MIL-OSI Analysis: Clawback of $1.1B for PBS and NPR puts rural stations at risk – and threatens a vital source of journalism

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Allison Perlman, Associate Professor of Film & Media Studies, University of California, Irvine

Nathan Heffel and Grace Hood rehearse their Colorado Public Radio public affairs program in Centennial, Colo., in 2017. Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images

The U.S. Senate narrowly approved on July 16, 2025, a bill that would claw back federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes money to NPR, PBS and their affiliate stations. The US$9 billion rescission package will withdraw $1.1 billion Congress had previously approved for the CPB to receive in the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years. In addition, it makes deep foreign aid cuts. All Democrats present voted against the measure, joined by two Republicans: Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. As long as the House, which approved a previous version, votes in favor of the Senate’s version of the bill by midnight July 18, Trump will be able to meet a budgetary deadline by signing the measure into law in time for it to take effect.

What will happen to NPR, PBS and local stations?

NPR and PBS provide programming to local public television and radio stations across the country. The impact on them will be direct and indirect.

Both NPR and PBS receive money from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, an independent nonprofit corporation Congress created in 1967 to receive and distribute federal money to public broadcasters. More than 70% of the money it distributes flows directly to local stations. Some stations get up to half of their budgets from the CPB.

But NPR and PBS get much of their funding from foundation grants, viewers’ and listeners’ donations, and corporate underwriting. And local public radio and TV stations also get support from an array of sources besides CPB.

“There’s nothing more American than PBS,” said the network’s CEO, Paula Kerger, at a congressional hearing on March 26, 2025.

Only about 1% of NPR funding, and 15% of PBS funding, comes directly from the government via the CPB. However, once local radio and television stations lose federal funding, they’ll be less able to pay NPR and PBS for the programs they produce.

The nearly 1,500 public media stations in the U.S. rely on a mix of NPR, PBS and third-party producer programming, such as American Public Media and PRX, for the programs they offer. Local stations also produce and air regional news and provide emergency broadcasts for the government.

In rural areas with few broadcast stations and spotty cellphone coverage, public broadcast stations are vital sources of information about important community news and updates during emergencies. Federal support is essential for the programming and day-to-day operations of many local stations and allows for the maintenance of equipment and personnel to operate these vital community resources.

We believe that stations in communities that most need them, especially in rural locations, would be hit especially hard because they rely heavily on CPB funding.

Why are Republicans taking this step?

Public broadcasting has long been a target of conservative Republicans. They say that with a highly diversified media landscape, the public no longer needs media that is subsidized by federal dollars. They also claim that public broadcasting has a liberal bias and taxpayers should not be required to fund media that slants to the left politically.

Why is public media necessary when there’s news on the internet?

As journalism revenue has plummeted, public broadcasting has remained a vital source for news in communities across the nation. This is especially true in rural communities, where economic and political pressures have threatened the survival of local journalism.

In addition, with much online news coverage placed behind paywalls, public radio and television plays an important role in making quality journalism available to the American public.

Want crucial information about water systems in your drought-prone community? Public radio station KVMR in Nevada City, Calif., has a program for you.
KVMR screenshot

Why did Congress approve these funds 2 years ahead?

Public broadcasting has gotten roughly $550 million per year from the federal government in recent years. The CPB has always approved and designated those funds two years in advance, due to a provision in the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, after Congress has voted to provide that money. The CPB then has distributed that funding primarily through grants to PBS and NPR affiliate stations to support their technical infrastructure, program development and audience research.

What are the consequences for Native communities?

Dozens of Native American stations are at risk of closing once the CPB is defunded. Native Public Media, a network of 57 radio stations and four TV stations, is a key source of news and information for tribal communities across the nation and relies on CPB support.

U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican, publicly stated that he secured an agreement with the White House to move $9.4 million in Interior Department funding to two dozen Native American stations. But there is no provision related to this promise within the legislation.

Allison Perlman is the co-chair of the Scholars Advisory Committee of the American Archive of Public Broadcasting.

