Government & Policy
Legislation, executive orders, regulatory changes, and government actions that directly impact personal finances, taxes, benefits, or the economy.
Latest in Government & Policy
The VA cleared 2 million disability claims this year, cutting the average wait to 78.6 days
Veterans filing disability claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs are getting answers faster than at any point in recent memory. The agency reported that...
A federal law bans surprise bills for out-of-network emergency care, but hospitals still send them
Patients who arrive at an emergency room with no time to choose a doctor or check whether a facility is in their insurance network are...
Starting July 1, Virginia banks must automatically shield part of your wages and benefits from garnishment
Virginians who receive Social Security, veterans’ benefits, or other federal payments through direct deposit will gain an automatic layer of protection when a creditor tries...
Regulators recalled “Diablo Rising” fireworks that can explode and burn users before July 4.
Bada Boom Fireworks is pulling its Pyro Diablo “Diablo Rising” 9 Shots aerial device, model PD-C5001, from the market after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety...
A new veterans bill in Congress would cut disability pay for up to 1.5 million veterans to help fund a benefit for the combat-injured.
Up to 1.5 million veterans could see their disability compensation reduced under a bill that pairs those cuts with an expanded benefit for combat-injured military...
California will require chain restaurants to list major allergens on their menus
Millions of Californians who manage food allergies will soon get a new layer of protection when eating at chain restaurants. Starting July 1, 2026, food...
LIHEAP helps lower-income households pay heating and cooling bills, yet many who qualify never apply
More than one in four U.S. households reported difficulty paying for energy in 2020, yet the main federal program designed to help covers only a...
The Education Department has paused wage garnishment and tax-refund seizures for defaulted student-loan borrowers while it rolls out a new plan
Federal student-loan borrowers in default will not face wage deductions or tax-refund seizures while the U.S. Department of Education prepares to launch new repayment options....
More than 1 million older adults aged 55 to 64 are projected to lose food stamps as new SNAP work rules raise the age limit
More than 1 million adults between the ages of 55 and 64 face the loss of their food assistance benefits as expanded work requirements under...
Trump’s promised $2,000 tariff “dividend” checks aren’t coming, analysts say, with no law passed and the odds near zero
Americans waiting for $2,000 tariff “dividend” checks from the federal government will not receive them. No law authorizing the payments has passed Congress, the Supreme...
Starting January 2027, Medicaid will require many adults to work or volunteer 80 hours a month to keep their coverage
Starting in January 2027, many low-income adults on Medicaid will have to document at least 80 hours a month of work, school, or community service...
An estimated 5.3 million more people could become uninsured as Medicaid adds work requirements
Millions of adults who currently receive Medicaid coverage face the prospect of losing it under a new federal rule that ties eligibility to monthly work...
Who pays more now that Obamacare’s enhanced subsidies have lapsed? Households earning above four times the poverty line lose help entirely
Millions of Americans who earned above 400 percent of the federal poverty line just lost their Affordable Care Act premium subsidies entirely. Congress temporarily removed...
Oregon now shields at least $400 of weekly wages from garnishment
Oregon workers facing wage garnishment for consumer debt will keep more of each paycheck starting July 1, 2026, when the state’s protected weekly earnings floor...
From July 1, Virginia bars foreclosing on a home over medical debt
Virginia homeowners who owe money for medical care will gain a direct legal shield against losing their homes when the state’s Medical Debt Protection Act...
A new Connecticut law makes subscription services send yearly renewal reminders and an easy way to cancel
Connecticut residents who have been blindsided by surprise subscription charges now have stronger legal backing. The state’s autorenewal law requires subscription services to obtain a...
Most states cut property taxes for veterans, and fully exempt many disabled vets
Veterans with severe service-connected disabilities can eliminate their entire property tax bill in several states, a benefit that saves thousands of dollars a year for...
A federal program with about $4 billion in funding helps low-income households pay summer cooling bills, but you must apply
Millions of low-income households across the United States face rising summer temperatures with no guarantee they can afford to run air conditioning. A federal block...
Veterans filing new PACT Act toxic-exposure claims now get benefits only from the filing date, since the backdating window closed
Veterans who file new toxic-exposure disability claims under the PACT Act now receive compensation starting only from the date they submit their paperwork. The special...
The VA will pay $220 billion in disability benefits to more than 7 million veterans and survivors this year
More than 7 million veterans and survivors are set to receive a combined $220 billion in disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs during...