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THE LATEST ON GOVERNMENT INQUIRIES AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS

Government Investigations and White Collar Litigation Group

McGuireWoods LLP

At McGuireWoods, we deliver quality work, personalized service and exceptional value. We use technology to provide efficient legal solutions and employ a diverse workforce to bring real-world and innovative perspectives to meeting our clients’ needs. With more than 1,000 lawyers and 21 strategically located offices worldwide, McGuireWoods uses client-focused teams to serve public, private, government and nonprofit clients from many industries, including automotive, energy resources, healthcare, technology and transportation.

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New Executive Order Targets DEI Practices by Federal Contractors, Imposes Mandatory Contract Clause and FCA Liability

By Edwin O. Childs, Abram J. Pafford, Jack White, John Adams, Elissa Baur, Brett Barnett, Michael J. Podberesky, David Greenspan, John E. Thomas, Jr., William Doyle, Elena Marcuss, Michael R. Phillips, Jason M. Vespoli, John Sullivan, Sophie Marsh and McGuireWoods LLP on Enforcement and Prosecution Policy and Trends, Fraud, Deception and False Claims, Government Contracts
Continuing his Administration’s efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities, President Donald Trump signed an executive order, “Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors,” on March 26, 2026 that directs all executive departments and agencies to include a new clause in all federal contracts and subcontracts prohibiting what the order defines as “racially discriminatory… Continue Reading

When AI Isn’t Privileged, Confirmed: SDNY’s Written Opinion Elaborates on Confidentiality, Work Product, and Waiver

By Garen S. Marshall, David Hirsch, Aaron R. Marienthal, Jeffrey P. Ehrlich, Alice Moscicki and McGuireWoods LLP on Enforcement and Prosecution Policy and Trends, Securities and Commodities
On February 10, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff of the Southern District of New York issued a bench ruling holding that a defendant’s use of generative AI to analyze legal exposure is not protected under attorney-client privilege or the work product doctrine. See When AI Isn’t Privileged: SDNY Rules Generative AI Documents Not Protected. On… Continue Reading

DoW Announces Line-by-Line Review of Certain 8(a) Contracts Amid Government-wide Scrutiny of the 8(a) Program

By Edwin O. Childs, Brett Barnett, Michael J. Podberesky, Abram J. Pafford, John Adams, Jack White, Elissa Baur, Benjamin L. Hatch, Michael Scoville, John S. Moran, Jason M. Vespoli, Michael A. Brody and McGuireWoods LLP on Government Contracts
On January 16, 2026, the Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted a video on social media announcing that the Department of War will conduct a “line‑by‑line review of every small business, sole source, 8(a) contract that is over $20 million,” focusing on impermissible pass‑throughs to large businesses.  This action by the DoW aligns with broader… Continue Reading

Department of Defense Issues Final Rule on Cybersecurity Standards for Contractors

By Edwin O. Childs, Andrew Konia, Abram J. Pafford, Todd R. Steggerda, Jack White, Jason M. Vespoli, John Sullivan, Sophie Marsh and McGuireWoods LLP on Government Contracts
After years of waiting, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) posted to the Federal Register for public inspection on September 9, 2025, a final rule implementing the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 (CMMC 2.0) standards into the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) (the Final Rule), which was formally published a day later on September… Continue Reading

FinCEN Hits Pause: AML Rule for Investment Advisers Delayed

By Jeffrey M. Hanna, Jackie Wells, Chelsea Smith Press and McGuireWoods LLP on Anti-Money Laundering
In a move to balance regulatory efficiency and cost, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) officially announced on July 21, 2025, that it will postpone the effective date, from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2028, of the Investment Adviser Anti-Money Laundering Rule (“IA AML Rule”), see Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism Program… Continue Reading

Practical Tips for Companies Following President Trump’s Pause on FCPA Enforcement

By Caroline Schmidt Burton, Justin Givens, Alex J. Brackett, V. Kathleen Dougherty, Jason H. Cowley, John S. Moran, Roy Dixon III and McGuireWoods LLP on Anti-Bribery and Corruption
Since the President signed the February 10, 2025 Executive Order (Order) pausing enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) (Client Alert: President Trump issues Executive Order “Pausing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Enforcement to Further American Economic and National Security”), companies with cross-border business operations have likely faced questions from both internal and external stakeholders… Continue Reading

DOJ Ramps up Resources and Renews Focus on Combatting COVID-19 Related Fraud in 2022

By McGuireWoods LLP on Fraud, Deception and False Claims
On March 10, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the appointment of Associate Deputy Attorney General Kevin Chambers to serve as the Director for DOJ’s COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force. In remarks delivered at the American Bar Association’s 37th National Institute on White Collar Crime earlier this month, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland… Continue Reading

D.C. Circuit Rebukes CFPB in PHH Case

By McGuireWoods LLP on Enforcement and Prosecution Policy and Trends, Financial Institution Regulation
In a major setback for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), the D.C. Circuit issued a significant ruling today that found the CFPB’s single director structure unconstitutional, ruled against the CFPB on important statutory interpretations – including the Bureau’s position that it was not subject to any statute of limitations in enforcement proceedings – and… Continue Reading

Proposed New Legislation Would Extend CFPB Oversight Over SCRA

By McGuireWoods LLP on Financial Institution Regulation
On June 11, 2015, Sen. Jack Reed [D-RI] introduced a bill amending the Consumer Financial Protection Act to extend CFPB oversight and protection to include key provisions of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).  The SCRA provides an array of protections to members of the military, including postponing civil obligations so that servicemembers can better fulfill… Continue Reading

National Mortgage Servicer Pays CFPB and FTC $63 Million to Settle Claims Over Alleged Servicing Violations

By McGuireWoods LLP on Enforcement and Prosecution Policy and Trends, Financial Institution Regulation
 On April 21, 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a joint enforcement action and joint order with a national mortgage servicer. The CFPB and FTC alleged that the servicer failed to honor loan modifications transferred from other servicers and insisted that borrowers pay their original, higher monthly… Continue Reading

CFPB Issues Sweeping Proposal to Regulate Prepaid Financial Products

By McGuireWoods LLP on Financial Institution Regulation
On November 13, 2014, the CFPB proposed expansive federal regulations establishing requirements for prepaid financial products. The proposed regulations cover “traditional” prepaid cards that can be loaded with money and used to store funds, make payments, withdraw cash, receive direct deposits, and send funds to others. According to the CFPB , consumers are expected to… Continue Reading

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