Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro202-225-6165
Washington, D.C. – Through his legislation, The American Relief Act, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) secured about $1.45 billion for the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program. This disaster recovery funding will be used by American communities that received major disaster declarations due to hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms and flooding, tornadoes, and other natural disasters occurring in 2023 or 2024. After the EDA money was announced, Congressman Cole released the following statement:
“As a lifelong Oklahoman, I know just how much destruction natural disasters, like tornadoes, can cause. In fact, just last year, the towns of Sulphur and Marietta in Oklahoma’s Fourth District were devastated by tornadoes. Now, with this EDA grant funding, communities will be able to not only rebuild but also plan for long-term recovery and future resiliency,”said Congressman Cole.“I look forward to seeing this funding being put to good use and I thank President Trump and Secretary Lutnick for their commitment to helping Americans.”
How to apply for assistance:
If you are a state, local or tribal government, an economic development district, a higher education institution, an economic development organization, a public or private non-profit working with local government, or a public-private partnership for public infrastructure you are an eligible applicant for this disaster supplemental grant program.
Additionally, projects must be located in, primarily serve, or demonstrably benefit one or more communities in areas that received a major disaster designation occurring in calendar years 2023 and 2024. You can check eligibility here.
Readiness and implementation grant applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted or a Notice of Funding Opportunity is canceled.
Industry Transformation grant applications are due Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time.
Applications must be submitted online through the EDA’s portal. You can find the portal here. The required materials are detailed in Section D.2 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Please stay tuned for future announcements as additional disaster assistance is released and available to Oklahomans.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)
(Washington, DC) — On Thursday, June 5, 2025, Congressman Al Green, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, shared remarks in a Financial Services Hearing entitled, “Framework for the Future: Reviewing Data Privacy in Today’s Financial System.”
You can access and listen to Congressman Al Green question the witnesses on the panel here. The hearing remarks highlighted are also accessible on various social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)
(Washington, D.C.) — On Friday, June 6, 2025, Congressman Al Green delivered remarks on the House floor announcing a June impeachment vote against the authoritarian President, emphasizing that Congress is the court of last resort.
You can access and listen to Congressman Al Green’s speech on his official YouTube page or by clicking here. The floor speech highlighted is also accessible on various social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)
(Washington, D.C.) — On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Congressman Al Green delivered remarks on the House floor honoring impeachment warriors. Congressman Green vows to continue impeachment efforts following Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s return.
You can access and listen to Congressman Al Green’s speech on his official YouTube page or by clicking here. The floor speech highlighted is also accessible on various social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)
(Kilmar Abrego Garcia Has Been Returned to the United States and May Get the Due Process Authoritarian President Trump Declared He Had No Constitutional Right To)
(Houston, TX)—On Monday, June 9, 2025, Congressman Al Green recognized the battle won by litigators as well as by an impeachment movement driven by many organizations including but not limited to Free Speech for People, Women’s March, Mayday Movement, 14thNow, Citizens Impeachment, as well as his own articles of impeachment filed against President Donald Trump. The impeachment movement played a significant role in forcing an authoritarian President to respect due process of the law as well as return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States of America. These efforts forced the recognition of Abrego Garcia’s right to due process after a prolonged and unjust removal from the United States. These groups and many others, together with countless individuals, organized impeachment rallies, town halls, and grassroots campaigns that brought national attention to authoritarian President Trump’s numerous abuses of power. Abuses that are explicated in Impeachment Resolution 415, filed by Congressman Al Green, wherein authoritarian President Trump is charged with having gravely endangered the separation of powers within the government. Further, he threatened the integrity of the democratic system by condoning the undermining of the judicial independence of the federal judiciary, violating the due process clause in the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, denigrating federal judges, ignoring the separation of powers, condoning the flouting of orders of the United States federal courts (including orders of the United States Supreme Court) – all of which have caused the devolution of democracy within the United States of America into authoritarianism with himself as an authoritarian President. He thereby betrayed his trust as President to the manifest injury of the people of the United States. The filing of impeachment articles, coupled with organized and sustained efforts, served as a powerful deterrent similar to the Sword of Damocles. They constitute a sword of democracy hanging by a strand of constitutional power threatening his presidency.
Congressman Al Green stated, “Our bold movement for impeachment was a powerful catalyst to help bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back into the United States. It was more than a political stand, it was a moral imperative to fight to uphold our constitutional right to due process of the law. This victory serves as a testament to the collective action taken by dedicated American people to hold authoritarian President Donald John Trump accountable for his misdeeds and unconstitutional actions. Although we have won a battle, the war to impeach authoritarian President Trump is not over. We must have a vote to impeach the authoritarian to preserve and protect democracy.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)
(Houston, TX) — On Saturday, June 7, 2025, Congressman Al Green will celebrate National Trails Day with a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of the Sharpstown Trail with the Houston Parks Board, Southwest Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ20, Southwest Management District, Sharpstown Civic Association, and public officials. This new 1.8-mile hike-and-bike pathway, spanning from Sands Point Drive to Beechnut Street, enhances local connectivity and encourages outdoor activities. This ribbon cutting will take place at 8600 S. Gessner Drive, Houston, Texas 77074 at 10:30 a.m. CT.
Congressman Al Green stated, “Trails are more than recreation, they are infrastructure for access and safety within our communities that link us to other communities. With the Houston Parks Board, we’re transforming underused green spaces into powerful connectors, linking residents to schools, jobs, and neighborhoods. We’re upgrading intersections with crosswalks, signage, greenery, and clean infrastructure to ensure every Houstonian can walk, bike, and connect safely. Every community deserves streets and trails that serve the people in our communities.”
Click here to watch the Facebook live stream of the event.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts entered a final default judgement against Mark Gillespie of Michigan, John Roche of California, My Big Coin Pay, Inc., and My Big Coin, Inc., both of Nevada.
The order requires Gillespie, My Big Coin Pay, Inc., My Big Coin, Inc., and Roche to pay, jointly and severally a $19,326,324 civil monetary penalty and $6,442,108 in restitution to defrauded victims in connection with their role in a digital asset fraud scheme. The order also imposes a permanent injunction against the defendants and bans them from trading in any CFTC-regulated markets; entering into any transactions involving commodity interests or digital asset commodities; and registering with the CFTC.
Case Background
The default order finds from at least January 2014 through June 2017, Gillespie, My Big Coin Pay, Inc., My Big Coin, Inc., and Roche, together with co-defendant Randall Crater, one of the other co-defendants named in the CFTC’s amended complaint, operated a digital asset scheme in which they fraudulently offered the sale of a fully-functioning virtual currency, My Big Coin (MBC), a commodity in interstate commerce. The CFTC dismissed its enforcement action against named co-defendant Michael Kruger because of his death.
The defendants obtained more than $6 million from at least 28 customers through fraudulent solicitations, including false and misleading claims and omissions about MBC’s value, usage, and trade status, and that MBC was backed by gold. Crater misappropriated virtually all the money solicited from customers, using those misappropriated funds wrongfully.
The order resolves the claims against Gillespie, Roche, My Big Coin Pay, Inc., and My Big Coin, Inc., in the CFTC’s enforcement action. [See CFTC Press Release 7678-18] The court had previously entered a consent order resolving the CFTC’s claims against Crater, who is currently imprisoned for his role in the scheme. [See CFTC Press Release 9051-25]
The CFTC cautions that orders requiring repayment of funds to victims may not result in the recovery of any money lost because the wrongdoers may not have sufficient funds or assets. The CFTC will continue to fight vigorously for the protection of customers and to ensure the wrongdoers are held accountable.
Parallel Criminal Action
On January 18, 2022, a grand jury returned an eight-count superseding indictment charging Crater with wire fraud, unlawful monetary transactions, and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business based on the same conduct alleged in the CFTC’s amended complaint. [United States v. Randall Crater, No. 1:19-cr-10063-DJC (D. Mass. Jan. 18, 2022)).] Crater was found guilty of those charges on July 21, 2022, and was sentenced to 100 months in prison and ordered to pay $7,668,317.50 in restitution to defrauded customers and to forfeit $7,668,317.50, which represented the proceeds he received from his violations.
The CFTC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, the Fraud Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, and the FBI.
Division of Enforcement staff responsible for this case are Traci Rodriguez, Daniel Ullman II, Chrystal Gonnella, Dmitriy Vilenskiy, Paul G. Hayeck, and former Division staff members Jonah E. McCarthy, Jason Mahoney, John Einstman, Hillary Van Tassel, Patricia Gomersall, and Kyong J. Koh.
