AFGE opposed the changes, arguing that the rule violates the ALA and the APA. The Office of Personnel Management has finalized regulations that formally authorize federal agencies to use administrative leave as a workforce restructuring tool, including in deferred resignation programs and certain reduction-in-force situations, while also establishing new restrictions on how such leave may be used. The rule takes effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. The final rule amends…

Preempting state review of unlisted registered offerings could remove key safeguards and create incentives for exploitation and fraud. The North American Securities Administrators Association has reaffirmed its opposition to an SEC proposal that would preempt state review of unlisted SEC-registered offerings. Responding to a recommendation from the SEC's Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee, NASAA argues that state-level review provides guardrails and that removing them could…

A presidential directive that seeks to recruit private-sector entities to conduct offensive cyber operations against overseas cyber criminals would be codified under legislation introduced by Rep. Pat Fallon (R., Texas). The National Coordination Center and Commercial Cyber Capabilities Coordination Act (H.R. 10777 , 119th Cong. (2026)) would codify two recent directives issued by the White House, including a national security presidential memorandum (NSPM) that sought the private sector’s…

The government alleged that the pharmacy chain illegally filled prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances and then billed Medicare and other federal health care programs. U.S. pharmacy giant CVS Pharmacy, Inc. and its related corporate entities have agreed to pay a total of $315 million to resolve allegations that for more than 12 years it illegally filled prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and then…

FinCEN asked institutions to place “FIN-2026-IRANCHARITYABUSE” in Suspicious Activity Report field 2 and the narrative when referencing its alert on potential charity abuse. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an alert identifying four red flags to help financial institutions detect, prevent, and report suspicious activity potentially involving Iranian abuse of religious charity networks (FIN-2026-Alert008 , Oct. 15, 2026). The indicators cover activity even when Iran’s…

The petition urges the Court to resolve an intra-circuit split of authority on an issue that can be outcome-determinative in patent eligibility cases. A patent holder is seeking Supreme Court review of an adverse Federal Circuit decision in its patent infringement case involving tools for designing semiconductor chips for computers. The petition for certiorari identifies an intra-circuit split of authority on the issue of patent eligibility under § 101 of the Patent Act that the Court should…

Deputy Attorney General Greco emphasized how the Trump Administration views the practical certainty of an expeditious settlement at case outset as “the ideal result,” but she warned the DOJ will follow the law and facts to block deals when necessary. Department of Justice Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stephanie A. Greco delivered remarks presenting her view of Trump Administration antitrust enforcement at the 2026 Antitrust Tech Summit. Cooley LLP hosted the half-day event at the…

The serviceman failed to establish that either contractor designed, manufactured, or supplied asbestos-containing materials to which he was exposed during military service. In an action brought by a former Air Force nuclear weapons specialist diagnosed with mesothelioma, a federal district court in Louisiana granted summary judgment to two contractors involved in the United States’ nuclear weapons program. The court found insufficient evidence that the insulation used in tritium shipping…

“Plaintiffs lack a protectable First Amendment interest in speech that is prohibited by the Contractors Order because they lack an interest in speech that is prohibited by federal antidiscrimination law.” Denying a request by five organizations whose members include government contractors to preliminarily enjoin an executive order issued by President Trump in March 2026—which directs executive departments and agencies to ensure that agreements with contractors and subcontractors include…