hepatitis B vaccine — Kirk Milhoan, chair of the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced the committee would vote Thursday on reversing the decades-old recommendation that newborns receive hepatitis B vaccination within 24 hours of birth. The panel, composed largely of Kennedy appointees skeptical of vaccine science, is also investigating whether childhood immunization schedules contribute to allergies and autoimmune disorders, focusing on aluminum adjuvants despite NIH findings of acceptable risk-benefit ratios.
• CDC ACIP delays vote on restricting infant hepatitis B vaccination — The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) held a contentious meeting on December 4, 2025, to consider restricting hepatitis B vaccination for infants. After heated debate, a motion to delay the vote until December 5 passed 6–3. The committee, reconstituted with Trump-appointed members including anti-vaccine advocates and chaired by Kirk Milhoan (who promoted ivermectin), debated restricting a vaccine that has eliminated 99% of childhood hepatitis B cases since 1990 and carries a documented safety record across 1.4 billion doses over three decades. No new evidence of harm was presented.
• RFK Jr's vaccine advisory panel convenes to consider delaying hepatitis B vaccination for newborns — Robert F Kennedy Jr, US health secretary and anti-vaccine activist, convened his reconstituted vaccine advisory committee on December 4, 2025, to consider reversing decades of federal policy recommending hepatitis B vaccination for all newborns. Kennedy had dismissed all 17 members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices earlier in 2025 and replaced them with vaccine skeptics aligned with his agenda. The panel has already voted to change influenza vaccine formulations and measles/mumps/rubella/chickenpox vaccination protocols.
• RFK Jr dismisses all members of CDC vaccine advisory committee and replaces them with vaccine skeptics — Earlier in 2025, Robert F Kennedy Jr dismissed all 17 members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and replaced them with his own appointees, including several vaccine skeptics aligned with his anti-vaccine agenda. This week, the committee's chair Dr Martin Kulldorff departed for another HHS role and was replaced by Dr Kirk Milhoan, a cardiologist critical of Covid-19 vaccines. The reconstituted panel has already voted to change influenza vaccine formulations and measles/mumps/rubella/chickenpox vaccination protocols.
• ACIP votes on restricting infant hepatitis B vaccine recommendation — The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a federal panel that advises the CDC on vaccine policy, held a contentious meeting and prepared to vote on whether to change the longstanding recommendation that all newborns receive hepatitis B vaccination within 24 hours of birth. The vote was delayed twice. The panel, reconstituted by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with vaccine skeptics and anti-vaccine advocates, heard no new evidence of vaccine harm but proceeded toward a vote that could alter decades of immunization guidance affecting 1.4 billion people vaccinated over 30+ years.
• CDC Advisory Committee votes to limit hepatitis B vaccine access to newborns — The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted on December 5, 2025, to restrict hepatitis B vaccination from a routine universal recommendation to a "shared clinical decision-making" model requiring parental consultation with doctors. Most newborns will no longer automatically receive the vaccine at birth; instead, vaccination will be deferred to two months of age or later and made optional rather than standard. The decision marks the first time the CDC has limited access to a decades-old routine vaccination.

Supporting reports

• CDC website altered to undermine vaccine-autism consensus — The CDC website statement that vaccines do not cause autism was modified to include an asterisk and footnote indicating it had not been removed because of Kennedy's promise to Senator Cassidy, and the page text was changed to state that "studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities." This alteration, made at Kennedy's direction, effectively reframed the scientific consensus as disputed and suggested institutional suppression of contrary evidence.
• RFK Jr. personally ordered CDC to alter vaccine-autism guidance — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. personally directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to change information on the CDC website regarding the claim that vaccines do not cause autism. Kennedy acknowledged the order despite admitting that studies have shown no link between vaccines and autism. He stated he wanted the change because additional studies remain to be done, effectively reframing established scientific consensus as unproven. The change was made despite Kennedy's prior promise to Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) during his confirmation process that he would not remove the statement.

