Compliance Stuff

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. Federal Government Likely Heading for Weekend Shutdown, but With Hope on the Horizon.  At the time of this writing, the U.S. Senate has not passed legislation to fund most of the federal government beyond 11:59 p.m. (EST) this evening. Just a few days ago, Congress was on the glide path to do so, but as the  Buzz   noted last week , “Politics can always derail efforts at the last minute.” And this is exactly what happened in the Senate this week. Before leaving Washington, D.C., last week, the U.S. House of Representatives sent the Senate a six-bill funding package that needed to be passed to keep the government open. But part of the package included a bill funding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Senate Democrats wanted to make changes to that bill following ...

  This week, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability advanced the Dismantle DEI Act of 2024 (S.4516) , which would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-related programs throughout the federal government . The bill also would prohibit federal contractors from using federal money to maintain DEI officers and programs, and it would prohibit federal contract performance in locations that are “subject to, or required to comply with, a prohibited diversity, equity or inclusion practice.” Back in June of this year, the Buzz noted that the bill “could receive attention if the Republicans gain control of Congress following the November 2024 elections.” The Buzz stands by this statement and maintains that the bill represents a sign of things to come in 2025. Employers can expect significant scrutiny of their DEI programs, whether from the White House via the federal contracting procurement process, agencies such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission...

  Executive orders . As with many new administrations, the Trump administration is likely to begin with a flurry of executive orders. For newly inaugurated President Trump, such executive orders could be related to immigration (likely focusing on the border and travel), diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) in the federal government and federal contracting community, energy, regulatory reform, and international trade, among other topics. Agency rulemaking may be required to implement some of these executive orders, which will take time. Personnel . Confirmation hearings for judicial and agency appointments are likely to be a focus for the Senate in 2025. Because agency officials can be confirmed with a majority vote in the Senate, President Trump will have a relatively easy time getting people confirmed, though this is never a guarantee (see Julie Su and  David Weil ). “Personnel is policy” in Washington, D.C., and these officials will play an outsized role in shaping labor a...