npr--2020-05-11--Supreme Court Weighs Whether Parochial Schools Are Exempt From Fair Employment Laws

Supreme Court Weighs Whether Parochial Schools Are Exempt From Fair Employment Laws For the second time in as many weeks , the U.S. Supreme Court is tackling a major religion case .
This time the question is whether lay teachers at parochial schools are exempt from the nation 's fair employment laws .
But the court 's eventual decision could reach beyond teachers , affecting the lives of millions of other employees who work for religiously affiliated institutions .
The arguments are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m .
ET .
Listen to them live .
For decades , lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation 's employment laws for ministers .
The purpose is to protect leaders of the faith , and their religions , from interference by the government .
The exception extends to religiously affiliated institutions when they fire employees who serve in a religious capacity akin to that of a minister .
But how do we define who is a minister and who is not ?
In 2012 , the Supreme Court sought to answer that question , agreeing unanimously that a fourth-grade teacher who was ordained as a minister could not sue over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chief Justice John Roberts announced the opinion from the bench , noting that the teacher who brought the case was not a lay teacher .
Rather , he said , she is religiously trained and a commissioned minister of the church .
`` Requiring a church to accept or retain an unwanted minister or punishing a church for failing to do so intrudes upon more than a mere employment decision , '' Roberts said .
`` Such action interferes with the internal governance of the church , depriving the church of control over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its beliefs . ''
The issue before the court Monday 's case , however , does not involve trained and ordained ministers of the faith .
It involves two fifth-grade teachers at Catholic schools in California .
The first teacher , Agnes Morrissey-Berru , claimed her employment contract was not renewed after 16 years service because of illegal age discrimination .
The second suit was brought by Kristen Biel against St. James School in Torrance .
She claimed that she was fired after she told her superior , Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancer .
Her husband , Darryl Biel , remembers that day vividly .
His wife , he said , drove into their driveway `` in tears ... bawling hysterically .
She was so hurt that they could be doing this to her . ''
Kristen Biel would return to teaching elsewhere while fighting her case in court , but in June 2019 , she died .
Her husband said that in her final days , the couple talked extensively about the case .
`` She was in the hospital for a couple of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ventilator ...
I promised her I would see this through , '' he says .
The schools denied that Morrissey-Berru and Biel were fired for discriminatory reasons .
But they asserted that the courts should dismiss the cases because the teachers were essentially ministers , and thus were not protected under the federal employment laws .
A federal appeals court ruled against the schools , which appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court .
Five of the nine justices hearing Monday 's case attended Catholic secondary schools , and several of them have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
At Monday 's argument , Stanford law professor Jeff Fisher , who is representing the teachers , will tell the justices that by the terms of the teachers ' contracts and the school handbooks , these teachers were hired to teach academic subjects .
Though he acknowledges that the teachers taught religion from a workbook about three hours a week , Fisher says these teachers were `` primarily lay employees '' teaching `` secular subjects . ''
`` Just as teaching science out of a fifth-grade textbook does n't make them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day out of a workbook does n't make them ministers , '' he says .
Ultimately , `` they are not people we understand to be spiritual leaders of the church . ''
Eric Rassbach of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty , who is representing the schools before the court , disagrees .
`` These teachers taught the Catholic faith to these kids more than the parish priest , '' putting them squarely within the so-called ministerial exception , he says .
But , Fisher counters , that `` this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
It is `` telling , '' in these cases , he says , that the `` teachers did not even have to be Catholic to have these jobs . ''
At the heart of this dispute is the First Amendment ban on government establishment of religion and the separation of church and state .
`` You do n't want the government deciding who teaches religion ... we do n't do that in this country ... that 's why we have an establishment clause , '' says Rassbach .
Ultimately , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be performing an important religious function , and therefore , they can be fired for any reason because they are not subject to the nation 's fair employment laws .
But Fisher notes that the schools in these cases do not claim any religious reason for firing the teachers .
The schools , `` have never asserted that either of [ the teachers ] fell short in any religious duty or ... adherence to the faith , '' he says .
If these teachers are exempt , he adds , then millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enacted by Congress to protect workers , simply because they perform some duty their employer considers religious .
Indeed , he observes , they would be exempt not just from anti-discrimination laws , but also laws that protect individuals from retaliation when they report misbehavior to authorities , and laws imposing wage and hour regulations .
Rassbach will tell the Supreme Court that not everyone who works at a religious school or institution is exempt from these laws .
`` Far from it .
It 's just that you have to look and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing . ''
But Fisher counters that function ca n't be the only criterion because many employers at religiously affiliated institutions sincerely believe that all of their employees perform important ministerial functions , from nurses who care for the sick , to summer camp counselors for troubled teenagers , and athletic coaches who mold the character of their charges and often lead them in prayer .
Were those functions to be considered ministerial , Fisher says , the results would be dire .
`` Millions of people across the country who never thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the faith '' would now `` magically have no employment protections , '' he says .
There is another , and rather rich , twist to one of the cases before the court Monday .
It turns out that at the time Kristen Biel learned she had breast cancer , Kreuper , the school principal who fired her , was embezzling large amounts of money to go on gambling sprees in Las Vegas .
One article quoted a church accountant as ball-parking the amount at $ 500,000 .
`` The Gambling Nuns '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court , but it certainly is on Darryl Biel 's mind .
He had planned to be in Washington for Monday 's argument .
`` I wanted to face them .
I wanted to see them .
I wanted them to see me , '' he says `` and I just pray that the justices see the right way . ''
Instead of sitting in the Supreme Court chamber , though , Biel , like the rest of us , will be at home listening .

Supreme Court Weighs Whether Parochial Schools Are Exempt From Fair Employment Laws
Enlarge this image Alex Brandon/AP Alex Brandon/AP
For the second time in as many weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court is tackling a major religion case. This time the question is whether lay teachers at parochial schools are exempt from the nation's fair employment laws.
But the court's eventual decision could reach beyond teachers, affecting the lives of millions of other employees who work for religiously affiliated institutions.
Listen back to the arguments 1:38:27
For decades, lower courts have recognized an exception to the nation's employment laws for ministers. The purpose is to protect leaders of the faith, and their religions, from interference by the government.
The exception extends to religiously affiliated institutions when they fire employees who serve in a religious capacity akin to that of a minister.
But how do we define who is a minister and who is not?
In 2012, the Supreme Court sought to answer that question, agreeing unanimously that a fourth-grade teacher who was commissioned as a minister could not sue over her firing by a Lutheran school. Chief Justice John Roberts announced the opinion from the bench, noting that the teacher who brought the case was not a lay teacher. Rather, he said, she is religiously trained and a commissioned minister of the church.
"Requiring a church to accept or retain an unwanted minister or punishing a church for failing to do so intrudes upon more than a mere employment decision," Roberts said. "Such action interferes with the internal governance of the church, depriving the church of control over the selection of those who will personify its beliefs."
The issue before the court
Monday's case, however, does not involve trained and ordained ministers of the faith. It involves two fifth-grade teachers at Catholic schools in California. The first teacher, Agnes Morrissey-Berru, claimed her employment contract was not renewed after 16 years service because of illegal age discrimination.
The second suit was brought by Kristen Biel against St. James School in Torrance. She claimed that she was fired after she told her superior, Sister Mary Margaret Kreuper, that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Her husband, Darryl Biel, remembers that day vividly. His wife, he said, drove into their driveway "in tears ... bawling hysterically. She was so hurt that they could be doing this to her."
Kristen Biel would return to teaching elsewhere while fighting her case in court, but in June 2019, she died. Her husband said that in her final days, the couple talked extensively about the case. "She was in the hospital for a couple of days before she had to go on a ventilator ... I promised her I would see this through," he says.
The schools denied that Morrissey-Berru and Biel were fired for discriminatory reasons. But they asserted that the courts should dismiss the cases because the teachers were essentially ministers, and thus were not protected under the federal employment laws. A federal appeals court ruled against the schools, which appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Five of the nine justices hearing Monday's case attended Catholic secondary schools, and several of them have sent their children to parochial schools as well.
Covered by the ministerial exception?
At Monday's argument, Stanford law professor Jeff Fisher, who is representing the teachers, will tell the justices that by the terms of the teachers' contracts and the school handbooks, these teachers were hired to teach academic subjects.
Though he acknowledges that the teachers taught religion from a workbook about three hours a week, Fisher says these teachers were "primarily lay employees" teaching "secular subjects."
"Just as teaching science out of a fifth-grade textbook doesn't make them scientists, teaching religion for 40 minutes a day out of a workbook doesn't make them ministers," he says. Ultimately, "they are not people we understand to be spiritual leaders of the church."
Eric Rassbach of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, who is representing the schools before the court, disagrees.
"These teachers taught the Catholic faith to these kids more than the parish priest," putting them squarely within the so-called ministerial exception, he says.
But, Fisher counters, that "this isn't something you measure with a stopwatch." It is "telling," in these cases, he says, that the "teachers did not even have to be Catholic to have these jobs."
Heart of the matter
At the heart of this dispute is the First Amendment ban on government establishment of religion and the separation of church and state.
"You don't want the government deciding who teaches religion ... we don't do that in this country ... that's why we have an establishment clause," says Rassbach. Ultimately, he argues, the schools consider the teachers to be performing an important religious function, and therefore, they can be fired for any reason because they are not subject to the nation's fair employment laws.
But Fisher notes that the schools in these cases do not claim any religious reason for firing the teachers. The schools, "have never asserted that either of [the teachers] fell short in any religious duty or ... adherence to the faith," he says.
If these teachers are exempt, he adds, then millions of employees are automatically exempt from laws enacted by Congress to protect workers, simply because they perform some duty their employer considers religious. Indeed, he observes, they would be exempt not just from anti-discrimination laws, but also laws that protect individuals from retaliation when they report misbehavior to authorities, and laws imposing wage and hour regulations.
Rassbach will tell the Supreme Court that not everyone who works at a religious school or institution is exempt from these laws. "Far from it. It's just that you have to look and see what kind of function are they doing."
But Fisher counters that function can't be the only criterion because many employers at religiously affiliated institutions sincerely believe that all of their employees perform important ministerial functions, from nurses who care for the sick, to summer camp counselors for troubled teenagers, and athletic coaches who mold the character of their charges and often lead them in prayer. Were those functions to be considered ministerial, Fisher says, the results would be dire.
"Millions of people across the country who never thought or understood themselves to be leaders of the faith" would now "magically have no employment protections," he says.
There is another, and rather rich, twist to one of the cases before the court Monday.
It turns out that at the time Kristen Biel learned she had breast cancer, Kreuper, the school principal who fired her, was embezzling large amounts of money to go on gambling sprees in Las Vegas. One article quoted a church accountant as ball-parking the amount at $500,000.
"The Gambling Nuns" saga is unlikely to come up at the Supreme Court, but it certainly is on Darryl Biel's mind. He had planned to be in Washington for Monday's argument. "I wanted to face them. I wanted to see them. I wanted them to see me," he says "and I just pray that the justices see the right way."
Instead of sitting in the Supreme Court chamber, though, Biel, like the rest of us, will be at home listening.


