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Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI USA: At Senate Hearing, Top VA Doctor Reveals to Senator Hassan That He Has Seen No Analysis of How Trump Plan to Slash VA Staffing Will Impact Veterans’ Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Maggie Hassan

    WASHINGTON – Today during a hearing in the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) pressed the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) acting Chief Medical Officer, Thomas O’Toole, MD, about the risk to veterans’ care from the Trump Administration’s plan to fire 80,000 employees from the VA – nearly one in five employees. Dr. O’Toole admitted that he has not seen any analysis of how these mass firings would affect veterans’ care, revealing a troubling lack of thought behind a plan that could jeopardize the ability of veterans across the country to receive the health care, support, and benefits that they have earned and deserve.

    To watch Senator Hassan’s hearing questions, click here.

    Senator Hassan began by explaining how she has been asking VA officials and nominees if they can guarantee that the Trump Administration’s plan to fire 80,000 VA employees will not result in longer wait times for veterans to get appointments and receive care.

    Senator Hassan asked Dr. O’Toole point-blank: “Have you seen or been provided with any analysis as to how firing 80,000 VA employees might affect veterans’ care?” Dr. O’Toole responded, “I have not.” When Senator Hassan asked if he had been directed to perform or oversee any analysis on the cuts and the impact to care, he did not answer that he had.

    “I continue to be concerned, then, about the Trump Administration’s policies of hiring freezes, firings, and general disruption,” concluded Senator Hassan. “It’s really difficult to see how the chaos that is churning is going to help recruit and retain mental health professionals that our veterans really deserve access to.”

    Senator Hassan had previously pressed Mark Engelbaum, a top VA official, to answer questions about the firings, but he refused to commit that the employee terminations would not delay or negatively impact care for veterans.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski, Gillibrand Press Hegseth on DOD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski

    04.29.25

    Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sent a bipartisan letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth expressing their concern about possible Department of Defense guidance that would significantly alter, or even terminate, the Department’s sexual assault prevention and response (SAPR) services. The senators noted that multiple reports have indicated that changes to SAPR may be coming, and raised the risk these changes pose to decades of efforts to end sexual assault and sexual harassment in the Department.

    The senators wrote, “As staunch advocates for improving SAPR efforts, to include the historic and bipartisan reforms to military justice, we are writing to express our deep concern with the mere possibility of significant alterations or termination of SAPR regulations. There can be no ambiguity in the Department’s position on ending sexual misconduct across the services, and any lack of clarity risks casting a chilling effect across the services.”

    The senators noted that during his confirmation process, Secretary Hegseth had publicly acknowledged that “the Department must do better to train and ingrain the fact that sexual abuse and assault is not tolerated in the force” and had also declared that “[e]very servicemember deserves the opportunity to serve their nation without fear of harassment or assault.”

    The full text of the letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth can be found here and is also available below:

    Dear Secretary Hegseth,

    Over the last week, our offices received multiple reports of pending Department of Defense guidance that would significantly alter, or even terminate, large portions of the Department’s sexual assault prevention and response (SAPR) services. According to these reports, SAPR guidelines are included in a list recently circulated by Deputy Secretary Feinberg for review and potential cancellation. As staunch advocates for improving SAPR efforts, to include the historic and bipartisan reforms to military justice, we are writing to express our deep concern with the mere possibility of significant alterations or termination of SAPR regulations. There can be no ambiguity in the Department’s position on ending sexual misconduct across the services, and any lack of clarity risks casting a chilling effect across the services. 

    This topic arose during your confirmation process, and we agree with your Advanced Policy Questions (APQ) response to the Senate Armed Services Committee that “the Department must do better to train and ingrain the fact that sexual abuse and assault is not tolerated in the force.” Meaningful progress toward this goal is fundamentally incompatible with any effort to dismantle those SAPR-related programs and regulations that are already in place. Even minor reductions risk compromising decades of progress toward ending sexual abuse and harassment in the Department. Prompt action is essential to reinforcing victims’ belief in the words of their leadership.      

    As you have stated, “[e]very servicemember deserves the opportunity to serve their nation without fear of harassment or assault.” Yet this “fear” inevitably takes hold in environments where victims do not feel protected from their abusers or supported by their leadership. Thus, we request immediate action to eliminate any ambiguity and clarify the Department of Defense’s position. Consistent with your previous commitment to “ensuring high-level focus on this issue,” we encourage you to make public assurances that victims of sexual misconduct will be supported, that offenders will be held accountable, and that no changes will be made to reduce the Department’s SAPR services. The readiness of our forces and the security of our nation depend on a swift and unequivocal response.                                        

    Sincerely,

    U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

    U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski

    cc:

    Mr. Jules Hurst, Performing the Duties of Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

    The Honorable Daniel Driscoll, Secretary, Department of the Army

    The Honorable John Phelan, Secretary, Department of the Navy

    The Honorable Gary Ashworth, Acting Secretary, Department of the Air Force

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Introduces Bill to Help Working Families Afford Their First Homes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced the Affordable Housing Bond Enhancement Act to make homeownership more accessible for working families by improving tax credits for first-time homebuyers. The bill improves access to affordable home ownership by expanding tax credits for first-time buyers and making it easier for MRB borrowers to finance home improvements.
    “Buying a home is increasingly out of reach for first-time buyers. This addresses that issue,” said Dr. Cassidy. “By giving them a boost, we get them on the ladder of homeownership.”
    “The National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) thanks Senators Bill Cassidy and Cortez Masto for introducing the Affordable Housing Bond Enhancement Act, which will expand access to homeownership for low- and moderate-income home buyers,” said Stockton Williams, executive director of NCSHA. “Mortgage Revenue Bonds and Mortgage Credit Certificates historically have been the state housing finance agencies’ primary tool for financing affordable homeownership opportunities for working families, having helped nearly four million home buyers combined. This legislation will enact a series of simple, commonsense reforms to the MRB and MCC programs that will allow HFAs to better stretch their resources and help more underserved households.”
    Cassidy was joined by U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) in reintroducing the legislation.
    Specifically, the Affordable Housing Bond Enhancement Act would: 

    Simplify the application process for MRB and MCC programs and make commonsense changes to use tax benefits to aid working families and add additional flexibility for borrowers.
    Allow homeowners to refinance their mortgages with MRB loans, lowering costs for homeowners.
    Increase the amount of money homeowners with MRB loans can direct towards making home health and safety improvements, including possibly adding accessible bathrooms and ramps to help older and disabled Americans remain in their homes, as well as supporting energy efficiency upgrades or disaster mitigation renovations. The bill raises the current limit of $15,000 to $75,000.
    Provide housing finance agencies with the flexibility to extend loan and credit periods to account for delays due to the pandemic, supply chain issues, or construction shortages. 
    Only require the issuers, not the lenders, to report MCC recipients to the IRS for tax accuracy and shorten the lengthy 90-day public notice requirement to 30 days to encourage more widespread use of the MCC program.

    This legislation is endorsed by the National Council of State Housing Agencies, LISC, National Association of REALTORS, National Association of Homebuilders, and the Mortgage Bankers Association. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Applauds Woodside Energy’s Historic $17.5 Billion LNG Investment in Louisiana

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) applauded the announcement that the Woodside Energy Group Ltd, will invest $17.5 billion in Calcasieu Parish for a greenfield liquified natural gas (LNG) export facility. The project, called Louisiana LNG, is the largest single greenfield investment and the largest single foreign direct investment in Louisiana history. Louisiana LNG will support 15,000 jobs during construction and thousands more per year once operational.
    “History is being made today because Louisiana has become a place companies want to invest in,” said Dr. Cassidy. “President Trump’s first 100 days have been filled with great wins for American energy and jobs. Louisiana has been at the center of it.”
    Louisiana LNG is the first greenfield LNG export facility to advance since President Trump rolled back the Biden-Harris administration’s disastrous pause on LNG export permits. 
    Background
    In January, Cassidy released a statement applauding President Trump’s executive order to lift the Biden administration’s harmful pause on liquefied natural gas (LNG) export permitting. Last year, immediately following the Biden-Harris administration’s announcement that they would freeze pending applications for LNG export permits, Cassidy led 25 of his Republican colleagues in condemning the decision. Cassidy also delivered a speech on the U.S. Senator floor blasting the decision.
    He also introduced with U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) the LNG Security Act to reverse President Biden’s LNG export ban and require the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to approve LNG exports to all countries that have imported, currently import, or are capable of importing Russian or Iranian natural gas. Additionally, he introduced the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act, which depoliticizes the export of American liquefied natural gas. It eliminates the requirement for the DOE to authorize exports and instead gives the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) sole authority over the approval process. 
    In February 2024, Cassidy penned an op-ed with U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in the Houston Chronicle underscoring the devastating economic, environmental, and national security impacts of the Biden-Harris decision to freeze new LNG export projects.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Incentivizes Domestic Automobile Production

    Source: The White House

    INCENTIVIZING DOMESTIC AUTO PRODUCTION: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation to protect national security by incentivizing domestic automobile production and reducing American reliance on imports of foreign automobiles and their parts.

    • The proclamation modifies the tariff action on automobiles and automobile parts by encouraging manufacturers to assemble their automobiles in the U.S., thereby reducing American reliance on foreign imports of automobiles and automobile parts.
    • It offers an offset to a portion of tariffs for automobile parts used in U.S.-assembled vehicles equal to 3.75% of the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of a manufacturer’s U.S. production for the next year (April 3, 2025 to April 30, 2026), and 2.5% of U.S. production the year after (May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027).
      • These percentages reflect the duty that would be owed when a 25% duty is applied to 15% of the value of a U.S.-assembled automobile in the first year, and to 10% of the value of a U.S.-assembled automobile in the second year.
      • All other automobile imports will still be subject to the 25% tariff.
      • For instance, if a manufacturer builds a car in the U.S. that has 85% U.S. or USMCA content, the manufacturer effectively will not owe tariffs on that vehicle’s production for the first year.
      • If a manufacturer builds a car in the U.S. that is 50% U.S. or USMCA content and 50% imported from elsewhere, then instead of paying the tariff on the full 50% of the imported car parts, the manufacturer effectively only pays on 35% for the first year.
    • The proclamation sets strict penalties for importers who claim tariff reduction in excess of approved amounts.
    • This modified action will more effectively address the threat to national security by reducing reliance on foreign manufacturing, strengthening U.S. vehicle assembly operations, boosting domestic R&D, and creating American jobs, all of which are essential to a strong defense industrial base.

