Search for news, organizations and people The Federal Newswire

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that its Wage and Hour Division will conduct online seminars aimed at contractors, contracting agencies, unions, workers, and other stakeholders. These seminars will focus on prevailing wage requirements for federally funded construction and service contracts in fiscal year 2025.

An administrative law judge has ordered JRW Service Group LLC, a federal contractor based in Pennsylvania, to pay $85,284 in back wages. This decision follows an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor into the company's failure to pay prevailing wages, fringe benefits, and overtime to workers on federal construction projects.

The United States is taking significant steps to bolster economic security and strengthen partnerships in Central America. Last week, Troy Miller, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner, visited El Salvador for meetings with senior officials from President Nayib Bukele’s administration.

On October 15, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted an awards ceremony at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., where 350 employees were honored with the Secretary’s Award for their significant contributions to the department's mission.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has announced the 2024 recipients of its Joy in Medicine recognition, highlighting health organizations that have taken significant steps to address physician burnout. Despite a decline in burnout rates following the COVID-19 pandemic, the issue persists among physicians compared to other U.S. workers.

Yesterday, October 14, the United States began deploying an advance team of military personnel and initial components necessary to operate the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in Israel. This information was shared by Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.

Representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 are set to host a series of open house sessions in Missouri's Old Lead Belt from October 21 to 24, 2024. These sessions aim to update community members on site cleanups and provide information about the EPA’s residential soil lead guidance.

A Massachusetts man, Marvin Pompilus, 39, from Stoughton, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to sex trafficking and drug offenses. The charges include four counts of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced its plans to observe the 25th National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) from October 20-26, 2024. This initiative is in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The event aims to raise awareness about lead poisoning prevention and reduce childhood exposure to lead.

The U.S. Department of Education has commenced the second phase of testing, Beta 2, for the 2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This follows a successful Beta 1 phase where hundreds of students across the nation submitted their FAFSA forms without encountering major issues.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, Laura Updegrove, has concluded her visit to Cambodia. The trip marked the first U.S.-Cambodia Defense Policy Dialogue since 2019. This dialogue was part of a series of meetings with Cambodian defense and foreign policy officials.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that residents in certain areas of Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee affected by Tropical Storm Helene may qualify for food assistance through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). This initiative aims to support approximately 982,930 households in Georgia, 152,572 in North Carolina, and 54,692 in Tennessee with grocery expenses.

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small visited the Golden Harvest Food Bank in Augusta, Georgia, to discuss efforts related to Hurricane Helene recovery. The visit included a roundtable discussion focused on the organization's role in providing food and support to families affected by the hurricane.

The United States and Qatar conducted the 16th U.S.-Qatar Military Consultative Commission (MCC) at the Pentagon on October 15, 2024. The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, Daniel B. Shapiro, and Qatar Defense Attaché to the United States, Major General Ali Al-Kuwari.

The U.S. Department of State recently hosted 13 international musicians and music professionals as part of its Global Music Diplomacy Initiative. This initiative aims to use music as a diplomatic tool to promote peace and democracy. The event was organized through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), which serves as the department's leading professional exchange program.

The Justice Department has announced its intention to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in Portage County, Ohio. This monitoring will occur during the early voting period and on Election Day. The department's role is to ensure that all citizens have access to the ballot without facing intimidation or threats.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced additional assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for producers affected by Hurricane Helene. The USDA has identified counties eligible for payments under the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) endorsement. Approved Insurance Providers (AIP) have 30 days to issue payments, although they often do so sooner.

ASRC Federal Data Solutions LLC (AFDS), based in Reston, Virginia, has agreed to settle allegations related to the False Claims Act. The allegations involve a government contract concerning the storage of unsecured personal information of Medicare beneficiaries. As part of the settlement, AFDS will pay $306,722 and forgo any reimbursement rights for costs incurred during a data breach remediation, including at least $877,578 spent on notifying affected individuals and providing credit monitoring services.

The Office of Information Policy (OIP) has released its summary and assessment of the 2024 Chief FOIA Officer (CFO) Reports from various agencies. The report focuses on improvements in five key areas: FOIA leadership, fair administration, proactive disclosures, technology utilization for efficiency, and removing access barriers.

Meta has launched a new safety campaign, 'Scams se Bacho', featuring Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana. The initiative aims to educate the public on avoiding online scams and promoting safer digital practices. This campaign is a collaboration between Meta and three Indian government entities: the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).

Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Todd D. Robinson, is set to visit Argentina and Uruguay from October 14 to 18. The trip aims to enhance collaborative efforts against illicit synthetic drugs and reinforce commitments to regional security.

An Indian Enquiry Committee, formed to investigate activities of certain organized criminals, is currently examining an individual identified in a Department of Justice indictment last year. This person was described as an Indian government employee who allegedly directed a failed plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen in New York City.

The Copper Development Association (CDA) has expressed concerns about the vulnerability of the U.S. copper supply chain, emphasizing the need for its reinforcement. The CDA shared this statement in an October 8 post on X.

Jessica Melugin is the Director of the Center for Technology and Innovation at the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

Chairman John Moolenaar and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party have reached out to major telecom companies regarding a reported cyber breach. The two lawmakers sent a letter to the CEOs of Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen Technologies, companies reportedly affected by what is being called the Salt Typhoon breach.