npr--2020-05-10--Georgia Attorney General Asks For DOJ Probe Into Handling Of Ahmaud Arbery Case

Georgia Attorney General Asks For DOJ Probe Into Handling Of Ahmaud Arbery Case Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr asked the Department of Justice on Sunday to conduct an investigation into the handling of the Ahmaud Arbery case .
Arbery , a 25-year-old black man , was shot and killed in February while jogging through a neighborhood in the city of Brunswick , Ga. His death sparked a national outcry and demands for justice after a cellphone video of the shooting began circulating online last week .
On Thursday , two men , Gregory McMichael , 64 , and his son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault .
The arrests came two days after state authorities took over the case from local law enforcement — and 10 weeks after Arbery 's death .
McMichael , a retired police detective , told authorities that he and his son pursued Arbery because they believed he had been involved in local burglaries .
Prior to the state 's takeover of the investigation , the case had landed on the desk of three separate district attorneys .
The first recused herself because the father had previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A second district attorney was appointed but recused himself at the request of Arbery 's family .
He then wrote a lengthy letter saying , `` We do not see grounds for an arrest of any of the three parties . ''
A third district attorney was appointed to the case and asked for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to step in after video of the altercation and shooting became public .
`` We are committed to a complete and transparent review of how the Ahmaud Arbery case was handled from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the state of Georgia deserve answers , and we will work with others in law enforcement at the state and federal level to find those answers , '' Carr said in a statement .
Carr highlighted a lack of information given to his office about involvement from various people involved in the case — including one of the suspects , who had previously investigated Arbery in a different legal matter .
In a statement , attorneys for Arbery 's mother and father praised the attorney general 's request for a Justice Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia AG Chris Carr has officially asked the Dept .
of Justice to investigate the handling , and potential cover-up , of Ahmaud Arbery 's murder , '' wrote S. Lee Merritt , Benjamin Crump and L. Chris Stewart.
`` ...
There are far too many questions about how this case was handled and why it took 74 days for two of the killers to be arrested and charged in Mr. Arbery 's death . ''

Georgia Attorney General Asks For DOJ Probe Into Handling Of Ahmaud Arbery Case
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sean Rayford/Getty Images Sean Rayford/Getty Images
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr asked the Department of Justice on Sunday to conduct an investigation into the handling of the Ahmaud Arbery case.
Arbery, a 25-year-old black man, was shot and killed in February while jogging through a neighborhood in Glynn County, Ga. His death sparked a national outcry and demands for justice after a cellphone video of the shooting began circulating online last week.
On Thursday, two men, Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son Travis, 34, were arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault. The arrests came two days after state authorities took over the case from local law enforcement — and 10 weeks after Arbery's death.
McMichael, a retired police detective, told authorities that he and his son pursued Arbery because they believed he had been involved in local burglaries.
Prior to the state's takeover of the investigation, the case had landed on the desk of three separate district attorneys. The first recused herself because the father had previously worked in her office as an investigator.
A second district attorney was appointed but recused himself at the request of Arbery's family. He then wrote a lengthy letter saying, "We do not see grounds for an arrest of any of the three parties."
A third district attorney was appointed to the case and asked for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to step in after video of the altercation and shooting became public.
"We are committed to a complete and transparent review of how the Ahmaud Arbery case was handled from the outset. The family, the community and the state of Georgia deserve answers, and we will work with others in law enforcement at the state and federal level to find those answers," Carr said in a statement.
Carr highlighted a lack of information given to his office about involvement from various people involved in the case — including one of the suspects, who had previously investigated Arbery in a different legal matter.
In a statement, attorneys for Arbery's mother and father praised the attorney general's request for a Justice Department investigation.
"We are pleased that Georgia AG Chris Carr has officially asked the Dept. of Justice to investigate the handling, and potential cover-up, of Ahmaud Arbery's murder," wrote S. Lee Merritt, Benjamin Crump and L. Chris Stewart. "There are far too many questions about how this case was handled and why it took 74 days for two of the killers to be arrested and charged in Mr. Arbery's death."


npr--2020-05-10--Boris Johnson Outlines Plan To Ease Coronavirus Restrictions In U.K.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined plans Sunday for a phased reopening of Britain 's economy , citing decreasing coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths , and asked anyone who can not perform their jobs from home , such as construction and factory workers , to return to work .
`` There are millions of people who are both fearful of this terrible disease , and at the same time also fearful of what this long period of enforced inactivity will do to their livelihoods and their mental and physical well-being , '' Johnson said .
`` To their futures and the futures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who himself returned to work last month after being hospitalized with COVID-19 — encouraged those who will need to return to workplaces to avoid public transportation and to bike , walk or drive instead .
He stressed that workers would be protected by new guidelines designed to make workplaces `` COVID-secure . ''
The prime minister said that starting Wednesday , Britons will be allowed to participate in `` unlimited '' outdoor exercise , but can only sunbathe or play sports with members of their own household .
As part of his phased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elementary schools and shops could begin to reopen as early as June 1 .
He said parts of the hospitality sector `` and other public places '' could be cleared to reopen at the earliest in July .
Johnson stressed that his plans are conditioned on five factors : that there are enough National Health Service facilities and personnel to care for those infected ; a sustained fall in the death rate from COVID-19 ; a sustained fall in the rate of infection ; ample supply of personal protective equipment ; and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not return .
The U.K. has recorded more than 220,000 cases of the coronavirus , according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University , and more than 31,000 deaths .
Johnson also announced a new COVID alert system that will monitor how prevalent and severe the coronavirus outbreak is .
The five-tier alert system will inform the level of restrictions in the U.K. , Johnson said .
`` The lower the level , the fewer the measures , '' he said .
`` The higher the level , the tougher and stricter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He continued : `` We have been through the initial peak , but it 's coming down the mountain that is often more dangerous . ''
Johnson 's announcement comes as other leaders in the country have recently extended their stay-at-home orders through May and expressed frustration with his handling of the coronavirus crisis .
Explaining his decision to begin the reopening process , Johnson pointed to the crippling effect the lockdown has had on the U.K. economy .
`` We must also recognize that this campaign against the virus has come at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Johnson said .
`` We can see it all around us in the shuttered shops and abandoned businesses and darkened pubs and restaurants . ''
Johnson said during his Sunday address that he had `` consulted across the political spectrum , across all four nations of the UK '' and that there was a `` general consensus on what we could do . ''
But leaders in Scotland , Northern Ireland and Wales have rejected his new messaging on coronavirus restrictions , which advises , `` stay alert , control the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the BBC reported , they are sticking with the message , `` stay at home . ''
`` We must n't squander our progress by easing up too soon or by sending mixed messages that result in people thinking that it 's okay to ease up , '' said Nicola Sturgeon , Scotland 's first minister .
`` Now , let me be very blunt about the consequences if we were to do that .
People will die unnecessarily . ''