The Trump Administration’s Support for Law Enforcement Sparks More Record Recruitment
CHANTILLY, VA – The Department of Homeland Security’s 2025 Career Expo for Law Enforcement was a record-breaking success.
The large-scale hiring event was held in Chantilly, VA, last week, and it focused on recruiting American citizens eager to fill mission-critical law and immigration enforcement, border security, and national security roles across the department. The event drew more than 3,000 candidates and led to more than 1,000 tentative job offers given. These numbers nearly doubled the numbers from DHS’s last 2-day law enforcement hiring event in 2023, at which only 564 tentative job offers were given.
The record turnout for the event proves that President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem have inspired a new generation of Americans to serve their country in law enforcement. These numbers were possible even despite doxing threats, increased assaults and the recent wave of politicians’ anti-cop rhetoric. Under their leadership, more Americans are willing to answer the call to protect and serve their fellow citizens.
At the Expo, applicants met with representatives of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Protective Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as other DHS components and Offices. Exceptional candidates met recruiters, received interviews, tentative job offers and undertook steps for security and background check purposes.
President Trump’s and Secretary Noem’s mission to restore excellence across federal agencies and ensure law enforcement has the resources they need, has sparked historic recruiting success. For example, between January – May 2025, more Americans applied to the Border Patrol than over any similar time frame in its history. U.S. Secret Service recruitment is up 200%.
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Michelle Lee Marr, 50, of Winnebago, Nebraska, was sentenced on June 5, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for second degree murder and tampering with documents or evidence. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Marr to 300 months’ imprisonment for second degree murder and 240 months’ imprisonment for tampering with evidence, to run concurrent to the sentence for second degree murder. There is no parole in the federal system. After Marr’s release from prison, she will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On March 12, 2022, Marr contacted Winnebago Emergency Medical Services to report the victim was not waking up and requested an ambulance respond to her residence. EMS transported the victim to Twelve Clans Unity hospital in Winnebago, Nebraska. Due to the severity of his injuries, the victim was taken by helicopter to Mercy One Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa. The medical treatment team at Mercy determined the victim had brain trauma and swelling. Nurses also noted significant amounts of makeup applied to the victim’s face, which revealed bruising when removed, as well as numerous bruises on the victim’s body. On March 13, 2022, the victim succumbed to his injuries. A subsequent autopsy determined the victim’s cause of death to be blunt force trauma and the manner of death to be homicide.
Investigation revealed that Marr and the victim were home together the evening of March 11, 2022. There was no evidence the victim ever left the home, and he was found unresponsive in the home on March 12, 2022. Marr claimed to have been passed out from approximately 5:00 PM on March 11, 2022, until finding the victim on March 12, 2022. Social media evidence and evidence from Marr’s phone, found during the investigation, contradicted Marr’s claims. One critical piece of evidence found on Marr’s phone was a picture of the victim, which evidence supports was taken approximately 15 minutes before Marr contacted EMS. In the picture, the victim’s injuries are obscured by what was later revealed to be makeup.
During the February 2025 jury trial in which Marr was found guilty, a pathologist testified the victim’s injuries were consistent with inflicted trauma as opposed to trauma which might result from some type of fall. A neurosurgeon testified the injury the victim suffered would have rendered him unconscious almost immediately after the blow. Additionally, a witnesses testified to observing previous incidents of Marr physically assaulting the victim.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
MOFA response to Czech government statement on Chinese cyberattack against Czech foreign ministry
Date：2025-05-29
Data Source：Department of European Affairs
May 29, 2025
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) notes that in a statement published on May 28, the government of the Czech Republic said it had identified the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as being responsible for a malicious campaign of cyberattacks targeting one of the unclassified networks of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It said the campaign had been carried out since 2022 through the cyberespionage actor APT31. Strongly condemning this action, the Czech government called on the PRC to adhere to international rules and take all appropriate measures to address the issue. In a post on the social media platform X, Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavksý said that China was interfering in Czech society through manipulation, propaganda, and cyberattacks.
Taiwan is subjected to millions of cyber intrusions per day, the majority of which originate from China. This number is increasing daily. Taiwan is thus particularly capable of empathizing with the Czech Republic and other democracies facing similar threats. China has long employed cyberattacks, information warfare, and other forms of gray-zone tactics to infiltrate and harm Taiwan and democracies around the world, drawing widespread concern and condemnation from the international community. MOFA strongly urges the Chinese authorities to immediately halt these types of malicious cyberactivity targeting democratic countries and to respect international rules and its associated responsibilities.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung reiterates Taiwan’s support for and solidarity with the Czech Republic. He emphasizes that cyberattacks and similar behavior committed against sovereign nations represent a grave violation of national security and freedom of information and threaten the stability and working of the global democratic community. As a responsible member of the global democratic camp, Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation with the Czech Republic, the European Union, and other like-minded partners, deepening information security exchanges and defensive capacity and jointly working to resist the threats to the democratic system and information security posed by China and other authoritarian regimes.
Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for Eswatini Minister of Agriculture Tshawuka
Date：2025-05-29
Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs
May 29, 2025 No. 187
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a luncheon on May 29 in honor of a delegation led by Eswatini Minister of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka. During the luncheon, Minister Lin welcomed Minister Tshawuka on behalf of the government as the two sides shared views on agricultural exchanges and cooperation. Minister Lin also thanked Eswatini for its long-term steadfast support of Taiwan’s participation in the international community.
In his remarks, Minister Lin pointed out that Eswatini was Taiwan’s staunch ally in Africa and thanked H.M. King Mswati III and the Eswatini government for their long-term support of bilateral diplomatic relations. He said that agriculture was one of the kingdom’s major industries and stressed that there had long been close collaboration between Taiwan and Eswatini in this area. Taiwan, he continued, was willing to share its developmental experience and know-how with Eswatini and would continue to implement more joint projects through the Taiwan Technical Mission of the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF). Under the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, Taiwan would utilize its technological prowess to help Eswatini promote a smart agriculture transition and increase food security which, he said, would bolster Eswatini’s economic development and improve the welfare of the people.
In his remarks, Minister Tshawuka thanked Taiwan for having provided assistance for Eswatini’s agriculture, especially the Taiwan-Africa Vegetable Initiative, a joint endeavor by the World Vegetable Center and the Taiwan government. This project had helped Eswatini to preserve the seeds of vegetables native to Africa and to advance the promotion of and education on the kingdom’s traditional vegetable crops, thereby increasing local food supply and benefiting the people. Minister Tshawuka also stated that the Taiwan-Eswatini relationship was strong and that the Eswatini government would continue to support Taiwan at international events and work with Taiwan to promote mutually beneficial cooperation.
Also in attendance at the luncheon were Eswatini Ambassador to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Promise Msibi, Ambassador-at-Large Richard Soong, Ministry of Agriculture Director-General of International Affairs Hsiou Dong-chong, TaiwanICDF Secretary General Huang Yu-lin, World Vegetable Center Director General Marco Wopereis, and Mt. Dadu Industrial Innovation Foundation CEO Liao Tsu-chen. The guests exchanged views with Minister Tshawuka on a wide variety of issues relating to Taiwan-Eswatini collaboration on smart agriculture as well as Eswatini’s agricultural development.
Taiwan and Eswatini have had diplomatic relations for 57 years and enjoy close ties in the area of agriculture. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to work with the government of Eswatini to promote the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project and develop a mutually beneficial relationship that contributes to the welfare of both nations’ people, thus bringing bilateral cooperation to a new level. (E)
Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
MOFA response to UK Ministry of Defence’s expression of concern over cross-strait peace and stability in Strategic Defence Review
Date：2025-06-03
Data Source：Department of European Affairs
June 3, 2025
On June 2, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) of the United Kingdom published its Strategic Defence Review, which stressed that the Indo-Pacific was strategically important to the United Kingdom and that growing Chinese assertiveness was a key driver of regional and global instability. The report also emphasized that China’s military exercises around Taiwan risked dangerous escalation in the Taiwan Strait and that its aggressive actions were fueling tension in the South China Sea. Moreover, the review stated that the MOD would continue strengthening regional partnerships and protecting freedom of navigation so as to further defend and shape international rules and norms.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, Admiral Tony Radakin, UK Chief of the Defence Staff, publicly stated that upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the principles of freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific mattered greatly to the United Kingdom. He added that Royal Navy ships had therefore been exercising the right of freedom of navigation in the region, including in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. The fact the MOD’s Strategic Defence Review once again expressed grave concern over the Taiwan Strait and clear opposition to China’s provocative military actions demonstrates the United Kingdom’s consistent stance regarding the need to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly affirms and appreciates the UK statements.
