IN THE NEWS
- President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation,” requiring federal agencies to identify at least ten existing regulations to repeal whenever they seek to issue a new one. The order aims to reduce “unnecessary, burdensome, and costly federal regulations” and requires that the cost of all new regulations be “significantly less than zero” for fiscal year 2025. The order reinstates President Trump’s first-term deregulatory efforts, reversing Biden-era rules and lowering review thresholds for new regulations. Critics argue that the policy prioritizes deregulation over public protections, while supporters claim it will boost economic growth and government efficiency.
- A federal judge in Massachusetts temporarily blocked the Trump Administration’s proposed buyout of federal employees. Labor unions have challenged the buyout, which incentivized employees to resign in exchange for pay through October to reduce the federal workforce. The unions argue that President Trump cannot guarantee the buyout will be funded, has failed to consider the consequences of mass resignations on the government’s ability to function, and lacks a legal basis for the buyout. The buyout has been delayed until February 10.
- President Trump signed a memorandum addressing collective bargaining agreements finalized by the Biden Administration. The memorandum characterizes these agreements as an attempt to extend prior policies and constrain the new administration’s authority. The memorandum states that agreements executed within 30 days before the presidential transition that create new obligations, make substantive changes, or extend existing agreements “shall” not be approved by agency heads. This action reflects the Trump Administration’s stance against last-minute agreements, which it claims “run counter to America’s system of democratic self-government.”
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) terminated its 2023 Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Venezuela, which allowed covered Venezuelan nationals to remain temporarily in the United States due to “extraordinary” conditions that prevented their safe return to Venezuela. DHS based its decision on its findings that there have been “notable improvements” in Venezuela’s economy, public health, and crime and stated that extending TPS for these individuals would be “contrary to the national interest.” The termination will not affect individuals registered under DHS’s 2021 TPS designation for Venezuela.
