INSIDE COMPLIANCE – Page 4 – Loyola University Chicago School of Law

Regulating Childhood: Mass Deportations of Unaccompanied Minors

March 13, 2025Department of Justice, Regulation

Undocumented minors are children, and the federal government should treat them as such. The attitude and justifications for harsh immigration policies are deeply rooted in the United States’ history along the Southern border and remain all too prevalent in today’s “tough on crime” approach to immigration. The Trump administration has repeatedly referred to undocumented immigrants as “criminals,” even though more than half of the 43,759 people held in ICE detention facilities have no criminal record. Yet, undocumented children appear to be the latest target of the president’s anti-immigrant crusade.

childrenDepartment of Health & Human ServicesImmigrationTrump Administration

CFPB Faces Uncertain Future: What it Means for Consumers

March 12, 2025Banking, Regulation

The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a government agency that ensures consumers are “treated fairly by banks, lenders, and other financial institutions.” Along with enforcing consumer protection laws, the CFPB oversees products, like credit cards and mortgages, and investigates complaints regarding dishonest or illegal activity to hold companies accountable. The CFPB has faced controversy about whether or not the agency has too much power. However, the CFPB is currently under increased scrutiny by the Trump administration, which could result in issues with consumer financial protections.

agencyBankingBanking/FinanceCFPBconsumerscreditcredit reportingDOGEFederal Reservefinancial lawgovernmentloansMortgageprotectionsscamswatchdog

Executive Order 14216: What it Means for the Regulatory State

March 7, 2025Journal of Regulatory Compliance, Regulation

On February 18, 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14216, titled “Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies,” mandating that independent federal agencies route their rules and new actions through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The order aims to enhance presidential oversight over agencies that traditionally operate with a degree of autonomy, like as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The order signifies a substantial shift in the dynamics of the American regulatory state.

DOGEFTCRegulationTrump

Effects of Ongoing Deregulation Under the Trump Administration: DOGE and the Congressional Review Act

March 6, 2025Regulation

Congressional Republicans have faced growing public pushback in early 2025, even from their own voters, regarding their collective inaction as the Trump administration has continued to consolidate power in the executive branch. At the same time, Congressional Republicans have faced increased pressure from the Trump administration, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, to continue to gut regulations and deliver President Trump’s corporate-focused agenda. One method that experts expect Republican lawmakers to utilize in addressing these pressures is the Congressional Review Act (CRA). The CRA allows Congress to repeal recently issued final regulations with only a narrow majority, which could thus lead to harmful deregulation that will likely compound the deregulatory actions already seen by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Congressional Review ActderegulationDOGEEPA

Curbing Censorship: The Constitutional Challenges of Addressing Social Media Moderation

March 5, 2025FTC, Regulation

At a time when online spaces have become central for news, connection, and the exchange of ideas, the balance between free speech and content moderation is more important than ever. In recent months, there have been rising concerns over potential government censorship and the proliferation of misinformation, especially on social media. The lack of transparency in the tech industry makes this issue uniquely tricky, as each platform’s distinct algorithms are largely proprietary. However, many users feel that their voices are being silenced based on the nature of the content they are releasing. The possibilities for remedying these concerns are limited, as the First Amendment expressly protects private companies from government censorship (including the requirement that they host specific content), but there are several potential paths forward that could have far-reaching implications for the future of social media content moderation.

big techcensorshipconstitutionalityenforcementexecutive orderexpressionFacebookFirst Amendmentfree speechFTCInstagramOIRAsocial mediaSupreme CourtTrumptwitter

DEI Under Fire: Corporate Compliance After Trump’s Executive Orders

March 5, 2025Employment, The Art of Compliance, Uncategorized

In January 2025, President Donald Trump issued a series of executive orders aimed at dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the federal government and, by extension, influencing private-sector compliance. These executive actions, presented as a means of restoring merit-based hiring and eliminating what the administration described as “illegal discrimination,” have had profound effects on corporate compliance efforts across industries. While the immediate legal impact has primarily affected federal agencies and contractors, the broader implications have created uncertainty within corporate America, forcing many companies to reassess the scope and structure of their DEI initiatives. This article examines the legal and regulatory ramifications of these executive orders and explores how they have influenced corporate compliance strategies in the evolving landscape of workplace diversity policies.

Corporate ComplianceDEIexecutive order

Chicago’s Low-Income Housing Trust Fund at a Crossroads: Leadership, Equity, and an Uncertain Future

February 28, 2025Compliance Spotlight, Regulation

On February 11, the Chicago City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate delayed approval of the appointment of eight board members to oversee the city’s low-income housing trust fund. The vote was postponed due to concerns about the lack of Black representation on the board and among the appointees, particularly from the South and West sides. For decades, Chicago has grappled with the challenge of providing affordable housing to its poorest residents. The Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund (“Trust Fund”), established in 1987, has been a crucial force in addressing this need. The Trust Fund was created through a City Council ordinance and supports low-income residents—those earning at or below 50% of the city’s median income—by funding rental subsidies and housing programs.

ChicagoChicago Coalition to end HomelessnessChicago Low-Income Housing Trust FundcompliancehomelesshomelessnessHousingRegulationSam Paler-Ponce

Banking Regulators Accused of Debanking Scheme Targeted at Cryptocurrency

February 27, 2025Banking, Cryptocurrency

On January 23, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at supporting the growth of digital assets and blockchain technologies across the American economy, mitigating risks associated with Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), and protecting fair and open access to banking services for all private-sector entities. This executive order was created following accusations from industry leaders in digital assets who claim that banking regulators at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) were encouraged by the Biden administration to instruct banks to deny banking services to digital asset companies, also known as debanking. To investigate these claims further, the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs conducted a hearing on February 5, 2025 to hear directly from industry leaders about the depth and impact of the allegations.

BankingCFPBCongressCryptocurrencyDebankingDigital AssetsFDICFederal Reservefinancefinancial regulation

Investigation into the Rise of Bird Flu in Dairy Farms and the Role of Regulatory Compliance

February 27, 2025Food and Drug Law

The recent emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu, in U.S. dairy farms has raised significant public health and regulatory concerns. While traditionally associated with poultry, the virus’s spread to dairy cattle has prompted urgent investigations into transmission patterns, biosecurity measures, and regulatory compliance. As federal and state agencies respond to this development, businesses must navigate evolving compliance requirements to ensure public safety and maintain industry stability.

Bird FluCDCcompliance programFDA regulationsOSHA

The Stained Story of Red Dye No. 3

February 26, 2025FDA, Food and Drug Law

In January 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a ban on the use of Red Dye No. 3 (erythrosine) in food and ingested drugs. The main concern regarding the dye is that it is a potential carcinogen; studies from the 1980s found laboratory rats which were fed Erythrosine developed thyroid cancer. According to the Environmental Working Group, there are approximately 2,900 food products currently in the market that contain the dye, such as cherry sodas, candies, and frosting (not to mention medicines and supplements). While the ban is a step in the right direction, it is far overdue and leaves questions about what should be done about other artificial dyes that remain in the market.

artificial food color additives