Amendment Cycle Proposed Amendments

News Release
December 12, 2025
[email protected]

U.S. SENTENCING COMMISSION INVITES COMMENT ON
PROPOSED UPDATES TO THE GUIDELINES MANUAL

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the United States Sentencing Commission published proposed amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2026 (watch the meeting). The proposed amendments address issues raised through Congressional legislation, public comment, stakeholder input, and feedback from judges. These proposals aim to promote public safety and reduce unwarranted disparities by providing new enhancements, simplifying the Guidelines Manual, and making other common-sense updates to the federal sentencing system.

The first set of proposals aims to keep federal sentencing practices in line with changes in drug trafficking. To address dangers from the spread of fentanyl, the amendments would enhance penalties for fentanyl trafficking involving sales to minors, use of the dark web, and drugs laced with xylazine. To account for the harms of novel fentanyl-related substances addressed in the HALT Fentanyl Act, the amendments would incorporate those substances into the Guidelines Manual. In addition, the amendments propose a range of options for ensuring the Manual reflects the evolving nature of meth trafficking, which has seen changes in purity.

Additional proposals would respond to other issues brought to the Commission's attention in recent years. One amendment would update the economic crimes guidelines to simplify their application, adjust them for inflation, and ensure they better reflect victim harm and defendant culpability. Another amendment would incentivize positive post-offense conduct and rehabilitation prior to sentencing. And other updates to the Guidelines Manual would simplify its grouping rules and special offense characteristics, clarify its definition of "sophisticated means," and ensure it accounts for recent legislation like the FEND Off Fentanyl Act.

The Commission invites comment on these proposals through February 10, 2026. A public hearing will be scheduled on these proposals in early 2026. Official text of proposed amendments and issues for comment will also be published in a forthcoming edition of the Federal Register and will be placed on the Commission's website, https://www.ussc.gov. The public is encouraged to submit comments through the agency's comment portal at https://comment.ussc.gov. The Commission may publish additional proposals later this amendment cycle, including those that respond to recently passed Congressional legislation.

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