SPRING BREAK UNDER SIEGE: Democrats’ Reckless DHS Shutdown is Forcing TSA Officers to Work Without Pay and Holding American Travelers Hostage

 

Just a few months after they orchestrated the longest shutdown in U.S. history, Democrats are once again hurting the hardworking men and women of the Department of Homeland Security

Due to the Democrat-led shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) and other Transportation Security Administration (TSA) roles critical to national safety at our nation’s airports are going without pay for the third time in nearly six months.

The undue financial pressure has resulted in increased callouts and agents leaving the force, leading Americans to face at some airports more than three-hour security lines and miss flights. Despite this impact on American travelers, Democrats continue to recklessly keep DHS shut down.

“The Democrats’ reckless DHS shutdown is causing TSA officers to go without pay for the third time in nearly six months,” said Lauren Bis, Acting Assistant Secretary. “These political stunts are causing unneeded financial hardship for our TSA officers and their families. Now, 366 TSA officers have left the force. Because of this DHS shutdown, Americans are facing HOURS long waits at airports across the country. Democrats must reopen DHS now.”

These headlines only paint a small picture of the extreme impact the shutdown has on American travelers, TSOs, and national security:

• On Sunday, March 15 and Monday, March 16, callouts spiked over 50% in Houston and over 30% in New Orleans and Atlanta, resulting in fewer officers screening an ever-growing number of travelers.
• Callout rates have spiked nationwide, with the highest single-day airport callout rate reaching 55% at Houston Hobby International Airport (HOU) on March 14, 2026.
• Attrition has also surged, with 366 TSOs leaving the force. This loss compounds TSA’s ability to meet passenger demand, as each new TSO replacement requires 4-6 months to be trained and certified, leaving critical gaps in staffing.  

Democrats continue to play political games with the livelihoods of our TSA officers and their families. It’s time for them to end their shutdown and pay our TSA agents. TSA funding must be restored immediately.

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DEA Detroit Field Division Investigation Leads to Seizure of $14.9 Million from Cartel-Linked Money Laundering Operation

 

The Department of Justice unsealed a civil case aiming to forfeit over $14.9 million seized from an international drug money laundering scheme, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced. 

The lawsuit—originally filed in 2024—details the seizure of the funds and alleges a complex pattern of trade-based drug money laundering.  Trade-based money laundering involves depositing U.S. cash drug proceeds into American bank accounts—using real or shell companies—which can then transfer the wealth to Colombia or elsewhere by delivering products or services that can be sold in local currencies.

The suit alleges that the $14.9 million seized came from tracking drug money deposits into the bank accounts of companies with connections to international commerce.  These include a successful Latin American musician whose accountant said the cash deposits were related to concerts in Colombia, and many import-export businesses.  The investigation into this scheme continues.

“The cartel and its criminal networks are fueled by profit. Seizing their drug proceeds strikes at the core of their poisonous operations. The DEA and our partners will be relentless in pursuing these bad actors and will hold them accountable for the violence, destruction, and misery they cause. No distance will shield them,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph O. Dixon.

“Drug trafficking and money laundering go hand-in-hand,” U.S. Attorney Gorgon said. “Cartels need money to poison our American communities. We will eliminate these threats and protect our country.”

The lawsuit is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking.

MAYOR MAMDANI AND COMMISSIONER TISCH ANNOUNCE CODIFICATION OF BODY-WORN CAMERA POLICY

 

NYPD policy now requires body-worn camera footage to be released within 30 days of critical incidents, formalizing a transparency practice

TODAY, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) has formally codified its practice of releasing body-worn camera footage within 30 calendar days of a critical incident.

 

The practice has been regularly followed during Commissioner Tisch’s tenure and is now a formal departmental requirement. The 30-day standard applies to incidents involving the discharge of a firearm by an officer that result in a member of the public being struck, as well as police use of force that results in serious injury or death. The Police Commissioner may also authorize the release of body-worn camera footage in other circumstances when doing so would help maintain public order or contribute to public safety.

