Industry and Security Bureau
Ocean Energy Management Bureau
National Endowment for the Arts
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Transit Administration
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Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce.
Final rule; stay.
In this final rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) imposes a one-year suspension of the interim final rule, “Expansion of End-User Controls to Cover Affiliates of Certain Listed Entities,”. The suspension is set to end November 9, 2026, absent a future extension.
Effective November 10, 2025, the amendments to 15 CFR parts 732, 734, 736, 744, and 748 in the interim final rule published at 90 FR 47201, on September 30, 2025, are stayed until November 9, 2026.
Chair, End-User Review Committee, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce, Phone: (202) 482-5991, Email:
On September 30, 2025, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published the interim final rule, “Expansion of End-User Controls to Cover Affiliates of Certain Listed Entities” (90 FR 47201) (Affiliates Rule). Under the Affiliates Rule, any entity that is at least 50 percent owned directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, by one or more entities on the Entity List, or by unlisted entities that are subject to license requirements or other restrictions based upon their ownership, is itself automatically subject to Entity List restrictions.
In this final rule, BIS imposes a one-year suspension of the Affiliates Rule. This rule will be implemented in two phases. The first phase, effective on November 10, 2025, and ending November 9, 2026, is a one-year suspension of the Affiliates Rule. BIS is temporarily suspending all changes previously made to the EAR by the Affiliates Rule during this period. In the second phase of this final rule, effective November 10, 2026 and extending indefinitely, the changes included in the Affiliates Rule that are removed in the first stage will be added back into the EAR.
During the first phase of this final rule, BIS will continue to evaluate U.S. national security and foreign policy interests related to these non-listed foreign affiliates of listed entities.
This final rule adds back into the EAR effective November 10, 2026, the license requirements and related provisions from the Affiliates Rule. These are the same changes that are described as being removed in Sections I.C of this final rule. These changes to the EAR are the same as those described in the Affiliates Rule. See the Affiliates Rule for additional background information on the addition of these changes to the EAR.
The
On August 13, 2018, the President signed into law the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which included ECRA (codified, as amended, at 50 U.S.C. 4801-4852). ECRA provides the legal basis for BIS's principal authorities and serves as the authority under which BIS issues this rule. In particular, and as noted elsewhere, Section 1753 of ECRA (50 U.S.C. 4812) authorizes the regulation of exports, reexports, and transfers (in-country) of items subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Further, Section 1754(a)(1)-(16) of ECRA (50 U.S.C. 4813(a)(1)-(16)) authorizes,
1. BIS has examined the impact of this rule as required by Executive Orders (E.O.) 12866 and 13563, which direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply
• 0694-0088, “Simple Network Application Process and Multipurpose Application Form,” which carries a burden hour estimate of 29.7 minutes for a manual or electronic submission;
• 0694-0096 “Five Year Records Retention Period,” which carries a burden hour estimate of less than 1 minute;
• 0607-0152 “Automated Export System (AES) Program,” which carries a burden hour estimate of 3 minutes per electronic submission; and
• 0694-0134 “Procedure for parties on the Entity List or the Unverified List to Request Removal or Modification of their Listing,” which carries a burden hour estimate of 15 hours per electronic submission.
BIS estimates that these changes to suspend the license requirements and related provisions for one year will result in a one-time reduction of 245 license applications submitted during the one year to BIS under OMB Control Number 0694-0088. However, the reduction in burden falls within the existing estimates currently associated with these control numbers and the burden will be returned to the prior burden estimate once these changes are reimposed on November 10, 2026. Additional information regarding these collections of information—including all background materials—can be found at:
3. This rule does not contain policies with Federalism implications as that term is defined under E.O. 13132.
4. Pursuant to section 1762 of ECRA (50 U.S.C. 4821), this action is exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553) requirements for notice of proposed rulemaking, opportunity for public participation, and delay in effective date. This final rule did not consider public comments received on the Affiliates Rule. Public comments received on the Affiliates Rule will be considered for future, subsequent rulemakings.
5. Because neither the APA nor any other law requires that notice of proposed rulemaking and an opportunity for public comment be given for this rule, the analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601
Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce.
Final rule.
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is removing one entity from the Entity List under the destination of China, People's Republic of (China). BIS is also removing six aliases associated with a different entity on the Entity List under the destination of China. BIS has determined, based on the review of additional information, that the entities do not pose a significant risk of being or becoming involved in activities that are contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.
This rule is effective November 10, 2025.
Chair, End-User Review Committee, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce, Phone: (202) 482-5991, Email:
The Entity List (supplement no. 4 to part 744 of the EAR (15 CFR parts 730-774)) identifies entities for which there is reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable facts, have been involved, are involved, or pose a significant risk of being or becoming involved in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States, pursuant to § 744.11(b) of the EAR. The EAR imposes additional license requirements on, and limits the availability of, most license exceptions for exports, reexports, and transfers (in-country) when a listed entity is a party to the transaction. The license review policy for each listed entity is identified in the “License Review Policy” column on the Entity List, and the impact on the availability of license exceptions is described in the relevant
The End-User Review Committee (ERC), composed of representatives of the Departments of Commerce (Chair), State, War, Energy and, where appropriate, the Treasury, makes all decisions regarding additions to, removals from, or other modifications to the Entity List. The ERC makes all decisions to add an entry to the Entity List by majority vote and makes all decisions to remove or modify an entry by unanimous vote.
The ERC determined to remove Arrow China Electronics Trading Co., Ltd. and the six aliases under Arrow Electronics (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. from the Entity List under China, based on information BIS received pursuant to § 744.16 of the EAR regarding the relationships of the aliases under this separate entry to Arrow China Electronics Trading Co., Ltd., along with commitments to enhance export compliance measures of all of these parties, and the review the ERC conducted in accordance with procedures described in supplement no. 5 to part 744 of the EAR.
On August 13, 2018, the President signed into law the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which included the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA) (50 U.S.C. 4801-4852). ECRA provides the legal basis for BIS's principal authorities and serves as the authority under which BIS issues this rule. In particular, Section 1753 of ECRA (50 U.S.C. 4812) authorizes the regulation of exports, reexports, and transfers (in-country) of items subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Further, Section 1754(a)(1)-(16) of ECRA (50 U.S.C. 4813(a)(1)-(16)) authorizes, inter alia, establishing and maintaining a list of foreign persons and end uses that are determined to be a threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States pursuant to the policy set forth in Section 1752(2)(A), and restricting exports, reexports, and in-country transfers of any controlled items to any foreign person or end use so listed;
1. This rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. This final rule is not a regulatory action pursuant to E.O. 14192 because it is not a significant rule under E.O. 12866.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to or be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information, subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501
3. This rule does not contain policies with federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 13132.
4. Pursuant to Section 1762 of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, this action is exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) requirements for notice of proposed rulemaking, opportunity for public participation, and delay in effective date.
5. Because a notice of proposed rulemaking and an opportunity for public comment are not required to be given for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or by any other law, the analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601,
Exports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Terrorism.
Accordingly, part 744 of the Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR parts 730-774) is amended as follows:
50 U.S.C. 4801-4852; 50 U.S.C. 4601
The revision reads as follows:
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
Notice of members of Senior Executive Service Performance Review Board.
This notice announces the membership of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) Senior Executive Service (SES) Performance Review Board (PRB).
These appointments were effective on October 1, 2025.
Send comments concerning this notice to: Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 625 Indiana Avenue NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20004-2001.
Candice Starks by telephone at (202) 360-9527, or by email at
5 U.S.C. 4314(c)(1) through (5) requires each agency to establish, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management, one or more performance review boards. The PRB shall review and evaluate the initial summary rating of the senior executives' performance, the executives' responses, and the higher-level officials' comments on the initial summary rating. In addition, the PRB will recommend executive performance bonuses and pay increases.
The DNFSB is a small, independent Federal agency; therefore, some members of the DNFSB SES Performance Review Board listed in this notice are drawn from the SES ranks of other agencies.
On October 1, 2025, the following members were appointed to the PRB:
These appointments were approved by the former Acting Chairman, Thomas Summers, who has since departed the DNFSB following the conclusion of his term of office. On November 6, 2025, Mary Buhler, the Executive Director of Operations, approved a revision to the PRB membership in light of the unavailability of individuals due to the government shutdown. Notice of those appointments was published in the
Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.
Notice.
The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2025 for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education Special Projects, Assistance Listing Number 84.116J. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1894-0006.
For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the
Stacey Slijepcevic, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW. Telephone: (202) 453-6150. Email:
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.
In order to support these four crucial needs, this competition includes seven absolute priorities under which
In addition to being costly and burdensome, the accreditation process in many cases does not improve institutional or program quality. Oftentimes, institutions are required to jump through an extensive set of bureaucratic hoops that have little to do with improving student outcomes or educational quality.
Although institutions are permitted to change their accrediting agency under 34 CFR 600.11, the substantial financial
States and nonprofit organizations also incur substantial costs in launching new, separate and independent accreditors. These burdens inhibit new accreditors from entering the marketplace efficiently. Recent reporting suggests that the ongoing work in North Carolina and Florida to establish a new accrediting agency has been a costly enterprise, which could deter other entities from launching similar reform initiatives.
Collectively, these enumerated challenges make it difficult for institutions to change accreditors, either because the costs are prohibitive or there is a lack of alternatives. This funding opportunity will support institutions seeking to change accreditors, as well as emerging organizations working to become recognized accrediting agencies.
