Rescinding Regulations for Loans for Minority Business Enterprises Seeking DOE Contracts and Assistance

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is further extending the effective date of the direct final rule "Rescinding Regulations for Loans for Minority Business Enterprises Seeking DOE Contracts and Assistance," published on May 16, 2025.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 164 (Wednesday, August 26, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 26, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54946-54947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17381]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 800

[DOE-HQ-2025-0014]
RIN 1903-AA23


Rescinding Regulations for Loans for Minority Business 
Enterprises Seeking DOE Contracts and Assistance

AGENCY: Office of Civil Rights and EEO, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Direct final rule; further delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is further extending the 
effective date of the direct final rule ``Rescinding Regulations for 
Loans for Minority Business Enterprises Seeking DOE Contracts and 
Assistance,'' published on May 16, 2025.

DATES: As of August 26, 2026, the effective date of the direct final 
rule published May 16, 2025, at 90 FR 20769, delayed until September 
12, 2025 (90 FR 31137), further delayed until December 9, 2025 (90 FR 
43539), again delayed until March 9, 2026 (90

[[Page 54947]]

FR 56967) and then June 4, 2026 (91 FR 10954), and then delayed until 
September 1, 2026 (91 FR 33069) is further delayed until December 24, 
2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Patricia Zarate, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, MA-1.3, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585; (202) 586-2218 or email 
to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2a49435c434658434d425e596a425b044e454f044d455c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2f4c465946435d4648475b5c6f475e014b404a01484059">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 16, 2025, DOE published a direct 
final rule. 90 FR 20769. DOE stated in that direct final rule that if 
significant adverse comments were received by June 16, 2025, DOE would 
withdraw the direct final rule. Id. On July 14, 2025, DOE published a 
document delaying the effective date to consider comments submitted in 
response to the direct final rule. 90 FR 31137.
    In this document, DOE is further extending the effective date in 
order to follow the Department of Justice direction on the topic of the 
direct final rule under Executive Order 14281, ``Restoring Equality of 
Opportunity and Meritocracy'' and Executive Order 12250, ``Leadership 
and Coordination of Nondiscrimination Laws.'' 90 FR 17537 (April 28, 
2025); 45 FR 72995 (Nov. 4, 1980).
    To the extent that 5 U.S.C. 553 applies to this action, it is 
exempt from notice and comment because it constitutes a rule of 
procedure under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A) and for which no notice or hearing 
is required by statute. Additionally, this action is not a 
``substantive rule'' for which a 30-day delay in effective date is 
required under 5 U.S.C. 553(d).

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on August 24, 
2026, by Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy. That document with the 
original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For administrative 
purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of the Office of the 
Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer 
has been authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic 
format for publication, as an official document of the Department of 
Energy. This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect 
of this document upon publication in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on August 24, 2026.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2026-17381 Filed 8-25-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P


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