Browsing recent Scotus. This is puzzling.
Here's the statute:
(a) A civil action or criminal prosecution that is commenced in a State court and that is against or directed to any of the following may be removed by them to the district court of the United States for the district and division embracing the place wherein it is pending:
(1) The United States or any agency thereof or any officer (or any person acting under that officer) of the United States or of any agency thereof, in an official or individual capacity, for or relating to any act under color of such office or on account of any right, title or authority claimed under any Act of Congress for the apprehension or punishment of criminals or the collection of the revenue.
Structure:
Any apple pie made in the home kitchen and that is to be sent to or subtly gotten to any of the following people can be sent from the office.
1. Uncle Sam, or any divisions of his company, or anyone important in his company (or anyone acting under the important person) for or relating to any good deed Sam's done, or anything he's powerful enough to do, or for disciplining his kids or saving some funds in a piggy bank.
Here's the thing. "Relating to" here is talking about the res of the suit/reason for sending the pie, not the actions of the people working under Uncle Sam. There still has to be an act directly under the color of the office, rather than an act merely relating to the directions under the color of authority. Relating to doesn't touch that relationship, structurally. Or perhaps I'm missing something.
Odd. Knee-jerk reaction, likely wrong, don't rely.