The document provides an overview of key federal regulations impacting research institutions that have been published since January 2016, highlighting their statuses relative to the regulatory freeze implemented with the change in presidential administration in January 2017. Rules that took effect before the freeze, such as the FAR Rule on safeguarding contractor information and revised export control definitions, remain in force and are not subject to further review. Policies by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on institutional review boards and clinical trials likewise appear unaffected by the freeze or by legislative challenges.
For regulations with effective dates postdating the onset of the freeze, several, including the Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule, the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects (Common Rule), and the Department of Education’s Open Licensing Requirements, are subject to delay and review by newly appointed agency heads. Some rules, such as the Department of Labor’s Overtime Rule and the HHS Clinical Trials Reporting Rule, have faced legal or political challenges and could potentially be rescinded, though legislative mechanisms to overturn multiple rules have made limited progress. Updates to the Uniform Guidance, including procurement rules and micro-purchase thresholds, are also delayed pending review, as agencies have been instructed not to advance or finalize regulations without new administrative approval. Overall, while most pre-freeze regulations remain stable, the status of those implemented or scheduled post-freeze remains uncertain pending further administrative action and possible congressional intervention.