    MAINTAINING A RESILIENT DOMESTIC INDUSTRIAL BASE: President Trump is taking further action to ensure the U.S. can sustain its domestic industrial base and meet national-security needs. 

    • The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities and choke points in global supply chains, undermining our ability to maintain a resilient domestic industrial base.
    • Legislation, pre-existing trade agreements like the USMCA, revisions to the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, and subsequent negotiations have not sufficiently mitigated the threat to national security posed by imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts.
    • Foreign automobile industries, bolstered by unfair subsidies and aggressive industrial policies, have expanded, while U.S. production has stagnated.
    • In 1985, American-owned facilities in the United States manufactured 11.0 million automobiles, representing 97% of overall domestic (American- and foreign-owned) production of automobiles.
    • In 2024, Americans bought approximately 16 million cars, SUVs, and light trucks, and 50% of these vehicles were imports (8 million).
      • Of the other 8 million vehicles assembled in America and not imported, the average domestic content is conservatively estimated at only 50% and is likely closer to 40%.
      • Therefore, of the 16 million cars bought by Americans, only 25% of the vehicle content can be categorized as Made in America.
    • The United States trade deficit in automobile parts reached $93.5 billion in 2024.
    • Currently, the U.S. automobile and automobile parts industry (American-owned and foreign-owned firms) employs approximately one million U.S. workers.
    • Employment in automotive parts manufacturing totaled approximately 553,300 jobs in 2024, a decline of 286,000 jobs or 34% since 2000.
    • In 2023, Research and Development (R&D) by American-owned automobile manufacturers amounted to only 16% of global R&D spending. R&D by American-owned firms lagged behind the EU, which controlled 53% of global R&D.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: 418TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST LANDING AND THE RAISING OF THE CAPE HENRY CROSS

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-center”>BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    A PROCLAMATION

    Four hundred and eighteen years ago, more than 100 men completed a grueling 144-day voyage from the countryside of England to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in search of opportunity in the New World.
    Commissioned by King James I and the Virginia Company of London, these intrepid settlers charted three small ships — the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery — to set sail on a perilous journey across the Atlantic to expand the reach of the English Crown into unknown lands, create a better future for their families, and further the “Glory of His Divine Majesty.”
    Known as the “First Landing,” the seeds of America’s destiny were sown when this courageous band of Christians erected a towering wooden cross at the crest of Cape Henry, Virginia.  Under the First Charter of Virginia, which commissioned the voyage, they consecrated the New World, gave thanks to God for their safe passage, and dedicated the land to His glory.  The raising of the Cape Henry Cross was a visible symbol of the covenant the settlers made on their first day in the New World — for themselves and their posterity — to obey God, seek His blessing, and place their trust in Him.
    Within weeks, the men traveled inland to establish Jamestown — the first permanent English settlement in the New World.  “We hope to plant a nation where none before hath stood,” one early settler sang in a ballad.  In the months and years that followed, the settlers at Jamestown would face grave dangers and extraordinary challenges, including a severe drought, starvation, and disease.  By the first year’s end, only 38 of the original 104 men had survived.  Yet, by the grace of God, Jamestown endured and the American spirit of courage, strength, and determination was born.
    Today, a majestic granite cross stands on those same hallowed shores as a testament to the steadfast Christian belief of the Jamestown settlers that God’s grace abides, His mercy is abundant, and His glory is everlasting.  Our Nation honors the heroic souls whose faithful devotion and uncommon courage more than 400 years ago foreshadowed the birth of the greatest Republic in the history of the world — and it is in their memory that we pledge to forge a future that always celebrates our history, honors our heritage, and glorifies our God Almighty. 
    More than four centuries after the First Landing, we prayerfully renew our covenant to always be one Nation under God and to always seek His blessing and protection.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 29, 2025, as a day in celebration of the 418th anniversary of the First Landing and the Raising of the Cross at Cape Henry, Virginia, by the Jamestown settlers.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
     
     
     
                                   DONALD J. TRUMP
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Amendments to Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts Into the United States

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-center”>BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    A PROCLAMATION

    1.  On February 17, 2019, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) transmitted to me a report on his investigation into the effects of imports of passenger vehicles (sedans, sport utility vehicles, crossover utility vehicles, minivans, and cargo vans) and light trucks (collectively, automobiles) and certain automobile parts (engines and engine parts, transmissions and powertrain parts, and electrical components) (collectively, automobile parts) on the national security of the United States under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862) (section 232).  Based on the facts considered in that investigation, the Secretary found and advised me of his opinion that automobiles and certain automobile parts are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States.
    2.  In Proclamation 9888 of May 17, 2019 (Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts Into the United States), I concurred with the Secretary’s finding in the February 17, 2019, report that automobiles and certain automobile parts are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States.  I directed the United States Trade Representative (Trade Representative), in consultation with other executive branch officials, to pursue negotiation of agreements to address the threatened impairment of the national security of the United States with respect to imported automobiles and certain automobile parts from certain countries.  The Trade Representative’s negotiations did not lead to any agreements of the type contemplated by section 232.  I also directed the Secretary to monitor imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts and inform me of any circumstances that, in the Secretary’s opinion, might indicate the need for further action under section 232 with respect to such imports.
    3.  In Proclamation 10908 of March 26, 2025 (Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts Into the United States), I found, based on information newly provided by the Secretary, that imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts continued to threaten to impair the national security of the United States and deemed it necessary and appropriate to impose a tariff system to adjust imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts so that such imports will not threaten to impair national security.  The tariffs on automobiles have been in effect since 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 3, 2025; the tariffs on automobile parts are set to go into effect on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 3, 2025. 
    4.  In Proclamation 10908, I also deemed it necessary and appropriate to establish processes to identify and impose tariffs on additional automobile parts to ensure that the tariffs on automobiles and certain automobile parts are not circumvented and that the purpose of this action to eliminate the threat to the national security of the United States by imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts is not undermined.  I directed the Secretary to set up such a process within 90 days of the date of Proclamation 10908.
    5.  In Proclamation 10908, I also directed the Secretary to continue to monitor imports of automobiles and automobile parts, to review the status of such imports with respect to national security, and to inform me of any circumstances that, in the Secretary’s opinion, might indicate the need for further action by the President under section 232.  The Secretary has advised me that additional action is warranted in the interest of meeting the national security objectives outlined in Proclamation 10908.
    6.  In my judgment, it is necessary and appropriate to modify the system of monetary fees and related measures imposed to adjust imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts pursuant to Proclamation 10908 to more effectively eliminate the threat imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts pose on the national security of the United States.
    7.  I determine that the modified system, by linking the ultimate monetary fee imposed on imports of automobile parts to the imports’ use in assembly of automobiles within the United States, in the way and on the timeline described below, will adjust imports of automobiles and automobile parts and more effectively eliminate such imports’ threat to impair national security.  I find that the modified system will more effectively eliminate the national security threat because it will more quickly reduce reliance on foreign manufacturing and importation of automobiles and automobile parts; strengthen United States vehicle assembly operations by encouraging companies to expand domestic production capacity, which is critical to a strong domestic defense industrial base; shift manufacturing activity into the United States; increase domestic automotive research and development so that American-owned producers can produce cutting-edge technologies that are essential to the United States defense industrial base and our military superiority; create jobs in the automotive industry that increase the number of employees in the domestic automotive industry; and ensure that other benefits of production are concentrated in the United States. 
    8.  Section 232 authorizes the President to adjust the imports of an article and its derivatives that are being imported into the United States in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States so that such imports will not threaten to impair national security.
    9.  Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), authorizes the President to embody in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) the substance of statutes affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import restriction.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code; section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended; and section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, do hereby proclaim as follows:
    (1)  To more effectively eliminate the threat to impair national security posed by imports of automobiles and automobile parts, I find that it is necessary to modify the system imposed in Proclamation 10908 by reducing duties assessed on automobile parts accounting for 15 percent of the value of an automobile assembled in the United States for 1 year and equivalent to 10 percent of that value for an additional year as follows:
    (a)  For automobiles assembled in the United States, automobile manufacturers shall be eligible to receive an import adjustment offset amount applicable to section 232 duties on automobile parts based on the following schedule:
    (i)   The automobile manufacturer may apply for an import adjustment offset amount equal to 3.75 percent of the aggregate Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) value of all automobiles assembled in the United States from April 3, 2025, through April 30, 2026.
    (ii)  The automobile manufacturer may apply for an import adjustment offset amount equal to 2.5 percent of the aggregate MSRP value of all automobiles assembled in the United States from May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027.
    (b)  The percentage rate provided in subsection (i) reflects the total duty that would be owed when a 25 percent duty is applied to parts accounting for 15 percent of an automobile’s MSRP value.  The percentage rate provided in subsection (ii) reflects the total duty that would be owed when a 25 percent duty is applied to parts accounting for 10 percent of an automobile’s MSRP value. 
    (c)  Only automobiles that undergo final assembly in the United States are eligible to be included in this calculation.  The manufacturer’s import adjustment offset amount may only be used by importers of record authorized by that manufacturer, and the amount may only be used to offset tariff liability related to that manufacturer’s automobile parts tariff liability under Proclamation 10908.  Should a manufacturer’s import adjustment offset amount exceed the total amount attributable to that manufacturer’s automobile parts tariff liability under Proclamation 10908, the relief is capped at the total amount of that manufacturer’s automobile parts tariff liability under Proclamation 10908, and the manufacturer may not use the additional amount above that cap to offset any other tariff liability.  A manufacturer with an approved import adjustment offset amount may determine the importers of record eligible to decrement against that manufacturer’s import adjustment offset amount, and that list of importers of record may include suppliers in that manufacturer’s supply chain for automobiles assembled in the United States if the manufacturer so chooses.
    (2)  (a)  Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary shall establish a process by which manufacturers seeking an import adjustment offset amount shall submit to the Secretary:
    (i)    documentation certifying the number of automobiles the manufacturer projects it will assemble in the United States, as well as a list of all plant locations where the projected automobiles will undergo final production;
    (ii)   documentation certifying the manufacturer’s projected cost of tariffs due to imported automobile parts subject to Proclamation 10908, broken down by tariff costs the manufacturer will incur directly and tariff costs the manufacturer will incur from its suppliers;
    (iii)  documentation detailing the total import adjustment offset amount requested within the schedule determined by the Secretary in accordance with this proclamation;
    (iv)   documentation identifying the importer(s) of record, including importer of record numbers, eligible to use that manufacturer’s import adjustment offset amount, as well as the amount of the manufacturer’s offset amount allotted to each importer of record; and
    (v)    a certification, signed by a senior officer of the manufacturer, attesting under penalty of perjury that the information submitted under subsections (i) through (iv) is true, complete, and accurate to the best of the manufacturer’s knowledge, and that the manufacturer has conducted reasonable due diligence to verify the accuracy of the assertions and facts contained in its submissions.
    (b)  Upon verification of the completeness and accuracy of a manufacturer’s submission and the manufacturer’s eligibility, the Secretary shall approve the application and notify U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with the information necessary for CBP to administer and implement the manufacturer’s import adjustment offset amount, including importer of record number(s) for the importer(s) eligible to use each offset amount and the approved import adjustment offset amount.  CBP shall confer the approved offset amount to the approved importer(s) of record using processes and mechanisms consistent with CBP’s operational framework and tariff administration procedures, including offset against current tariff obligations due at the time of entry, or other lawful methods.
    (3)  The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Commissioner of CBP, shall issue such regulations, guidance, and procedures as necessary to carry out the provisions of this proclamation and Proclamation 10908, and may establish standards for determining United States content and for validating manufacturer certifications.
    (4)  The Secretary, in consultation with the United States International Trade Commission and CBP, shall determine whether modifications to the HTSUS are necessary to effectuate this proclamation and may make such modifications through notice in the Federal Registerif needed.
    (5)  CBP shall begin providing approved importers with an import adjustment offset amount as soon as practicable and may request information from importers of record as necessary to implement a particular manufacturer’s import adjustment offset amount. 
    (6)  Should an importer claim and receive any import adjustment offset amount from CBP in excess of the amount approved by the Secretary, CBP may assess monetary penalties in the maximum amount permitted by law.
    (7)  The Secretary shall continue to monitor imports of automobiles and automobile parts.  The Secretary also shall, from time to time, in consultation with any senior executive branch officials the Secretary deems appropriate, review the status of such imports with respect to national security.  The Secretary shall inform the President of any circumstances that, in the Secretary’s opinion, might indicate the need for further action by the President under section 232.  The Secretary shall also inform the President of any circumstance that, in the Secretary’s opinion, might indicate that the duty rate provided for in Proclamation 10908, or any proclamation issued pursuant thereto, is no longer necessary.
    (8)  Any provision of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that is inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation is superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.  This proclamation shall apply in accordance with the Executive Order of April 29, 2025 (Addressing Certain Tariffs on Imported Articles).
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
    twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Addressing Certain Tariffs on Imported Articles

