The Senate Appropriations Committee approved an FY 2026 transportation appropriations bill July 24 that would fully fund the Trump administration’s $40 million for the Federal Maritime Commission. The House version of the bill, which the House Appropriations Committee endorsed July 17, contains the same amount for the FMC (see 2507140005).

Lawmakers expressed concerns this week that the Federal Maritime Commission may not have enough resources to continue reforming ocean shipping regulations and enforcing existing shipping laws, particularly after a host of employees resigned from the agency this year.

A Federal Maritime Commission small claims officer on July 14 dismissed a demurrage-related complaint against ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, saying Oregon-based exporter Bridgewell Agribusiness had no contractual relationship with the Israeli ocean carrier.

The Federal Maritime Commission this week updated its record of cases and decisions related to shipping violations “that may be significant or establish legal precedent.” The 807-page document now incorporates decisions that took place from January 2024 through December 2024.

The House Appropriations Committee unveiled an FY 2026 transportation appropriations bill July 13 that would fully fund the Trump administration’s budget request of $40 million for the Federal Maritime Commission.

The Federal Maritime Commission is asking for public comments on several information collections related to marine terminal operator schedules, service contracts, non-vessel-operating common carrier service arrangements and negotiated rate agreements. Comments are due July 31, it said in a Federal Register notice.

Departing Federal Maritime Commission Chair Louis Sola criticized a new global emissions framework adopted earlier this year by the International Maritime Organization's Marine Environment Protection Committee, saying it will "unfairly" tax American cargo on the high seas. Sola suggested the rules should be investigated.

Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., introduced a bill June 26 that would reauthorize the Federal Maritime Commission from FY 2026 to FY 2029 and give the agency several new tools to protect ocean shipping.

Louis Sola, who was chosen earlier this year by President Donald Trump to chair the Federal Maritime Commission, said June 30 "marks the conclusion" of his tenure as chairman of the commission. Trump nominated Sola to the FMC in 2018. Terms for commissioners are five years, with one term ending each year on June 30. A commissioner may serve up to an additional two years until a successor is named.

A Federal Maritime Commission administrative law judge has approved a confidential agreement to settle allegations that Texas-based freight forwarder Sealink International (SLI) illegally sold the cargo of California-based exporter Triple L Global (TLG) to an unknown buyer without permission and without the required 10-day written notice, according to an FMC order served June 24. TLG filed the complaint against SLI in August 2024 (see 2408070042). SLI denied the allegations.