NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Joins Risch to Introduce Bill to End Taxpayer Funded Handouts to Illegal Immigrants

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) joined Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) in introducing the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act, which would block federal funding to sanctuary cities intended to benefit illegal immigrants.
    The bill aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,” which blocks federal agencies and programs from providing taxpayer-funded services to illegal immigrants.
    “Not a single taxpayer dollar should be used to provide unwarranted hand-outs to non-citizen migrants or to cities giving them any unearned financial advantages,” said Crapo.  “Federal resources should be used to secure the borders, not invite and encourage illegal immigration.”
    “Sanctuary cities abuse taxpayer dollars and fuel the illegal immigration crisis,” said Risch.  “My No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act stops these jurisdictions from using federal funding to directly give handouts to illegal immigrants.” 
    Additional co-sponsors of the legislation include Senators Steve Daines (R-Montana), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Jim Banks (R-Indiana) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi).  Representative Nick LaLota (R-New York) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    The No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act would:
    Define “sanctuary jurisdiction” as any local or state government entity that withholds information regarding an individual’s citizenship status from federal, state or other local authorities; and
    Prevent sanctuary jurisdictions from receiving federal funds for the specific benefit of illegal immigrants.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Premier Pillai welcoming the new Premier of Prince Edward Island

    Statement from Premier Pillai welcoming the new Premier of Prince Edward Island
    jlutz

    Premier Ranj Pillai has issued the following statement:

    “I am pleased to offer my congratulations to Rob Lantz on being sworn in as the new Premier of Prince Edward Island.

    “As leaders of Canada’s smaller jurisdictions, I look forward to working with Premier Lantz on the unique challenges and opportunities that come with governing close-knit communities. I look forward to working with him during this critical era in our Confederation.

    “I would also like to extend my thanks to Dennis King for his work and dedicated service to Prince Edward Island during his time as Premier.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The City of Whitehorse and the Government of Yukon partner on Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan for Whitehorse

    The City of Whitehorse and the Government of Yukon partner on Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan for Whitehorse

    This is joint news release between the Government of Yukon and City of Whitehorse.

    The City of Whitehorse and the Government of Yukon are partnering to begin community safety and wellbeing planning for Whitehorse. Efforts will focus on improving safety and wellness throughout the city and complement and enhance existing initiatives focused on improving safety in the downtown core, including the Yukon government-led Downtown Whitehorse Safety Response Action Plan.

    With support from the Aboriginal Community Safety Planning Initiative (ACSPI) and the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities (CCFSC), the City of Whitehorse and the Government of Yukon will develop a multi-year action plan focused on proactive actions to reduce risk, vulnerability and harm throughout Whitehorse. This will be the first time ACSPI and CCFSC have collaborated on a Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan.

    The Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan for Whitehorse will identify local safety concerns, prioritize actions to address them and outline strategies to improve overall safety and wellbeing throughout the community. As actions are identified they will be implemented during the planning process, which is is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete. As part of the planning process, the City and Government of Yukon, together with ACSPI and CCFSC, will conduct research, collect data and undertake community engagement. We encourage Whitehorse residents to participate in this planning process as it unfolds to share their views and inform future action to improve safety and wellbeing in the city.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Every Student, Every Day fund commits $200,000 to fund student attendance projects in 2025 – applications now open

    Every Student, Every Day fund commits $200,000 to fund student attendance projects in 2025 – applications now open
    jlutz

    This is a joint release between the Government of Yukon and Every Student, Every Day Society Yukon.

    Every Student, Every Day, in partnership with the Government of Yukon, is committing $200,000 funding to support student attendance improvement projects for the 2025–26 school year. This funding will continue to support innovative, grassroots projects designed to boost student attendance across northern Canada.

    This joint effort will continue supporting educators, schools, community organizations and First Nations in their vital work to help students thrive.

    For this year, a new project funding category has been added, to clarify funding around purchasing small kitchen equipment and appliances and to fill the gap with other funding programs that help schools feed students, maximizing collaboration between Every Student, Every Day, Government of Yukon and other non-profits.

    Applications are now open for the 2025–26 school year. The application form is available on Every Student, Every Day’s website at www.everystudenteveryday.ca and is also distributed by the Department of Education to all Yukon school principals. Projects can be submitted by educators, school administrators, school councils, Yukon First Nations and community groups.

    The submission deadline is Friday, March 28, 2025.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: USAID’s apparent demise and the US withdrawal from WHO put millions of lives worldwide at risk and imperil US national security

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Nicole Hassoun, Professor of Philosophy, Binghamton University, State University of New York

    USAID was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 as a way to consolidate existing foreign aid programs. JAM STA ROSA/AFP via Getty Images

    On his first day in office, Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump began a drastic reshaping of the United States’ role in global health as part of the first 26 executive orders of his new term.

    He initiated the process of withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization, which works to promote and advance global health, following through on his first attempt in 2020. He also ordered staff members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to cut off all communications with WHO representatives.

    In his first week, Trump also issued a stop-work order pending a 90-day review on nearly all programs of the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID.

    Many experts view this as a first step in dismantling the organization, which facilitates global efforts to improve health and education and to alleviate poverty. The sweeping move left aid workers and the people who depend on them in a panic and interrupted dozens of clinical trials across the world.

    President Trump’s executive order sparked legal action from international health care organizations, resulting in a federal judge ordering a temporary halt to the Trump administration’s freeze on foreign aid. Ultimately, that legal action was unsuccessful.

    On Feb. 23, the Trump administration put nearly all of USAID’s 4,700 workers on paid administrative leave globally and stated that it would be terminating 1,600 of those positions.

    Most recently, on Feb. 25, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to allow some USAID funding to resume and required that it pay all of its invoices for work completed before the foreign aid freeze went into effect.

    I am the executive director of the Global Health Impact project, an organization that aims to advance access to essential medicines in part by evaluating their health consequences around the world, and a researcher focusing on global health and development ethics and policy.

    In my view and that of many other public health scholars, closing down USAID will imperil our national security and put millions of lives at risk.

    Because of the USAID stop-work order, 500,000 metric tons of food are at risk of spoiling.

    20 million with HIV treated

    USAID works with both nongovernmental organizations and private companies to help distribute medicines and vaccines around the world. The agency also helps improve government policies and invest in research and development to contain and address epidemics and pandemics.

    Starting in the late 1960s, for instance, USAID helped lead the effort to eliminate smallpox and has also helped fight polio and other devastating diseases over the past six decades.

    The smallpox pandemic was one of the worst of all time – it killed one-third of the people infected, causing an estimated 300 million to 500 million deaths worldwide in the 20th century. By contrast, COVID-19 killed less than 1% of those infected.

    These efforts have brought immense financial as well as health benefits to the U.S. and the rest of the world. Some economists estimate that the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, created in 1988, alone saved the world more than US$27 billion as of 2017, and that it will save a total of $40 billion to $50 billion by 2035.

    USAID also plays an important role in promoting global health equity. The agency works to increase access to primary health care, combat hunger and strengthen health systems – ultimately saving lives. In addition, USAID has provided a great deal of funding to fight infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV.

    For instance, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, provides treatment for 20 million people living with HIV in Africa. Trump’s federal aid freeze has halted funding for PEPFAR projects.

    While the limited waiver under which the agency must now operate means some PEPFAR activities may eventually resume, many are now left without federal funding indefinitely. Unless another organization fills the gap, millions will die without USAID assistance.

    A 2022 photo of men in Afghanistan lining up to receive a monthly food ration, largely supplied by USAID.
    Scott Peterson/Getty Images News via Getty Images

    Mistakes made

    This is not to deny that USAID has made some grave errors in its history.

    For instance, USAID provided significant funding to the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) during the murderous regime of Mobutu Sese Seko, who was in power from 1965 to 1997.

    But USAID also has done an immense amount of good. For instance, it has helped contain the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2018. USAID’s work in preventing epidemics from spreading helps people everywhere, including in the U.S.

    If anything, there is a strong argument for increasing USAID funding. China has invested heavily in Asia and Africa through its Belt and Road Initiative, which is an attempt to recreate ancient trade routes by investing in roads, trains and ports. Some researchers argue that this has shifted diplomatic relations in favor of China. They believe that if the U.S. does not make similar investments and instead cuts foreign aid, it will affect the United States’ ability to achieve its foreign policy objectives.

    Similarly, there is a strong argument for increasing U.S. support for the WHO rather than withdrawing from the organization.

    Trump’s withdrawal order cites what he sees as the organization’s failures in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic as the rationale. But the WHO helped lead efforts to accelerate vaccine development and distribution, and retrospective reports claim that even more deaths could have been avoided with greater international cooperation.

    While dismantling USAID will cause irreparable harm to global health, these actions taken together are likely to deal a devastating blow to efforts to protect Americans and everyone else in the world from sickness and death.

    Alyssa Figueroa, an undergraduate student at Binghamton University, contributed to this article.

    Nicole Hassoun has received funding for research from the World Health Organization and the United Nations. She is the executive director of Global Health Impact (global-health-impact.org) which participates in the Pandemic Action Network.

    – ref. USAID’s apparent demise and the US withdrawal from WHO put millions of lives worldwide at risk and imperil US national security – https://theconversation.com/usaids-apparent-demise-and-the-us-withdrawal-from-who-put-millions-of-lives-worldwide-at-risk-and-imperil-us-national-security-249260

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Updating regulation, licensing of addiction treatment

    [. The model is based on the fact that recovery is possible, and Albertans deserve the best care to support them on their path of recovery.

    The Mental Health Services Protection Act provides a foundation to ensure safe, quality mental health and addiction care, and the authority to establish licensing programs for mental health and addiction services. Services for bed-based addiction treatment, narcotic transition, drug consumption and psychedelic drug treatment are currently licensed under the act.

    Alberta’s government is proposing amendments to be more flexible and responsive to the evolving needs of Albertans. The proposed amendments position the act as a framework legislation to provide better oversight for mental health and addiction services and help ensure Albertans receive quality, standardized treatment and services.

    If passed, the amendments would come into effect in fall 2025.

    “We are committed to developing a recovery-oriented system of care that grows and evolves to meet the needs of every Albertan. These proposed amendments reflect our dedication to maintaining a system that is both effective and adaptable.”

    Dan Williams, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction

    Enhancing bed-based addiction treatment services

    Currently, all bed-based addiction treatment services are subject to the same licensing requirements, regardless of the type or intensity of services provided. The proposed amendments would create three types of bed-based addiction treatment services subject to separate licensing requirements:

    • Withdrawal management services: medically supervised services to manage or support an individual through the process of withdrawal from one or more substances;
    • Intensive treatment services: intensive and structured residential care services for individuals with addiction; and
    • Non-intensive recovery services: services in a recovery-oriented environment that provide less-intensive treatment compared to intensive treatment services.

    In addition, proposed amendments would add a provision for title protection. This would mean only licensed bed-based addiction treatment services providers would be able to use these service descriptions.

    The goal of these changes is to better support Albertans to find services, get the right support and know what to expect when accessing each type of service. Matching individuals with the appropriate level of care promotes better health outcomes and maximizes the effectiveness of resources. Service providers would also benefit from increased licensing clarity.

    Introducing exemptions

    Another proposed amendment includes authorizing the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction to exempt specific people or service providers on a unique case-by-case basis from the act’s framework.

    Exemptions would only be allowed in very specific instances, such as for medical reasons, scientific research, or when there’s a clear public benefit. Clear guidelines would be developed to ensure exemptions would only be granted in appropriate circumstances.

    The ability for the minister to grant exemptions would allow for flexibility and adaptability in rare circumstances or complex situations.

    Refining regulatory requirements

    The proposed legislation also includes administrative amendments to address regulatory inconsistencies, clarify requirements, and better align the act with the Alberta Recovery Model. As an example, references to residential addiction treatment services would be updated to bed-based treatment services.

    Alberta’s government is making record investments and removing barriers to recovery-oriented supports for all Albertans, regardless of where they live or their financial situation. Actions include adding more than 10,000 new publicly funded addiction treatment spaces; eliminating daily user fees for bed-based treatment services; and expanding access to the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program, which provides same-day access to life-saving treatment medication.

    Quick facts

    • Albertans can call 211 Alberta to find supports and services in their area.
    • Albertans struggling with opioid addiction can contact the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program (VODP) by calling 1-844-383-7688, seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to midnight. The VODP provides same-day access to addiction medicine specialists. There is no wait list.

    Related information

    • Modernizing addiction treatment licensing
    • Mental Health Services Protection Act
    • Residential addiction treatment service providers
    • Residential addiction treatment service provider licensing

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference
    • Listen to the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Greets Saudi Minister of Defense, His Royal Highness Khalid bin Salman at the Pentagon

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH: Well, welcome, your royal highness. Thank you very much for being here. It is our pleasure to welcome you to the Pentagon, although you’re no stranger to the Pentagon. I also want to welcome your delegation, including her highness, Princess Reema bint Bandar. Did I get that right? 

    REEMA BINT BANDAR: Indeed. Thank you.

    SECRETARY HEGSETH: Thank you. The kingdom’s ambassador to Washington. Glad to have you. And on behalf of President Trump, welcome. And as you know, he’s made it clear in his administration, we’re going to pursue peace through strength and put America first, but that does not mean ignoring partnerships. And in fact, it requires greater attention to the ones that matter the most, and our partnership with Saudi Arabia matters a great deal. President Trump demonstrated this when he made his first overseas phone call to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on January 23rd. He also made his first visit in his first term, as you, I know, recall in his first term.

