The October 20, 2026 edition of the Federal Register, the most recent issue published as of this writing, ran to 82 documents. Most were routine: information-collection requests, advisory committee meetings, and disaster declarations. A handful carry real consequences for national security procurement, energy infrastructure, Medicare, and trade. This digest covers the items The Investigative Journal considers most significant, with the comment deadlines readers need to act on them.
1. DHS Orders DeepSeek Out of Federal Civilian Systems
The Department of Homeland Security published notice of an order from the Secretary of Homeland Security that does two things. It excludes information technology products and services developed by Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co., Ltd., including affiliated entities, from federal civilian agency procurements. It also directs the removal of DeepSeek and affiliate products, and of third-party products and services built using DeepSeek implementations, from civilian agency IT systems. The notice appears at 91 FR 66346.
According to the public inspection copy of the notice, the order was issued under the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act of 2018 (41 U.S.C. 1321-1328) and its implementing regulations at 41 CFR part 201-1. The stated basis is the Secretary’s review of a recommendation from the Federal Acquisition Security Council and related evidence. The notice does not describe that evidence, and it does not state a compliance or removal deadline. The signed order is referenced as being available in regulations.gov docket DHS-2026-0628, and questions are directed to the CISA FASCSA Order Implementation Team.
The significance is practical. The reach to “third-party products and services developed using DeepSeek implementations” means that contractors embedding the company’s models in other software could face scrutiny. Agencies and vendors will want to see the implementation guidance and the order itself to understand how far that downstream language extends. Because the notice is silent on timing, the pace of removal remains an open question.
2. FERC Proposes a Blanket Authorization Program for LNG Plants
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proposed to revise its regulations to establish procedures for authorizing certain activities at liquefied natural gas plants without case-specific authorization orders under sections 3 or 7 of the Natural Gas Act. The proposal is published at 91 FR 66492, and comments are due December 21, 2026.
FERC’s own materials from its October 15 Commission meeting describe a three-tier structure modeled on the existing blanket certificate program for pipelines. The first tier would allow automatic authorization, after landowner and community notification, for component work that does not increase authorized capacity or expand the plant footprint. The second tier would require 60 days of prior notice, with a protest period, for capacity increases within the existing footprint. The third tier would require 90 days of prior notice for new facilities such as liquefaction trains, tanks, and marine berths, including some work outside the footprint if it permanently occupies no more than 25 acres of previously disturbed or developed land in industrial or unzoned areas. FERC is asking whether the 25-acre limit is appropriate and who should be eligible to protest a prior-notice project.
The proposal also keeps other federal sign-offs in place. According to FERC, projects would need a determination from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and section 3 projects would require Department of War concurrence through its clearinghouse process. The balance regulators strike between speed and review will be central to the comments.
3. FERC Draft Policy Would Drop Air Dispersion Modeling Requests
In a companion action, FERC issued notice of a draft policy statement on efficient environmental reviews of natural gas project applications (91 FR 66328, Docket PL26-3-000). Under the draft, FERC would generally stop asking applicants for air dispersion modeling for compressor stations and LNG facilities, and would stop relying on such modeling when assessing operational air quality effects under the National Environmental Policy Act. It would instead rely on other information, including applicable state and federal air rules and an applicant’s compliance with them. FERC says the approach avoids overlap with Clean Air Act permitting handled by EPA and state agencies. Per the FERC announcement, Chairman Laura Swett described it as a step to cut unnecessary review delays.
Comments on implementation are due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on November 16, 2026. FERC says it is seeking input on how to implement the policy, not on its legal basis.
4. CMS Proposes Rules on PBMs, Provider Directories, and Part D Copays
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed a rule implementing sections 6219, 6220, and 6224 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (91 FR 66408). Comments must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern on December 15, 2026.
