Dire Wolves Highlight Dire Need for De-extinction Regulation

Posted on April 24, 2025Categories Environmental, Ethics

On April 7, 2025, Colossal Biosciences announced that it had successfully created dire wolves, a species that had been extinct for over 10,000 years, in what is considered a breakthrough in the science of de-extinction. Although it sounds like a work of science fiction, Colossal used dire wolf DNA found in a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old ear bone to make 20 edits to the DNA of modern gray wolves leading to the birth of 3 dire wolf puppies in the fall and winter of 2024. While the science community both celebrates the breakthroughs in genetic engineering, considers the benefits that this technology can have on modern endangered species, and debates the validity of calling genetically modified gray wolves true dire wolves, it is clear that the regulatory framework of the United States is not yet sufficiently prepared to examine the legal and ethical considerations that come with de-extinction technologies. Though dire wolves were the breakthrough, they are not the end goal for Colossal as it now turns its focus to other popular extinct species such as the wooly mammoth, dodo bird, and Tasmanian tiger. To adequately keep up with these changes in genetic and environmental science, the United States must act quickly to develop an agile multi-agency regulatory framework that can guide the country and world as a whole safely into the new age of de-extinction.
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Rearming Innovation: The Rise of New Players in U.S. Defense

Posted on April 24, 2025Categories Antitrust

In recent decades, the U.S. defense sector has undergone a significant transformation with innovative companies such Palantir, Space X, and Anduril pushing for the federal government to reconsider its current procurement process. The goal of these “New Age” companies is to level the playing field in government contracting so that they can continue developing the world’s most advanced and effective defense technologies.
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One Size Doesn’t Fit All: OSHA’s PPE Rule For Construction Workers

Posted on April 23, 2025Categories Employment

The construction industry employs workers of diverse shapes and sizes. Despite their diverse sizes, many construction workers have had to make do with Personal Protection Equipment (“PPE”) that fits one standard size. To ensure these construction workers have properly fitting PPE, regardless of their size, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) published their final rule mandating that construction employers provide their employees with “properly fitting” PPE. 
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Navigating Data Subject Rights Requests: Balancing Compliance with Mitigating Misuse

Posted on April 18, 2025Categories Ethics, Privacy & Security

In the wake of heightened awareness around data privacy and protection, regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States have emerged as trailblazers. These laws bestow significant rights upon individuals, allowing them to control and protect their personal data. At the heart of these regulations lies the concept of Data Subject Rights Requests (DSRR), also known by a similar name of Data Subject Access Requests (DSAR). This article offers strategies to combat the weaponizing DSRRs while complying with the requirements for legitimate requests.
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Operation Stork Speed: A Great Opportunity if Executed Correctly

Posted on April 17, 2025Categories FDA

In March, the FDA announced Operation Stork Speed in response to a Consumer Reports investigation which found traces of toxic chemicals in baby formula. Secretary of HHS, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has directed the FDA to begin several new initiatives and increase the scrutiny of testing to find ways to have better access to safe baby formula. Operation Stork Speed will begin a comprehensive review of the nutrient list that is currently approved by the FDA and increase labeling transparency with industry. Although created in response to the Consumer Reports findings, a ProPublica investigation published on April 4th has led to concerning claims about unsanitary practices within an Abbot Labs factory. The same Michigan-based factory that shutdown in 2022, after reports of infant hospitalizations and deaths due to this facility’s formula, causing a nationwide shortage. Given the added issues with the factory, if done correctly, Operation Stork Speed could begin to solve the safety issues that have recently plagued the baby formula industry.
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The European Accessibility Act is Looming as Corporations Race to Comply

Posted on April 17, 2025Categories International Affairs, Uncategorized

The European Accessibility Act (the Act/EAA) aims to increase market opportunities for accessible products and services on both the consumer and business level. Accessibility is an essential factor in making buying decisions in today’s world; showing that companies are committed to diversity and inclusion in a time where it is increasingly important. The Act covers a wide variety of products and services that are important for those with disabilities and that may not be accessible across the European Union (EU). Such products and services include: computers or operating systems, smartphones, audio-visual media services, banking services, etc. Although the European Accessibility Act is advertised as a manageable compliance requirement, inconsistent enforcement across EU member states, vague exemptions, and widespread corporate unpreparedness suggest that it will be a significant regulatory challenge.
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The Corporate Transparency Act: Now Featuring Much Less Transparency

Posted on April 16, 2025Categories Antitrust, Regulation

Among some of the big changes being made by the new Administration is the intention to no longer enforce the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) against U.S. citizens and domestic reporting companies. The CTA, enacted back in 2021, was designed and implemented to enhance corporate accountability and combat financial crimes like money laundering, fraud, tax evasion, and the like. It requires certain businesses to disclose their beneficial owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) with the goal of increasing transparency in corporate structures and organization. However, some recent developments have led to significant changes in the ability to enforce this act, sparking a lot of debate on the implications of (or without) the act.
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REAL ID or Bureaucratic Overreach? A Closer Look at the Federal Mandate

Posted on April 15, 2025Categories National Security, Transportation

As the long-postponed REAL ID deadline approaches in May 2025, states are scrambling to issue the updated identification cards amid public confusion and operational strain. Despite being marketed as a streamlined security measure, the REAL ID Act continues to spark debate nearly two decades after its passage—raising concerns about federal overreach, inconsistent implementation, and whether the program’s costs outweigh its benefits.
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Re-Farm-ation: Reforming American Crop Subsidies to Promote Healthier Diets and Better Lives

Posted on April 11, 2025Categories health

Today, ultra-processed foods make up approximately 60% of the average American adult diet, and 70% of American children’s diets. These highly processed diets are coupled with an increase in obesity, from approximately 15% in the 1970s to 40% today. The increase in American consumption of ultra-processed foods is a key contributor to increased obesity and related comorbidities that shorten American lives compared to other similarly situated wealthy countries. American agriculture is directly contributing to this issue through government grants, programs, and subsidies that encourage the production of crops like corn, sugar, and oilseeds that are often made into ultra-processed foods. Subsidy reforms can reduce Americans’ consumption of unhealthy, ultra-processed foods and promote healthier diets.
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They Came for the Neighbors: The Deportation of Lawfully Present Immigrants

Posted on April 10, 2025Categories International Affairs, National Security

Andry José Hernández Romero was detained for suspected involvement with a notorious Venezuelan crime organization. The evidence? Two crown tattoos atop the words “Mom” and “Dad” on his wrists. A gay makeup artist, Romero fled his home country of Venezuela to escape persecution for his sexuality and political beliefs. Romero is only one of many non-citizens who, despite being lawfully present in the U.S., face unprecedented risk of deportation due to little more than superficial characteristics under Trump’s aggressive immigration tactics.
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