Federal Executive Branch
Documents from the U.S. Executive Branch, covering all aspects of the Obama administration including cabinet departments, federal agencies, regulatory and independent agencies.
Featured Stories
West Virginia Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Crimes
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on March 5, 2025:
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West Virginia Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Crimes
A West Virginia man pleaded guilty today to one count of willful failure to pay over employment taxes on behalf of his business.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Dean E. Dawson operated RPC Group LLC, a Hurricane, West Virginia, real estate appraisal business. Dawson was responsible for withholding employment taxes from RPC Group's employees and paying over those funds to the IRS. Between
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WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on March 5, 2025:
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West Virginia Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Crimes
A West Virginia man pleaded guilty today to one count of willful failure to pay over employment taxes on behalf of his business.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Dean E. Dawson operated RPC Group LLC, a Hurricane, West Virginia, real estate appraisal business. Dawson was responsible for withholding employment taxes from RPC Group's employees and paying over those funds to the IRS. Between2015 and 2022, however, Dawson willfully failed to pay over to the IRS the employment taxes withheld from his employees' paychecks. He also used the RPC Group's business accounts to pay for personal expenses, including personal credit cards and his wife's home mortgage, and issued checks to his wife from RPC Group even though she was not an employee of the business. In addition, from 2018 to 2023, Dawson did not file personal tax returns or pay income taxes. In total, Dawson caused a tax loss to the IRS exceeding $250,000.
Dawson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department's Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston for the Southern District of West Virginia made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Brian E. Flanagan and Rebecca A. Caruso of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan T. Storage for the Southern District of West Virginia are prosecuting the case.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/west-virginia-business-owner-pleads-guilty-employment-tax-crimes
State Department Issues Public Schedule for March 5, 2025
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the daily public schedule for March 5, 2025:
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SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO
Secretary Rubio attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
SENIOR OFFICIAL FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS LISA KENNA
Senior Official Kenna attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
SENIOR BUREAU OFFICIAL FOR EUROPEAN AND EURASIAN AFFAIRS LOUIS L. BONO
2:00 p.m. Senior Bureau Official Bono meets with Danish Ambassador to the United States Jesper Moller Sorensen at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)
BRIEFING SCHEDULE
No
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WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the daily public schedule for March 5, 2025:
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SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO
Secretary Rubio attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
SENIOR OFFICIAL FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS LISA KENNA
Senior Official Kenna attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
SENIOR BUREAU OFFICIAL FOR EUROPEAN AND EURASIAN AFFAIRS LOUIS L. BONO
2:00 p.m. Senior Bureau Official Bono meets with Danish Ambassador to the United States Jesper Moller Sorensen at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)
BRIEFING SCHEDULE
NoDepartment Press Briefing.
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Original text here: https://www.state.gov/public-schedule-march-5-2025/
New Jersey Man Admits to Concealing Material Support and Resources to ISIS
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on March 5, 2025:
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New Jersey Man Admits to Concealing Material Support and Resources to ISIS
Kyse S. Abushanab, 27, of Budd Lake, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today to a one-count information charging him with concealing material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
According to court documents, between in or around March 2021 and in or around January 2022, Abushanab compiled resources, including information pertaining to the manufacture and use of weapons of mass destruction,
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WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on March 5, 2025:
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New Jersey Man Admits to Concealing Material Support and Resources to ISIS
Kyse S. Abushanab, 27, of Budd Lake, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today to a one-count information charging him with concealing material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
According to court documents, between in or around March 2021 and in or around January 2022, Abushanab compiled resources, including information pertaining to the manufacture and use of weapons of mass destruction,with the aim of providing members of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS or the Islamic State), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and its supporters with a repository of information and resources to help carry out ISIS's mission. This material included, among other things, videos and documents showing step-by-step instructions on how to make suicide belts or vests, detonators and timers, improvised bombs, and other explosives and incendiary devices. In an effort to evade detection by law enforcement, Abushanab took steps to conceal his efforts to assist ISIS by, among other things, using encrypted applications, untraceable email accounts, and a secured cloud storage space to gather and store information on how to make a variety of weapons of mass destruction.
The charge of concealment of provision of material support carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 24.
Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department's National Security Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna for the District of New Jersey; Assistant Director David J. Scott of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Newark Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Morris County Sheriff's Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorney Ryan White of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/new-jersey-man-admits-concealing-material-support-and-resources-isis
Joint Statement From U.S Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Israeli Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued the following news release:
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Joint Statement from U.S Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Israeli Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich
WASHINGTON - Today, March 5th 2025, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Israel's Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich held a highly impactful meeting to discuss the ongoing economic partnership between the United States and Israel.
The Secretary and the Minister reaffirmed the strong and enduring commitment of both nations to a strategic economic partnership. Their discussions
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WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued the following news release:
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Joint Statement from U.S Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Israeli Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich
WASHINGTON - Today, March 5th 2025, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Israel's Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich held a highly impactful meeting to discuss the ongoing economic partnership between the United States and Israel.
