Monday, March 30, 2026

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WATCH: U.S. Army Recruiter Says He’d Quit and Help China in a War.

A U.S. Army recruiter purported to be Max Zhang has appeared on video suggesting that he would lay down his arms should America and China go to war. Zhang says he would instead remain neutral and aid the Chinese people, though he insists he would not support their communist government.

“Being a soldier really isn’t that hard because it’s just a job,” Zhang says. “We don’t need to talk about a country or any loyalty because it’s just a job, right? No matter who you work for, it’s just a job and whoever will pay you.”

“In eleven years as a soldier, the U.S. Army has never emphasized how China is bad,” he tells the interviewer. Zhang reiterates: “I’ve never heard it.” He goes on to emphasize that there has been no anti-China indoctrination in the U.S. military, again stating he’s never heard anyone push the idea that China is an enemy of the United States.

‘NEUTRAL.’

However, Zhang also appears to admit to concerning Chinese sympathies in the interview, alluding to several illicit vacations he may have taken to the country while stationed in South Korea. When asked what he would do if the U.S. and China went to war, Zhang initially dismissed the idea as unrealistic, warning that “If they went to war, nuclear weapons would be used. It might turn into World War III.”

“If war does happen, then I’ll definitely quit the U.S. Army,” Zhang eventually concedes, adding: “I also won’t be joining the Chinese Army because I’m an American citizen.” He stresses that he would want to remain neutral in the conflict and instead try to aid Chinese people who need help.

U.S. military personnel take an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” and to “obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over [them].”

CHINESE INFILTRATION.

The video interview—if authentic—underscores mounting concerns regarding potential Chinese influence over and infiltration of U.S. military and governmental entities. The National Pulse previously reported that Chinese agents have operated relatively unabated under the Biden government. In March of this year, the House Oversight Committee Chairman, Rep. James Comer (R-KY), acknowledged that China “has infiltrated just about every major part of our federal government.” He added that the infiltration extends to practically all aspects of the economy, the education system, and the corporate sector.

WATCH:

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Newsom and the California Democrats Are Killing Los Angeles.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Tens of thousands of residents are leaving Los Angeles County, with the region recording the largest population drop in the nation between July 2024 and July 2025, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Residents of Los Angeles County, neighboring counties such as Riverside and San Bernardino, and demographers analyzing U.S. Census Bureau data.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Between July 2024 and July 2025, primarily in Los Angeles County and surrounding areas in California, with the data released in March 2026.

🎯IMPACT: The population decline could lead to worker shortages, rising costs, and slower economic growth, with ripple effects on California’s labor market and economy.

IN FULL

Los Angeles County, California, has seen a significant population decline, with roughly 54,000 residents leaving between July 2024 and July 2025, according to newly released U.S. Census Bureau data. Once home to over 10 million people in 2020, the county’s population has now dropped below 9.7 million.

Neighboring regions, including Riverside and San Bernardino counties, gained more than 21,000 residents during the same period, while the Las Vegas metro area attracted over 20,000 people. However, even more troubling for Los Angeles County is that the rate of outmigration is not being offset by new residents relocating to the area—a trend that, over the long term, could severely undermine the local tax base.

Notably, the uptick in the exodus of Los Angeles County residents came as the region was devastated by wildfires in early 2025. The lack of response from city, county, and state officials—including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) and Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA)—led to 12 people killed in Pacific Palisades and another 18 in Altadena. Over 6,000 homes and buildings were destroyed, including properties owned by high-profile figures such as Paris Hilton, Tom Hanks, and Mandy Moore. The National Pulse reported in October last year that 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht was arrested for setting the Pacific Palisades fire.

Meanwhile, California as a whole is grappling with population declines, with 30 out of 58 counties losing residents in 2025. A sharp drop in foreign immigrants has been a major factor, with San Diego County alone experiencing a 65 percent year-over-year decrease in foreign arrivals. This drop coincides with President Donald J. Trump’s federal crackdown on illegal immigration and ramp-up of security at the U.S. southern border.

Since 2010, nearly ten million residents have left California, with many citing the state’s housing affordability crisis, violent crime, and declining quality of life issues like rampant drug use and homelessness. The state has also come under increasing federal scrutiny for social services fraud. State auditors previously identified billions of dollars in fraudulent unemployment insurance claims and improper pandemic relief payments.