However, short-term programs can be costly for colleges to create and administer, particularly given the need to codesign short-term postsecondary programs with employers. These costs may prevent higher education institutions from offering, creating, or expanding the size of existing short-term programs. To address these issues, this competitive grant program will provide funding to institutions of higher education to expand their capacity to offer high-value, short-term postsecondary programs.
In July 2025, the President's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Public Law 119-21, established Workforce Pell Grants, a new program to help students pay for high-quality, short-term programs. For the award year beginning on July 1, 2026, eligible students enrolled in accredited programs at accredited postsecondary institutions that are a minimum of 8 weeks but less than 15 weeks; that are aligned to high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations; that are portable and articulable to credit to support stackability and have strong completion rates, job placement rates, and earnings outcomes will receive Federal title IV grant funding. The Workforce Pell Grants program is designed to help support students gain immediate entry into the workforce. Yet, despite this new funding stream, some students may not be able to access high-quality, short-term programs that qualify for Workforce Pell Grants because of a lack of program supply. Colleges and universities, especially those with limited resources, may struggle to offer high-quality, short-term programs at the scale that students demand, and even when they do, strict class-size caps can restrict enrollment. Developing and expanding Workforce Pell-eligible high-quality, short-term programs can be costly for institutions, as it often requires hiring additional faculty and staff as well and investing in machinery, technology, production supplies, and equipment. These costs are especially high in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and engineering fields, where programs usually require expensive equipment that are not easily scalable. Additionally, institutions often dedicate time and resources to develop and maintain close partnerships with employers and industry organizations in order to ensure the programs are aligned with the hiring requirements of businesses and keep pace with the evolving skill demands of industry. As a result, many students who want to enroll in a short-term program may not have a nearby institution offering an eligible option.
To address these challenges, this funding opportunity will allow institutions to develop and expand high-quality, short-term programs. These funds can be utilized on activities that are directly related to developing or modifying high-quality, short-term programs that meet the requirements for Workforce Pell Grants outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as well as building capacity in existing short-term programs. Projects must be designed and executed in close collaboration with employers, to ensure that the resulting programs are responsive to industry demand.
These priorities are:
(a) Supporting the integration of AI literacy skills and concepts into teaching and learning practices to improve educational outcomes for students, including instruction about how to use AI responsibly, and how to detect AI generated disinformation or misinformation online; and
(b) Partnering with State Educational Agencies (SEAs) or Local Educational
(i) use AI technology to provide high-quality instructional resources, high-impact tutoring, and college and career pathway exploration, advising, and navigation to improve educational outcomes.
(ii) integrate AI-driven tools into classrooms to personalize learning, improve student outcomes, and support differentiated instruction. This integration may include, but is not limited to, adaptive learning technologies, virtual teaching assistants, tutoring, and data analytics tools to support student progress.
(iii) utilize AI in the classroom and/or for school operation efficiency, including but not limited to: improving teacher training and evaluation, reducing time-intensive administrative tasks, or improving instruction or services for students with disabilities.
(a) Deliver AI and computer science credentials in rural communities;
(b) Embed AI and computer science into an institution of higher education's general preservice or in-service teacher professional development or teacher preparation programs;
(c) Provide additional support for teacher preparation programs that are preparing future computer science educators in K-12 education;
(d) Expand offerings of AI and computer science courses as part of an institution of higher education's general education and/or core curriculum;
(e) Provide resources and support for the use of AI in teacher preparation programs;
(f) Partner with SEAs and/or LEAs to provide resources to K-12 students in foundational computer science and AI literacy, including through professional development for educators; and
(g) Partner with SEAs and/or LEAs to encourage the provision of dual-enrollment course opportunities so that students can earn postsecondary credentials and industry-recognized credentials in AI coursework concurrent with their high school education.
Activities must be designed and executed in close collaboration with employers, to ensure that the resulting programs are responsive to industry demand.
This is the first grant competition for this specific program (FIPSE Special Projects) under section 744(c)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by the HEOA and, therefore, this competition qualifies for this exemption. In order to ensure timely grant awards, the Secretary has decided to forgo public comment on the priorities in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. These priorities will apply to grants awarded under this competition in FY 2025 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
(a) is publicly available;
(b) includes an integrated:
(i) Learning and Employment Record;
(ii) Credential Registry; and
(iii) Skill-Based Job Description generator;
(c) utilizes artificial intelligence to enable students and jobseekers, employers, and education and training providers to transform, transcribe, and transact earned learning assertions, job descriptions, and degree and non-degree credentials into discrete competency statements; and
(d) may be curated into interoperable individual records of achievement and learning and employment recommendations.
Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in the Federal civil rights laws.
Of this amount, we estimate allocating across the areas of national need and absolute priorities as follows:
• Advancing AI in Education (Absolute Priorities 1 and 2)—$50,000,000, including $25,000,000 under Absolute Priority 1 and $25,000,000 under Absolute Priority 2.
• Promoting Civil Discourse (Absolute Priority 3)—$60,000,000.
• Promoting Accreditation Reform (Absolute Priorities 4 and 5)—$7,000,000, including $3,500,000 under Absolute Priority 4 and $3,500,000 under Absolute Priority 5.
• Capacity-building for high-quality, short-term programs (Absolute Priorities 6 and 7)—$50,000,000, including $25,000,000 under Absolute Priority 6 and $25,000,000 under Absolute Priority 7.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent years from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
1.
The eligible entity may apply to all four (4) areas of national need as the lead applicant but must submit a separate grant application for each area of national need.
An applicant that is a nonprofit organization may, under 34 CFR 75.51, demonstrate its nonprofit status by providing: (1) proof that the Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a State taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private shareholder or individual; (3) a certified copy of the applicant's certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or (4) any item described above if that item applies to a State or national parent organization, together with a statement by the State or parent organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.
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b.
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(a)
(1) The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed project.
(2) In determining the significance of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the proposed project is innovative and likely to be more effective compared to other efforts to address a similar problem. (Up to 15 points)
(ii) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely to be attained by the proposed project, especially contributions toward improving teaching practice and student learning and achievement. (Up to 15 points)
(b)
The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(1) The extent to which the proposed project will integrate with or build on similar or related efforts to improve relevant outcomes (as defined in this notice), using existing funding streams from other programs or policies supported by community, State, and Federal resources. (up to 15 points)
(2) The extent to which the design for implementing and evaluating the proposed project will result in information to guide possible replication of project activities or strategies, including valid and reliable information about the effectiveness of the approach or strategies employed by the project. (up to 15 points)
(3) The extent to which the proposed development efforts include adequate quality controls, continuous improvement efforts, and as appropriate, repeated testing of products. (up to 15 points)
(c)
The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed project, the Secretary considers the adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project tasks.
(d)
The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project. (up to 5 points)
(2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation or other evidence-building will provide performance feedback and provide formative, diagnostic, or interim data that is a periodic assessment of progress toward achieving intended outcomes. (up to 5 points)
(3) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance about effective strategies suitable for replication or testing and potential implementation in other settings. (up to 5 points).
2.
(1) Relevant to a criterion, priority, or other requirement that applies to the selection of applications for new grants;
(2) Concerning the applicant's performance and use of funds under a previous award under any Department program; and
(3) Concerning the applicant's failure under any Department program to submit a performance report or its submission of a performance report of unacceptable quality.
Before making awards, Department staff will screen applications submitted in accordance with the requirements in this notice to determine whether applications have met eligibility and other requirements, including whether an application may fail to meet the “General Terms and Conditions” applicable to awarded funds referenced elsewhere within this notice. This screening process may occur at various stages of the review and selection process. Applicants that are determined to be ineligible will not receive a grant, regardless of the whether the application was included in the peer review process. Applications not selected for funding will be informed of the Secretary's decision in accordance with 34 CFR 75.218.
Peer reviewers will read, prepare a written evaluation of, and score the assigned applications, using the selection criteria provided in this notice.
In the event there are two or more applications with the same final score within the same Absolute Priority, and there are insufficient funds to fully support each of these applications, the Department will apply the following procedure to determine which application or applications will receive an award:
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Please note that, if the total value of your currently active grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.
5.
(a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an objective process of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
(b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) (2 CFR 200.216);
(c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States (2 CFR 200.322); and
(d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340).
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If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify you.
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(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to
5.
(1) Project-specific performance measures. How each proposed project-specific performance measure would: accurately measure the performance of the project; and be used to inform continuous improvement of the project.
(2) Baseline (as defined in this notice) data. (i) Why each proposed baseline is valid and reliable, including an assessment of the quality data used to establish the baseline; or (ii) if the applicant has determined that there are no established baseline data for a particular performance measure, an explanation of why there is no established baseline and of how and when, during the project period, the applicant would establish a valid baseline for the performance measure.
(3) Performance targets. Why each proposed performance target is ambitious yet achievable compared to
All grantees must submit an annual performance report with information that is responsive to these performance measures.
6.
In making a continuation award, the Secretary also considers whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
The companies listed in this notice have given notice under section 4 of the Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1843) (BHC Act) and Regulation Y, (12 CFR part 225) to engage de novo, or to acquire or control voting securities or assets of a company, including the companies listed below, that engages either directly or through a subsidiary or other company, in a nonbanking activity that is listed in § 225.28 of Regulation Y (12 CFR 225.28) or that the Board has determined by Order to be closely related to banking and permissible for bank holding companies. Unless otherwise noted, these activities will be conducted throughout the United States.
