chevron-down Created with Sketch Beta.

    June 2023 Washington Letter

     

    Federal Government

    Different Name But More of the Same

    In an attempt to address an anticipated surge in migration at the southwest border following termination of a pandemic-related public health order, the Biden Administration on May 11, 2023, implemented a new rule.

    This Month's Articles

    Advocate of the Month

    We are pleased to honor Benjamin Powell as our Advocate of the Month for June 2023 for his significant work on the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB). Ben is a member of the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security and was appointed by President Donald Trump to the PIDB in October 2020, serving a three-year term. Earlier this month, the American Bar Association co-hosted an event on Capitol Hill that featured Senators Mark Warner and Mike Rounds. Here, Ben, along with the Senators, discussed how over-classification is undermining our national security. Currently, Ben is a partner at WilmerHale, where he co-chairs the cybersecurity and privacy practice and is also part of the defense and national security practice. His extensive experience includes serving as the General Counsel in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, where he provided invaluable legal counsel to the first three Directors of National Intelligence. Prior to that, he served as a Special Assistant to the President and Associate White House Counsel, spearheading intelligence community-related legislation and initiatives. Beyond his legal career, Ben served in the United States Air Force, supporting intelligence missions for various commands and intelligence centers. Ben holds degrees in applied science and finance from the University of Pennsylvania's School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Wharton School of Business, respectively. He earned his J.D. degree from Columbia Law School.

    About the Washington Letter

    The ABA Washington Letter is a monthly publication produced by the Governmental Affairs Office to report and analyze congressional and executive branch action on legislative issues of interest to the ABA and the legal profession. The newsletter highlights ABA involvement in the federal legislative process and focuses on the association's legislative and governmental priorities and other issues on which the ABA has policy.

    Current Washington Letter