In this episode of Holland & Knight's "The Eyes on Washington" podcast series, attorneys Rachel Gartner, Sara Klock, John Vaughan and Michael Werner discuss the evolving landscape of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation throughout the early months of the Trump Administration. Key topics include the significant organizational changes at the FDA, ongoing legal battles over compounded GLP-1 drugs and their market access, regulatory uncertainties surrounding laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) and anticipated reforms in food ingredient safety and cosmetic product oversight. The conversation also explores the administration's shifting approach to the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, predicting a lighter federal touch with increased state-level involvement and industry self-regulation. Additionally, the episode touches on the status of cannabis regulation and the fluid nature of enforcement and policy amid changes in the federal government, offering listeners valuable insights into navigating the current FDA regulatory environment.

In this episode of Holland & Knight's "The Eyes on Washington" podcast series, Agriculture & Food Policy Team Leaders Peter Tabor and Liz Craddock provide a comprehensive overview of food and agriculture policy updates from the first 60 days of the Trump Administration.

Mr. Tabor talks about the new Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, examining her background and readiness to implement President Donald Trump's agenda on issues such as trade. He also analyzes the status of paused funds from the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as updated dietary guidelines that are ready for review. Other topics include the impact of federal government workforce reduction initiatives on the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Forest Service and the evolving landscape of tariffs.

Meanwhile, Ms. Craddock explores the 119th Congress and its agriculture policy agenda. She provides insights into fiscal year (FY) 25 spending and compares it to previous years. As Ms. Craddock explains, with a number of provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) poised to expire, Congress is focusing on extending the legislation through budget reconciliation. Additionally, she discusses tax reform, which would be part of TCJA extensions, and the current conversations surrounding the Farm Bill.

This episode was originally released on June 4, 2024 | In this episode of "The Eyes on Washington Podcast," Public Policy & Regulation attorney Rich Gold is joined by public policy attorney Dimitrios Karakitsos and former Holland & Knight appellate litigation attorney Amit Agarwal to discuss the U.S. Supreme Court's impending decision related to Chevron deference. Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless v. Department of Commerce were consolidated and presented to the high court. Attorneys essentially have asked the justices to revisit its Chevron doctrine, which reviewing courts use to defer to agency interpretations of the statutes they're charged with administering. Mr. Gold, Mr. Agarwal and Mr. Karakitsos weigh the legal and political implications of the Supreme Court's decision ahead of its release.

This episode was originally released on May 17, 2021 | In this episode of "The Eyes on Washington Podcast" series, National Security & Defense Industry Sector Group leader Jason Klitenic introduces Partner Daniel Sennott and talks about drafting and passing the yearly National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Mr. Sennott's experience includes most recently a stint as a minority staff director for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services (HASC) in addition to service in the U.S. Army as an armor office and judge advocate. He explains the role of both HASC and its Senate counterpart as well as discusses how companies can interface with Congress and the Department of Defense to ensure their interests are represented in the NDAA. Mr. Sennott also provides an overview of the process of passing the NDAA, from the official kickoff in the president's budget request, to the extensive, sometimes days-long committee debate, to the final conference of the House and Senate bills. The attorneys conclude their conversation by highlighting a few key opportunities for contractors looking to enter the defense space, especially in the emerging technology sphere.

This episode was originally released on May 13, 2021 | In this episode of our Public Policy & Regulation Group's "The Eyes on Washington Podcast" series, Native American Law Partners Philip Baker-Shenk and Ken Parsons have a conversation with Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe Chairman/CEO Ron Allen on tax policy issues affecting Indian Country. They specifically discuss the general welfare exclusion (GWE), a tax safe harbor that applies to certain benefits given to tribal members, beginning with an explanation of the context for the passage of the 2014 General Welfare Exclusion Act and subsequent creation of the Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee (TTAC).