The public portions of the applications listed below, as well as other related filings required by the Board, if any, are available for immediate inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank(s) indicated below and at the offices of the Board of Governors. This information may also be obtained on an expedited basis, upon request, by contacting the appropriate Federal Reserve Bank and from the Board's Freedom of Information Office at
Comments received are subject to public disclosure. In general, comments received will be made available without change and will not be modified to remove personal or business information including confidential, contact, or other identifying information. Comments should not include any information such as confidential information that would not be appropriate for public disclosure.
Unless otherwise noted, comments regarding the applications must be received at the Reserve Bank indicated or the offices of the Board of Governors, Benjamin W. McDonough, Deputy Secretary of the Board, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20551-0001, not later than November 28, 2025.
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Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
The companies listed in this notice have applied to the Board for approval, pursuant to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841
The public portions of the applications listed below, as well as other related filings required by the Board, if any, are available for immediate inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank(s) indicated below and at the offices of the Board of Governors. This information may also be obtained
Comments received are subject to public disclosure. In general, comments received will be made available without change and will not be modified to remove personal or business information including confidential, contact, or other identifying information. Comments should not include any information such as confidential information that would not be appropriate for public disclosure.
Comments regarding each of these applications must be received at the Reserve Bank indicated or the offices of the Board of Governors, Benjamin W. McDonough, Deputy Secretary of the Board, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20551-0001, not later than December 12, 2025.
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Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
The notificants listed below have applied under the Change in Bank Control Act (“Act”) (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)) and of the Board's Regulation LL (12 CFR 238.31) to acquire shares of a savings and loan holding company. The factors that are considered in acting on the notices are set forth in paragraph 7 of the Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)(7)).
The public portions of the applications listed below, as well as other related filings required by the Board, if any, are available for immediate inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank(s) indicated below and at
Comments received are subject to public disclosure. In general, comments received will be made available without change and will not be modified to remove personal or business information including confidential, contact, or other identifying information. Comments should not include any information such as confidential information that would not be appropriate for public disclosure.
Comments regarding each of these applications must be received at the Reserve Bank indicated or the offices of the Board of Governors, Benjamin W. McDonough, Deputy Secretary of the Board, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20551-0001, not later than November 28, 2025.
1.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
The notificants listed below have applied under the Change in Bank Control Act (Act) (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)) and § 225.41 of the Board's Regulation Y (12 CFR 225.41) to acquire shares of a bank or bank holding company. The factors that are considered in acting on the applications are set forth in paragraph 7 of the Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)(7)).
The public portions of the applications listed below, as well as other related filings required by the Board, if any, are available for immediate inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank(s) indicated below and at the offices of the Board of Governors. This information may also be obtained on an expedited basis, upon request, by contacting the appropriate Federal Reserve Bank and from the Board's Freedom of Information Office at
Comments received are subject to public disclosure. In general, comments received will be made available without change and will not be modified to remove personal or business information including confidential, contact, or other identifying information. Comments should not include any information such as confidential information that would not be appropriate for public disclosure.
Comments regarding each of these applications must be received at the Reserve Bank indicated or the offices of the Board of Governors, Benjamin W. McDonough, Deputy Secretary of the Board, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20551-0001, not later than November 28, 2025.
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Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.
Request for information and interest.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is initiating the first steps that could potentially lead to a lease sale for minerals on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) by publishing this request for information and interest (RFI). This RFI is not a final decision to lease and does not prejudge any future Secretarial decisions concerning leasing on the OCS offshore the CNMI. This RFI requests information and comments on, and indications of interest in, the leasing of OCS minerals in an area offshore the CNMI, referred to as the RFI Area, with details in section 5 “Description of the RFI Area.” BOEM will consider information and interest received in response to this RFI when considering whether to proceed with additional steps leading to an offer of OCS minerals for lease offshore the CNMI. Those interested in providing comments or information should provide the information requested in section 6, “Types of Information and Comments Requested,” of this RFI. Those interested in leasing in and around the RFI Area for OCS mineral development should provide the information described in section 7, “Requested Information for Indications of Interest.” BOEM may or may not offer a lease for commercial OCS mineral development offshore the CNMI after further consultations, public participation, and environmental analyses.
BOEM must receive all comments, information, and indications of interest in response to this RFI no later than December 12, 2025.
Please submit indications of interest in commercial leasing electronically via email to
Please submit all other comments and information as discussed in section 6, entitled, “Types of Information and Comments Requested,” by either of the following two methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal:
2. By mail to the following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific Region, Office of Strategic Resources, 760 Paseo Camarillo (CM 102), Camarillo, California 93010.
Treatment of confidential information is addressed in section 8 of this notice entitled, “Protection of Privileged, Personal, or Confidential Information.” BOEM will post all comments received on
Jennifer Miller, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific Region, Office of Strategic Resources, 760 Paseo Camarillo (CM 102), Camarillo, California 93010, at
The OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331
BOEM's strong preference is to receive comments via
Section 8(k) of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(k)) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to grant leases on the OCS to qualified persons offering the highest cash bonuses for minerals other than oil, gas, and sulfur on a competitive basis. The Trump Administration recognizes that an overreliance on foreign critical minerals and their derivative products could jeopardize U.S. defense capabilities, infrastructure development, and technological innovation. To support and facilitate domestic production of critical minerals, President Trump has issued a series of Executive Orders (E.O.s), including E.O. 14156, “Declaring a National Energy Emergency” (January 20, 2025); E.O. 14154, “Unleashing American Energy” (January 20, 2025); and E.O. 14285, “Unleashing America's Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources” (April 24, 2025). The Secretary of the Interior also issued Secretary's Order (SO) 3417, “Addressing the National Energy Emergency,” (February 3, 2025) and SO 3418, “Unleashing American Energy,” (February 3, 2025) which direct Department of the Interior (DOI) bureaus to facilitate and expedite critical mineral permitting, leasing, and ultimately development of critical minerals on the OCS.
In response to the EOs and SOs, BOEM is taking immediate action to accelerate the responsible development of OCS mineral resources, advance American leadership in associated extraction technologies, and ensure secure supply chains for U.S. defense, infrastructure, and energy sectors with the publication of this RFI.
Earlier this year, BOEM initiated the process for a potential lease sale offshore American Samoa with the publication of an RFI on Commercial Leasing for OCS minerals offshore American Samoa; please refer to the RFI (Docket No. BOEM-2025-0035) published in the
BOEM will advance America's national security and future prosperity through the identification of and access to OCS minerals, which include those minerals identified as critical minerals by Federal statute. Pursuant to Section 7002 of the Energy Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116-260, Division Z), critical minerals are defined as any minerals, elements, substances, or materials that are determined to be essential to the economic and national security of the United States, have a supply chain vulnerable to disruption, and play an essential role in manufacturing a product whose absence would significantly affect U.S. economic or national security. The Secretary of the Interior, through the U.S. Geological Survey, identified 50 critical minerals in February 24, 2022 (87 FR 10381). According to a 2025 Congressional Research Service report (Report No. R48302) up to 37 of these minerals may occur on the OCS. The list of critical minerals is being updated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and may change during the publication period of this notice.
Section 50251(b) of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 expanded the definition of the OCS under the OCS Lands Act to include submerged lands within the Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent to U.S. territories and amended the OCS Lands Act by modifying the definition of “State” to include each of the 50 States of the Union, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the CNMI. BOEM will coordinate with the Government of the CNMI throughout the OCS mineral leasing process relating to the area proposed for leasing.
Notably, upon release of this RFI, BOEM intends to evaluate lease planning with the Government of the CNMI, relevant OCS users, and Federal agencies including, but not limited to, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and the Office of Insular Affairs; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the U.S. Coast Guard; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and the Department of Defense. BOEM also intends to engage with the Indigenous Peoples of the CNMI, including the Chamorro and Carolinian (Refaluwasch) people, about their economic, environmental, cultural and public health concerns with OCS mineral development throughout the OCS mineral planning and leasing process. In addition, BOEM uses other information sources in its decision-making for leasing, such as available data and information on the location of marine life and habitat areas, cultural resources, transportation links, fishing areas, and other human uses.
BOEM will follow the steps required by 30 CFR 581.14 through 581.23 if it decides to proceed with the competitive leasing process after analyzing the responses to this RFI. Briefly, those steps are:
(1) OCS Mining Area Identification: BOEM will select tracts to be considered for offering of a lease. The selected tracts will be considered in the environmental analysis conducted for the proposed lease offering.
(2) Proposed Leasing Notice (PLN): BOEM will publish a PLN in the
(3) Leasing Notice (LN): If it decides to proceed to conduct a lease sale, BOEM will publish an LN in the
(4) Bid Submission and Evaluation: BOEM will offer the lease area(s) through a competitive, cash bonus bidding process under terms and conditions specified in the LN.
(5) Issuance of a Lease: Following identification of a winning qualified bidder on a lease area, BOEM will notify that bidder and provide the lease documents for signature.
The purpose of this RFI is to gather comments, information, and indications of interest from any interested parties for a potential OCS mineral lease sale offshore the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This RFI is one of the steps in the public participation process to ensure that all interests and concerns are considered for future leasing decisions. This does not mean that DOI or BOEM has reached a preliminary decision to lease in this area. BOEM will consider information and comments received that may identify any potential environmental impacts, multiple use conflicts, and ways to eliminate, mitigate, and monitor for impacts to assist in future analysis and leasing decisions. BOEM will also determine if any responses identify specific areas of interest in and around the RFI Area that could support commercial mineral development, potential conflicts among offshore activities and the CNMI coastal zone management plan, and requirements to ensure safe and environmentally responsible activities should a lease sale occur.