The United Kingdom, a like-minded partner, shares with Taiwan such universal values as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. It also plays a key role in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Taiwan will continue to engage in close cooperation with the United Kingdom and other democratic countries, taking concrete action to uphold peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, defend the rules-based international order, and jointly advance security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and throughout the world.
Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
June 4, 2025 No. 194
On the afternoon of June 4, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung met with a delegation from the Kingdom of Eswatini led by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu. During their meeting, they had an extensive exchange of views on such topics as bilateral cooperation, trade, and investment.
In his remarks, Minister Lin stated that he had visited Eswatini in late April as presidential special envoy to join the birthday celebrations for King Mswati III. He added that this meeting with Minister Shakantu and other ministerial-level officials from Eswatini just over one month later demonstrated the close and frequent interactions between the two countries and symbolized the strength of their diplomatic alliance.
Minister Lin took the opportunity to express appreciation once again to King Mswati III and the Eswatini government for their long-standing and staunch support for Taiwan in the international arena, such as at the recently concluded World Health Assembly, the United Nations, and other multilateral forums. He stressed that Eswatini’s consistent advocacy for Taiwan had touched the hearts of the people of Taiwan.
Minister Lin said that during his trip to Eswatini in April, he and King Mswati III had discussed such topics as strengthening bilateral economic, trade, investment, and tourism exchanges, as well as Taiwan’s assistance in building 5G smart cities and developing energy resources in Eswatini. He expressed confidence that the close collaboration between the two countries would spur Eswatini’s national development and better ensure the welfare of both peoples, stating that this would realize Taiwan’s vision of advancing allies’ prosperity and demonstrate that Taiwan could help and that Eswatini could serve as a leader on the African continent.
Minister Shakantu thanked Minister Lin for rapidly formulating a series of concrete plans following his trip to Eswatini in April that would advance bilateral cooperation and Eswatini’s development, underscoring Taiwan’s high regard for and steadfast commitment to its allies. She also expressed the hope to see greater investment and more tourists from Taiwan in Eswatini through the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, thereby fueling bilateral exchanges.
Earlier on June 4, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chihchung Wu hosted a luncheon for the delegation. Attendees at the luncheon included International Trade Administration Secretary General Amelia W. J. Day, Export-Import Bank of the ROC President Hsieh Fu-hua, Hua Nan Bank Vice Chairman T. Lin, MOFA Department of International Cooperation and Economic Affairs Director General Lien Yu-ping, and MOFA Department of West Asian and African Affairs Deputy Director General Chen Yung-po. They exchanged views with the members of the Eswatini delegation on a variety of issues.
Eswatini is an important diplomatic ally of Taiwan in Africa. MOFA will continue to maintain close interactions with the Eswatini government and actively seek to enhance mutually beneficial collaboration in all fields so as to realize the vision of advancing allies’ prosperity and thereby deepen and consolidate diplomatic relations between the two countries. (E)
Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
MOFA congratulates ROK on successful completion of 21st-term presidential elections
Date：2025-06-04
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
No. 192 June 4, 2025
Following the completion of the presidential elections on June 4, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party was elected the 21st-term president of the Republic of Korea. On behalf of the government of Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sincerely congratulates the government and people of the ROK on once again conducting a successful round of democratic elections. Furthermore, following the public announcement of the election results, the Taipei Mission in Korea immediately transmitted a congratulatory telegram on behalf of the government of Taiwan.
Taiwan and the ROK are both important countries in the Indo-Pacific. They share such universal values as democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, while exchanges and cooperation on economics and trade, culture, tourism, and other domains have yielded fruitful results. The ROK government has reiterated the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait at numerous international events in recent years, highlighting the determination of Taiwan, the ROK, and like-minded nations to work together to maintain regional peace, stability, and prosperity and curtail the expansion of authoritarianism.
Based on existing close and stable interactions, Taiwan looks forward to continuing to engage with the ROK through its new government so as to deepen collaboration in all areas and jointly advance peace, stability, and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific region. (E)
Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Elissa Slotkin (MI) are advocating for continued investment at Selfridge Air National Guard Base to support basing of the recently announced 21 F-15EX fighters, as well as the 12 KC-46A tankers the senators helped secure in January 2024. In a letter sent to the bipartisan leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, the senators underscored the strategic and economic importance of Selfridge and requested the full funding necessary to prepare for these new missions.
“Selfridge Air National Guard Base is an essential and strategic location for northern border security and homeland defense. Selfridge is a joint military installation and home to many national security assets of the United States, including servicemembers from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard,” wrote the senators. “Selfridge is also a pillar of both the local community in Macomb County and Michigan’s robust defense sector, supporting approximately 5,000 military and civilian jobs and generating an estimated $850 million in economic impact statewide.”
In the letter, the senators highlight improvements currently being made at Selfridge to properly outfit the base to receive the F-15EXs and KC-46As, including a $28 million investment secured by the Michigan congressional delegation to construct a new hangar capable of accommodating the new aircraft. However, additional funding is needed to ensure a seamless transition to the incoming aircraft.
The senators continued: “Given the incoming fighter and tanker missions and the importance of preparing Selfridge to continue to play a critical role in our national security, we respectfully request the full funding necessary for military construction to follow-through on the commitments made and fight to deliver federal investments at Selfridge.”
The full text of the letter can be found here.
Senators Peters and Slotkin have made supporting the future of Selfridge Air National Guard Base a top priority. Prior to the F-15EX basing announcement in April, Peters and Slotkin sent a letter urging the Air Force to base a new fighter mission at Selfridge. Earlier this year, the senators introduced bipartisan legislation seeking to preserve the U.S. Air Force’s fighter force structure and support the recapitalization of Air National Guard fighter missions, including at Selfridge. In March, they also led a bipartisan, bicameral resolution to honor the 108th anniversary of Selfridge Air National Guard Base and commemorate the thousands of men and women who have worked and trained at Selfridge since its inception. In January 2024, the senators helped announce that the U.S. Air Force selected Selfridge to host a new squadron of twelve KC-46A refueling tankers. This announcement came shortly after Peters led a bipartisan, bicameral group of Michigan delegation members, including Slotkin, in urging then-U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall to select Selfridge for a new squadron of these next-generation tankers, which will be deployed by the U.S. Air Force for at least the next 50 years.
To further strengthen Selfridge’s role in U.S. national and homeland security efforts, Peters established the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Northern Border Mission Center last year. Peters secured $3 million last March to operate this Center at Selfridge, where it is collocated with current DHS components. The Center, which DHS has already stood up, will coordinate with state, local, and Tribal governments, and other key stakeholders, to ensure DHS and its operational components are able to fulfill their security mission at the Northern Border.
Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, convened today’s hearing “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the Department of Defense”. Prepared text of his opening statement follows:
“Secretary Hegseth, General Caine, Ms. MacDonnell, welcome. My colleagues and I are looking forward to your candid testimony.
“There’s no doubt that the global threat environment demands from us an uncompromisingly lethal force. And your efforts over recent months to renew the Department’s focus on lethality – and your attention to the concerns of servicemembers at the tip of the spear – are worthwhile and appreciated.
“Of course, sustaining this shift requires a clear strategy and adequate investments in capabilities. So we’re looking forward to hearing, in detail: What, exactly, the Office of Management and Budget is requesting on behalf of the Department of Defense for the coming fiscal year…And whether this budget flows from a strategy or instead defines and limits a strategy.
“This hearing will be the first public demonstration of what we hope to be a productive relationship between the Subcommittee and the Department. In the past, this relationship has functioned best when it’s been based on timely and forthcoming communication.
“Last year, details from the Department and the services about their growing requirements informed the Subcommittee’s efforts to mark up a bill to provide the military with $18.8 billion in resources above President Biden’s FY25 request. But that didn’t become law. Regrettably, the CR we’re under right now was yet another missed opportunity that compounded the constraints facing the Department today.
“On this subcommittee, you’ll find plenty of support for the Department’s efforts to – for example – improve air and missile defense systems, grow the pipeline for unmanned technologies, modernize our nuclear triad, and expand shipbuilding capacity. But lumping reconciliation spending in with full-year appropriations risks conflating different objectives. Chairman Wicker and his House counterpart have pointed out already that even an important, one-time investment in military modernization is not a substitute for steady growth in the annual budget topline. In fact, it may well end up functioning as a shell-game to avoid making the most significant annual investments that we spent years urging the Biden Administration to make.