 

“Transparency and accountability are the building blocks of public safety,” said Mayor Mamdani. “By codifying the timely release of body-worn camera footage, we are ensuring that New Yorkers receive timely information about critical incidents. This policy builds public trust and ensures our city receives answers while protecting the integrity of investigations.”

 

"Transparency is the key to maintaining trust between police and the communities we protect and serve," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. "Body-worn cameras provide clear and objective accounts of interactions involving the NYPD, showing the dangerous and difficult situations that officers often face while also ensuring we hold ourselves accountable when standards are not met. This formal commitment to release footage within 30 days of a critical incident is a continuation of my pledge to ensure transparency regarding the work of the Department.”

 

Uniformed members serving below the rank of Deputy Inspector are required to wear body-worn cameras. The NYPD’s body-worn camera program is the largest in the country, covering more than 29,500 officers. The program was launched and implemented when Commissioner Tisch previously served as NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Information Technology.

Officers are required to activate their cameras before taking police action.

W International Companies Agree to Pay $10.5M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations for Overcharging the Air Force and the Navy for Weld Tables

 

The Justice Department today announced that W International LLC, W International SC LLC, Precision Metal Equipment Handling LLC, and Edward Walker (collectively, “Defendants”) have agreed to pay $10.5 million to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act that they knowingly overcharged the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy for weld tables.

W International LLC, a Michigan company, and W International SC LLC, a South Carolina company, were both engaged in the business of industrial welding and metal fabrication. Edward Walker was the Chief Executive Officer of both companies. Precision Metal Equipment Handling LLC is a Michigan company that manufactured weld tables for W International SC LLC.

“Contractors and subcontractors are expected to charge no more than authorized under their contracts with the military,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to ensure the government gets the prices it bargained for on defense contracts.”

“Exploiting the procurement process for our military’s necessary materials unduly increases the burden on taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan P. Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We’ll continue to work with our partners to support our service members and protect our taxpayers.”

“To meet global demands, the Navy must accelerate shipbuilding. However, contractors who overcharge betray the public's trust and undermine this critical mission,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our partners are committed to protecting taxpayer funds and ensuring every dollar is spent in accordance with the contract.”

“As the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is steadfastly committed to protecting the integrity of DoD’s procurement process and holding contractors accountable,” said Christopher Dillard, Special Agent in Charge, DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “Fraud on DoD contracts diverts critical taxpayer resources away from our warfighters. DCIS will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who seek to exploit the system for personal gain.”

The allegations resolved by the settlement concern federal funds provided to W International SC to refurbish and equip a large-scale welding facility. As part of that effort, the United States alleges, the Defendants submitted or caused to be submitted claims for payment that overcharged for weld tables supplied for the facility. Funding for the project was provided through the Defense Production Act pursuant to a U.S. Air Force Technology Investment Agreement, and as Supplier Development Funds pursuant to a Navy prime contract with General Dynamics Electric Boat.

The allegations resolved by this settlement arose from a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act under which private citizens can sue on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. The settlement in this case provides for the whistleblower, John Klausmeier, a former employee of W International SC LLC, to receive $1,863,750 as his share of the settlement.  

This case was handled by the Department of Justice’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and the Defense Contract Audit Agency.   

The matter was handled by Senior Trial Attorney Greg Pearson of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Leventis for the District of South Carolina.

The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Klausmeier v. W International, LLC, Civil Action number 22-cv-1774 in U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.

Rikers Island Correction Officer Pleads Guilty To Making False Statements To Obtain Workers’ Compensation Benefits Following Use Of Force Incidents

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that TODD FAUSTIN pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman to making false statements relating to healthcare matters in connection with use of force incidents that took place within Rikers Island.  