Boris Johnson Outlines Plan To Ease Coronavirus Restrictions In England
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Parsons/AP Andrew Parsons/AP
Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined plans Sunday for a phased reopening of Britain's economy, citing decreasing coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths, and asked anyone who cannot perform their jobs from home, such as construction and factory workers, to return to work.
"There are millions of people who are both fearful of this terrible disease, and at the same time also fearful of what this long period of enforced inactivity will do to their livelihoods and their mental and physical well-being," Johnson said. "To their futures and the futures of their children."
Johnson — who himself returned to work last month after being hospitalized with COVID-19 — encouraged those who will need to return to workplaces to avoid public transportation and to bike, walk or drive instead. He stressed that workers would be protected by new guidelines designed to make workplaces "COVID-secure."
The prime minister said that starting Wednesday, Britons will be allowed to participate in "unlimited" outdoor exercise, but can only sunbathe or play sports with members of their own household.
As part of his phased reopening plan, the prime minister said elementary schools and shops could begin to reopen as early as June 1. He said parts of the hospitality sector "and other public places" could be cleared to reopen at the earliest in July.
Johnson stressed that his plans are conditioned on five factors: that there are enough National Health Service facilities and personnel to care for those infected; a sustained fall in the death rate from COVID-19; a sustained fall in the rate of infection; ample supply of personal protective equipment; and that "exponential growth" of the coronavirus does not return.
The U.K. has recorded more than 220,000 cases of the coronavirus, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University, and more than 31,000 deaths.
Johnson also announced a new COVID alert system that will monitor how prevalent and severe the coronavirus outbreak is. The five-tier alert system will inform the level of restrictions in the U.K., Johnson said.
"The lower the level, the fewer the measures," he said. "The higher the level, the tougher and stricter we will have to be."
He continued: "We have been through the initial peak, but it's coming down the mountain that is often more dangerous."
Johnson's announcement comes as other leaders in the country have recently extended their stay-at-home orders through May and expressed frustration with his handling of the coronavirus crisis.
Explaining his decision to begin the reopening process, Johnson pointed to the crippling effect the lockdown has had on the U.K. economy.
"We must also recognize that this campaign against the virus has come at colossal cost to our way of life," Johnson said. "We can see it all around us in the shuttered shops and abandoned businesses and darkened pubs and restaurants."
Johnson said during his Sunday address that he had "consulted across the political spectrum, across all four nations of the UK" and that there was a "general consensus on what we could do."
But leaders in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have rejected his new messaging on coronavirus restrictions, which advises, "stay alert, control the virus, save lives." As the BBC reported, they are sticking with the message, "stay at home."
"We mustn't squander our progress by easing up too soon or by sending mixed messages that result in people thinking that it's okay to ease up," said Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's first minister. "Now, let me be very blunt about the consequences if we were to do that. People will die unnecessarily."


npr--2020-05-10--Unemployment Numbers 'Will Get Worse Before They Get Better,' Mnuchin Says

Unemployment Numbers 'Will Get Worse Before They Get Better , ' Mnuchin Says The worst of the nation 's historic job losses are yet to come , according to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , who told Fox News Sunday that `` the reported numbers are probably going to get worse before they get better . ''
Mnuchin 's comments followed Friday 's report from the Labor Department showing the U.S. lost a staggering 20.5 million jobs in April , bringing the jobless rate to its highest level since the Great Depression — 14.7 % .
But even that figure fails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have stopped searching for jobs or those considered `` underemployed . ''
Asked by host Chris Wallace whether the nation 's true unemployment rate was close to 25 % , Mnuchin responded , `` we could be . ''
`` This is no fault of American business , this is no fault of American workers , this is a result of a virus , '' he said before warning , `` You 're going to have a very , very bad second quarter . ''
Two weeks ago , Mnuchin 's outlook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the economy would reopen through June and `` bounce back '' over the summer .
On Sunday , he said the economy would `` have a better third quarter , '' followed by `` a better fourth quarter , and next year is going to be a great year . ''
The Trump Administration is considering additional stimulus measures , including a payroll tax cut , according to Mnuchin , who also said on Sunday , `` We 're not gon na do things just to bail out states that were poorly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House would wait a `` few weeks '' before considering another relief bill .

Unemployment Numbers 'Will Get Worse Before They Get Better,' Mnuchin Says
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Brandon/AP Alex Brandon/AP
The worst of the nation's historic job losses are yet to come, according to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who told Fox News Sunday that "the reported numbers are probably going to get worse before they get better."
Mnuchin's comments followed Friday's report from the Labor Department showing the U.S. lost a staggering 20.5 million jobs in April, bringing the jobless rate to its highest level since the Great Depression — 14.7%.
But even that figure fails to account for the millions of workers who have stopped searching for jobs or those considered "underemployed."
Asked by host Chris Wallace whether the nation's true unemployment rate was close to 25%, Mnuchin responded, "we could be."
"This is no fault of American business, this is no fault of American workers, this is a result of a virus," he said before warning, "You're going to have a very, very bad second quarter."
Two weeks ago, Mnuchin's outlook was more optimistic — he told Wallace that the economy would reopen through June and "bounce back" over the summer. On Sunday, he said the economy would "have a better third quarter," followed by "a better fourth quarter, and next year is going to be a great year."
The Trump administration is considering additional stimulus measures, including a payroll tax cut, according to Mnuchin, who also said on Sunday, "We're not gonna do things just to bail out states that were poorly managed." But he said the White House would wait a "few weeks" before considering another relief bill.


npr--2020-05-11--Answering Your Coronavirus Questions: Young COVID-19 Patients And Visiting Others

Answering Your Coronavirus Questions : Young COVID-19 Patients And Visiting Others On this broadcast of The National Conversation , a @ @ @ @ @ questions about visiting friends and family as states reopen .
We 'll also answer your @ @ @ @ @ well as young COVID-19 patients .

Answering Your Coronavirus Questions: Young COVID-19 Patients And Visiting Others
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images
On this broadcast of The National Conversation, a doctor answers some of your questions about visiting friends and family as states reopen. We'll also answer your questions about mental health as well as young COVID-19 patients.


npr--2020-05-11--MLB Owners Propose Opening Day In Early July

Major League Baseball owners will submit a proposal to the players ' union to start its 2020 season in July without fans .
If the proposal is approved by the baseball players ' union , Opening Day would take place around July 4 weekend and spring training would start in early to mid-June .
Teams would play around 82 games in the regular season compared to the standard 162 games and would only play opponents in their own division or teams in the same geographic area .
The proposal would also expand the playoff pool from 10 to 14 by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ league .
Washington pitcher Sean Doolittle voiced concerns on Twitter over how exactly the League would implement safety protocols , such as testing and quarantining .
According to a source with knowledge of the plan , the July restart proposal lays out health and safety protocols for players and other employees .
MLB owners are expected to meet with the players ' union on Tuesday , where there is likely to be debate on the proposal details .
In particular , part of the plan would require players and teams to share game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Major League Baseball that will likely be an obstacle in negotiations .
Because of the pandemic , players have already taken salary cuts and last month union leader Tony Clark told the Associated Press that part of the League negotiations `` was over . ''
The plan reportedly factors in fans attending games in person at some point , potentially starting out with small crowds and gradually increasing the number of people allowed in stadiums .
But any scenario where spectators could watch games in-person would depend on the ability for large gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state and local level .
In his daily press briefing on Monday California Gov .
Gavin Newsom responded to a question on the MLB July restart date and said he had spoken to baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred .
`` He said we wo n't do anything that 's inconsistent with state guidelines '' Newsom said , adding , `` We 'll see where we will be in July . ''
Tom Goldman and Austin Horn contributed to this story .

MLB Owners Propose Opening Day In Early July
Enlarge this image toggle caption Elaine Thompson/AP Elaine Thompson/AP
Major League Baseball owners will submit a proposal to the players' union to start its 2020 season in July without fans.
If the proposal is approved by the baseball players' union, Opening Day would take place around July 4 weekend and spring training would start in early to mid-June.
Teams would play around 82 games in the regular season compared to the standard 162 games and would only play opponents in their own division or teams in the same geographic area. The proposal would also expand the playoff pool from 10 to 14 by adding a wild card match-up in each league.
Washington pitcher Sean Doolittle voiced concerns on Twitter over how exactly the League would implement safety protocols, such as testing and quarantining.
According to a source with knowledge of the plan, the July restart proposal lays out health and safety protocols for players and other employees attending games.
MLB owners are expected to meet with the players' union on Tuesday, where there is likely to be debate on the proposal details. In particular, part of the plan would reportedly require players and teams to share game revenues 50-50, a historic first in Major League Baseball that will likely be an obstacle in negotiations.
Because of the pandemic, players have already taken salary cuts and last month union leader Tony Clark told the Associated Press that part of the League negotiations "was over."
The plan reportedly factors in fans attending games in person at some point, potentially starting out with small crowds and gradually increasing the number of people allowed in stadiums.
But any scenario where spectators could watch games in-person would depend on the ability for large gatherings to occur, at the federal, state and local level.
In his daily press briefing on Monday California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded to a question on the MLB July restart date and said he had spoken to baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.
"He said we won't do anything that's inconsistent with state guidelines" Newsom said, adding, "We'll see where we will be in July."
Tom Goldman and Austin Horn contributed to this story.