    We’ve got tremendous opportunities to pursue security and stability in the Middle East, combat terrorism and increase mutual prosperity. Our cooperation, as you know, has been long standing. Eighty years ago, last week, our heads of state held their first historic meeting aboard the USS Quincy in the Suez Canal. And since then, we’ve worked to take on terrorism and all of its manifestations. Today, with the groups like the Houthis, build interoperability and forge multilateral approaches in many ways, through Saudi leadership.

    Today, our relationship is a critical center of gravity in a very turbulent region in the world. So I want to thank the kingdom, also, more specifically, for hosting important discussions between the United States and Russia as we pursue one of President Trump’s top priorities, which is bringing peace to the war in Ukraine. And I also want to continue deepening and strengthening our partnership to pursue security and prosperity for both Americans and Saudis. So I’m very much looking forward to a great discussion. Thank you for joining us today, you and your entire delegation. Thank you. 

    HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS KHALED BIN SALMAN: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. I would like to begin with by conveying the greetings of [inaudible] and the countless [inaudible]. It’s a great pleasure to be among you today, and I look forward to continuing our joint effort to advance the long-standing relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States. As you mentioned, Mr. Secretary, we live in a turbulent region, and our relationship and our work together and cooperation is vital. It has always been vital, and it’s even more important these days to continue to coordinate and work together to make sure the region is stable and the world is stable, and we are looking forward to having a very constructive discussion today to reach our mutual rules. And I’m pretty sure that with our strong relationship, we will achieve a lot together.

    SECRETARY HEGSETH: Absolutely. I know you feel comfortable here too. I know you’re a fighter pilot. Got some pilots here too. So, I appreciate that. We have a couple questions today.

    Q: Mr. Secretary, why did you select an underqualified retired lieutenant general to be the next chairman of joint chief of staff, given that–

    SECRETARY HEGSETH: I’m going to choose to reject your unqualified question.

    Q: How did the three JAGs that you say you’re replacing present roadblocks, as you said, to what the president is wanting to do? 

    SECRETARY HEGSETH: It’s not about roadblocks to an agenda. It’s roadblocks to orders that are given by a commander in chief. So ultimately, I want the best possible lawyers in each service to provide the best possible recommendations, no matter what, to lawful orders that are given. And we didn’t think those particular positions were well-suited, and so we’re looking for the best. We’re opening it up to everybody to be able to be the top lawyer of those services. 

    UNKNOWN: Two more questions. 

    Q: Mr. Secretary, will the U.S. help defend Saudi Arabia against attacks by Iran and its proxies? 

    SECRETARY HEGSETH: Well, certainly that’s a topic we’re going to talk about today. Iran is a big concern in the region. Saudi Arabia has been a great partner, and that’s something we’re going to discuss today. 

    UNKNOWN: Last question.

    SECRETARY HEGSETH: No more questions. All right. There we go.

    UNKNOWN: Great. Thank you. 

    UNKNOWN: Thank you. We’re leaving now.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Woman Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Defraud Elvis Presley’s Family

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    A Missouri woman pleaded guilty today in the Western District of Tennessee for her role in a scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s family of millions of dollars and to steal the family’s ownership interest in Graceland, Elvis Presley’s former home in Memphis, Tennessee.

    According to court documents, Lisa Jeanine Findley, 53, of Kimberling City, orchestrated a scheme to conduct a fraudulent sale of Graceland — using a fake company, forged documents, and false court filings — by falsely claiming that Elvis Presley’s daughter had pledged Graceland as collateral for a loan that she failed to repay before her death. Findley threatened to foreclose on Graceland and auction it to the highest bidder if Elvis Presley’s family did not pay or settle the claim against the estate.

    Findley pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Taylor Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee, Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office made the announcement.

    The USPIS and FBI Nashville Field Office are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Aaron Henricks of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carroll L. André III for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case. Fraud Section Assistant Chief Cory E. Jacobs and Trial Attorney Christopher Fenton provided substantial assistance with the investigation and prosecution. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Sounds Alarm on Drastic Cuts to Veterans Services

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a joint hearing before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) and the House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC), Senator Angus King (I-Maine) raised concerns over how mass layoffs at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that closely resemble provisions in Project 2025 will negatively affect veteran benefits and care with Daniel Contreras, the National Commander of the Disabled American Veterans — who echoed the Senator’s worries. The hearing comes the day after the VA announced plans to cut more than 1,400 probationary federal employees in a second round of layoffs. Earlier this month, the VA dismissed more than 1,000 employees; however, some workers have since been reinstated. In addition, job cuts across all government agencies are disproportionally impacting veterans who make up approximately 30% of the federal workforce.
    “Thank, Mr. Chairman. I would call to the attention of the DAV a very troubling paragraph in something called Project 2025 which I suspect you have heard of, which seems to be the template for this administration’s approach. Here is the sentence that I hope you will attend to, ‘The next administration should explore how veterans’ reviews should be accelerated with clearance from OMB to target significant cost savings from revising disability rating awards for future claimants.’ And listen to this, ‘while preserving them fully or partially for existing claims.’ Mr. Leader, how do you feel about that idea,” asked Senator King.
    “Anything that will take away from veterans’ benefits, we do not support that. We are aware of Project 2025’s initiatives not only to reduce Category 7 and 8, also to tax veterans’ benefits or to look at unemployment benefits as far as social security age. I would say that we would not be in favor of that. One of our critical policy goals outlines that we need to protect those benefits. There will be great opposition to that. We had the Secretary visit at the conference recently and he stated — and we are going to hold him to it — that he is putting veterans first. That would not be putting veterans first,” replied National Commander Contreras.  
    “I appreciate that. We’ve been talking a lot about the layoffs. In fact, combining the hiring freeze with the normal attrition, we are really down about 5000 people at the VA in the last month. Now, the secretary, when he released his statement last night, said that in fact, veterans will notice a change for the better. My question to you and to the veterans is, tell us if that is what you notice. The power is with the veterans, and you need to use your voice,” said Senator King. “It is hard for me to believe that these cuts which have been made in the last 20 days, as near as I can tell, pretty indiscriminately, are going to change things for the better for the veterans. By the way, talking about bureaucracy, in my view, the person who answers the phone can be as important as the person that delivers the care. If a veteran calls for a health care appointment and there was no one there to answer the phone, that is a denial of benefits, just as sure as if they cannot see the doctor. I hope that the people in this room will hold us accountable and thereby the agency, the department, the new secretary to truly putting veterans first. That is an easy phrase to say, but I look at what is actually being done. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the work you are doing.”
    Tonight, Senator King will be honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his “outstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.”
    Representing one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King has been a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act.  Earlier this month, in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, Senator King joined his colleagues in urging for immediate action to secure veterans’ personal information provided by VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), a measure that would protect millions of veterans’ medical records stored in VA’s computer systems. Previously, Senator King introduced the Lethal Means Safe Storage for Veteran Suicide Prevention Act to provide firearm storage to veterans in an effort to reduce suicides among the veteran population. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families. This past week, Senator King introduced bipartisan legislation alongside SVAC Chairman Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Challenges Nominee to Outline, Justify Looming Firings at Defense Department

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    A full clip of the exchange can be downloaded here
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) challenged a Trump Administration nominee to outline and justify looming, arbitrary firings that at the Department of Defense that could wreak havoc on national security functions. In a tense exchange during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), King pressed Stephen Feinberg, nominee to become the Deputy Secretary of Defense, on whether he would support and institute the continued arbitrary firings of officials across the Department of Defense (DoD) without coming up with a rational process that wouldn’t diminish America’s national security programs.
    The hearing comes as the DoD announced a reevaluation of the probationary workforce which seeks to reduce the civilian workforce by 5-8%, including 5,400 probationary workers released just this week. However, probationary employees can also include those recently promoted or transferred from other departments, and not necessarily those that are in “redundant” positions.
    Senator King began, “I know there has been a great deal of discussion about potential cuts in the workforce. I am interested in the discussion of 8%, that’s 70,000 people. What I’m interested in of you as a manager, how do you intend to go about that? The cuts that have been occurring throughout the federal government so far have not been very thoughtful. All probationary people, for example, that is not a terribly rational way to make these decisions. There may be great people who are probationary. What will the process be whereby you reduce the Department of Defense workforce by 70,000 people?…I am asking you if that approach is a rational way to reduce a workforce. Fire everyone who has been hired in the last couple of years. Is that a good management practice? Is that what you would have done at [Feinberg’s company]Cerberus?”
    “I will say we have over 900,000 civilian employees. While every person counts and is very important, there will be some change,” Mr. Feinberg replied.
    Senator King responded, “That is not my question. There has been a stated goal of reducing the workforce by 8%, 70,000 people. You are the chief operating officer. Presumably you will be in charge of the process of reducing the workforce by 70,000 people. I want to know how you will do it and are you going to use the arbitrary yardstick of probationary employees, yes or no?”
    “I don’t know the considerations or the detail before that cut. What I can tell you, if I am in there, we will carefully look at the cuts, balance and weigh what we need and what we don’t, and do it in a granular person by person way,” Mr. Feinberg answered.
    “Does that answer mean you will not cut all probationary employees arbitrarily? Is that a no? It sounded like it. It is a straightforward question. Are you going to fire all probationary employees first to get to the 70,000, yes or no?” Senator King asked again.
    Mr. Feinberg continued to not respond, “I have to look at the detail. I don’t know yet. I don’t know the considerations that were thought through before those cuts were made.”
    “You are a smart guy. I don’t understand why you cannot tell me yes or no whether this will be one of the tools you use to reduce the workforce,” Senator King concluded.
    Senator King has been consistently sounding the alarm on President Donald Trump’s existential threat to the Constitution and critical functions of government. He most recently gave a speech on the Senate Floor acknowledging the “thoughtless and dangerous” approach to the administration’s arbitrary firings and hiring freezes. He also previously gave a speech on the Senate floor sharing that this administration is doing ‘exactly what the Framers [of the Constitution] most feared” in removing the checks and balances each branch of the government has on each other.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner Sponsors Bipartisan Legislation to End Government Payments to Deceased Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) has joined Sens. John Kennedy (R-LA) and Gary Peters (D-MI) in sponsoring the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act to save billions of federal dollars by curbing erroneous payments to individuals who have passed away. The legislation would make permanent the provisions from the Stopping Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, a law previously sponsored by Warner, Kennedy and Peters to stop unlawful payments to the deceased by allowing the Social Security Administration to share the Death Master File, a record of deceased individuals, with the Treasury Department’s Do Not Pay system, for a period of three years. 
    The Treasury Department announced last month that it recovered $31 million in fraud and improper payments during the first five months of the bill’s implementation. The new bill would make the temporary provisions permanent, reining in the government’s ability to make improper payments to deceased people in the future. 
    “Despite the antics we’ve seen from Elon Musk in recent weeks, there are real, serious ways to improve government efficiency. And where issues are actually identified, Congress should step in and act. That’s the right way to actually stop waste, fraud and abuse of government resources – not with chaotic firings and illegal spending cuts,” said Sen. Warner. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this commonsense measure passed into law.”
    The bill would also allow Treasury’s Do Not Pay working system to compare death information from the Social Security Administration with personal information from other federal entities and to share this information with any paying or administering agency that is authorized to use the Do Not Pay system.
    A former business executive, Warner has a long and successful record of working in Congress to improve government efficiency, accountability and transparency. The DATA Act, which required the government to standardize federal spending data and post it on a single website so Americans can track how their tax dollars are being spent, established usaspending.gov. It was hailed as the single most significant open-government initiative since the Freedom of Information Act of 1966. Warner also passed into law the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act, which requires federal agencies to report results quarterly on their highest priority programs, and to designate a performance improvement officer for each agency.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Joins Bipartisan Resolution Supporting Ukraine as Conflict Enters its Third Year

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    Download audio here
    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and bipartisan Senate colleagues to introduce a resolution acknowledging the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
    The resolution expresses the Senate’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and condemns Russia’s illegal aggression and attempts to seize Ukrainian territory. It also commends NATO, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and the international community for their continued efforts to support Ukraine’s defense and the protection of human rights on its territory.
    “Putin’s inhumane and unprovoked attack on Ukraine started the largest war in Europe since World War II. He has kidnapped children to brainwash them, and he has tortured and killed civilians. As we commemorate three years since Russia’s brutal invasion, Americans stand with the Ukrainian people in the pursuit of peace and an end to the bloodshed,” Grassley said.
    Additional cosponsors are Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Il.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).
    Find resolution text HERE.
    Click HERE to download audio of Grassley discussing the resolution.
    Background:
    Grassley is an outspoken critic of Russia’s threats and aggression. In a speech on the Senate floor yesterday marking the third anniversary of the invasion, Grassley reaffirmed his support for the people of Ukraine.
    After Putin’s 2022 invasion, Grassley immediately condemned Russia’s assault on Ukraine, calling it “inhumane” and pointing out that Putin is tragically “killing innocent people like Stalin did in the 1930s.”
    Grassley spoke on the Senate floor to call for victory in Ukraine noting, “Anything short of a Ukrainian victory is an invitation for future Russian aggression.”
    After Russia began indiscriminately bombing Ukraine and murdering innocent civilians, Grassley joined his colleagues in introducing a resolution to hold Putin and his allies accountable for war crimes. This resolution passed the Senate unanimously.
    Read more about Grassley’s efforts to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable HERE.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Johnson Call for Investigation into Potentially Criminal Leaks, Violations of FBI Information Sharing Policies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) are requesting Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel investigate potential criminal leaks to the media of sensitive and classified information ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The senators are also requesting Bondi and Patel investigate former Assistant Special Agent in Charge Timothy Thibault and his associates’ potential breach of FBI information sharing policies, in light of legally protected whistleblower disclosures revealing Thibault shared sensitive, non-public investigative information from his FBI email account with a private citizen with whom he was romantically involved.
    “The FBI repeatedly lectures Congress, without any legitimate basis, that it can’t share information with Congress because the matter is an ongoing investigation. The FBI has asserted to Congress that [For Official Use Only] information and FBI email accounts and personnel names should remain non-public. Yet, here, Thibault sent all of that type of information to a private citizen while the FBI stiff-arms Congress and the American people,” the senators wrote.
    “Thibault’s conduct exemplifies the FBI’s ‘do as I say, not as I do’ hypocrisy and why its repeated complaints to Congress when it makes government information public should fall on deaf ears,” the senators concluded. 
    Grassley and Johnson pointed to news reporting released shortly before the November 2024 election containing potentially “classified U.S. intelligence” as a further example of DOJ and FBI officials sharing non-public investigative information while ignoring congressional requests for the same. Accordingly, the senators are requesting DOJ and FBI open a criminal media leak investigation to hold accountable those responsible for sharing potentially classified and other sensitive information to the press.
    The senators also made public an award given to Special Agent Walter Giardina, an FBI employee who worked on aspects of the Mueller and Jack Smith investigations, which he received for investigating Trump.