The CNMI is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States located in the northwestern Pacific Ocean and includes the 14 northernmost islands of the Mariana Archipelago. The RFI Area is located west of the Mariana Trench National Monument along the eastern edge of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (Northern Mariana Islands). This area is approximately 35,483,044 acres (143,595 km
The RFI Area is within a marine mineral prospective region for ferromanganese crust and nodules, as identified by the USGS. A map of the global marine mineral prospective regions is available at:
BOEM invites comments from anyone who would like to submit information and suggestions for consideration in determining, among other things, the appropriate size and location of potential OCS mineral leasing in and around the RFI Area. Commenters should be as specific and detailed as possible to help BOEM understand and address the comments. Where applicable, spatial information should be submitted in a format compatible with Esri ArcGIS (Esri shapefile, Esri file geodatabase, KML (Keyhole Markup Language), GeoJSON, or GeoPackage) in the WGS84 geographic coordinate system. BOEM is requesting information on the following:
a. Information concerning the offering of a specific OCS mineral, a group of OCS minerals, or all OCS minerals (other than oil, gas, and sulfur) in a broad area for lease in and around the RFI Area or the offering of one or more discrete tracts which represent a mineable orebody.
b. Geological conditions, archaeological resources, or potential hazards on the seabed in and around the RFI Area.
c. Multiple uses in and around the RFI Area, including shipping, navigation, and recreation.
d. Socioeconomic, biological, and environmental information in and around the RFI Area or analogous sites for comparative analysis; potential impacts of leasing and mining activities to these resources; and methods to eliminate, mitigate, and monitor for impacts.
e. Information regarding commercial, Indigenous, and recreational fisheries, including but not limited to, the use of the areas, the fishing gear types used, seasonal use, and recommendations for reducing use conflicts.
f. Relative environmental sensitivity and marine productivity in and around the RFI Area.
g. Information on the preliminary activities necessary to develop comprehensive delineation, testing, or mining plans, particularly the types of any necessary surveys and associated equipment.
h. Information on the types of activities associated with delineation, testing, or mining of OCS minerals.
i. Information concerning the relationship between OCS mineral leasing and the CNMI Coastal Zone Management Program either in development or administered under Section 305 or Section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, (16 U.S.C. 1454 and 1455).
j. Information related to Indigenous Peoples in the region and interactions with potential OCS mineral activities, such as potential impacts to Chamorro and Carolinian culture, the Indigenous ways of life; practices; lands; resources; ancestral lands; sacred sites, including sites that are submerged; and access to traditional areas of cultural or religious importance on federally-managed lands and waters. BOEM will protect confidential information shared by Indigenous Peoples in response to this RFI to the extent authorized by Federal law. Treatment of confidential information is addressed in section 8 of this notice entitled, “Protection of Privileged, Personal, or Confidential Information.”
k. Socioeconomic information for communities potentially affected by OCS mineral leasing in and around the RFI Area, including community profiles, vulnerability, and resiliency data. BOEM also solicits comments on how best to meaningfully engage with these communities.
l. Information from the deep-sea mining industry on the considerations for OCS mineral development in deep waters, such as water depth, seafloor conditions, deep-sea operations, mineral extraction feasibility, and costs.
m. Information on what a reasonable and fair rental rate would be for a minerals lease, including whether and why a rental payment should be required in the first five years, and if not, in accordance with 30 CFR 581.27, what the rental payment should be starting in year six. Should the adjustment or suspension of rental payments be allowed under certain conditions, such as geologic, geographic, technical, or economic factors? If so, what specific conditions should apply?
n. Information on the royalty rates and schedules that would effectively serve as both an incentive for development and assure a fair return to the public for extracted minerals. BOEM intends to issue any minerals lease with an ad valorum royalty and include provisions for a minimum royalty equivalent to the rental rate per 30 CFR 581.30. The royalty schedule may be modified from the provisions in 30 CFR 581.28(b) and is anticipated to include a lower royalty rate during the early years of the lease to foster interest in any potential leases.
o. Information on appropriate bid deposit, minimum bid levels, and preferred auction format (sealed bid or ascending). BOEM is evaluating the use of either a sealed bid or an ascending oral bid auction format and is considering limiting bidders to one lease area if multiple areas are offered. An ascending auction allows for more effective price discovery, while a sealed bid auction offers administrative simplicity.
p. Information on the appropriate lease size BOEM should offer for a minerals lease offshore the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
q. Information on the duration and conditions BOEM should consider for potential lease contraction clauses. BOEM expects to offer one or more large lease areas so companies can explore for and find economic deposits of critical minerals. However, BOEM is also considering lease contraction clauses, which would allow for the reduction of the leased acreage after a specified period. BOEM is evaluating a 2-stage lease contraction process, scheduled around years 7 and 14. The first contraction would reduce the acreage to the most suitable area for more detailed exploration. The second contraction would further refine the lease area to define the acreage for commercial harvesting. We ask the public to consider and provide comments about what the preferrable acreage for each lease contraction stage might be and what the optimal years for implementing these two stages of lease contraction might be.
r. The regulations at 30 CFR 581.26(h) establish a framework for valuing production for royalty purposes. We invite public comment on whether there are alternative valuation methods that ONRR should consider under 30 CFR 581.26(h)(1)(iii).
Areas of interest and the accompanying rationale are extremely useful to help BOEM understand and model the commercial viability of portions of the OCS for mineral leasing. Respondents are requested to nominate specific blocks or acreage within the RFI Area that are of particular interest for consideration in a possible OCS mineral lease sale. Nominations must be depicted on a map with the RFI Area by outlining the area(s) of interest. Where applicable, interested companies should submit spatial information in a format compatible with Esri ArcGIS (Esri shapefile, Esri file geodatabase, KML (Keyhole Markup Language), GeoJSON, or GeoPackage) in the WGS84 geographic coordinate system.
If you wish to indicate interest for one or more areas for a commercial OCS mineral lease in or around the RFI Area, you should provide the following information for each area of interest:
(a) The area to be offered for lease.
(b) The OCS minerals of primary interest.
(c) The available OCS mineral resource, geological, archaeological resources, and environmental information (including methods to eliminate, mitigate, and monitor for potential impacts) pertaining to the area of interest to be offered for lease which supports the request.
Although the identities of those indicating interest in specific areas in response to this RFI become a matter of public record, their indications of interest in specific areas are considered proprietary information. BOEM will not release information that identifies any particular area of interest or nomination with any particular party, so as not to compromise the competitive position of any participants. Respondents may rank areas of specific interest according to priority: 1 (high), 2 (medium), and 3 (low). The name and telephone number of a person in the respondent's organization to contact for additional information or clarification should be included in the response.
Please submit indications of interest in commercial leasing of specific areas electronically via email to
BOEM will protect privileged or confidential information that you submit when required by the FOIA. Exemption 4 of FOIA applies to trade secrets and commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential. If you wish to protect the confidentiality of such information, clearly label it and request that BOEM treat it as confidential. BOEM will not disclose such information if BOEM determines under 30 CFR 581.7 that it qualifies for exemption from disclosure under FOIA. Please label privileged or confidential information “Contains Confidential Information” and consider submitting such information as a separate attachment.
BOEM will not treat as confidential any aggregate summaries of such information or comments not containing such privileged or confidential information. Information that is not labeled as privileged or confidential may be regarded by BOEM as suitable for public release.
BOEM discourages the submission of anonymous comments. Please include your name and address as part of your comment. You should be aware that your entire comment, including your name, address, and any personally identifiable information (PII) or otherwise sensitive information included voluntarily in your comment may be made publicly available. All submissions from identified individuals, businesses, and
For BOEM to consider withholding your PII from disclosure, you must identify any information contained in your comments and an explanation about how its release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of your personal privacy. You must also briefly describe any possible harmful consequences of the disclosure of information, such as embarrassment, injury, or other harm. Even if BOEM withholds your information in the context of this RFI, your submission is subject to FOIA and, if your submission is requested under FOIA, your information will be withheld only if a determination is made that one of FOIA's exemptions to disclosure applies. Such a determination will be made in accordance with the Department's FOIA regulations and applicable law.
After consultation with the Secretary, BOEM is required to withhold the location, character, or ownership of historic resources if it determines that disclosure may, among other things, risk harm to the historic resources or impede the use of a traditional religious site by practitioners. Indigenous Peoples, communities, and organizations should designate information that falls under Section 304 of the NHPA as confidential.
National Endowment for the Arts.
Notice of meetings.
Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, notice is hereby given that 34 meetings of the Arts Advisory Panel to the National Council on the Arts will be held by teleconference or videoconference.
See the
National Endowment for the Arts, Constitution Center, 400 7th St. SW, Washington, DC 20506.
Further information with reference to these meetings can be obtained from Daniel Beattie, Office of Guidelines & Panel Operations, National Endowment for the Arts, Washington, DC 20506;
The closed portions of meetings are for the purpose of Panel review, discussion, evaluation, and recommendations on financial assistance under the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, as amended, including information given in confidence to the agency. In accordance with the determination of the Chair of March 11, 2022, these sessions will be closed to the public pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 10.
Postal Regulatory Commission.
Notice.
The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing for the Commission's consideration concerning a negotiated service agreement. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.
Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing Online system at
David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 202-789-6820.
Pursuant to 39 CFR 3041.405, the Commission gives notice that the Postal Service filed request(s) for the Commission to consider matters related to Competitive negotiated service agreement(s). The request(s) may propose the addition of a negotiated service agreement from the Competitive product list or the modification of an existing product currently appearing on the Competitive product list.
