With federal budget cuts to Medicaid and other social service programs looming, increased attention is being placed on home and community-based (“HCBS”) Medicaid benefits. A recent opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times...more
Enacted in August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (the “IRA”) expanded energy tax credits by increasing credit amounts across the board and broadening eligibility criteria to include new technologies....more
The huge FY26 budget reconciliation bill, H.R. 1, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” contains provisions that would slash CFPB spending....more
The White House Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) sent President Trump’s recommendations for the fiscal year 2026 budget to the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 2, 2025. The proposal includes significant cuts to...more
On May 2, 2025, the White House released President Trump’s recommendations for discretionary funding in 2026. These recommendations would result in “significant savings” and budget cuts to several healthcare programs. The May...more
A May 2 report from the US Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) found that as of March, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) workforce had fallen by 11,443 employees, or 11%, due to probationary employee...more
When it comes to changes roiling the federally supported research landscape, April offered no letup from the first three months of the year; if anything, the pace and magnitude increased. In one instance, an agency—the HHS...more
On Friday, May 2, President Trump released the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Skinny Budget (“Budget”). Per the release, the Budget reduces nondefense discretionary funding by $163 billion or 23% from the 2025 enacted level, while...more
On May 1, 2025, the New Jersey Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee convened to hear testimony regarding Governor Phil Murphy’s proposed higher education budget for FY 2026, which reduces state funding for higher...more
Over the past few weeks, we have been closely following the Trump administration’s restructuring of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the major reduction in the department’s workforce (RIF), and its broader...more
The U.S. House Committee on Financial Services on April 30, 2025, voted to approve Republican-backed budget legislation that would eliminate almost all funding to the CFPB. In a 30-22 vote along party lines, the draft...more
After 100 days, the dawn of the Trump administration reveals to contractors a variable horizon. Changes to the procurement process and shifting budget priorities threaten certain contracts. Conversely, anticipated...more
The Trump administration may eliminate the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), according to a recently leaked draft fiscal year 2026 budget for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This “pre-decisional”...more
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (“PEER”) issued an April 29th news release stating that a: …network of federal centers tracking stream flow for flood warnings and drought management as well as water...more
The IRS workforce continues to shrink, with deferred resignations of hundreds of IRS Appeals personnel....more
On Monday, April 21, 2025, Commissioner Jacquelyn Suárez of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) testified before the Assembly Budget Committee, outlining the department’s strategies to navigate projected...more
Gov. Shapiro Orders Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Pope Francis- Governor Josh Shapiro (D) has ordered U.S. and Commonwealth flags to be flown at half-staff across Pennsylvania in honor of Pope Francis, who passed away...more
Mayor Parker's Housing Plan Relies on $800M in Bonds- Mayor Cherelle Parker’s Housing Opportunities Made Easy (HOME) Initiative aims to build or preserve 30,000 housing units in Philadelphia, primarily funded through $800...more
Today, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of the Office of Inspector General and Office of General Counsel, one of just a dozen or so agencies reporting directly to the secretary....more
Below is Alston & Bird’s Health Care Week in Review, which provides a synopsis of the latest news in health care regulations, notices, and guidance; federal legislation and congressional committee action; reports, studies,...more
On April 2, 2025, most of the leadership and research scientists at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) were terminated from employment. The termination resulted in a reduction of at least...more
The Department of Defense (DOD) cut another batch of government contracts and grants on March 20th. The DOD is just one of many executive agencies advancing the policies of President Trump and the Department of Government...more
Recent press reports tell of rumors of impactful (some fear catastrophic) budget cuts to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Politically, priority on reducing EPA’s climate programs, along with budget and...more
Bloomberg reports that staff from the Department of Government Efficiency is currently at the SEC, according to communications to SEC staff, who were “instructed to treat them as internal employees.” Bloomberg also reports...more
On March 27, 2025, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a “dramatic restructuring” that will result in a reduction in agency workforce combined with significant internal restructuring. The...more