DOJ Moves to Extend Havana Syndrome Benefits to Employees, Dependents
The Department of Justice (DOJ) published an interim final rule on extending benefits to department employees and dependents who are suffering from a mysterious ailment known as Havana syndrome.
The illness was first reported in 2016 by State Department officials stationed in Havana, Cuba. They reported various symptoms including headaches, pain, nausea, dizziness, and hearing loss and were subsequently referred to by the federal government as “anomalous health incidents” (AHIs).
Federal employees in China, Russia, Vietnam, Colombia, and other parts of Europe later reported similar symptoms.
Initially, the benefits were for State Department employees. They were expanded to other agencies under the fiscal year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the 2021 HAVANA Act.
DOJ Outlines Parameters
The DOJ rules mirrors a State Department regulation that provides compensation packages for “individuals who experience long-term consequences, potentially including an inability to gainfully work, as a result of a suspected AHI.”
The injury must be “in connection with war, insurgency, hostile act, terrorist activity or other incidents designated by the Secretary of State,” and be described as “a new onset of physical manifestations that cannot otherwise be readily explained” and not caused by willful misconduct.
Employees and dependents who qualify will receive a one-time, non-taxable, lump sum base payment of 75 percent of Level III pay under the Executive Schedule, or $153,000; and 100% under a base+ payment, or $204,000 as of January 2024.
Eye on Russia
The DOJ rule comes as a recent report from the CBS show 60 Minutes put Havana syndrome back in the public forefront.
After a five-year investigation, CBS claims that there is new evidence of potential Russian ties to the mysterious illnesses and that the illnesses may have been caused by high-energy beams of microwaves or ultrasound, that were secretly fired at U.S. targets.
Retired Lt. Col. Greg Edgreen, who led the Pentagon investigation into the incidents, tells 60 Minutes that he is “confident” Russia is to blame and that the victims were targeted for their successful work against Russia.
"There was some angle where they had worked against Russia, focused on Russia, and done extremely well,” said Edgreen.
An official U.S. intelligence assessment said that it was "very unlikely" a foreign adversary was responsible for Havana Syndrome but acknowledged only “low” or “moderate” confidence in that conclusion.
A bipartisan group of Senators wrote to President Biden, that the allegations warrant a new investigation.
“Given that the U.S. intelligence community has still not identified the root cause of AHIs or attributed responsibility for them, and that reports of new AHIs continue, we should continue to investigate potential actors and causal mechanisms to prevent future incidents taking place to protect U.S. government employees and family members,” the Senators wrote.