NASA has increased the dollar amounts for its civil monetary penalties. This is an annual adjustment required by a 2015 law to keep pace with inflation.
Why it matters
Every year, federal agencies must adjust their civil penalties for inflation. This means that if a company or individual breaks a NASA rule, the fine they pay will be higher than it was last year. It's a small, predictable increase, but it ensures that penalties retain their deterrent effect over time.
The signal
Watch for similar annual inflation adjustments from other federal agencies, as they are all subject to the same 2015 law.