A recent executive order attacks DEI accreditation standards as courts block enforcement of the Department of Education’s Dear Colleague Letter on race. On April 23, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14279 (EO)...more
5/12/2025
/ Administrative Procedure Act ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Dear Colleague Letter ,
Department of Education ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Funding ,
First Amendment ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Students for Fair Admissions v Harvard College ,
Title VI
Since taking office, President Trump has issued sweeping executive orders targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies and directing agencies to take action to encourage private...more
The U.S. Court of Appeals will expedite its review of appeal of preliminary injunction. On March 14, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit granted the Government’s motion for a temporary stay of a district...more
Despite court ruling, educational institutions face continuing enforcement uncertainty pursuant to the February 14 “Dear Colleague Letter” issued by the Department of Education - On February 21, 2025, a federal court in...more
2/25/2025
/ Civil Rights Act ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Dear Colleague Letter ,
Department of Education ,
Diversity ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Equal Protection ,
Executive Orders ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
First Amendment ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Separation of Powers ,
Title VI
Executive orders will have dramatic impact on federal agencies, contractors, and grantees, and sow uncertainty about voluntary DEI initiatives. Following his second-term inauguration, President Trump swiftly signed a...more
The Notice would ban all existing and future non-compete agreements with workers, with a narrow exception in connection with the sale of a business by any individual holding at least a 25% interest in such business.
The...more
In a bid to encourage vaccination among the nation’s workers to protect unvaccinated people, OSHA’s new Emergency Temporary Standard calls for private-sector employers with more than 100 employees to mandate COVID-19...more
11/9/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Orders ,
OSHA ,
Privately Held Corporations ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Religious Exemption ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
The Safer Federal Workforce Task Force recently issued guidance that requires the vast majority of prime contractors and subcontractors to ensure that their covered contractor employees, including those working remotely, are...more
9/30/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Federal Employees ,
Healthcare Workers ,
New Guidance ,
OSHA ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
Under a forthcoming OSHA emergency temporary standard, private-sector employers with more than 100 employees will be required to mandate COVID-19 vaccination or weekly testing. Eliminating a testing alternative, federal...more
The Executive Order is projected to increase the hourly wage paid to hundreds of thousands of Federal contractor employees.
President Biden issued an Executive Order raising to $15.00 per hour the minimum wage that Federal...more
The Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) issued guidance concerning recently issued Executive Order 13950 (EO) which prohibits federal contractors from including certain concepts related...more
Executive Order 13950 (EO) prohibits federal contractors from including “divisive” concepts related to race and sex stereotypes in workplace trainings.
The EO will require all federal contracts to include a prohibition on...more
On October 24th, 2016, United States District Judge Marcia A. Crone issued a preliminary injunction that suspends the implementation of certain portions of President Obama’s Executive Order 13673, called the Fair Pay and Safe...more
10/27/2016
/ Arbitrary and Capricious ,
Blacklist ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Executive Orders ,
Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces ,
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Final Rules ,
First Amendment ,
Labor Law Violations ,
Pay Transparency ,
Pre-Dispute Arbitration ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Title VII ,
Wage and Hour
On September 30, 2016, the Department of Labor (DOL) published the Final Rule implementing President Obama’s 2015 Executive Order 13706, “Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors” (EO 13706) requiring federal...more
10/7/2016
/ Barack Obama ,
Davis-Bacon Act ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Executive Orders ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Paid Leave ,
Service Contract Act ,
Sick Leave ,
Wage and Hour
On August 25, 2016, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council issued final rules and the Department of Labor (DOL) published final guidance implementing President Obama’s 2014 “Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces” Executive Order...more
8/31/2016
/ Administrative Merits Determinations ,
Amended Regulation ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Executive Orders ,
Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces ,
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Final Guidance ,
Final Rules ,
Labor Law Violations ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Subcontractors
Two recent developments have added to the list of the Obama Administration’s compensation-related initiatives. On Labor Day, September 7, 2015, President Obama issued an Executive Order that will require federal contractors...more
President Obama’s Executive Order 13673, called the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Order, uses the prospect of gaining or losing an edge in winning government contracts to provide a powerful incentive for employers to comply...more
6/26/2015
/ Barack Obama ,
Competitive Bidding ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Draft Guidance ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Orders ,
Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces ,
Federal Contractors ,
Public Comment ,
Public Procurement Policies