Category: Federal
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Federal Register weekly update: Biden administration’s highest weekly page total to date
The Federal Register is a daily journal of federal government activity that includes presidential documents, proposed and final rules, and public notices. It is a common measure of an administration’s regulatory activity. From February 22 through February 26—the sixth week of the Biden administration—the Federal Register grew by 1,408 pages for a year-to-date total of…
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OIRA reviewed 16 significant rules in February
The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) reviewed a total of 16 significant regulatory actions issued by federal agencies in February 2021. The agency approved no rules without changes and approved the intent of eight rules while recommending changes to their content. Agencies withdrew eight rules from the review process. OIRA reviewed…
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U.S. Supreme Court to hear case about 2019 DHS immigration rule expanding definition of public charge
On February 22, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Department of Homeland Security v. New York, a case about whether the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and federal immigration law when it issued a 2019 rule expanding the definition of those the agency would consider to be…
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Former Sen. David Perdue (Geo.) will not run for U.S. Senate in 2022
Former Sen. David Perdue (R), who lost to Jon Ossoff (D) in the January runoff election for Senate in Georgia, announced he will not run for the state’s other Senate seat in 2022. Raphael Warnock (D), who defeated incumbent Kelly Loeffler (R) in the special runoff election in January, currently holds the seat. Georgia is…
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Supreme Court issues ruling in case concerning Federal Tort Claims Act
On February 25, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued an opinion in the case Brownback v. King, which concerned the judgment bar of the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). The case originated from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit and was argued before SCOTUS on November 9, 2020. In…
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Governor sets special election in Texas’ 6th Congressional District for May 1
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) called a special election for Texas’ 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House. The special election will fill the vacancy left by Ronald Wright (R), who died from complications related to COVID-19 on February 7, 2021. The general election will be held May 1, 2021. The filing deadline is March…
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Senate confirms Vilsack for agriculture secretary, Thomas-Greenfield for UN ambassador
The Senate confirmed Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a diplomat who served in the U.S. Foreign Service for three decades, to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday by a vote of 78-20. The Senate also confirmed Tom Vilsack for secretary of agriculture by a vote of 92-7. He previously served in this position…
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Easter deadline to use Congressional Review Act to repeal end-of-term Trump administration regulatory activity
A recent edition of the Congressional Record clarified that Congress has 60 days from February 3, 2021, to use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to block regulatory activity taken near the end of the Trump administration. The Congressional Review Act is a federal law passed in 1996 that creates a 60 day review period during…
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U.S. Supreme Court begins February sitting for 2020-2021 term
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) continued its 2020-2021 term on February 22 with the beginning of its February sitting. The February sitting runs from February 22 through March 3, during which time SCOTUS will hear six hours of oral argument. Consistent with the court’s policy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all…
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SCOTUS accepts first cases to be heard during 2021-2022 term
On February 22, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court granted review in five cases for a total of three hours of oral argument, the first cases to be accepted for its upcoming 2021-2022 term. The new term is slated to begin on October 4, 2021. To date, the court has granted review in 63 cases during…