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BREAKING: Palm Beach Airport Renamed for Trump.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill to rename Palm Beach International Airport.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida state legislature.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 30, 2026, in Florida.

💬KEY QUOTE: The airport will be renamed to President Donald J. Trump International Airport.

🎯IMPACT: The change is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, pending FAA approval.

IN FULL

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has approved House Bill 919, which will rename Palm Beach International Airport to President Donald J. Trump International Airport. The approval was given on March 30, 2026.

The change is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, but is subject to approval from the Federal Aviation Administration and a name-use agreement.

The Florida state legislature had passed the bill earlier in February, paving the way for the renaming process to begin.

Supporters of the renaming argue that it honors President Trump’s impact on the state and the nation. The airport is located in a region where Trump has strong ties, notably his Mar-a-Lago estate.

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Trump Admin Resumes Asylum Processing After 5-Month Pause.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has lifted its total ban on reviewing asylum applications, though restrictions remain for around 40 countries.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: DHS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The pause was implemented in November 2025 following a deadly attack on the National Guard in Washington, D.C., by an Afghan national.

💬KEY QUOTE: “USCIS has lifted the adjudicative hold for thoroughly screened asylum seekers from non-high-risk countries.” – DHS spokesman.

🎯IMPACT: The move reallocates resources to focus on national security and public safety vetting for higher-risk cases.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has moved to lift the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) hold on reviewing asylum applications, though the department stresses that restrictions continue to remain in place for around 40 countries of particular national security concern. In November last year, President Donald J. Trump directed DHS to impose a pause on processing asylum claims after an Afghan national shot two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., killing one.

At the time, then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem indicated the pause in reviews would be indefinite as the department worked through a backlog of nearly four million asylum cases. Importantly, the hold on reviews continues to apply to countries deemed “high risk,” including Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and multiple African nations.

“USCIS has lifted the adjudicative hold for thoroughly screened asylum seekers from non-high-risk countries,” a DHS spokesman said on Monday, adding, “This move allows resources to focus on continued rigorous national security and public safety vetting for higher-risk cases.”

Importantly, other restrictions remain in effect, such as the pause on issuing immigrant visas to 75 countries and the halt of immigration applications from nations covered by President Trump’s travel ban. Late last year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began a re-review of foreign nationals granted refugee status by the former Biden government, applying more rigorous scrutiny to the applicants. A number of these individuals have subsequently been referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation.

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Hezbollah Orchestrated Michigan Synagogue Attack, FBI Confirms.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The March 12 ramming attack by a Lebanese-American man targeting Michigan’s largest Jewish Reform synagogue was orchestrated by the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a 41-year-old Lebanese national and naturalized U.S. citizen; Ghazali’s brother, an alleged Hezbollah commander; and the Lebanese Islamist terrorist group Hezbollah.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The FBI revealed Ghazali’s ties to Hezbollah on Monday, March 30, 2026, following the March 12 attack.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is the largest gathering place for Israelis in the State of Michigan in the United States. I have booby-trapped the car. I will forcefully enter and start shooting them. God willing, I will kill as many of them as I possibly can.” — Ayman Mohamad Ghazali in an alleged video taking credit for the attack

🎯IMPACT: Ghazali had lost several family members just days earlier in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon, including his brother, who appears to have been a commander in Hezbollah.

IN FULL

The man who targeted the largest Jewish Reform synagogue in Michigan earlier this month was directed by the Iranian-backed Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a 41-year-old Lebanese national and naturalized U.S. citizen, purposefully targeted the Jewish community when he drove his vehicle into Michigan’s largest synagogue and opened fire on March 12.

During a press conference, the FBI stated that Ghazali’s attack was motivated and directed by Hezbollah’s “militant ideology.” Jennifer Runyan, the FBI’s special agent in charge in Detroit, revealed that Ghazali recorded a video just before the attack in which he stated, “This is the largest gathering place for Israelis in the State of Michigan in the United States. I have booby-trapped the car. I will forcefully enter and start shooting them. God willing, I will kill as many of them as I possibly can.”

