This notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM, or proposed rule) would establish certain additional requirements for sponsor suitability assessments related to proof of identity, proof of income, and other information required for background checks to promote the safe placement of unaccompanied alien children (UAC). This NPRM proposes acceptable documentation for proof of identity and would require proof of income from potential sponsors of UAC in ORR custody by reason of their immigration status, as described in the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (HSA) and the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA). This NPRM also proposes amendments to background check requirements for sponsor suitability assessments and the conduct of examinations of UAC related to considerations of UAC dangerousness to self or others that align with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Finally, this NPRM proposes certain administrative updates to align numbering and terminology between proposals and existing regulations. The docket on https://www.regulations.gov will include a plain language summary of the NPRM.
Comments close Aug 25, 2026
The Office of Child Support Enforcement proposes to rescind the Employment and Training Services for Noncustodial Parents in the Child Support Program final rule, published in the Federal Register on December 13, 2024. The final rule allowed child support agencies to utilize Federal Financial Participation under title IV-D of the Social Security Act for providing specific, optional, and non-duplicative employment and training services to eligible noncustodial parents.
Comments close Aug 10, 2026
The Administration for Children and Families proposes to amend the Child Support regulations to eliminate unnecessary and obsolete regulations in the following sections: State Plan Approval and Grant Procedures, State Plan Requirements, Standards for Program Operations, Federal Financial Participation, Program Performance Measures, Standards, Financial Incentives, and Penalties, Computerized Support Enforcement Systems, Annual State Self-Assessment Review and Report, Tribal Child Support Enforcement (IV-D) Program, and Computerized Tribal IV-D Systems and Office Automation. A plain language summary of this proposed rule is available at https://www.regulations.gov.
Comments close Jul 20, 2026
The Administration for Children and Families proposes to amend the Grants to States for Public Assistance Programs regulations, the General Administration--State Plans and Grant Appeals regulations, the General Administration--Public Assistance Programs regulations, the Training and Use of Subprofessionals and Volunteers regulations, the Coverage and Conditions of Eligibility in Financial Assistance Programs regulations, the Financial Assistance to Individuals regulations, the Administration of Financial Assistance Programs regulations, the Fiscal Administration of Financial Assistance Programs regulations, the General Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Provisions regulations, the Ensuring That Recipients Work regulations, the Accountability Provisions--General regulations, the Expenditures of State and Federal TANF Funds regulations, the Other Accountability Provisions regulations, the Data Collection and Reporting Requirements regulations, the High Performance Bonus Awards regulations, the Implementation of Section 403(a)(2) of the Social Security Act Bonus to Reward Decrease in Illegitimacy Ratio regulations, the Methodology for Determining Whether an Increase in a State or Territory's Child Poverty Rate Is the Result of the TANF Program regulations, the Tribal TANF Provisions regulations, and The Native Employment Works (NEW) Program regulations to eliminate unnecessary or obsolete regulations. The docket on https://www.regulations.gov will include a plain language summary of the NPRM.
Comments close Jun 25, 2026
In this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) proposes to remove requirements from the Head Start Program Performance Standards (Performance Standards) to restore local flexibility to Head Start programs and improve access to quality services. Specifically, this NPRM proposes to remove requirements related to wages and benefits that the Administration believes are not in line with the plain language of the Head Start Act and are costly and overly prescriptive for Head Start programs and staff. ACF estimates these proposed changes, if finalized, will result in over $2 billion in future cost savings for Head Start programs. The proposed rescissions in this NPRM, if finalized, would impact the costliest parts of the final rule published by the Office of Head Start (OHS) in 2024, Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming.\1\ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments close Jun 11, 2026
The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families proposes to amend the Block Grants regulations, the Individual Development Account Reserve Funds Established Pursuant to Grants for Assets for Independence regulations, and the Emergency Community Services Homeless Grant Program regulations to eliminate unnecessary or obsolete regulations. The docket on https:/ /www.regulations.gov will include a plain language summary of the NPRM as required.
Comments close May 8, 2026
The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families proposes to remove duplicative or unnecessary sections from the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program regulations (45 CFR part 1351). These amendments will streamline the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program regulations to make them more accessible to the public. The docket on https://www.regulations.gov will include a plain language summary of the NPRM.
Comments close May 6, 2026
The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, proposes to remove duplicative or unnecessary Sections from the Family Violence Prevention and Services program regulations (45 CFR part 1370). These amendments will streamline the Family Violence Prevention and Services regulations and make them more accessible to the public. The docket on https:// www.regulations.gov will include a plain language summary of the NPRM.
Comments close May 6, 2026
ACF proposes to make changes to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program regulations to reset the base year of the caseload reduction credit from fiscal year (FY) 2005 to the new year established by Congress, which is currently FY 2015, and to exclude from the TANF work participation rate calculations certain cases that receive assistance payments benefits of less than $35 for a month. These changes are required by the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) of 2023. The docket on https://www.regulations.gov will include a plain language summary of the NPRM as required by 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(4).
Comments close May 6, 2026
The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families rescinds obsolete provisions of the State Legalization Impact Assistance Grants regulations (45 CFR part 402). The Administration for Children and Families has undertaken a sweeping review aimed at eliminating outdated rules and reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens to streamline, simplify, and efficiently deregulate across multiple fronts simultaneously to better serve the public. The docket on https://www.regulations.gov will include a plain language summary of the direct final rule as required by 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(4).