npr--2020-05-11--Coronavirus Infections Continue To Rise On Navajo Nation

If the Navajo Nation were a state it would have the highest rate of coronavirus cases per capita after New York .
At least 100 people have died from the virus and 3,122 people have tested positive .
On March 4 the Navajo Nation president cautioned its citizens to limit their travel .
But a few days later doctors say a man who had been at a basketball tournament in Tucson brought the virus to a tiny church in Chilchinbito .
In response to COVID-19 , dozens of people drove hours from all over the region to gather and pray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts of the reservation unwittingly bringing the virus home with them .
One of the problems leading to this sort of spread is communication .
Cell phone service is spotty on the reservation .
Sixty percent of Navajo lack Internet access according to the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority .
That means the majority of the tribe can not get regular announcements from public health officials or tune in to regular Facebook Live town halls with the Nation 's president .
One of the few mass media outlets on the reservation is radio station @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and where Navajo leaders give regular coronavirus updates .
But that communication has not been enough to stop the rise of infections .
Over 30 percent of the tribe lack clean running water .
Another 30 percent do n't have electricity .
Before the coronavirus outbreak , half the tribe was unemployed .
The situation has worsened in recent weeks .
The Navajo Nation is a food desert with only 13 grocery stores in an area approximately the size of West Virginia .
Many communities rely on just one store , so people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For example , if the community of Shonto had no infections and someone there traveled to the market in Kayenta where people from Chilchinbito also shop , they could easily go home with more than their groceries — they could become infected with COVID-19 .
Given that the Navajo Nation is 27,000 square miles — seven people per square mile — social distancing may seem easy .
But while the population is spread out , multiple generations often live under one roof or within the same small group of homes .
Isolating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are sick , simply is n't part of Navajo culture .
That culture has also rallied to raise over $ 3.5 million and deliver food boxes to the elders and the immunocompromised during the public health crisis .
When it comes to health care , the Indian Health Service has been drastically underfunded for decades .
Take Chilchinbito , home of the initial outbreak on the Navajo Nation .
It has an emergency department but no hospital .
The sickest patients have been flown to hospitals in Albuquerque , Flagstaff and Phoenix .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ asthma , cancer , and other issues that make people on the reservation more vulnerable to the disease .
Some of those health issues are the result of more than 500 abandoned uranium mines on the Navajo Nation .
But one thing tribal members keep coming back to is their resiliency .
`` Look at what happened to us as a people , '' President Jonathan Nez said in a recent interview .
`` We were taken out to Fort Sumner during the Long Walk .
We almost got annihilated as a people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our own resources .
We 're utilizing our own teachings and we 're going to overcome this . ''

Coronavirus Infections Continue To Rise On Navajo Nation
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bob Christie / AP Bob Christie / AP
If the Navajo Nation were a state, it would have the highest rate of coronavirus cases per capita after New York. At least 100 people have died from the virus and 3,122 people have tested positive.
On March 4, the Navajo Nation president cautioned its citizens to limit their travel. But a few days later, doctors say, a man who had been at a basketball tournament in Tucson brought the virus to a tiny church in Chilchinbito. In response to COVID-19, dozens of people drove hours from all over the region to gather and pray. Afterward, they returned to all parts of the reservation unwittingly bringing the virus home with them.
One of the problems leading to this sort of spread is communication. Cellphone service is spotty on the reservation. Sixty percent of Navajo lack Internet access, according to the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority. That means the majority of the tribe cannot get regular announcements from public health officials or tune in to regular Facebook Live town halls with the Nation's president.
One of the few mass media outlets on the reservation is radio station KTNN, where operators broadcast in Navajo and where Navajo leaders give regular coronavirus updates. But that communication has not been enough to stop the rise of infections.
Over 30 percent of the tribe lack clean running water. Another 30 percent don't have electricity. Before the coronavirus outbreak, half the tribe was unemployed. The situation has worsened in recent weeks.
The Navajo Nation is a food desert, with only 13 grocery stores in an area approximately the size of West Virginia. Many communities rely on just one store, so people mingle from distant locations while buying food. For example, if the community of Shonto had no infections and someone there traveled to the market in Kayenta where people from Chilchinbito also shop, they could easily go home with more than their groceries — they could become infected with the coronavirus.
Given that the Navajo Nation is 27,000 square miles — seven people per square mile — social distancing may seem easy. But while the population is spread out, multiple generations often live under one roof or within the same small group of homes. Isolating a loved one, especially if they are sick, simply isn't part of Navajo culture. That culture has also rallied to raise over $3.5 million to deliver food boxes to the elders and the immunocompromised during the public health crisis.
When it comes to health care, the Indian Health Service has been drastically underfunded for decades. Take Chilchinbito, home of the initial outbreak on the Navajo Nation. It has an emergency department, but no hospital. The sickest patients have been flown to hospitals in Albuquerque, Flagstaff and Phoenix. There are high rates of diabetes, asthma, cancer and other issues that make people on the reservation more vulnerable to the disease. Some of those health issues are the result of more than 500 abandoned uranium mines on the Navajo Nation.
But one thing tribal members keep coming back to is their resiliency. "Look at what happened to us as a people," President Jonathan Nez said in a recent interview. "We were taken out to Fort Sumner during the Long Walk. We almost got annihilated as a people. We persevered. We're utilizing our own resources. We're utilizing our own teachings and we're going to overcome this."


npr--2020-05-11--Democrats Developing Contingency Plans For Remote Convention

The Democratic National Committee is taking steps to prepare for a possible remote convention this summer , with a resolution being introduced to allow for changes to official proceedings given public health concerns .
Because of the coronavirus pandemic , convention planners are exploring a range of contingencies for the August event in Milwaukee where Joe Biden is expected to be officially nominated as the Democratic Party 's candidate for president .
When the DNC 's rules and bylaws committee meets by conference call on Tuesday , it will take up a resolution that would change official proceedings `` so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ validly-elected Convention delegates to participate in the Convention in person or by means that allow for appropriate social distancing . ''
The DNC seems to be suggesting it 's looking into the option of a virtual convention .
It 's now considering ways to ensure all delegates will be able to cast ballots and participate in the convention , regardless of whether or not they can travel to the convention in person .
This comes after the convention was already postponed from mid-July to the week of Aug. 17 .
While the DNC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chairman Tom Perez has continued to express optimism about holding an in-person convention .
`` We 're not going to put our public health head in the sand , but I 'm optimistic that we can do so because we 've put it off for five weeks , '' Perez told ABC 's This Week on May 3 .
The Democratic National Convention is scheduled to be held in Milwaukee one week before the Republican National Convention , which is set to be held in Charlotte the week of Aug. 24 .

Democrats Developing Contingency Plans For Remote Convention
Enlarge this image toggle caption ERIC BARADAT/AFP via Getty Images ERIC BARADAT/AFP via Getty Images
The Democratic National Committee is taking steps to prepare for a possible remote convention this summer, with a resolution being introduced to allow for changes to official proceedings given public health concerns.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, convention planners are exploring a range of contingencies for the August event in Milwaukee where Joe Biden is expected to be officially nominated as the Democratic Party's candidate for president.
When the DNC's rules and bylaws committee meets by conference call on Tuesday, it will take up a resolution that would change official proceedings "so as to safeguard the ability of all validly-elected Convention delegates to participate in the Convention in person or by means that allow for appropriate social distancing."
The DNC seems to be suggesting it's looking into the option of a virtual convention. It's now considering ways to ensure all delegates will be able to cast ballots and participate in the convention, regardless of whether they can travel to the convention in person.
This comes after the convention was already postponed from mid-July to the week of Aug. 17. While the DNC is making its contingency plans more official, chairman Tom Perez has continued to express optimism about holding an in-person convention.
"We're not going to put our public health head in the sand, but I'm optimistic that we can do so because we've put it off for five weeks," Perez told ABC's This Week on May 3.
The Democratic National Convention is scheduled to be held in Milwaukee one week before the Republican National Convention, which is set to be held in Charlotte the week of Aug. 24.


npr--2020-05-11--WATCH: With Extra Time To Practice, 11-Year-Old Breaks Skateboarding Record

Brazilian skater Gui Khury , 11 , is the first person to complete a 1080-degree turn , or three full rotations , on a vertical ramp .
Khury broke news of his feat on his Instagram account on Friday .
The video shows the skateboarder flying up off the half-pipe , spinning three times , and seamlessly skating back down .
The historic move plays three times over , once in slow motion , with the caption `` 1080 !
!
!
I have no words to explain what just happened ... '' Khury smashed the previous 900-degree record on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' ) held by skateboarding legend Tony Hawk .
Hawk made his historic move in 1999 , almost a decade before Khury was born .
Since Hawk set the record , several skateboarders have matched it .
Khury himself became the youngest person to successfully complete a 900 on vert at eight years old .
Khury 's video circulated widely on social media and garnered a slew of astonished reactions , especially after it was reposted by stars like Hawk .
The elusive 1080 is widely viewed as one of most difficult moves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been completed successfully by a handful of skateboarders , and never on vert .
In 2012 , then-12-year-old Tom Schaar became the first skateboarder to complete the move .
Schaar did his 1080 on a mega ramp , a larger version of the vert , which allowed him to build up more momentum .
Khury 's new achievement again brings into question whether the move might be easier for children to complete , an idea initially posed after Schaar 's feat .
The coronavirus and social distancing actually helped Khury achieve the 1080 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reuters .
School closures in Brazil gave the young skater more time and energy than usual to practice , Filho said .
His grandmother has several structures in her backyard that Khury uses to practice .
The record comes as skateboarding was set to debut as an Olympic sport at the Tokyo Summer Olympics this year .
But fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has postponed the event until at least 2021 , and put into question whether it will be able to happen at all .
For now , the young skater says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already moved on to his next goal : a 1260 on vert , or 3.5 rotations in the air .

