This page was last updated at 8:30 p.m. on August 30, 2020.
The federal courthouse in Lake Charles, Louisiana is closed for the
Month: August 2020
Time and Attendance: Agencies Generally Compiled Data on Misconduct, and Reported Using Various Internal Controls for Monitoring
What GAO Found
Agencies compiled a variety of data on time and attendance misconduct and fraud. Specifically, 22 of the 24 agencies covered by the … Read More
Social Security Contracting: Relevant Guidance Should Be Revised to Reflect the Role of Contracting Personnel in Software Development
What GAO Found
The approach followed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in awarding and overseeing contracts generally aligns with the requirements GAO reviewed. For … Read More
Science & Tech Spotlight: Consumer Electronics Recycling
Why This Matters
Consumer electronics contain critical materials whose supplies are limited, including gold, platinum, and rare earth metals. Domestic recycling of consumer electronics could … Read More
COVID-19: Brief Update on Initial Federal Response to the Pandemic
Why GAO Did This Study
As of August 20, 2020, the U.S. had over 5.5 million cumulative reported cases of COVID-19, and 158,000 reported deaths, … Read More
Abusive Tax Schemes: Offshore Insurance Products and Associated Compliance Risks
What GAO Found
Federal law provides certain tax benefits for transactions involving genuine insurance products, including insurance products held offshore. While taxpayers may lawfully hold … Read More
Spotlight on Naloxone Co-Prescribing
As we recognize International Overdose Awareness Day, HHS is calling attention to the co-prescription of naloxone, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medication that can … Read More
Retirement Security: DOL Could Better Inform Divorcing Parties About Dividing Savings
What GAO Found
Although more than one-third of adults aged 50 or older have experienced divorce, few people seek and obtain a Qualified Domestic Relations … Read More
How Common Sense and Hard Work Saved Taxpayers
Imagine you manage a business that needs some particular equipment or service—say you run a number of ice cream stores and need to purchase ice … Read More
Native American Youth: Agencies Incorporated Almost All Leading Practices When Assessing Grant Programs That Could Prevent or Address Delinquency [Reissued with revisions on Aug. 27, 2020.]
What GAO Found
The Departments of Justice (DOJ), Health and Human Services (HHS), the Interior (Interior), and Education (Education) administered at least 38 grant programs … Read More
Federal Judges Reinventing the Jury Trial During Pandemic
These days, the work of a U.S. district judge can seem a lot like “building an airplane while you’re flying it,” says Judge … Read More
Judiciary Report Underscores Commitment to Civics Education
Federal courts are approaching the 2020-2021 academic year with an endorsement of volunteer civics education efforts by judges and a willingness to support teachers in … Read More
Minnesota Man Charged with COVID-Relief Fraud and Money Laundering
A Minnesota man was charged in an indictment unsealed today for allegedly fraudulently obtaining approximately $841,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Acting Assistant Attorney … Read More
Former Army Special Forces Officer Charged in Russian Espionage Conspiracy
Former Green Beret Allegedly Conspired to Provide National Defense Information to Russian Intelligence
A Gainesville, Virginia, man was arrested today for conspiring with Russian intelligence
North Carolina Risk Consultant Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud and Illegally Possessing a Firearm
A Chapel Hill, N.C., businessman pleaded guilty today to filing a false tax return and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Principal … Read More
Assistant Attorney General Beth A. Williams Commends the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts for New Website Enhancing Access to Justice
Assistant Attorney General Beth A. Williams issued the following statement today on the efforts by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to enhance public … Read More
Veteran Federal Employment: OPM and Agencies Could Better Leverage Data to Help Improve Veteran Retention Rates
What GAO Found
From fiscal years 2014 through 2018, veterans left federal government jobs at a higher rate than non-veterans, according to GAO analysis of … Read More
Federal Employees’ Compensation Act: Comparisons of Benefits in Retirement and Actions Needed to Help Injured Workers Choose Best Option
What GAO Found
Factors such as the timing of an injury in a career affect how Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) total disability benefits compare … Read More
Indiana Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Pesticides
An Indiana man who distributed unregistered pesticides to the tenants and managers of an apartment building he owned has pleaded guilty to three counts of … Read More
Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim Announces Re-Organization of the Antitrust Division’s Civil Enforcement Program
Changes Will Allow for More Vigilant Enforcement, Deeper Expertise in Technology Trends
The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division announced today that it is creating the
Texas Rapper Charged in Narcotics and Prescription Opioid Conspiracy
Authorities have taken nine people into custody on charges involving the distribution of meth, cocaine and/or oxycodone and hydrocodone, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian … Read More
South Carolina Couple Pleaded Guilty to Scheme Involving Conspiracy and False Statements to Illegally Obtain a U.S. Passport
A Huger, South Carolina couple pleaded guilty today in South Carolina before the U.S. District Judge Brucie H. Hendricks in the District of South Carolina … Read More
Puerto Rico Legislator and Two Capitol Employees Indicted for Theft and Bribery
On Wednesday, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an eight-count indictment against legislator Nelson Del Valle Colon (Del Valle Colon), … Read More
Navy Shipyards: Actions Needed to Address the Main Factors Causing Maintenance Delays for Aircraft Carriers and Submarines
What GAO Found
The Navy’s four shipyards completed 38 of 51 (75 percent) maintenance periods late for aircraft carriers and submarines with planned completion dates … Read More
Aircraft Noise: Information on a Potential Mandated Transition to Quieter Airplanes
What GAO Found
Based on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data and GAO estimates, most U.S. large commercial jet airplanes are certificated at the minimum required … Read More
Founder and Chairman of a Multinational Investment Company and a Company Consultant Convicted of Bribery and Public Corruption are Sentenced to Prison
The founder and chairman of a multinational investment company and a company consultant were sentenced to prison today for orchestrating a bribery scheme involving independent … Read More
As Courts Restore Operations, COVID-19 Creates a New Normal
This is the first of a multi-part series on how federal courts are working to recover from the COVID-19 crisis.
Chief Judge James
Canadian National Charged with Alien Smuggling Conspiracy and Attempting to Bring Aliens to the United States
Cooperation efforts between United States and Turks and Caicos Islands law enforcement authorities culminated in today’s extradition to the United States of a Canadian national … Read More
Two U.S. Citizens, One Pakistani National Charged with Moving U.S. Currency to Iran
A complaint was unsealed today, charging two U.S. citizens with federal crimes related to Iran. Muzzamil Zaidi, 36, a U.S. citizen who resides in Qom, … Read More