    Read the full letter and attached legally protected whistleblower disclosures HERE. 
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Collins, Reed Lead Bipartisan Celebration of Public Schools Week

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to strengthen public education and support students, teachers, families and communities nationwide, U.S. Senator Jack Reed joined U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to officially recognize Public Schools Week this week, from February 24-28, 2025.  Public schools are open to every child and supporting public school systems strengthens our nation.

    To kick things off, Senators Collins and Reed offered a bipartisan resolution celebrating the achievements of our public schools and honoring the significant contributions and accomplishments of students, parents, educators, and education advocates.

    There are nearly 100,000 public schools in the U.S. that provide free instruction to the public, operated by a public school district. These public schools serve students in K-12, as well as provide career and technical education and adult education.  Overall, public schools make up about 85 percent of all American schools and 87 percent of all children attend a public school.

    “Public schools are the foundation of our democracy, where kids are put on a path towards reaching their full potential and are prepared to shape America’s future.  They are unifying places of opportunity where kids with different backgrounds, beliefs, and abilities come together for the common purpose of learning and getting a healthy start.  Every child deserves a great education.  That means we must invest in public schools and reject proposals to cut funding for our public schools.  We need to stand strong in support of public education that is for everyone and teaches everyone to think critically, engage in the world around them, and value their community and country,” said Senator Reed, whose father served as a custodian for the Cranston Public School system.

    Rolling out nationwide, Public Schools Week is an opportunity to honor the history and impact of publicly funded education.  Many national education groups representing teachers, principals, superintendents, parents, civil rights and disability advocates, and religious organizations join in highlighting the importance of U.S. public schools and the positive difference they make in shaping the future of our nation.

    There are a host of ways to join the celebration, such as:

    • Sharing your public school success story on social media.  #PublicSchoolsWeek
    • Wearing your local public school gear with pride.
    • Thanking a teacher, principal, or public school staff member. 

    The Collins-Reed Senate resolution states:

    Designating the week of February 24 through February 28, 2025, as ‘‘Public Schools Week’’.

    Whereas public education is a significant institution in a 21st-century democracy;

    Whereas public schools in the United States educate students about the values and beliefs that hold the individuals of the United States together as a nation;

    Whereas public schools prepare young individuals of the United States to contribute to the society, economy, and citizenry of the country;

    Whereas 87 percent of children in the United States attend public schools;

    Whereas Federal, State, and local lawmakers should—

    (1) prioritize support for strengthening the public schools of the United States;

    (2) empower superintendents, principals, and other school leaders to implement, manage, and lead school districts and schools in partnership with educators, parents, and other local education stakeholders; and

    (3) support services and programs that are critical to helping students engage in learning, including counseling, extracurricular activities, and mental health support;

    Whereas public schools should foster inclusive, safe, and high-quality environments in which children can learn to think critically, problem solve, and build relationships;

    Whereas public schools should provide environments in which all students have the opportunity to succeed beginning in their earliest years, regardless of who a student is or where a student lives;

    Whereas Congress should support—

    (1) efforts to advance equal opportunity and excellence in public education;

    (2) efforts to implement evidence-based practices in public education; and

    (3) continuous improvements to public education;

    Whereas every child should—

    (1) receive an education that helps the child reach the full potential of the child; and

    (2) attend a school that offers a high-quality educational experience;

    Whereas Federal funding, in addition to State and local funds, supports the access of students to inviting classrooms, well-prepared educators, and services to support healthy students, including nutrition and afterschool programs;

    Whereas teachers, paraprofessionals, and principals should provide students with a well-rounded education and strive to create joy in learning;

    Whereas superintendents, principals, other school leaders, teachers, paraprofessionals, and parents make public schools vital components of communities and are working hard to improve educational outcomes for children across the country; and

    Whereas the week of February 24 through February 28, 2025, is an appropriate period to designate as ‘‘Public Schools Week’’: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the Senate designates the week of February 24 through February 28, 2025 as ‘‘Public Schools Week’’.

    A companion Public Schools Week resolution is being introduced in the U.S. House of Representative by Reps. Mark Pocan (WI-02), Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE assists Fayetteville Police Department with arrest of an alien charged with 3 murders

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    February 25, 2025Fayetteville, NC, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

    FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. —U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement assisted the Fayetteville Police Department in the arrest and interview of Mackendy Darbouze, a 26-year-old citizen and national of Haiti, on Feb. 21. Police responded to a 911 call at a residence, and a search revealed three deceased individuals and a bloody knife. Darbouze was arrested by the responding officers.

    ICE was contacted and responded immediately to assist with the interview of Darbouze as he only spoke Creole and was unable to be interviewed in English. The interview was completed using ICE interpreter and translation services, and Darbouze was charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

    Darbouze entered the United States legally in July 2024. He was transported to the Cumberland County Jail. ICE has placed a detainer on him.

    This is a joint investigation with ICE and the Fayetteville Police Department.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in North and South Carolina communities on X: HSI_Charlotte.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Sues Skilled Nursing Company, Executives and Consultant for Fraudulent Billing

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Complaint alleges systematic fraudulent billing of Medicare and Medicaid for unnecessary care at skilled nursing facilities in Massachusetts and Connecticut

    BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed a joint complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office under the federal and Massachusetts False Claims Acts against 19 skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) in Massachusetts and Connecticut and their present and former management companies, RegalCare Management Group, LLC and RegalCare Management 2.0 (together “RegalCare”); RegalCare’s owner, Eliyahu Mirlis and an executive, Hector Caraballo; and RegalCare’s therapy consultant, Stern Therapy Consultants (Stern).  

    SNFs are inpatient facilities that provide transitional care to patients following a hospital stay. Federal healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, reimburse providers for medically reasonable and necessary services rendered to SNF patients. Both the federal and Massachusetts False Claims Acts prohibit individuals or entities from submitting, or causing the submission of, false claims for payment and false statements material to a claim for payment from the respective governments.  

    The complaint alleges that, between 2017 and 2023, RegalCare – at the direction of Mirlis and Caraballo and aided by Stern – fraudulently caused the submission of claims to Medicare and Medicaid (via MassHealth and its managed care organizations) for medically unreasonable and unnecessary services to patients of RegalCare’s SNFs. The defendants’ scheme allegedly resulted in millions of dollars in damages to the Medicare and Medicaid programs.  

    Specifically, the complaint alleges that RegalCare, at Mirlis’ direction, systematically caused Medicare to be billed for the highest level of skilled rehabilitation therapy services at RegalCare’s SNFs in Massachusetts and Connecticut, despite patients not clinically needing those services. Caraballo facilitated Mirlis’ plan by ensuring that RegalCare’s patient records supported billing for such services – including altering and amending records despite knowing he was not authorized to do so at his licensing level, without having assessed or spoken to the patients, and often without having spoken to clinicians about the changes he personally made. The United States also alleges that RegalCare, through Mirlis and Caraballo, improperly directed RegalCare’s third-party billing company to bill Medicare for the highest-level skilled rehabilitation therapy services before the underlying necessary clinical documentation was even complete.

    The complaint further alleges that Stern, a New York long-term care consulting company, conspired with RegalCare to cause the submission of fraudulent claims to Medicare by scheduling therapists to provide unnecessary services, contrary to patients’ medical needs, to justify billing at the highest-level. When Stern therapists refused to provide services they deemed unnecessary or unreasonable, Stern managers threatened to take employment action against those therapists to pressure them to capitulate.

    “As alleged, these defendants drained Medicare and Medicaid of millions of dollars and put vulnerable patients at risk – making them undergo unnecessary, and sometimes painful, services,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “When facilities prioritize profits over patient well-being, they endanger those in their care and undermine the integrity of our healthcare system. This office will continue to hold accountable those who exploit federal healthcare programs at the expense of patients and taxpayers alike.”

    “I am proud of our team’s partnership with the USAO in this case, which advances elder justice and safeguards crucial nursing home funds,” said Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell. “My office will continue to work aggressively to protect our elders and hold companies accountable that seek to harm them or violate our false claim laws.”

    “Taxpayers who fund the Medicare and Medicaid programs expect skilled nursing facilities to bill those programs honestly and accurately,” said Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “The integrity of our federal health care system is undermined when that expectation is not met, and we will continue to thoroughly pursue allegations of False Claims Act violations.”

    Massachusetts contends that RegalCare, directed by Mirlis and Caraballo, submitted inflated claims to MassHealth for long-term care services performed for patients of RegalCare’s SNFs in Massachusetts. Between 2017 and 2023, RegalCare operated SNFs in Amesbury, Danvers, Greenfield, Harwich, Holyoke, Lowell, Quincy, Saugus, Taunton and Worcester.  The complaint alleges that RegalCare, Mirlis and Caraballo altered documentation to support billing for increased long term care services even though the patient did not clinically need the additional services.  

    The governments filed their complaint in a lawsuit filed by a whistleblower under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Acts. Under those laws, a private citizen can sue on behalf of the United Staes or Massachusetts and share in any recovery. The United States and Massachusetts also are entitled to intervene in the lawsuit, as they have done in this case, which is captioned United States and Commonwealth of Massachusetts ex rel. McCormick v. RegalCare Management 2.0, LLC, et al.  

    U.S. Attorney Foley, AG Campbell and HHS-OIG SAC Coviello made the announcement today. This matter is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Sharobem, Andrew Caffrey, Olivia Benjamin and Diane Seol of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit and Assistant Attorney General Scott Grannemann of the Attorney General’s Office’s Medicaid Fraud Division.  

    The claims in which the United States and Massachusetts have intervened are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI Announce Federal Charges in Domestic Altercation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Pinedale man faces federal charges for assault with a dangerous weapon following an altercation on the Navajo Nation.

    According to the indictment, on February 17, 2025, Laberto Curley, 26, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly attacked the victim with a razor blade knife at a residence in Pinedale, New Mexico, after a verbal argument escalated into a physical altercation. As a result, the victim sustained a laceration to the neck and was transported to the hospital.

    Curley will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted of the current charges, Curley faces up to 10 years in prison.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Flushing Line Passageway at Grand Central

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the Metropolitan Transportation Authority completed a brand-new staircase and passageway to the Flushing Line platform and widened staircases at Grand Central Terminal. This is part of the larger Grand Central-42 Street Circulations Improvement Project, that will improve passenger flow and minimize congestion for 480,000 daily customers on the 7 train line.

    Crews built a new staircase to the Flushing Line platform and widened existing staircases 25 percent to connect the Lexington Passageway to the existing passageway to improve customer flow. The project also included work to keep the existing infrastructure in a state of good repair, including repairing visible concrete, steel, and paint defects on the Flushing Line cavern roof arch and walls and upgrades to fire alarms and other utilities at the Flushing, Lexington and Shuttle. The project created more than 250 jobs and took advantage of weekend outages along the 7 line to minimize impact to customers.

    “New York is home to an incredibly advanced and innovative transit system — and we’re always looking to push the bounds even further,” Governor Hochul said. “The new passageway will improve the connectivity and flow of traffic through Grand Central, and I am dedicated to bettering our riders’ transit experience and keeping New York moving.”

    MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “A thousand tons of dirt and 140 feet of Manhattan Schist couldn’t get in the way of another on-time and under-budget MTA capital project. We are blasting through bedrock and red tape to deliver more for New Yorkers, no matter what’s happening in Washington.”

    MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer said, “The new passageway and widened staircases will greatly improve passenger circulation for hundreds of thousands of daily riders at one of the busiest transfer points in our system. Our team delivered this project on time and under budget, all while minimizing impact on the customers who rely on it. It’s a huge achievement and we’re proud to share it with our customers today.”