“Todd Faustin fraudulently received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the City of New York by faking injuries after some of the most delicate and dangerous interactions within our criminal justice system—incidents where force is used against an incarcerated person,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “False workers’ compensation claims place a large cost on all New Yorkers.  It’s even worse when the perpetrator is a city employee.  The vast majority of our correction officers do a tough job well and honestly.  Faustin is not one of them.” 

According to the Indictment, plea agreement, and statements made in court:

The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board (the “Board”) administers New York State’s no-fault workers’ compensation system, which guarantees medical care and cash benefits to people who are injured at work, including employees of the New York City Department of Correction (“DOC”).  Payments by the Board made to DOC employees are paid from the New York City Treasury. For years, FAUSTIN was employed by the DOC as a correction officer and was assigned to work at Rikers Island. During that time, FAUSTIN falsely claimed that he was injured while on duty at Rikers Island during incidents with incarcerated individuals requiring the use of force.  In total, FAUSTIN received at least $370,336.79 in benefits to which he was not entitled.  FAUSTIN’s resignation with DOC is effective today, March 17, 2026.

FAUSTIN, 43, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of making false statements related to health care matters, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.  FAUSTIN is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2026.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the New York City Department of Investigation, the New York State Office of Inspector General, and the Special Agents and Task Force Officers assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. 

The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit and the Public Corruption Unit.

Attorney General James Sues Home Solar Power Company and Lenders for Cheating New Yorkers Out of Hundreds of Millions of Dollars

 

Attyx Falsely Promised Free Home Solar Systems, Then Charged Tens of Thousands of Dollars for Expensive Installations and Fees

Attyx Generated an Estimated $275 Million from Fraudulent Tactics in New York

New York Attorney General Letitia James today sued Attyx, formerly known as SUNco, along with its two CEOs and two lending companies it partnered with, for defrauding New York homeowners with false promises of free home repairs and solar panel installations. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that Attyx targeted consumers – including many low-income New Yorkers and seniors on fixed incomes – with promises of free or reduced-price home solar power systems, roof repairs, and other home improvement projects. Attyx’s salespeople fraudulently told consumers that government “incentives” and “programs” would cover the cost of their installations. In reality, consumers were misled into signing sales and loan contracts to pay tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. The OAG estimates that this fraudulent scheme generated nearly $275 million for Attyx in New York alone. Attorney General James is seeking a court order to stop Attyx’s illegal practices, cancel all of Attyx and its lending partners’ agreements with consumers, and deliver restitution for those who were defrauded. 

“When New Yorkers need home repairs, they should be able to get quality service without worrying about scammers cheating them out of their savings,” said Attorney General James. “Attyx preyed on vulnerable and elderly homeowners with false promises and predatory tactics, leaving them with crushing loans they could not afford. My office will fight in court to bring these companies to justice and deliver relief to the thousands of New Yorkers who were ripped off by this illegal scheme.”

Attyx is a major home improvement company with operations across the United States. The OAG’s investigation found that Attyx defrauded thousands of New Yorkers with a lucrative bait-and-switch scheme. Through its website and advertising, Attyx falsely promised roof replacements and other home improvement work for free or at greatly reduced prices with the help of clean energy “incentives” and “programs” earned through home solar panel installations. Attyx also advertised that its home solar systems will allow consumers to significantly reduce their monthly energy bills.

Once consumers expressed interest, Attyx salespeople pushed them to electronically sign contracts, often without their knowledge, to purchase home solar systems at exorbitant prices, which Attyx inflated far beyond the cost of the actual work being done. Attyx’s salespeople repeatedly sold solar installations to low-income consumers and locked them into loans with exorbitant monthly payment amounts even after the consumers informed the salespeople that they had low incomes, were retired and on fixed incomes, or did not file tax returns. Consumers became trapped in expensive loan agreements with Attyx’s lending partners to finance their purchases, and were forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars for home improvement work.