Josh Shepperd and Allison Perlman are under contract to co-author an update of the history of public broadcasting for Current, public media’s trade journal, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Josh and Allison are not paid employees or vendors of either institution.

– ref. Clawback of $1.1B for PBS and NPR puts rural stations at risk – and threatens a vital source of journalism – https://theconversation.com/clawback-of-1-1b-for-pbs-and-npr-puts-rural-stations-at-risk-and-threatens-a-vital-source-of-journalism-255826

MIL OSI Analysis –

July 18, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Lee Bill Bans Disparate Impact from Civil Rights Law

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee
Codifies President Trump’s Civil Rights Reforms
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Restoring Equal Opportunity Act today to codify President Trump’s Executive Order prohibiting the use of disparate impact policies that incentivize racial hiring quotas. U.S. Representative Brandon Gill (R-TX) is the legislation’s co-lead in the House of Representatives.
“Disparate impact has undermined equal opportunity in hiring for generations,” said Senator Mike Lee. “These policies are antithetical to the Constitution, keeping hardworking men and women from the jobs they deserve. It’s un-American, and it’s going to stop. The Restoring Equal Opportunity Act will prohibit this woke practice and support President Trump’s fight for equality under the law.”
“Americans deserve equal opportunity, not race-based quotas,” said Rep. Gill. “Equality under the law is a core American principle, ensuring every citizen’s right to equal protection and due process. I’m proud to introduce the Restoring Equal Opportunity Act alongside Senator Lee to bring merit, rather than DEI, back to our hiring and selection processes.”
Background
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex, or national origin. The purpose of this prohibition is clear: to prevent clear and overt instances of discrimination by prohibiting employers from engaging in the kinds of discriminatory practices that had become commonplace during the Jim Crow era.
In the 1971 case of Griggs v. Duke Power Company, the Supreme Court expanded this standard by ruling that in addition to overt discrimination, Title VII also prohibited any employment practices that have a “disparate impact” on minorities. The Court alleged that though Duke Power Company’s policies were not intentionally discriminatory, they could not implement job requirements that have a disparate impact on minorities and are judged to have no relation to job performance.
This unfair standard practically requires employers to impose racial quotas to avoid potential legal liability. Disparate impact prevents employers from making hiring decisions based solely on qualification and skill and requires them to engage in behavior that goes against the spirit and the letter of the Constitution. Congress codified the disparate impact standard into law via the 1991 Civil Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act, and disparate impact theory has since become the de facto method of determining discrimination.
On April 23rd, President Trump issued an executive order to end usage of the disparate impact standard in all areas of the United States government. President Trump’s executive order is a much-needed correction, and Senator Lee’s Restoring Equal Opportunity Act would permanently put an end to disparate impact and fully restore equal opportunity under the law.
The Restoring Equal Opportunity Act:
Prohibits any disparate impact claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act or the Fair Housing Act.
Codifies President Trump’s “Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy” executive order.

Read exclusive coverage from The Daily Caller here.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Senators Rosen & Gallego, Representative Garcia Introduce Bill to Declare Extreme Heat as a Major Disaster

