On December 23, the Treasury issued an NPRM in the Federal Register titled “Debt Collection Authorities Under the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996” proposing to revise regulations governing the Treasury Offset Program (TOP). TOP is a centralized system administered by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service that collects delinquent debts owed to the U.S., states, or tribal agencies under Section 455(f) of the Social Security Act by withholding eligible federal and state payments to satisfy those debts. The Treasury stated that the proposal aims to restore statutory flexibility, implement new authorities, eliminate repetitive language, and reorganize rules for clarity and comprehension.
In a Truth Social post, President Trump backed a bill called the Credit Card Competition Act (sometimes called the Durbin-Marshall credit card mandate), saying it will help put an end to what he calls “out-of-control swipe fee rip-offs.” Swipe fees — more formally known as interchange fees — are the charges merchants pay every time a customer pays with a credit card. Although these fees are not directly visible to consumers, merchants often argue that they are reflected in higher prices for goods and services.
As 2025 concluded, the "soft landing" narrative met a more complex reality: a divergence in consumer financial health that demands a recalibrated recovery infrastructure. While aggregate spending remains resilient, the composition of that spending is shifting toward a more cautious, "needs-based" posture.
On January 13, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a decision in Howard v. Republican National Committee (RNC) offering two important interpretations of the applicability of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to certain text message communications:
.jpg)
.jpg)