Like many events, WAEPA’s annual conference moved to a fully virtual format in 2020. Hosted by our CEO Shane M. Canfield, the 2020 WAEPA Federal Summit and Annual Member Meeting delivered an excellent lineup of speakers for the Civilian Federal Employees. Here are some key takeaways from the event.

Officer Veronica Campbell selflessly gives her vehicle to a mother of five children.

Temporarily removing a package from mail processing to examine its exterior does not constitute a Fourth Amendment seizure, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently held.

President Trump signed an executive order on October 21, 2020 creating a new classification for federal employees. Per the order, employees that are in confidential, policy making positions would be categorized as Schedule F employees and would not be subject to traditional Title 5 workplace protections. These employees would also be barred from organizing against or appealing the administration. The order grants agency leaders broad discretion to hire and fire individuals in this schedule.

A new White House strategy recently named 20 emerging technologies that are crucial to national security. In light of new and different forms of national security threats, the administration is encouraging agencies to begin investing in emerging technologies and incorporating them into their organizations.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced their second largest methamphetamine bust along the southern border in a press release on October 11, 2020. With help from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), CBP officers seized over 3,100 pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl powder, fentanyl pills and heroin at the Otay Mesa commercial facility.

What trials and tribulations do CIA agents endure during their missions? What happens when they blow their cover? Learn about the covert nature of being a CIA agent.

On FEDtalk this week, host Natalia Castro had a discussion with the National Academy of Public Administration. Joining the show was NAPA President and CEO Terry Gerton as well as NAPA Fellows Edward DeSeve and Chris Mihm. Mr. DeSeve is also a Senior Fellow at the IBM Center for the Business of Government. Mr. Mihm also serves as Managing Director of the GAO Strategic Issues Team.

On October 20, 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) sued Google for allegedly violating antitrust laws that protect consumers from unfair business practices and ensure fair competition. A Department of Justice press release explained that a civil antitrust lawsuit had been filed against Google by the DOJ and 11 state attorneys general.

The Red Ribbon Campaign, the U.S.’s oldest and largest drug prevention program, is holding its annual Red Ribbon Week beginning October 23. Red ribbon has been a symbol for drug prevention since the death of DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena during a drug operation in Mexico in 1985. Red Ribbon Week occurs each year and is dedicated to promoting awareness about drugs. Schools across America participate in red ribbon week and teach their students about drug prevention.

Texas billionaire Robert Brockman was charged with tax evasion, wire fraud, money laundering, and other crimes in service of a $2 billion tax fraud scheme, the Department of Justice said at a recent press conference. Over the course of 20 years, Brockman allegedly used offshore bank accounts to hide his money with the help of a private equity firm CEO named Robert Smith. Brockman is the CEO of Reynolds & Reynolds, a software company in Ohio.

Get a look inside the CIA Museum with NBC's Richard Engel. Learn about the significance of several artifacts in the museum’s collection.

The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether pursuit of a person who a police officer has probable cause to believe has committed a misdemeanor allows the officer to enter a home without a warrant.

Participants in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) can expect to pay higher premiums in 2021, with an expected average increase of 4.9%. On average, federal employees will pay $7.89 more toward their health premiums per biweekly pay period next year. This hike is lower than that of last year, which was an increase of 5.6%.

This week on FEDtalk, host Jason Briefel was joined by three global talent management officials from both the government and the private sector to discuss evolutions in talent management since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Guests included Nancy Brickwood, Senior Vice President of Global Human Resources at BGRS; Clothilda (Clo) Taylor, Executive Director of the Strategic Learning, Development and Engagement Office and Chief Learning and Engagement Officer in the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer, Department of Homeland Security (DHS); and Ghadeer Hasan, Head of Global Mobility at Lockheed Martin.

In an October 7, 2020 letter to the House and Senate Armed Services Committee, a diverse group of organizations who have been impacted by money laundering, fraud, and counterfeiting came together to support the inclusion of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) in the NDAA for this year.

According to a Department of Justice press release dated October 9, 2020, a former Commander of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (GTMO) was sentenced to prison for obstructing justice and making false statements. Captain John Nettleton, 53, of Jacksonville, Florida was sentenced to 24 months in prison related to his actions during the Navy’s investigation of the death of Christopher M. Tur, the Loss Prevention Safety Manager at GTMO’s Naval Exchange.

On October 6, 2020, the Supreme Court heard telephonic oral arguments for Tanzin v. Tavir, which poses the question of whether the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), passed in 1993, allows suits seeking money damages against individual federal employees, here FBI agents.

You may already be aware of what long term care is, whether it's through personal experience caregiving for a loved one who needs daily assistance, or knowing a family member or friend who requires more support as they age. As you learn more about long term care, consider the possibility that you may need this type of care in the future and start planning for it today.

No federal law enforcement officer goes to work expecting to get sued or anticipates spending tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees to defend their career. However, today’s current political climate means federal LEOS are increasingly vulnerable to civil lawsuits and administrative actions. If an allegation is made against you, are you aware of your rights as a federal LEO? Are you prepared to vigorously defend yourself even if the allegation is baseless? Do you have professional liability insurance in place to help you in these trying matters? In the spirit of the fall season, FEDS Protection has put together a list of Trick or Treat facts that will help you learn more about your liability exposures and how best to protect yourself with FEDS PLI.