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) introduced legislation to declare extreme heat as a major disaster so that communities can access federal aid. Their Extreme Heat Emergency Act would explicitly authorize extreme heat as eligible for a Major Disaster Declaration by the President under the Stafford Act, which recognizes fires, floods, explosions, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes as eligible disasters. This would help communities like those in Nevada, Arizona, and Texas access federal resources and funding to respond to these disasters and prepare for future extreme heat waves. On Monday, Las Vegas had the hottest day recorded so far this year, and the death toll of heat-related deaths has already risen to 29 people in Southern Nevada.
“Last year, more than 500 people died in one single county in Nevada from heat-related illnesses,” said Senator Rosen. “Current federal policy ignores the physical and health risks that such extremely high temperatures have on our communities, which is why I’m introducing a bill to change that. By classifying extreme heat as a major disaster, our communities will be able to receive the federal funding needed to respond and prepare for future extreme heat events.”
“Each year, extreme heat kills more Americans than every other form of extreme weather combined. But still the federal government sits on the sideline, leaving state and local governments to drain their funds trying to keep people safe,” said Senator Gallego. “By adding extreme heat to FEMA’s list of major disasters, we can unlock the funds and support our communities desperately need.”
“If you found out that thousands of Americans were dying every year from a single cause, you’d be shocked to learn that the federal government has no plan. But that’s exactly what’s happening with extreme heat. Without a disaster declaration, federal response teams and experts are forced to sit on the sidelines while people suffer and die. That’s unconscionable and it needs to change,” said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. “I’m proud to sponsor the Extreme Heat Emergency Act with Senators Rosen and Gallego to ensure local and state governments don’t have to face this challenge alone. Federal law must catch up to the reality we’re living.”
“It’s only mid-July, and the Southwest, Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, the Mid-Atlantic, and New England have already experienced record high temperatures. Each year, extreme heat causes thousands of deaths and hundreds of billions of dollars in damages to critical infrastructure and economic productivity and overwhelms the capabilities of local governments,” said Hannah Safford, Associate Director of Climate and Environment at the Federation of American Scientists. “The Extreme Heat Emergency Act recognizes extreme heat for what it is – an emergency – that the federal government needs to be ready to support response to before, during, and after the disaster. Recognizing extreme heat as an emergency is critical to a heat-ready nation, as FAS emphasizes in its 2025 Heat Policy Agenda.”
Senator Rosen has been leading the fight to ensure that Nevadans have access to federal resources to stay safe during natural disasters. For years, she has been calling on the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide federal assistance to address extreme heat in Nevada. Last summer, Senator Rosen visited a cooling center in Las Vegas to discuss the need for federal resources to protect against extreme heat.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025

MIL-OSI United Nations: UN sounds alarm over Syria as sectarian clashes, Israeli strikes flare

Source: United Nations 4

The Druze-majority Sweida governorate, long relatively insulated from earlier phases of Syria’s 14‑year conflict, has now become a flashpoint.

Briefing an emergency meeting of the Security Council, UN Assistant Secretary‑General Khaled Khiari painted a grim picture: hundreds of casualties among soldiers and civilians –including women, children and the elderly – alongside reports of mass displacement, attacks on infrastructure, and hospitals “at or near capacity” amid power and water cuts.

“There were further alarming reports of civilians, religious figures and detainees being subjected to extrajudicial executions and humiliating and degrading treatment,” he said.

Violent reprisals and looting have devastated communities, with graphic footage circulating widely on social media amplifying fear and anger.

He urged all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Timeline of escalation

12 July: Series of mutual kidnappings in Sweida escalate into armed clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druze armed groups.

14 July: Syrian security forces deploy to “halt clashes” and “restore order”. At least 10 personnel reportedly killed by Druze armed groups, others abducted. Reports surface of the abuses against civilians as forces enter Sweida.

Clashes intensify, leaving hundreds dead or wounded among security forces and Druze fighters, casualties also reported among Druze and Bedouin civilians, including women, children and the elderly. Sectarian rhetoric surges on social media.

15-16 July: Hundreds of Druze from the occupied Syrian Golan and Syria gather on both sides of the ceasefire line, in the presence of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), expressing solidarity with the Druze community in Sweida.

Israeli airstrikes compound crisis

Against this backdrop, Israel, “pledging to protect” the Druze community launched “escalatory” strikes on Syrian territory, Mr. Khiari said.

Between 12 and 16 July, air raids targeted Damascus authorities’ forces and official buildings, military installations and the vicinity of the Presidential Palace.

“In addition to violating Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Israel’s actions undermine efforts to build a new Syria at peace with itself and the region, and further destabilise Syria at a sensitive time,” Mr. Khiari said.

He urged both Israel and Syria to uphold the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement and “refrain from any action that would further undermine it and the stability on the Golan.”

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

A wide view of the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria.

