Jones Act waiver possibilities appear in the news pretty much every time there is a spike in the price of fuel in the United States. Sure enough, there are reports that the Trump Administration is considering waiving the Jones Act in connection with the Middle East war.        

Marking the first comprehensive update in eight years, the SEC’s Division of Enforcement (the Division) released a revised edition of its Enforcement Manual (the 2026 Manual). SEC Chairman Paul Atkins called the update a “long-overdue step,” and Division Director Margaret Ryan said the changes are intended to “ensure greater uniformity” and “reflect the Division’s best practices.” Although the 2026 Manual has many changes from the previous version, some will have a greater impact. In this article, we highlight the most significant revisions and discuss their practical implications.

On January 27, 2026, the Trump administration announced what it called “a historic expansion” of the Mexico City Policy, a longstanding U.S. rule restricting foreign aid funding related to abortion. The expansion extends the policy beyond abortion to include activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and gender‑affirming care. Effective February 26, 2026, the change represents the most significant revision to the policy in its 40‑year history and could substantially reshape the distribution of U.S. foreign assistance worldwide.