WATCH: With Extra Time To Practice, 11-Year-Old Breaks Skateboarding Record
Brazilian skater Gui Khury, 11, is the first person to complete a 1080-degree turn, or three full rotations, on a vertical ramp.
Khury broke news of his feat on his Instagram account on Friday. The video shows the skateboarder flying up off the half-pipe, spinning three times, and seamlessly skating back down. The historic move plays three times over, once in slow motion, with the caption "1080!!!I have no words to explain what just happened..."
Khury smashed the previous 900-degree record on a vertical ramp (or "vert") held by skateboarding legend Tony Hawk. Hawk made his historic move in 1999, almost a decade before Khury was born. Since Hawk set the record, several skateboarders have matched it. Khury himself became the youngest person to successfully complete a 900 on vert at eight years old.
Khury's video circulated widely on social media and garnered a slew of astonished reactions, especially after it was reposted by stars like Hawk.
The elusive 1080 is widely viewed as one of most difficult moves in the sport. It has only been completed successfully by a handful of skateboarders, and never on vert. In 2012, then-12-year-old Tom Schaar became the first skateboarder to complete the move. Schaar did his 1080 on a mega ramp, a larger version of the vert, which allowed him to build up more momentum.
Khury's new achievement again brings into question whether the move might be easier for children to complete, an idea initially posed after Schaar's feat.
The coronavirus and social distancing actually helped Khury achieve the 1080, his father Ricardo Khury Filho told Reuters. School closures in Brazil gave the young skater more time and energy than usual to practice, Filho said. His grandmother has several structures in her backyard that Khury uses to practice.
The record comes as skateboarding was set to debut as an Olympic sport at the Tokyo Summer Olympics this year. But fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has postponed the event until at least 2021, and put into question whether it will be able to happen at all.
For now, the young skater says he's not done. He's already moved on to his next goal: a 1260 on vert, or 3.5 rotations in the air.


npr--2020-05-11--New Jersey Investigates State's Nursing Homes, Hotbed Of COVID-19 Fatalities

Coronavirus fatalities in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities account for at least one-third of the deaths in 26 states .
In New Jersey 's nursing homes , the coronavirus has proved especially deadly : 53 % of the more than 9,000 people who have died from COVID-19 in the state were long-term care patients or staff .
Now , New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal has opened an investigation into possible misconduct at those facilities .
In addition to the high infection and death rates , Grewal says there were other issues that prompted the launch of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting that we were seeing and hearing about how bodies were being handled , about the lack of communication and transparency with families , '' he tells All Things Considered .
`` Because of all of those reasons , we felt an obligation to look for answers and to figure out if something went wrong , what happened , and if there are people to be held accountable , who those people are . ''
In one case , 17 bodies were discovered last month in a makeshift morgue at a facility in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few days after Grewal 's office asked the public to report any leads on possible misconduct , he says more than 200 tips poured in .
Here are excerpts from the interview .
Is your investigation more focused on what happened after the deaths at these nursing homes — or on what factors may have contributed to these high death rates ?
It 's both .
We have a number of theories of liability .
It could be anything from consumer fraud to criminal homicide to criminal or civil false claims to regulatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they put profits over patients , if they were n't adequately staffed , if there was some degree of negligence .
But certainly in the handling of corpses , if there was anything that was criminal in that aspect of it as well , we 're looking at that as well .
Do you think New Jersey had enough oversight over these facilities , or do you think that had there been closer monitoring , more regulation of these facilities , there may have been fewer deaths ?
I think it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; I think certainly that 's one aspect of what we 'll be looking at .
If there are things that could have been done better by any entity , whether that 's regulators or operators , because our goal is , like I said at the outset , not only to hold folks accountable if they contributed to death rates or if they cut corners or if they were negligent or criminally or civilly liable , but also to chart a path forward where we could protect these vulnerable populations better against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave .
Listen to the full interview at the audio link above .

New Jersey Investigates State's Nursing Homes, Hotbed Of COVID-19 Fatalities
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ted Shaffrey/AP Ted Shaffrey/AP
Coronavirus fatalities in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities account for at least one-third of the deaths in 26 states.
In New Jersey's nursing homes, the coronavirus has proved especially deadly: 53% of the more than 9,000 people who have died from COVID-19 as of Monday in the state were long-term care patients or staff.
Now, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal has opened an investigation into possible misconduct at those facilities.
In addition to the high infection and death rates, Grewal says there were other issues that prompted the launch of the investigation.
"It was also the reporting that we were seeing and hearing about how bodies were being handled, about the lack of communication and transparency with families," he tells All Things Considered. "Because of all of those reasons, we felt an obligation to look for answers and to figure out if something went wrong, what happened, and if there are people to be held accountable, who those people are."
In one case, 17 bodies were discovered last month in a makeshift morgue at a facility in Andover, N.J.
In the first few days after Grewal's office asked the public to report any leads on possible misconduct, he says more than 200 tips poured in.
Here are excerpts from the interview.
Is your investigation more focused on what happened after the deaths at these nursing homes — or on what factors may have contributed to these high death rates?
It's both. We have a number of theories of liability. It could be anything from consumer fraud to criminal homicide to criminal or civil false claims to regulatory violations. If people cut corners, if they put profits over patients, if they weren't adequately staffed, if there was some degree of negligence. But certainly in the handling of corpses, if there was anything that was criminal in that aspect of it as well, we're looking at that as well.
Do you think New Jersey had enough oversight over these facilities, or do you think that had there been closer monitoring, more regulation of these facilities, there may have been fewer deaths?
I think it's premature for me to reach that conclusion; I think certainly that's one aspect of what we'll be looking at. If there are things that could have been done better by any entity, whether that's regulators or operators, because our goal is, like I said at the outset, not only to hold folks accountable if they contributed to death rates or if they cut corners or if they were negligent or criminally or civilly liable, but also to chart a path forward where we could protect these vulnerable populations better against the next pandemic or against the next wave.
Listen to the full interview at the audio link above.


npr--2020-05-11--Elon Musk Reopens California Tesla Plant, Defying Local Health Officials (Again)

Electric carmaker Tesla has resumed production at its Fremont , Calif. , plant — in defiance of local health authorities .
CEO Elon Musk confirmed the news on Twitter on Monday , after photos of the plant 's nearly full parking lot started making headlines .
He said he was willing to be arrested if necessary .
( Bay Area shelter-in-place orders , which multiple counties have imposed , are largely being enforced by warnings or citations . )
Alameda County says it is expecting Tesla to submit its safety plan for approval , and that until that approval the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The county says it hopes Tesla , like other companies that previously violated the local order , will `` comply without further enforcement measures . ''
Tesla tussled with Alameda County back in March , initially defying the county 's decision to shut down non-essential businesses .
In recent weeks the company 's famously erratic CEO has been railing against the shutdown orders on Twitter and in a call with investors .
On Saturday , Musk went so far as to threaten to relocate the plant out of California because of the local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic .
Alameda County officials said they were `` communicating directly and working closely with the Tesla team on the ground in Fremont '' in a `` collaborative , good faith effort to develop and implement a safety plan '' to reopen while protecting workers ' health .
Meanwhile , Tesla sued the county , claiming it had no legal right to shut down the plant .
In its lawsuit , Tesla said that an order from California 's governor superseded the local health policies , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be allowed to open .
On Twitter , Musk again said that Tesla 's reopening had been `` approved '' by the state .
Asked about the plant 's reopening on Monday , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom said he was unaware that the plant had resumed operations .
He said the dispute over the reopening would be resolved `` at the county level . ''
Auto plants across the country are reopening this month .
Some plants reopened in early May , while Ford , General Motors and Fiat Chrysler are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ timelines for different plants reopening have been shaped , in part , by differing state and local shelter-in-place orders .

