US SEC grants investigation targets more time to respond to potential charges
The SEC updated its manual to give investigation targets four weeks to respond to potential charges. This move aims to ensure uniformity across the agency.
The United States 
US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced an update to the SEC Enforcement Manual today, February 24, 2026, extending the response time for Wells notices to four weeks and establishing new standardized enforcement procedures. This update represents the first major revision to the manual since 2017 and introduces significant changes to the communication protocols governing federal investigations. The SEC Enforcement Division will implement these procedures, which are designed to formalize interactions between the agency and those subject to its oversight.
US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced an update to the SEC Enforcement Manual today, February 24, 2026, extending the response time for Wells notices to four weeks and establishing new standardized enforcement procedures. This update represents the first major revision to the manual since 2017 and introduces significant changes to the communication protocols governing federal investigations. The SEC Enforcement Division will implement these procedures, which are designed to formalize interactions between the agency and those subject to its oversight.