The public portions of the Postal Service's request(s) can be accessed via the Commission's website (
Section II identifies the docket number(s) associated with each Postal Service request, if any, that will be reviewed in a public proceeding as defined by 39 CFR 3010.101(p), the title of each such request, the request's acceptance date, and the authority cited by the Postal Service for each request. For each such request, the Commission appoints an officer of the Commission to represent the interests of the general public in the proceeding, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505 and 39 CFR 3000.114 (Public Representative). The Public Representative does not represent any individual person, entity or particular point of view, and, when Commission attorneys are appointed, no attorney-client relationship is established. Section II also establishes comment deadline(s) pertaining to each such request.
The Commission invites comments on whether the Postal Service's request(s) identified in Section II, if any, are consistent with the policies of title 39. Applicable statutory and regulatory requirements include 39 U.S.C. 3632, 39 U.S.C. 3633, 39 U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR part 3035, and 39 CFR part 3041. Comment deadline(s) for each such request, if any, appear in Section II.
Section III identifies the docket number(s) associated with each Postal Service request, if any, to add a standardized distinct product to the Competitive product list or to amend a standardized distinct product, the title of each such request, the request's acceptance date, and the authority cited by the Postal Service for each request. Standardized distinct products are negotiated service agreements that are variations of one or more Competitive products, and for which financial models, minimum rates, and classification criteria have undergone advance Commission review.
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2.
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This Notice will be published in the
Postal Service.
Notice.
The Postal Service gives notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add a domestic shipping services contract to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule's Competitive Products List.
Sean C. Robinson, 202-268-8405.
The United States Postal Service hereby gives notice that, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 3632(b)(3), it filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission the following requests:
Documents are available at
U.S. Small Business Administration.
Notice.
This is a notice of an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration for the State of Illinois dated November 6, 2025.
Issued on November 6, 2025.
Sharon Henderson, Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW, Suite 6050, Washington, DC 20416, (202) 205-6734.
Notice is hereby given that as a result of the Administrator's EIDL declaration, applications for disaster loans may be submitted online using the MySBA Loan Portal
The following areas have been determined to be adversely affected by the disaster:
The Interest Rates are:
The number assigned to this disaster for economic injury is 213420.
The State which received an EIDL Declaration is Illinois.
Social Security Administration (SSA).
Notice of a modified system of records.
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, we are issuing public notice of our intent to modify an existing system of records entitled, Master Files of Social Security Number (SSN) Holders and SSN Applications (60-0058), last published on February 20, 2025. This notice publishes details of the modified system as set forth below under the caption,
The system of records notice (SORN) is applicable upon its publication in today's
We invite public comment on the routine uses or other aspects of this SORN. In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, we are providing the public a 30-day period in which to submit comments. Therefore, please submit any comments no later than December 12, 2025.
The public, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and Congress may comment on this publication by writing to the Head of Privacy and Disclosure Policy, Law and Policy, SSA, Room G-401 West High Rise, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401, or through the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal at
Tristin Dorsey, Government Information Specialist, Privacy Implementation Division, Privacy and Disclosure Policy, Law and Policy, SSA, Room G-401 West High Rise, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235-6401, telephone: (410) 966-5855, email:
We are modifying the system location to clarify where the agency will maintain records. We are modifying the system manager to clarify the office responsible for maintaining the system. We are clarifying the language in existing routine uses No. 6, 7, 10, 12, 17, 25, and 45 for easier reading. We are deleting existing routine use No. 2, as it is duplicative. We are adding two new routine uses that will permit disclosures to the following:
• citizenship and immigration information to the Department of Homeland Security, pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1373(a), and
• the Department of the Treasury, to review SSA's payment and award eligibility through the Do Not Pay Working System for the purpose of identifying, preventing, or recouping fraud and improper payments when disclosure meets the requirements in 20 CFR 401.150(c).
In addition, we are modifying the notice throughout to correct miscellaneous stylistic formatting and typographical errors of the previously published notice, and to ensure the language reads consistently across multiple systems. We are republishing the entire notice for ease of reference.
In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(r), we have provided a report to OMB and Congress on this modified system of records.
Master Files of Social Security Number (SSN) Holders and SSN Applications, 60-0058.
Unclassified.
Social Security Administration, Chief Information Officer, Systems Operations and Hardware Engineering, Robert M. Ball Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401.
Information is also located in additional locations in connection with cloud-based services and as backup for business continuity purposes.
Social Security Administration, Head of Income Security Programs, Law and Policy, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, (410) 966-5855.
Sections 205(a) and 205(c)(2) of the Social Security Act, as amended.
We use information in this system to assign SSNs and for a number of administrative and program purposes, including but not limited to: for various Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Medicare/Medicaid claims purposes; as a case control number; as a secondary beneficiary cross-reference control number for enforcement purposes; for verification of individual identity factors; and for other claims purposes related to establishing benefit entitlement. We use information in this system:
• for the general administration of the Social Security Act to ensure the accuracy of enumeration related information in other SSA systems;
• to prevent the processing of an SSN card application for a person whose application we identified was supported by evidence that either:
○ we suspect may be fraudulent and we are verifying evidence, or
○ we determined to be fraudulent information;
• to record accurate earnings information to the correct individual;
• to prevent issuance of multiple SSNs to a person;
• for resolution of earnings discrepancy cases; and
• for research and statistical activities.
This system contains a record of each person who has applied for and to whom we have assigned an SSN. This system also contains records of each person who applied for an SSN, but to whom we did not assign one for one of the following reasons: (1) the application was supported by documents that we suspect may be fraudulent and we are verifying the documents with the issuing agency; (2) we have determined the person submitted fraudulent documents; (3) we do not suspect fraud but we need to further verify information the person submitted or we need additional supporting documents; or (4) we have not yet completed processing the application.
We collect applications for SSNs. This system contains all of the information we received on the applications for SSNs (
• changes in the information on the applications the SSN holders submit;
• information from applications supported by evidence we suspect or determine to be fraudulent, along with the mailing addresses of the persons who filed such applications and descriptions of the documentation they submitted;
• cross-references when multiple numbers have been issued to the same person;
• a form code that identifies the Form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security Card Number) as the application the person used for the initial issuance of an SSN, or for changing the identifying information (
• a citizenship code that identifies the number holder's status as a U.S. citizen or the work authorization of a non-citizen;
• a special indicator code that identifies types of questionable data or special circumstances concerning an application for an SSN (
• an indication that an SSN was assigned based on harassment, abuse, or life endangerment;
• an indication that a person has filed a benefit claim under a particular SSN; and
• other indicators needed to process SSN requests.
We obtain information in this system of records from SSN applicants (or persons acting on their behalf), as well as Federal, State, and local agencies.
We will disclose records pursuant to the following routine uses; however, we will not disclose any information defined as “return or return information” under 26 U.S.C. 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), unless authorized by a statute, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or IRS regulations.
1. To employers (or agents on their behalf) in order to complete their records for reporting wages to us pursuant to the Federal Insurance Contributions Act and section 218 of the Social Security Act.
3. To the Department of Justice (DOJ), for investigating and prosecuting violations of the Social Security Act.
4. To Department of Homeland Security (DHS), upon request, to identify and locate aliens in the United States pursuant to section 290(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1360(b)).
5. To the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), for the purpose of administering provisions of the Social Security Act relating to railroad employment and for administering the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act.
6. To the Department of the Treasury, for:
(a) tax administration as defined in section 6103 of the IRC (26 U.S.C. 6103);
(b) investigating the alleged theft, forgery, or unlawful negotiation of Social Security checks; and
(c) administering those sections of the IRC that grant tax benefits based on support or residence of children. As required by section 1090(b) of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Public Law 105-34, this routine use applies specifically to the SSNs of parents shown on an application for an SSN for a person who has not yet attained age 18.
7. To a congressional office in response to an inquiry from that office made on behalf of, and at the request of, the subject of the record.
8. To the Department of State (DOS) for administering the Social Security Act in foreign countries through its facilities and services.
9. To the American Institute, a private corporation under contract to DOS, for administering the Social Security Act in Taiwan through facilities and services of that agency.
10. To the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Regional Office, Manila, Philippines, for the administration of the Social Security Act in the Philippines and other parts of the Asia-Pacific region through services and facilities of that agency.
11. To the Department of Labor (DOL) for administering provisions of Title IV of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act, as amended by the Black Lung Benefits Act, and for studies on the effectiveness of training programs to combat poverty.
12. To VA:
(a) to validate SSNs of compensation recipients/pensioners so that VA can release accurate pension/compensation data to us for Social Security program purposes; and
(b) upon request, for purposes of determining eligibility for, or amount of VA benefits, or verifying other information with respect thereto.
13. To Federal agencies that use the SSN as a numerical identifier in their record-keeping systems for the purpose of validating SSNs.
14. To DOJ, a court or other tribunal, or another party before such court or tribunal, when:
(a) SSA, or any component thereof; or
(b) any SSA employee in the employee's official capacity; or
(c) any SSA employee in the employee's individual capacity where DOJ (or SSA, where it is authorized to do so) has agreed to represent the employee; or
(d) the United States or any agency thereof where we determine the litigation is likely to affect SSA or any of its components, is a party to the litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and SSA determines that the use of such records by DOJ, a court or other tribunal, or another party before the tribunal is relevant and necessary to the litigation, provided, however, that in each case, we determine that such disclosure is compatible with the purpose for which the records were collected.