Ghazali, a resident of Dearborn Heights—which boasts a population of around 60,000 people, with 25 percent being of Arabic extraction—drove his Ford F-150 through the doors of the synagogue, the vehicle laden with commercial fireworks and gasoline. He subsequently exchanged gunfire with a security guard before fatally shooting himself.

The National Pulse previously reported that Ghazali had lost several family members just days earlier in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon, including his brother, who appears to have been a commander in Hezbollah. In addition, the FBI noted that Ghazali had also watched footage of an Iranian fatwa calling for “total jihad against the U.S. military” shortly before carrying out the attack.

Image by upyernoz.

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GOP Senator Introduces Bill to Debank Illegal Migrants.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Legislation was introduced to ban illegal migrants from accessing the American banking system.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) and U.S. financial institutions.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Introduced in 2025, targeting U.S. banking system.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Access to the American banking system is a privilege that should only be reserved for those who respect our laws and sovereignty.” – Senator Tom Cotton

🎯IMPACT: Aims to prevent illegal migrants from using financial institutions to remain in the U.S.

IN FULL

Senator Tom Cotton, representing Arkansas, has put forth the Know Your American Customer Act, a legislative proposal aimed at barring illegal migrants from participating in the American banking system.

The proposed act mandates that U.S. financial institutions verify the legal status of new customers, ensuring that American banks do not facilitate illegal migrants in violating U.S. laws.

In a letter addressed to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in 2025, Senator Cotton requested a review of the existing rules concerning illegal immigrant access to the U.S. banking system.

The act requires banks and credit unions insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) to confirm that anyone opening a new account is either a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or legally present with a valid visa, using identification such as a driver’s license or passport.

While the legislation would grandfather in existing clients, allowing them to maintain or open new accounts if they have an established relationship with their financial institution, it also criminalizes the act of illegal migrants opening or maintaining accounts, placing legal responsibility on individuals unless institutions fail to verify documentation in good faith.

The logic behind grandfathering in old accounts revolves around getting buy-in from the banking industry, which has objected to fronting the cost of finding existing illegal migrants in their systems.

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BLM Organizer Ordered to Forfeit Over $224,000 for COVID Fraud Scheme, But Avoids ANY Jail Time.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Boston-based Black Lives Matter (BLM) activist Monica Cannon-Grant has been ordered to forfeit $224,063 by a federal judge to cover taxpayer dollars she stole through diverting donations from her nonprofit, collecting fraudulent pandemic unemployment benefits, and pocketing rental assistance.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Monica Cannon-Grant, U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley, and federal prosecutors.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.

🎯IMPACT: The forfeiture ruling, issued last week, is in addition to the $106,000 restitution payment ordered when Cannon-Grant was sentenced this past January to probation, home detention, and community service, with no prison time.

IN FULL

Boston-based Black Lives Matter (BLM) activist Monica Cannon-Grant has been ordered to forfeit $224,063 by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley—a Joe Biden appointee—to cover taxpayer dollars she stole through diverting donations from her nonprofit, collecting fraudulent pandemic unemployment benefits, and pocketing rental assistance. The forfeiture ruling, issued last week, is in addition to the $106,000 restitution payment ordered when Cannon-Grant was sentenced this past January.

According to the federal court filing, the forfeiture amount includes approximately $181,000 in diverted donations from Violence in Boston Inc., the nonprofit she founded, over $33,000 in fraudulent pandemic unemployment benefits, and about $12,600 in rental assistance benefits. Federal prosecutors initially charged Cannon-Grant, along with her late husband Clark Grant, in March 2022 and detailed how the couple used the nonprofit’s funds and government assistance payments to finance expensive vacations and pay for extravagant dinners.

The federal charges against Clark Grant were dropped following his death in a motorcycle accident in May 2023. Meanwhile, Cannon-Grant pleaded guilty to the 18-count federal indictment in September 2025. Judge Kelley initially sentenced the BLM activist to probation, home detention, and community service, with no prison time.

Cannon-Grant, who founded the nonprofit Violence in Boston Inc. in 2017, expanded the organization by 2020 and became a well-known figure in Boston‘s progressive circles. She was recognized as Bostonian of the Year by The Boston Globe and as the city’s best social justice advocate by Boston Magazine. The BLM activist was the organizer behind a several-thousand-person protest in Boston after the death of George Floyd.

