The Beltway Buzz® is a weekly update summarizing labor and employment news from inside the Beltway and clarifying how what’s happening in Washington, D.C., could impact your business.
Articles About The Federal Government’s Employment, Benefits And Immigration Agencies.
Policy Week in Review – February 6, 2026
Policy Week in Review – February 6, 2026
DOL Announces Minimum Wage Rate Change for Federal Contractors
tgelbman@littler.com Fri, 02/06/2026 – 13:51
Home Care Agencies and Sign-On Bonuses: Understanding the Recent Advisory Opinion of HHS’s Office of Inspector General
On December 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) published Advisory Opinion No. 25-12 (AO 25-12) concerning home care agencies’ proposal to market compensation packages, including sign-on bonuses, to prospective caregivers with the intention of employing them for the provision of personal
EEOC Consolidates Power, Signaling Aggressive, ‘America First’ Agenda Enforcement
In January 2026, through a series of party-line votes, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) continued its agency overhaul—revising internal voting procedures, restricting the general counsel’s litigation authority, and rescinding Biden-era harassment guidance.
The moves signal that agency scrutiny of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, together with a
DOJ Announces All-Time High in False Claims Act Recoveries: Healthcare Providers, Government Contractors in the Crosshairs
Takeaways
Beltway Buzz, January 30, 2026
The Beltway Buzz® is a weekly update summarizing labor and employment news from inside the Beltway and clarifying how what’s happening in Washington, D.C., could impact your business.
Policy Week in Review – January 30, 2026
Policy Week in Review – January 30, 2026
NLRB Division of Advice Recommends Dismissal of Expansive Charges
tgelbman@littler.com Fri, 01/30/2026 – 14:49
Managing Risk During a Government Shutdown: What Contractors Should Know
Government shutdowns can throw a wrench into the gears of even the most well-oiled contracting operations. When Congress and the president fail to pass a funding bill, the resulting lapse in appropriations can halt nonessential federal activities, leaving contractors in a precarious position.
But fear not—by taking proactive steps and
ACTS Countdown: Who Must File, What to Report, and What’s at Stake?
On December 18, 2025, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) opened the new IPEDS Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement (ACTS) after receiving approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). ACTS operationalizes the August 5, 2025, presidential memorandum and the secretary’s directive on “Ensuring Transparency in Higher Education
Potential Immigration Impacts on Employers of Another Government Shutdown
Just two and a half months after the fall 2025 record-breaking forty-three-day government shutdown ended, the federal government faces another partial shutdown if the U.S. Senate fails to pass additional appropriations bills by January 30, 2026.
The Year Ahead 2026: Agencies Are Off and Running
As 2026 unfolds, the focus shifts to the practical priorities of federal agencies that are being shaped by newly established quorums.
Beltway Buzz, January 23, 2026
Congress Faces Government Funding Deadline While Winter Storm Looms. The November 2025 legislative deal that ended the record-breaking forty-three–day federal government shutdown expires one week from today—January 30, 2026. The good news is that lawmakers are not signaling much of a desire for another shutdown (at least not yet). Since
Policy Week in Review – January 23, 2026
Policy Week in Review – January 23, 2026
EEOC Rescinds Enforcement Guidance on Harassment
tgelbman@littler.com Fri, 01/23/2026 – 14:49
DOJ’s False Claims Act Report for FY 2025 Shows Biggest Total Monetary Recoveries Yet, Provides Insight on FY 2026 Priorities
DOJ’s False Claims Act Report for FY 2025 Shows Biggest Total Monetary Recoveries Yet, Provides Insight on FY 2026 Priorities
According to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) January 16, 2026 press release, the DOJ reported a record $6.8 billion in settlements and judgments under the False Claims Act (FCA) for
EEOC Scraps Internal Voting Procedures, Paving Way to Fast-Track the Trump Administration’s Policy Initiatives, Changes for Employers
- EEOC rescinds prior voting procedures, shifting procedural control to Chair Andrea Lucas to set agendas, call public meetings, and decide when matters will be voted on without public discussion.
- Rapid policy reversals are expected, including a 01.22.26 vote to rescind the 2024 Enforcement Guidance on Harassment.
- Employers should anticipate swift regulatory shifts, as the Commission moves quickly to revisit and potentially reverse prior guidance and rules, including PWFA regulations.