Humanitarian fallout

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) there are severe disruption to supply routes, with insecurity and road closures blocking aid deliveries. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) dispatched trauma care supplies to Daraa, but Sweida remains inaccessible.

Mr. Khiari stressed the need for humanitarian access and called on Damascus to ensure any investigations into alleged abuses are “transparent and in line with international standards.”

Call for genuine reconciliation

Reaffirming the Security Council’s March call for an inclusive, Syrian-owned political process under resolution 2254, Mr. Khiari warned: “Security and stability in Sweida, and indeed in post-Assad Syria can only be achieved through genuine reconciliation and with the participation of all components of Syria’s diverse society.”

He urged all Syrian stakeholders to commit to dialogue and emphasised the UN’s support for an inclusive and credible political transition that ensures accountability, fosters national healing and lays the foundation for Syria’s long-term recovery and prosperity.

“Only then, can Syria truly emerge from the legacy of conflict and embrace a peaceful future,” he concluded.

ASG Khiari briefs the Security Council.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

July 18, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Fitzgerald Statement on the Passage of Bills during ‘Crypto Week’

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05), member of the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following statements in response to the passage of three digital asset-related pieces of legislation: the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 (CLARITY), Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS) Act, and Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act.

On the CLARITY Act:
“For too long, our entrepreneurs and investors have faced uncertainty from federal regulators involving digital assets,” said Congressman Fitzgerald. “The CLARITY Act bill finally sets the ground rules, reins in regulatory overreach, and empowers the next generation of digital market builders to thrive here in the United States, not overseas.”

On the GENIUS Act:
“Stablecoins present a major opportunity to modernize payments. The GENIUS Act strikes the right balance by fostering innovation while putting clear guardrails in place,” said Congressman Fitzgerald. “It’s a serious, thoughtful approach to payments innovation—without handing the keys to Washington bureaucrats.”

On the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act:
“A government-controlled digital dollar is a direct threat to privacy, financial freedom, and the American way of life,” said Congressman Fitzgerald. “That’s why I’m a proud cosponsor of the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, which ensures that no federal agency can use a Central Bank Digital Currency to monitor or control how law-abiding Americans spend their money.”

###

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025

MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks to press following informal meeting on Cyprus

Source: United Nations secretary general

Ladies and gentlemen of the media,

Thank you for joining us.

Today, I convened a meeting I proposed in March with the clear goal of pursuing the constructive dialogue between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Leaders.

I am grateful for the participation of His Excellency Nicos Christodoulides, and His Excellency Ersin Tatar.

And I thank the Foreign Minister of Greece, His Excellency Giorgios Gerapetritis, the Foreign Minister of Türkiye, His Excellency Hakan Fidan, and the Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories of the United Kingdom, His Excellency Stephen Doughty, who represents the guarantor powers of Cyprus.

From the very start of my mandate, I have been committed to the security and well-being of the Cypriots — the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots.

Once again, today’s discussions were constructive.

Both leaders reviewed the progress on the six initiatives they agreed in March to build trust.

Out of these six initiatives, four have been achieved:

– the creation of a technical committee on youth;

– initiatives on the environment and climate change, including the impact on mining areas;

– the restoration of cemeteries;

– an agreement on demining will be closed once the final technical details are established;

Discussions will continue on the remaining two:

– – the opening of four crossing points; and

– -solar energy in the buffer zone.

In addition, they came to a common understanding on:

– -a consultative body for civil society engagement;

– -exchange of cultural artifacts;

– -an initiative on air quality monitoring; and

– -addressing microplastic pollution.

It is critical to implement these initiatives – all of them – as soon as possible for the benefit of all Cypriots.

We also agreed that I would have a joint meeting with Mr. Tatar and Mr. Christodoulides during the high-level week, and that there would be another informal meeting in the present format later this year.

As with the six initiatives agreed in March, the initiatives agreed today have the potential to have a real and significant positive impact on peoples’ lives across the island.

They are not merely symbolic gestures, but issues that require cooperation.

