Notice2026-10206

Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment

Primary source

Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.

Published
May 21, 2026

Issuing agencies

Railroad Retirement Board

Abstract

As required by Section 701 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, entitled the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, the Railroad Retirement Board (Board) hereby publishes notice that civil monetary penalties will not be adjusted for inflation for 2026 and will remain at the levels set for 2025.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 98 (Thursday, May 21, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 98 (Thursday, May 21, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 29992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10206]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment

AGENCY: Railroad Retirement Board.

ACTION: Notice announcing no penalty inflation adjustment for civil 
monetary penalties for 2026.

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SUMMARY: As required by Section 701 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 
2015, entitled the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act 
Improvements Act of 2015, the Railroad Retirement Board (Board) hereby 
publishes notice that civil monetary penalties will not be adjusted for 
inflation for 2026 and will remain at the levels set for 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter J. Orlowicz, Senior Counsel, 
Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611-
1275, (312) 751-4922.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 701 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 
2015, Public Law 114-74 (Nov. 2, 2015), entitled the Federal Civil 
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (the 2015 
Act), amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 
1990 (28 U.S.C. Sec.  2461 note) (Inflation Adjustment Act) to require 
agencies to publish regulations adjusting the amount of civil monetary 
penalties provided by law within the jurisdiction of the agency not 
later than January 15th of every year. In accordance with the 2015 Act, 
the amount of the adjustment is based on the percent increase between 
the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) for the month of October preceding the 
date of the adjustment and the CPI-U for the October one year prior to 
the October immediately preceding the date of the adjustment. If there 
is no increase, there is no adjustment of civil penalties.
    On April 17, 2026, Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-26-
11 was issued, advising agencies that due to the lapse in 
appropriations for government agencies in October 2025, the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics was unable to calculate the CPI-U for October 2025. 
Based on the lack of October 2025 CPI-U data, which is necessary to 
calculate the inflation adjustment for civil penalties under the 2015 
Act, the Office of Management and Budget advised agencies that the 
annual adjustment for 2026 would be cancelled and agencies should 
continue to use the 2025 civil monetary penalty amounts. Therefore, the 
maximum penalty under the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act for 2026 
will remain $14,308. The minimum penalty under the False Claims Act for 
2026 will remain $14,308, and the maximum penalty will remain $28,618.

    Dated: May 19, 2026.

    By Authority of the Board.
Sarah Kreydich,
Administrative Specialist.
[FR Doc. 2026-10206 Filed 5-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on May 21, 2026.

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.