Attorney General James alleges that Attyx violated New York consumer protection laws with its false advertising. Attyx misled consumers about the costs of their solar power systems and home improvement work and falsely claimed they would receive free roof replacements after receiving money from the government in the form of solar tax credits. In fact, there were no government programs that provided consumers with free roofs, and Attyx’s customers often did not qualify for the tax credits in the amounts that Attyx claimed were available to them

Attyx’s salespeople also violated the law by misleading consumers about the sales and loan agreements they were signing. Salespeople repeatedly told consumers that they were merely signing application or credit-check forms – not that they were agreeing to purchase expensive home solar systems and take out long-term loans to finance them. Consumers were repeatedly not allowed to review drafts of the agreements they were actually signing. Even if they did, they would not have been able to learn the true amounts they were agreeing to pay due to the contracts’ fraudulent and misleading language.

Attyx’s lending partners, which include the companies Solar Mosaic and WebBank, further defrauded Attyx’s customers by charging them hidden fees. Attyx and its lending partners concealed the lenders’ fees by hiding them within the high prices the consumers were supposedly paying to Attyx for their solar systems. By concealing these fees, Attyx’s lending partners unlawfully understated the loans’ total costs and interest rates while overstating the amounts financed by the loans, making it impossible for consumers to learn the true costs of the loans they were receiving.

Attorney General James also alleges that Attyx falsely marketed its services under the name of another solar services company, LGCY Power, in a scheme aimed at deceiving both consumers and the New York Public Service Commission (PSC), which regulates home solar energy providers. In 2025, PSC ordered Attyx to cease its marketing of solar energy systems to New York consumers, but instead of complying with the PSC’s orders, Attyx fraudulently and illegally continued its operations under the LGCY Power name.  

With this lawsuit, Attorney General James is seeking restitution and damages for consumers, an order voiding Attyx’s and the lenders’ agreements with consumers, an injunction barring Attyx and its partners from continuing their illegal, fraudulent conduct in the future, and civil penalties.

Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul

“Once again, New York has been forced to sue the Trump Administration to stop them from erratically shutting off billions of dollars in previously committed infrastructure funding. For nearly a century, leaders have made big promises to the people of East Harlem about the expansion of the Second Avenue Subway. For nearly a century, those promises have been broken. When I took office, I pledged to be the Governor who kept her promise to this neighborhood and finally got this subway built.

“We have already made enormous progress — work is underway and the project is moving on schedule and on budget. But Donald Trump's unlawful funding pause has put this entire project at risk. His actions alone have jeopardized the commutes of over 100,000 New Yorkers and the jobs of thousands of union workers, but New York will not back down. We told Donald Trump that if he did not restore the funding for this project, we'd see him in court. Today, we are doing just that. Just like Gateway, Donald Trump has two options: restore the money now, or wait for a judge to force him to.”

 

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: Small Business Owners Are Backbone of New York's Economy

 

Over 422K Small Businesses Employed 3.7M Workers, Generated $1T in Sales and Revenues in 2023

A new report by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli details how vital small businesses are to New York’s economy, generating nearly $1 trillion in sales and revenues with more than 3.7 million employees at over 422,000 establishments in 2023, the most recent year for which data is available. New York ranked fourth among states in the number of small businesses and third behind California and Florida for its share of small businesses, but trailed the rest of the country in some key metrics, including small business creation and employment.

“Small businesses are the foundation of New York’s economy, stimulating economic activity in our cities and towns, spurring innovation across industries, providing a variety of employment opportunities, and enriching our communities,” DiNapoli said. “However, growth in small business jobs and new startups lags the rest of the nation. New challenges, like tariffs, have forced owners to make sacrifices and difficult choices. The state and local governments should continue to look for ways to support small businesses by easing their entry into markets and helping them thrive in New York.”