    New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said, “Critical station upgrades, security updates, and state of good repair work will only improve the already well performing 7 Line. When this project is completed, customers will benefit from better service and a safer experience at Grand Central.”

    The project was made possible by the East Midtown Rezoning that was adopted by the City Council a few years ago, which allowed property rent revenues to fund transit improvements.

    Last year, crews descended a 55-foot shaft to begin removing 1,000 tons of dirt and performed controlled blasts through the bedrock to create the new passageway beneath 42 St — all while service still operated safely elsewhere in the terminal. Video of the project’s work can be seen here.

    As part of the station improvements, which totaled $74.2 million, artwork along the length of the platform was cleaned, re-lit and received a retrofit to accommodate the new stairs. Artist Christopher Sproat’s functional sculpture titled “V-Beam” was commissioned by MTA Arts & Design and installed in 2000. The artwork is suspended from the ceiling with a cantilevered design.

    “V-Beam” is made up of large linear stainless-steel assemblages that contain standard station lighting, signage, air circulation, and safety equipment. Sproat explains, “Rather than make an artistic or decorative statement and add it to the station so that the viewer knows ‘this is art,’ I chose to make the entire space exuberant and unique.” “V-Beam” includes a stand-alone “chandelier” sculpture on the east platform mezzanine.

    The entire Grand Central-42 Street Circulations Improvement Project, which will be completed later this year, includes replacement of eight escalators, a new fare control area, new wayfinding, lighting, signage, and architectural improvements on the mezzanine, along with additional work to keep existing infrastructure in a state of good repair. Ongoing improvements at the 42 St Connection include making the 42 St-Bryant Park BDFM station fully accessible to all in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), retail upgrades, state of good repair work and upgrades to fire alarms and other utilities.

    Grand Central Partnership President and CEO Fred Cerullo said, “The much-anticipated completion of this new Flushing Line passageway and staircase is welcome news for the half million subway riders who travel daily on the 7 — many of whom begin or end their daily commute at Grand Central-42 St. We appreciate all of the recent and continuing public and private initiatives to dramatically improve the customer experience of commuters, residents, and visitors in the Midtown East community.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Files Amicus Brief to Continue Supporting the Affordable Care Act’s Preventive Care Mandate

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, as part of a coalition of 23 attorneys general, filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) preventive care mandate, which requires private insurers to cover at no cost certain preventive services — such as routine examinations, blood pressure checks, and cholesterol screenings — as determined by the Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force). In their brief, the attorneys general argue that the Fifth Circuit erred in finding the Task Force violates the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The attorneys general also argue that the preventive services provision has significantly improved public health outcomes throughout the country by expanding access to important and often life-saving care. An opinion holding the Task Force’s recommendations unenforceable would put these advancements at risk, as health insurers and plans would be free to reinstate out-of-pocket fees for essential preventive care.

    “Preventive care is the cornerstone of a healthy society and, in many instances, can be the difference between life and death,” said Attorney General Bonta. “That’s why I’m standing with my fellow attorneys general in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the Fifth Circuit’s decision and preserve the no-cost preventive health care services upon which millions of Americans rely.”

    Numerous studies confirm that, after the ACA’s preventive care mandate was enacted, the use of preventive care increased across the board. These services improve public health outcomes by enabling medical professionals to identify and treat illnesses earlier, and in some cases, prevent them.

    In the amicus brief, the coalition writes that:

    • The structure of the Task Force, which is an independent, volunteer panel of national experts in disease prevention that makes evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services, does not violate the Appointments Clause. Task Force members serve as inferior officers subordinate to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
    • If the Supreme Court were to conclude that the Task Force members are principal officers, nothing requires the Court to cast aside the no-cost insurance coverage requirements that millions of Americans rely on.
    • Prohibiting the enforcement of recommendations by the Task Force will inevitably lead to a significant decline in public health outcomes, undermining preventive care efforts and access to lifesaving care.

    Attorney General Bonta has been committed to defending the ACA’s preventive care mandate. In January 2022, Attorney General Bonta joined a coalition of attorneys general in filing an amicus brief with a Texas federal district court in support of the mandate. In March 2023, the federal district court in Texas struck down part of the mandate in a ruling Attorney General Bonta described as “dangerous and short-sighted” for Americans. In June 2023, Attorney General Bonta again joined a coalition of attorneys general in filing an amicus brief with the Fifth Circuit in support of the mandate. In March 2024, he issued a statement on the Fifth Circuit hearing oral argument. In October 2024, Attorney General Bonta joined a group of attorneys general urging the Supreme Court to grant the government’s petition for writ of certiorari.

    In filing this most recent amicus brief, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. 

    A copy of the brief can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Sentencing of Church Rock Man for Shooting at Law Enforcement Officers

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Church Rock man was sentenced to 147 months in prison for charges related to an attack on law enforcement officers on the Navajo Nation.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    According to court documents, after midnight on July 22, 2023, officers from the Navajo Police Department and New Mexico State Police responded to reports of a man shooting a gun and making threats near a residence on the Navajo Nation. While investigating, they came under fire from an unknown direction and from an unknown assailant and were forced to take cover. Officers reported hearing the bullets whiz past them and landing in the dirt nearby.

    After a prolonged search, Elijah Touchine, 24, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was arrested later that day at a gun store in Gallup, where he was attempting to purchase additional firearms, including an AR-15and ammunition. During questioning, Touchine admitted to shooting at the officers and expressed a desire to “kill every [expletive] police”.

    A search of the vehicle Touchine was in revealed a .40 caliber handgun and ammunition in a black bag. Investigators also recovered multiple .40 caliber shell casings at the scene of the shooting.

    Upon his release from prison, Touchine will be subject to three years of supervised release.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau Investigation investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigation, New Mexico State Police, Gallup Police Department, and McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Marshall is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Flywire Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal-Year 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Fourth Quarter Revenue Increased 17.0% Year-over-Year

    Fourth Quarter Revenue Less Ancillary Services Increased 17.4% Year-over-Year

    Company Provides First Quarter and Fiscal-Year 2025 Outlook

    BOSTON, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Flywire Corporation (Nasdaq: FLYW) (“Flywire” or the “Company”) a global payments enablement and software company, today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal-year ended December 31, 2024.

    “Our fourth quarter results capped off another strong year for Flywire as we continued to grow the business while navigating a complex macro environment with significant headwinds,” said Mike Massaro, CEO of Flywire, “We continued to focus on business and bottom line growth and generated 17% revenue growth and 680 bps adjusted EBITDA margin growth in the quarter.”

    “Looking ahead, we’re focused on driving effectiveness and discipline throughout our global business. We will be undertaking an operational and business portfolio review. The operational review will help ensure we are efficient and effective, with a focus on driving productivity and optimizing investments across all areas. Our comprehensive business portfolio review will focus on Flywire’s core strengths – such as complex, large-value payment processing, our global payment network, and verticalized software.”

    “One of the efficiency measures we are undertaking is a restructuring, which impacts approximately 10% of our workforce. It is difficult to say goodbye to so many FlyMates, and I want to thank them for their hard work as we endeavor to support them throughout this transition.”

    “As we refocus our teams on areas that we believe will drive Flywire’s future growth, we are excited to announce the acquisition of Sertifi, which is expected to accelerate the expansion of our fast-growing Travel vertical. Sertifi augments our travel product offering with a leading dedicated hotel property management system integration and expands our footprint across more than 20,000 hotel locations worldwide.”

    Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights:

    GAAP Results

    • Revenue increased 17.0% to $117.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $100.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.
    • Gross Profit increased to $74.3 million, resulting in Gross Margin of 63.2%, for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to Gross Profit of $61.8 million and Gross Margin of 61.5% in the fourth quarter of 2023.
    • Net loss was ($15.9) million in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to net income of $1.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.

    Key Operating Metrics and Non-GAAP Results

    • Number of clients grew by 16%year-over-year, with over 180 new clients added in the fourth quarter of 2024.
    • Total Payment Volume increased 27.6% to $6.9 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $5.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023.
    • Revenue Less Ancillary Services increased 17.4% to $112.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $96.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.
    • Adjusted Gross Profit increased to $75.6 million, up 19.1% compared to $63.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Adjusted Gross Margin was 67.0% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to 66.1% in the fourth quarter of 2023.
    • Adjusted EBITDA increased to $16.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $7.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Our adjusted EBITDA margins increased 680 bps year-over-year to 14.8% in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    2024 Business Highlights:

    • We signed more than 800 new clients in fiscal-year 2024 surpassing the 700 new clients signed in fiscal-year 2023.
    • Our transaction payment volume grew by 23.6% year-over-year to $29.7 billion
    • Our global education vertical, continued to strengthen in a number of core geographies, with U.K. region outperformance driven by new clients and net revenue retention; accompanied by growth in our network of international recruitment agents to further connect our ecosystem of clients, agents and payers
    • Our travel vertical grew into our second largest vertical in terms of revenue less ancillary services, and we generated strong growth most notably with EMEA and APAC based Tour Operators and DMC providers, particularly in our new sub vertical of ocean experiences.
    • Our business-to-business vertical continued its strong organic growth, enhanced by the acquisition of Invoiced.
    • We further optimized our global payment network to enable vertical growth with a focus on new acceptance rails, market localization and expanded network coverage. This included continued support of our strategic payer markets like India and China, enhancing our offerings to digitize the disbursement of student loans from India and strengthening partnerships with India’s three largest banks.
    • We repurchased 2.3 million shares for approximately $44 million, inclusive of commissions, under our share repurchase program announced on August 6th, 2024.

    First Quarter and Fiscal-Year 2025 Outlook:

    “Effective execution drove both revenue growth and margin expansion in 2024, in spite of significant macroeconomic challenges” said Flywire’s CFO, Cosmin Pitigoi. “For our 2025 financial outlook, we project revenue less ancillary services growth of 10-14% on an FX-neutral (constant currency) basis, and a 200-400 basis point increase in adjusted EBITDA margin. We expect approximately 3 percentage points of headwind from FX throughout the year.  This guidance excludes the contributions from the Sertifi acquisition, as well as any potential lessening of the macroeconomic headwinds. We are particularly encouraged by the anticipated performance of our combined travel vertical, as well as the emerging B2B vertical, both of which are expected to exceed our historical growth rate for the applicable vertical”

    Based on information available as of February 25, 2025, Flywire anticipates the following results for the first quarter and fiscal-year 2025 excluding Sertifi.

      Fiscal-Year 2025
    FX-Neutral GAAP Revenue Growth 9-13% YoY
    FX-Neutral Revenue Less Ancillary Services Growth 10-14% YoY
    Adjusted EBITDA* Margin Growth +200-400 bps YoY
       
      First Quarter 2025
    FX-Neutral GAAP Revenue Growth 10-13% YoY
    FX-Neutral Revenue Less Ancillary Services Growth 11-14% YoY
    Adjusted EBITDA* Margin Growth +300-600 bps YoY
       

    “Based on Sertifi’s historical financials, we currently expect the acquisition to provide incremental revenue of $3.0-4.0 million and $30.0-40.0 million in revenue  in the first quarter and fiscal year 2025, respectively.  In addition, we currently expect the Sertifi acquisition to have a flat to slightly positive effect on adjusted EBITDA and positive (low single–digit million) effect on adjusted EBITDA, in the first quarter and fiscal year 2025, respectively, as we plan to invest in the combined solution during 2025.”

    *Flywire has not provided a quantitative reconciliation of forecasted Adjusted EBITDA Margin growth to forecasted GAAP Net Income Margin growth within this earnings release because Flywire is unable, without making unreasonable efforts, to calculate certain reconciling items with confidence. These items include, but are not limited to income taxes which are directly impacted by unpredictable fluctuations in the market price of Flywire’s stock and in foreign currency exchange rates.

    These statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially. Refer to the “Safe Harbor Statement” below for information on the factors that could cause Flywire’s actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements.

    Conference Call

    The Company will host a conference call to discuss fourth quarter and fiscal-year 2024 financial results today at 5:00 pm ET. Hosting the call will be Mike Massaro, CEO, Rob Orgel, President and COO, and Cosmin Pitigoi, CFO. The conference call can be accessed live via webcast from the Company’s investor relations website at https://ir.flywire.com/. A replay will be available on the investor relations website following the call.

    Note Regarding Share Repurchase Program

    Repurchases under the Company’s share repurchase program (the Repurchase Program) may be made from time to time through open market purchases, in privately negotiated transactions or by other means, including through the use of trading plans intended to qualify under Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in accordance with applicable securities laws and other restrictions, including Rule 10b-18. The timing, value and number of shares repurchased will be determined by the Company in its discretion and will be based on various factors, including an evaluation of current and future capital needs, current and forecasted cash flows, the Company’s capital structure, cost of capital and prevailing stock prices, general market and economic conditions, applicable legal requirements, and compliance with covenants in the Company’s credit facility that may limit share repurchases based on defined leverage ratios. The Repurchase Program does not obligate the Company to purchase a specific number of, or any, shares.  The Repurchase Program does not expire and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time without notice at the Company’s discretion.