The Secretary and the Minister reaffirmed the strong and enduring commitment of both nations to a strategic economic partnership. Their discussionshighlighted the importance of deepening economic cooperation, fostering innovation, and strengthening financial and trade ties.
This is a critical time to shape a new strategic economic future for both countries, reinforcing American global leadership and Israel's role as a key economic partner.
To advance shared economic interests, both sides agreed to strengthen dialogue mechanisms to enhance collaboration in key areas, including economic policy, technology, and financial regulation. As longstanding partners, the United States and Israel recognize the vital role of their economic relationship in driving growth and prosperity for both nations.
Today's meeting marks a significant step in further strengthening U.S.-Israel economic ties. Now, more than ever, a coordinated and forward-looking approach is essential to ensure that this partnership remains a source of economic resilience, innovation, and mutual benefit.
Both parties look forward to continued collaboration and deeper coordination across economic, technological, and financial policy areas to further reinforce bilateral economic relations.
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Original text here: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0043
ICYMI: Administrator Zeldin: "The Golden Age of American Success is Upon Us"
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on March 5, 2025:
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ICYMI: Administrator Zeldin: "The Golden Age of American Success is Upon Us"
WASHINGTON - This week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin shared the great strides the EPA has taken to safeguard clean air, land, and water while Powering the Great American Comeback in his first month on the job. The Administrator has wasted no time identifying and eliminating waste and abuse from the agency, taking steps to unleash American energy, overseeing a record-breaking
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WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on March 5, 2025:
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ICYMI: Administrator Zeldin: "The Golden Age of American Success is Upon Us"
WASHINGTON - This week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin shared the great strides the EPA has taken to safeguard clean air, land, and water while Powering the Great American Comeback in his first month on the job. The Administrator has wasted no time identifying and eliminating waste and abuse from the agency, taking steps to unleash American energy, overseeing a record-breakingcleanup effort following the California wildfires, ending the Biden-era EV mandate, lowering consumer prices on appliances by rolling back Biden-era regulations and more. He also highlighted President Trump's leadership and vision for a stronger, more prosperous union in the President's Joint Address to Congress.
Read what Administrator Zeldin had to say in his exclusive op-ed for the National Review:
"The golden age of American success is upon us. In just one month, the Trump administration has achieved more than most presidents accomplish in four years. It's about promises made, promises kept.
"I was sworn in as the 17th administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency just one month ago, and we have already taken great strides to power the great American comeback. We are working tirelessly to ensure clean air, land, and water for every American, while simultaneously driving economic growth by unleashing energy dominance, pursuing permitting reform, making the United States the AI capital of the world, and bringing back American auto jobs.
"Under President Trump's leadership, the EPA will strive to accomplish all this while fulfilling our commitment to the rule of law, advancing cooperative federalism, and being good stewards of your hard-earned tax dollars.
"In my first days, I crisscrossed the country while overseeing an unprecedented emergency response, slashed wasteful spending, and championed American energy independence -- all while restoring accountability within the agency.
"Working with DOGE, we cancelled $171 million in wasteful DEI and environmental-justice grants and contracts, and another $1 million in media subscriptions; $50 million of this now-cancelled funding went to the Climate Justice Alliance, which believes that 'climate justice travels through a Free Palestine.' The days of shoveling millions of dollars to far-left radical organizations in the name of climate equity are over.
"Further, my team uncovered extensive troubling developments with $20 billion in "gold bars" that the Biden EPA 'tossed off the Titanic.' These taxpayer funds were parked at an outside financial institution to rush out the door and circumvent proper oversight; $20 billion was given to just eight pass-through nongovernmental entities in an effort riddled with self-dealing, conflicts of interest, and an extreme lack of qualifications. The Department of Justice has been working hard to assist us so that we can remain accountable to American taxpayers.
"In just a few short weeks, we have taken significant measures to spearhead America's return to energy dominance. We approved West Virginia's application for primacy over Class VI wells, giving the state primary authority to protect groundwater and bolstering energy dominance. I was honored to join President Trump's National Energy Dominance Council, and have taken action to lower appliance costs for everyday Americans by overhauling the Biden-era WaterSense program. I will work alongside my cross-agency counterparts to slash energy costs for families struggling to heat their homes, fill their gas tanks, and afford groceries, while reducing American dependence on foreign adversaries.
"We also ended Covid-era remote work and proudly renamed our Gulf of America division.
"I have also taken action regarding California's outsized heavy hand on national vehicle regulations, transmitting the Biden administration's California waiver rules to Congress -- a step that the Biden administration deliberately avoided. This had prevented members of Congress from deciding on the Biden administration's allowing California to create a separate, stricter regime of regulations that provided a different model for states to follow. Congress can now decide the fate of these waivers through the Congressional Review Act. This move protects consumer choice and vehicle affordability.
"At President Trump's direction, the EPA executed the largest wildfire hazardous waste cleanup in agency history and finished in just 28 days -- beating the 30-day timeline set for us.