“I struggle to understand why the Administration would cut procurement funding in the base FY26 budget by $14.4B and move funding for programs that have strong bipartisan support to a simple-majority reconciliation bill. The FY26 annual request seems to do just this for Virginia class submarines, Arleigh Burke class destroyers, and B-21 bombers. Like with critical munitions, we should send the Services and industry a sustained demand signal by incorporating them into annual appropriations.
“If we’re really serious about making the sustained, long-term investments in our military, then let’s do more than a one-time injection of funding. If the Administration wants to request a trillion-dollar defense budget for FY26 and make a full-year investment in urgent priorities and new programs, they ought to do it.
“In the meantime, let’s not overstate the FY26 request. The Administration’s requested base defense budget is lower than fifteen of the last twenty annual requests…including President Biden’s request for FY25. In fact, FY26 extends your predecessors’ streak to five straight base budget requests that would fail to keep pace with inflation – let alone with the pacing threat of China. But say we do take reconciliation into account. Even then, this is hardly the largest funding request for the Department of Defense.
“In constant dollars, the FY26 Department of Defense budget request still falls short of the annual funding requests from FY08, FY09, FY10, and FY11. As a share of GDP, even including reconciliation, the FY26 request is still just around 3%. That’s not just half the level of the Reagan buildup that secured peace through strength… it’s even less than the 4.5% of GDP requested for defense under President Carter.
“Why should we expect our allies to spend 5% of GDP on defense if we’re investing barely half that share? The failure to spend more on defense is compounded by another dynamic. Every year, a greater share of the defense budget goes to cover costs other than modernizing and procuring new weapons and equipment for our fighting forces.
“Without additional resources, rising Personnel and Operations & Maintenance costs risk crowding out new capabilities. How we allocate taxpayer dollars is an expression of our political will. We can’t expect our adversaries to take American hard power seriously if we don’t put our money where our mouth is. But as I mentioned, we’re also interested in your articulation of the strategy that informs – or is informed by – the Administration’s budget. How does that strategy account for adversary alignment? How does it address not only the threat of conflict in the Indo-Pacific, but the reality of conflict and military threats to our interests in Europe and the Middle East?
“Most of us on this panel believe that Russia’s war in Ukraine, its alignment with the aims of other U.S. adversaries, and its eventual outcome are profoundly important to American interests and offer more than just a glimpse into the future of warfare.
“I’d like to hear your views on this conflict. Who is the aggressor? What are the stakes for America and the West? What is the return on investment of our assistance to Ukraine? I don’t see funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative in your budget request. Is it the Administration’s view that terminating security assistance to Ukraine will make lasting peace more or less likely?
“What lessons is the U.S. military learning from the conflict? How will the Department or industry continue to learn if we cut off our partnership with the world’s leading battlefield innovators? Why would Asian partners trust us if we abandon partners in Europe? What lessons are China, Iran, and North Korea learning? And how much more will they benefit if Russia prevails?
“I’d like to hear your views on the impact of war in Europe on other theaters. The Asian and Pacific allies you just met with recently are under no delusions about how unchecked Russian aggression influences the calculus of Xi Jinping. They understand that strategic alignment among adversaries is global.
“America must recognize, in turn, that the risk of simultaneous conflict on multiple fronts is real and growing. Your Undersecretary for Policy acknowledged this reality in his confirmation hearing this spring. But the capabilities America needs to prevail in such a conflict do not seem to be reflected in the request we’ve received from OMB.
“So, there’s a lot we need to cover today. We’ll invite you to make opening comments in just a moment. But first, I’ll recognize Ranking Member Coons.”
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, today joined U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and U.S. Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA-04) to introduce the Bicycle Commuter Act of 2025, bicameral legislation that would reinstate and expand the Bicycle Benefit Subsidy Program’s non-taxable bicycle commuter benefit to encourage more Americans to bike to work.
“The perks of biking to work are tenfold–saving commuters money, providing health benefits, and helping reduce emissions. An increasing number of Vermonters have recognized those benefits, with the number of cycling commuters doubling in the Green Mountain State in the past decade. But there’s more that we can do to strengthen biking infrastructure to help more folks around the country enjoy the advantages of cycling to work,” said Senator Welch. “Our bicameral legislation will reinstate and modernize the bicycling tax benefit to encourage more commuters around the country to get to work by riding a bicycle.”
“Biking to work is good for our planet, our health, and our wallets,” said Senator Padilla. “The Bicycle Commuter Act would allow cyclists to take advantage of the same tax benefits that incentivize hardworking Americans to commute via public transit or carpool, while also helping keep our air clean and reduce congestion on our roads. It would also expand these commuter tax benefits to e-bikes, bikeshares, and certain scooters, further encouraging bike ridership and putting money back in the pockets of workers.”
“Cycling is efficient, low-cost, and low-impact on our roads and the environment — in other words, it’s good for you and it’s good for our planet. Encouraging people to bike to work just makes sense,” said Rep. Thompson, Co-Chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus. “I’m glad to work with Senators Welch and Padilla on this bicameral legislation restoring and modernizing bike commuters’ tax benefits.”
Cities and towns across America are investing in bike and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure to create safer, greener, and more connected communities. In Vermont, nearly 6% of residents walk to work, ranking the Green Mountain State third-highest in the nation for its walk-to-work percentage. The amount of Chittenden County residents that bike to work has doubled since 2010, with the number of statewide cycling commuters in Vermont expected to increase as local trail associations spearhead initiatives that allow Vermonters to bike longer distances to work. According to recent studies, over 60% of Chittenden County residents would walk or bike to work more frequently if safety and accessibility improvements are made.
In 2009, Congress created the Bicycle Benefit Subsidy Program to encourage more workers to bike to their jobs by allowing employers to offer a non-taxable reimbursement of up to $20 per month for expenses related to bicycle commuting. However, employees who elected to participate in the program were forced to forfeit other commuter benefits, such as those provided for parking or transit. The non-taxable bicycle commuter benefit was suspended until 2026 by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, eliminating this vital financial incentive for employees who bike to work.
The Bicycle Commuter Act of 2025 would modernize the Bicycle Benefit Subsidy Program to ensure cyclists can access pre-tax commuter benefits similar to those available for parking and public transit and allow recipients to claim the bicycle benefit in tandem with other commuter benefits. The bicameral legislation would also allow electric bicycles and bikeshare and scootershare services to be eligible for the benefit.
The Bicycle Commuter Act is supported by the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT), League of American Bicyclists, North American Bikeshare and Scootershare Association, PeopleForBikes, Rails to Trails Conservancy, Safe Routes Partnership, and Sierra Club.
“The reintroduction of the Bicycle Commuter Act is an important step toward building a more balanced, multimodal transportation system that supports healthier, more accessible commutes. By recognizing and incentivizing active transportation, Congress is helping to reduce congestion and improve quality of life for millions of commuters. ACT applauds Senator Welch and Representative Thompson’s leadership and commitment to a future where every journey can be a better one,” said David Straus, Executive Director, Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT).
“The League of American Bicyclists applauds Senator Peter Welch and Representative Mike Thompson for their efforts to put money back in commuters’ pockets by introducing the Bicycle Commuter Act,” said Bill Nesper, Executive Director, League of American Bicyclists. “The Bicycle Commuter Act would give bike commuters the same tax benefit that drivers and transit riders already receive. Americans have the freedom to commute to work however we choose and we should all get the same tax benefits on our chosen commutes to work. By incentivizing bike commuting, Congress can help reduce traffic on the roads, give parity to our commuter tax system, and ensure everyone gets home safely.”
“We are thrilled to see the introduction of the Bicycle Commuter Act, which would include bikeshare and scootershare among the transportation-related benefits that employers can provide,” said Sam Herr, Executive Director, North American Bikeshare & Scootershare Association. “We thank Senator Welch and Representative Thompson for their leadership on this important legislation that helps to support employee travel choices and options.”
“Americans deserve the choice to pick which way they want to get to work, and bike commuting saves money and gives access to jobs,” said Jenn Dice, President and CEO, PeopleForBikes. “The Bicycle Commuter Act expands choices and opportunities for everyone by giving people who commute by bike the same tax benefits that car and transit commuters already enjoy. More people are using bikes to get to work, which brings significant economic and health benefits to local communities.”
“We applaud and thank Senator Welch for his sponsorship of this important legislation to restore bicycle commuter benefits, demonstrating, alongside his longstanding support of the Recreational Trails Program, the importance of bicycling as a way for people across the country to get around their communities,” said Kevin Mills, Vice President for Policy, Rails to Trails Conservancy. “His leadership will bring meaningful financial benefit to those who commute by bike and have negligible impact on the tax revenue stream to the federal government.”