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-left”>
    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is hereby ordered:

    Section 1.  Purpose.  The United States has imposed tariffs under various statutory authorities and through a number of Executive Orders and proclamations to protect national security and address unusual and extraordinary threats to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.  Although each of these actions, as listed in section 2 of this order, serves separate and distinct policy purposes, I have now determined that, to the extent these tariffs apply to the same article, these tariffs should not all have a cumulative effect (or “stack” on top of one another) because the rate of duty resulting from such stacking exceeds what is necessary to achieve the intended policy goals.  To avoid the cumulative effect of overlapping tariffs on certain articles, this order sets out the procedure for determining which of multiple tariffs shall apply to an article when that article is subject to more than one of the actions listed in section 2 of this order.

    Sec. 2.  Applicability.  This order shall apply only to the administration of tariffs imposed through the following actions and subsequent amendments to those tariffs:
    (a)  Proclamation 10908 of March 26, 2025 (Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts Into the United States);
    (b)  Executive Order 14193 of February 1, 2025 (Imposing Duties To Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border), as amended by Executive Order 14197 of February 3, 2025 (Progress on the Situation at Our Northern Border), Executive Order 14226 of March 2, 2025 (Amendment to Duties To Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border), and Executive Order 14231 of March 6, 2025 (Amendment to Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border);
    (c)  Executive Order 14194 of February 1, 2025 (Imposing Duties To Address the Situation at Our Southern Border), as amended by Executive Order 14198 of February 3, 2025 (Progress on the Situation at Our Southern Border), Executive Order 14227 of March 2, 2025 (Amendment to Duties To Address the Situation at Our Southern Border), and Executive Order 14232 of March 6, 2025 (Amendment to Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Southern Border);
    (d)  Proclamation 9704 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States), as amended by Proclamation 9980 of January 24, 2020 (Adjusting Imports of Derivative Aluminum Articles and Derivative Steel Articles Into the United States), and Proclamation 10895 of February 10, 2025 Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States); and
    (e)  Proclamation 9705 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), as amended by Proclamation 9980 of January 24, 2020 (Adjusting Imports of Derivative Aluminum Articles and Derivative Steel Articles Into the United States), and Proclamation 10896 of February 10, 2025 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States).

    Sec. 3.  Non-Stacking of Tariff Measures.  (a)  Notwithstanding any provision of any action listed in section 2 of this order, tariffs for articles subject to tariffs under the actions listed in section 2 of this order shall apply as follows: 
              (i)    An article subject to tariffs pursuant to the action listed in section (2)(a) of this order shall not be subject to additional tariffs on that article pursuant to the actions listed in sections 2(b) through 2(e) of this order.
             (ii)   An article subject to tariffs pursuant to the actions listed in section 2(b) or 2(c) of this order shall not be subject to additional tariffs on that article pursuant to the actions listed in section 2(d) or 2(e) of this order. 
             (iii)  An article subject to tariffs pursuant to the actions listed in section 2(d) of this order shall be subject to additional tariffs on that article pursuant to the actions listed in section 2(e) of this order, provided the article otherwise satisfies all conditions necessary for application of those additional tariffs; likewise, an article subject to tariffs pursuant to the actions listed in section 2(e) of this order shall be subject to additional tariffs on that article pursuant to the actions listed in section 2(d) of this order, provided the article otherwise satisfies all conditions necessary for application of those additional tariffs.
         (b)  Subsection (a) of this section shall not be construed to diminish the validity of any action listed in section 2 of this order.  Each action listed in section 2 of this order remains independently valid and enforceable, except that the duty rates provided by these actions shall not be cumulative when the conditions outlined in subsection (a) of this section are met.
         (c)  If an imported article is subject to both a tariff imposed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and one or more tariffs imposed pursuant to an action or actions not listed in section 2 of this order, then the tariff imposed on the article pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be cumulative with the tariff or tariffs imposed pursuant to the action or actions not listed in section 2 of this order.

    Sec. 4.  Non-applicability to Other Tariff Measures.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be interpreted to alter or limit the application of any duties, taxes, fees, or exactions other than those imposed pursuant to the actions listed in section 2 of this order.
    (b)  Accordingly, an article that is subject to duties pursuant to an action listed in section 2 of this order may still be subject to other applicable duties, taxes, fees, exactions, and charges, such as, but not limited to, those set forth in column 1 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS); duties imposed pursuant to section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended; duties imposed pursuant to Executive Order 14195 of February 1, 2025 (Imposing Duties To Address the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China), as amended; and antidumping and countervailing duties.

    Sec. 5.  Implementation.  (a)  The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall take all necessary steps to update guidance, systems, and enforcement mechanisms, including to revise, suspend, or rescind any regulations that may be inconsistent with this order, to reflect the policy set forth in this order.
    (b)  The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury and the United States Trade Representative, shall provide additional guidance as necessary to ensure consistent interpretation and application of the policy set forth in this order.
    (c)  The Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to determine whether changes to the HTSUS are necessary and to coordinate with the Chair of the United States International Trade Commission to implement all necessary changes to execute this order.
    (d)  Any changes to the HTSUS necessary to comply with this order shall be made not later than 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 16, 2025.  This order shall apply retroactively to all entries of merchandise subject to any applicable tariffs outlined in section 2 of this order and made on or after March 4, 2025.  Any refunds will be processed pursuant to applicable laws and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s standard procedures for such refunds.

    Sec. 6.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
              (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
              (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

                                  DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,
        April 29, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: 100 DAYS OF HOAXES: Cutting Through the Fake News

    Source: The White House

    Since President Donald J. Trump took office 100 days ago, it has been a nonstop deluge of hoaxes and lies from Democrats and their allies in the Fake News suffering from terminal cases of Trump Derangement Syndrome.