    Key Operating Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Flywire uses non-GAAP financial measures to supplement financial information presented on a GAAP basis. The Company believes that excluding certain items from its GAAP results allows management to better understand its consolidated financial performance from period to period and better project its future consolidated financial performance as forecasts are developed at a level of detail different from that used to prepare GAAP-based financial measures. Moreover, Flywire believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide its stakeholders with useful information to help them evaluate the Company’s operating results by facilitating an enhanced understanding of the Company’s operating performance and enabling them to make more meaningful period to period comparisons. There are limitations to the use of the non-GAAP financial measures presented here. Flywire’s non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Other companies, including companies in Flywire’s industry, may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes.

    Flywire uses supplemental measures of its performance which are derived from its consolidated financial information, but which are not presented in its consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures include the following:

    • Revenue Less Ancillary Services.  Revenue Less Ancillary Services represents the Company’s consolidated revenue in accordance with GAAP after excluding (i) pass-through cost for printing and mailing services and (ii) marketing fees. The Company excludes these amounts to arrive at this supplemental non-GAAP financial measure as it views these services as ancillary to the primary services it provides to its clients.
    • Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted Gross Margin.  Adjusted gross profit represents Revenue Less Ancillary Services less cost of revenue adjusted to (i) exclude pass-through cost for printing services, (ii) offset marketing fees against costs incurred and (iii) exclude depreciation and amortization, including accelerated amortization on the impairment of customer set-up costs tied to technology integration. Adjusted Gross Margin represents Adjusted Gross Profit  divided by Revenue Less Ancillary Services. Management believes this presentation supplements the GAAP presentation of Gross Margin with a useful measure of the gross margin of the Company’s payment-related services, which are the primary services it provides to its clients.
    • Adjusted EBITDA.  Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA further adjusted by excluding (i) stock-based compensation expense and related payroll taxes, (ii) the impact from the change in fair value measurement for contingent consideration associated with acquisitions,(iii) gain (loss) from the remeasurement of foreign currency, (iv) indirect taxes related to intercompany activity, (v) acquisition related transaction costs, and (vi) employee retention costs, such as incentive compensation, associated with acquisition activities. Management believes that the exclusion of these amounts to calculate Adjusted EBITDA provides useful measures for period-to-period comparisons of the Company’s business. We calculate adjusted EBITDA margin by dividing adjusted EBITDA by Revenue Less Ancillary Services.
    • Revenue Less Ancillary Services at Constant Currency.  Revenue Less Ancillary Services at Constant Currency represents Revenue Less Ancillary Services adjusted to show presentation on a constant currency basis. The constant currency information presented is calculated by translating current period results using prior period weighted average foreign currency exchange rates.  Flywire  analyzes Revenue Less Ancillary Services on a constant currency basis to provide a comparable framework for assessing how the business performed excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations.
    • Non-GAAP Operating Expenses – Non-GAAP Operating Expenses represents GAAP Operating Expenses adjusted by excluding (i) stock-based compensation expense and related payroll taxes, (ii) depreciation and amortization, (iii) acquisition related transaction costs, if applicable, (iv) employee retention costs, such as incentive compensation, associated with acquisition activities and (v) the impact from the change in fair value measurement for contingent consideration associated with acquisitions.

    These non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered as indicators of performance in isolation from or as a substitute for the Company’s revenue, gross profit, gross margin or net income (loss), or operating expenses prepared in accordance with GAAP and should be read only in conjunction with financial information presented on a GAAP basis. Reconciliations of Revenue Less Ancillary Services, Revenue Less Ancillary Services at Constant Currency, Adjusted Gross Profit, Adjusted Gross Margin, Adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP Operating Expenses to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure are presented below. Flywire encourages you to review these reconciliations in conjunction with the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures for each of the periods presented. In future fiscal periods, Flywire may exclude such items and may incur income and expenses similar to these excluded items. Flywire has not provided a quantitative reconciliation of forecasted Adjusted EBITDA Margin growth to forecasted GAAP Net Income growth within this earnings release because it is unable, without making unreasonable efforts, to calculate certain reconciling items with confidence. These items include but are not limited to income taxes which are directly impacted by unpredictable fluctuations in the market price of Flywire’s stock and in foreign exchange rates.  For figures in this press release reported on an “FX-Neutral basis,” Flywire calculates the year-over-year impact of foreign currency movements using prior period weighted average foreign currency rates.

    About Flywire

    Flywire is a global payments enablement and software company. We combine our proprietary global payments network, next-gen payments platform and vertical-specific software to deliver the most important and complex payments for our clients and their customers.

    Flywire leverages its vertical-specific software and payments technology to deeply embed within the existing A/R workflows for its clients across the education, healthcare and travel vertical markets, as well as in key B2B industries. Flywire also integrates with leading ERP systems, such as NetSuite, so organizations can optimize the payment experience for their customers while eliminating operational challenges.

    Flywire supports approximately 4,500** clients with diverse payment methods in more than 140 currencies across 240 countries and territories around the world. Flywire is headquartered in Boston, MA, USA with global offices. For more information, visit www.flywire.com. Follow Flywire on X (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn and Facebook.

    **Excludes clients from Flywire’s Invoiced and Sertifi acquisitions

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Flywire’s future operating results and financial position, Flywire’s business strategy and plans, market growth, and Flywire’s objectives for future operations. Flywire intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as, but not limited to, “believe,” “may,” “will,” “potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “target,” “plan,” “expect,” or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions, and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in Flywire’s forward-looking statements include, among others, Flywire’s future financial performance, including its expectations regarding FX-Neutral GAAP Revenue Growth, FX-Neutral Revenue Less Ancillary Services Growth, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin Growth and foreign exchange rates.  Risks that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward looking statements include, but are not limited to: Flywire’s  ability to execute its business plan and effectively manage its growth; Flywire’s cross-border expansion plans and ability to expand internationally; anticipated trends, growth rates, and challenges in Flywire’s business and in the markets in which Flywire operates; the  sufficiency of Flywire’s cash and cash equivalents to meet its liquidity needs;  political, economic, foreign currency exchange rate, inflation, legal, social and health risks, that may affect Flywire’s business or the global economy; Flywire’s beliefs and objectives for future operations; Flywire’s ability to develop and protect its brand; Flywire’s ability to maintain and grow the payment volume that it processes; Flywire’s ability to further attract, retain, and expand its client base; Flywire’s ability to develop new solutions and services and bring them to market in a timely manner; Flywire’s expectations concerning relationships with third parties, including financial institutions and strategic partners; the effects of increased competition in Flywire’s markets and its ability to compete effectively; recent and future acquisitions or investments in complementary companies, products, services, or technologies; Flywire’s ability to enter new client verticals, including its relatively new business-to-business  sector; Flywire’s expectations regarding anticipated technology needs and developments and its ability to address those needs and developments with its solutions; Flywire’s expectations regarding its ability to meet existing performance obligations and maintain the operability of its solutions; Flywire’s expectations regarding the effects of existing and developing laws and regulations, including with respect to payments and financial services, taxation, privacy and data protection; economic and industry trends, projected growth, or trend analysis; the effects of global events and geopolitical conflicts, including without limitation the continuing hostilities in Ukraine and involving Israel; Flywire’s ability to adapt to  changes in U.S. federal income or other tax laws or the interpretation of tax laws, including the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022;  Flywire’s ability to attract and retain qualified employees; Flywire’s ability to maintain, protect, and enhance its intellectual property; Flywire’s ability to maintain the security and availability of its solutions; the increased expenses associated with being a public company; the future market price of Flywire’s common stock; and other factors that are described in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of Flywire’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and available on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov/. Additional factors may be described in those sections of Flywire’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, expected to be filed in the first quarter of 2025. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Flywire undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

    Contacts

    Investor Relations:
    Masha Kahn
    ir@Flywire.com

    Media:
    Sarah King
    Media@Flywire.com

    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
    (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
                   
      Three Months Ended December 31,   Twelve Months Ended December 31,
        2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Revenue $ 117,550     $ 100,545     $ 492,144     $ 403,094  
    Costs and operating expenses:              
    Payment processing services costs   41,384       36,780       177,490       147,339  
    Technology and development   17,370       16,898       66,636       62,028  
    Selling and marketing   33,353       28,830       129,435       107,621  
    General and administrative   31,218       28,065       125,838       107,624  
    Total costs and operating expenses   123,325       110,573       499,399       424,612  
    Loss from operations $ (5,775 )   $ (10,028 )   $ (7,255 )   $ (21,518 )
    Other income (expense):              
    Interest expense   (135 )     (92 )     (538 )     (372 )
    Interest income   4,872       5,638       21,440       13,349  
    Gain (loss) from remeasurement of foreign currency   (13,866 )     7,707       (11,787 )     4,189  
    Total other income (expense), net   (9,129 )     13,253       9,115       17,166  
    Income (loss) before provision for income taxes   (14,904 )     3,225       1,860       (4,352 )
    Provision (benefit) for income taxes   995       1,938       (1,040 )     4,214  
    Net Income (Loss) $ (15,899 )   $ 1,287     $ 2,900     $ (8,566 )
    Foreign currency translation adjustment   (7,330 )     3,731       (3,594 )     3,232  
    Unrealized losses on available-for-sale debt securities, net $ (441 )   $ —     $ 208     $ —  
    Total other comprehensive income (loss) $ (7,771 )   $ 3,731     $ (3,386 )   $ 3,232  
    Comprehensive income (loss) $ (23,670 )   $ 5,018     $ (486 )   $ (5,334 )
    Net loss attributable to common stockholders – basic and diluted $ (15,899 )   $ 1,287     $ 2,900     $ (8,566 )
    Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders – basic $ (0.13 )   $ 0.01     $ 0.02     $ (0.07 )
    Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders – diluted $ (0.12 )   $ 0.01     $ 0.02     $ (0.07 )
    Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic   124,463,252       121,690,938       124,269,820       114,828,494  
    Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted   128,924,166       128,877,877       129,339,462       114,828,494  
                                   
    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands, except share amounts)
           
      December 31,   December 31,
        2024       2023  
    Assets      
    Current assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 495,242     $ 654,608  
    Restricted cash   —       —  
    Short-term investments   115,848       —  
    Accounts receivable, net   23,703       18,215  
    Unbilled receivables, net   15,453       10,689  
    Funds receivable from payment partners   90,110       113,945  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   22,528       18,227  
    Total current assets   762,884       815,684  
    Long-term investments   50,125       —  
    Property and equipment, net   17,160       15,134  
    Intangible assets, net   118,684       108,178  
    Goodwill   149,558       121,646  
    Other assets   24,035       19,089  
    Total assets $ 1,122,446     $ 1,079,731  
           
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity      
    Current liabilities:      
    Accounts payable $ 15,353     $ 12,587  
    Funds payable to clients   217,788       210,922  
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   49,297       43,315  
    Deferred revenue   7,337       6,968  
    Total current liabilities   289,775       273,792  
    Deferred tax liabilities   12,643       15,391  
    Other liabilities   5,261       4,431  
    Total liabilities   307,679       293,614  
    Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)      
    Stockholders’ equity:      
    Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2024 and 2023; and no shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 2023   —       —  
    Voting common stock, $0.0001 par value; 2,000,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023; 126,853,852 shares issued and 122,182,878 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2024; 123,010,207 shares issued and 120,695,162 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2023   13       11  
    Non-voting common stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023; 1,873,320 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023   —       1  
    Treasury voting common stock, 4,670,974 and 2,315,045 shares as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, held at cost   (46,268 )     (747 )
    Additional paid-in capital   1,033,958       959,302  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income   (2,066 )     1,320  
    Accumulated deficit   (170,870 )     (173,770 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   814,767       786,117  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 1,122,446     $ 1,079,731  
                   
    Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
    (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands)
           
      Twelve Months Ended December 31,
        2024       2023  
    Cash flows from operating activities:      
    Net income (loss) $ 2,900     $ (8,566 )
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:      
    Depreciation and amortization   17,363       15,764  
    Stock-based compensation expense   64,933       43,726  
    Amortization of deferred contract costs   972       1,789  
    Change in fair value of contingent consideration   (978 )     380  
    Deferred tax provision (benefit)   (8,794 )     72  
    Provision for uncollectible accounts   (83 )     326  
    Non-cash interest expense   230       298  
    Non-cash interest income   (1,435 )     —  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:      
    Accounts receivable   (5,292 )     (2,082 )
    Unbilled receivables   (4,764 )     (5,394 )
    Funds receivable from payment partners   23,835       (50,975 )
    Prepaid expenses, other current assets and other assets   (5,322 )     (4,279 )
    Funds payable to clients   6,867       86,616  
    Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities   3,302       5,548  
    Contingent consideration   (93 )     (467 )
    Other liabilities   (1,543 )     (1,260 )
    Deferred revenue   (630 )     (871 )
    Net cash provided by operating activities   91,468       80,625  
           