15. To State audit agencies for the purpose of:
(a) auditing State supplementation payments and Medicaid eligibility considerations; and
(b) expenditures of Federal funds by the State in support of the Disability Determination Services.
16. To the Social Security agency of a foreign country to carry out the purpose of an international social security agreement entered into between the United States and the other country, pursuant to section 233 of the Social Security Act.
17. To Federal, State, or local agencies (or agents on their behalf) for administering income or health maintenance programs, including programs under the Social Security Act. Such disclosures include the release of information to the following agencies, but are not limited to:
(a) RRB, for administering provisions of the Railroad Retirement Act and Social Security Act, relating to railroad employment, and for administering provisions of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act;
(b) VA, for administering 38 U.S.C. 1312, and upon request, for determining eligibility for, or amount of, veterans' benefits or for verifying other information with respect thereto pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 5106;
(c) DOL, for administering provisions of Title IV of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act, as amended by the Black Lung Benefits Act.
18. To State welfare departments:
(a) pursuant to agreements with us, for the administration of State supplementation payments;
(b) for enrollment of welfare beneficiaries for medical insurance under section 1843 of the Social Security Act; and
(c) for conducting independent quality assurance reviews of SSI beneficiary records, provided that the agreement for Federal administration of the supplementation provides for such an independent review.
19. To third party contacts (
20. To DOJ, Criminal Division, Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, upon receipt of a request for information pertaining to the identity and location of aliens for the purpose of detecting, investigating and, where appropriate, taking legal action against suspected participants in Nazi persecution, genocide, and torture or extra judicial killings in the United States.
21. To the Selective Service System, for the purpose of enforcing draft registration pursuant to the provisions of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. § 462, as amended by section 916 of Pub. L. 97-86).
22. To contractors and other Federal agencies, as necessary, for assisting SSA in the efficient administration of its programs. We will disclose information under this routine use only in situations in which SSA may enter into a contractual or similar agreement with a third party to assist in accomplishing an agency function relating to this system of records.
23. To the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) under 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906.
24. To the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) upon receipt of a request from that agency in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 8347(m)(3), to disclose SSN information when OPM needs the information to administer its pension program for retired Federal Civil Service employees.
25. To the Department of Education, upon request, to verify SSNs and to disclose citizenship status concerning applicants who apply to postsecondary educational institutions for financial assistance under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091).
26. To student volunteers, individuals working under a personal services contract, and other workers who technically do not have the status of Federal employees, when they are performing work for us, as authorized by law, and they need access to personally identifiable information (PII) in our records in order to perform their assigned agency functions.
27. To Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and private security contractors, as appropriate, information necessary:
(a) to enable them to ensure the safety of our employees and customers, the security of our workplace, and the operation of our facilities; or
(b) to assist investigations or prosecutions with respect to activities that affect such safety and security or activities that disrupt the operation of our facilities.
28. To recipients of erroneous Death Master File (DMF) information, to disclose corrections to information that resulted in erroneous inclusion of persons in the DMF.
29. To State vital records and statistics agencies, the SSNs of newborn children for administering public health and income maintenance programs, including conducting statistical studies and evaluation projects.
30. To State motor vehicle administration agencies (MVA) and to State agencies charged with administering State identification card programs for the public to verify names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers on those persons who apply for, or for whom the State issues, driver's licenses or State identification cards.
31. To entities conducting epidemiological or similar research projects, upon request, pursuant to section 1106(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1306(d)), to disclose information as to whether a person is alive or deceased, provided that:
(a) we determine, in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), that the research may reasonably be expected to contribute to a national health interest;
(b) the requester agrees to reimburse us for the costs of providing the information; and
(c) the requester agrees to comply with any safeguards and limitations we specify regarding re-release or re-disclosure of the information.
32. To DHS and to employers for the administration of the E-Verify Program, pursuant to Public Law 104-208, section 404(e). We will inform DHS and the employer participating in the E-Verify Program that the identifying data (SSN, name, and date of birth) furnished by an employer concerning a particular employee matches, or does not match, the data maintained in this system of records, and when there is such a match, that information in this system of records indicates that the employee is, or is not, a citizen of the United States.
33. To a State Bureau of Vital Statistics (BVS) that is authorized by States to issue electronic death reports when the State BVS requests that we verify the SSN of a person on whom the State will file an electronic death report after we verify the SSN.
34. To the Department of Defense (DOD) to disclose validated SSN information and citizenship status information for the purpose of assisting DOD in identifying those members of the Armed Forces and military enrollees who are aliens or non-citizen nationals who may qualify for expedited naturalization or citizenship processing. These disclosures will be made pursuant to requests made under section 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1440, as executed by Executive Order 13269.
35. To contractors, cooperative agreement awardees, State agencies, Federal agencies, and Federal congressional support agencies for research and statistical activities that are designed to increase knowledge about present or alternative Social Security programs; are of importance to the Social Security program or the Social Security beneficiaries; or are for an epidemiological project that relates to the Social Security program or beneficiaries. We will disclose information under this routine use pursuant only to a written agreement with us.
36. To State and Territory MVA officials (or agents or contractors on their behalf) and State and Territory chief election officials, under the provisions of section 205(r)(8) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(r)(8)), to verify the accuracy of information the State agency provides with respect to applications for voter registration for those persons who do not have a driver's license number:
(a) when the applicant provides the last four digits of the SSN, or
(b) when the applicant provides the full SSN, in accordance with section 7 of the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a note), as described in section 303(a)(5)(D) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002. (42 U.S.C. 15483(a)(5)(D)).
37. To the Secretary of HHS or to any State, any record or information requested in writing by the Secretary for the purpose of administering any program administered by the Secretary, if we disclosed records or information of such type under applicable rules, regulations, and procedures in effect before the date of enactment of the Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994.
38. To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when:
(a) SSA suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records;
(b) SSA has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, SSA (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and
(c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is
39. To State agencies charged with administering Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to verify personal identification data (
40. To HHS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), for the purpose of the administration of Insurance Affordability Programs (IAP) and to identify individuals who qualify for an exemption from the individual responsibility requirement in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-148), as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-152). IAPs include a Qualified Health Plan through the Exchange, Advance Payments of the Premium Tax Credit, Cost Sharing Reductions, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Basic Health Program.
41. To the Corporation for National and Community Service, upon request, to verify SSNs and to provide citizenship status as recorded in our records concerning individuals applying to serve in approved national service positions and those designated to receive national service education awards under the National and Community Service Act.
42. To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when SSA determines that information from this system of records is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in:
(a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach; or
(b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.
43. To State and local government agencies, in situations involving suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of minor children or vulnerable adults, to report suspected abuse or determine a victim's eligibility for services.
44. To a State BVS, when it provided SSA information that an individual was deceased to notify the State of the error in the record so furnished.
45. To the Department of Treasury, for purposes of tax administration, debt collection, and identifying, preventing, and recovering improper payments under federally funded programs and to Federal and State agencies for conducting statistical and research activities, pursuant to sections 202(x) and 1611(e) of the Social Security Act. We will disclose only verified prisoner information (
46. To the Office of the President, in response to an inquiry from that office made on behalf of, and at the request of, the subject of the record or a third party acting on the subject's behalf.
47. To HHS, Office of Child Support Enforcement, as required by section 453(e)(2) and (j)(1) of the Social Security Act for the administration of the Federal Parent Locator System.
48. To proper applicants submitting an application for a Social Security Card, when the proper applicants establish that the number holders are physically or mentally unable to file for a Social Security card on their own behalf and provide evidence of custody or legal relationship for the number holders, we may provide the number holders' SSN.
49. To DHS, information regarding the citizenship and immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1373(a).
50. To the U.S. Department of the Treasury, when disclosure of the information is relevant to review SSA's payment and award eligibility through the Do Not Pay Working System for the purposes of identifying, preventing, or recouping improper payments to an applicant for, or recipient of, Federal funds, including funds disbursed by a state (meaning a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, or a federally recognized Indian tribe) in a state-administered, federally funded program. This routine use will be applied when disclosure meets the requirements in 20 CFR 401.150(c).
We will maintain records in this system in paper and in electronic form.
This system maintains information about individuals by SSN, name, date of birth, the agency's internal processing reference number, or alien registration number. If we deny an application because the applicant submitted fraudulent evidence, or if we are verifying evidence we suspect to be fraudulent, we will retrieve records either by the applicant's name plus month and year of birth, or by the applicant's name plus the eleven-digit reference number of the disallowed application.
In accordance with NARA rules codified at 36 CFR 1225.16, we maintain records in accordance with NARA-approved agency-specific records schedule, N1-47-09-02, item 2, and NARA's General Records Schedule (GRS) 4.2, items 020 and 050, and GRS 5.2, item 010.
We retain electronic and paper files containing personal identifiers in secure storage areas accessible only by authorized individuals, including our employees and contractors, who have a need for the information when performing their official duties. Security measures include, but are not limited to, the use of codes and profiles, personal identification numbers and passwords, and personal identification verification cards. We restrict access to specific correspondence within the system based on assigned roles and authorized users. We keep paper records in cabinets within secure areas, with access limited to only those employees who have an official need for access in order to perform their duties. We use audit mechanisms to record sensitive transactions as an additional measure to protect information from unauthorized disclosure or modification.
We annually provide authorized individuals, including our employees and contractors, with appropriate security awareness training that includes reminders about the need to protect PII and the criminal penalties that apply to unauthorized access to, or disclosure of, PII (5 U.S.C. 552a(i)(1)). Furthermore, authorized individuals with access to databases maintaining PII must annually sign a sanctions document that acknowledges their accountability for inappropriately accessing or disclosing such information.