“Safe Routes Partnership applauds Senator Welch’s leadership in introducing the Bicycle Commuter Act. Any action that incentivizes people to get around via active transportation—like biking—helps build healthier, safer, and more connected communities. This legislation is an important step toward making it easier for more people to choose biking as a safe and convenient way to get to work,” said Marisa Jones, Managing Director, Safe Routes Partnership.
“While many employees enjoy a commuter tax benefit for parking and transit, this does not extend to biking. The Sierra Club is proud to support this legislation that would incentivize biking and help improve our health, curb pollution, and reduce dependency on cars,” said Katherine García, Clean Transportation for All Director, Sierra Club.
Learn more about the Bicycle Commuter Act.
Read and download the full text of the bill.
In line with the council’s heritage strategy and to ensure that important historic structures within these spaces can be enjoyed for years to come, the council is prioritising their preservation. Since 2012, the council has invested almost £14.5 million into heritage projects across the city.
Currently, repairs are being made to the Dissenter’s Chapel in Highland Road Cemetery as part of a £65,000 project. Designed by the renowned architect Thomas Ellis-Owen, this Grade II listed building is a unique Byzantine style brick cemetery chapel. Repairs are being made to the roof, walls and rendering, and floor joists are being repaired.
The council is also planning an investment of £200,000 to restore the Grade II listed neo-Gothic West Chapel in Kingston Cemetery, which will bring this building back into use.
At Milton Cemetery, plans are underway to sensitively dismantle the cemetery lodge, which is not listed and has been empty for over a decade as cemetery managers no longer live on site. The building has also been deemed unsafe to be used as an office for the cemeteries team, and in its current state does not give a good impression to those entering the cemetery.
Many options have been explored to bring it back into use, but the position within the cemetery means these are impractical, and the dangerous condition of the building means it must be removed. The space can then be used for burials, ensuring that the residents of Portsmouth can continue to choose their preferred funeral ceremony for years to come, as developing a new cemetery in the city will be difficult due to lack of available sites.
An ecological survey has been carried out, and the garden of the lodge will remain as it is during the work to minimise disruption. In the future, work will take place to tidy this area up so the public can enjoy it, whilst minimising the impact on wildlife habitats. The toilet block behind the lodge will be kept, with investment sought in the coming years to improve it.
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council said:
“The city has a duty to its heritage, one that the council takes seriously. Our heritage strategy builds on the other recent heritage projects in the city including the redevelopment of the D-Day Story, the arrival of LCT 7074, the renovation of Victoria Park and the Hotwalls Studios project. More recent investment has seen repairs made to the Kings Theatre, Fort Widley and also the renovation of Hilsea Lido.
“In an ideal world, the council would be able to invest in all of the buildings in its care but after seeing over £110 million cut from our budget over the last 15 years, we have to make choices. The heritage strategy was specifically devised to help us make the best choices for the right reasons, to protect those buildings which have the most significance and the ability to be repurposed for future uses”.
The council’s heritage strategy uses a scoring system to decide which heritage projects to support. This was used to determine where this investment into the city’s cemeteries was made. Each project is rated from 0 to 10 in three areas:
Status (how officially recognised or protected the site is),
Condition (how much repair or attention it needs), and
Potential Impact (how much benefit the project could bring socially, economically, culturally, and environmentally).
The higher the total score, the higher the priority for support. This helps the council focus on projects that are both important and in need, and that can make a real difference to the community.
Milton Cemetery Lodge scores low across all three categories of the heritage assessment formula. It lacks official heritage status, is not listed on any ‘at risk’ registers, and offers minimal social, economic, or environmental impact if restored. As a result, investment in the building cannot be justified.
Due to wildfires affecting communities across Saskatchewan, Premier Scott Moe announced today that the Government of Saskatchewan will be providing emergency funds to those displaced due to ongoing emergency. All residents over the age of 18, that reside in communities that have been evacuated will receive $500 in financial assistance.
“Our government recognizes the impact of wildfires on these residents,” Moe said. “These funds will help support families throughout these evacuations and as they return to their home communities.”
The funds will be issued directly to communities as a grant from the provincial government. Funds will be disbursed by community leadership to affected residents over the age of 18. Those residents are eligible for $500. This is in addition to the increased financial assistance for evacuees announced on June 7th, 2025, provided to evacuees who have registered with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA). More information on this funding can be found here.
The Government of Saskatchewan has provided $15 million to the Canadian Red Cross to help Saskatchewan residents who have been displaced from their homes, as wildfires continue to threaten communities across the province.
If you are from an evacuated community and looking for information or support, please contact the Canadian Red Cross 1-800-863-6582 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.
For evacuees who have registered the SPSA’s Emergency and Community Support (ECS) program, please call the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency 1-855-559-5502 to seek information or supports.
The latest information as well as wildfire mapping can be found at https://www.saskpublicsafety.ca/emergencies-and-response/active-incidents.
The SPSA continues to provide daily updates on the current wildfire situation to ensure that Saskatchewan residents are provided with the most up to date information.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)
WASHINGTON, DC — Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), in collaboration with Democratic leaders, hasintroduced legislationto posthumously award the esteemed Congressional Gold Medal to former Congressman Charles B. Rangel, who represented New York’s 13th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for nearly 50 years, which included a Chairmanship tenure on the influential Ways and Means Committee and countless legislative achievements.
Among congressional support, the following Members have signed on as original cosponsors of the legislation: Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, Congressman Gregory W. Meeks, Congressman Ritchie Torres, and Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal.
“Congressman Charles B. Rangel served our nation with distinction and honor, fighting for the American people and delivering for the constituencies of Harlem, El Barrio, Upper Manhattan, and the Northwest Bronx, which he represented in Congress for nearly 50 years,” said Congressman Espaillat. “A renowned feat, impactful in his service and commitment to our nation and dedication to all whose lives he touched along the way. It is with gratitude and a tremendous level of respect that I introduce this legislation with the support of my U.S. Senate and House colleagues to recognize the extraordinary life and legacy of Congressman Rangel, the Lion of Lenox Avenue, forever enshrining his indelible mark on American policy and our nation’s history.”
“Charlie Rangel was a giant — a force of nature who helped shape the soul of New York, the heart of Harlem, and the conscience of the Congress. From the battlefields of Korea, to the halls of Capitol Hill, where he became one of the most influential voices for justice, equality, and opportunity, Charlie never stopped fighting for those too often left out, looked over and left behind. A founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and a longtime leader of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, Charlie Rangel made history not for its own sake, but to open the doors of power and opportunity to others. He gave voice to the voiceless and power to the powerless, and his beloved Harlem — and our entire nation — are better for his service. I was proud to serve with Congressman Rangel for my 18 years in the House and to call him a friend for many more; so it is a privilege to introduce legislation to award him the Congressional Gold Medal to honor his legacy and to inspire future generations of leaders,” said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.
“Charles Rangel was a true New Yorker and a beloved son of Harlem, who earned his recognition as ‘the Lion of Lenox Ave,’ through a lifetime of tireless service to the community he held so close to his heart,” said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. This devoted public servant was a mentor to many and a friend to many more, and I’ll always consider it one of the great blessings of my life to have called him both. As a decorated war hero, founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, and leader within Congress for decades, Charlie’s legacy is absolute and undeniable. And it deserves to be celebrated. I can think of no man more deserving of a Congressional Gold Medal, and I am proud to join this effort to ensure his name is forever tied to Congress’ highest honorific.”
“Congressman Charles Rangel embodied the true spirit of uplifting one’s community,” said Congressman Gregory W. Meeks. “Known as the ‘Lion of Lenox Avenue,’ he proudly represented the people of Harlem with unparalleled passion. He was a fierce advocate for justice and equity, consistently using his platform to uplift those whose voices too often went unheard. He authored more landmark legislation than anyone in Congress. He continuously broke barriers as a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and serving as the first Black Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. Through the creation of the historic Rangel Fellows Program at the U.S. Department of State, he helped pave the way for a more diverse and inclusive Foreign Service. Most importantly to me, he was a mentor and dear friend who will be greatly missed. His legacy will certainly inspire generations of leaders to come.”
“Charlie Rangel was a lion of Harlem, a legend of Congress, and a proud son of New York. He spent nearly five decades in the House lifting up the voices of those too often unheard. His leadership in civil rights and public service left an indelible mark on our city and our country. I’m proud to support the effort to honor his towering legacy with a Congressional Gold Medal, a fitting tribute to a life of extraordinary service,” Congressman Ritchie Torres.