    In no particular order, here are some of the most egregious hoaxes peddled by the usual suspects so far in President Trump’s second term:

    • HOAX: Fake News CNN attempted to “fact check” President Trump’s claim that the Biden Administration spent millions on “making mice transgender.”
    • FACT: After their so-called “fact check” was thoroughly debunked, they were forced to update it in disgrace and admit the claim was, in fact, true.
    • HOAX: The Fake News claimed the Department of Defense removed Gen. Colin Powell’s name from a list of notable Americans buried at Arlington Cemetery.
    • FACT: No service members’ names were removed from that section — and Gen. Powell’s name remains among those listed.
    • HOAX: Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) claimed “no president” presided over more plane crashes during their first month in office as President Trump.
    • FACT: “There were 55 aviation accidents in the U.S. between Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 21, 2021, and Feb. 17, 2021, compared to 35 during the same period for Trump,” Fox News reported.
    • HOAX: Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) and Chicago Public Schools officials claimed, without bothering to verify, that ICE agents had conducted a “raid” at an elementary school — a false claim echoed by media outlets, including the Chicago Tribune.
    • FACT: It was actually the U.S. Secret Service investigating a threat unrelated to immigration.
    • HOAX: Far-left influencers and other leftist hacks falsely claimed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Elon Musk were out to “cut Social Security.”
    • FACT: They were referencing an interview in which Musk was clearly referring to the tremendous amount of waste, fraud, and abuse within entitlement programs.
    • HOAX: The media smeared DOGE as “young, inexperienced engineers” engineering a “government takeover.”
    • FACT: In reality, DOGE is led by seasoned industry professionals, including successful CEOs who paused their lives to aid in the effort of streamlining government and holding the bureaucracy accountable.
    • HOAX: NBC’s Peter Alexander peddled the lie that “constituents in some traditionally red districts” were unhappy with President Trump’s effort to cut waste, fraud, and abuse in government.
    • FACT: The same “protests” cited by the Fake News were funded and organized by far-left special interest groups.
    • HOAX: NPR claimed NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore — who were stuck on the International Space Station for more than nine months following problems with their spacecraft — were “not stranded.”
    • FACT: NPR itself had described the astronauts as stranded in prior reporting, and only seemed to take issue with the description once President Trump and Elon Musk made it a priority to bring them home.
    • HOAX: A foreign Fake News outlet reported that President Trump “shut down” the British prime minister during a news conference.
    • FACT: In reality, President Trump was simply moving on from a reporter who was trying to goad the two leaders into division.
    • HOAX: NPR falsely claimed the White House was actively searching for a new secretary of defense.
    • FACT: This lie was immediately shut down by multiple Trump Administration officials, including President Trump himself.
    • HOAX: The Fake News attempted to paint illegal immigrant gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia as an innocent “Maryland father” who was unjustly deported by the Trump Administration — and actively censored the truth about him.
    • FACT: Abrego Garcia is a citizen of El Salvador and was deported to his home country amid overwhelming evidence of his gang affiliation.
    • HOAX: Deranged “filmmaker” Michael Moore questioned whether deported illegal immigrants would go on to cure cancer or stop “that asteroid (sic) that’s gonna hit us.”
    • FACT: Moore’s statement was a strong early contender for the dumbest, most ridiculous statement of the year considering those deported illegal immigrants were violent criminals.
    • HOAX: The Fake News portrayed Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Hamas radical who led violent protests at Columbia, as an innocent graduate student with an absolute right to remain in the U.S.
    • FACT: An immigration judge ruled Khalil — who is not a U.S. citizen — can be deported.
    • HOAX: The Financial Times reported that Senior White House Counselor Peter Navarro wanted to remove Canada from the “Five Eyes” intelligence sharing network.
    • FACT: Mr. Navarro immediately shut down this fake story.
    • HOAX: A foreign Fake News reporter claimed President Trump referred to European nations as “parasites.”
    • FACT: President Trump immediately pushed back on this ridiculous claim — as did the Italian prime minister.
    • HOAX: Fake News CNN’s Brianna Keilar implied the Trump Administration was somehow wrong for stopping illegal immigrants from stealing taxpayer dollars in the form of welfare benefits.
    • FACT: Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller summarily embarrassed her with the facts: “The federal government will find EVERY illegal alien who is stealing American taxpayer dollars — and that’s what Americans expect to happen. I don’t even fathom the premise of your question.”
    • HOAX: A favorite refrain of the Fake News is that Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is “anti-vaccine.”
    • FACT: Kennedy debunked the lie in his confirmation hearings: “This has been repeatedly debunked … Bringing this up right now is dishonest.”
    • HOAX: WIRED falsely claimed the Social Security Administration is “shifting its public communication exclusively to X” under President Trump.
    • FACT: Not happening.
    • HOAX: Reuters falsely reported that the Trump Administration “stalled a United Nations program in Mexico aimed at stopping imported fentanyl chemicals from reaching the country’s drug cartels.”
    • FACT: The Department of State is actually trying to expand the initiative.
    • FACT: The Fake News frequently pushed the lie that as part of the Trump administration, Secretary Kennedy would implement a national abortion ban and “restrict or even ban medication abortion without a single act of Congress.”
    • FACT: Secretary Kennedy consistently pledged to implement President Trump’s policies — which include leaving abortion to the states, ending barbaric late-term abortions, protecting conscientious objections, and ending federal funding for abortions.
    • HOAX: Fake News savant Tara Palmeri falsely reported that President Trump’s proposal for Gaza was conceived by Jared Kushner.
    • FACT: This lie was immediately and summarily debunked by the Trump Administration: “The worst reporter in America makes up fake news for clout because she has no real sources. Sit down, dummy.”
    • HOAX: Sen. Chris Murphy, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and media outlets claimed President Trump’s directive to pause radical, wasteful government spending meant an end to Medicaid, food assistance, and other individual assistance programs.
    • FACT: Individual assistance programs — Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, etc. — were explicitly excluded, as was made clear by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and the Office of Management and Budget. Only unnecessary spending — DEI, Green New Scam, NGOs that undermine the national interest — were included in the directive.
    • HOAX: A “physicians advocacy group” was widely cited as opposing President Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
    • FACT: The “advocacy group” was really an astroturfed partisan organization funded by prominent left-wing donors — and accepted fake signatures.
    • HOAX: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and other Democrats pushed the lie that DOGE posted “classified information” on their website.
    • FACT: That alleged “classified information” was really just an employment headcount — which has been publicly available for years.
    • HOAX: Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) claimed Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem called all Venezuelan immigrants “dirtbags.”
    • FACT: Secretary Noem actually called illegal immigrant members of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang “dirtbags,” which is true.
    • HOAX: The New York Times wrote that Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., wanted to “ban fluoride in drinking water” and “reverse … one of the most important public health practices in the country’s history.”
    • FACT: New York Times made no mention of their own reporting that fluoride may be “linked to lower IQ scores in children.”
    • HOAX: Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) repeatedly lied about President Trump “going after” Social Security.
    • FACT: President Trump has repeatedly pledged to protect Social Security and make it more robust for American citizens.
    • HOAX: Sen. Mark Kelley (D-AZ) attempted to scare veterans by shamelessly claiming their care was in jeopardy due to “layoffs” at VA hospitals.
    • FACT: The lie was debunked by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins: “What changes are you talking about? We’ve not had those layoffs… I put $360 million back into community care… It’s concerning to me that a veteran would actually tell stories to veterans that are not true.”
    • HOAX: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) exploited the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport plane crash tragedy by claiming President Trump “froze the hiring” of air traffic controllers.
    • FACT: Air traffic controllers were exempt from the federal hiring freeze.
    • HOAX: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) implied that “cutting” members of an aviation advisory committee was somehow a cause of the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport plane crash tragedy.
    • FACT: The advisory group hadn’t met since 2023 and was comprised of business and union leaders who gave “advice” to the TSA and had nothing to do with actual air travel.
    • HOAX: A far-left writer claimed Elon Musk and DOGE staffers “illegally installed a commercial server to control federal HR databases that contain sensitive personal information, including SSNs, home addresses, and medical histories.”
    • FACT: A top official confirmed “there’s nothing illegal and no server, just more made up tall tales from uninformed career bureaucrats.”
    • HOAX: The Washington Post alleged the Trump Administration was setting “quotas” for immigration authorities — and gave the administration just four minutes to comment before publishing.
    • FACT: As usual, this was a fake story.
    • HOAX: Online liberal activists claimed President Trump “took down” President Obama’s portrait in the White House.
    • FACT: Obama’s portrait was not taken down — it was simply moved only feet away from its previous location.
    • HOAX: Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) claimed Attorney General Pam Bondi created a “weaponizing task force.”
    • FACT: It was a task force to END weaponization at the Department of Justice.
    • HOAX: CBS News reported that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered a “makeup studio” be installed inside the Pentagon.
    • FACT: It was a “totally fake story,” and the alleged studio was really an existing green room with no frills.
    • HOAX: Politico reported the Trump Administration was debating lifting sanctions on Russian energy assets, including the Nord Stream pipeline.
    • FACT: This was debunked by both Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
    • HOAX: An illegal immigrant in U.S. custody “simply disappeared,” The New York Times reported.
    • FACT: The illegal immigrant was a confirmed member of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang. An immigration judge ordered his removal, and he was deported along with other threats to national security.
    • HOAX: The Wall Street Journal alleged that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was receiving sensitive information on a personal phone while in Moscow and that Russian Intelligence must’ve had access to the information.
    • FACT: This was a total fabrication. Special Envoy Witkoff did not even have a personal phone with him in Russia. He had only a government phone; a secure line of communication.
    • HOAX: The Wall Street Journal claimed the Trump Administration “sought to portray” deported criminal illegal immigrant gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia as “violent.”
    • FACT: Abrego Garcia’s own wife filed an order of protection against him and testified that he brutally beat her.
    • HOAX: An AP reporter claimed that FAA staff who worked on “radar, landing and navigational aid maintenance, among others” were “harassed on Facebook” by DOGE.
    • FACT: That was a total lie. DOGE doesn’t have a Facebook page and no professionals who perform critical safety functions were fired.
    • HOAX: The Daily Beast claimed Vice President JD Vance “broke one of the most notorious Vatican rules during his Easter weekend visit” by being photographed in the Sistine Chapel.
    • FACT: Buried all the way down in the 14th paragraph, The Daily Beast admitted the vice president was given special permission by the Vatican to have photographs taken inside the Sistine Chapel.
    • HOAX: Left-wing social media accounts promoted fake, AI-generated audio of Vice President Vance “disparaging Elon Musk in private.”
    • FACT: The audio was debunked as fake.
    • HOAX: The New York Times reported that funding for the Women’s Health Initiative was being slashed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
    • FACT: Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., himself declared this Fake News and recognized the project is “mission critical.”
    • HOAX: Fox News’s Jennifer Griffin gave legitimacy to a hoax from delusional Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth requested nearly $140,000 in “upgrades” to his government residence.
    • FACT: This lie was debunked by Secretary Hegseth — and it was so outrageous, even the AP was forced to admit it was completely fake.
    • HOAX: Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and many others claimed the Supreme Court ordered the return of illegal immigrant gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States.
    • FACT: Even CNN admitted that’s not what happened: “They did not order the administration to return him to the United States … they could’ve said ‘we order him returned,’ but they didn’t do that.”
    • HOAX: Joe Biden accused the Trump Administration of “taking aim at Social Security.”
    • FACT: As usual, he was lying — President Trump has repeatedly pledged to protect Social Security.
    • HOAX: Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) claimed the arrest of a Milwaukee judge who helped an illegal immigrant evade arrest was “unprecedented.”
    • FACT: It wasn’t; it has happened before.
    • HOAX: Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called the arrest of a Milwaukee judge who helped an illegal immigrant evade arrest a “gravely serious and drastic move.”
    • FACT: The judge violated the law by obstructing an ICE arrest of an illegal immigrant.
    • HOAX: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) claimed the arrest of the Milwaukee judge who obstructed an apprehension of a criminal illegal immigrant “threatens the rule of law.”
    • FACT: It literally does the opposite because no one is above the law.
    • HOAX: Politico claimed the Trump Administration “wipe[d] out firefighter health and safety programs.”
    • FACT: The programs remain a top priority for the administration — and will remain intact.
    • HOAX: Sen. Elizabeth Warren claimed that President Trump’s policies make it so “no one wants to make investments in the United States.”
    • FACT: President Trump has secured more than $5 trillion in investments since taking office, which is expected to create more than 451,000 new jobs — and the list is only expected to grow.
    • HOAX: NBC’s Kristen Welker peddled a Fake News hoax that the Trump Administration was deporting children.
    • FACT: Secretary of State Marco Rubio shut down her desperate attempt at a hoax by highlighting how the mother, who was in the country illegally, made that choice all on her own.
    • HOAX: The New York Times implied President Trump was alone in wearing a blue suit to the funeral of Pope Francis.
    • FACT: Photos show dozens of world leaders and other attendees — many situated near President Trump — also wearing blue clothing.
    • HOAX: Teachers’ union boss Randi Weingarten accused President Trump of taking teachers’ salaries and giving them to “billionaires” by cutting the Department of Education.
    • FACT: President Trump has repeatedly called teachers “the most important people in this country” who should be paid more, not less. The federal government does not pay the salaries of teachers; state and local governments do.
    • HOAX: The Fake News and their predictable allies ran with a story that claimed an American citizen was detained by authorities after he informed them he was, in fact, a citizen.
    • FACT: That’s not what happened. The individual “approached Border Patrol in Tucson and stated he had entered the U.S. illegally through Nogales. He said he wanted to turn himself in and completed a sworn statement identifying as a Mexican citizen who had entered unlawfully … A few days later, his family presented documents showing U.S. citizenship. The charges were dismissed, and he was released to his family.”
    • HOAX: PBS News claimed “DOGE operatives attempted to gain access to secure spaces,” implying they attempted to access classified information without approval.
    • FACT: This wasn’t even remotely true.
    • HOAX: The AP falsely claimed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said President Trump is “very good friends” with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
    • FACT: The AP was humiliatingly forced to retract its story, admitting they were wrong. Stephanie Ruhle also had to issue a correction. DNI Gabbard was referencing President Trump’s relationship with Indian PM Narendra Modi.
    • HOAX: Student visa holders should have unfettered access to do whatever they want in the United States.
    • FACT: Wrong. As Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “When you apply to enter the United States and you get a visa, you are a guest… If you tell us when you apply for a visa ‘I’m coming to the U.S. to participate in pro-Hamas events,’ that runs counter to the foreign policy interest of the United States… If you had told us you were going to do that, we never would have given you the visa.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SEC Charges Three Texans with Defrauding Investors in $91 Million Ponzi Scheme

