#370 1/5 Meeting; Officer Angwang; NY Education Equity; Surveillance Reforms; Govt Broken;+

In This Issue #370

·       2026/01/05 Monthly Meeting

·       The Story of Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺

·       NY Governor Signs “New York AANHPI Education Equity Act”

·       CDT Leads Coalition for Critical Surveillance Reforms

·       WP: Federal Government Broken in 2025

·       News and Activities for the Communities

2026/01/05 Monthly Meeting

The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026, starting at 1:55 pm ET.

Rep. Grace Meng 孟昭文, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, is invited to deliver a new year message and a review of 2025.

In addition to updates from:

·       Judith Teruya, Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC)

·       Joanna YangQing Derman, Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC

·       Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF)

We are honored by and welcome the following distinguished speakers:

·       Deborah Frankel, Counsel, Bloch & White LLP on Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺

·       Paul Cheng 鄭文耀, President, Committee of 100

·       Hua Wang 王华, Chair; Haipei Shue 薛海培, President, United Chinese Americans

·       Sharon Wong, National Chair; Thu Nguyen, Executive Director, OCA National Center

The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Vincent Wang 王文奎 and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org.    

The Story of Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺

Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺, a naturalized U.S. citizen and former Marine, was arrested in 2020 as part of the Department of Justice's China Initiative. As an officer of the New York Police Department (NYPD), he was accused of acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government, with prosecutors labeling him an "insider threat." Officer Angwang maintained that his interactions with consulate officials were benign, and his defense argued that the government had misinterpreted and cherry-picked his communications.

In January 2023, federal prosecutors dropped all charges "in the interest of justice" after uncovering new information. However, they refused to publicly explain the reversal, citing classified evidence.

Although all the federal charges against Officer Angwang were dismissed in January 2023, NYPD failed to reinstate him.  Contrary to most internal investigations based on court cases that had been dropped, NYPD continued its internal investigation against him.

On January 29, 2024, former New York Police Commissioner Edward Caban ordered the immediate firing of Officer Angwang, saying he disobeyed an order to submit to questioning by internal affairs investigators about the spying case against him under the China Initiative.

“It’s extremely disappointing,” Angwang told AP in a phone interview. “I have to continue to fight, not just for me, for anyone who were wrongfully accused … or any potential discrimination victims in the future. I will not give up until I find the justice.”

On January 5, 2026, Deborah Frankel, Counsel at Bloch & White LLP, will provide an update on Angwang’s situation at the APA Justice monthly meeting.

Read Angwang’s story at the APA Justice website: Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺

NY Governor Signs “New York AANHPI Education Equity Act”

On December 16, 2025, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed Legislation S7855E/A8463-E, known as the AANHPI Education Equity Act, a new law designed to assess and strengthen how Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history is taught in New York State schools.

The legislation directs the Commissioner of Education to conduct a statewide survey examining how AANHPI history is currently incorporated into social studies curricula. The law also establishes an AANHPI History Advisory Committee to guide future curriculum development and ensure more inclusive and accurate instruction.

Governor Hochul emphasized the importance of representation in education, stating:

“AANHPI history is New York history, and our classrooms should reflect that fact. … This law ensures that students across the state will have the tools to understand and appreciate the impact of these communities on our nation.”

The bill is part of the Governor’s broader initiative to strengthen inclusive history education, alongside instruction on African American, Indigenous, Jewish, and other historically underrepresented communities. Research cited by the administration underscores that comprehensive cultural history education promotes empathy, reduces bias, and fosters a stronger sense of belonging among students.

State Senator John Liu, the bill’s Senate sponsor, described the law as a critical step toward long-overdue recognition:

“This survey bill is not the endgame, but an important step … by measuring how AANHPI history is currently taught in classrooms, and how it is not.”

Assemblymember Grace Lee, the Assembly sponsor, framed the legislation as foundational to telling a fuller national story:

“The AANHPI Education Equity Act is about telling the complete American story. … This law affirms that our stories matter, that our children belong.”

The law has drawn strong support from federal, state, and local leaders. U.S. Representative Grace Meng, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), noted:

“For generations, AANHPI history has been poorly represented in our education system … It is critical for our next generation to understand that AANHPI history IS American history.”

Education advocates also praised the measure. The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) called the act “a critical step forward” toward integrating culturally responsive curriculum statewide and ensuring that AANHPI students see their histories and experiences reflected in the classroom.

In a press release, Stop AAPI Hate joined Asian American community leaders in celebrating the bill’s signing, marking the culmination of years of organizing and advocacy led by the R.E.A.C.H. Coalition in partnership with Senator Liu and Assemblymember Lee.