"I am committed to understanding firsthand the environmental challenges that communities face rather than managing from behind a desk in Washington. I was honored to join Vice President JD Vance in East Palestine, Ohio, on the two-year anniversary of the tragic train derailment. I also traveled to survey wildfire damage in Los Angeles and met with affected residents. I checked in on hurricane recovery efforts in Western North Carolina and toured improved water infrastructure in Flint, Michigan.
"In just 30 days, we have revived both the EPA's environmental mission and its commitment to American prosperity. By prioritizing results over ideology, fiscal responsibility over wasteful spending, and cooperation over confrontation, we are demonstrating that environmental protection and economic growth are complementary.
"President Trump will deliver his joint address to Congress today. In it, he will outline his inspiring path forward for our nation. It's about promises made, promises kept as we enter the golden age of American success to achieve a stronger, more prosperous union. This is just the beginning. I look forward to four more years of winning as the EPA does its part to power the Great American Comeback."
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/icymi-administrator-zeldin-golden-age-american-success-upon-us
Florida Dentist Sentenced for Threatening Public Figures and an Election Official
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on March 5, 2025:
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Florida Dentist Sentenced for Threatening Public Figures and an Election Official
A Florida dentist was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison for threatening public figures, an election official, and others between 2019 and 2024.
According to court documents, from September 2019 to July 2020, Richard Glenn Kantwill, 61, of Tampa, sent over 100 threats via Facebook and Instagram messages, email, and text to various public figures based on their political commentary. As charged
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WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on March 5, 2025:
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Florida Dentist Sentenced for Threatening Public Figures and an Election Official
A Florida dentist was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison for threatening public figures, an election official, and others between 2019 and 2024.
According to court documents, from September 2019 to July 2020, Richard Glenn Kantwill, 61, of Tampa, sent over 100 threats via Facebook and Instagram messages, email, and text to various public figures based on their political commentary. As chargedin the superseding information, those communications included threats to an author, a religious figure, and a television personality. Kantwill also sent at least seven additional threats to four public figures via Facebook from April 2022 to April 2024, including a threat to an election official in another state in February 2024.
Kantwill pleaded guilty in November 2024 to four counts of interstate transmission of a threat.
Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Sara C. Sweeney for the Middle District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor of the FBI Tampa Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Aaron L. Jennen of the Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Abigail K. King for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/florida-dentist-sentenced-threatening-public-figures-and-election-official
EPA Takes a Step Forward in Environmental Progress With Removal of Mercury Refining Superfund Site From Superfund National Priorities List
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on March 5, 2025:
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EPA Takes a Step Forward in Environmental Progress with Removal of Mercury Refining Superfund Site from Superfund National Priorities List
Colonie and Guilderland, N.Y. - Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking a step forward by announcing the deletion of the Mercury Refining Superfund site in the towns of Colonie and Guilderland, New York, from the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). EPA added the site to the NPL in 1983 due to mercury and polychlorinated
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WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on March 5, 2025:
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EPA Takes a Step Forward in Environmental Progress with Removal of Mercury Refining Superfund Site from Superfund National Priorities List
Colonie and Guilderland, N.Y. - Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking a step forward by announcing the deletion of the Mercury Refining Superfund site in the towns of Colonie and Guilderland, New York, from the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). EPA added the site to the NPL in 1983 due to mercury and polychlorinatedbiphenyls (PCBs) contamination. The site has since undergone extensive cleanup, with long-term monitoring in place to safeguard public health and the environment moving forward.
"After a successful cleanup and years of thorough monitoring, EPA is confident that the site does not pose a risk to people or the surrounding environment," said EPA Deputy Regional Administrator, Alyssa Arcaya. "This Superfund site deletion reflects years of hard work and collaboration with state and local partners to restore the site."
From 1956 to 1998, Mercury Refining Company, Inc. operated an industrial facility that recovered mercury from various materials, which left the soil, groundwater and sediment contaminated with toxic mercury and PCBs. Over the years, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and later, EPA oversaw the cleanup. Work included the removal of approximately 5,700 tons of mercury-contaminated soil and sediment, and the solidification and stabilization of remaining contaminated soil including soil and groundwater below the water table. The EPA worked with the site owner to allow continued and safe use of the property during and after cleanup. The Mercury Refining Company currently uses an on-site building as an office and to process materials containing precious metals.
EPA completed all cleanup actions at the site in 2014. Since then, the site has been subject to long-term monitoring, including regular reviews of groundwater, surface water, sediment and fish tissue sampling, ensuring that the cleanup continues to protect the community and the environment. The EPA will continue to monitor the site every five years to ensure the ongoing protection of public health and the environment.
Background
The National Priorities List (NPL) includes the nation's most contaminated hazardous waste sites and poses the most risk to human health and the environment. EPA deletes sites or parts of sites from the NPL when no further cleanup is required to protect human health or the environment. Years, and sometimes decades, of complex investigation and cleanup work have gone into getting these sites to where they are today.
Visit the Mercury Refining Superfund site profile page for additional background and site documents.
For a copy of the pre-publication notice and more information and more information about EPA's NPL deletions, visit EPA's Deleted National Priorities List webpage.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-takes-step-forward-environmental-progress-removal-mercury-refining-superfund-site