    Cash flows from investing activities:      
    Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired   (45,230 )     (32,764 )
    Purchase of debt securities   (193,927 )     —  
    Sale of debt securities   29,598       —  
    Capitalization of internally developed software   (5,317 )     (5,004 )
    Purchases of property and equipment   (924 )     (1,009 )
    Net cash (used in) investing activities   (215,800 )     (38,777 )
    Cash flows from financing activities:      
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock under public offering, net of underwriter discounts and commissions   —       261,119  
    Payments of costs related to public offering   —       (1,062 )
    Payment of debt issuance costs   (783 )     —  
    Contingent consideration paid for acquisitions   (1,032 )     (1,207 )
    Payments of tax withholdings for net settled equity awards   (797 )     (8,483 )
    Purchases of treasury stock   (43,740 )     —  
    Proceeds from the issuance of stock under Employee Stock Purchase Plan   3,108       2,691  
    Proceeds from exercise of stock options   5,613       10,360  
    Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   (37,631 )     263,418  
    Effect of exchange rates changes on cash and cash equivalents   2,597       (1,835 )
    Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   (159,366 )     303,431  
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year $ 654,608     $ 351,177  
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year $ 495,242     $ 654,608  
                   
    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    (Unaudited) (Amounts in millions, except percentages)
                     
        Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		   Twelve Months Ended
    December 31,
          2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Revenue   $ 117.6     $ 100.5     $ 492.1     $ 403.1  
    Adjusted to exclude gross up for:                
    Pass-through cost for printing and mailing     (4.5 )     (4.0 )     (15.9 )     (19.4 )
    Marketing fees     (0.3 )     (0.4 )     (2.0 )     (2.2 )
    Revenue Less Ancillary Services   $ 112.8     $ 96.1     $ 474.2     $ 381.5  
    Payment processing services costs     41.4       36.8       177.5       147.3  
    Hosting and amortization costs within technology and development expenses     1.9       1.9       7.7       8.4  
    Cost of Revenue   $ 43.3     $ 38.7     $ 185.2     $ 155.7  
    Adjusted to:                
    Exclude printing and mailing costs     (4.5 )     (4.0 )     (15.9 )     (19.4 )
    Offset marketing fees against related costs     (0.3 )     (0.4 )     (2.0 )     (2.2 )
    Exclude depreciation and amortization     (1.3 )     (1.7 )     (5.9 )     (6.7 )
    Adjusted Cost of Revenue   $ 37.2     $ 32.6     $ 161.4     $ 127.4  
    Gross Profit   $ 74.3     $ 61.8     $ 306.9     $ 247.4  
    Gross Margin     63.2 %     61.5 %     62.4 %     61.4 %
    Adjusted Gross Profit   $ 75.6     $ 63.5     $ 312.8     $ 254.1  
    Adjusted Gross Margin     67.0 %     66.1 %     66.0 %     66.6 %
                                     
        Three Months Ended
    December 31, 2024    		   Twelve Months Ended
    December 31, 2024
        Transaction   Platform and
    Other Revenues    		   Revenue   Transaction   Platform and
    Other Revenues    		   Revenue
    Revenue   $ 95.3     $ 22.3     $ 117.6     $ 410.2     $ 81.9     $ 492.1  
    Adjusted to exclude gross up for:                        
    Pass-through cost for printing and mailing     —       (4.5 )     (4.5 )     —       (15.9 )     (15.9 )
    Marketing fees     (0.3 )     —       (0.3 )     (2.0 )     —       (2.0 )
    Revenue Less Ancillary Services   $ 95.0     $ 17.8     $ 112.8     $ 408.2     $ 66.0     $ 474.2  
    Percentage of Revenue     81.0 %     19.0 %     100.0 %     83.4 %     16.6 %     100.0 %
    Percentage of Revenue Less Ancillary Services     84.2 %     15.8 %     100.0 %     86.1 %     13.9 %     100.0 %
                             
        Three Months Ended
    December 31, 2023    		   Twelve Months Ended
    December 31, 2023
        Transaction   Platform and
    Other Revenues    		   Revenue   Transaction   Platform and
    Other Revenues    		   Revenue
    Revenue   $ 81.9     $ 18.6     $ 100.5     $ 329.7     $ 73.4     $ 403.1  
    Adjusted to exclude gross up for:                        
    Pass-through cost for printing and mailing     —       (4.0 )     (4.0 )     —       (19.4 )     (19.4 )
    Marketing fees     (0.4 )     —       (0.4 )     (2.2 )     —       (2.2 )
    Revenue Less Ancillary Services   $ 81.5     $ 14.6     $ 96.1     $ 327.5     $ 54.0     $ 381.5  
    Percentage of Revenue     81.5 %     18.5 %     100.0 %     81.8 %     18.2 %     100.0 %
    Percentage of Revenue Less Ancillary Services     84.8 %     15.2 %     100.0 %     85.8 %     14.2 %     100.0 %
                                                     
    FX Neutral Revenue Less Ancillary Services                      
    (unaudited) (in millions)                            
        Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		       Twelve Months Ended
    December 31,    		    
          2024       2023     Growth Rate     2024       2023     Growth Rate
    Revenue   $ 117.6     $ 100.5       17 %   $ 492.1     $ 403.1       22 %
    Ancillary services     (4.8 )     (4.4 )         (17.9 )     (21.6 )    
    Revenue Less Ancillary Services     112.8       96.1       17 %     474.2       381.5       24 %
    Effects of foreign currency rate fluctuations     (1.1 )     —           (2.3 )     —      
    FX Neutral Revenue Less Ancillary Services   $ 111.7     $ 96.1       16 %   $ 471.9     $ 381.5       24 %
                                                     
    EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA                
    (Unaudited) (in millions)                
        Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		   Twelve Months Ended
    December 31,
          2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Net loss   $ (15.9 )   $ 1.3     $ 2.9     $ (8.6 )
    Interest expense     0.1       0.1       0.5       0.4  
    Interest income     (4.8 )     (5.6 )     (21.4 )     (13.3 )
    Provision for income taxes     1.0       1.9       (1.0 )     4.2  
    Depreciation and amortization     5.0       4.3       18.5       16.4  
    EBITDA     (14.6 )     2.0       (0.5 )     (0.9 )
    Stock-based compensation expense and related taxes     16.8       12.9       65.8       45.2  
    Change in fair value of contingent consideration     0.0       —       (1.0 )     0.4  
    (Gain) loss from remeasurement of foreign currency     13.9       (7.7 )     11.8       (4.2 )
    Indirect taxes related to intercompany activity     0.5       —       0.7       0.2  
    Acquisition related transaction costs     0.1       0.4       0.6       0.4  
    Acquisition related employee retention costs     —       0.1       0.5       0.9  
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 16.7     $ 7.7     $ 77.9     $ 42.0  
                                     
    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Operating Expenses            
    (Unaudited) (in millions)            
                             
        Three Months Ended December 31,   Twelve Months Ended December 31,
    (in millions)   2024   2023   2024   2023
    GAAP Technology and development   $ 17.4     $ 16.9     $ 66.6     $ 62.0  
    (-) Stock-based compensation expense and related taxes     (3.1 )     (2.5 )     (11.8 )     (9.2 )
    (-) Depreciation and amortization     (2.1 )     (2.3 )     (7.4 )     (8.4 )
    (-) Acquisition related employee retention costs     —       0.3       —       (0.5 )
    Non-GAAP Technology and development   $ 12.2     $ 12.4     $ 47.4     $ 43.9  
                   
    GAAP Selling and marketing   $ 33.4     $ 28.8     $ 129.5     $ 107.6  
    (-) Stock-based compensation expense and related taxes     (4.8 )     (3.2 )     (18.3 )     (12.4 )
    (-) Depreciation and amortization     (2.2 )     (1.3 )     (8.2 )     (5.2 )
    (-) Acquisition related employee retention costs     —       (0.2 )     (0.5 )     (0.4 )
    Non-GAAP Selling and marketing   $ 26.4     $ 24.1     $ 102.5     $ 89.6  
                   
    GAAP General and administrative   $ 31.2     $ 28.0     $ 125.8     $ 107.6  
    (-) Stock-based compensation expense and related taxes     (8.9 )     (7.2 )     (35.7 )     (23.6 )
    (-) Depreciation and amortization     (0.8 )     (0.7 )     (3.0 )     (2.8 )
    (-) Change in fair value of contingent consideration     —       —       1.0       (0.4 )
    (-) Acquisition related transaction costs     (0.1 )     (0.4 )     (0.6 )     (0.4 )
    Non-GAAP General and administrative   $ 21.4     $ 19.7     $ 87.5     $ 80.4  
                                     
    Net Margin, EBITDA Margin and Adjusted EBITDA Margin
    (Unaudited) (Amounts in millions, except percentages)
                             
        Three Months Ended
    December 31,    		       Twelve Months Ended
    December 31,    		    
          2024       2023     Change     2024       2023     Change
    Revenue (A)   $ 117.6     $ 100.5     $ 17.1     $ 492.1     $ 403.1     $ 89.0  
    Revenue less ancillary services (B)     112.8       96.1       16.7       474.2       381.5       92.7  
    Net loss (C)     (15.9 )     1.3       (17.2 )     2.9       (8.6 )     11.5  
    EBITDA (D)     (14.6 )     2.0       (16.6 )     (0.5 )     (0.9 )     0.4  
    Adjusted EBITDA (E)     16.7       7.7       9.0       77.9       42.0       35.9  
    Net margin (C/A)     -13.5 %     1.3 %     -14.8 %     0.6 %     -2.1 %     2.7 %
    Net margin using RLAS (C/B)     -14.1 %     1.3 %     -15.4 %     0.6 %     -2.3 %     2.9 %
    EBITDA Margin (D/A)     -12.4 %     2.0 %     -14.4 %     -0.1 %     -0.2 %     0.1 %
    Adjusted EBITDA Margin (E/A)     14.2 %     7.6 %     6.6 %     15.8 %     10.4 %     5.4 %
    EBITDA Margin using RLAS (D/B)     -12.9 %     2.1 %     -15.0 %     -0.1 %     -0.2 %     0.1 %
    Adjusted EBITDA Margin using RLAS (E/B)     14.8 %     8.0 %     6.8 %     16.4 %     11.0 %     5.4 %
                                                     
    Reconciliation of FX Neutral Revenue Growth Guidance to
    FX Neutral Revenue Less Ancillary Services Growth Guidance
                   
      Three Months Ended
    March 31, 2025    		   Year Ended
    December 31, 2025
      Low   High   Low   High
                   
    FX Neutral GAAP Revenue Growth   10 %     13 %     9 %     13 %
                   
    Adjustment for Ancillary Services   1 %     1 %     1 %     1 %
                   
    FX Neutral Revenue Less Ancillary Services Growth   11 %     14 %     10 %     14 %
                                   

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: South Plains Financial, Inc. Announces Stock Repurchase Program

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LUBBOCK, Texas, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — South Plains Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPFI) (“South Plains” or the “Company”), today announced that the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) approved a new stock repurchase program for up to $15.0 million of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Stock Repurchase Program”). The Stock Repurchase Program will conclude on February 21, 2026, subject to the earlier termination or extension of the Stock Repurchase Program by the Board or the $15.0 million designated for the Stock Repurchase Program are depleted.

    Under the Stock Repurchase Program, the Company may repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock from time to time through various means, including open market purchases and privately negotiated transactions. Open market repurchases will be conducted in accordance with the limitations set forth in Rule 10b-18 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and other applicable legal requirements. Repurchases under the Stock Repurchase Program may also be made pursuant to a trading plan under Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, which would permit shares to be repurchased by the Company when the Company might otherwise be precluded from doing so because of self-imposed trading blackout periods or other regulatory restrictions. The extent to which the Company repurchases its shares, and the manner, timing and amount of such repurchases, will depend upon a variety of factors, including the performance of the Company’s stock price, general market and economic conditions, regulatory requirements, availability of funds, and other relevant considerations, as determined by the Company. The Company may, in its discretion, begin, suspend or terminate repurchases at any time prior to the Stock Repurchase Program’s expiration, without any prior notice. The Stock Repurchase Program does not obligate the Company to repurchase any particular number or amount of shares of the Company’s common stock and there is no guarantee as to the exact number or value of shares that will be repurchased by the Company under the Stock Repurchase Program.

    About South Plains Financial, Inc.

    South Plains is the bank holding company for City Bank, a Texas state-chartered bank headquartered in Lubbock, Texas.  City Bank is one of the largest independent banks in West Texas and has additional banking operations in the Dallas, El Paso, Greater Houston, the Permian Basin, and College Station, Texas markets, and the Ruidoso, New Mexico market. South Plains provides a wide range of commercial and consumer financial services to small and medium-sized businesses and individuals in its market areas. Its principal business activities include commercial and retail banking, along with investment, trust and mortgage services. Please visit https://www.spfi.bank for more information.

    Available Information

    The Company routinely posts important information for investors on its web site (under www.spfi.bank and, more specifically, under the News & Events tab at www.spfi.bank/news-events/press-releases). The Company intends to use its web site as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure) promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, investors should monitor the Company’s web site, in addition to following the Company’s press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts.

