Category: Government

CFPB Rescinds Policy Statement for Prohibition on Abusive Acts or Practices

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn On March 11, 2021, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) – a government agency that empowers consumers to take more control over their economic lives – announced it was rescinding its January 24, 2020, “Statement of Policy Regarding Prohibition on Abusive Acts or Practices” to better protect …

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Department of Defense Examines Implementation of Social Media Screening

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) – America’s largest government agency – “is examining a scalable means of implementing social media screening in conjunction with background investigations” in an effort to prevent extremist behavior in military ranks, according to a training document from the Office of the …

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DOL Announces Final Rule for Independent Contractor Status Under FLSA

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn On January 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule clarifying the standard for employee versus independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), according to a DOL news release. The rule will take effect on March 8, 2021, 60 days …

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FBI Conducted Record High 39.7 Million Firearm Background Checks in 2020

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted a record high 39.7 million firearm background checks for gun purchases in 2020, according to statistics from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) that checks for the criminal records of people who may be disqualified from receiving firearms. …

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FTC Launches New Consumer Fraud Reporting Website at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn On October 22, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – which works to protect and educate consumers – announced it had launched a new website at ReportFraud.ftc.gov where consumers may easily report fraud and all other consumer issues directly to the FTC, according to a press release …

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Man Who Sold Gun Used in Shooting Without Background Check Pleads Guilty

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn A man who sold a rifle without a background check that was later used to kill seven people and injure 25 more – including three police officers – during a 2019 mass shooting in Midland and Odessa, Texas, has pleaded guilty to a gun crime, according to …

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CFPB Urged to Stop Allowing Credit Reporting Industry to Violate FCRA

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn On September 24, 2020, a letter sent by a coalition of 21 consumer, faith, and advocacy groups to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) urged the CFPB to revoke the permission they granted the credit reporting industry to violate the 30-day deadline imposed by the Fair Credit …

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FBI Observes National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) in October

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn Since the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused many aspects of American life to move online in 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and partner agencies are reminding the public to do their part and #BeCyberSmart during the National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) that is observed each …

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Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Swears In Commissioner

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn On September 30, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) – a federal government agency that advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting emp­loyment discrimination – announced that Keith E. Sonderling was sworn in as a Commissioner of the EEOC. “I am humbled …

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DOL Proposes Rule to Determine Employees and Independent Contractors

Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn On September 22, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposed rule addressing how to determine whether a worker is an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or an independent contractor and is encouraging public comment from interested parties, according to a DOL …

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