DiNapoli’s report found:

• Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate there were 422,137 small businesses (with fewer than 500 employees) operating across New York in 2023, comprising 98.9% of all businesses in the state.
• Over 80% of all New York businesses had fewer than ten workers. Small businesses employed 3.7 million people, close to 45% of the state’s jobs, earning an average of $60,579 in annual pay in 2023.
• The small business industries that provide the greatest total employment are health care and leisure activities, making up 33.7% of small business employment in the state.
• Small business owners are more diverse than those of large businesses: in New York, 23% are majority-owned by women and 26% by minority business owners — compared to less than 4% and 3%, respectively, for large firms.

In 2023, the percentage of jobs at small businesses averaged 47.5% nationally and was 44.7% in New York.

Trends in Small Business Creation

The report found that small business growth in New York has lagged the nation: between 2001 and 2023, the number of small business firms grew 9.5% in New York compared to 14.2% in the rest of the nation, ranking 22nd among states.

The COVID-19 pandemic hit New York’s small business economy particularly hard in 2020 and 2021, with a net decrease of 7,350 businesses in 2020 and 11,600 in 2021. In contrast, the net number of small businesses in the rest of the nation grew in both 2020 and 2021, likely due to the fact that industries such as leisure, hospitality and retail services, which were affected to a greater extent by the pandemic shutdowns, have high concentrations of small businesses in the state. From 2022 to 2023, New York’s small business firms grew 0.7%, about two-thirds of the rate at which small business firms grew across the rest of the country (1.05%).

Business applications across the state have been underperforming national rates for more than a decade. Between 2015 and 2019, both New York and the rest of the nation saw modest, but steady growth in business applications. In 2020, following the onset of the pandemic, applications in New York fell to near 2015 levels, but then surged through the subsequent entrepreneurial boom. However, growth still remained below national trends.

Challenges of Entrepreneurship in New York State

In July 2025, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Research Center released its survey report, Small Business Problems and Priorities, which asked small business owners to assess the severity of 75 potential business problems on a scale of 1 - “a critical problem” — to 7 — “not a problem.”

The survey found that most challenges faced by small business owners are prevalent across the nation. For example, the cost of health insurance and supplies ranked as first and second in New York and nationwide. Three issues stood out as more prevalent in New York. According to the responses from 285 small business owners in New York, state taxes on business income, what the survey describes as unreasonable government regulations, and electricity costs rank as greater concerns for small businesses owners operating in New York than those operating in the rest of the country.

In addition to the regulations imposed by the state, local requirements can impact small businesses. For example, a third of small businesses in New York City report waiting six months or longer to open due to the various licenses, permits and waivers from as many as 15 different city agencies that must be obtained to operate.

As net small business job creation declines, New York has simultaneously seen a steady rise in “non-employer businesses,” firms that do not directly employ any workers. Many non-employer businesses participate in the “gig economy,” a market characterized by short-term contracts or freelance work, often facilitated via digital platforms. Short-term home sharing, ride-share and delivery applications have caused a surge in non-employer businesses in New York’s leisure and accommodations industry, and various new professional services like social media management, content creation, as well as personal finance and consulting, are becoming more commonly offered by individual proprietors.

State Action

DiNapoli’s report highlights several programs available in New York offering financial support to small businesses. In 2022, the state launched over $1 billion in new programs that provide grants and loans to small businesses to improve access to capital. Though many startups encounter financial barriers in establishing their business, New York has programs to support and invest in the network of statewide alternative lenders, which are instrumental in facilitating the growth and strength of the state's small businesses.

After announcing an initiative as part of the State Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2027 to review state regulations, the Executive announced the launch of EXPRESS NY (Expediting Processes and Regulations to Enable Streamlined Services), a new effort to identify unnecessary, outdated or burdensome regulations for three key areas. The effort includes a link to a portal that invites New Yorkers to submit recommendations for supporting small businesses by identifying “issues that make it difficult for businesses to launch, serve customers, or grow.”

Report

Challenges Facing Small Businesses in New York

Related Reports

New York State Business Owners