According to the CMS fact sheet, the proposal would lower the Part D generic copayment from $1 to $0 for certain full-benefit dual-eligible individuals at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty level, starting with plan year 2028. It would set verification and accuracy standards for Medicare Advantage provider directories starting in contract year 2028, with public posting of accuracy scores beginning in 2029. On pharmacy benefit managers, CMS proposes limits on remuneration tied to Part D drug utilization, reporting requirements, transparency for price guarantee arrangements, and disclosure of certain PBM agreements with drug manufacturers. Enforcement mechanisms include disgorgement of funds to CMS for remuneration violations.
Congress addressed PBM practices in the underlying statute, and this rule would set how CMS applies it. The comment record from plan sponsors, pharmacies, and PBMs will show how workable the proposed definitions and reporting duties are.
5. DOE Notice: Texas LNG Seeks Five More Years to Begin Exports
The Department of Energy gave notice that Texas LNG Brownsville LLC asked to extend its deadline to begin exports to non-free-trade-agreement countries (91 FR 66322). Comments, protests, and motions to intervene are due by 4:30 p.m. Eastern on November 19, 2026.
According to the company’s request, the current deadline under DOE/FE Order No. 4489 is February 10, 2027, and Texas LNG asks for February 10, 2032. It cites roughly six years of litigation and remand proceedings and separate air permit litigation that was not fully resolved until January 2026. The company says it has not reached a final investment decision. It reports issuing a limited notice to proceed to its contractor in July 2026 and a $500 million investment led by HPS Investment Partners. These are the company’s statements, and DOE has not ruled on the request.
6. BOEM Sets Terms for American Samoa Seabed Minerals Auction
The Interior Department’s Ocean Energy Management Bureau published notice of the American Samoa Outer Continental Shelf Pacific Mineral Lease Sale 1 (notice 2026-21462). According to the BOEM sale page, the proposed sale date is November 19, 2026, covering two lease areas of roughly 16.3 million and 15.2 million acres for polymetallic nodules and ferromanganese crusts. The minimum bonus bid is $3 million per area, royalties are 5 percent on delineation and testing production and 2 percent for the first five years of mining before rising to 5 percent, and no royalty relief is offered. Bidders must file a financial form by October 29, and initial deposits are due November 5. BOEM says the sale could be delayed or terms revised, and the Governor of American Samoa has a 60-day window to comment on the Notice of Availability.
7. USDA Proposes Lower Maturation Temperature for Beef Imports from FMD Regions
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service proposed reducing the minimum maturation temperature for fresh boneless beef and ovine meat from listed foot-and-mouth disease regions from 4 degrees Celsius to 2 degrees Celsius (91 FR 66291). APHIS says the change aligns U.S. rules with World Organization for Animal Health standards while continuing to protect against FMD introduction, and all other mitigations would remain unchanged. Comments are due December 21, 2026. Domestic cattle producers will likely watch the docket closely.
Also Noted
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control published three notices of sanctions actions that day, two adding names to the SDN List and one removing names (2026-21445, 2026-21398, 2026-21423). The abstracts do not name the persons; readers should consult Treasury’s recent actions page. FRA and FTA also invited comment, through November 19, on Utah’s application to assume federal environmental review responsibilities for rail and transit projects. FDA issued final guidance on new dietary ingredient notifications.
What It Means for TIJ’s Beats
For supply chain and foreign influence reporting, the DeepSeek order is the item to pursue: the evidence behind the Council’s recommendation, the docket materials, and agency implementation timelines are all public-record questions. For energy and regulatory accountability, the two FERC actions and the Texas LNG request each aim to shorten or simplify federal review steps, and the comment dockets will reveal who supports or opposes less modeling and fewer case-specific orders. On health spending, the CMS PBM provisions deserve a close read of the disgorgement mechanism. TIJ will track these dockets as deadlines approach.
Right of reply: This digest summarizes public documents and agency statements; no agency or company was contacted for comment. Agencies and companies named are invited to submit responses, which TIJ will consider for publication. Proposed rules and requests described here are not final, and descriptions of company claims are attributed to the filings.