Mr. Allen is a member of the TTAC, and Mr. Parsons is a member of TTAC's General Welfare Exclusion Subcommittee. The committee is currently preparing a report to submit to the U.S. Department of the Treasury regarding the implementation of GWE, and both Mr. Parsons and Mr. Allen provide an update on that process. They also highlight what tribes need to know to take advantage of GWE: Mr. Parsons emphasizes the current moratorium on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audits and the broad coverage of the GWE statute, and Mr. Allen underscores the need for tribes to be proactive and draft safe harbor codes now, even if they have to be amended later. The conversation concludes by comparing the Biden Administration's relationship with Indian Country to that of previous administrations, along with previewing potential opportunities to come.

This post-election conversation in Holland & Knight's "The Eyes on Washington" podcast series looks at the interconnectedness of trade, immigration and agricultural policies, emphasizing the need for comprehensive solutions to address these critical issues. Agriculture & Food Policy Team Leaders Peter Tabor and Liz Craddock address significant updates in U.S. agriculture policy, examining the stalled Farm Bill and the repercussions of recent hurricanes on farmers.

Mr. Tabor talks about the importance of updating reference prices, which have not been revised since the 2014 Farm Bill, while Ms. Craddock notes the bipartisan support for increasing exports and discusses the implications of current tariffs on agricultural trade. They also touch on immigration policies, highlighting how the labor shortage in the agricultural sector exacerbates challenges faced by farmers, especially during the planting and harvesting seasons. They also delve into the influence of the upcoming Trump Administration on agricultural leadership, particularly focusing on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s potential role in shaping policies related to pesticides and climate-related funding.

In the second part of "Defense Dynamics: Navigating the Post-Election Landscape for the National Security Sector," hosts Misha Lehrer, Dan Sennott, and Simon Coon discuss the anticipated changes in U.S. defense policy following the 2024 elections, where Donald Trump is set for a second presidency alongside a Republican-controlled Congress. The conversation explores potential shifts in defense spending, the emphasis on military modernization, and how domestic policies may intersect with defense initiatives.

The hosts analyze implications for the Department of Defense's budget, including expectations for a larger budget focused on strategic priorities, competition with China, and the impact of a "Trump 2.0" administration. They consider how the defense industrial base will adapt to new strategies and funding directives, along with the bipartisan initiatives surrounding artificial intelligence in military applications. This episode provides insights into how the upcoming administration could reshape national security policy and what stakeholders in the defense sector should prepare for moving forward.

In this special Eyes on Washington miniseries, Public Policy & Regulation Group members Peter Tabor, Liz Craddock, Kayla Gebeck Carroll, Isabel Lane and Chris DeLacy explore the potential effects of the upcoming November elections on food and agriculture policy. The episode takes a deep dive into important issues to consider and plan for ahead of the next Congress. Topics covered include:

• the current state of the White House and a congressional overview
• how a second Trump Administration or first Harris Administration will impact the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Senate
• energy and sustainability related to agriculture policy
• an update on the highly anticipated Farm Bill

In this episode of "The Eyes on Washington Podcast," Senior Policy Advisor Peter Tabor discusses the impact of GLP-1 drugs and cultivated meat on the food and agriculture industry with Jack Bobo, director of the Food Systems Institute at the University of Nottingham. They delve into GLP-1 drugs, which help manage diabetes and also aid in weight loss, exploring current marketplace trends surrounding the medication's use. Additionally, Mr. Tabor and Mr. Bobo examine cultivated meat, discussing its nature, the issues it aims to address, public perception, challenges and the potential future of the product.

In this special Eyes on Washington miniseries, Public Policy & Regulation Group members Misha Lehrer, Daniel Sennott and Simon Coon explore the potential effects of the upcoming November elections on defense policy, funding and national security. The three examine how a second Trump Administration or a Harris Administration could impact defense spending, strategy and priorities. They also discuss the role of Congress in advancing or challenging defense initiatives, including oversight, investigations and the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Furthermore, they emphasize the bipartisan focus on innovation, modernization and competition, particularly with China, and advise industry leaders to stay vigilant for potential shifts and opportunities in the defense sector.