“Charlie Rangel will be remembered as a brilliant legislator and a devoted public servant who spent his life fighting for fairness and justice,” said Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal. “Whether it was his decorated service in Korea or his trailblazing ascent and tenure as a Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, he was a steward of change who redefined what was possible for millions of Americans. His impact and legacy on the development of landmark legislation, most notably, the Affordable Care Act, speak louder than any award ever could, but there is no one more deserving of the Congressional Gold Medal.”
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Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online athttps://espaillat.house.gov/.
Media inquiries: Candace Person atCandace.Person@mail.house.gov
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
HONG KONG, June 11 (Xinhua) — The Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday mobilized some of its army, naval and air forces to conduct a joint patrol, focusing on training the troops’ combat capability of emergency response, joint operations, and special situation handling.
The joint patrol involved high-mobility infantry, ships, helicopters and other units of the armed forces, which was carried out under real combat conditions. It emphasized rapid deployment and command planning, naval and air patrols, inspections and captures, joint maritime zone control, as well as emergency rescue and repair operations.
This high-intensity confrontation drill has strengthened and enhanced the troop’s ability to respond to emergencies and execute diverse military tasks.
During the joint patrol, the participating troops strictly complied with the laws and regulations of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and notified in advance the relevant departments of the HKSAR government.
NREL Announces Chip-to-Grid Consortium, Invites Collab Around Energy-Data Integration
Andrea Watson, associate laboratory director for Innovation, Partnering, and Outreach at NREL, introduces the 2025 NREL Partner Forum. Photo by Agata Bogucka, NREL
Over the past decade, energy demand from U.S. data centers has tripled—doubling in just the last two years. And the growth is not slowing down.
Utilities are wondering where to add generation. Meanwhile, companies queue for that power. Governments are deciding what to permit, and residents are voicing their priorities. Rarely are they all in the same room, but for a productive two days, more than 300 participants gathered in Golden, Colorado, at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to strategize powering data centers during the 2025 NREL Partner Forum.
For an issue that is fundamentally about connections—connecting data centers to the grid and connecting people to each other—NREL was a natural place to collaborate. In the shadow of full-scale grid assets, and next to an eminently efficient data center that supplies leading artificial intelligence (AI) research, attendees worked through the details of data and power systems.
“That’s the magic of the Partner Forum,” said Andrea Watson, associate laboratory director for Innovation, Partnering, and Outreach at NREL. “We know we can do so much more together than on our own, so we host events like Partner Forum to facilitate better engagement with stakeholders and to develop better solutions for everyone. It’s how we drive NREL’s research impact.”
Yes, More Power. And Different Power.
“We are just getting warmed up,” keynote speaker Dean Nelson said, after showing numbers that prove the recent climb in data center capacity. Nelson’s career followed that same trajectory, and his insight helped frame both the big picture and the finer points.
“We have to do this the right way, to balance the social, economic, ecological, and community preference. Like a Rubik’s Cube,” Nelson said.
Dean Nelson, CEO of Cato Digital and Founder and Chairman of Infrastructure Masons, keynotes the NREL Partner Forum. Image by Agata Bogucka, NREL
He ran through many of the major topics—like flexibility (“data centers must become active grid participants”), siting (“not moving power to data center, but data center to power”), and community approval (“master planning has to be with the communities”)—including one that resurfaced several times later: “Data centers create a giant amount of instantaneous demand.”
“It’s like starting an engine a thousand times in a second,” Nelson remarked. “That’s why NREL is so important: Data centers can stabilize or destabilize the grid, and we have to know how.”
Recent breakthroughs in chip design have packed more power consumption into the same-sized server rack, which means large and fast swings in electrical load. For the grid planners in the room, this was the crux of the problem.
How To Connect Petaflops and Gigawatts
When dealing with loads that are “the equivalent of bringing cities to the grid”—as Mason Emnett, senior vice president of Constellation Energy put it—competitive jostling for new generation might not work anymore.
“What keeps me up at night is infighting over pieces of the pie, even though the pie is big enough,” Emnett said, responding to a panel prompt. “It creates friction in the regulatory space, instead of collaboration.”
This map layers U.S. data infrastructure alongside power infrastructure to help visualize the overlap and simplify co-system planning. Perhaps with a holistic, nation-to-local perspective, there is enough of the “pie” to go around. Image by Billy Roberts, NREL
Taking the whole-nation view, power transmission exists along certain corridors, as do data centers. If utilities, regulators, companies, and communities can collaborate, perhaps there is enough “pie,” including generation sources such as natural gas, solar and storage, hydrogen fuel, and in the case of Constellation’s planned restart of Three Mile Island, nuclear.
Attendees bounced through many options to bring more power online and to better use the power that already exists.
“There is no silver bullet,” emphasized Prasanna Joshi, vice president of low-carbon solutions technology at ExxonMobil. “We look at all solutions—carbon capture, natural gas generation, hydrogen-powered turbines. But equally important is software: using that chip more efficiently.”
“Why not think about new market structures to incentivize large rotating machines?” asked a panelist from Idaho National Laboratory, in reference to the extra grid services that nuclear and other inertial plants provide but are uncompensated for.
“Systems are in place to unlock grid flexibility, but the markets are not,” another agreed.
“We need some form of battery to support that large on-off ramp of power,” added a panelist from an engineering firm.
“Power electronics are the only way to overcome stability issues,” agreed another.
Naturally, talk of more generation gave way to talk of local politics and whether people will accept any of this.
Transmission Lines Over Vineyards
A new power plant in the neighborhood is not on most residents’ wish list, and plenty of energy projects have met their fate at the picket line. But maybe people would play ball if they were on the pitch to start.
“People want to make sure they’re benefiting at least as much as it’s costing them,” remarked Sherry Stout, laboratory program manager for NREL’s State, Local, and Tribal activities.
Stout, who works closely with Tribes, reminded the forum that communities want to be part of the conversation. To get projects passed, everyone must be at the negotiation table.
“You have to intentionally bring detractors,” Stout said. “The more you sideline, the more you might bring out a grassroots rejection.”
Panelists discussed ideas like local incentive packages, such as development of a STEM workforce center to train for incoming jobs or diverting waste heat toward community buildings at no cost.
Marc Aveni, assistant director with Loudoun County Virginia’s, Department of General Services, speaks about key considerations for optimal placement of new data centers at NREL’s Partner Forum. Image by Agata Bogucka, NREL
In Loudoun County, Virginia, data center expansion caught the community off guard but resulted in a booming tax base. Loudoun’s Assistant Director of General Services Marc Aveni joined a panel to add the “local county employee” perspective.
“It’s been a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve seen lots of positive revenues, but we didn’t have a good handle on energy and natural resource requirements. It presented a lot of challenges at the local government level,” Aveni explained.
“We’re very happy to be partnering with NREL to work through our challenges,” Aveni said.
Chip-to-Grid
Like Loudon County, NREL has partnered with many, if not all, of the attendees, often helping partners evaluate pivotal energy investments. In the spirit of the forum, NREL Partnership Development Manager Bill Livingood announced an evolution of NREL capabilities: Chip-to-Grid.
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Chip-to-Grid is a planned initiative aimed at creating a more seamless and integrated approach to data center development and “to address the problems that one stakeholder alone can’t solve,” Livingood said, like problems of interoperability and especially end-to-end utility to data center compatibility.
Livingood presented Chip-to-Grid alongside Kent Crawford, director of engineering at Schneider Electric, which supports creating the consortium.
“It takes us all,” Crawford reiterated. “None of this works unless it’s an interoperable system. We’ve got to go faster than faster, which means bringing together all the players.”
This builds on NREL’s renowned Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) platform, as well as NREL’s work in projects like ARPA-E COOLERCHIPS. Forum attendees later toured NREL’s Energy Systems Integration Facility to appreciate the globally unique research capacity that makes endeavors like Chip-to-Grid feasible.
Emerging Innovations With Appeal
On day two, industry partners and investors alike heard about emerging technology ventures. Four startups, selected by NREL’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, showcased how their technologies could transform the energy performance of data centers.
Palanquin Power, a participant in NREL’s West Gate program, is rethinking rack-level power conversion with a DC-direct-to-server approach. Lucidean’s CEO introduced the company’s custom photonic chip that enables direct fiber optic networking with greater efficiency. Flexnode pitched modular, rapidly deployable data centers tailored for compute-intensive AI workloads. And Flux XII shared its vision for transforming intermittent energy sources into reliable baseload power using low-cost, long-duration storage.
From optical switches to power electronics to flow batteries, the technical topics ran deep. But the predominant themes were never lost: collaborate to add new generation, innovate to advance chips and energy, and evaluate solutions collectively supported by NREL’s resources and expertise.
