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.”

Federal wildlife officers are on the front lines of protecting wildlife and Americans’ engagement with it.

On June 29, 2020, the United States Supreme Court held that restrictions on the President of the United States’ ability to fire a single director of a federal agency violates the separation of powers clause of the United States Constitution.

If you are thinking about jumping into a career as a federal employee or just started your journey as one, you may not be aware of the numerous opportunities and benefits that you get as a federal employee. From advancing your skills and education to discounts and loan forgiveness, there are dozens of programs and opportunities in place that federal employees can really benefit from.

On FEDtalk this week, join host Natalia Castro for a conversation regarding how systemic racism and discrimination impact the federal workforce. Guests will be discussing challenges the federal government faces when addressing issues of racial tension and combating systemic racism, as well as providing insight on how the federal workforce can move forward to become more representative of the people it serves.

On Friday, President Trump signed an executive order on Modernizing and Reforming the Assessment and Hiring of Federal Job Candidates. The order calls upon agencies to increase use of skills assessments and interviews with subject matter experts in the hiring process, with less of an emphasis placed on degree requirements. The goal, according to the Trump Administration, is to broaden the pool of potential candidates and create a more equitable hiring process.

Each year, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes trillions in government programs, is seen as a ‘must pass’ piece of legislation to which lawmakers can add various amendments relating to military and civilian personnel matters. Last week, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the Deepfake Report Act as an amendment to the Senate’s FY 2021 NDAA.

With the announcement of another pharmaceutical company being charged for conspiring to fix prices for generic drugs, the Department of Justice has now charged five companies involved in this activity as the result of an ongoing antitrust investigation. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., the most recently charged company, allegedly worked with Apotex Corp. to increase and maintain prices of Pravastatin and other generic drugs.

The National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum is deeply concerned about current events around the country. We are an organization that cares deeply about diversity, fairness, respect, honor, and justice. Our actions, both individually and collectively, can make a difference in our communities around the nation, and the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum is committed even more to being one of those difference makers.

The FBI and the CIA are two of the most well-known federal agencies. Here is a look at their history, similarities, and differences.

The Office of Personnel Management issued guidance on several elements of annual leave and other paid time off (PTO) last week in a memo from Acting Director Michael Rigas to agency heads. The memo clarifies and provides additional resources for employees on annual leave “use or lose” provisions impacted by COVID-19, restoration of annual leave, compensatory time off for travel, compensatory time off for overtime, credit hours, and disabled veteran leave.

This week, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act. The bill would require service providers and device manufacturers to assist law enforcement in accessing encrypted data or devices necessary for investigations after a court issues a warrant based on probable cause that a crime has occurred.