The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (U.S. markets regulator) has repealed a long-standing settlement policy that prevented defendants in enforcement cases from publicly denying the agency’s allegations. According to the regulator’s Monday statement, the change removes a rule that had shaped how SEC settlements were handled for decades. The move affects the agency’s enforcement framework by allowing settling parties to contest allegations in public after agreeing to resolve cases, marking a notable procedural shift in U.S. securities regulation.