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Partial Repeal of the Carbon Pollution Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units

In this final rule, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is repealing most provisions of the 2024 Carbon Pollution Standards for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuel-fired electric generating units (EGUs) based on a reevaluation of the best system of emission reduction for the relevant subcategories. Specifically, the EPA is repealing the emission guidelines for existing fossil fuel-fired steam generating units, the carbon capture and sequestration/storage (CCS)-based standards for coal-fired steam generating units undertaking a large modification, and the CCS-based standards for new base load stationary combustion turbines (i.e., Phase 2 standards). In a separate action published concurrently with this final rule, the EPA is issuing a supplemental proposal soliciting comment on additional reasons to rescind all GHG emission requirements for fossil fuel-fired EGUs to effectuate the best reading of Clean Air Act (CAA) section 111 and ensure consistency with applicable principles of administrative law beyond those reasons on which the EPA solicited comment in the June 2025 notice of proposed rulemaking.

Eliminating the Discretionary 60-Day Grace Period

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to remove regulations at 8 CFR 214.1(l)(2) to restore its previous and long- standing policy of not providing aliens in certain nonimmigrant classifications (and their dependents) with an up to 60-day grace period upon cessation of employment prior to the expiration of the alien's authorized period of stay. This proposal restores a direct relationship between an alien's nonimmigrant status and the specific employment or activity that formed the basis of his or her admission or grant of status in the United States and reduces administrative burden.

Improving the Effectiveness of the Robocall Mitigation Database; Call Authentication Trust Anchor; Advanced Methods To Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes steps to strengthen the reliability, integrity, and effectiveness of the Robocall Mitigation Database (RMD or Database) as a core component of its illegal-call prevention framework. The Commission proposed measures aim to ensure that RMD filings are accurate, complete, and current, and to safeguard the Database so that only legitimate, transparent, and accountable providers may enter or remain listed. Specifically, the Commission proposes and seeks comment on measures to clarify which entities are required to file in the RMD, enhance the accuracy and completeness of submitted information, and specify which portions of filings may be publicly disclosed. Additionally, the Commission proposes and seeks comment on new tools to prevent bad actors and noncompliant providers from accessing or remaining in the RMD, including strengthened screening procedures for new filers, improved mechanisms for identifying noncompliant providers, expedited removal processes, and safeguards to prevent unauthorized re- entry into the Database.

Mandatory Electronic Filing (e-Filing)

This interim final rule (IFR) amends U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations to provide: USCIS may require mandatory electronic filing (e-filing) of certain benefit requests; the process USCIS will follow to require a benefit request to be e-filed; and how a waiver of the e-filing requirement for those individuals unable to file electronically may be requested. This rule is intended to increase digital intake and processing to move USCIS and requestors from a mostly paper process to an electronic process and further enhance the integrity of the immigration system and the security of the United States.

Determining the Appropriate Penalty for Federal Employees Charged With Misconduct

The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB or Board) is issuing a final rule amending its regulations governing the Board's review of the reasonableness of an agency's chosen penalty in misconduct-based adverse actions appealed to the Board. Under the final rule, the Board will no longer require consideration of the 12 factors set forth in Douglas v. Veterans Administration, 5 M.S.P.R. 280 (1981), in every case. Instead, the Board will evaluate whether the agency's penalty is within the tolerable limits of reasonableness in light of the totality of the circumstances, determined on a case-by-case basis.

Critical Position Pay Authority

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is amending its regulations governing the critical position pay (CPP) authority to establish level I of the Executive Schedule as the default maximum critical pay rate, with higher rates subject to written approval by the Director of OPM. The final rule eliminates non-statutory caps and approval criteria; addresses the use of service agreements; clarifies that reductions or terminations of CPP are not adverse actions or subject to grievance or appeal rights; and clarifies the treatment of critical pay rates as basic pay. This final rule simplifies and better aligns OPM's regulations with governing law and delegated authority.

International Trademark Classification Changes

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues this final rule to incorporate classification changes adopted by the Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Agreement). These changes are listed in the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (13th ed., ver. 2027) (Nice Classification), which is published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and will become effective on January 1, 2027.

Regulation Crypto Assets

The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") is proposing new rules to create a tailored offering regime for certain investment contracts involving crypto assets. The proposed offering regime is intended to facilitate capital formation and accommodate innovation within the crypto asset markets while, at the same time, ensuring that investors are adequately protected and provided with the information they need to make informed investment decisions. The proposed rules would be set forth in a new regulation titled "Regulation Crypto Assets" and would include two exemptions from the registration requirements of section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933. The first exemption would permit offerings of up to $5 million during a four-year period. The second exemption would permit offerings of up to $75 million during each 12-month period. Under both exemptions, issuers would be required to make certain principles-based narrative disclosures available to their investors. In addition, issuers under the second exemption would be required to provide financial statements and would be subject to ongoing reporting requirements. Issuers that rely on these exemptions would remain subject to the antifraud and antimanipulation provisions of the Federal securities laws. The proposed rules also would include a conditional safe harbor from the term "investment contract" in the definitions of "security" in the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If the conditions of that proposed safe harbor are satisfied, then a crypto asset would be deemed not to be subject to an investment contract for purposes of those definitions of "security."

Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization: The Secretary's Recognition of Accrediting Agencies: Institutional Eligibility Under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as Amended, Student Assistance General Provisions

The Department proposes to revise the existing accrediting agency recognition regulations at 34 CFR part 602 to implement the directives set forth in Executive Order 14279, Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education, and other Administration priorities, align the regulations more closely with statute, and reduce regulatory burden.

