News published on Federal Newswire in March 2021

News Release: The Department of Justice’s U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) has entered into a settlement with national consumer bankruptcy law firm Deighan Law LLC, previously known as Law Solutions Chicago and doing business as UpRight Law (UpRight). The settlement is set forth in a consent order entered by the Bankruptcy ...

Justice Department Settles Claims Against Toms River, New Jersey Over Zoning Code That Restricts Houses of Worship

News Release: The Justice Department today announced an agreement with the Township of Toms River, New Jersey, to resolve allegations that the Township violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) by severely restricting where houses of worship can locate within its jurisdiction. The ...

Correctional Sergeant and Correctional Officer Indicted for Inmate Abuse, Obstruction of Justice

News Release: A federal grand jury in Alabama returned a five-count indictment today charging two Alabama men, an Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) sergeant and corrections officer with assaulting an inmate at ADOC’s Staton Correctional Facility and making false statements following the assault. According to ...

Justice Department Files Title VII Sex Discrimination Lawsuit Against Alabama Sheriff’s Office and the Mobile County Sheriff

News Release: The Department of Justice announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama’s second-largest sheriff’s office, and the Mobile County Sheriff, in his official capacity (collectively, MCSO).

Secretary Blinken’s Travel to Tokyo and Seoul

News Release: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Tokyo, Japan, and Seoul, Republic of Korea (ROK), March 15–18 to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to strengthening our alliances and to highlight cooperation that promotes peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world.

Restarting the Central American Minors Program

News Release: As another concrete step in implementing our comprehensive regional migration management strategy, we are expanding legal pathways to enter the United States by reopening the Central American Minors (CAM) program. As directed by President Biden, the Departments of State and Homeland Security (DHS) have ...

Secretary Blinken and NSA Sullivan’s Meeting with PRC Counterparts

News Release: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will meet on March 18 in Anchorage, Alaska with People’s Republic of China (PRC) Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi and State Councilor Wang Yi. The meeting will take place following Secretary Blinken’s meetings with two of our closest regional allies in Tokyo and Seoul. Secretary Blinken and NSA Sullivan will discuss a range of issues with the PRC.

Promoting Accountability and Responding to Violence against Protestors in Burma

News Release: For the past five weeks, the people of Burma have taken to the streets to protest peacefully and voice their aspirations for a return to democracy and the rule of law. In response, Burmese security forces – at the behest of military leaders – have brutally and lethally attacked unarmed protesters, killing ...

Opening Remarks by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken Before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs

News Release: SECRETARY BLINKEN: Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member McCaul, thank you so much for your warm welcome. It’s very, very good to be back before this committee, to be back in this room. And I really do appreciate the opportunity to talk today about the foreign policy goals and priorities of the Biden-Harris administration and some of the early work that we’ve done to try to achieve them.

State Department Terrorist Designations of ISIS Affiliates and Leaders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique

News Release: The Department of State has designated the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria – Democratic Republic of the Congo (ISIS-DRC) and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria – Mozambique (ISIS-Mozambique) as Foreign Terrorist Organizations under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. The ...

Condolences to the Victims of the Explosions in Equatorial Guinea

News Release: The United States extends its deepest condolences to the victims, families, and loved ones of those affected by the devastating explosions in Bata on March 7. We stand with the people of Equatorial Guinea in the aftermath of this tragedy.

The 10th Anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake

News Release: Ten years ago, Japan suffered unimaginable tragedy following the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident on Mar. 11, 2011. The United States stands in solidarity with Japan to remember those lost and still missing, and to honor the resilience of the Japanese people who rebuilt their homes, their livelihoods, and their communities.

House of Representatives Vote on a Libyan Interim Government of National Unity

News Release: We welcome today’s vote of confidence by the House of Representatives in support of the slate of choices put forward by Interim Prime Minister-designate Abdulhamid Dabaiba for an interim Government of National Unity. This is a milestone toward the fulfillment of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum’s ...

US Department of Labor recovers $102K in back wages for 11 Tampa restaurant workers after investigation uncovers overtime violations

News Release: TAMPA, FL – A Tampa restaurant enterprise has paid $102,894 in back wages to 11 workers after a federal investigation found the employer illegally denied them overtime pay.

US Department of Labor orders one of the nation’s largest railway companies to pay more than $290K in damages, reinstate whistleblower

News Release: FORT WORTH, TX – An employee of one of the nation’s largest North American freight railroad networks will receive more than $290,000 in back pay, damages and fees, and be reinstated to their job after the U.S. Department of Labor found the worker’s rights were violated under the Federal Railroad Safety Act.

US Department of Labor issues stronger mine safety guidance on coronavirus

News Release: WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor issued today stronger worker safety guidance to help mine operators and mine workers implement a coronavirus protection program and better identify risks that could lead to exposure.

US Department of Labor releases statement on enforcement of its final rules on ESG investments, proxy voting by employee benefit plans