Elon Musk Reopens California Tesla Plant, Defying Local Health Officials (Again)
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ben Margot/AP Ben Margot/AP
Electric carmaker Tesla has resumed production at its Fremont, Calif., plant — in defiance of local health authorities.
CEO Elon Musk confirmed the news on Twitter on Monday, after photos of the plant's nearly full parking lot started making headlines. He said he was willing to be arrested if necessary. (Bay Area shelter-in-place orders, which multiple counties have imposed, are largely being enforced by warnings or citations.)
Alameda County says it is expecting Tesla to submit its safety plan for approval and that, until it's approved, the company cannot resume normal production. The county says it hopes Tesla, like other companies that previously violated the local order, will "comply without further enforcement measures."
Tesla tussled with Alameda County back in March, initially defying the county's decision to shut down nonessential businesses. In recent weeks the company's famously erratic CEO has been railing against the shutdown orders on Twitter and in a call with investors.
On Saturday, Musk went so far as to threaten to relocate the plant out of California because of the local shelter-in-place orders, which are designed to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Alameda County officials said they were "communicating directly and working closely with the Tesla team on the ground in Fremont" in a "collaborative, good faith effort to develop and implement a safety plan" to reopen while protecting workers' health.
Meanwhile, Tesla sued the county, claiming it had no legal right to shut down the plant.
In its lawsuit, Tesla said that an order from California's governor superseded the local health policies, and that under the governor's order Tesla should be allowed to open. On Twitter, Musk again said that Tesla's reopening had been "approved" by the state.
Asked about the plant's reopening on Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was unaware that the plant had resumed operations. He said the dispute over the reopening would be resolved "at the county level."
Auto plants across the country are reopening this month. Some plants reopened in early May, while Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler are targeting a May 18 restart.
The timelines for different plants reopening have been shaped, in part, by differing state and local shelter-in-place orders.


npr--2020-05-11--U.S. Officials: Beware Of China And Others Trying To Steal COVID-19 Research

U.S. Officials : Beware Of China And Others Trying To Steal COVID-19 Research As researchers around the globe race to develop a coronavirus vaccine , U.S. authorities are warning American firms to exercise extreme caution in safeguarding their research against China and others with a track record of stealing cutting-edge medical technology .
`` We are imploring all those research facilities and hospitals and pharmaceutical companies that are doing really great research to do everything in their power to protect it , '' Bill Evanina , the director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center , said in an interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want that company or the research hospital to be the one a year from now , two years from now , identified as having it all stolen before they finished it , '' said Evanina , whose center falls under the director of national intelligence .
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Britain 's National Cyber Security Center recently issued a statement saying hackers are `` actively targeting organisations ... that include healthcare bodies , pharmaceutical companies , academia , medical research organisations , and local government . ''
The statement did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Reuters reported that hackers linked to Iran tried to break into email accounts at the U.S. drugmaker Gilead Sciences , which has a potentially promising drug to treat the COVID-19 virus .
Iran denied the report .
Meanwhile , Evanina says China , far more than any other country , has been aggressively stealing valuable medical technology for years .
Information on a possible vaccine would be a huge prize .
`` We have full expectation that China will do everything in their power to obtain any viable research that we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Evanina said .
`` That will be in line with their capabilities and intent the last decade plus , and we are expecting them to continue to do so . ''
A number of drug makers , research labs and government health bodies have announced efforts to seek a vaccine or treatment for COVID-19 .
That 's made them a target , FBI Deputy Assistant Director Tonya Ugoretz said recently .
`` We certainly have seen reconnaissance activity , and some intrusions , into some of those institutions , '' she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mark for other nation-states that are interested in gleaning details about what exactly they 're doing and maybe even stealing proprietary information . ''
China has long denied involvement in corporate espionage and has called for international cooperation to accelerate progress on COVID-19 vaccines and therapies .
Beijing points to its sharing of the coronavirus ' gene sequence as evidence of its sincerity .
Meanwhile , Chinese labs say they are racing ahead to find a homegrown vaccine .
President Trump and his administration have frequently criticized China for its handling of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Pompeo have said the virus may have escaped from a lab in the central city of Wuhan .
But they have not provided evidence , and this has led to skepticism about some administration claims regarding what has happened inside China in recent months .
However , the U.S. national security community has shared a broad consensus for years about what they say is a sustained Chinese government effort to acquire , lawfully or not , a wide range of intellectual property , including medical research .
U.S. officials often point to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Made in China 2025 '' plan , which calls for the country to be a world leader in the most important technologies of the 21st century — artificial intelligence , renewable energy , quantum computing , driverless cars and wide range of medical technologies .
In the past couple years , the Justice Department has filed charges in multiple cases involving Chinese nationals or people suspected of working for China to steal medical technology , often involving cancer research .
U.S. officials describe these efforts as taking several different forms .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at tech companies or research labs working on technology China has identified as important .
A second method is sending students or researchers to work in the U.S. , often for extended periods .
In a case last year , the Justice Department filed charges against a Chinese couple that worked for 10 years at an Ohio lab that researches pediatric diseases , including childhood cancers .
U.S. authorities accuse the couple of stealing research at the Ohio lab for use in a company the husband-and-wife team had established back in China .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ China 's Thousand Talents Program .
China identifies promising research , often at a U.S. university , then offers funding through its Thousand Talents Program with the expectation it will get access to the research as well .
U.S. academics are required to tell the U.S. government if they receive such foreign funding .
To combat the theft of U.S. technology , Evanina works with law enforcement and other government partners to brief company CEOs , university presidents and other leaders of organizations that are being targeted .
This began several years ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical community .
Sometimes they are called to Washington for a briefing where the organizations may also hear from Sen. Richard Burr , the North Carolina Republican who heads the Senate Intelligence Committee , and Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia , the ranking Democrat .
`` We provide ( the organizations ) a one-day classified briefing .
We make sure they understand the complexity of the threat .
We 've done that for multiple sectors that include hospitals , medical centers and research institutions and the pharmaceutical community as well , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national security correspondent .
Follow him @ gregmyre1 .

U.S. Officials: Beware Of China And Others Trying To Steal COVID-19 Research
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ted S. Warren/AP Ted S. Warren/AP
As researchers around the globe race to develop a coronavirus vaccine, U.S. authorities are warning American firms to exercise extreme caution in safeguarding their research against China and others with a track record of stealing cutting-edge medical technology.
"We are imploring all those research facilities and hospitals and pharmaceutical companies that are doing really great research to do everything in their power to protect it," Bill Evanina, the director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, said in an interview with NPR.
"We don't want that company or the research hospital to be the one a year from now, two years from now, identified as having it all stolen before they finished it," said Evanina, whose center falls under the director of national intelligence.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Britain's National Cyber Security Center recently issued a statement saying hackers are "actively targeting organisations ... that include healthcare bodies, pharmaceutical companies, academia, medical research organisations, and local government."
The statement did not name China or any other country. Reuters reported that hackers linked to Iran tried to break into email accounts at the U.S. drugmaker Gilead Sciences, which has a potentially promising drug to treat the COVID-19 virus. Iran denied the report.
China's record
Meanwhile, Evanina says China, far more than any other country, has been aggressively stealing valuable medical technology for years. Information on a possible vaccine would be a huge prize.
"We have full expectation that China will do everything in their power to obtain any viable research that we are conducting here in the U.S.," Evanina said. "That will be in line with their capabilities and intent the last decade plus, and we are expecting them to continue to do so."
A number of drug makers, research labs and government health bodies have announced efforts to seek a vaccine or treatment for COVID-19. That's made them a target, FBI Deputy Assistant Director Tonya Ugoretz said recently.
"We certainly have seen reconnaissance activity, and some intrusions, into some of those institutions," she said. "It kind of makes them a mark for other nation-states that are interested in gleaning details about what exactly they're doing and maybe even stealing proprietary information."
China has long denied involvement in corporate espionage and has called for international cooperation to accelerate progress on COVID-19 vaccines and therapies. Beijing points to its sharing of the coronavirus' gene sequence as evidence of its sincerity. Meanwhile, Chinese labs say they are racing ahead to find a homegrown vaccine.
President Trump and his administration have frequently criticized China for its handling of the coronavirus. Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have said the virus may have escaped from a lab in the central city of Wuhan. But they have not provided evidence, and this has led to skepticism about some administration claims regarding what has happened inside China in recent months.
'Made in China 2025'
However, the U.S. national security community has shared a broad consensus for years about what they say is a sustained Chinese government effort to acquire, lawfully or not, a wide range of intellectual property, including medical research.
U.S. officials often point to China's President Xi Jinping and his "Made in China 2025" plan, which calls for the country to be a world leader in the most important technologies of the 21st century — artificial intelligence, renewable energy, quantum computing, driverless cars and wide range of medical technologies.
In the past couple years, the Justice Department has filed charges in multiple cases involving Chinese nationals or people suspected of working for China to steal medical technology, often involving cancer research.
U.S. officials describe these efforts as taking several different forms.
One is widespread and persistent hacking attempts directed at tech companies or research labs working on technology China has identified as important.
A second method is sending students or researchers to work in the U.S., often for extended periods. In a case last year, the Justice Department filed charges against a Chinese couple that worked for 10 years at an Ohio lab that researches pediatric diseases, including childhood cancers. U.S. authorities accuse the couple of stealing research at the Ohio lab for use in a company the husband-and-wife team had established back in China.
U.S. officials say a third path is China's Thousand Talents Program. China identifies promising research, often at a U.S. university, then offers funding through its Thousand Talents Program with the expectation it will get access to the research as well. U.S. academics are required to tell the U.S. government if they receive such foreign funding.
Security briefings
To combat the theft of U.S. technology, Evanina works with law enforcement and other government partners to brief company CEOs, university presidents and other leaders of organizations that are being targeted.
This began several years ago, and includes senior leaders in the medical community. Sometimes they are called to Washington for a briefing where the organizations may also hear from Sen. Richard Burr, the North Carolina Republican who heads the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the ranking Democrat.
"We provide (the organizations) a one-day classified briefing. We make sure they understand the complexity of the threat. We've done that for multiple sectors that include hospitals, medical centers and research institutions and the pharmaceutical community as well," said Evanina.
Greg Myre is an NPR national security correspondent. Follow him @gregmyre1.


npr--2020-05-11--Georgia Attorney General Names New Prosecutor In Ahmaud Arbery Case