The National Pulse previously reported that now-former far-left Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, a former illegal immigrant hailing from Cape Verde, was arrested in December 2024 on five counts of aiding and abetting wire fraud and theft from federally funded programs. Fernandes Anderson was found guilty and, in 2025, sentenced to one month in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $13,000 in restitution.

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Bannon: Netanyahu’s Son in Miami, Arab Princes in London Should be Frontlines of Kharg Island Invasion.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Stephen K. Bannon called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son to be drafted into a possible invasion of Kharg Island.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Stephen K. Bannon, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Arab leaders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 30, 2026, during Bannon’s WarRoom show.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Let’s have him in the first wave.” – Stephen K. Bannon

🎯IMPACT: Bannon’s comments come as President Donald J. Trump has hinted at a possible amphibious invasion of Kharg Island, which has been pushed by neoconservatives like Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

IN FULL

Stephen K. Bannon, host of the WarRoom show and former White House Chief Strategist during President Donald J. Trump’s first administration, has called for the drafting of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son and various Arab princes in the event of an amphibious invasion of Iran’s Kharg Island.

Kharg is Iran’s main oil export hub in the Persian Gulf, and Trump recently hinted at the possibility of seizing it to The Financial Times, saying, “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options,” adding: “It would also mean we had to be [on Kharg] for a while.”

Neoconservatives have been pushing hard for such an invasion, with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) recently saying, “We did Iwo Jima, we can do this,” in reference to the World War II battle for the Japanese island of the same name, which saw over 25,000 American casualties.

Bannon argues it should not be left to Americans to handle the task, telling his audience, “I want Arabs, I want the UAE, MBZ [Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates], who’s the best they’ve got over there… He’s got a real army; it’s not huge, but they actually know how to fight… Kharg Island, there’s your objective, go.”

“And throw in a couple of Qatar princes, throw the Saudi princes in there, too. Get ’em out of London, get ’em out of the casinos and whore houses in London, and get ’em back to the Gulf,” Bannon continued, adding: “[Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s kid down in Miami, turf him out tomorrow. Where’s DHS? Throw him out, get him back there, put a uniform on him. Let’s have him in the first wave.”

Israel is currently reported to be lobbying against a ceasefire in the Iran war, arguing it needs “several more weeks” to achieve “full strategic victory,” which now includes seizing southern Lebanon.

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This European NATO Member is Denying the U.S. Access to Its Airspace for Iran Operations.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED:  U.S. planes have been banned from using Spanish airspace in connection with the war in Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles and the United States military.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Monday in Spain.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Neither the bases are authorized, nor, of course, is the use of Spanish airspace authorized for any actions related to the war in Iran.” – Margarita Robles

🎯IMPACT: The decision underscores Spain’s opposition to the war and limits U.S. military options in the region.

IN FULL

Spain’s Defense Minister has announced that the country will no longer allow U.S. military planes to traverse its airspace to conduct operations against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Spanish Socialist Party government made the announcement on Monday and stressed that the country has made its opposition to U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran clear from the beginning.

“Neither the bases are authorized, nor, of course, is the use of Spanish airspace authorized for any actions related to the war in Iran,” Defense Minister Margarita Robles stated, adding, “This was made perfectly clear to the American military and forces from the very beginning.” She reiterated that Spain views the war in Iran as “profoundly illegal and profoundly unjust.”

The decision follows an earlier move to deny the United States the use of jointly operated military bases in the country for activities tied to the conflict. Notably, the denial of airspace and base access could create a minor complication for U.S. military logistics in moving additional resources, munitions, and equipment to the Middle East. However, other European nations have opened their airspace, allowing some flexibility.

