Recent settlements in DOJ antitrust enforcement actions have raised concerns on Capitol Hill and beyond about the adequacy of current safeguards governing the settlement of federal antitrust cases. 

On April 16, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the SEC) Office of Mergers and Acquisitions in the Division of Corporation Finance (the Division) issued an exemptive order (the Order) permitting certain tender offers for equity securities to remain open for a minimum of 10 business days rather than the standard 20 business days, subject to strict conditions designed to preserve investor protections.

On March 24, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois decided that federal grantees can challenge grant terminations by the Administration if at the time of termination the grantees were compliant with Administration policies that were in place at the time the grant was awarded, as opposed to new rules or policies subsequently imposed by the Trump Administration. This decision could aid federal contractors and grantees in their legal challenges to the numerous contract and grant terminations, which have occurred since January 2025, based on alleged failure of the contracts or grants to align with or effectuate new Administration programs, policies, goals, and/or priorities, including, but not limited to, those relating to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and policies.