Individuals may submit requests for information about whether this system contains a record about them by submitting a written request to the system manager at the above address, which includes their name, SSN, or other information that may be in this system of records that will identify them. Individuals requesting notification of, or access to, a record by mail must include: (1) a notarized
Individuals requesting notification of, or access to, records in person must provide their name, SSN, or other information that may be in this system of records that will identify them, as well as provide an identity document, preferably with a photograph, such as a driver's license. Individuals lacking identification documents sufficient to establish their identity must certify in writing that they are the individual they claim to be and that they understand that the knowing and willful request for, or acquisition of, a record pertaining to another individual under false pretenses is a criminal offense.
These procedures are in accordance with our regulations at 20 CFR 401.40 and 401.45.
Same as record access procedures. Individuals should also reasonably identify the record, specify the information they are contesting, and state the corrective action sought and the reasons for the correction with supporting justification showing how the record is incomplete, untimely, inaccurate, or irrelevant. These procedures are in accordance with our regulations at 20 CFR 401.65(a).
Same as records access procedures. These procedures are in accordance with our regulations at 20 CFR 401.40 and 401.45.
None.
90 FR 10025 (February 20, 2025), Master Files of SSN Holders and SSN Applications.
Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Emergency Order establishing operating limitations on the use of navigable airspace.
This Order reduces or temporarily prohibits certain operations in the navigable airspace to ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS). To maintain the highest standards of safety in the NAS, certain air carriers will be required to reduce by their total daily scheduled domestic operations between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. local at each airport by 10 percent, subject to the provisions set forth in this Order, in addition to other operational reductions in the NAS.
This action is effective November 7, 2025.
If you wish to review the background documents or comments received in this proceeding, you may go to
Al Meilus, Slot Administration and Capacity Analysis, FAA ATO System Operations Services, AJR-G5, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-2822; email
This Order reduces or temporarily prohibits certain operations in the navigable airspace to ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficiency of the NAS. The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this Order to address safety risks and delays presented by air traffic controller staffing constraints caused by the continued lapse in appropriations. This Order takes effect on November 7, 2025, and will remain in effect until canceled by the FAA.
The U.S. Government has exclusive sovereignty over the airspace of the United States.
The FAA's statutory authority to ensure “the safety of aircraft” and “the efficient use of airspace” encompasses its management of the nationwide system of air commerce and the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system. Ensuring the safe and efficient use of the airspace means that the FAA must take all necessary steps to prevent safety risks to, or situations potentially adversely affecting the overall safety of the ATC system for which the FAA is responsible.
Due to a lapse in appropriations, air traffic controllers have been working without pay since October 3, 2025. Since then, the FAA's Office of Aviation Safety (AVS) and Air Traffic Organization (ATO) have continued to review, monitor and evaluate ATC safety. As part of this review, the FAA assessed voluntary safety reports submitted for the month of October. The reports indicated users of the system had concerns about its performance even with current mitigations in place. The FAA has also observed evidence of increased stress on the NAS in aviation safety data, particularly at 40 high traffic airports, identified in Appendix A (“High Impact Airports”). While current mitigations have managed risk, delays are increasing, and additional mitigations are now necessary.
The FAA's initial review of data indicates the system is stressed. With continued delays and unpredictable staffing shortages, which are driving
The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical exclusion (CATEX) under the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321,
Accordingly, with respect to flight operations at High Impact Airports, under the authority provided to the Secretary of Transportation and the FAA Administrator by 49 U.S.C. 40103, 40113, and 46105(c), it is hereby ordered that:
1. To accommodate reduced ATC services, no later than 6:00 a.m. EST on November 14, 2025, each 14 CFR part 121 and commuter or scheduled 135 air carrier operating at High Impact Airports listed in Appendix A must reduce by 10 percent its total daily scheduled domestic operations between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. local at each airport, subject to the following provisions:
a. Reductions in operations shall be calculated by marketing code, not operating certificate, provided that the reductions for any single operating certificate may not exceed 15 percent to prevent disproportionate reductions on regional routes. For carriers that do not have a marketing code, reductions in operations shall be calculated by operating certificate.
b. The baseline for calculating reductions is the total number of currently scheduled operations.
c. Beginning November 7, 2025, carriers shall begin reductions in operations to achieve the total reduction of 10 percent by November 14, 2025, with minimum reductions at each High Impact Airport as follows:
i. By 6:00 a.m. EST on November 7, 2025, by 4 percent;
ii. By 6:00 a.m. EST on November 11, 2025, by 6 percent;
iii. By 6:00 a.m. EST on November 13, 2025, by 8 percent; and
iv. By 6:00 a.m. EST on November 14, 2025, and thereafter, by 10 percent.
d. Operations shall be reduced seven days in advance on a rolling schedule. Thus, the initial list of reduced operations submitted to the FAA on November 7, 2025, pursuant to subparagraph (f), must provide for reductions to schedules from November 7, 2025, to November 14, 2025. On November 8, 2025, carriers must retain a reduction of at least 10 percent for November 15, 2025, and notify the FAA of those reductions, etc.
e. The FAA will treat any slot as used for historic precedence or a timing as operated for the purposes of preserving the historical baseline for the next corresponding season if the carrier does not operate it in accordance with the provisions in this paragraph.
f. Each carrier subject to the provisions of this paragraph must submit a list of reduced operations to the FAA Slot Administration at
g. The FAA expects that carriers work cooperatively to achieve ratable and evenly distributed reductions throughout the day that do not have disproportionate impacts on communities or specific hours of the day. If carriers are unable to do so, the FAA may direct cancellations on a more prescriptive basis.
h. The FAA has consulted with the Department of Justice, Antitrust Division (DOJ). Consistent with these discussions, the DOJ and FAA advise that antitrust counsel for the air carriers be present for all competitor communications given the unusual, emergency circumstances involved. Based on the temporary nature of these reductions, the presence of respective antitrust counsel for all affected air carriers, the limited nature of the cooperation authorized, and the exigent safety need to reduce stress on the NAS, the DOJ stated that it “is not presently inclined to initiate antitrust enforcement action against any carrier's actions taken to comply with the FAA Emergency Order.”
i. Carriers must not engage in unfair, deceptive, or anticompetitive practices regarding their slot usage, leasing agreements, or operations.
2. When staffing trigger reports happen at High Impact Airports, a dual Airspace Flow Program strategy may be implemented for general aviation and commercial traffic. In addition, for the duration of this order, general aviation operations may also be reduced by up to 10 percent at High Impact Airports, including TEB, HOU, and DAL.
3. The FAA may enforce this Order through an enforcement action seeking a civil penalty under 49 U.S.C. 46301(a). A carrier that is not a small business as defined in the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 632, will be liable for a civil penalty of up to $75,000 for every flight it operates above the limits set forth in this Order. A carrier that is a small business as defined in the Small Business Act will be liable for a civil penalty of up to $16,630 for every flight it operates above the limits set forth in this Order. The FAA also could file a civil action in U.S. District Court, under 49 U.S.C. 46106 and 46107, seeking to enjoin any air carrier from violating the terms of this Order.
Accordingly, with respect to commercial space launches and reentries, under the authority provided to the FAA Administrator by 49 U.S.C. 40103, 40113, and 46105(c), and authority delegated to the FAA Administrator under 51 U.S.C. 50909(a), it is hereby ordered that, beginning at 6:00 a.m. EST on November 10, 2025, and until this Order is cancelled, Commercial space launches and reentries will only be permitted between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. local time.
Accordingly, with respect to ATC services, under the authority provided to the FAA Administrator by 49 U.S.C. 40103, 40113, and 46105(c), it is hereby ordered that:
1. When an FAA owned and operated facility does not have adequate staffing levels, ATC may elect not to provide the following services:
a. Radar Traffic Information Service;
b. Radar Assistance to visual flight rule (VFR) aircraft;
c. Terminal Radar Services for VFR aircraft;
d. VFR Traffic Pattern Operations;
e. Practice Approaches to VFR aircraft;
f. Flight checks services to restore inoperable equipment and approaches;
g. ATC services to parachute operations; or,
h. ATC services to certain special or unusual operations.
2. When an Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace (ATCAA) or Military Operating Area (MOA) is located within a geographical area served by an FAA owned and operated facility that does not have adequate staffing levels, ATO may elect not to activate the ATCAA or MOA.
The Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, a unit within the Department of Transportation's Office of the General Counsel, will separately issue guidance to carriers on reporting of causes of delays and cancellations and applicability of consumer protection requirements given this order.
The FAA may modify or withdraw any provision in this Order on its own or on application by any carrier for good cause shown. In particular, the FAA will continue to monitor data on NAS operations and performance and will amend this order as appropriate to ensure continued safety and efficiency of the NAS. Once funding is restored and the FAA has confidence the stress in the system has adequately decreased, the FAA expects to roll back operational restrictions required by this order to restore normal operations.
Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of Transportation (DOT).
Notice of availability of final policy guidance for the Capital Investment Grants program.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is making available the agency's final policy guidance for the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program. This version amends FTA's CIG Policy Guidance published in December 2024 and incorporates input, as appropriate, FTA received from the public comment on its proposed Policy Guidance published in the
This final policy guidance is effective immediately. FTA will not exempt projects from following the new amended final CIG policy guidance.
