Government and Policy Sector
The Trump administration issued a memorandum enabling private security firms to launch offensive cyber operations under oversight, while ending federal Medicaid funding for youth gender-affirming care. Concurrently, the SEC canceled its Regulation Crypto framework meeting, and the CPUC approved Charter's merger with Cox California Telcom subject to $305 million in investments.
President Donald Trump signed a national security memorandum authorizing private security firms to conduct offensive cyber operations against overseas transnational criminal organizations. Under the new program overseen by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, vetted private companies can execute surveillance and disruptive cyber effects, including data destruction and network encryption, against foreign groups targeting Americans. Participating firms must maintain a bond or escrow of at least $1 million to ensure compliance with federal agreements. Critics note that because threat actors frequently route attacks through innocent infrastructure, striking back risks hitting unintended bystanders.
Projections estimate the 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment will land between 3.4% and 3.8% as cooling inflation alters earlier forecasts. The adjustment relies on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, which rose 3.4% over the 12 months ending in July. Because the official calculation requires the average of July, August, and September data, current figures remain preliminary ahead of the Social Security Administration's October announcement. Independent analyst Mary Johnson lowered her estimate to 3.4% following the July data release, down from a peak of 4.7% in June. Meanwhile, The Senior Citizens League expects a 3.8% increase, and AARP projects a 3.5% bump that would raise the average retired worker's monthly benefit by $73. Even with downward revisions across major forecasts, the projected increases remain above the long-term historical average of approximately 2.6%.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission abruptly canceled a meeting scheduled for Friday to propose its long-awaited "Regulation Crypto" framework, citing an unforeseen scheduling issue. The agency intended to reveal a tailored offering regime allowing crypto startups to raise capital without triggering traditional registration requirements. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins previously positioned the rulemaking as a central component of his digital assets agenda following legislative gridlock in the Senate. Lawmakers left Washington for a five-week recess without advancing the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, leaving the industry without a comprehensive statutory framework. In the absence of congressional action, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission are attempting to establish alternative regulatory pathways for digital assets.