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against Dallas-Fort Worth residents Kenneth W. Alexander II, Robert D. Welsh, and Caedrynn E. Conner for operating a Ponzi scheme that raised at least $91 million from more than 200 investors.

    According to the SEC’s complaint, between approximately May 2021 and February 2024, Alexander and Welsh operated the scheme through a trust controlled by Alexander called Vanguard Holdings Group Irrevocable Trust (VHG). They falsely represented that investors would receive 12 guaranteed monthly payments of between 3% and 6% per month, with the principal investment to be returned after 14 months, according to the complaint. The SEC alleges that Alexander and Welsh held VHG out as a highly profitable international bond trading business with billions in assets, and told investors that the monthly returns were generated from international bond trading and related activities. As alleged, Conner funneled more than $46 million in investor money to VHG through a related investment program that he operated using Benchmark Capital Holdings Irrevocable Trust (Benchmark), which he controlled. According to the complaint, Alexander, Welsh, and Conner also offered investors the option to protect their investments from risk of loss through the purchase of a purported financial instrument they called a “pay order.” In reality, as the SEC alleges, VHG had no material source of revenue, the purported monthly returns were actually Ponzi payments, and the protection offered by the “pay orders” was illusory. Alexander and Conner misappropriated millions in investor funds for personal use, such as Conner’s purchase of a $5 million home, according to the complaint.

    “As we allege, the defendants conducted a large-scale Ponzi scheme that caused devastating losses to investor victims, while Alexander and Conner misappropriated millions of dollars of investor funds,” said Sam Waldon, Acting Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. “We remain unwavering in our commitment to hold individuals accountable for defrauding investors.”

    The SEC’s complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, charges Alexander, Welsh, and Conner with violating the antifraud and registration provisions of the federal securities laws. The SEC seeks permanent injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest, and civil penalties against each of the defendants.

    The investigation was conducted by Catherine Rowsey, Tamara McCreary, and Carol Hahn and was supervised by Nikolay Vydashenko and B. David Fraser of the SEC’s Fort Worth Regional Office. The litigation will be led by Jason Rose and supervised by Keefe Bernstein.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NIH to prioritize human-based research technologies

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

    News Release
    Tuesday, April 29, 2025

    New initiative aims to reduce use of animals in NIH-funded research.

    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is adopting a new initiative to expand innovative, human-based science while reducing animal use in research. Developing and using cutting-edge alternative nonanimal research models aligns with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent initiative to reduce testing in animals. While traditional animal models continue to be vital to advancing scientific knowledge, using new and emerging technologies can offer unique strengths that, when utilized correctly or in combination, can expand the toolbox for researchers to answer previously difficult or unanswerable biomedical research questions.
    “For decades, our biomedical research system has relied heavily on animal models. With this initiative, NIH is ushering in a new era of innovation,” said NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. “By integrating advances in data science and technology with our growing understanding of human biology, we can fundamentally reimagine the way research is conducted—from clinical development to real-world application. This human-based approach will accelerate innovation, improve healthcare outcomes, and deliver life-changing treatments. It marks a critical leap forward for science, public trust, and patient care.”
    Some bodies of research have been inconclusive on the efficacy of translating the results of animal models to human diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. These translational challenges to humans may be due to differences in anatomy, physiology, lifespan, and disease characteristics. While humans and animals may share genes, some studies have shown there could be functional differences between organ and body systems that may result in some translational limitations.
    New and emerging technologies have begun to allow researchers to study health and disease using human information, making them an alternative avenue to yield replicable, translatable, and efficient results either alone or in combination with animal models. These technologies include:

    Organoids, tissue chips, and other in vitro systems that allow scientists to model human disease and capture human variability and patient-specific characteristics.
    Computational models which simulate complex biological human systems, disease pathways, and drug interactions.
    Real-world data that allow scientists to study health outcomes in humans at community and population levels.

    To integrate innovative human-based science, the NIH intends to establish the Office of Research Innovation, Validation, and Application (ORIVA) within NIH’s Office of the Director. The new office will coordinate NIH-wide efforts to develop, validate, and scale the use of non-animal approaches across the agency’s biomedical research portfolio and serve as a hub for interagency coordination and regulatory translation for public health protection.
    ORIVA will expand funding and training in non-animal approaches and awareness of their value in translational success. New funding opportunities will include evaluation criteria that assess methods based on their suitability for the research question, context of use, translatability, and human relevance. Infrastructure for non-animal approaches will also be expanded to make these methods more accessible to researchers.
    In addition, grant review staff will participate in mitigation training to address any possible bias towards animal studies and integrate experts on alternative methods into study sections. NIH will also publicly report on research spending annually to measure progress toward reduction of funding for animal studies and an increase in funding for human-based approaches.
    About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
    NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Urges Congress to Block Dismantling of EPA’s Office of Research and Development Integrated Risk Information System Program

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 14 attorneys general in sending a letter to Congress, urging members to oppose two Congressional bills (H.R. 1415 and S. 623, collectively, the No IRIS Act) that would prohibit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from relying on scientific assessments from the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) program, which are critical to protect against exposure to harmful toxic chemicals. The coalition also urges Congress to oppose the Trump Administration’s plan to dismantle the EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD), which is the research arm of the EPA that provides the scientific basis for EPA’s work.

    “Undermining EPA’s independent science arm and the IRIS program jeopardizes vital research and health protections for Americans across this country,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The environmental challenges we are facing demand action rooted in continued research and facts. That’s why my fellow attorneys general and I are urging Congress to swiftly oppose the No IRIS Act and the proposed destruction of ORD.” 

    ORD and IRIS provide integral scientific and technical resources to states that help them protect residents from environmental pollutants that can cause significant health risks. States, including California, rely on tools, information, and data from ORD and IRIS, and these actions would significantly hamper the ability of both the EPA and the states to protect our residents from environmental harm. For example, California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control uses data from IRIS assessments in determining cleanup standards for hazardous waste sites.

    In the letter, the attorneys general explain IRIS assessments are the result of unbiased scientific review that determines at what level the many chemicals that enter the environment through industry and other sources are harmful to human health. The assessments are used by EPA to set regulatory levels for toxic contaminants and for permitting, cleanups, and emergency responses. Without knowing the level at which these chemicals can cause a risk to human health, such as cancer and birth defects, it would be difficult for EPA to adequately protect the public from exposure, which will jeopardize the health and safety of the entire country. 

    The attorneys general also highlight the importance of ORD and its critical scientific research that is used for a wide range of purposes, including protecting drinking water sources from natural disasters and terrorist attacks, studying air pollution caused by wildfire smoke, and researching PFAS and other emerging contaminants. The reported plan to dissolve ORD and fire more than 1,000 scientists would have immediate consequences and make it difficult for EPA to meet its statutory requirements to use the best available science to inform its work.  

    Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin in sending this letter.

    A copy of the letter can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Guatemalan Man Pleads Guilty to Harboring an Unlawful Alien that Illegally Crossed from Canada into the United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                CONCORD – A Guatemalan man pleaded guilty in federal court in Concord to transporting an unlawful alien, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

                Esdras Aaron Calel-Cumes, 29, a Guatemalan man unlawfully residing in Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to one count of Bringing in and Harboring Certain Aliens. U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante scheduled sentencing for August 11, 2025.

                According to the charging documents, on September 9, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection detected a male, subsequently identified as Luis Felipe Xiloj-Ambrocio, crossing illegally from Canada to the United States in Pittsburg, New Hampshire. Calel-Cumes traveled from Massachusetts to pick up Xiloj-Ambrocio. At the time of their apprehension by Customs and Border Protection, Calel-Cumes and Xiloj-Ambrocio were driving south on U.S. Route 3. 

               Neither Xiloj-Ambrocio nor Calel-Cumes have legal immigration status in the United States. Xiloj-Ambrocio previously pleaded guilty in the District of New Hampshire to one count of illegal entry and has been deported. Calel-Cumes faces deportation to Guatemala after completing his sentence.

                The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 5 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

                U.S. Customs and Border Protection led the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.

                This effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 25 Members of a Violent Gang in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On April 9, 2025, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 25 violent gang members from the municipality of Mayagüez with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession and distribution of controlled substances, and firearms violations, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) Mayagüez Strike Force were in charge of the investigation of the case, with the collaboration of the United States Marshal Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Response Team (SRT), and the Guaynabo Municipal Police SRT collaborated during the arrests.

    “The prosecution of this drug trafficking gang demonstrates our determined efforts to protect our communities from the violent crime and gun violence they bring to our streets,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “Our prosecutors will continue to work with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to make our neighborhoods safe and bring criminals to justice.”

    “Today, we sent a clear message: violence, drugs, and organized crime will find no safe haven in Puerto Rico,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “Thanks to the courage of our Special Agents and Police of Puerto Rico Task Force Officers, with the unwavering support of our federal partners, we disrupted a criminal network that terrorized our communities for years. The FBI remains fully committed to protecting our people, restoring peace to our neighborhoods, and holding violent offenders accountable.”

    The indictment alleges that from in or about April 2021 through the present, the drug trafficking organization distributed heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), cocaine, and marihuana within 1,000 feet of Rafael Hernández (Kennedy) Public Housing Project (PHP), the Manuel Hernández Rosa (Candelaria PHP), the El Carmen (PHP), and other areas nearby nearby the municipality of Mayagüez, all for significant financial gain and profit.

    The goal of the drug trafficking organization was to maintain control of all the drug trafficking activities within the controlled areas using force, threats, violence, and intimidation.  In preserving power and protecting territory, the members of the organization incurred in violent acts including but not limited to murder in order to protect themselves and their organization. Members of the criminal organization also transported and distributed kilogram quantities of cocaine.

    As part of the conspiracy, the defendants had meetings to discuss strategy and plan of their criminal activities, including but not limited to acts of violence. The co-conspirators held meetings to discuss drug trafficking business and issues between gang members. During said meetings, incarcerated defendants and co-conspirators would participate via phone call. The defendants and their co-conspirators used violence to take over other areas and sell their own narcotics at those areas to increase their power and profits.

    The defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy, to include: leaders, drug point owners, enforcers, runners, sellers, drug processors, lookouts, and facilitators. The members of the gang used force, violence, and intimidation to intimidate rival drug trafficking organizations, and to discipline members of their own organization. The defendants charged in the drug trafficking conspiracy are:

    [1] Jonathan Martínez González, a.k.a. “J/El Brother”

    [2] Isaías Jaseph Molina Valle, a.k.a. “Simio/Simi”

    [3] Juan A. Ortiz Mendoza, a.k.a. “Abuelo/Abu/Ablo”

    [4] Fernando Manuel Torres Ruiz, a.k.a. “La M”

    [5] Jonathan Enrique Rodríguez Acosta, a.k.a. “John Pri/Pri”

    [6] Franschesca M. Rivera-Valle, a.k.a. “Cheska”

    [7] Joseph G. Ríos Vélez

    [8] Jomael Enrique Aponte Rivera, a.k.a. “Farru”

    [9] Abdiel Sánchez Negrón

    [10] Michael J. Marrero García, a.k.a. “Michael El Pato”

    [11] Héctor A. Rosado Matías, a.k.a. “Bebo/Bebito”

    [12] Christopher Santiago Rivera, a.k.a. “Gato”

    [13] Jesus D. Rodríguez Soto, a.k.a. “John”

    [14] Luis Joel Couret Clas, a.k.a. “Shaggy”

    [15] Julio E. Mangual Vargas, a.k.a. “Julio Maraña”

    [16] Fredwin Yomar Álvarez, a.k.a. “Bombilla”

    [17] Héctor M. Cotto Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Tello”

    [18] Ezequiel Soto Bonilla, a.k.a. “Bigote”

    [19] Carlos Mikel Rodríguez Núñez, a.k.a. “Mikel/Fosforito”

    [20] Carlos Obed La Llave Otero, a.k.a. “Security/El Gordo”

    [21] Michael Concepción Soto

    [22] Héctor Javier Surita Muñiz, a.k.a. “Coquito/Surita”

    [23] Merchisede Rivera Pérez, a.k.a. “Merquisedec Rivera Pérez/Melchicede Rivera Pérez/El Negro/Melqui”

    [24] José C. Colón-Félix, a.k.a. “Fresita”

    [25] Antonio M. López Olivencia, a.k.a. “Delivery”

    Fifteen defendants are charged in Count Seven with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and seven of those defendants are facing one count of possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    The FBI thanks the PRPB Mayagüez Strike Force for their assistance in this investigation.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and Chief of the Gang Section Alberto López-Rocafort, Deputy Chief of the Gang Section, AUSA Teresa Zapata-Valladares, and AUSAs Laura Díaz González, and Héctor Siaca Flores are prosecuting the case. If convicted on the drug charges, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. If convicted of both the drug and firearms charges in Count Seven, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 15 years, and up to life in prison. The defendants charged with possession of machineguns in furtherance of drug trafficking in Count Eight face a mandatory sentence of thirty years in prison to be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the drug trafficking charges. All defendants charged in the drug conspiracy are facing a narcotics forfeiture allegation of $19,710,000.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Five Individuals Charged with Attempted Kidnapping of Man in Mayagüez

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On April 24, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging five individuals with conspiracy to kidnap and the attempted kidnapping of a man in Mayagüez on July 12, 2024, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico and Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office.

    According to the Indictment, beginning on a date unknown, but not later than on or about May 21, 2024, to on or about July 12, 2024, defendants  [1] Edilberto Aponte-Sánchez, [2] Anthony Esquilín-Guzmán, [3] Ramdy Kaleb Ocasio-Pagán, [4] Jocner Martínez-Correa, and [5] Dylan Camacho-Álvarez conspired and agreed with each other to unlawfully and willfully kidnap, abduct, or carry away and hold for ransom, reward, or otherwise, H.R.G. by using means, facility, or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce in committing or in furtherance of the commission of the offense, namely motor vehicles, messaging applications, and cellular telephones in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1201(c). The defendants are also charged with the attempted kidnapping of the victim (H.R.G.) in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1201(d) and 2.

    On July 12, 2024, the defendants attempted to kidnap the victim (H.R.G.) from a parking lot in Mayagüez by trying to force him into a van. The victim fought back, and the defendants fled the scene.

    “I commend the tireless efforts of the FBI, Puerto Rico Police Bureau, and prosecutors in the investigation of this case,” said United States Attorney Muldrow. “This case reinforces the importance of being aware of your surroundings at all times — whether you are leaving the bank or ATM after making a withdrawal of money, putting gasoline in your car, or just walking down the street while texting on your cell phone. If you see something that doesn’t look right, trust your instincts.”

    “Violence in our communities will never be tolerated,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “The FBI and our partners will relentlessly investigate those who prey on innocent people — wherever they hide, however long it takes.”

    If convicted, the defendants face a sentence of up to life in prison as to the conspiracy to commit kidnapping and up to twenty years in prison for the attempted kidnapping. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation is in charge of the investigation with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and Deputy Chief of the Violent Crimes Unit Jeanette Collazo and AUSA Corinne Cordero Romo are in charge of the prosecution of the case.

    An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Silvaco Expands Product Offerings in Photonics and Wafer-Scale Plasma Modeling for AI Applications with Acquisition of Tech-X Corporation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Silvaco Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SVCO) (“Silvaco” or the “Company”), a provider of TCAD, EDA software and SIP solutions that enable semiconductor design and digital twin modeling through AI software and innovation, today announced the strategic acquisition of Tech-X Corporation, a leading provider of multi-physics simulation software used in applications such as Photonics, Electromagnetics and Plasma Dynamics.

    Tech-X cutting-edge tools enable:

    • Multi-physics simulation of electromagnetic, and electrostatics in complex dielectric and metallic environments;
    • Combination of computational speed leveraging GPUs, and high-fidelity results for Photonics applications;
    • Plasma Dynamics simulation trusted by engineers and researchers in aerospace and semiconductor manufacturing; and
    • Monte Carlo simulation solution used for radiation analysis in aerospace applications.

    By combining Tech-X’s unique multi-physics simulation tools with Silvaco’s Victory TCAD platform, customers will be able to create more accurate digital twin models for photonics, semiconductor devices and wafer-scale plasma etching —accelerating innovation across the industry. Tech-X brings deep expertise to Silvaco in developing state-of-the-art algorithms that harness high-performance, multi-node GPU-based computing to significantly improve simulation speed and accuracy.