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr on Monday tapped a new lead prosecutor in the murder case of Ahmaud Arbery — the fourth since the young black man was killed in February while jogging in Glynn County , Ga. Joyette Holmes , district attorney of the Cobb County Judicial Circuit and the first black woman to serve in that position , is taking over the case following a video of the shooting that went viral after it was posted online last week .
The footage ignited national outcry and a cascade of questions over why no arrests were made in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing .
Two white men , a father and son , were arrested Thursday in connection with the killing and face murder and aggravated assault charges .
The arrests came two days after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the case from local authorities .
Also on Monday , the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed it was considering whether to charge Gregory McMichael , 64 , a retired police detective , and his son Travis , 34 , with federal hate crimes .
In a statement on the Cobb County district attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Our office will immediately gather all materials related to the investigation thus far and continue to seek additional information to move this case forward . ''
She added , `` We appreciate the confidence that Attorney General Carr has in our office 's ability to bring to light the justice that this case deserves . ''
In a statement , the state attorney general thanked Atlantic Judicial Circuit District Attorney Tom Durden , who had led the case since mid-April , but added the `` case has grown in size and magnitude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that `` another office is better suited from a resource perspective to now handle the case . ''
Holmes has led the Cobb County District Attorney 's Office since July .
She previously was both a prosecutor and defense lawyer in the county , according to her biography on the county website .
Before Durden 's appointment , two other district attorneys recused themselves from the case .
On Sunday , Georgia 's attorney general requested that the Justice Department investigate local authorities ' handling of the investigation .
Justice Department spokesperson Kerri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assessing all of the evidence to determine whether federal hate crimes charges are appropriate . ''
`` In addition , we are considering the request of the Attorney General of Georgia and have asked that he forward to federal authorities any information that he has about the handling of the investigation .
We will continue to assess all information , and we will take any appropriate action that is warranted by the facts and the law , '' she said .
As NPR has reported , Georgia , along with Arkansas , South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states that do not have hate crime laws and also do n't require officials to collect data on such crimes , according to the DOJ .
Benjamin Crump , an attorney for the Arbery family , praised the Holmes appointment and urged her to be `` zealous in her search for justice . ''
`` In order for justice to be carried out both effectively and appropriately in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery , it is imperative that the special prosecutor has no affiliation with the SE Georgia legal or law enforcement communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We implore District Attorney Joyette Holmes to be zealous in her search for justice , as she works to hold all of those responsible for the unjustifiable execution of an unarmed young Black man in broad daylight , '' Crump added .
Since the shooting , Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jackie Johnson recused herself over a conflict of interest due to the fact that the elder McMichael had worked in her office , as Georgia Public Broadcasting reported .
Next , George Barnhill , of the Waycross Judicial Circuit , recused himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The family complained that Barnhill also had a conflict of interest because his son worked in Johnson 's office as an assistant district attorney , The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported .
Durden took over the case on April 13 .
Last week , he formally requested that the GBI become involved after the video of the shooting became public .
Holmes will now prosecute the case .
Her predecessor in the Cobb County District Attorney 's Office was Vic Reynolds , who now leads the GBI .
In a press conference Friday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people could be charged in Arbery 's death .

Georgia Attorney General Names New Prosecutor In Ahmaud Arbery Case
Enlarge this image toggle caption Cobb County District Attorney's Office Cobb County District Attorney's Office
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr on Monday tapped a new lead prosecutor in the murder case of Ahmaud Arbery — the fourth since the young black man was killed in February while jogging in Glynn County, Ga.
Joyette Holmes, district attorney of the Cobb County Judicial Circuit and the first black woman to serve in that position, is taking over the case following a video of the shooting that went viral after it was posted online last week. The footage ignited national outcry and a cascade of questions over why no arrests were made in the 10 weeks since Arbery's Feb. 23 killing.
Two white men, a father and son, were arrested Thursday in connection with the killing and face murder and aggravated assault charges. The arrests came two days after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the case from local authorities.
Also on Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed it was considering whether to charge Gregory McMichael, 64, a retired police detective, and his son Travis, 34, with federal hate crimes.
In a statement on the Cobb County district attorney's Facebook page, Holmes said, "Our office will immediately gather all materials related to the investigation thus far and continue to seek additional information to move this case forward."
She added, "We appreciate the confidence that Attorney General Carr has in our office's ability to bring to light the justice that this case deserves."
In a statement, the state attorney general thanked Atlantic Judicial Circuit District Attorney Tom Durden, who had led the case since mid-April, but added the "case has grown in size and magnitude since he accepted." Carr said that "another office is better suited from a resource perspective to now handle the case."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Sean Rayford/Getty Images Sean Rayford/Getty Images
Holmes has led the Cobb County District Attorney's Office since July. She previously was both a prosecutor and defense lawyer in the county, according to her biography on the county website.
Before Durden's appointment, two other district attorneys recused themselves from the case. On Sunday, Georgia's attorney general requested that the Justice Department investigate local authorities' handling of the investigation.
Justice Department spokesperson Kerri Kupec said Monday that it is "assessing all of the evidence to determine whether federal hate crimes charges are appropriate."
"In addition, we are considering the request of the Attorney General of Georgia and have asked that he forward to federal authorities any information that he has about the handling of the investigation. We will continue to assess all information, and we will take any appropriate action that is warranted by the facts and the law," she said.
As NPR has reported, Georgia, along with Arkansas, South Carolina and Wyoming, are the only states that do not have hate crime laws and also don't require officials to collect data on such crimes, according to the DOJ.
Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the Arbery family, praised the Holmes appointment and urged her to be "zealous in her search for justice."
"In order for justice to be carried out both effectively and appropriately in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, it is imperative that the special prosecutor has no affiliation with the SE Georgia legal or law enforcement communities," the statement said.
"We implore District Attorney Joyette Holmes to be zealous in her search for justice, as she works to hold all of those responsible for the unjustifiable execution of an unarmed young Black man in broad daylight," Crump added.
Since the shooting, Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jackie Johnson recused herself over a conflict of interest due to the fact that the elder McMichael had worked in her office, as Georgia Public Broadcasting reported.
Next, George Barnhill, of the Waycross Judicial Circuit, recused himself at the request of the Arbery family. The family complained that Barnhill also had a conflict of interest because his son worked in Johnson's office as an assistant district attorney, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Durden took over the case on April 13. Last week, he formally requested that the GBI become involved after the video of the shooting became public.
Holmes will now prosecute the case. Her predecessor in the Cobb County District Attorney's Office was Vic Reynolds, who now leads the GBI. In a press conference Friday, Reynolds left open the possibility that more people could be charged in Arbery's death.


npr--2020-05-11--Former Top Health Officials: Do More Testing And Contact Tracing Or Expect Outbreaks

Former Top Health Officials : Do More Testing And Contact Tracing Or Expect Outbreaks States around the country are gradually reopening their economies , even as most of them fail to meet voluntary guidelines set by the White House for doing it safely .
At least 31 states are partially reopening as of Monday .
`` The Trump administration has really not been following — and governors around the country generally — have not been following their own plan , '' says Andy Slavitt , the former acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under President Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb , who served under President Trump , talked with Morning Edition 's Steve Inskeep about federal and state reopening strategy .
The two wrote to congressional leaders last month asking for funding for contact tracing and isolating infected people .
Both Slavitt and Gottlieb have been advising current officials .
Has the administration simply grown impatient with its own approach ?
Gottlieb : [ W ] e all had an expectation that at this point we 'd be seeing sustained declines in new cases if we put those measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen that .
And so the reality is we 're opening against the backdrop of much more spread than what we anticipated .
... And I think it just increases the importance of what we call the case-based interventions , trying to put in place measures to track down individual cases , do contact tracing , do case isolation of people who are infected .
If we do n't lean heavily on those interventions against a backdrop of a lot of spread right now and we reopen the economy in that environment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Do you see serious efforts even to try to get where you think you need to be in terms of testing , in terms of contact tracing , in terms of these interventions you just described ?
Gottlieb : I 'm more confident about the testing .
I think that we 're ramping testing aggressively , in part because new technology is coming into the market .
We 're doing about 2 million tests a week right now .
We just saw the approval of the first antigen-based tests .
That 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per week capacity into the market within the next several weeks .
...
I think when it comes to the case-based interventions that is n't as readily available because there 's a lot of political debate around the utility of that .
You see a lot of governors going forward .
But at a national level , we really have n't embraced those in a robust way that I would like to see .
Is n't there a case to be made for a kind of creative reopening whenever a company can figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd ?
Slavitt : I think so .
Look , I think everybody is in what must feel to them like a no-win situation .
And so I think we all should acknowledge that our governors are doing the best that they possibly can in a trade off that 's really difficult to make .
...
So we should be patient with our governors , adjusting , tinkering , doing a little bit of trial and error .
But , boy , it sure would be nice if when they were doing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difference between learning after two days that you got it wrong and 10 days that you got it wrong is fairly dramatic .
Listen to the full interview here .