Decide How To Power Data With NREL
From decision support to whole-system analysis to real-power demonstrations, NREL is a leading institution for energy integration. It is where crosstalk occurs for industry, utilities, and governments and where solutions can move from concept to implementation.
“Getting technology into the marketplace is in our DNA,” NREL Director Martin Keller said. “Our power is bringing everyone together to move this forward as fast as possible.”
TRENTON, N.J. — A New Jersey man admitted to possessing images of child sexual abuse material following an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations.
John Mangan, 78, of Lanoka Harbor, pleaded guilty June 10 to an information charging him with one count of possession of child pornography at the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Trenton.
“Mangan is a prior convicted sex offender with depraved desires that fuel the hideous market of online child sexual exploitation and abuse ICE Homeland Security Investigations vows to dismantle,” said ICE HSI Newark Special Agent in Charge Ricky Patel. “The success in this investigation is the tips we received led to the justice that will now be served on behalf of all the innocent minors who are targeted by these disturbed predators. Anytime a person suspects that someone is exploiting or abusing a child, they should notify law enforcement authorities as soon as possible.”
According to the investigation, on Oct. 29, 2024, ICE HSI special agents executed a search warrant at Mangan’s residence in Lanoka Harbor and discovered an electronic device containing over 250 images of children being sexually abused. Mangan was previously convicted of sexual offenses involving minors, including a New Jersey conviction for sexual assault against a minor for conduct that occurred while Mangan was a school principal, and a prior federal conviction for possession of child pornography.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Lacey Township Police Department assisted HSI Newark in the investigation.
Because Mangan has been previously convicted of certain qualifying offenses, the count of possession of child pornography carries an enhanced mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 21.
HSI is at the forefront of the U.S. government’s efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse through its investigations, victim assistance programs, intelligence and analysis, policy development, and training and awareness programs.
For any child, parent, guardian of New Jersey, searching for resources and information on how to prevent and combat online child sexual exploitation, go to Know2Protect.gov. If you suspect a child might be a victim, please call the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423).
Know2Protect is a national public awareness campaign from the Department of Homeland Security. K2P’s aim is to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults, and policymakers to prevent, combat, and report online child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information, please visit our YouTube playlists at Know2Protect Campaign PSA Playlist and Know2Protect Digital Safety Series Playlist on the DHS main channel. Additional resources are available at Know2Protect.gov, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Meta must do better to protect consumers from financial harm
OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 42 attorneys general, today sent a letter to Meta expressing deep concern regarding a flurry of investment scam advertisements (ads) running on its platforms — including Facebook newsfeeds. These investment scam ads threaten the pockets of consumers nationwide and Meta’s existing systems have been shown to be insufficient to address the problem. In response to this concerning trend, the attorneys general ask Meta to take immediate action to improve its capabilities to detect and respond to these ads.
“It’s alarming to see how easy investment scam ads — which have cost some consumers their life savings — can be created and disseminated on Meta platforms. This growing trend, combined with Meta’s inadequate method of identifying these ads and its significant delay in removing them, makes this a recipe for disaster,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today, I urge Meta to prioritize the safety of its users against investment scam ads — Meta can and must do right by the millions of people that use its platforms.”
Investment scam ads running on Meta’s platforms deceive consumers with images of well-known investors. Upon clicking on the ads, users are prompted to download WhatsApp and become members of groups that are not in fact sponsored or affiliated with the investors identified in the ads. They are then targeted in an illegal investment scheme, commonly known as a “pump and dump” scheme. As part of the scheme, scammers encourage users to invest in penny stocks, thus inflating or pumping up the stock price. Then the scammers quickly sell the stocks — leaving the users holding worthless stock that they can no longer sell to recover their losses. In some cases, these scams have resulted in users losing their life savings. The impact on victims is devastating, leading not only immense financial losses, but also significant psychological and social consequences.
In the letter, the attorneys general urge Meta to adopt protocols to properly tackle this pervasive issue — or otherwise ban all investment ads on its platforms. Although Meta uses a combination of automated systems and occasional human review to try to detect, block, and remove these advertisements, these systems do not work and allow vast numbers of scam ads to get through to publication.
The letter sent today highlights the latest way Meta fails to protect its users against harmful content. In 2023, Attorney General Bonta, along with a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general, sued Meta for its role in designing and deploying harmful features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children and teens to their mental and physical detriment. This lawsuit remains ongoing. Last year, Attorney General Bonta sent a letter to Meta expressing concern regarding the increase in account takeovers and lockouts on Facebook and Instagram and the inadequacy of the company’s response to prevent and address consumer harm from these takeovers.
In sending today’s letter to Meta, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washinton, West Virginia, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Sessions to Discuss Generic and Biosimilar Availability, Prescription Drug Formularies and Benefits, and Regulatory Barriers
As part of implementing President Trump’s Executive Order No. 14273, Lowering Drug Prices by Once Again Putting Americans First, the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission, along with the Department of Commerce and the Department of Health and Human Services, will jointly host listening sessions to discuss ways to make prescription drugs more affordable for Americans by promoting competition. The three listening sessions will occur under the direction of Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater and FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson.
The listening sessions will focus on improving the affordability of pharmaceuticals by increasing generic and biosimilar availability and promoting competition through drug formularies and benefits. The sessions, which will feature remarks by practitioners and scholars, will cover anticompetitive practices as well as eliminating regulatory barriers and rent seeking. The listening sessions will inform the FTC and DOJ’s joint report on combatting anticompetitive practices in pharmaceutical markets, as mandated by President Trump’s Executive Order.
The dates for the sessions are as follows:
Monday, June 30 at 2 p.m. ET – Anticompetitive Conduct by Pharmaceutical Companies Impeding Generic or Biosimilar Competition
Thursday, July 24 at 2 p.m. ET – Formulary and Benefit Practices and Regulatory Abuse Impacting Drug Competition
Monday, August 4 at 2 p.m. ET – Turning Insights into Action to Reduce Drug Prices
The listening sessions will be streamed on the FTC and DOJ websites, with videos and transcripts posted after the events. Additional information will be posted to the event page to each session.
Sessions to Discuss Generic and Biosimilar Availability, Prescription Drug Formularies and Benefits, and Regulatory Barriers
As part of implementing President Trump’s Executive Order No. 14273, Lowering Drug Prices by Once Again Putting Americans First, the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission, along with the Department of Commerce and the Department of Health and Human Services, will jointly host listening sessions to discuss ways to make prescription drugs more affordable for Americans by promoting competition. The three listening sessions will occur under the direction of Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater and FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson.
The listening sessions will focus on improving the affordability of pharmaceuticals by increasing generic and biosimilar availability and promoting competition through drug formularies and benefits. The sessions, which will feature remarks by practitioners and scholars, will cover anticompetitive practices as well as eliminating regulatory barriers and rent seeking. The listening sessions will inform the FTC and DOJ’s joint report on combatting anticompetitive practices in pharmaceutical markets, as mandated by President Trump’s Executive Order.
The dates for the sessions are as follows:
Monday, June 30 at 2 p.m. ET – Anticompetitive Conduct by Pharmaceutical Companies Impeding Generic or Biosimilar Competition
Thursday, July 24 at 2 p.m. ET – Formulary and Benefit Practices and Regulatory Abuse Impacting Drug Competition
Monday, August 4 at 2 p.m. ET – Turning Insights into Action to Reduce Drug Prices
The listening sessions will be streamed on the FTC and DOJ websites, with videos and transcripts posted after the events. Additional information will be posted to the event page to each session.
CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted a man of trafficking six rifles, including AR-15 semiautomatic rifles, and a handgun in Chicago.
CEDRIC CURTIS, 32, of Chicago, sold the six rifles and handgun to a buyer in 2018 and 2019. Unbeknownst to Curtis, the buyer was cooperating with federal law enforcement. Curtis was not a licensed firearms dealer and, having been previously convicted of a felony offense, could not legally possess a firearm.
The jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago last week convicted Curtis on one count of dealing firearms without a license and six counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Jorge L. Alonso set sentencing for Oct. 1, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.
The conviction was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn D. McCarthy and Margaret A. Steindorf.
A co-defendant, DEONTA MOORE, 31, of Chicago, pleaded guilty prior to trial to a charge of illegal firearm possession by a previously convicted felon. Moore was sentenced to three years and a month in federal prison.
Holding illegal firearm dealers accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods. In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has deployed the PSN program to tackle a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago physician has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for billing Medicaid and private insurers for nonexistent and unnecessary services.