Application for Relief From Disabilities Imposed by Federal Laws With Respect to the Acquisition, Receipt, Transfer, Shipment, Transportation, or Possession of Firearms

The Department of Justice ("the Department") is implementing criteria to guide determinations for granting relief from disabilities imposed by federal laws with respect to the acquisition, receipt, transfer, shipment, transportation, or possession of firearms. The criteria are designed to ensure that the fundamental right of the people to keep and bear arms is not unduly infringed, that those people granted relief are not likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety, and that granting such relief would not be contrary to the public interest.

Streamlining Export Controls for Drone Exports

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is easing export controls on certain Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs or drones) and related parts, components, accessories, attachments, technology, and software under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Specifically, this rule: eliminates wind gust tolerance as a parameter for determining UAV controls under the EAR; increases the threshold for national security controls on certain UAVs from an endurance of 30 minutes to an endurance of 3 hours; makes conforming changes to remove national security controls on software and technology associated with UAVs with an endurance less than 3 hours; maintains military end-use and end-user controls on those lower endurance drones and associated software and technology; clarifies Commerce Control List (CCL) controls for certain UAVs specially designed for military use; and removes national security controls on certain specially designed parts, components, accessories, and attachments for such UAVs as they do not provide any significant military or intelligence capabilities.

OCC Rules Regarding the Availability of OCC Information

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is proposing changes to its rules on information disclosure. The proposal would clarify the process for obtaining OCC approval to disclose non- public OCC information and allow for the disclosure of confidential supervisory information without OCC approval in certain circumstances, provided that applicable safeguards are observed. It also refines the OCC's process for requesting records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), amends the rules to provide for expedited process of FOIA requests, and makes other structural and conforming changes.

Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals (IPPS) and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; Other Policy Changes; and Adoption of Updated Versions of Certain Health Information Technology Standards

This final rule will revise the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs of acute care hospitals; make changes relating to Medicare graduate medical education (GME) for teaching hospitals; update the payment policies and the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals (LTCHs); update and make changes to requirements for certain quality programs; and make other policy- related changes. ONC also adopts certain health information technology (health IT) standards and specifications on behalf of HHS.

Revision of Freedom of Information Act Regulations

The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board or Board) is issuing this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to update its regulations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The Board proposes to replace its existing FOIA regulations with this proposed rule, which streamlines the language of several procedural provisions; updates procedures consistent with current technology; incorporates changes required by amendments to the FOIA under the OPEN Government Act of 2007 and the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016, and developments in case law; and conforms to Department of Justice guidelines for agency FOIA regulations.

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Navy Operations of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active Sonar in the Western and Central North Pacific Ocean and Eastern Indian Ocean

NMFS, upon request from the U.S. Department of the Navy (Navy), issues these regulations pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to training and testing activities using Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS) Low Frequency Active (LFA) sonar systems in the western and central North Pacific and eastern Indian oceans over the course of 7 years from August 2026 through August 2033. These regulations allow for the issuance of a letter of authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during specified activities and timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species and their habitat, and establish requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. The Navy's activities are considered military readiness activities pursuant to the MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (2004 NDAA) and the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2019 (2019 NDAA).

Affirmative Asylum Referrals Without Interview

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its regulations to permit U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to refer certain affirmative asylum applications to the Department of Justice (DOJ) Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) without interview. USCIS still offers an interview prior to a grant or denial of asylum. DHS is also removing the requirement that a letter communicating the basis for referral of asylum include an assessment of the alien's credibility.

Implementing Voluntary Agreements Under the Defense Production Act

The U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") is adopting the interim final rule published on August 25, 2025, as final, without change. This final rule establishes the procedures for developing and carrying out voluntary agreements and plans of action under the Defense Production Act. The Defense Production Act provides a defense from antitrust laws with respect to any action taken to develop or carry out any voluntary agreement or plan of action when certain criteria are met.

Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its regulations to change the admission period in the F, J, and I classifications from duration of status to an admission for a fixed time period, and additional changes to admission and extension requirements. This final rule will provide additional protections and oversight of these nonimmigrant categories and will allow DHS to better evaluate whether these nonimmigrants are maintaining status while temporarily in the United States. This final rule provides amendments to the proposed rule covering this topic that was published in the Federal Register on August 28, 2025.

Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2027 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; and Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program

This proposed rule addresses: changes to the physician fee schedule (PFS); other changes to Medicare Part B payment policies to ensure that payment systems are updated to reflect changes in medical practice, relative value of services, and changes in the statute; codification of establishment of new policies for: the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022; the Ambulatory Specialty Model; updates to drugs and biological products paid under Part B; Medicare Shared Savings Program requirements; updates to the Quality Payment Program; updates to policies for Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers; update to the Ambulance Fee Schedule regulations; codification of the Inflation Reduction Act and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 provisions; updates to Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule regulations; updates to the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program.

Federal Oil, Gas, and Coal Amendments

Consistent with Executive and Secretary's orders, ONRR proposes to amend ONRR's Federal oil, gas, and coal valuation regulations and to specify the standard of review for Director-level appeals. This rulemaking also proposes changes that will likely reduce cost and burden to industry and the Federal Government by simplifying regulatory requirements and ultimately incentivize production to unleash energy dominance. ONRR solicits comments on all aspects of this proposed action.
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