Biden administration News

Biden Administration Tightens Offshore Oil Rig Safety Rules Loosened Under Trump

The Biden administration on Tuesday finalized tighter rules for complex devices meant to prevent catastrophic blowouts on offshore oil and gas drilling rigs, reversing some Trump administration policies and returning to a more stringent regulatory stance adopted after the 2010 …

Cybersecurity Labeling for Smart Devices Aims to Help People Choose Those Less Vulnerable to Hacking

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration and major consumer technology players on Tuesday launched an effort to put a nationwide cybersecurity certification and labeling program in place to help consumers choose smart devices that are less vulnerable to hacking. Officials …

Billions are Being Spent to Turn the Tide on the US West’s Wildfires. It Won’t Be Enough

DOWNIEVILLE, Calif. (AP) – Using chainsaws, heavy machinery and controlled burns, the Biden administration is trying to turn the tide on worsening wildfires in the U.S. West through a multi-billion dollar cleanup of forests choked with dead trees and undergrowth. …

Biden Admin Announces $3B in FEMA Climate Resilience Funding

WASHINGTON –– The Biden administration on Friday announced it is putting more than $3 billion into two federal programs to help communities deal with floods, wildfires, extreme heat and other problems imposed by climate change. Funding for the Building Resilient …

US Judge Strikes Down Biden Climate Damage Cost Estimate

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Friday blocked the Biden administration’s attempt to put greater emphasis on potential damage from greenhouse gas emissions when creating rules for polluting industries. U.S. District Judge James Cain of the Western District of …

US Unveils Plan to Improve Cyber Defenses For Water Utilities

WASHINGTON–The White House on Thursday unveiled a plan to beef up cybersecurity in the nation’s water sector, an extension of its efforts to thwart attacks against critical infrastructure including electricity and natural gas pipeline operators. Senior administration officials said water …

Judge Blocks COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate For Federal Contractors

A federal judge in Georgia issued a nationwide injunction that prevents the U.S. government from enforcing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate on federal contractors, temporarily shutting down the last remaining vaccine requirement by the Biden administration. U.S. District Judge Stan Baker …

Federal Judge Upholds United Airlines’ COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate For Employees

A U.S. federal judge on Monday ruled United Airlines Holdings Inc can impose a COVID-19 vaccine mandate on its employees that only provides unpaid leave for workers who are exempted for medical or religious reasons. U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman …

US Talks Global Cybersecurity Without a Key Player: Russia

WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid an epidemic of ransomware attacks, the U.S. is discussing cybersecurity strategy this week with 30 countries while leaving out one key player: Russia. The country that, unwittingly or not, hosts many of the criminal syndicates behind …

US Poised to Sue Contractors Who Don’t Report Cyber Breaches

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is poised to sue government contractors and other companies who receive U.S. government grants if they fail to report breaches of their computer systems or misrepresent their cybersecurity practices, the department’s No. 2 official …