    The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the Company’s web site is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect South Plains’ current views with respect to future events. Any statements about South Plains’ expectations, beliefs, plans, predictions, forecasts, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believes,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “predicts,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “estimate,” “plans,” “projects,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expects,” “intends” and similar words or phrases. South Plains cautions that the forward-looking statements in this press release are based largely on South Plains’ expectations and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on factors which are, in many instances, beyond South Plains’ control. Factors that could cause such changes include, but are not limited to, the impact on us and our customers of a decline in general economic conditions and any regulatory responses thereto; potential recession in the United States and our market areas; the impacts related to or resulting from uncertainty in the banking industry as a whole; increased competition for deposits in our market areas and related changes in deposit customer behavior; the impact of changes in market interest rates, whether due to a continuation of the elevated interest rate environment or further reductions in interest rates and a resulting decline in net interest income; the lingering inflationary pressures, and the risk of the resurgence of elevated levels of inflation, in the United States and our market areas; the uncertain impacts of ongoing quantitative tightening and current and future monetary policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; increases in unemployment rates in the United States and our market areas; declines in commercial real estate values and prices; uncertainty regarding United States fiscal debt, deficit and budget matters; cyber incidents or other failures, disruptions or breaches of our operational or security systems or infrastructure, or those of our third-party vendors or other service providers, including as a result of cyber attacks; severe weather, natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, geopolitical instability or other external events; the impact of changes in U.S. presidential administrations or Congress, including potential changes in U.S. and international trade policies and the resulting impact on the Company and its customers; competition and market expansion opportunities; changes in non-interest expenditures or in the anticipated benefits of such expenditures; the risks related to the development, implementation, use and management of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learnings; potential costs related to the impacts of climate change; current or future litigation, regulatory examinations or other legal and/or regulatory actions; and changes in applicable laws and regulations. Additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties to which South Plains’ business and future financial performance are subject is contained in South Plains’ most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q on file with the SEC, including the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of such documents, and other documents South Plains files or furnishes with the SEC from time to time, which are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, or implied by the forward-looking statements due to additional risks and uncertainties of which South Plains is not currently aware or which it does not currently view as, but in the future may become, material to its business or operating results. Due to these and other possible uncertainties and risks, the Company can give no assurance that the results contemplated in the forward-looking statements will be realized and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Any forward-looking statements presented herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and South Plains does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in assumptions, new information, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. All forward-looking statements, express or implied, included in the press release are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

    Contact: Mikella Newsom, Chief Risk Officer and Secretary
      (866) 771-3347
       investors@city.bank

    Source: South Plains Financial, Inc.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: SiriusPoint Announces Secondary Offering of 4,106,631 Common Shares by Entities Associated with Daniel S. Loeb and Potential Repurchase of up to 2,000,000 Common Shares by SiriusPoint

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HAMILTON, Bermuda, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SiriusPoint Ltd.  (“SiriusPoint” or the “Company”) (NYSE: SPNT) today announced that entities associated with Daniel S. Loeb (collectively, the “Loeb Entities”) are offering an aggregate of 4,106,631 common shares through a registered secondary offering.

    SiriusPoint has indicated its intent to repurchase an aggregate of up to 2,000,000 of the common shares being offered in the offering at the public offering price. SiriusPoint would cancel any common shares it repurchases in the offering.

    Immediately following the completion of the offering and our previously announced repurchase of all of common shares and warrants currently held by CM Bermuda, it is expected that the Loeb Entities will own approximately 9.67% of SiriusPoint’s issued and outstanding common shares, up from approximately 9.4% prior to the offering and the CM Bermuda repurchase.

    Under the terms of the transaction, the remaining shares owned by the Loeb Entities will be subject to a 90 day lock-up agreement with the sole bookrunning manager.

    Jefferies is acting as the sole bookrunning manager for the proposed offering.

    The offering will be made only by means of an effective registration statement and a prospectus. The Company has previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement (including a prospectus) on Form S-3 (File No. 333-283827), dated December 16, 2024, and a preliminary prospectus supplement for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement, the accompanying prospectus supplement, and other documents the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and this offering. When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from: Jefferies LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022, by telephone at (877) 821-7388, or by email at prospectus_department@jefferies.com. Electronic copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus will also be available on the website of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    Contacts
    Investor Relations
    Liam Blackledge, SiriusPoint
    Liam.Blackledge@siriuspt.com
    + 44 203 772 3082
    Media
    Sarah Hills, Rein4ce
    Sarah.Hills@rein4ce.co.uk
    + 44 7718 882011 

    About SiriusPoint

    SiriusPoint is a global underwriter of insurance and reinsurance providing solutions to clients and brokers around the world. Bermuda-headquartered with offices in New York, London, Stockholm and other locations, we are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (SPNT). We have licenses to write Property & Casualty and Accident & Health insurance and reinsurance globally. Our offering and distribution capabilities are strengthened by a portfolio of strategic partnerships with Managing General Agents and Program Administrators within our Insurance & Services segment. With over $2.6 billion total capital, SiriusPoint’s operating companies have a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) from AM Best, S&P and Fitch, and A3 from Moody’s.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    We make statements in this press release that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the U.S. federal securities laws. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions and conditions affecting the insurance and reinsurance industry; the adequacy of our reserves; fluctuation in the results of operations; pandemic or other catastrophic event; uncertainty of success in investing in early-stage companies, such as the risk of loss of an initial investment, highly variable returns on investments, delay in receiving return on investment and difficulty in liquidating the investment; our ability to assess underwriting risk, trends in rates for property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, competition, investment market and investment income fluctuations; trends in insured and paid losses; regulatory and legal uncertainties; and other risk factors described in SiriusPoint’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2024.

    Except as required by applicable law or regulation, we disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, or new information, data or methods, future events, or other circumstances after the date of this press release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Haiti: Gang violence displaces 6,000 people in one month

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    More than 6,000 people in Haiti have been forced from their homes by gang violence in almost a month, hampering aid efforts by humanitarian agencies, the United Nations warned on Tuesday.

    Since the end of January, a wave of extreme brutality has led to widespread loss of life and the displacement of over 6,000 people in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

    “We are deeply alarmed and appalled by the unacceptable and inhumane intensity of violence in Haiti,” the Haiti Humanitarian Country Team, which is made up of UN agencies, national and international NGOs and donors, said in a statement.

    Entire families were killed in their homes, while others, including children and babies, were shot dead as they tried to escape.

    The killings follow a massacre last December, when an outbreak of violence in the commune of Cité Soleil in Port-au-Prince led to the execution of more than 200 people by the Wharf Jérémie gang.

    UN condemns attacks on civilian population

    According to the UN, the daily life of many Haitians is marked by violence, fear, exhaustion, hunger, disease and an uncertain future. Women, girls and children are increasingly at risk, particularly that of sexual violence.

    By the end of 2024, violence had claimed the lives of at least 5,600 Haitians and displaced more than a million.

    “We condemn in the strongest possible terms any attack against the civilian population and infrastructure, in this case the one that targeted the hospital of the State University of Haiti on February 13. These acts violate human rights and deprive the most vulnerable of essential vital services,” said Humanitarian Coordinator Ulrika Richardson.

    On the ground, the humanitarian community is showing its determination to continue providing life-saving assistance to millions of children, women and men in vulnerable situations.

    Beyond immediate humanitarian assistance, the agencies are also committed to coordinating efforts with development and peacebuilding actors, so that these collective efforts contribute to sustainable solutions that build community resilience.

    “The mobilization actions of the international community in favour of Haiti will continue in order to guarantee the necessary funding to meet urgent needs and restore the dignity of the affected people,” the Humanitarian Country Team stressed.

    © IOM/Antoine Lemonnier

    The UN continues to support people who have been displaced by ongoing violence in Haiti.

    Humanitarian response plan: Over $900 million to save Haitians on the brink

    An appeal for $908 million to help some 3.9 million Haitians facing food insecurity, in a country where basic services are nearing collapse, has been launched by the UN.

    The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) released the 2025 humanitarian response plan on 19 February, which focuses on addressing acute needs caused by recent events, including armed violence, forced displacement, epidemics, and the consequences of natural disasters.

    The funding is earmarked to tackle Haiti’s profound challenges, including mobile teams to help humanitarians deliver aid, protection against sexual exploitation and abuse, and programmes aimed at supporting the country’s long-term development.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Beating the Odds: Patient Survives Life-Threatening Pulmonary Embolism with Help from UConn Health

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    On November 6, 2023, Susan D’Addario of Farmington suffered a sudden and life-threatening pulmonary embolism at home. Her husband Peter immediately sprang into action, performing CPR until first responders arrived. Thanks to his quick thinking and the expert care at UConn John Dempsey Hospital, Susan survived against all odds.

    Once at the hospital, Emergency Department physician, Dr. Matthew Ledford administered a dose of tPA, a medication, commonly used to treat pulmonary embolism as a “clot-busting” drug that breaks down blood clots in the lungs, restoring blood flow.

    Susan was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where her condition remained under close observation. Her care was assumed by ICU physicians Dr. Debapriya Datta, Dr. Raymond Foley, and the ICU team. When her progress remained limited, the team consulted Dr. Juyong Lee, an interventional cardiologist.

    Lee successfully removed the clots blocking her arteries, giving Susan a second chance at life. With only 5% of pulmonary embolism cases surviving such a crisis, Susan knows just how fortunate she is.  She is grateful to Drs. Lee, Datta, Foley, Ledford and the ICU team that included residents, Drs. Erind Muco, Kiroloss Eskander, Bianca Thakker, Daphne Gonzalez Aponte, Dr. Angela Quental, Fellow, Kellie McPherson, RN, Stacy Philips, APP and Randy Lebron, Nurse’s Aide.

    Susan’s story is a testament to the importance of heart health, rapid emergency response, and the dedicated medical professionals who make survival possible. It also highlights the vital role that UConn Health’s cardiovascular experts play in saving lives every day.

    Recently, Susan met Dr. Lee for the first time, and together they spoke with WFSB’s Great Day CT about her experience, pulmonary embolisms, and the critical importance of knowing CPR.

    [embedded content]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shapiro Administration Upgrades Education Hall at Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center to Enhance Student and Visitor Experience

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    February 25, 2025 – Reading, PA

    Shapiro Administration Upgrades Education Hall at Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center to Enhance Student and Visitor Experience

    Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn visited Berks County to celebrate the completion of a $436,000 renovation of C.H. McConnell Environmental Education Hall at Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center. This investment is part of the Shapiro Administration’s broader commitment to modernizing state parks and forests, with $120 million in infrastructure improvements completed since January 2023.

    “Governor Shapiro is making strategic investments to improve our state parks and forests so they remain accessible, educational, and enjoyable for all Pennsylvanians,” said Secretary Dunn. “This renovation at Nolde Forest strengthens our commitment to conservation, education, and community engagement.”

    Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 proposed budget builds on this momentum with $5 million in new funding to expand and improve state parks across Pennsylvania. This includes establishing the Commonwealth’s 125th state park at Laurel Caverns in Fayette County – the first subterranean state park – highlighting the stunning natural beauty of the caverns and further boosting tourism.

    Speakers Include:
    Brent Erb, DCNR Environmental Education Center Manager
    DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn
    Dolores Portner, Direct Service Worker, John Paul II Center
    Dr. Jaime Becker, Alvernia University
    Dr. Jennifer Murray, Reading School District Superintendent
    Berks County Commissioner Christian Y. Leinbach
    State Representative Jacklyn Rusnock
    Senator Judith L. Schwank

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Diginex Limited Launches ESG Rating Support Service to Help Businesses Secure and Improve ESG Scores

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diginex Limited (“Diginex Limited” or the “Company”), an impact technology company specializing in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, is excited to announce the launch of its ESG Ratings Support Service. The innovative service is designed to help businesses secure an ESG score across key rating agencies, including CDP, EcoVadis, Sustainable Fitch, S&P, Sustainalytics, the world’s leading ESG ratings providers. Leveraging Diginex Limited’s expertise and cutting-edge technology, the ESG Ratings Support Service provides companies with a robust framework to optimize their ESG ratings, attract investment, and strengthen stakeholder trust.

    The launch of the ESG Ratings Support Service comes at a pivotal moment as investors, regulators, and consumers increasingly prioritize sustainability. With the global ESG investment market reaching nearly USD 29.86 trillion in 2024, according to a report by Precedence Research, and regulatory bodies like the European Union, SEC as well as many stock exchanges globally who are mandating comprehensive ESG / Climate disclosures, businesses need reliable tools to navigate this landscape. diginexADVISORY’s new ESG Ratings Support Service offers a tailored approach, combining expert consultancy with data-driven insights to help organizations report their ESG data and performance to secure competitive advantages.

    “We believe our ESG Ratings Support Service is a game-changer for companies looking to align sustainability with commercial success,” said Mark Blick, Chief Executive Officer of Diginex Limited. “By providing clear, actionable recommendations into ESG performance, we’re helping businesses to unlock new opportunities for growth and investment. Sustainability isn’t just a compliance exercise—it’s a prerequisite for long-term prosperity.”

    Case Study: Living Style Group’s ESG Performance

    A recent example of the service’s impact is diginexADVISORY’s collaboration with the Living Style Group, a global leader in home decor and furnishings generating over $1.2 billion in yearly revenue. Living Style Group successfully completed its first-ever CDP submission, achieving an impressive B score in Climate on its first attempt.

    “With Diginex’s expert guidance, we successfully navigated our first ESG disclosure, achieving strong CDP scores on our first attempt. Diginex’s structured approach made a complex process seamless,” said Mark Loomis, EVP Quality, Compliance & Sustainability, Living Style Group. “This report marks an important milestone in our journey toward greater sustainability, and we look forward to building on these efforts in the years to come.”

    Through this collaboration, we believe that Living Style Group is now better equipped to attract ESG-focused investors and meet evolving regulatory demands.