Former Top Health Officials: Do More Testing And Contact Tracing Or Expect Outbreaks
Enlarge this image toggle caption Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
States around the country are gradually reopening their economies, even as most of them fail to meet voluntary guidelines set by the White House for doing it safely.
At least 31 states are partially reopening as of Monday.
"The Trump administration has really not been following — and governors around the country generally — have not been following their own plan," says Andy Slavitt, the former acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under President Obama.
Slavitt and former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, who served under President Trump, talked with Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep about federal and state reopening strategy. The two wrote to congressional leaders last month asking for funding for contact tracing and isolating infected people. Both Slavitt and Gottlieb have been advising current officials.
Here are selected excerpts:
Has the administration simply grown impatient with its own approach?
Gottlieb: [W]e all had an expectation that at this point we'd be seeing sustained declines in new cases if we put those measures into place, and we haven't seen that. And so the reality is we're opening against the backdrop of much more spread than what we anticipated. ...
And I think it just increases the importance of what we call the case-based interventions, trying to put in place measures to track down individual cases, do contact tracing, do case isolation of people who are infected. If we don't lean heavily on those interventions against a backdrop of a lot of spread right now and we reopen the economy in that environment, we're likely to see renewed outbreaks.
Do you see serious efforts even to try to get where you think you need to be in terms of testing, in terms of contact tracing, in terms of these interventions you just described?
Gottlieb: I'm more confident about the testing. I think that we're ramping testing aggressively, in part because new technology is coming into the market. We're doing about 2 million tests a week right now. We just saw the approval of the first antigen-based tests. That's going to bring about 1.5 million tests per week capacity into the market within the next several weeks. ...
I think when it comes to the case-based interventions that isn't as readily available because there's a lot of political debate around the utility of that. You see a lot of governors going forward. But at a national level, we really haven't embraced those in a robust way that I would like to see.
Isn't there a case to be made for a kind of creative reopening whenever a company can figure out how to avoid employees in a crowd?
Slavitt: I think so. Look, I think everybody is in what must feel to them like a no-win situation. And so I think we all should acknowledge that our governors are doing the best that they possibly can in a trade off that's really difficult to make. ...
So we should be patient with our governors, adjusting, tinkering, doing a little bit of trial and error. But, boy, it sure would be nice if when they were doing that, they could instantly test because the difference between learning after two days that you got it wrong and 10 days that you got it wrong is fairly dramatic.
Listen to the full interview here.


npr--2020-05-11--White House Orders Staff To Wear Face Masks After New Coronavirus Cases

White House Orders Staff To Wear Face Masks After New Coronavirus Cases Staffers in the West Wing have been directed to wear face masks in the White House , except when at their own desks , a Trump administration official told NPR .
The directive out Monday comes after at least two members of the White House staff tested positive for the coronavirus last week , including a military aide to the president and the vice president 's spokeswoman .
The new infections sounded alarm bells on President Trump 's guidance to reopen the ailing national economy when it appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain the highly contagious virus .
States and localities are grappling with when and how to ease their coronavirus restrictions as public health experts warn of rebounding infection clusters .
The positive COVID-19 tests in the White House caused three of the nation 's top public health officials to self-quarantine .
Trump and Vice President Pence have both courted controversy for their decisions not to wear protective masks on recent political trips meant to restart their offices ' official travel schedule .
Pence conceded he should have worn a mask during a visit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he later wore one during a subsequent trip to a ventilator production site at a General Motors plant in his home state of Indiana .
Following last week 's new coronavirus infections , Trump announced that he and those closest to him in the White House would now be tested on a daily basis , versus previous weekly testing protocol .

White House Orders Staff To Wear Face Masks After New Coronavirus Cases
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Staffers in the West Wing have been directed to wear face masks in the White House, except when at their own desks, a Trump administration official told NPR.
The directive out Monday comes after at least two members of the White House staff tested positive for the coronavirus last week, including a military aide to the president and the vice president's spokeswoman.
The new infections sounded alarm bells on President Trump's guidance to reopen the ailing national economy when it appeared the White House itself was struggling to contain the highly contagious virus.
States and localities are grappling with when and how to ease their coronavirus restrictions as public health experts warn of rebounding infection clusters.
The positive COVID-19 tests in the White House caused three of the nation's top public health officials to self-quarantine.
Trump and Vice President Pence have both courted controversy for their decisions not to wear protective masks on recent political trips meant to restart their offices' official travel schedule.
Pence conceded he should have worn a mask during a visit to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, and he later wore one during a subsequent trip to a ventilator production site at a General Motors plant in his home state of Indiana.
Following last week's new coronavirus infections, Trump announced that he and those closest to him in the White House would now be tested on a daily basis, versus previous weekly testing protocol.


npr--2020-05-11--Lawsuit Seeks Removal Of Trump Lands Appointees

In a federal lawsuit filed Monday , conservation groups allege the Trump administration 's continued use of temporary appointees to lead large federal lands agencies is a violation of federal law and the Constitution 's `` advice and consent '' clause .
The suit , filed by the Washington , D.C.-based Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility or PEER and the Idaho-based Western Watersheds Project , takes aim at the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service .
Neither agency has had permanent , Senate-confirmed directors during the entire Trump presidency .
`` They 're just freewheeling around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointees to be running the show , '' says Peter Jenkins , senior counsel at PEER .
Jenkins says the administration is circumventing federal law by continually extending the temporary appointments of David Vela at NPS and William Perry Pendley at the BLM .
If either were actually named as 'acting ' directors , Jenkins says , the Federal Vacancies Reform Act would bar them from serving more than 210 days .
Both men have been at the helm of their respective agencies longer .
`` The overall pattern is to weaken the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private extractive industry interests to call the shots , '' Jenkins says .
The lawsuit is the latest to shine light on the Trump administration 's unprecedented use of acting agency heads .
But the groups suing have long been suspicious of William Perry Pendley in particular leading the BLM .
His temporary appointment was recently extended for the fifth time since taking over the agency last summer .
Pendley spent much of his career as an attorney and later director at the conservative Mountain States Legal Foundation where he frequently represented ranchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disputes against the federal government .
He 's also argued that the federal government should transfer or sell most of its public lands to states .
In a recent interview , however , Pendley told NPR that was not part of President Trump 's agenda .
`` Regardless of what I 've said in the past , the one thing that 's clear is I 'm a Marine , I understand how to follow orders , '' he said .
`` This is the [ law ] that we live under and right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation because the President has n't called for legislation . ''
In a statement , the Trump administration called the lawsuit that seeks to oust Pendley and Vela a distraction as the agencies are trying to manage the government 's response to the coronavirus pandemic .
`` This is a baseless lawsuit from special interest groups who are seeking to remove the leaders of critical government bureaus based on their radical ideologies instead of what is permissible under the law , '' the statement read .
NPS in particular is under pressure from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen the nation 's largest parks .
Left-leaning watchdog groups like PEER have raised questions over whether that can safely be coordinated without a permanent director and Senate oversight .
Their lawsuit was filed in federal district court in Washington , D.C. on Monday .

Lawsuit Seeks Removal Of Trump Lands Appointees
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kirk Siegler/NPR Kirk Siegler/NPR
In a federal lawsuit filed Monday, conservation groups allege the Trump administration's continued use of temporary appointees to lead large federal lands agencies is a violation of federal law and the Constitution's "advice and consent" clause.
The suit, filed by the Washington, D.C.-based Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility or PEER and the Idaho-based Western Watersheds Project, takes aim at the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service. Neither agency has had permanent, Senate-confirmed directors during the entire Trump presidency.
"They're just freewheeling around the Constitution and allowing these lower level political appointees to be running the show," says Peter Jenkins, senior counsel at PEER.
Jenkins says the administration is circumventing federal law by continually extending the temporary appointments of David Vela at NPS and William Perry Pendley at the BLM. If either were actually named as 'acting' directors, Jenkins says, the Federal Vacancies Reform Act would bar them from serving more than 210 days. Both men have been at the helm of their respective agencies longer.
"The overall pattern is to weaken the environmental bureaus and allow state interests and private extractive industry interests to call the shots," Jenkins says.
The lawsuit is the latest to shine light on the Trump administration's unprecedented use of acting agency heads. But the groups suing have long been suspicious of William Perry Pendley in particular leading the BLM. His temporary appointment was recently extended for the fifth time since taking over the agency last summer.
Pendley spent much of his career as an attorney and later director at the conservative Mountain States Legal Foundation where he frequently represented ranchers and rural western counties in public lands disputes against the federal government. He's also argued that the federal government should transfer or sell most of its public lands to states.
In a recent interview, however, Pendley told NPR that was not part of President Trump's agenda.
"Regardless of what I've said in the past, the one thing that's clear is I'm a Marine, I understand how to follow orders," he said. "This is the [law] that we live under and right now I'm not calling for any legislation because the President hasn't called for legislation."
In a statement, the Trump administration called the lawsuit that seeks to oust Pendley and Vela a distraction as the agencies are trying to manage the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic.
"This is a baseless lawsuit from special interest groups who are seeking to remove the leaders of critical government bureaus based on their radical ideologies instead of what is permissible under the law," the statement read.
NPS in particular is under pressure from parts of the public and the administration to reopen the nation's largest parks. Left-leaning watchdog groups like PEER have raised questions over whether that can safely be coordinated without a permanent director and Senate oversight.
Their lawsuit was filed in federal district court in Washington, D.C. on Monday.