    “Bringing Tech-X’s expertise and multi-physics simulation technology into Silvaco represents a significant step forward in our growth strategy for expansion into AI applications with technologies, talent and new customers,” said Babak Taheri, CEO of Silvaco. “By leveraging our TCAD foundation, we are expanding further into fast multi-physics transistor-level simulation from device to wafer-scale geometries, for photonic components, processes, materials, and plasma modeling. We’re also thrilled to welcome Professor John Cary to the team. His 40+ years of experience in computational physics will play a key role in accelerating our innovation and expanding our presence in the rapidly growing photonics market.”

    “We are excited to join forces with Silvaco and take advantage of the many synergistic capabilities between our organizations,” said John Cary, CTO of Tech-X and Professor of Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. “By leveraging Silvaco’s global reach and strong technical team, we see tremendous opportunities to expand the application of Tech-X’s advanced photonics and plasma modeling technologies across the semiconductor and photonics industries.”

    Needham & Company acted as financial advisor to Silvaco in the transaction.

    About Silvaco
    Silvaco is a provider of TCAD, EDA software, and SIP solutions that enable semiconductor design and digital twin modeling through AI software and innovation. Silvaco’s solutions are used for semiconductor and photonics processes, devices, and systems development across display, power devices, automotive, memory, high performance compute, foundries, photonics, internet of things, and 5G/6G mobile markets for complex SoC design. Silvaco is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and has a global presence with offices located in North America, Europe, Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan. Learn more at silvaco.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding Silvaco’s acquisition of Tech-X Corporation, technologies and product offerings, business strategy, plans and opportunities, industry and market trends including TAM estimates and the expected benefits and impact of the transaction and combined business on Silvaco’s growth. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “believe,” “hope,” “target,” “project,” “goals,” “estimate,” “potential,” “predict,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “could,” “intend,” “shall” and variations of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside Silvaco’s control. For example, the markets for Silvaco’s products and services may develop more slowly than expected or than they have in the past; operating results and cash flows may fluctuate more than expected; Silvaco may fail to successfully integrate Tech-X Corporation; Silvaco may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition; Silvaco may incur unanticipated costs or other liabilities in connection with acquiring or integrating Tech-X Corporation; the potential impact of the announcement or consummation of the transaction on relationships with third parties, including employees, customers, partners and competitors; Silvaco may be unable to motivate and retain key personnel; changes in or failure to comply with legislation or government regulations could affect post-closing operations and results of operations; and macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions could deteriorate. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent Silvaco’s views as of the date of this press release, and Silvaco disclaims any obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events.

    Contacts
    Media Relations:
    Tiffany Behany, press@silvaco.com

    Investor Relations:
    Greg McNiff, investors@silvaco.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Donald Trump’s first 100 days have badly damaged trust in America both economically and as an ally

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Steve Dunne, PhD researcher, Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Warwick

    As in life, trust matters in international politics. Vital for cooperation and reciprocation, trusting someone nevertheless leaves one vulnerable should they break faith and pursue self-serving goals. As US political scientist Andrew Kydd recognised, trust is the belief that someone “prefers mutual cooperation to exploiting and suckering others”.

    Two versions of trust matter in international relations. Strategic trust, in the form of institutionalised agreements and organisations which provide certainty – as well as material incentives – to encourage people and nations to honour their commitments. And moralistic trust, based on what social scientists call an “implicit theory of personality” that involves people making everyday judgements regarding a person’s character and integrity.

    A brief look at the liberal post-war economic order shows how trust has proved fundamental. The Bretton Woods system of multilateral institutions that developed after the second world war, including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization, created a rules-based consistency for mutual benefit.

    The WTO, for example, promised members that economic conditions between countries would not opportunistically and suddenly change. If they did, independent recourse was available through its appellate body.

    This certainty encouraged many otherwise hesitant states to engage. The collapse of the appellate body in 2019 – after the US, under then-president, Donald Trump, blocked further appointees, thus denying it the required quorum – was a critical first step towards the present crisis in trust.


    How is Donald Trump’s presidency shaping up after 100 days? Here’s what the experts think. If you like what you see, sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter.

    Across the opening 100 days of his second term, Trump has broken both these conceptions of trust. In doing so, he has devastated – perhaps irreparably – economic confidence in the US.

    In terms of strategic trust, look no further than Trump’s attacks on Canada and Mexico. On February 1, Trump threatened near-universal 25% tariffs on exports from America’s two largest trading partners. These tariffs entered into effect on March 4 and were followed by additional duties on aluminum, steel and auto parts.

    Viewed from Canada and Mexico, Trump’s actions were an unambiguous breach of trust and the US-Mexico-Canada agreement, which Trump had personally signed in 2020. Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, reacted by forewarning that “its clear the US is no longer a reliable partner” and predicted a “fundamentally different relationship” between the two countries going forwards.

    When it comes to moralistic trust, Trump was on weak ground before even becoming president. Beyond his business dealings – which have historically involved unpaid vendors and fraudulent practices – as well as serious allegations of abuse, Trump’s first term was marked by numerous reputational failings. These included a historic two impeachments, the second for his role in the January 6 insurrection that attempted to unlawfully overturn the 2020 election result.

    “Liberation Day” on April 2, which was when Trump announced the details of his tariffs, delivered a singular blow. The heavy targeting of poorer countries such as Cambodia and Lesotho – while exempting Russia – strengthened reservations about Trump’s character. Equally, the blatant idiocy of many tariffs – most prominently the Heard and McDonald Islands, which are uninhabited save for penguins – further limited confidence in his administration’s competency and judgement.

    Combined with Trump’s imperialistic bullying of other nations, from Greenland, to Panama to Ukraine, his remaining integrity in economic affairs has imploded. Although the full effects (and damage) of Trump’s actions on America’s reputation are not yet known, adverse consequences should be expected in both the short and longer terms.

    The long and the short

    In the short term, decreased economic trust will prolong market volatility. April 3-4 saw the largest-ever two-day loss, as US$6.6 trillion (£5 trillion) was erased from US stocks. Trump’s tariffs are also expected to depress growth, both at home and abroad.

    JP Morgan now rates the likelihood of a recession this year at 60% – more than double when Trump took office. Consumer confidence, meanwhile, is at its second lowest since records began.

    Increased prices for groceries – two-thirds of US vegetable imports come from Mexico – as well as energy bills – the US imports 61% of its oil from Canada – is also likely. Higher tariffs on goods from China will similarly impact domestic spending.

    In the longer-term, diminished economic trust will continue to weaken bond markets, hampering America’s ability to service its colossal national debt. The increased cost of dollar-denominated goods could also spark a debt crisis reminiscent of the 1980s, when Latin America defaulted en masse, causing widespread economic turmoil.

    Perhaps most significantly, declining global trust will accelerate processes of de-dollarisation and reduce reliance on the dollar as a reserve currency. The ending of the “exorbitant privilege” – the advantage enjoyed by the US thanks to the dollar being the global reserve currency – could spell disaster vis-à-vis borrowing costs and, ultimately, risk a balance of payments crisis. More broadly, de-dollarisation would leave the US economically marginalised in a more multipolar global economy.

    Extending beyond economics, however, Trump’s trade policy will eviscerate American soft power unless corrected. With trust in the US dwindling, an increase in coercive forms of bargaining with international trade partners over more cooperative approaches becomes inevitable. Despite the demonstrable superiority of the latter approach, mutual trust is required to facilitate successful collaboration.

    Without trust, negotiation itself becomes an impossibility. And if trust is consistently broken, even those predisposed towards cooperation will be deterred.

    The US under Trump is fast becoming untrustworthy. American reliability must now be broadly questioned, from collective security to the rule of law. The effect of this widespread loss of trust – embodied by Trump’s indiscriminate and ill-mannered economic attacks – will be the neutering of US soft power.

    The foundation of American strength for decades, its ability to attract and appeal to its allies as an alternative to coercion, is now on life support. Meanwhile, China – purportedly “the greatest threat to America today” – is actively exploiting this decline and accelerating its own soft power initiatives.

    If Trump truly wishes to make America great again, then betraying allies through coercive mistreatment is not the answer. Honest engagement that builds trust is.

    Steve Dunne receives funding from the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

    – ref. Donald Trump’s first 100 days have badly damaged trust in America both economically and as an ally – https://theconversation.com/donald-trumps-first-100-days-have-badly-damaged-trust-in-america-both-economically-and-as-an-ally-255150

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Seizure of contraband and unauthorized items at Collins Bay Institution

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    April 29, 2025 – Kingston, Ontario – Correctional Service Canada

    On April 22, 2025, as a result of the vigilance of staff members, a package containing contraband and unauthorized items was seized at Collins Bay Institution, a multi-level security federal institution.

    The contraband seized included marijuana and graba (a form of khat). The total estimated institutional value of this seizure is $50,000.

    The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has heightened measures to prevent contraband from entering its institutions in order to help ensure a safe and secure environment for everyone. CSC also works in partnership with the police to take action against those who attempt to introduce contraband or unauthorized items into correctional institutions.

    CSC has set up a telephone tip line for all federal institutions so that it may receive additional information about activities relating to security at CSC institutions. These activities may be related to drug use or trafficking that may threaten the safety and security of visitors, inmates, and staff members working at CSC institutions.

    The toll-free number, 1‑866‑780‑3784, helps ensure that the information shared is protected and that callers remain anonymous. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Ninepoint Partners Announces Final April 2025 Cash Distribution for Ninepoint Cash Management Fund – ETF Series

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ninepoint Partners LP (“Ninepoint Partners”) today announced the final April 2025 cash distribution for the Ninepoint Cash Management Fund – ETF Series. The record date for the distribution is April 30, 2025. This distribution is payable on May 7, 2025.

    The per-unit final April 2025 distribution is detailed below:

    Ninepoint ETF Series Ticker Cash Distribution per unit Notional Distribution per unit CUSIP
    Ninepoint Cash Management Fund NSAV $0.11744 $0.00000 65443X105

    About Ninepoint Partners

    Based in Toronto, Ninepoint Partners LP is one of Canada’s leading alternative investment management firms overseeing approximately $7 billion in assets under management and institutional contracts. Committed to helping investors explore innovative investment solutions that have the potential to enhance returns and manage portfolio risk, Ninepoint offers a diverse set of alternative strategies spanning Equities, Fixed Income, Alternative Income, Real Assets, F/X and Digital Assets

    For more information on Ninepoint Partners LP, please visit www.ninepoint.com or for inquiries regarding the offering, please contact us at (416) 943-6707 or (866) 299-9906 or invest@ninepoint.com.

