The Trump Administration issued its “America’s Maritime Action Plan” on February 13, 2026. The MAP, as it is generally referred to, was called for by the President’s April 9, 2025, Executive Order titled “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance.” 

An ERISA litigation trend has emerged that would have been unthinkable a few years ago: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is intervening in court and taking the employer’s side. This trend reflects a deliberate policy shift that matters for every plan sponsor and fiduciary in an environment where “regulation by litigation” has become a default strategy for plaintiffs’ lawyers.

After decades of inaction, on January 12, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it is examining whether sports agents working with college athletes are complying with the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act (SPARTA).