Trump Order Eliminates Collective Bargaining in Bureau of Prisons President Trump has issued an Executive Order eliminating collective bargaining rights for federal unions, including those representing Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees. Using the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA), the order excludes DOJ agencies (including the BOP) from the Federal Labor-Management Relations Program, effectively stripping unions of their right to negotiate on behalf of employees. The order cites unions as obstructing agency management, justifying their exclusion from Chapter 71 of the U.S. Code, which previously granted unions their authority. One of those agencies falling under the order is the…

For Visa and rival Mastercard, fighting the explosion of fraud attempts is both a big expense–and an opportunity for profit. Visa’s Cyber Fusion Center in Ashburn, Virginia is so secure that Michael Jabbara, the San Francisco-based global head of fraud services for the credit card network, has trouble getting through its double set of doors. With a Forbes reporter in tow, he scans his badge to get through the first door, a sensor beeps, but it doesn’t unlock. Finally, with the help of the on-site security team, we get through both sets (the second requiring a fingerprint as well as…

There are many reasons to set up a DBA in the state of Michigan. Perhaps you’re an author wanting to operate strictly using your pen name. Alternatively, you have a small business and would prefer using a DBA to registering a second LLC. In any case, getting your DBA is a straightforward process. That said, it might be a little confusing for first-time applicants. Don’t fret: We did the research for you to create this simple guide on filing your DBA in Michigan. What Is a DBA? A DBA, short for “doing business as,” refers to an assumed name or…

Director Is Out But No One Is In A look at the Bureau of Prisons website and you will see some missing people in leadership. On January 20, 2025, former Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Colette Peters was dismissed and has since filed a challenge with the Merit Systems Protection Board over her termination. In a subsequent statement, Peters described the BOP as a “rudderless” organization without her leadership. Shortly after her dismissal, William Lathrop was named Acting Director, but heretired on February 28, 2025, leaving the agency leaderless. According to a BOP source, there is currently no acting director,…

The U.S. economy, not about to collapse, is also far from stable, strong, and worry-free, as various indicators and signs have shown. Now it’s time to add another. Moody’s Investors Service, while currently maintaining the top credit rating of the country, has changed its outlook to negative. Moody’s is the last of the major credit rating agencies to keep the U.S. at its highest possible position. Previous Downgrades The first time the U.S. got a rating below AAA (or other variations like Aaa) was in August 2011. Standard & Poor’s downgraded the U.S. to AA+ after having put the country…

When you rent a car, you will be asked if you want to buy optional insurance called a collision damage waiver (CDW). This insurance covers rental car repair bills if there’s an accident or if the car is stolen. It can be a pricey add-on, but it may be worth buying, depending on your own car insurance and credit card coverage. When Should You Buy a Collision Damage Waiver? A CDW can be a wise purchase if you don’t have: Your own car insurance that extends to rentals. A credit card with rental car coverage that you used to pay…

Outside of the most coveted domain names, your domain name is usually one of the lowest costs of being online. However, how to get a free domain name is always one of the first questions new website owners ask. Yes, free domain names are available, but they aren’t always the best choice for your business. Even though dot TK and Freenom no longer work, there are still legitimate ways to get free domain names. We’ve also got the scoop on how to get discounts on paid domain names and what to watch out for when shopping for a domain. Real…

Now is a great time to launch a limited liability company (LLC) in Tennessee. In 2021, the state saw an enormous surge in new business formations, reportedly the largest to date. Between January and March alone, nearly 20,000 companies and corporations debuted. Government financial aid may have helped more people than ever decide to launch new business ventures. Were you thinking of starting a Tennessee LLC? If so, here’s a helpful guide to take you from start to finish. Before Starting an LLC in Tennessee In the early stages of forming your limited liability company, there are a few crucial…

Last week, in a widely expected move, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to close the U.S. Department of Education. After the White House provided assurances that the federal student loan system would remain with the department pending congressional action (which would likely be required to formally shut it down), Trump announced that he would be transferring federal student loans, and the administering of all associated repayment and loan forgiveness programs, to the Small Business Administration. The announcement that student loans would be transferred to the SBA baffled many observers, as the relatively small agency has no experience managing…

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office keeps periodic tabs on the U.S. economy to see how fiscal reality is changing and how to make decisions now to improve the future. That assumes good intentions, transparent action, and a willingness to make tough decisions. The “too long; didn’t read” summary is that even under the most optimistic choices, as the Peter G. Peterson Foundation — or PGPF, a non-profit focusing on the “key fiscal challenges threatening America’s future” — puts it, the national debt increasingly grows. The CBO’s Scenario Models The CBO looked at current federal finances and then looked at its…