There’s a long road ahead.

And it is important to think about what the future can mean – for all Cypriots.

But these steps clearly demonstrate a commitment to continuing a dialogue on the way forward and working on initiatives that benefit all Cypriots.

Thank you.

I will answer three questions.
Question: Thank you. Thank you Secretary-General. Serife Cetin, Anadolu Agency. I just wanted to ask you, sir, what is the impediment that hinders progress on opening of new crossing points? What would you say is the main challenge on this issue?

Secretary-General: We have reached an agreement on the crossing points themselves. There is a question of an itinerary in relation to one of them that will be further discussed now. But there was important progress in this regard.

Question: The new points have not been, opening new crossing points have not been decided?

Secretary-General: Before we need to finish the agreement. As I said, there is still a question of itinerary to be addressed in future discussions.

Question: What is the problem with the itinerary?

Secretary-General: These are very technical things that are in the language that I do not dominate.

But as I said, there was a lot of progress, but there are still some aspects of itinerary that need to be addressed.

Question: Mr. Secretary-General, would you consider this is a start for a new round of negotiations? Could you say that? Is it a new start for a new round?

Secretary-General: I think that this is a process, a complex process. We all know that there are very different points of view from the two sides in relation to a solution on the problem of Cyprus. But I think we are building, step by step, confidence and creating the conditions to do concrete things to the benefit of the Cypriot people, and, with a total consensus that this process must go on.

Question: Were you happy with the results?

Secretary-General: I am happy, of course, I would like much more, but this is a complex issue and I think that we made progress that needs to be registered.

Last question.

Question: Thank you, Mr. Secretary-General, I have a question on Syria. As you know, we see another clashes between the Druze community and the new government in Syria. We saw another massacre a couple of months ago against Alawites, against Christians and the Kurds. So, the question is, in your opinion, do you think a federal system can be a solution for Syria, or do you think it’s something against its territorial integrity? Thank you

Secretary-General: It’s absolutely essential to achieve two things. One is the unity of the Syrian state, in the respect of its sovereignty, but with the full integration of the different communities in the state of Syria, and with all communities fully respected and their rights fully respected. The second thing is the need to respect the territorial integrity of Syria. It is for the Syrians to solve the Syrian problem.

Thank you very much.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

July 18, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Armstrong appoints Bismarck attorney Marina Spahr to South Central Judicial District judgeship

Source: US State of North Dakota

Gov. Kelly Armstrong today appointed Bismarck attorney Marina Spahr to an open judgeship in the South Central Judicial District, effective Sept. 15. Spahr has practiced civil and criminal law for more than 30 years, both in private practice and government service.

Spahr has served as an assistant attorney general and director of the North Dakota Medicaid Fraud Control Unit within the Attorney General’s Office since 2019. Prior to that, she served nearly four years as a senior assistant Burleigh County state’s attorney, specializing in felony-level crimes with direct victim impact. From 1994 to 2015, Spahr worked in private practice in Carrington and Cooperstown, specializing in family law, real estate, probate and contracts, among other areas. During that time, she also served as a state’s attorney or assistant state’s attorney in Pembina, Wells, Griggs and Steele counties, and as a special assistant state’s attorney for Barnes, Eddy, Foster, McLean and Ward counties.

A native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Spahr earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Saskatchewan and her law degree in 1992 from the University of North Dakota School of Law in Grand Forks. She has served in more than 70 civil and criminal trials and made 20 North Dakota Supreme Court appearances.

The South Central Judicial District judgeship vacancy was created by the June 6 retirement of Judge David E. Reich, who had served the district since 2006. Three attorneys were named as finalists for the judgeship, which is chambered in Bismarck.

