Leading House Democrats on the Homeland Security, Appropriations, and Transportation Committees re-introduced the Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act of 2021 in Congress. The bill, passed twice by the House in the 116th Congress, would expand workforce protections for employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

On February 4, 2021, President Joe Biden released a national security memo that focused on revitalizing American foreign policy and restoring the national security workforce, institutions, and partnerships. He also recently appeared at the Department of State to send a message on foreign policy to the workforce, saying, “I want the people who work in this building, and our embassies and consulates around the world, to know I value your expertise, and I respect you. And I will have your back.”

Last week, a hacker was able to breach the computer system of the water treatment facility in Oldsmar, Florida. The attack was detected before it affected the population. Initial reports indicate the hacker or hackers attempted to add dangerous levels of sodium hydroxide to the water supply using the plant’s remote access software. Cyber experts have warned that the attack highlights cyber infrastructure vulnerabilities.

According to a Department of Justice (DOJ) press release, Indian drug manufacturer Fresenius Kabi Oncology Limited (FKOL) has agreed to plead guilty to concealing and destroying records prior to a 2013 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection. FKOL has agreed to pay $50 million in fines and forfeiture.

Take a trip down memory lane with DEA agent Ray Donovan, who reflects on capturing ‘El Chapo’ in this video from two years ago.

For 14 years, Federal Employee Defense Services has provided professional liability insurance (PLI) for federal law enforcement officers and has been a proud advocate for the federal law enforcement community. Now, FEDS is expanding its ability to offer even more support to federal law enforcement officers through its acquisition by CRC Group, a leading national wholesale distributor of specialty insurance products. This timely partnership will enable FEDS to expand coverage options for public employees and contractors.

If you are unfamiliar with our organization, the Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund (FEEA) was established in 1986. We serve federal employees and their families as a national 501c3 charity modelled after military relief organizations.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced on February 2, 2021 that the Integrated Justice Information Systems (IJIS) Institute will take charge of a new project to develop interoperability standards between the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems used by the nation’s public safety agencies.

According to a Department of Justice press release, on February 1, John Ed James, 51, of Katy, Texas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit commodities fraud and wire fraud for his role in an insider trading scheme.

U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was fatally injured during the January 6 insurrection, was honored with a congressional tribute in the Capitol Rotunda.

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security David Pekoske has issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin due to security concerns following the inauguration of President Joe Biden. According to the bulletin, there is reason to believe that Domestic Violent Extremists (DVEs) could be ideologically motivated to challenge the presidential transition and exercises of governmental authority.

Last week on the FEDtalk podcast, host Jason Briefel was joined by Jessica Klement, the Staff Vice President, Policy and Programs at the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE); Randy Erwin, the National President of the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE); and Chad Hooper, the Executive Director of the Professional Managers Association (PMA).

Planning for the unexpected may help ease the financial stress of college tuition.

President Biden has issued many executive actions within his first week in office. Several of these actions relate directly to criminal justice reform and immigration policy.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) recently announced that the House Committee on Homeland Security and several other House committees have reached a memorandum of understanding that would help solve jurisdictional issues that have plagued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for years.

On January 25, the Brookings Institution held an event titled, “Is there a path forward for court reform?”. The purpose of the event was to discuss the Biden administration’s creation of a bipartisan commission to study the Supreme Court and federal judiciary.

According to a Department of Justice press release dated January 26, 2021, Wisconsin pharmacist Steven Brandenburg was charged with two counts of attempting to tamper with consumer products with reckless disregard for the risk that another person will be placed in danger of death or bodily injury.

On-camera participation in a password-protected Zoom videoconference may be relied upon as evidence of a conspiracy, the Third Circuit recently held. In that same decision, the Court held Zoom user logs are “classic business records” that may be introduced into evidence.

In 2020, the survivors of law enforcement suicide established the Survivors of Blue Suicide Foundation (SBS), a non-profit 501c(3) dedicated to fostering hope by uniting survivors and honoring our fallen heroes, modeled after and empowered by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.).

The number of law enforcement professionals nationwide who died in the line of duty in 2020 increased 96% over the previous year, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, a nonprofit group that has long tracked officer fatalities.