COVID-19 Across the Government: How Agencies Are Handling the Outbreak
As members of Congress become increasingly concerned about the spread of COVID-19, also called the coronavirus, agencies are stepping up guidance to employees regarding maintaining health and safety during the outbreak. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that, for the majority of people, “the immediate risk of being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low,” but emphasizes the importance of preparedness. Read on for an overview of some of the actions taken by lawmakers and some agencies to prepare for the potential spread.
Department of Justice Issues Final Rule on DNA Collection for Migrants
The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a final rule announcing the start of DNA collection from immigrants in federal custody beginning this spring. The rule is meant to fully enforce the DNA Fingerprinting Act of 2005, which requires the government to collect DNA samples “from individuals arrested, facing charges, or non-U.S. persons who are detained.”
DEA-Led Operation Nets More Than 600 Arrests Around the Country
The Department of Justice announced this week that a Drug Enforcement Administration-led effort entitled Project Python resulted in more than 600 arrests targeting activities by the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). CJNG is considered one of the fastest growing transnational criminal organizations and one of the most prolific methamphetamine producers in the world.
Supreme Court Holds That Bivens Does Not Extend to Claims Based on Cross-Border Shootings
In November 2019, FEDagent reported on oral argument in Hernandez v. Mesa. This is the second time the case came before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has issued a decision on the case and found that Bivens does not extend to claims based on a cross-border shooting.
Your Questions about FEGLI and WAEPA, Answered. Via Twitter!
Life insurance can be confusing, especially in the federal space, where benefits packages can be overwhelming packets of paperwork, filled with unfamiliar acronyms and pricing tiers.
The Federal Protective Service
The Federal Protective Service defends federal facilities across the country. Here is an inside look at some of the people who protect governmental institutions.
OPM Releases Guidance on Coronavirus Following White House Task Force Meeting
At the direction of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has released guidance to agencies regarding the potential impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). OPM coordinated this guidance with the National Security Council (NSC), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Department of State (DoS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), General Services Administration (GSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Federal Protective Service (FPS).
OPM Pushes New Assessment Tools for Critical Skills
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is partnering with agencies to increase use of assessments to determine which employees can be reskilled to meet changing workforce needs. The assessments are also being used within agencies to streamline the selection process for employees with skills to meet critical skills gaps.
Judge Grants Removal Order for German Citizen Based on Nazi Service
An immigration judge in Memphis, Tennessee has issued a removal order against a German citizen and Tennessee resident based on his service in Nazi Germany in 1945. Friedrich Karl Berger served as an armed guard at a concentration camp in the Neuengamme Concentration Camp system.
Acting USCIS Director Appointment Unlawful, Court Holds
Ken Cuccinelli’s appointment as acting Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is unconstitutional, a federal district court held this week.
Integrating Program Integrity into Your Office
Tune in to FEDtalk this week to hear about how federal offices can mitigate fraud, waste, and abuse before the issue requires an oversight investigation. Joining our host, Natalia Castro, will be Linda Miller from Grant Thornton, Andrea Peoples from the Small Business Administration, and Rebecca Shea from the Government Accountability Office.
Honoring the Past, Looking Forward to the Future
Each May, the nation’s only living monument welcomes as many as 30,000 visitors to the heart of downtown Washington, DC to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The names of the brave men and women who died in the line of duty are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Currently there are 21,910 names engraved on the wall, each representing a legacy of service and sacrifice.
NNSA Honors the Women of its Past, Present, and Future
March is Women’s History Month. Here is a look at the women leading the National Nuclear Security Administration from the past to the present.
Exploring Varied Federal Environments in North Carolina
Huey and I experienced a wide range of environments in North Carolina. During the few weeks we were in the state, we faced below-freezing temperatures and days with highs in the seventies. We drove through rural farmland surrounding the Uwharrie Forest, suburban sprawl surrounding Research Triangle Park, and urban streets in Wilmington. We (tried to) visit the most modern of research facilities and saw the remains of a colonial settlement from over 200 years ago. We followed the trail of federal government involvement through all of these environments. I continue to be amazed at the vast scope of federal influence, which oversees the history and the future innovations coming out of North Carolina.
Two DHS Components Announce Hiring Freeze
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are both under a hiring freeze, according to reports from individuals working within the agencies. For TSA, the freeze appears to be based on budgetary constraints. For USCIS, the agency has indicated the decision was based on continued evaluations of staffing needs.
Census Bureau Requests Law Enforcement Assistance to Protect Listers
The Census Bureau has requested assistance by local law enforcement to protect employees going door to door to engage in the Decennial Census count. The count, which is set to begin in the continental U.S. in April, is the largest enumeration the federal government takes every ten years and requires more than a half million government employees, known as listers or enumerators, to visit homes to collect data on the U.S. population.
Former Non Profit Director Sentenced for Diverting Charity Funds
A former executive director of the South Arkansas Youth Services (SAYS), an Arkansas based non-profit, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for unlawfully diverting more than $380,00 from the charity he operated to a state senator and the lobbying firm of a convicted lobbyist. The former executive director, Jerry Walsh, must also pay $515,631.56 in restitution.
Government Files Petition for Rehearing En Banc in USERRA Case
The Social Security Administration (SSA) removed a preference-eligible veteran from his position as an attorney advisor near the end of his one-year probationary period due to allegedly poor performance. The employee filed for corrective action with the Merit Systems Protection Board, alleging that the agency violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) when it removed him because of his preference-eligible status. An MSPB administrative judge denied the request for corrective action, and the employee appealed to the Federal Circuit. On November 7, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed the MSPB decision, and remanded the case to the MSPB for a determination of the appropriate corrective action. On January 22, 2020, before the remand took effect, the government filed a petition for rehearing en banc, asking that all judges of the Federal Circuit hear the case and rule on a “precedent-setting question of exceptional importance.”
U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Protect Us All
Detect. Prevent. Enforce. Learn about the life in the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Senators Attempt to Halt Facial Recognition Use Pending Proper Regulation, Grant Law Enforcement Exception
Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) have introduced the Ethical Use of Facial Recognition Act to stop federal government use of facial recognition until comprehensive ethical guidelines can be created. The legislation provides exceptions for some federal law enforcement use and creates a commission to recommend uses for facial recognition in the future.