The National Pulse reported at the beginning of March that, anticipating the lack of cooperation from Spain‘s socialist government, the U.S. military moved at least 15 aircraft from the Rota and Morón air bases in southern Spain. According to tracking data, at least seven aircraft were redeployed to Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

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TSA Agents Receive Back Pay After Trump Intervenes.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Most Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees affected by the Senate Democrats’ shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) received at least two paychecks covering back pay for the two prior pay periods on Monday.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: TSA employees, DHS, Senate Democrats, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The paychecks were issued on Monday, March 30, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “American travelers are paying the price for Democrats’ partisan games. The president worked with his legal team and the Office of Management and Budget to find a solution to take care of the emergency we were seeing in air travel across the country, and because of the president, TSA agents are being paid.” — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

🎯IMPACT: Last week, President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order directing the Secretary of Homeland Security, along with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to utilize funds with a “reasonable logical nexus” to TSA operations to pay the over 60,000 TSA employees, including approximately 50,000 transportation security officers.

IN FULL

Most Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees affected by the Senate Democrats’ shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) received at least two paychecks covering back pay for the two prior pay periods on Monday. The National Pulse reported last week that President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order directing the Secretary of Homeland Security, along with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to utilize funds with a “reasonable logical nexus” to TSA operations to pay the over 60,000 TSA employees, including approximately 50,000 transportation security officers.

As of Monday, DHS says almost all TSA employees should have received payments, but noted that some checks may be delayed. “A small population might see a slight delay due to a variety of reasons, including financial institution processing times or issues with their direct deposit,” DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated, adding, “We are working aggressively with USDA’s National Finance Center to complete processing for the half paycheck they are owed from pay period 3 as soon as possible.”

Speaking at Monday’s press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the air travel crisis is a direct result of congressional Democrats’ intransigence on funding DHS. “American travelers are paying the price for Democrats’ partisan games. The president worked with his legal team and the Office of Management and Budget to find a solution to take care of the emergency we were seeing in air travel across the country, and because of the president, TSA agents are being paid,” Leavitt said.

Still, a number of House and Senate Democrats contend that President Trump‘s order to pay TSA agents violates federal law and infringes on Congress’s constitutional power over appropriations. Nearly 500 transportation security officers have resigned since the shutdown began, and many more have reported sick at unprecedented rates. This situation has led to excessive security wait times at airports, some reaching over many hours, causing chaos for travelers and increasing the risk of security issues amid the ongoing Iran war.

Image by Michael Ball.

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Trump Admin Expands 401(k) Options.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Labor proposed a regulation to expand retirement investment options for Americans, with the inclusion of alternative assets in 401(k) plans.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Department of Labor, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The new rule was announced on Monday, March 30, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Americans’ ability to participate more fully in innovation and economic growth through well-diversified long-term investments is a vitally important priority for effective retirement planning.” – SEC Chairman Paul Atkins

🎯IMPACT: The new rule broadens access to alternative retirement investments for over 90 million Americans and could potentially increase 40(k) returns by roughly 50 basis points annually.

IN FULL

The Trump administration unveiled a new federal rule aimed at increasing retirement investment options for more than 90 million Americans, including opening 401(k) plans to investments in private equity, real estate, digital assets, and private credit. Under the new regulatory guidance issued on Monday by the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the average American saving for retirement is expected to see better returns, improved diversification, and access to private-market opportunities typically restricted to wealthy investors.

Notably, the new guidance for 401(k) plan managers outlines steps for considering alternative assets and establishing safe harbors for plan fiduciaries when selecting investment alternatives. The proposal is a result of President Donald J. Trump’s August 7, 2025, Executive Order democratizing access to alternative assets for 401(k) investors.

“This proposed rule will show how plans can consider products that better reflect the investment landscape as it exists today. This greater diversity will drive innovation and result in a major win for American workers, retirees, and their families,” said Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hailed the regulatory change, emphasizing “the proposed rule is an initial step in implementing the President’s Executive Order in a safe and smart manner, broadening access to additional retirement plan options for millions of Americans while being mindful of the importance of protecting retirement assets.”

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins, addressing the rule change, stated, “Americans’ ability to participate more fully in innovation and economic growth through well-diversified long-term investments is a vitally important priority for effective retirement planning.”

The Department of Labor emphasized that the lack of regulatory clarity has long made managers of defined contribution plans wary of alternative investments, even though such investments are technically legal. “In 2022, the Biden Administration further stifled these investments through a rescinded compliance release that warned fiduciaries about including cryptocurrency options in 401(k) plans,” the agency stated. Importantly, some projections suggest the new rule could potentially increase 401(k) returns by roughly 50 basis points annually.

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