Supporting reports

• CDC changed vaccine-autism language under RFK Jr. direction — The CDC updated its website to replace language that stated that studies have shown there is "no link" between vaccines and autism to say, "The claim 'vaccines do not cause autism' is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism." The site also claims that studies linking vaccines and autism "have been ignored by health authorities." Demetre Daskalakis, the former head of the agency's center responsible for respiratory viruses and immunizations, told the Washington Post that the changes show that the CDC "cannot currently be trusted as a scientific voice." Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. later admitted he ordered the changes.

Supporting reports

• CDC suspends "wild to mild" flu vaccination campaign following Trump administration transition — The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention halted its "wild to mild" flu vaccination awareness campaign shortly after Trump took office, amid the second-deadliest pediatric flu season on record (280 child deaths in 2024-25). The campaign, which had been "very, very well received" and focused on how vaccines prevent severe illness and death, is not planned to resume. Staff are reportedly prohibited from discussing the campaign despite its effectiveness. Pediatricians and medical organizations are stepping into the communications void to promote vaccination.

Supporting reports

• Trump fires BLS director; inflation data quality declines — Trump fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics director after the agency reported inflation numbers the president disliked. Subsequently, the quality of CPI inflation data has declined significantly. In September, 40% of CPI items were estimated, up from 36% in August and a historical average of 10%. When price data is unavailable, the BLS fills gaps with estimated values from other categories or regions. The percentage of estimated data has quadrupled over seven months, making CPI numbers less accurate and less reflective of real consumer costs.
• Trump’s Economic Advisor Admits Data Reliability Issues — Trump’s top economic advisor publicly stated that the administration may never produce reliable inflation or employment data again due to the hollowing out of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This admission highlights the administration's failure to conduct critical surveys and suggests an attempt to fabricate economic data.

Supporting reports

• Trump directs Pentagon to begin nuclear weapons testing matching Russia and China — Donald Trump posted on Truth Social instructing the Department of War to immediately begin testing nuclear weapons on an equal basis with Russia and China, citing their testing programs as justification. The announcement came less than an hour before Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea to discuss a trade war truce. Trump falsely claimed the US has more nuclear weapons than any other country. Pentagon officials did not immediately respond. Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus announced plans to introduce legislation to stop the testing.
• Russia denies nuclear weapons testing and warns of retaliation — Russia issued a statement denying that it has tested nuclear weapons, contradicting claims made by Trump. Russia warned that it will begin nuclear weapons testing if the United States does so, escalating nuclear rhetoric and raising the stakes for potential weapons testing by either power.
• Trump orders Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing — Minutes before his meeting with Xi Jinping, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had instructed the Department of War to begin nuclear weapons testing "on an equal basis" with China and Russia, citing other countries' testing programs as justification. He did not respond to reporter questions about the decision during the summit.
• Trump announced resumption of nuclear weapons testing for the first time in 33 years. — Trump announced that the United States will resume testing nuclear weapons, instructing the Department of War to begin testing on an "equal basis" with other nations. Trump claimed Russia and China are conducting nuclear tests and that the U.S. must respond in kind. A nuclear proliferation expert stated that no nation except North Korea has tested nuclear weapons since the 1990s and that Trump's characterization of U.S. and Russian stockpile sizes was factually incorrect.
• Trump administration announced plans to resume nuclear weapons testing — Trump announced that the administration plans to resume nuclear weapons testing. When questioned about the announcement, Trump stated that the Pentagon should conduct the testing, though the Department of Energy is the actual agency responsible for nuclear weapons testing operations.

Supporting reports

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues Tylenol makers over alleged deceptive marketing to pregnant people — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit in Texas state court against Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue, alleging they deceptively marketed Tylenol to pregnant people despite alleged risks of autism and ADHD in children. Paxton claims both companies violated Texas consumer protection laws by failing to warn buyers and alleges Johnson & Johnson fraudulently transferred liabilities to Kenvue. The suit follows Trump administration claims that acetaminophen carries autism risk despite no new scientific evidence. Texas is the first state to file such a suit.

