Claire Walsh
Claire Walsh covering Federal Executive for COG. AI-driven reporting sourced from the public record.
12 reports on the record.
Administration of Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Trading Program Assurance Provisions for 2025 Control Period
Environmental Protection Agency | Rule | The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing notice of the availability of data on the administration of the assurance provisions of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) trading program for the 2025 control period. Virginia units participating in the CSAPR NO X Ozone Season Group 2E Trading Program during the 2025 control period reported total nitrogen oxides (NO X ) emissions that exceeded the State's assurance level under the program. The EPA has posted on the Agency's website a spreadsheet that presents data demonstrating the exceedance and the Agency's final calculations of the additional allowances that owners and operators..
Tobacco Products: FDA Should Monitor Timeliness of Application Reviews
What GAO Found In 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded its authority to oversee all tobacco products, including millions of e-cigarettes that were already on the market. In response, it received a surge of applications from manufacturers in 2020 for products seeking authorization to remain on the market legally. Specifically, it received over 25 million applications in 2020 and 2021, compared to just over 1 thousand applications in 2018 and 2019. This led to a backlog of applications. While FDA has since reviewed most of the applications submitted during this period, almost 132 thousand remained without a completed review as of December 31, 2025. (See figure.) Figure: FDA T.
Air Plan Approval; Reconsideration and Repeal of Air Plan Partial Approval and Partial Disapproval of North Dakota’s Regional Haze State Implementation Plan for the Second Implementation Period; Correction
Environmental Protection Agency | Proposed Rule | On September 9, 2026 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) proposed to repeal a final rule published in the Federal Register (FR) on December 2, 2024, partially approving and partially disapproving North Dakota's 2022 regional haze State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission for the second implementation period. The EPA proposed in the same action to approve the portions of North Dakota's 2022 SIP submission for the second implementation period that were disapproved in the EPA's 2024 partial approval/partial disapproval. The ADDRESSES section of the proposed rulemaking contained an incorrect Docket Identification Number (Do.
Medical Devices; Gastroenterology-Urology Devices; Classification of the Flushing and Storage Solution for Vascular Autografts at Room Temperature
Health and Human Services Department, Food and Drug Administration | Rule | The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is classifying the flushing and storage solution for vascular autografts at room temperature into class II (special controls). The special controls that apply to the device type are identified in this order and will be part of the codified language for classification of the flushing and storage solution for vascular autografts at room temperature. We are taking this action because we have determined that classifying the device into class II will provide a reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device. We believe this action will also enhance patients' acces.
Maternal Health: Information on and Federal Oversight of Mortality Review Committees
What GAO Found The U.S. faces a maternal mortality crisis, with mortality rates that exceed every other high-income country. More than 600 women die during pregnancy or from causes aggravated by pregnancy each year in the U.S.; over 80 percent of these deaths are preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To help prevent these kinds of deaths, CDC provides funding for Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs). These committees, typically supported and maintained by state and local health agencies, identify factors contributing to pregnancy-related deaths and make recommendations to patients and their families, providers, hospitals, or state policymake.
Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Charlotte-Rock Hill Area Maintenance Plan for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS
Environmental Protection Agency | Proposed Rule | On February 28, 2025, the State of North Carolina, through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality (NCDAQ), submitted a request for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision containing the State's plan for maintaining the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) through 2035 for the North Carolina portion of the bi-state Charlotte-Rock Hill, North Carolina-South Carolina 2008 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (the entire area is hereinafter referred to as the "bi-state Charlotte Area" and the North Carolina portion is hereinafter..
Drug Scheduling: While DEA Decisions Have Aligned with Recent HHS Recommendations, Both Need Comprehensive Policies
What GAO Found Under the Controlled Substances Act, substances that pose a risk of abuse and dependence are placed in categories—referred to as schedules. To carry out certain scheduling actions, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is required to obtain a scheduling recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) based on a scientific and medical evaluation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Evaluations and recommendations from HHS or DEA are not required for substances scheduled through legislation. Of the 208 substances for which DEA took scheduling actions from 2020 through 2025, DEA considered HHS evaluations and recommendations for all 95 substance.
Medical Devices: FDA Should Strengthen Policies Guiding Audits of Third Party Review Organizations
What GAO Found The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) administers the Third Party Review Program, a voluntary alternative review process for selected low-to-moderate risk medical devices, such as diagnostic ultrasound systems and surgical lasers. Under this program, which is intended to facilitate faster reviews, device sponsors can contract with FDA-accredited entities. These entities, known as Third Party Review Organizations (third parties), conduct the initial review of certain premarket applications, known as 510(k) submissions. These third party reviews occur prior to agency officials making the final decision about whether the devic.
Indiana: Approval of State Coal Combustion Residuals Permit Program
Environmental Protection Agency | Proposed Rule | The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is proposing to approve Indiana's Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) partial permit program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). After reviewing the CCR permit program application submitted by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), EPA has preliminarily determined that Indiana's CCR permit program meets the standard for partial approval under RCRA. If approved, Indiana's CCR permit program will operate in lieu of the Federal CCR program, with the exception of the specific provisions noted below. EPA is seeking comment on this proposal during a 60-day.
Notice of August 31, 2026 Decisions on Petitions for Small Refinery Exemptions Under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program
Environmental Protection Agency | Notice | The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing notification of its final action entitled August 31, 2026 Decision on Petitions for RFS Small Refinery Exemptions ("August 31, 2026 SRE Decisions Action") in which EPA issued decisions on 34 small refinery exemption (SRE) petitions under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for the 2025 compliance year. EPA is also reissuing a decision for 1 petition for the 2024 compliance year that was originally issued in the August 3, 2026 Decision on Petitions for RFS Small Refinery Exemptions. EPA is providing this notification for public awareness of, and the basis for, EPA's decision announced on A.
Air Plan Approval; Commonwealth of Virginia; Transfer of Authority and Requests for Certain Public Hearings on Air Permits
Environmental Protection Agency | Proposed Rule | The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision request submitted by Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ) on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The SIP revisions intend to make some sections of Virginia regulation Revision D22 that became effective on November 23, 2022 federally enforceable. The revisions limit the authority of the Virginia State Air Pollution Control Board (Board) to the issuance of regulations, and transfer the board's existing authority to issue permits, orders, and variances to VADEQ. Additionally, the revisions establish procedures for pub.
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; National Communication System for Runaway and Homeless Youth, Currently Operated by the National Runaway Safeline Data Collection
Health and Human Services Department, Children and Families Administration | Notice | The Family and Youth Services Bureau's (FYSB) Runaway and Homeless Youth Division has a legislative requirement to fund a National Communication System, which is currently operated by the National Runaway Safeline (NRS). The NRS provides information, referral services, crisis intervention, and prevention resources to vulnerable youth at risk of running away and/or becoming homeless and their families or legal guardians at no cost. When necessary, the NRS refers runaway and homeless youth to shelters, counseling, medical assistance, and other vital services. The NRS collects information from all contacts wi.