Compliance Stuff

Aside from potential legal trouble, new obligations could spark business and operational friction Executive Order 14398 represents a significant expansion of the government’s enforcement posture on DEI and creates an environment where the cost of delay could substantially exceed the cost of preparation, Andrew Turnbull of Morrison Foerster writes. Contractors should consider implementing certain steps to mitigate risks related to these new requirements. Federal contractors and subcontractors face sweeping new obligations under Executive Order 14398 that prohibit them from engaging in “racially discriminatory DEI activities” and requires reporting any “reasonably knowable” violations by subcontractors . The FAR Council has already issued a mandatory contract clause, FAR 52.222-90 . Agencies have begun inserting it into new solicitations, targeting a completion date of July 24 for modifying existing contracts. Enforcement is not waiting. With a $17 million DOJ DEI settlement already on...

On June 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a technical release confirming that employer contributions to a child’s Trump Account won’t be subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). 0:00 8:21 Quick Hits A new technical release from the DOL states that Trump Accounts for children are not “employee pension benefit plans” governed by ERISA. Employers and employees can contribute to Trump Accounts for children. Pilot program deposits of $1,000 each from the federal government will begin in July 2026. Title I of ERISA defines mandatory standards for transparency, fiduciary conduct, vesting, and claims procedures for employer-sponsored retirement plans and health/welfare plans. These rules generally will not apply to the newly established Trump Accounts. Overview of Trump Accounts On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a federal budget reconciliation bill that included a provision to put $1,000 each in Trump Accounts for newborns who ...