Supporting reports

• Trump promoted non-standard medical guidance on Tylenol and vaccines — On Truth Social, Trump repeated calls for pregnant women to abstain from using Tylenol "UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY" and advised against giving the drug to young children "FOR VIRTUALLY ANY REASON," along with other suggested vaccine guidelines that deviate from the current childhood immunization schedule.
• Trump posted medical misinformation about vaccines and medications for pregnant women and children. — Trump posted on social media advising pregnant women not to use Tylenol unless absolutely necessary, not to give Tylenol to young children, and to break up the MMR vaccine into three separate shots rather than the combined version. He also advised delaying hepatitis B vaccination until age 12 or older and spacing vaccines across five separate medical visits. These recommendations contradict established medical guidance from health authorities.

Supporting reports

• Trump proclamation exempts domestic copper smelters from Clean Air Act emissions standards for two years. — President Trump issued Proclamation 10987 on October 24, 2025, exempting certain primary copper smelters from compliance with the EPA's May 2024 Copper Rule (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants) for two years beyond the rule's original compliance deadlines. The proclamation invokes section 112(i)(4) of the Clean Air Act and national security grounds, citing the need to preserve domestic copper smelting capacity and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. The exemption extends all compliance deadlines by two years, during which affected smelters remain subject only to pre-rule emissions standards.
• Trump issued proclamation exempting Miami copper smelter from EPA emissions standards for two years — President Trump issued a proclamation on October 24, 2025, exempting the Miami Smelter in Arizona (operated by Freeport-McMoRan Miami Inc.) from compliance with the EPA's May 2024 Copper Rule for two years beyond the rule's original compliance deadlines. The proclamation states the exemption applies because the required emissions-control technology does not exist in commercially viable form and asserts the exemption serves national security interests in domestic mineral production. The effect is that the facility will revert to pre-Copper Rule emissions obligations during the exemption period.
• White House issues fact sheet on EPA regulatory relief for copper smelting — The White House published a fact sheet on October 24, 2025, describing a proclamation signed by President Trump granting two years of regulatory relief from Biden-era EPA emissions standards for primary copper smelting. The fact sheet states the exemption allows a copper smelting facility to comply with pre-Biden EPA standards instead of current rules, claims the Biden standard imposes "unattainable compliance requirements," and asserts that relief is necessary to prevent facility closures and maintain domestic copper supply for national security and semiconductor production.

Supporting reports

• Senate poised to confirm industry lobbyist Douglas Troutman to lead EPA chemical safety office — The US Senate is preparing to confirm Douglas Troutman, a former chief lobbyist for the American Cleaning Institute, to lead the EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. If confirmed, the top four positions in the toxics office will be held by former chemical industry lobbyists. Troutman previously lobbied against California's Cleaning Product Right to Know Act and supported legislation to pre-empt state chemical transparency laws. The office oversees evaluation of new and existing chemicals, pesticides programs, and chemical safety standards.

Supporting reports

• Elimination of climate research programs and firing of scientists — The EPA eliminated climate research programs and fired scientists as part of its deregulatory agenda.

Supporting reports

• RFK Jr promoted unsubstantiated theory linking circumcision, Tylenol, and autism — During a cabinet meeting, RFK Jr stated that two studies show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism, attributing this to Tylenol use. He acknowledged the theory is not yet proven but stated his office is conducting studies to "make the proof." Trump subsequently recommended that pregnant women avoid Tylenol and "tough it out," and reiterated his longstanding claim that vaccines cause autism, citing the size of vaccine doses and referencing the Amish population as having no autism.
• Trump made false claims about measles vaccine availability — Trump stated that "the measles is already separate now, and it works out much better," repeating his call to split the MMR combination vaccine into three separate shots. CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale reported that there is no separate measles shot available in the United States, contradicting Trump's claim.

Supporting reports

• Six former surgeons general condemn Kennedy's HHS leadership — Six former surgeons general appointed by presidents from George H.W. Bush through the Biden administration—Jerome Adams, Richard Carmona, Joycelyn Elders, Vivek Murthy, Antonia Novello, and David Satcher—published an op-ed in the Washington Post stating that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s actions as HHS secretary are "endangering the health of the nation." They warned that consequences of his mismanagement and promotion of misinformation will be "measured in lives lost, disease outbreaks and an erosion of public trust that will take years to rebuild."