MONA GHOSH owned and operated Progressive Women’s Healthcare, S.C., a medical office in Hoffman Estates, Ill., specializing in obstetrics and gynecology services. From 2018 to 2022, Ghosh submitted and caused her employees to submit fraudulent claims to Medicaid, TRICARE, and numerous other insurers for procedures and services that were not medically necessary, including endometrial ablations and biopsies, ultrasounds, vaccinations, laboratory blood tests, and tests for sexually transmitted diseases. Some of the procedures were performed without patient consent. Ghosh also fraudulently overstated the length and complexity of in-office and telemedicine visits and submitted claims using billing codes for which the visits did not qualify in order to seek higher reimbursement rates. Ghosh prepared false patient medical records to support the fraudulent reimbursement claims.
Ghosh, 52, of Inverness, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to two counts of health care fraud. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Franklin U. Valderrama imposed the ten-year prison sentence and ordered Ghosh to pay approximately $1.5 million in restitution.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; Mario Pinto, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; Jason Sargenski, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Southeast Field Office; and Kwame Raoul, Illinois Attorney General. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kavitha Babu and Hayley Altabef.
“When physicians submit fraudulent claims to federal health care programs, they divert taxpayer-funded resources away from those who truly need them,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Dr. Ghosh’s fraud scheme was particularly egregious because she endangered the health of her patients by performing unnecessary medical procedures, including procedures that severely limited some patients’ ability to have children in the future. We applaud the victims’ strength to come forward and confront this defendant. Our Office will fight tirelessly for victims and work diligently with our law enforcement partners to safeguard taxpayer funds and hold accountable those who steal from the American public.”
“Dr. Ghosh spent years traumatizing patients, lying to insurers, and stealing taxpayer money to feed her greed,” said FBI SAC DePodesta. “The depraved conduct uncovered in this case represents an extreme betrayal of trust toward patients who were simply seeking care and integrity from their doctor. The FBI will continue to aggressively pursue and hold accountable any medical professional who seeks to harm patients for their personal enrichment.”
“Physicians and other medical professionals who place profits ahead of patient care do so at the expense of the very people they swore an oath to protect,” said HHS-OIG SAC Pinto. “The sentence imposed in this case reflects the severity of the defendant’s crimes and the harm inflicted on numerous patients. This investigation underscores our agency’s commitment to aggressively pursuing those who fraudulently submit claims to federal health care programs and put patients at risk.”
“It is imperative that our service members have full confidence that the medical care they receive is both legitimate and delivered by healthcare providers who are unwaveringly committed to their well-being,” said DCIS SAC Sargenski. “Today’s outcome should reassure the public that DCIS, alongside our investigative partners, remains steadfast in our pursuit of those who harm the health, safety, and readiness of our men and women in uniform.”
NEW ORLEANS, LA – ActingU.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that DOMINIQUE PEEPLES (“PEEPLES”), age 28, from Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced on May 28, 2025, after previously pleading guilty to Sex Trafficking of a Minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1), 1591(b)(2), 1594(a), and 2.
According to court documents, PEEPLES brought a seventeen-year-old female (“Minor Victim”) from Memphis, Tennessee to New Orleans, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; and Houston, Texas, and required her to engage in commercial sex acts. During this time, PEEPLES was aware of Minor Victim’s age. PEEPLES advertised Minor Victim on websites commonly used to advertise sexual services in exchange for money and kept all or most of the proceeds from her work. PEEPLES waited in a vehicle and watched Minor Victim while she solicited commercial sex “dates.” Minor Victim worked under PEEPLES’ supervision between August of 2020 and her escape in mid-January 2021. After Minor Victim ran away, PEEPLES posted a video on social media in which he boasted about exploiting Minor Victim and pointed firearms at the screen.
U.S. District Court Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced PEEPLES to seventeen (17) years in prison. PEEPLES was also sentenced to ten (10) years of supervised release after release from prison. Judge Vance further ordered PEEPLES to pay $120,000 in restitution to Minor Victim, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. PEEPLES will also have to register as a sex offender.
This case was part of a broader investigation involving defendants JEREMY TALBERT and MACEO ROBERTS, both of whom have pleaded guilty for related sex trafficking crimes. In February 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Susie Morgan sentenced ROBERTS to 22.5 years of imprisonment for conspiring to traffic three minors and two adults. In March 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Lance Africk sentenced TALBERT to 18 years for trafficking a fourteen-year-old minor to New Orleans.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Memphis Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria M. Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit and Jordan Ginsberg, Supervisor of the Public Corruption Unit, are in charge of the prosecution.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Chancellor pledges at least £445 million of rail investment as part of biggest ever Welsh funding boost
Major transport upgrade to drive growth and unlock economic potential across Wales, as UK Government delivers on Plan for Change.
Spending Review: Investing in Wales’ future.
Investment is part of comprehensive spending package to invest in UK’s renewal, creating thousands of jobs in clean energy, manufacturing and defence
The Welsh Government will receive the largest real terms settlement since devolution began in 1999, with an average settlement of £22.4 billion per year, enabling the Welsh Government to deliver for working people in Wales.
Working people across Wales will benefit from better access to jobs and opportunities thanks to a Welsh rail investment worth at least £445 million announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today as part of the UK Government’s Spending Review which will invest in UK’s renewal.
The transformative rail package will reconnect Wales’s industrial heartlands, improve commuter journeys and drive economic growth in communities that have long suffered from poor transport links.
The package will invest in both north and south Wales, fixing level crossings, building new stations, and upgrading existing lines
This strategic rail investment forms the cornerstone of the UK Government’s plan to reconnect, reindustrialise and renew Wales – addressing decades of underinvestment in critical infrastructure that has held back the Welsh economy.
The rail upgrades will specifically link centres of advanced manufacturing excellence in North Wales and improve vital connections between Cardiff and Bristol, making it easier for businesses to invest and for workers to access employment opportunities.
Alongside this major transport investment, the Spending Review delivers significant backing for Wales’s key industrial sectors.
In Port Talbot, a combined investment of up to £580 million will secure the future of steelmaking while transforming the port into a clean energy hub. Within this, £500 million for Tata Steel’s new Electric Arc Furnace will protect 5,000 jobs while reducing carbon emissions.
Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, said:
This UK Government is investing in Wales’ future and driving economic growth across the country.
We promised we would deal with the historical under-investment in Wales’ rail network and the funding announced today in this Spending Review shows we are delivering on that pledge.
Along with a record financial settlement for Welsh Government to improve public services, £118m more to help keep coal tips safe and investment in growing industries like aerospace, we are backing Wales’ potential and delivering for working people.”
Growing Wales’ domestic aerospace and defence industries
Speaking in the House of Commons today, the Chancellor reaffirmed the government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by April 2027, backing our Armed Forces, creating British jobs in British industries, and prioritising the security of Britain when it is most needed.
The Spending Review also backed Welsh industry by continuing investment in the defence industry right across the UK, including Wales.
Wales’s aerospace and automotive industries, already employing over 15,000 people, also stands to gain through UK-wide funding announced for the advanced manufacturing sector, enabling the development and delivery of ultra-low and zero-carbon emission vehicles and aircraft.
Coal tip safety
The Spending Review also confirms a further £118 million between 2026-27 and 2028-29 for the Welsh Government to maintain the safety of disused coal tips, on the back of £25 million already committed in 2025-26 during 2024 Autumn Budget. The money will see tips secured, homes protected and land unlocked for housing, industry and recreation.
The UK Government also pledged continued support for Welsh Investment Zones in Cardiff City Region and Wrexham and Flintshire, which will receive £160 million each over 10 years, driving growth and jobs.
Supporting Welsh businesses
The new Industrial Strategy and Public finance Institutions will collaborate with the devolved governments and local stakeholders to drive growth across the UK. Through the Nations and Regions Investment programme the British Business Bank is delivering £130 million across Wales to break down access to finance barriers and drive economic growth.
Local growth funding
A new local growth fund, and investments in up to 350 deprived communities across the UK, will maintain the same cash level as in 2025-26 under the Shared Prosperity Fund. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Wales Office will work with local partners to ensure money goes to projects that matter to local people. This investment will help drive growth and improve communities across all parts of Wales.
A record settlement for Welsh public services
The Welsh Government will receive the largest settlement in real terms since devolution in 1999, with an average settlement of £22.4 billion per year to deliver against the priorities of working people in Wales.
This comprehensive investment package is further delivery of the UK Government’s promise to invest in Britain’s renewal and ensure that economic growth benefits every part of the United Kingdom.