Former Chief of Disguise for the CIA, Jonna Mendez, shows how spies in the CIA create effective disguises. Learn about the principles that agents use to disguise themselves.

In two opinions issued on August 12, 2021, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit found that the Department of Veterans Affairs erroneously interpreted the provisions of the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 when disciplining its employees. The purpose of the 2017 law, codified at 38 U.S.C. § 714, was to provide for expedited discipline of VA employees, strip MSPB of its authority to mitigate the VA’s chosen penalty, and to impose a less rigorous burden of proof on the agency at the appellate level than a traditional MSPB appeal.

The Safer Federal Workforce Task Force, launched by President Biden to guide federal agencies on safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced in updated guidance that agencies need to ask about the vaccination status of federal workers, who could face consequences for providing false information but may decline to answer.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a management advisory memorandum to leaders at the Justice Management Division (JMD) identifying a number of concerns with human resources policies and data. The memo notes several continued deficiencies initially identified in DOJ OIG’s October 2020 report on enhancing human capital titled “Top Management and Performance Challenges Facing the Department of Justice 2020.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced in a press release last week that it is launching an initial body worn camera program. CBP has begun outfitting an initial group of officers and agents with body worn cameras to enhance accountability and transparency in its policing.

According to a Department of Justice (DOJ) press release dated August 11, 2021, a sober home operator in Massachusetts, Peter McCarthy, allegedly subjected female residents to sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act.

Listen in as former FBI agent and body language expert Joe Navarro discusses body language. Learn key information about body language and how to use it.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). This “super statute” governs the way administrative agencies develop and issue regulations and allows for oversight of agency actions by federal courts. On FEDtalk last week, the guests took a brief look at the history of the APA and how the law has evolved over the last 75 years. Finally, the group discussed modern issues in administrative law and how these challenges impact the civil service.

FLEOA is proud to represent over 30,000 federal law enforcement officers and agents across 65 federal agencies. Federal law enforcement work in every corner of our nation and the world. Here is a glimpse into the lives of a few.

Devoting time to thinking more clearly about your relationship with money and your spending habits can be a great step towards saving money. If you’re on a journey to become a more thoughtful spender, consider the following tips.

For better or worse, law enforcement officers often find themselves in the public spotlight. Unfortunately, even officers with excellent conduct that consistently adhere to regulations and federal policies aren’t immune to allegations of wrongdoing.

On the morning of August 3, 2021, Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA) Officer George Gonzalez was killed during an attack while stationed at the Metrobus platform outside the Pentagon.

An August 2021 report released by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs found that out of the eight agencies audited, only the Department of Homeland Security showed improvements in its cybersecurity program since a 2019 Senate report which “highlighted systemic failures of eight key federal agencies to comply with federal cybersecurity standards.”

From 2013 to 2016, several law enforcement agencies investigated a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy in Illinois. The government installed three cameras on nearby utility poles to monitor the home of defendant Travis Tuggle. Two cameras viewed the front of Tuggle’s home and a nearby parking area. The third camera viewed a shed owned by codefendant, Joshua Vaultonburg.

President Biden’s nominees to fill key roles within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are advancing in the Senate. The Senate confirmed Ur Jaddou as the new director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on July 30 on a 47-34 party-line vote.

According to a Department of Justice (DOJ) press release dated August 3, 2021, a member of the U.S. foreign service, Dean Cheves, 61, was indicted for engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place and possession of child pornography.

Listen to former Secret Service Agent Jonathan Wackrow, who served in the U.S. Secret Service for 14 years, talk about the skills required for the job and the strategy used. He served on the security details of a number of U.S. leaders, including former President Barack Obama.

On Thursday afternoon, the Biden administration announced a requirement that all federal employees and contractors show proof of vaccination or submit to regular COVID-19 tests, wear masks, and physically distance from others while at work.

According to a Department of Justice press release dated July 22, 2021, the DOJ has launched five cross-jurisdictional firearms trafficking strike forces to address violent crime and crack down on sources of crime guns.

Whether law enforcement officers are entitled to qualified immunity when they knowingly violated their training by retaliating against a person for filming an arrest the officers made in public, was submitted this month for the U.S. Supreme Court’s consideration.