Mark Ferroni, FTA Office of Planning and Environment, telephone (202) 366-3233 or
This final policy guidance document contains binding obligations, which 49 U.S.C. 5334(k) defines as “a substantive policy statement, rule, or guidance document issued by the Federal Transit Administration that grants rights, imposes obligations, produces significant effects on private interests, or effects a significant change in existing policy.” Under 49 U.S.C. 5334(k), FTA may issue binding obligations if it follows applicable rulemaking procedures under 5 U.S.C. 553. Prior to making the amendments announced today, FTA followed such procedures. The policy guidance FTA periodically issues for the CIG program complements the FTA regulations governing the CIG program, codified at 49 CFR part 611. The regulations set forth the process grant applicants must follow to be considered for discretionary grant funding under the CIG program, and the procedures and criteria FTA uses to rate and evaluate projects to determine their eligibility for discretionary CIG program funding. The policy guidance provides
Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5309(g)(5), FTA is required to publish policy guidance for the CIG program each time the agency makes significant changes to the review and evaluation process and criteria, but not less frequently than once every two years. In August 2025, FTA published a notice in the
FTA received comments from 16 respondents on the proposed policy guidance for the CIG program. Four of the 16 respondents were transit agencies. FTA received six comments from interest groups or policy organizations, five comments from individuals, and one comment from an anonymous respondent. One of the comments was submitted to a separate docket for FTA's Request for Information Concerning the Capital Investment Grants Program (FTA-2025-0069). FTA is partially responding to that comment in this Notice because a portion of the comment relates to FTA's environmental benefits proposal.
Regarding the proposed changes to the calculation of environmental benefits in the proposed policy guidance, roughly half of the 16 respondents supported the change. Many of these commenters expressed support for the proposed methodology, stating it would result in a simpler and more streamlined evaluation of environmental benefits, reduce administrative burden, and expedite the CIG process. Some commenters specifically criticized the existing vehicle miles traveled (VMT)-based methodology, noting it is complex, subject to varied interpretations, data-intensive, complicated, and burdensome. One of these commenters additionally requested FTA continue working with the industry in the future regarding the environmental benefits methodology. Two of these commenters argued the proposed methodology would capture air quality improvements and reduced emissions without the need to use a complex methodology. An additional commenter supported the removal of the social cost of carbon, arguing the metric is deeply flawed and artificially inflates the dollar value of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It also noted the underlying statute governing the CIG program does not require consideration of carbon emissions or the social cost of carbon.
Two commenters requested FTA modify its proposal by assigning a “Medium-High” rating for projects located in areas formerly designated as nonattainment but that have since achieved attainment through local planning and policy decisions, suggesting FTA should reward projects in such areas. One of these commenters stated it nevertheless supported FTA's measure as proposed, as it believed resolution of the issue may stand in the way of FTA allocating CIG funding and making funding recommendations in the FY26 CIG report to Congress.
Of the multiple respondents in support of the change, one respondent suggested FTA clarify in the final policy guidance how a project will be rated when a project crosses more than one geographic area which may have varying air quality designations. The commenter requested FTA clarify that projects located either wholly or partially within maintenance or nonattainment areas will receive a “High” rating for the environmental benefits criterion.
FTA evaluates and rates the environmental benefits criterion for New Starts projects based on the EPA air quality designation given to the geographic area(s) in which the project is located for the transportation-related criteria pollutants, carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO
About half of the 16 commenters opposed FTA's proposal, one of whom expressed general opposition without providing a reason. Some commenters voiced concerns about the removal of the social cost of carbon, including concerns the change would negatively affect the evaluation of environmental impacts and that the social cost of carbon was an important metric to include in the analysis. One commenter opposed the elimination of VMT-based metrics, noting VMT is a valuable measure of the cost-effectiveness of a proposed project.
One of the commenters opposed to the proposal provided legal arguments in support of opposing the proposal. First, the commenter argued the statute governing the CIG program at 49 U.S.C. 5309(d)(2)(A)(iii), (e)(2)(A)(iv), and (h)(4) requires FTA to conduct a “comprehensive review” of the environmental effects of the project. It stated further that for Core Capacity Projects, 49 U.S.C. 5309(e)(2)(B) requires FTA to evaluate, analyze, and consider whether the project will improve environmental outcomes, and that for Small Starts Projects, 49 U.S.C. 5309(h)(4) requires FTA to analyze, evaluate, and consider environmental benefits as compared to a no-action alternative. The commenter contended FTA's proposal falls short of these statutory requirements because it would entail an oversimplified analysis requiring no “real analytical work” on the part of FTA.
The commenter mischaracterizes the statutory requirements regarding FTA's CIG project justification evaluation. Sections 49 U.S.C. 5309(d)(2)(A)(iii), (e)(2)(A)(iv), and (h)(4) do not require FTA to evaluate a project's environmental “effects,” but rather its environmental “benefits.” Environmental effects are comprehensively addressed through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321
The proposed methodology utilizing the EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) designation serves as a basis for FTA to evaluate, analyze, and consider the environmental benefits of the applicable CIG project appropriately. One of the most distinguishable environmental benefits of public transportation is a reduction in transportation-related criteria pollutants under the Clean Air Act. FTA's proposed methodology assigns a higher rating to projects located in nonattainment areas, which have lower air quality as determined by the transportation-related criteria pollutants, carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO
Second, the commenter argued FTA's proposal is not supported by evidence, stating FTA has not provided sufficient justification for why assessing a project's NAAQS designation is relevant for the evaluation of the project's environmental benefits and has not provided evidence of project sponsors having difficulty with VMT calculations. The commenter stated further that comments on FTA's 2024 proposed CIG policy guidance requesting a simplified environmental benefits process specifically sought priority for electric vehicle fleets, and FTA's proposal would not achieve this.
Finally, the commenter urged FTA to continue utilizing a social cost of greenhouse gas measure because removal of this metric leaves no method for calculating climate change impacts, further arguing FTA is required by statute to analyze this factor. The commenter noted that although the Interagency Working Group's (IWG) social cost of carbon measure was withdrawn by Executive Order, alternative measures remain available, such as social cost of carbon estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
As explained in FTA's proposal, this change is consistent with the direction in Executive Order (E.O.) 14154, “Unleashing American Energy,” OIRA's “Guidance Implementing Section 6 of Executive Order 14154, Entitled `Unleashing American Energy,' ” (OIRA's Guidance), and DOT Order 2100.7, “Ensuring Reliance Upon Sound Economic Analysis in Department of Transportation Policies, Programs, and Activities.” Section 6(b) of E.O. 14154 withdraws guidance issued by the Interagency Working Group (IWG), including the Technical Support Document of February 2021, as it is no longer representative of governmental policy. Further, Section 6(c) of E.O. 14154 and DOT Order 2100.7 state the “calculation of the `social cost of carbon' is marked by logical deficiencies, a poor basis in empirical science, politicization, and the absence of a foundation in legislation.” OIRA's Guidance also limits applying the social cost of carbon to uses where it is statutorily required and directs agencies to remove its consideration from discretionary regulatory language “as quickly as feasible.”
FTA is adopting the proposed methodology for evaluating environmental benefits, with the one modification in response to comments
Six respondents commented on the proposal to remove urgent care facilities from the access to essential services measure under the CIG land use criterion. One commenter expressed concern about removing the consideration of urgent care centers generally. Two commenters supported the proposal, given the Homeland Infrastructure Foundational-Level Data (HIFLD) on urgent care centers is no longer available. Two commenters noted that after FTA published its proposal, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the discontinuation of the entire HIFLD data set. These commenters noted that access to essential services is still a valuable measure and suggested FTA use the United States Census Bureau's North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) to identify essential services in a project corridor for future grant cycles. One commenter supported the removal of urgent care centers from the evaluation but requested FTA modify the corresponding breakpoints because removing urgent care centers would result in fewer average essential services per station area.
Two comments were outside the scope of the proposal. These included a request for FTA to explore other opportunities to streamline and improve the CIG process and one comment voicing concern about the cost of transit projects in general.
Two commenters urged FTA to finalize the proposed policy guidance quickly, due to the need for FTA to move forward with CIG project ratings, allocate CIG funding, and make project recommendations for the FY26 CIG Annual Report to Congress.
Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5334(k), FTA must follow applicable rulemaking procedures under section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. 551,
In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), FTA finds good cause to publish this guidance with an immediate effective date because a 30-day delayed effective date would significantly impair FTA's ability to execute its statutory duties with respect to the CIG program. Due to the revocation of estimates of the social cost of carbon by E.O. 14154, FTA is unable to evaluate the environmental benefits of CIG projects, as required by 49 U.S.C. 5309(d), (e), and (h), until the CIG Policy Guidance goes into effect. Accordingly, further delaying the effective date of the guidance would impede FTA's ability to complete CIG project ratings, report funding recommendations, and allocate CIG funding as quickly as possible. Without completing such ratings, FTA is unable to publish funding recommendations in the FY26 CIG annual report to Congress, as required by 49 U.S.C. 5309(o)(1)(B). A delayed effective date therefore would seriously impede FTA's ability to comply with its statutory obligations in a timely manner. An immediate effective date is further supported by commenters requesting FTA act quickly to finalize the policy guidance, as discussed in the Response to Comments above.
E.O. 14192 (“Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation”) requires for “each new [E.O. 14192 regulatory action] issued, at least 10 prior regulations be identified for elimination.” This final rule is considered an E.O. 14192 deregulatory action with unquantified cost savings resulting from more streamlined evaluation of environmental benefits, reduce administrative burden, and an expedited CIG process.