The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) recovered nearly $1.4 billion for employee benefit plans, participants, and beneficiaries in 2024, according to the EBSA’s annual enforcement fact sheet. Enforcement results for FY 2024 were consistent with FY 2023’s results, despite budget cuts and personnel resignations. The EBSA oversees 2.6 million health plans, 801,000 private retirement plans, and 514,000 other welfare benefit plans, covering 156 million individuals.

The IRS issued Proposed Treasury Regulation 1.414A-1 on January 14, 2025, in support of SECURE Act 2.0’s mandate to include eligible automatic contribution arrangements (EACAs) in newly established 401(k) and 403(b) plans, effective for plan years after December 31, 2024. The proposed regulations also address other provisions of SECURE Act 2.0 as they relate to the auto enroll mandate, including

On July 18, 2024, the IRS released final required minimum distribution (RMD) rules, along with proposed rules addressing certain supplementary issues. This rule package is extensive and will take time to fully understand. What follows is a high-level summary of key points. The final and proposed regulations affect qualified 401(a) plans (including 401(k) plans), 403(a) annuity plans, 403(b) plans, governmental 457(b) plans, and IRAs. Generally, they apply to distribution calendar years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. For earlier years, individuals must apply the 2002 and 2004 regulations, using a reasonable, good faith interpretation of the amendments made by the SECURE Act and SECURE Act 2.0.