Comments close May 26, 2026
The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families proposes to amend the Care and Treatment of Mentally Ill Nationals of the United States, Returned from Foreign Countries regulations and the Assistance for United States Citizens Returned from Foreign Countries regulations to eliminate unnecessary or obsolete regulations. The docket on https://www.regulations.gov will include a plain language summary of the NPRM.
Comments close Apr 27, 2026
The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families proposes to amend the Native American Programs Act regulations (45 CFR part 1336) to eliminate unnecessary or obsolete regulations. The docket on https://www.regulations.gov will include a plain language summary of the NPRM as required by 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(4).
Comments close Apr 27, 2026
This direct final rule (DFR) removes the requirement that Head Start programs have a COVID-19 mitigation policy. This requirement was included in the final rule titled "Mitigating the Spread of COVID-19 in Head Start Programs," which ACF published on January 6, 2023. Specifically, this rescission removes the requirement from the Head Start Program Performance Standards (Performance Standards) that Head Start programs have a COVID-19 mitigation policy developed in consultation with their Health and Mental Health Services Advisory Committee (HMHSAC), formerly the Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC). This DFR meets the deregulatory requirements of Executive Order 14192, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation, and is aligned with Executive Order 14148, Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions.
Comments close Jan 20, 2026
ORR is amending a regulation so that it comports with the express language of the governing legislation. That regulation relates to key aspects of the placement, care, and services provided to unaccompanied alien children (UACs) referred to ORR, pursuant to ORR's responsibilities for coordinating and implementing the care and placement of UACs who are in Federal custody by reason of their immigration status under the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (HSA) and the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA).
Comments close May 27, 2025
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS or Department) published a direct final rule entitled "Name Change From Office of Child Support Enforcement to Office of Child Support Services" in the Federal Register on December 31, 2024, which was to become effective March 3, 2025. HHS is reopening the public comment period and delaying the effective date for the purpose of reviewing any questions of fact, law, and policy that the rule may raise.
Comments close Mar 31, 2025
This final rule amends the Grants to States for Public Assistance Programs regulations, the General Administration--State Plans and Grant Appeals regulations, the General Administration--Public Assistance Programs regulations, the Training and Use of Subprofessionals and Volunteers regulations, the Coverage and Conditions of Eligibility in Financial Assistance Programs regulations, the Financial Assistance to Individuals regulations, the Administration of Financial Assistance Programs regulations, the Fiscal Administration of Financial Assistance Programs regulations, the General Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Provisions regulations, the Ensuring That Recipients Work regulations, the Accountability Provisions--General regulations, the Expenditures of State and Federal TANF Funds regulations, the Other Accountability Provisions regulations, the Data Collection and Reporting Requirements regulations, the High Performance Bonus Awards regulations, the Implementation of Section 403(a)(2) of the Social Security Act Bonus to Reward Decrease in Illegitimacy Ratio regulations, the Methodology for Determining Whether an Increase in a State or Territory's Child Poverty Rate Is the Result of the TANF Program regulations, the Tribal TANF Provisions regulations, and The Native Employment Works (NEW) Program regulations to eliminate unnecessary or obsolete regulations. A plain language summary of the final rule is posted at https:// www.regulations.gov.
This document withdraws a proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on January 31, 2005. The proposed rule would have amended the regulations for Child and Family Services with respect to title IV-E administrative costs and eligibility determinations and re- determinations for title IV-E foster care recipients and foster care "candidates" to implement title IV-E foster care eligibility and administrative cost provisions in sections 472 and 474 of the Social Security Act (the Act) and incorporates previously issued policy guidance.
This rule finalizes the removal of the requirements issued in the Designated Placement Requirements Under Titles IV-E and IV-B for LGBTQI+ Children final rule that was published on April 30, 2024 (hereafter referred to as the 2024 final rule). The 2024 final rule required title IV-E/IV-B agencies to ensure that a Designated Placement is available for all children who self-identify with an alternative sexual orientation or self-identify as something other than their sex in foster care who request or would benefit from such a placement. Those requirements were never implemented as a result of the decision from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas that vacated the 2024 final rule in its entirety. To ensure clarity for the public and regulated entities, ACF is removing the provisions from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
This final rule removes duplicative and unnecessary sections from the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program regulations. These amendments will streamline the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program regulations to make them more accessible to the public.
The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families amends the Native American Programs Act regulations to eliminate unnecessary or obsolete regulations.
This final rule amends the Care and Treatment of Mentally Ill Nationals of the United States, Returned from Foreign Countries regulations and the Assistance for United States Citizens Returned from Foreign Countries regulations to eliminate unnecessary or obsolete regulations.
This Final Rule amends the Block Grants regulations, the Individual Development Account Reserve Funds Established Pursuant to Grants for Assets for Independence regulations, and the Emergency Community Services Homeless Grant Program regulations to eliminate unnecessary or obsolete regulations. A plain language summary of this final rule is posted at https://www.regulations.gov.
ACF published in the Federal Register on December 31, 2024, a direct final rule making technical updates throughout Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Chapter III. On February 27, 2025, ACF re- opened the comment period and delayed the effective date until April 28, 2025. The comment period closed March 31, 2025. ACF is withdrawing the direct final rule because the Agency received significant adverse comment.
This document withdraws a proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on September 26, 2023. The proposed rule would have amended the Child Support Services Program to be inclusive of all family structures served by the child support services program.
This document withdraws a proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on October 2, 2023. The proposed rule would have amended the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program regulations to strengthen the safety net and reduce administrative burden.
