During the holiday season, FEDS Protection wants to thank all hard-working federal law enforcement agents and officers who risked their lives and dedicated countless hours to serving our country in 2021. We all experienced a challenging year, but the federal law enforcement community faced unprecedented challenges and new responsibilities.

The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is the federal law enforcement and security bureau of the State Department, with more than 2,500 special agents, engineering officers, technical specialists, and diplomatic couriers operating worldwide. DSS has offices in 29 U.S. cities and more than 270 global locations, giving it a global reach unlike any other federal law enforcement agency.

In late 2019, Congress passed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act and changed the age at which you must start taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from 70.5 to 72. Individuals who turned 70.5 before January 1, 2020, were not affected by this change, but they must still take RMDs before they turn 72.

For 100 years, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), has been a trusted source of knowledge for the federal community, Capitol Hill, the executive branch and the media. NARFE is the only organization solely dedicated to the welfare of federal workers and retirees, providing them with valuable guidance, timely resources, and persuasive advocacy.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected certiorari on Petitioner Erik Egbert’s request for the Court to reverse Bivens, the 1971 case that allows federal employees to be sued in their personal capacities for violating certain constitutional rights.

The House has authorized a finalized National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2022, authorizing $768.1 billion in defense spending after a series of delays, amendment disputes, and political tension. The NDAA was signed minutes after the House passed a measure to avert a first-ever government default, clearing the way for Congressional Democrats to expedite their year-end legislative agenda and focus on President Biden's social and energy policies.

The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) initiative on cybersecurity in the transportation sector has developed an initial set of requirements aimed at pipelines, rail operators, aviation, and other entities.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued guidance on December 3 encouraging federal agencies to work together and support their inspector generals (IGs). As Congress works to strengthen independence and authority, OMB's memo sets the tone for cooperation and reflects input from the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE).

In three separate incidents, the U.S. Navy seized 171 surface-to-air missiles, eight anti-tank missiles and 1.1 million barrels of petroleum products worth $261 million from two Iranian ships in the Arabian Sea.

The Senate confirmed Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus as the nation's next commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), appointing a new leader for the nation's largest law enforcement agency. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) voted with the Democrats in the 50-47 vote that split mostly along party lines.

The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) settled a race discrimination lawsuit last week with Anthony Green, a maintenance mechanic at the agency's Capitol Power Plant. The AOC will pay $135,000 to Green in total compensation, including $85,000 in "compensatory damages" and $50,000 in attorney fees, and the terms of the settlement bar Green from filing a lawsuit on the same claim in the future.

To reduce road accidents involving law enforcement officers, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) intends to introduce a Law Enforcement Operations Driving Skills (LEODS) training course.

If financial wellness is important to you, there are certain money moves you should be making. Take a few minutes to check the box beside each statement below that applies to your financial plan.

One Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) initiative that is rarely discussed is ensuring law enforcement officers have access to affordable housing in the communities they serve.

On the latest episode of the FEDtalk podcast, host Debra Roth sits down with open season experts to discuss coverage options, changes from the previous year, and all the ways federal employees can learn about their insurance options virtually.

This week, the Biden administration delayed suspensions and firings for federal employees until 2022 despite 97 percent compliance with the mandate.

Alternately, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the Department of Defense (DOD) will not pay National Guard members who refuse to receive to comply with the federal vaccine mandate.

After postponing decisions earlier in the year, Congress has an agreement on a short-term spending bill that funds agencies through February 18. However, there is still the possibility of a shutdown on December 3, as all 100 senators must agree to expedited consideration to avoid at least a temporary shutdown of federal agencies.

Federal employees may have some extra annual leave set to expire, according to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recent memorandum.

In recent years, Congress has passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the closing weeks of the calendar year. According to experts, there's precedent for the legislation passing in the new year with few consequences if it passes.

In a press release, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced nine major retailers and wholesalers, including Walmart and Amazon, have 45 days to provide information about their operations to identify the causes of supply chain disruptions that impede economic recovery.