Category:Regulation
CrowdStrike’s Setback: A Blueprint for Better Third-Party Risk Compliance
Earlier this year, CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity company, experienced a major outage caused by an automatic software update. This incident disrupted services globally, affecting over 8.5 million devices, including critical sectors such as healthcare and financial services. As businesses increasingly rely on third-party vendors for cybersecurity, this outage underscores the importance of managing third-party risks and ensuring digital resilience. Organizations can use this event as a valuable lesson to reassess their risk management practices and strengthen their defenses. Furthermore, the incident reveals how even highly reputed vendors are not immune to failure, stressing the need for layered defenses that safeguard against vendor disruptions at every level.
South Carolina’s Archaic Liquor Laws and Insurance Regulations
For many Americans, turning twenty-one means the end of alcohol regulations. However, for the people of South Carolina, that is not always the case. Hosting a Sunday brunch and need last-minute liquor supplies? Stores are closed. Need to make a quick stop at the liquor store for your weekend festivities after work? If it is after 7 p.m. that is not possible. South Carolina’s archaic alcohol regulations have frequently been a topic of concern for businesses, individuals, and the government. Many believe that the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, the source for these laws, should be amended to mirror other states with less stringent laws regarding the sale of alcohol. Even more recently, the insurance liabilities imposed on sellers of alcohol in South Carolina have increased, leading to the closure of many businesses. If these regulations do not change in the coming years, the South Carolina legislature is likely to see increasing violations of these regulations or an increase in the number of small businesses closing.
Bars and Barriers: DHS Proposed Rule Permits Application of Mandatory Bars During Credible Fear Screenings
On May 13, 2024 the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking which would allow asylum officers (“AOs”) to consider the applicability of certain mandatory bars to asylum and statutory withholding of removal during credible fear screenings. The proposed rule has garnered significant support and opposition from several groups and organizations, but it marks an unprecedented change to the asylum-seeking process that could create additional barriers to relief for asylum seekers.
Will Chicago’s Northwest Side Ordinance Protect Affordable Housing Along “The 606”?
On September 19th, 2024, the Chicago City Council passed the Northwest Side Housing Preservation Ordinance “Northwest Side Ordinance” by a vote of 44-3. The ordinance is designed to fight gentrification and preserve affordable housing in a set area near “The 606” recreation trail that includes parts of the Avondale, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Logan Square and West Town neighborhoods. The DePaul Institute for Housing Studies found that, between 2013 and 2018, communities on the western end of The 606 lost almost 60% of their two to six flat buildings. To address this, Chicago City Council passed two ordinances in 2021 that changed zoning regulations to reduce displacement in both Pilsen and communities near The 606. These regulations proved to be very successful in slowing demolitions and deconversions within the boundaries of the study area and resulted in the permanent Northwest Side ordinance passed by City Council last month.
What the Indian Child Welfare Act Means for Tribal Sovereignty
The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) has been considered the “gold standard” of child welfare best practice from experts in the field. This is because it requires active efforts to keep children safe in their homes and connected to their families, communities, and culture. For the past 46 years, ICWA has stood as a powerful force in protecting Native American children and preserving Indigenous cultures. Considering that reunification is the most common goal for children in foster care, ICWA is an essential means of reaching this goal in a culturally responsible way for Native American children. Further protections at the state level as well as expanding ICWA are necessary to protect tribal sovereignty in the removal of their children.
Boeing’s Missteps Lead to Heavier Congressional Oversight
Boeing’s controversial history including the publicized suicide of one of its whistleblowers shortly before his deposition to TikTok videos of panels blowing off mid-air or planes catching fire have prompted public scrutiny. These events, mainly the latter, have raised also questions about Boeing’s compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations the Department of Justice (DOJ) rulings. However, this is not the first time these concerns have come to light.
Can Cutting Red Tape Improve Chicago’s Affordable Housing Crisis?
On April 5th, 2024, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson published the Cut the Tape Report as part of his administration’s focus on confronting Chicago’s affordable housing shortage. The report marks the completion of the first step in the process put in place by Mayor Johnson’s Executive Order 2023-21. The order aimed to identify inefficiencies and redundancies in the city’s administrative processes to shorten Chicago’s residential and commercial development timelines. The report resulted from collaboration between fourteen city departments, numerous external stakeholders, and six peer cities, identifying over 100 recommendations for improvements to the development process.
IRS & Treasury to Crack Down on Basis Shifting Among Complex Partnerships
On June 17, 2024, the Biden Administration issued a press release detailing plans to push forward a new multi-stage regulatory initiative targeting tax evasion among large business partnerships. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and U.S. Treasury Department will lead the charge to end abuses of a practice known as “basis shifting,” often used by complex partnerships to maximize deductions and consequentially minimize tax liability.