Congressional Democrats introduced a legislative package this week to address policing issues as law enforcement accountability makes national headlines. The 135-page package entitled the Justice in Policing Act includes a host of changes to federal and state law enforcement practices and increases federal oversight over state and local police departments.

Several companies have announced plans to suspend cooperation with the federal government on facial recognition technology. Both IBM and Amazon announced this week concerns that, absent proper regulation, the technology could replicate biases that lead to racial profiling or improper use. Amazon has given the federal government one year to impose stronger regulations on the technology’s use.

A former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) public affairs officer has pleaded guilty to defrauding at least a dozen companies of over $4.4 million by falsely posing as a covert officer for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Garrison Kenneth Courtney of Tampa, Florida claimed to be part of a task force involving various components of the United States Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense.

FEDagent recently reported the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Babb v. Wilkie. In Babb, the Supreme Court reversed a panel of U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and held the prohibition against age discrimination in the federal workplace was broader than that applied in the private sector. We update you now that plaintiff Noris Babb is requesting the full Eleventh Circuit to apply the Supreme Court’s holding to lower the bar to establish EEO reprisal claims in the federal workplace.

The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate works on innovative programs geared toward securing the world. Here is an overview.

No matter your stage of life, it’s always a good idea to have a long-range health plan in place. One thing to keep in mind is coverage for any potential long term care needs.

Amid national conversations regarding race in the United States, the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) has launched an online portal to provide Americans with additional resources to both reflect on their own history with race and lead conversation about race. The portal provides targeted guidance for educators, parents or caregivers, and people committed to equity, as well as a multitude of resources delving into the history of race and racism.

Legislation introduced by Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) to expand the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to include alleged DOJ attorney misconduct will be taken up next week during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

As various federal law enforcement agencies work in various states to ensure the safety of American cities and peaceful protestors, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged several individuals allegedly seeking to exploit the protests to incite violence. These charges range from domestic terror related offenses to possessions of illegal weapons.

In October 2016, Little Rock, AR Police Officer Dennis Hutchins shot and killed Roy Lee Richards, Jr. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit recently found that Officer Hutchins’s shooting of Richards, who possessed a pellet gun, was unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment, and denied Officer Hutchins qualified immunity.

While there are signs of recovery, many of us are still struggling to manage the monetary impact of this pandemic. But there are actions we can take today to help. This time in history presents an opportunity for all of us to take stock of our positions, assess the impact the coronavirus has had on our goals, and implement a plan to get our finances back on track. We can also reflect on lessons learned and use them to help protect ourselves for when the next disaster strikes.

On FEDtalk this week, join host Debra Roth to hear important advice for handling your finances in the midst of the current health and economic crises. Guests will be discussing how to manage times of financial uncertainty while still planning for your long term health and economic security needs.

This weekend, NASA and Space X teamed up to fly astronauts to the International Space Station. Here is a recap of the launch.

The Census Bureau has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to help determine their cybersecurity acquisition strategy for the next decade. The RFI solicits information on industry best practices on cybersecurity and seeks recommendation on how to best acquire the knowledge and expertise to meet cybersecurity needs over the next ten years.

The Postal Service is testing a daily temperature check “proof of concept” in Northern Virginia and Oklahoma City for employees reporting to work and returning from quarantine.

A California man has been charged with filing bank loan applications to fraudulently seek more than $1.7 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Whether an unsuccessful attempt to detain a suspect by use of physical force is a “seizure” within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment, in a case where officers shot a suspect who temporarily eluded capture and subsequently sued for civil damages, is set to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in its Fall Term.

Lawmakers are already circulating proposals to investigate missteps and policy holes that led to the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. Whether or not you’re employed by one of the 71 agencies responding directly to this crisis, you need to understand what your exposures are and how you may be impacted.

The microscopic virus that spurred a global pandemic has impacted every public event, regardless of how longstanding the tradition – including the 32nd Annual Candlelight Vigil, the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum’s flagship ceremony that honors the year’s fallen law enforcement officers.

Learn more about how the NOAA Fisheries Law Enforcement components play a significant role in protecting the nation’s marine resources.