Government & Policy · Week of Oct 26, 2026
Election charges, a firearms rule and AI procurement: policy week
Federal prosecutions, a firearms rule, comments on AI in federal procurement and a veterans' policy forum led the week in government and policy releases.
The Justice Department accounted for two of the week's releases: charges involving 48 aliens in five states over alleged election crimes, and an indictment in the Eastern District of New York over a $1.1M check cashing scheme. On the regulatory side, the National Shooting Sports Foundation said the Firearm Handler Check Final Rule is set for publication in the Federal Register, and GovSignals filed comments on the FAR Council's September 18, 2026, proposal to revise the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Elsewhere, Latham & Watkins LLP said it has hired Michael Macko, former head of enforcement for the California Privacy Protection Agency, adding state enforcement experience to its regulatory practice. Wounded Warrior Project said it brought together more than 145 veterans and policymakers in Spokane to discuss policy priorities for veterans, Service members and their families.
Justice News
Justice Department Announces Charges Involving 48 Aliens for Election-Related Crimes
The Justice Department says it has announced charges involving 48 aliens in Pennsylvania, California, Florida, New York, and Nevada in connection with illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration and related election crimes. According to the department, the cases include voting by aliens in federal elections and false claims of U.S. citizenship to register or vote.
Justice News
New York Woman Charged With $1.1M Check Cashing Scheme
The Justice Department says Xue Fang Cheng, 55, of New York, was arrested after a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of New York returned an indictment on Oct. 23 charging her with providing illegal check cashing services. The release describes the case as a $1.1M check cashing scheme.
Latham & Watkins LLP
Former Head of Enforcement for the California Privacy Protection Agency Joins Latham
Latham & Watkins LLP says Michael Macko, former head of enforcement for the California Privacy Protection Agency, has joined the firm in San Francisco. The firm says his state and federal enforcement experience will add to its work on regulatory and enforcement matters.
GovSignals
GovSignals Proposes Permissive AI Use Language for Government Acquisitions
GovSignals says it has proposed a four-part approach for federal agencies' use of AI in proposal evaluation and price analysis, in comments on the FAR Council's September 18, 2026, proposal to revise the Federal Acquisition Regulation. The company says its language would offer a consistent standard for AI use in government acquisitions.
NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION
NSSF-Led Effort Leads to Firearm Handler Check Victory, Final Rule To Be Published in Federal Register Tomorrow
NSSF, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, says the Firearm Handler Check (FHC) Final Rule will be published in the Federal Register on Oct. 27, 2026. The group describes the rule as the result of an effort it led over a long period.
Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project Convenes More Than 145 Veterans and Policymakers in Spokane to Discuss Key Policy Issues
Wounded Warrior Project says it hosted a veterans' forum at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., with more than 145 veterans and policymakers attending. The organization says participants discussed policy priorities and challenges facing veterans, Service members and their families.
This roundup is written with AI assistance from the press releases listed above, using only what they state. The releases are the companies' own announcements, not Times Beats reporting.