The South Central Judicial District consists of Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan and Sioux counties.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: AG Brown joins lawsuit challenging Trump administration rule that would make it harder for Washingtonians to obtain health coverage under the ACA

Source: Washington State News

By the Trump administration’s own estimates, the rule will cause up to 1.8 million people to lose their health insurance

SEATTLE – Attorney General Nick Brown today joined a multistate coalition in filing a lawsuit challenging an unlawful final rule promulgated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that would create significant barriers to obtaining health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Congress passed the Affordable Care Act in 2010 to increase the number of Americans with health insurance and decrease the cost of health care. The following year, Washington established the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, building a stable, competitive individual market for health and dental insurance and enabling people to access subsidies to make coverage more affordable, leading to a drop in the state’s uninsured rate from 14.2 percent in 2011 to 4.8 percent in 2023.

But now the Trump administration is turning back the clock with this final rule, rushed through with an unlawfully short 23-day notice and comment period, that will make it more difficult for people to enroll and keep their health insurance. The administration concedes that up to 1.8 million people across the country will likely lose their health insurance.

In Washington, the final rule would lead to:

Tens of thousands fewer people enrolling in health insurance through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange,
The loss of as much as $10 million in annual revenue to the Washington Health Benefit Exchange due to decreased enrollment, and
$100 million in uninsured and largely uncompensated hospital care costs, that would then be borne by state taxpayers, providers, carriers, and employers.

The final rule also excludes coverage of gender-affirming care as an Essential Health Benefit under the ACA. Insurers in Washington will continue to cover gender-affirming care as required by state law. But the rule change means the state will have to defray the expense of these medically necessary insurance benefits, costing state taxpayers about one million dollars annually.

“The Trump administration seems determined to undo the progress we’ve made in the past 15 years to help people get medical treatment when they need it,” Brown said. “People in Washington deserve the health care coverage they’re entitled to under the law, and I will continue fighting to protect that access.”

“Everyone deserves affordable health care,” Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said. “Washington will stand with our partners across the country against the Trump administration’s efforts to strip away people’s health care. Reversing this unlawful rule will help thousands of Washingtonians hold on to their health coverage.”

“The federal rule from this administration puts up barriers to accessing care that people have counted on for years, makes health insurance more expensive for consumers, and shifts financial burdens to states,” said Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer. “Washington state has a stable insurance market today and strong provisions in place to protect against fraud and abuse in our marketplace. The federal government should help us make health insurance more accessible and less costly for people, not more complicated and expensive to obtain.”

“In the past decade, Washington state’s uninsured rate has dropped significantly, in large part due to the availability of marketplace health insurance plans offered through Washington Health Benefit Exchange. This rule will sharply curtail that progress and reverse years of significant gains,” said Ingrid Ulrey, CEO of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. “We estimate that this rule, combined with other federal changes, will result in enrollment loss of one-third or more of our current customer base of 280,000 Washington residents.”

Brown and attorneys general from 19 other states, along with the governor of Pennsylvania, are suing because the rule creates harmful changes to insurance marketplaces and health coverage subsidies. The rule shortens the period people can sign up for health insurance, raises premiums for people who do purchase individual insurance, and drives up costs for the plaintiff states, including covering the expense of medical care for people who lose insurance due to the final rule.

The attorneys general argue that the rule is arbitrary and capricious and violates the Administrative Procedure Act. The coalition is asking the court to prevent the challenged portions of the final rule from taking effect in the plaintiff states before the August 25 effective date.

Joining Brown in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, as well as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

A copy of the complaint is available here.

-30-

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Thirteenth Defendant Pleads Guilty in Transnational Scheme to Defraud U.S. Consumers

Source: US State of California

A Peruvian national pleaded guilty yesterday for his participation in transnational mail and wire fraud schemes that targeted vulnerable United States consumers.

According to court documents, David Cornejo Fernandez, 36, of Lima, Peru, facilitated fraud schemes that stole millions of dollars from Spanish-speaking victims across the United States. Cornejo provided Internet-based telephone lines, caller-ID spoofing services, and recording capabilities to a network of fraudulent call centers based in Peru. Relying on Cornejo’s services, those call centers defrauded and extorted thousands of Spanish-speaking victims by falsely threatening them with court proceedings, fines, and other consequences. Cornejo further provided the call centers with the technology – and, at times, the training – to convincingly impersonate federal agents, police officers, attorneys, court personnel, and other government officials in order to extort payments from victims. Cornejo was extradited from Peru in November 2024 to face charges related to the scheme.

