U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has received $15 million from the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) to update its systems relating to tracking and processing imported goods. The fund was created in 2018 through the Modernizing Government Technology Act and allows agencies to apply for funds that are to be repaid over three to five years.

In a letter to House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Financial Services and General Government, the Office of Personnel Management’s Office of the Inspector General (OPM OIG) outlined how the central management agency has failed to comply with the laws requiring OPM to provide the OIG with “timely access to agency records.”

Thousands of Oklahoma convictions of Creek Nation members on reservation land may be dismissed following the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma. In that case, the Supreme Court held that only the tribes and federal government may prosecute Native Americans living in most of Eastern Oklahoma for crimes committed there. This holding may be extended to dismiss potentially thousands of state convictions for retrial by either tribal governments or the U.S. Department of Justice.

A Lebanese national named Ghassan Diab, wanted in Florida for the alleged laundering of drug proceeds to support Hezbollah, and a Cypriot national named Joshua Polloso Epifaniou, wanted in Arizona and Georgia for cyber intrusion and extortion, were both extradited to the United States from the Republic of Cyprus.

Worried about getting a security clearance? Check out this video that breaks down common myths about the process.

In an announcement Friday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) outlined plans to resume hearings for asylum seekers under Migration Protection Protocols (MPP). Court dates have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will resume based on a combination of state and federal guidelines.

In a proposed rule submitted to the Federal Register on July 20, the Office of Personnel Management implements provisions within the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (FY 2020 NDAA) that ensure the continuation of certain federal benefits and services in the event of a lapse in appropriations. The FY 2020 NDAA names certain Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program and Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) services as emergency services under the Antideficiency Act.

From the Oval Office last week, President Donald J. Trump announced the conclusion of a multi-year investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that led to the takedown of 17 members of the MS-13 gang. These arrests took place in Las Vegas and Los Angeles with the assistance of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). During this bust, HSI seized five pounds of methamphetamine, $28,000 in cash, and 14 firearms. Gang members were charged on 21 counts, including a violation of the Kingpin statute and transporting large quantities of methamphetamine from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

In 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held the MSPB acted arbitrarily and capriciously when it dismissed an ATF employee’s Individual Right of Action appeal. The Seventh Circuit’s 2018 opinion found that the employee “properly alleged a ‘protected disclosure’ and exhausted his administrative remedies so that the Board had jurisdiction to evaluate the merits of his claim.” The MSPB AJ denied relief, and the employee appealed to the Seventh Circuit again. On July 16, 2020, the appeals court again held that the MSPB acted arbitrarily, capriciously, and contrary to law. This time, the remand to the MSPB was only on the extent of relief to the employee.

In the most recent FEDtalk podcast episode, Alice Mercer, Chairperson of the Blacks in Government (BIG) Committee on Affirmative Action/ Equal Employment Opportunity, Margaret Williams, Vice-Chair of the Senior Executives Association (SEA) Board of Directors, and Chad Hooper, National President of the Professional Managers Association (PMA) discuss the implications of racism within federal agencies. BIG is a government-wide organization that strives for racial equality in governance for black Americans. SEA is the professional association for career members of the Senior Executive Service (SES) and other senior government leaders. PMA represents management and non-collective bargaining unit eligible employees at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The Department of Justice Community Relations Service provides insight on bridging the gap between law enforcement officers and their communities.

Over the years, federal law enforcement agencies have been able to magnify their reach and effectiveness through the setting up of federal task forces, made up of both federal and state & local law enforcement officers. These task forces (led by officers from agencies such as the U.S. Marshals, FBI, and DEA) are assigned to address specific issues such as sex trafficking, drug trafficking, tracking fugitives, and counterterrorism efforts. While the task forces are largely spearheaded and funded by federal agencies, oftentimes a majority of the manpower is provided by state & local law enforcement.

Representative Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and Representative Kathleen Rice (D-NY) sent a letter to Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chad Wolf and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Chief Operating Officer and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner Mark Morgan this week urging the DHS to halt deployments to the southwest border as the region experiences a spike in coronavirus cases. The lawmakers warned that further deployments may place a strain on “already overwhelmed” local health resources.

In guidance issued on Tuesday, the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) clarified questions relating to use and displays of the phrase “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) while on duty or in the federal workplace. The guidance addresses two central questions: whether BLM terminology is inherently political activity and whether the Black Lives Matter Global Network (BLMGN) is a partisan political group. OSC found the answer to both questions to be no, which under the Hatch Act generally allows employees to engage in BLM-related activity while on duty or in the workplace.

Song Guo Zheng, a professor of rheumatology and researcher at various American universities, was charged with grant fraud after it was discovered that he used approximately $4.1 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to further China’s knowledge of immunology and rheumatology. Not only did he allegedly make false statements to his employers regarding his ties to the Chinese government, but he also allegedly attempted to steal intellectual property from the United States with the intention of taking it back to China.

On June 26, 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held that the removal of illegally appointed employees who had otherwise not committed misconduct or performed poorly still promoted the efficiency of the service.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot introduced the Census Cowboy to encourage low response areas to fill out the census.

As millions of federal workers conduct their business remotely due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Chief Information Officers (CIO) Council has released their views on best practices for working remotely. The guidance acknowledges that the expansion of telecommuting activities has increased the potential for sensitive government projects and information to be exposed to unauthorized individuals.

The Census Bureau has made adjustments to its 2020 Decennial Census operations in order to ensure the count occurs without risking the safety and wellbeing of the employees enumerating the American public. To get the count started, the Census Bureau announced this week that the agency has hired some 900,000 temporary employees to conduct in person confirmations of addresses.

The Department of Justice announced its findings relating to an investigation into the Narcotics Bureau of the Springfield, Massachusetts Police Department (SPD) this week. The DOJ found reasonable cause to believe the bureau engaged in a “pattern or practice of using excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.”