    A Comprehensive Solution for ESG Success

    The ESG Ratings Support Service integrates with Diginex’s award-winning diginexESG platform, which supports 17 global frameworks, including GRI (the “Global Reporting Initiative”), SASB (the “Sustainability Accounting Standards Board”), and TCFD (the “Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures”). We expect our clients to benefit from end-to-end support, from materiality assessments and data management to stakeholder engagement and report generation through implementation of the ESG Ratings Support Service.

    The ESG Ratings Service is available immediately to clients worldwide, with options for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large corporations alike.

    About Diginex Limited
    Diginex Limited is a Cayman Islands exempted company, with subsidiaries located in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Diginex Limited conducts operations through its wholly owned subsidiary Diginex Solutions (HK) Limited, a Hong Kong corporation (“DSL”) and DSL is the sole owner of (i) Diginex Services Limited, a corporation formed in the United Kingdom and (ii) Diginex USA LLC, a limited liability company formed in the State of Delaware. DSL commenced operations in 2020, and is a software company that empowers businesses and governments to streamline ESG, climate, and supply chain data collection and reporting. DSL is an impact technology business that helps organizations address the some of the most pressing ESG, climate and sustainability issues, utilizing blockchain, machine learning and data analysis technology to lead change and increase transparency in corporate social responsibility and climate action.

    Diginex’s products and services solutions enable companies to collect, evaluate and share sustainability data through easy-to-use software. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: https://www.diginex.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    Diginex
    Investor Relations
    Email: ir@diginex.com

    European IR Contract
    Jens Hecht
    Phone: +49.40.609186.82
    Email: jens.hecht@kirchhoff.de

    US IR Contract
    Jackson Lin
    Lambert by LLYC
    Phone: +1 (646) 717-4593
    Email: jian.lin@llyc.global

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Flywire Acquires Sertifi to Accelerate Travel Business and Expand Offering to Support Over 20,000 Hotel Locations Globally

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Acquisition expands Flywire’s travel footprint into new subsegments of travel & hospitality, including large-scale branded hotels, luxury hotels, and boutique accommodations

    Sertifi augments Flywire’s travel payments technology with dedicated hotel software integrations into large, global Property Management Systems and Events & Catering systems to automate critical hospitality workflow processes

    Flywire gains the opportunity to accelerate the monetization of several billion dollars of payments volume that Sertifi’s platform has enabled annually

    BOSTON, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Flywire Corporation (Flywire) (Nasdaq: FLYW) a global payments enablement and software company, announced that it has acquired Sertifi, a vertical software and payments platform digitizing hospitality-specific workflows and associated payments. The acquisition is expected to build on Flywire’s existing Travel payments business by adding a new product category that has scaled adoption among some of the world’s largest hotel brands. Sertifi’s hospitality-specific integrations give Flywire immediate access to new subsegments of the global travel industry and they are expected to create additional value for Flywire’s extensive client roster. Sertifi has a successful track record of digitizing hotels’ workflows around events and group booking sales, and a solution that Flywire is expected to scale internationally by leveraging the strength of Flywire’s global go-to-market and partnership expertise around the world. Flywire acquired Sertifi for $330 million funded by a combination of cash and debt.

    Sertifi provides a SaaS platform for the hotel and hospitality industry that empowers both global brands – like Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt – as well as luxury independent hotels – like the Sage Hospitality Group and the Corinthia Hotel, London – to efficiently and securely sign contracts, exchange payment details in an industry-compliant way, and complete payments with their customers. Sertifi does this through deep integrations with leading Catering and Property Management Systems such as Amadeus’s Delphi, Salesforce, Oracle’s OPERA Cloud and OPERA 5, and Infor. Sertifi brings nearly two decades of experience in the hospitality and travel space and a diverse client base that spans 20,000 unique hospitality locations, and was recently named the “Best Payments Processing Software” in the 2025 HotelTechAwards for the second year in a row.

    “The acquisition of Sertifi represents an exciting next phase of growth for our Travel vertical, where our deep industry expertise and global footprint continue to be key differentiators,” said Mike Massaro, CEO of Flywire. “By expanding into a large new subsegment of the hospitality industry with strong ecosystem alignment, and gaining a software solution in the early stages of its payments monetization journey, we are unlocking new growth and innovation opportunities for Flywire.”

    Sertifi has executed on a unique opportunity in hotel workflows to put itself at the nexus of these powerful trends and capitalize on the secular growth in event bookings. The company’s solution simplifies and streamlines events contracting, group bookings, and their associated payments, empowering hotel sales staff to sell faster and deliver a better level of service to their consumers. Sertifi’s deep integrations into the hotel Property Management Systems place it in a unique position to act simultaneously as a revenue-maximizing tool and partner for further innovation to hotel operators everywhere. Flywire’s Travel leadership has developed leading direct distribution capabilities that could accelerate adoption of the Sertifi solution by hotels internationally.

    Historically growing in double digits, Sertifi is expected to grow faster than Flywire’s company average, similar to its existing, fast-growing travel business. Flywire expects Sertifi to add approximately $35-40M of revenue with gross margins similar to those of Flywire in FY 2025. On the bottom line, Flywire expects Sertifi to have positive Adjusted EBITDA, however the anticipated margin percentage will be lower than Flywire’s overall Adjusted EBITDA margin, especially as Flywire expects to invest to grow the combined business for the future. More details will be shared on the upcoming earnings call scheduled for February 25th 2025.

    Resources

    • To learn more about Sertifi and to get a demo, please visit here.
    • To learn more about Flywire’s solutions for the global Travel industry, please visit here.

    About Flywire

    Flywire is a global payments enablement and software company. We combine our proprietary global payments network, next-gen payments platform and vertical-specific software to deliver the most important and complex payments for our clients and their customers.

    Flywire leverages its vertical-specific software and payments technology to deeply embed within the existing A/R workflows for its clients across the education, healthcare and travel vertical markets, as well as in key B2B industries. Flywire also integrates with leading ERP systems, such as NetSuite, so organizations can optimize the payment experience for their customers while eliminating operational challenges.

    Flywire supports approximately 4,500 clients with diverse payment methods in more than 140 currencies across more than 240 countries and territories around the world. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA, USA with global offices. For more information, visit www.flywire.com. Follow Flywire on X , LinkedIn and Facebook.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Flywire’s expectations regarding the expected benefits and synergies of the acquisition of Sertifi, the benefits of Sertifi’s platform, financial results and margins, Flywire’s business strategy and plans, market size, growth and trends. Flywire intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as, but not limited to, “believe,” “may,” “will,” “potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “target,” “plan,” “expect,” or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions, and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in Flywire’s forward-looking statements include, among others, the factors that are described in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of Flywire’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and available on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov/. Additional factors may be described in those sections of Flywire’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, expected to be filed with the SEC in the first quarter of 2025. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Flywire undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

    Contacts

    Media Contact:

    Sarah King
    media@flywire.com

    Investor Relations Contact:

    Masha Kahn
    IR@flywire.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis, Kelly Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Access to Plasma-Based Medicines

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the bipartisan Preserving Life-saving Access to Specialty Medicines in America (PLASMA) Act, legislation to ensure individuals with rare diseases and immunodeficiencies have access to necessary plasma-based medicines. 

    “It is critical patients with rare diseases and immunodeficiencies have uninterrupted access to the life-saving plasma-based medicines they need,” said Senator Tillis. “This commonsense legislation increases access to these innovative medications and ensures they remain affordable for the thousands of Americas who rely on them.” 

    “Patients with rare diseases and immune disorders rely on plasma-based medicines to stay healthy, but right now, too many are facing rising costs and supply challenges,” said Senator Kelly. “By protecting access to these lifesaving medicines, we’re making sure patients can get the treatments they need affordably and without disruption.” 

    “The Alpha-1 Foundation is proud to endorse The PLASMA Act in support of patients with rare diseases, like Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and immunodeficiencies to have access to necessary plasma-based medicines,” said Scott Santarella, President & CEO, Alpha-1 Foundation. “It is vital for our community to have continued access to this life-saving plasma therapy that they receive on a weekly basis.” 

    Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

    “All Americans impacted by rare diseases deserve to have innovative, high-quality health care,” said Representative Hudson. “My legislation will increase access to plasma medicines for our nation’s most vulnerable patients and help save lives.”

    Background:

    North Carolina is home to one of the world’s largest plasma production facilities and more than 30 plasma donor centers across the state, which provide life-saving measures for thousands of Americans. 

    The PLASMA Act would include plasma-derived medicines in a phase-in process for the Part D redesign the Inflation Reduction Act already has in place for other drugs Congress recognized as unique. Beginning in 2031, manufacturers would pay the full rebate amount following annual rebate increases, protecting vulnerable beneficiaries’ supply of plasma-derived medicines and avoiding skyrocketing costs for patients. 

    In the United States, over 125,000 patients living with rare and life-threatening diseases rely on sustained access to plasma derived medicinal products to treat their lifelong health conditions. These rare and chronic diseases include Primary Immunodeficiencies, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency; for most patients there are no effective, alternative therapies available. 

    The PLASMA Act is endorsed by top national and international health organizations, including the Immune Deficiency Foundation, Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association, Alpha-1 Foundation, and GBS | CIDP Foundation International.

    Full text of the legislation is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven, Shaheen & Moran Introduce Legislation to Bolster Air Traffic Control Workforce

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    02.25.25

    Bipartisan Legislation Would Strengthen Enhanced AT-CTI Program, Improve ATC Recruitment, Training & Retention

    WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced the Air Traffic Control (ATC) Workforce Development Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation to address ATC staffing shortages, improve working conditions and ensure the safe transportation of people and goods within U.S. airspace. Among other priorities, the legislation would:

    • Expand the ATC workforce training pipeline by codifying and strengthening the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program.
      • The bill authorizes $20 million per year for grants to AT-CTI schools to invest in curriculum, high-fidelity simulators, faculty and classroom supplies.
      • The legislation also removes disincentives that discourage retired air traffic controllers from working as instructors at AT-CTI schools.
      • Currently, four schools, including the University of North Dakota (UND), have been selected for the Enhanced AT-CTI program, under which graduates are immediately eligible for hire by the FAA and to begin localized training at an air traffic facility.
    • Authorize the procurement and placement of Tower Simulator Systems at ATC facilities nationwide, supporting more efficient certification of ATC trainees.
    • Require the FAA to develop Air Traffic Controller recruitment and retention incentive programs.
    • Support the development of mental health services equipped to address the particular stressors faced by the ATC workforce.

    “Without an adequate workforce of qualified air traffic controllers, air travel cannot function in a safe and efficient manner, a reality made clear by recent aviation tragedies and accidents,” said Senator Hoeven. “Despite efforts to boost recruitment, our nation has been unable to overcome attrition in the ATC workforce, and more needs to be done. Accordingly, our legislation expands the capacity of schools like UND to get more controllers into FAA towers and radar facilities, while providing better benefits to support workers and boost recruitment and retention. We worked hard to secure UND as a leader in the Enhanced AT-CTI program, and now we’re working to provide more resources to accelerate training, reduce the strain on our existing workforce and ensure the American public can trust in the safety of our air transportation system.”

    “Increasingly frequent near-misses and close calls over the last several years—coupled with recent aviation tragedies like the one last month in D.C.—are sobering reminders that we must do more to keep our skies safe,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation with Senator Hoeven to expand the air traffic controller workforce pipeline, enhance training facilities and equipment, improve recruitment and retention efforts and more. I hope this bill moves quickly so we can address the shortage of air traffic controllers and strengthen aviation safety.”

    “Our national air space system relies on technology and individuals working in tandem to keep our skies safe and operating efficiently, and air traffic controllers are essential to that system,” said Senator Moran. “The training, hiring and retention of this critical workforce ought to be a continued priority of Congress, and I am pleased to join my colleagues in introducing legislation to support the current and future air traffic control industry. Continued investments in the programs and infrastructure supporting air traffic controllers will help to address workforce needs and keep our flying public safe.”

    “The National Air Traffic Controllers Association thanks Senators Hoeven and Shaheen for their leadership on the important issues of training, recruiting, and retaining air traffic controllers and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with Congress and the Administration on these critical matters.” – The National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

    “The University of North Dakota is proud to support the ATC Workforce Development Act. As the demand for air traffic controllers continues to rise, this bill represents a significant step forward in advancing their education and training through innovative technologies. By fostering a skilled workforce, this legislation will enhance the security of our airspace and uphold the reputation of air travel as the safest mode of transportation.” –Robert J. Kraus, Dean, John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, University of North Dakota.

    A summary of the legislation and the full bill text can be found here and here, respectively. The legislation builds upon several years of work between Senators Hoeven and Shaheen to support the Air Traffic Control workforce and address ATC understaffing. Most recently, they sent a lettercalling on the FAA to urgently work with Congress to address ATC staffing shortages, in light of the tragic aviation accident at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C. Previously, Senators Hoeven and Shaheen:

    • Worked to include provisions in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 that require the FAA to use a more accurate staffing model developed by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO).
      • The bill also sets an updated minimum hiring target for new air traffic controllers.
    • Authored the Air Traffic Controller Hiring Reform Act, which was signed into law as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and required the FAA to prioritize the hiring of veterans and graduates of FAA Certified Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) schools, like the University of North Dakota, as Air Traffic Controllers.

    The legislation is supported by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA), Airlines for America (A4A), American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), and Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA).

    MIL OSI USA News –