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 ...

The National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or “Board”) has resumed operations after a prolonged period without a quorum, restoring its ability to decide cases and issue precedent . Yet the Board’s narrow composition, looming vacancies, and ongoing constitutional challenges mean that its renewed activity will emphasize case management and enforcement strategy rather than sweeping doctrinal change. A Quorum Restored, Temporarily For most of 2025, the NLRB lacked a quorum and was u nable to decide cases arising under the National Labor Relations Act . That changed on January 7, 2026, when President Trump’s nominees, James Murphy and Scott Mayer, were sworn in following Senate confirmation. They join Member David Prouty, a Biden appointee. The Board’s restored quorum, however, is short-lived. Member Prouty’s term expires in August 2026, after which the Board will again fall below the quorum required to issue decisions unless additional members are confirmed. Clearing the Backlog, Not Rewri...

With the federal government shutdown ending, employers need to shift gears fast. Key federal agencies will soon resume normal operations, and we’ll see regulatory action and oversight surge back into motion. This is the moment to move from pause to power-up: review where your organization hit the brakes, identify what got delayed, and prepare for the ramp-up ahead. Here’s what you should expect and what you should do. Mechanics of the Restart With federal funding resumed, many previously “non-essential” agency functions will begin to re-activate. But don’t expect an immediate return to normalcy. Agencies will need to dig out from the backlog created by the longest shutdown in our nation’s history, so you’ll see a gradual ramp-up period for pending investigations, audits, applications, and compliance checks. Officials will likely prioritize high-risk or high-profile issues. For employers, your quiet window is now closed. If your organization postponed compliance initiatives, filings,...