Community-based organizations within the R.E.A.C.H. Coalition—including CACF, AAARI-CUNY, Caribbean Equality Project, JAHAJEE, KACE, OCA–New York, and Stop AAPI Hate—hailed the legislation as historic and long overdue. Advocates emphasized that the statewide survey will help expose longstanding gaps in curriculum, support culturally responsive teaching, combat ignorance and bias, and foster cross-racial understanding. They also stressed the law’s importance in ensuring that students from diverse and transnational backgrounds see their histories reflected throughout their K–12 education.

With the enactment of the AANHPI Education Equity Act, New York takes a meaningful step toward a more inclusive, accurate, and representative education system—one that recognizes the essential role AANHPI communities have played, and continue to play, in shaping both the state and the nation.

CDT Leads Coalition for Critical Surveillance Reforms

As the April 20, 2026 expiration date for Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) approaches, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) is spearheading a bipartisan effort to protect Americans' privacy. On December 10, 2025, a coalition of over two dozen civil liberties organizations sent a formal letter to the House Judiciary Committee urging comprehensive reform before any reauthorization occurs.

The coalition’s primary focus is on ending the "Backdoor Search Loophole," which currently allows government agencies to search through vast databases of communications without a warrant. Past misuses have reportedly targeted journalists, campaign donors, and even Members of Congress. To address these vulnerabilities, the coalition is calling for four essential reforms:

·       Establishing a Warrant Requirement: Mandating a probable cause warrant for U.S. person queries to end warrantless "backdoor" searches.

·       Closing the Data Broker Loophole: Preventing agencies from bypassing court oversight by simply purchasing sensitive personal data—such as location and browsing history—from commercial brokers.

·       Narrowing Provider Definitions: Reversing overbroad definitions that could force a wide range of businesses, including law firms and media offices, to assist in warrantless surveillance.

·       Empowering FISA Court Amici: Improving access for independent experts (amici) to ensure civil liberties are represented in secretive court proceedings.

With the legislative clock ticking, these organizations are urging Congress to prioritize the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act and other measures to ensure that government surveillance remains targeted, transparent, and constitutionally sound.

Read the CDT statement and coalition letter: https://bit.ly/4qGKXv5

WP: Federal Government Broken in 2025

In 2025, the federal government experienced one of the most sweeping and disruptive transformations in its modern history. During President Donald Trump’s second term, a rapid series of executive actions and administrative changes fundamentally altered the size, structure, and culture of the federal workforce—an unprecedented dismantling of the civil service.

According to an extensive Washington Post investigation, nearly 300,000 federal employees left government service within a single year through firings, forced resignations, early retirement incentives, and new personnel rules. This marked the largest workforce reduction in decades and resulted in the loss of vast institutional knowledge across federal agencies.

At the center of the overhaul was a redefinition of how the civil service operates. Long-standing protections designed to ensure a professional, nonpartisan federal workforce were weakened or bypassed. New policies emphasized loyalty to presidential priorities, giving political leadership greater control over hiring, firing, and agency direction. A newly branded entity, the U.S. DOGE Service (Department of Government Efficiency), played a key role in driving these changes, framing them as efforts to eliminate waste and improve accountability.

One of the most controversial initiatives was a “deferred resignation” program that offered employees continued pay and benefits if they voluntarily agreed to leave their positions. While the administration promoted the program as a humane and efficient off-ramp, unions and watchdog groups criticized it as coercive and costly, noting that thousands of workers were effectively paid not to work while agencies struggled to function.

The human and operational impacts were immediate. Federal employees described an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear as remote work was abruptly curtailed, reporting requirements multiplied, and entire offices were reorganized or eliminated. Agencies responsible for scientific research, environmental protection, public health, and civil rights saw deep cuts or mission changes. In some cases, essential services slowed or broke down as staffing shortages collided with rising public needs.

Beyond day-to-day disruptions, the long-term consequences may be more profound. Experts warn that the erosion of career expertise weakened the government’s capacity to respond to crises, enforce regulations, and provide consistent public services. Critics argue the changes amounted to an ideological purge that undermined the nonpartisan foundation of American governance.

The Trump administration, however, defended the actions as fulfilling campaign promises to shrink government, cut inefficiency, and restore accountability to taxpayers.

By the end of 2025, one thing was clear: the federal government that emerged bore little resemblance to the one that existed just a year earlier. Whether these changes will result in a leaner, more effective government—or leave lasting damage to public institutions—remains a central question for the years ahead.

News and Activities for the Communities

1. APA Justice Community Calendar

Upcoming Events:2026/01/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2026/01/13 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes: Leroy Chiao2026/01/21 Perception and Reality: What U.S.–China Relations Mean for Chinese Americans Today

2026/01/28 Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Exceptional Public Service

2026/01/29-30 The Jimmy Carter Forum on U.S.-China Relations2026/02/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

2026/02/11 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heros: BD WongVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 

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APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community.  For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org. We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org.