Compliance Stuff

Highlights President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order, "Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security," establishing a voluntary framework for government review of advanced "covered frontier" artificial intelligence (AI) models. The order directs agencies to strengthen federal cyber defenses within 30 days, creates an AI cybersecurity clearinghouse and prioritizes enforcement of existing criminal statutes against AI-enabled cyberattacks.          This is a notable shift for an administration that previously championed a nearly hands-off approach to AI governance and elevates the National Security Agency and U.S. Department of the Treasury into central oversight roles. The White House on June 2, 2026, issued an executive order (EO), titled " Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security ," establishing a voluntary framework permitting developers of certain advanced artificial intelligence (AI) mod...

In 2026, managing employees can feel a bit like being an air traffic controller. Some employees are coming and going for medical appointments, others want to stay “in the clouds” working remotely, and employers are trying to keep everything moving without a collision. Two recent federal developments may not alter the entire flight plan but sharpen the rules of the runway by clarifying when travel time is protected leave and how telework should be evaluated as a potential accommodation.  On January 5, 2026, and February 11, 2026, respectively, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued an  opinion letter on Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) travel time , and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued  joint guidance regarding permitting telework as a disability accommodation . The guidance materials address different issues, under different laws, but both speak to the same reality: employers must be deliberate and di...

In July 2025, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued two important memos regarding religious accommodations and religious expression in federal workplaces. Although these memos apply only to federal agencies, they increase the likelihood that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will adopt similar guidance for private employers in the future. Quick Hits In mid-July 2025, OPM issued a memo that emphasizes federal agencies’ obligations to provide religious accommodations and identifies types of religious accommodations agencies should consider. Two weeks later, OPM issued a memo that expands religious expression in federal workplaces. The OPM memos align with recent executive orders and guidance from the Trump administration related to religious freedoms, as well as EEOC enforcement priorities, and may foreshadow further guidance and directives applicable to private sector workplaces. Introduction The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits the...