The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced May 21 that it is eliminating the only program that tracks pesticide use in the United States. The USDA claimed it can no longer afford the program, known as the Agricultural Chemical Usage Reports. Consumers, environmental organizations, scientists, and farmers oppose the move.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has closed two investigations into accusations of illegal partisan electioneering by two religious organizations. The IRS determined that the United Church of Christ (UCC) did not violate its tax-exempt status by inviting Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) to speak at the denomination's national meeting in 2007. The IRS also found Pastor Wiley Drake's endorsement of Mike Huckabee to be a personal endorsement and not made on behalf of his church, the First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, CA. The IRS concluded the two investigations relatively quickly, compared to cases from the previous two election cycles.

A proposed U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) rule for international HIV/AIDS grantees has generated criticism and calls for change. If implemented, the proposed rule would force such grantees to choose between adopting government policy for their entire organizations or setting up completely separate affiliated organizations. Comments from OMB Watch, the Brennan Center for Justice, and two members of Congress contrast the harshness of the proposed separation requirements with the much more flexible standards the agency has adopted for its faith-based initiative.

A report released May 19 by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform concluded the White House improperly intervened in a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deny California's request for a waiver under the Clean Air Act. The waiver would have allowed the state to set standards for greenhouse gas emissions from new vehicles. In denying the waiver, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson went against the recommendation of EPA staff, who concluded there was no legal or scientific basis to deny the waiver.