As stay at home orders continue, domestic violence has left some people locked in unsafe homes. Here is a look at the global impact and how some countries are responding.

A Department of Veterans Affairs medical center director made multiple protected disclosures to the VA Office of Inspector General about agency spending and contracts in October 2013. He repeated those concerns in a conference call in January 2014. His second line supervisor was on that conference call. The second-line supervisor, several weeks later, appointed an Administrative Investigation Board (AIB) to investigate inappropriate relationships with subordinate staff, and investigators treated the medical center director as a subject of that investigation.

The White House has rolled out its plan to begin reopening the country following the shutdown of non-essential businesses in nearly every state due to the coronavirus pandemic. To go along with guidelines for state, local, and tribal governments and the private sector for reopening the country, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), in conjunction with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), has released guidance for agencies on actions they may take to return to normal operations while still prioritizing adherence to local advisories.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced a new four-phase competition challenge, called the Chariot Challenge, aimed at using innovative technologies to provide first responders with more accurate and immediate information when responding to public emergencies. The competition includes an Augmented Reality (AR) challenge and an Internet of Things (IoT) challenge.

Work by federal law enforcement and private sector partners has resulted in the disruption of several hundred online COVID-19 scams in the last few weeks. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has been prioritizing the investigation of COVID-19 related crimes and fraudulent activity in an attempt to combat criminals looking to take advantage of the situation.

On April 6, 2020, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Babb v. Wilkie. The question in this case was whether the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) requires federal sector employees to show that age was a “but-for” cause of the personnel action taken, rather than merely show that it was tainted by any discrimination at any stage. Previously, the court interpreted the private-sector provision to require “but-for” causation. In its April 6 decision, the Court held that “[t]he plain meaning of § 633a(a) demands that personnel actions be untainted by any consideration of age.”

Join the Senior Executives Association, Treasury Executive Institute, and The Arbinger Institute, for a Free Webinar on April 28th from 12pm- 1pm focused on Exploring Mindset During the Pandemic.

We want to be sure you know how to receive help and access resources through the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA), the only 501c3 charity by and for federal civilian employees. We encourage you to share this information with other federal employees and contact FEEA with any questions at emergency@feea.org.

In honor of Earth Day yesterday, learn about how EPA Special Agent Andrea Abat works to protect the planet.

The Federal Postal Coalition issued a letter this week to lawmakers highlighting the challenges federal employees are facing as they attempt to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter lists and explains several policies lawmakers can enact to meet the needs of the federal workforce.

In two notices released Tuesday, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced that government employees who are considered essential frontline employees could receive extra pay during the coronavirus pandemic and clarified how federal employees should work amidst local stay at home orders.

Christopher Parris of Atlanta, Georgia has been arrested and charged with wire fraud for attempting to sell millions of nonexistent respirator masks to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in exchange for large upfront payments. Parris made a series of misrepresentations in an attempt to get the VA to secure orders for up to 125 million face mask and other personal protective equipment (PPE) which would have totaled over $750 million.

A warrant authorizing a search of property and the seizure of a vehicle implicitly included a search of the property for police to seize the vehicle’s keys, the Eighth Circuit recently held.

On FEDtalk this week, join host Tony Vergnetti to hear about some of the important resources available to federal employees and recommendations for federal employees during these times of financial uncertainty and vulnerability brought on by the COVID-19 crisis. It is especially critical for federal employees to obtain information that is credible and easy to understand.

“I’m overwhelmed” has never been echoed amongst LEOs across all agencies more than it is right now. Officers are concerned over decisions and actions/inactions in the performance of duties and/or managing incarcerated individuals, parolees, subjects, targets, COVID related crimes, etc. Supervising agents are also concerned about managing employees.

Made by first responders for first responders, Resilient Minds on the Front Lines is a new regular webcast to help those on the front lines handle the emotional toll of the pandemic.

The Department of Homeland Security announced last week a specialized team dedicated to procurement related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Procurement & Acquisition Innovation Response (PAIR) Team is providing support to DHS components, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in reviewing, vetting, and coordinating procurement inquiries.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology released an update to their Guidelines for Managing the Security of Mobile Devices in the Enterprise. This update to the mobile device guidelines is the first since 2013 and, while it was not done due to the surge in employees on telework, NIST leaders do note its particular importance during the current situation.

A federal complaint has been filed against a San Antonio man for perpetuating a hoax related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Christopher Charles Perez has been charged with one count of violating a US law which criminalizes false information and hoaxes related to weapons of mass destruction.

In a complaint filed in the United States Court of Federal Claims, five federal employees, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, alleged that they performed work “with or in close proximity to objects, surfaces, and/or individuals infected with the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”).” On March 27, 2020, in their complaint, the employees alleged they were entitled to, but did not receive, hazardous duty pay differential for exposure to virulent biologicals set forth in federal regulations.