Cornejo is the 13th defendant to be convicted in connection with a $15 million transnational fraud scheme that defrauded and threatened Spanish-speaking U.S. consumers. These fraudsters falsely claimed the victims would suffer severe legal, financial and other consequences if they did not pay for English-language products. Collectively, the scheme was responsible for defrauding more than 30,000 United States consumers, many of whom were vulnerable.

“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting vulnerable U.S. consumers from fraud, especially schemes carried out by criminals impersonating U.S. government officials,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Those who target American consumers from abroad will be identified, prosecuted, and held accountable for their crimes. We thank the Republic of Peru for their assistance in arresting and extraditing this defendant and others involved in these scams.”

“The defendant thought he could hide behind borders and phone lines, but the Postal Inspection Service is relentless when it comes to protecting American consumers,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. “Setting up fake call centers to harass and intimidate innocent victims, Cornejo and his co-conspirators, crafted a campaign of fear designed to rob people of not only their savings but their peace of mind. If you target Americans, no matter where you are in the world we will find you.”

In pleading guilty, Cornejo admitted that he provided his co-conspirators with the technology to manipulate the phone numbers on victims’ caller IDs, which enabled them to place threatening calls that appeared to be coming from U.S. federal agencies, court officials or law enforcement agencies. Cornejo also placed recordings on his co-conspirators’ inbound phone lines that appeared to be recordings from actual U.S. courts, police departments and federal agencies. These recordings enhanced the apparent legitimacy of the threatening calls and were used to extort payments from vulnerable consumers in the Southern District of Florida and across the United States. Cornejo also regularly replaced telephone numbers that victims reported as fraudulent, thus enabling his co-conspirators to continue with the fraudulent scheme.

Yesterday, Cornejo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. A sentencing hearing is scheduled before the Senior U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola in Miami on Sep. 25. Cornejo faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

USPIS and the Consumer Protection Branch investigated the case.

Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorney Carolyn Rice of the Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Peruvian National Prosecutor General’s Office and Peruvian National Police provided critical assistance.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints can be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025

MIL-OSI Security: Man Sentenced to Seven and a Half Years in Prison for Robbing Five Suburban Chicago Financial Institutions

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

CHICAGO — A man who robbed four banks and a credit union in the Chicago suburbs has been sentenced to more than seven and a half years in federal prison.

CHARLES LAWLER entered the financial institutions and presented demand notes while his friend, TARANDLE LEE, waited outside as the getaway driver. Together, the pair robbed three banks and a credit union, while Lawler also robbed an additional bank by himself.

The robberies were as follows:

Sept. 22, 2021: Lawler robbed BMO Harris Bank in Naperville, Ill.
Sept. 28, 2021: Lawler and Lee robbed Old Second Bank in Lisle, Ill.
Oct. 6, 2021: Lawler and Lee robbed Bank Financial in Westmont, Ill.
Jan. 3, 2022: Lawler and Lee robbed BMO Harris Bank in Woodridge, Ill.
April 14, 2022: Lawler and Lee robbed DuPage Credit Union in Downers Grove, Ill.

Lawler, 54, of Villa Park, Ill., was arrested in 2023 and has remained detained in law enforcement custody. He pleaded guilty to the first three robberies and stipulated to his role in the final two. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman sentenced Lawler to seven years and eight months in federal prison.

Lee, 45, of Bolingbrook, Ill., was arrested in 2023 and has remained detained in law enforcement custody. A federal jury in Chicago earlier this year convicted Lee on all four robbery counts against him. Lee’s sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Lawler’s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Downers Grove, Ill. Police Department, Bellwood, Ill. Police Department, Woodridge, Ill. Police Department, and Villa Park, Ill. Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alejandro G. Ortega and Jonathan L. Shih.

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Source: United States Attorneys General