    Ninepoint Partners LP is the investment manager to the Ninepoint Funds (collectively, the “Funds”). Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees, performance fees (if any), and other expenses all may be associated with investing in the Funds. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer or solicitation by anyone in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation. Prospective investors who are not resident in Canada should contact their financial advisor to determine whether securities of the Fund may be lawfully sold in their jurisdiction.

    Please note that distribution factors (breakdown between income, capital gains and return of capital) can only be calculated when a fund has reached its year-end. Distribution information should not be relied upon for income tax reporting purposes as this is only a component of total distributions for the year. For accurate distribution amounts for the purpose of filing an income tax return, please refer to the appropriate T3/T5 slips for that particular taxation year. Please refer to the prospectus or offering memorandum of each Fund for details of the Fund’s distribution policy.

    The payment of distributions and distribution breakdown, if applicable, is not guaranteed and may fluctuate. The payment of distributions should not be confused with a Fund’s performance, rate of return, or yield. If distributions paid by the Fund are greater than the performance of the Fund, then an investor’s original investment will shrink. Distributions paid as a result of capital gains realized by a Fund and income and dividends earned by a Fund are taxable in the year they are paid. An investor’s adjusted cost base will be reduced by the amount of any returns of capital. If an investor’s adjusted cost base goes below zero, then capital gains tax will have to be paid on the amount below zero.

    Sales Inquiries:

    Ninepoint Partners LP
    Neil Ross
    416-945-6227
    nross@ninepoint.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: QCI Announces Strategic Entry into the Insurance Sector

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI), a market leader in AI-driven data platforms for highly regulated industries, today announced its expansion into the insurance sector through a new strategic engagement with an insurance intermediary. As part of the collaboration, QCI is designing and deploying a secure, HIPAA-compliant data warehouse to support the intermediary’s ongoing digital transformation efforts.

    The solution will provide secure, centralized access to curated data sets, enabling improved operational efficiency, more responsive service delivery, and enhanced data governance.

    “We’re excited to work with QCI as we continue investing in the infrastructure needed to support our growth,” said a senior executive from the intermediary firm. “Their experience in building scalable, compliant data environments gives us confidence that our information will be well-managed and accessible to the teams who need it.”

    Andrew Cardno, Chief Technology Officer at QCI, added, “This partnership represents an important step for QCI as we apply our platform’s capabilities to a new industry vertical. We’re proud to bring our expertise in secure, AI-powered data systems to the insurance space and help our client advance their data strategy in a meaningful way.”

    The data depository will integrate key operational, financial, and customer data into a unified environment, supported by robust governance protocols and role-based access controls. Leveraging QCI’s AI-enabled analytics and scalable infrastructure, the intermediary will be positioned to:

    • Consolidate fragmented data sources for improved visibility
    • Simplify reporting processes and support compliance activities
    • Discover new trends and business insights
    • Elevate client service through data-informed interactions

    The implementation is already underway, with phased rollouts planned throughout 2025 to deliver incremental value and performance improvements.

    ABOUT QCI
    Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI Enterprise Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 250 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and Europe. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $35 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI’s data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and Tulsa. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

    ABOUT Andrew Cardno
    Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the realm of artificial intelligence and data plumbing. With over two decades spearheading private Ph.D. and master’s level research teams, his expertise has made significant waves in data tooling. Andrew’s innate ability to innovate has led him to devise numerous pioneering visualization methods. Of these, the most notable is the deep zoom image format, a groundbreaking innovation that has since become a cornerstone in the majority of today’s mapping tools. His leadership acumen has earned him two coveted Smithsonian Laureates, and teams under his mentorship have clinched 40 industry awards, including three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Together with Dr. Ralph Thomas, the duo co-founded Quick Custom Intelligence, amplifying their collaborative innovative capacities. A testament to his inventive prowess, Andrew boasts over 150 patent applications. Across various industries—be it telecommunications with Telstra Australia, retail with giants like Walmart and Best Buy, or the medical sector with esteemed institutions like City Of Hope and UCSD—Andrew’s impact is deeply felt. He has enriched the literature with insights, co-authoring eight influential books with Dr. Thomas and contributing to over 100 industry publications. An advocate for community and diversity, Andrew’s work has touched over 100 Native American Tribal Resorts, underscoring his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors.

    Contact:
    Laurel Kay, Quick Custom Intelligence
    Phone: 858-349-8354

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: EXL Reports 2025 First Quarter Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    2025 First Quarter Revenue of $501.0 Million, up 14.8% year-over-year
    Q1 Diluted EPS (GAAP) (1)of $0.40, up 38.3% from $0.29 in Q1 of 2024
    Q1 Adjusted Diluted EPS (Non-GAAP) (1)of $0.48, up 26.9% from $0.38 in Q1 of 2024

    NEW YORK, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ExlService Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXLS), a global data and AI company, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rohit Kapoor said, “We are pleased with our first quarter results and strong start to the year, as we delivered revenue and adjusted diluted EPS growth of 15% and 27% respectively. Our strong business momentum underscores the successful execution of our differentiated data and AI-led strategy and demonstrates the enduring resilience and adaptability of EXL’s business model.”

    Chief Financial Officer Maurizio Nicolelli said, “While we remain prudent in our outlook given the increasing level of macro-economic uncertainty, we are increasing our revenue guidance for the year, based on our business momentum and more favorable currency exchange rates. We now expect revenue to be in the range of $2.035 billion to $2.065 billion, up from our prior guidance of $2.025 billion to $2.060 billion. This represents 11% to 12% year-over-year growth on a reported basis, or 11% to 13% on a constant currency basis. We continue to expect our adjusted diluted earnings per share for 2025 to be in the range of $1.83 to $1.89, representing an 11% to 14% increase over 2024, as we continue to accelerate our data and AI investments to generate future growth.”

    ______________________________________________________________

    1. Reconciliations of adjusted (non-GAAP) financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, where applicable, are included at the end of this release under “Reconciliation of Adjusted Financial Measures to GAAP Measures.” These non-GAAP measures, including adjusted diluted EPS and constant currency measures, are not measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Financial Highlights: First Quarter 2025

    • Revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, increased to $501.0 million compared to $436.5 million for the first quarter of 2024, an increase of 14.8% on a reported basis and 15.1% on a constant currency basis. Revenue increased by 4.1% sequentially on a reported basis and 4.3% on a constant currency basis, from the fourth quarter of 2024.
        Revenue   Gross Margin
        Three months ended   Three months ended
    Reportable Segments (1)   March 31, 2025   March 31, 2024   March 31, 2025   March 31, 2024
        (dollars in millions)        
    Insurance   $ 172.0   $ 158.3   36.6 %   33.8 %
    Healthcare and Life Sciences     125.6     100.7   43.9 %   45.3 %
    Banking, Capital Markets and Diversified Industries     117.7     103.2   37.3 %   36.1 %
    International Growth Markets     85.7     74.3   36.6 %   35.9 %
    Total Revenue, net   $ 501.0   $ 436.5   38.6 %   37.4 %
     

    (1) In the first quarter of 2025, the Company implemented operational and structural changes to accelerate the execution of its data and AI-led strategy. Under the new structure, the Company reports its financial performance based on new segments presented in the table above, and as described in more detail in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2025, that is being filed with the SEC. In conjunction with the new reporting structure, the Company has recast prior period amounts, wherever applicable, to conform to the way the Company internally manages and monitors segment performance.

    • Operating income margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 was 15.7%, compared to 14.1% for the first quarter of 2024 and 14.8% for the fourth quarter of 2024. Adjusted operating income margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 was 20.1%, compared to 18.9% for the first quarter of 2024 and 18.8% for the fourth quarter of 2024.
    • Diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 was $0.40, compared to $0.29 for the first quarter of 2024 and $0.31 for the fourth quarter of 2024. Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 was $0.48, compared to $0.38 for the first quarter of 2024 and $0.44 for the fourth quarter of 2024.

    Business Highlights: First Quarter 2025

    • Won 10 new clients in the first quarter of 2025.
      • Named a Leader in four categories in the ISG Provider Lens™ Insurance Services 2024 report. Earning top honors in the North American Life & Retirement, Property & Casualty, Life & Retirement TPA Insurance Services, and Insurance IT Services.
      • Named a Leader and a Star Performer in Everest Group’s Life and Annuities Insurance Business Process Services and Third-Party Administrator (TPA) PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2025.
      • Recognized as part of Newsweek’s America’s Most Responsible Companies 2025, Forbes’ Most Trusted Companies in America 2025, USA Today’s America’s Climate Leaders 2025, and The Financial Times’ Best Employers Asia-Pacific 2025.

    2025 Guidance
    Based on current visibility, and a U.S. dollar to Indian rupee exchange rate of 85.5, U.K. pound sterling to U.S. dollar exchange rate of 1.30, U.S. dollar to the Philippine peso exchange rate of 57.0 and all other currencies at current exchange rates, we are providing the following guidance for the full year 2025:

    • Revenue of $2.035 billion to $2.065 billion, representing an increase of 11% to 12% on a reported basis, and 11% to 13% on a constant currency basis from 2024; and
    • Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.83 to $1.89, representing an increase of 11% to 14% from 2024.

    Conference Call

    ExlService Holdings, Inc. will host a conference call on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. ET to discuss the Company’s quarterly operating and financial results. The conference call will be available live via the internet by accessing the investor relations section of EXL’s website at ir.exlservice.com, where an accompanying investor-friendly spreadsheet of historical operating and financial data can also be accessed. Please access the website at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

    Please note that there is a new system to access the live call-in order to ask questions. To join the live call, please register here. A dial-in and unique PIN will be provided to join the call. For those who cannot access the live broadcast, a replay will be available on the EXL website ir.exlservice.com for a period of twelve months.

    About ExlService Holdings, Inc.
    EXL (NASDAQ: EXLS) is a global data and artificial intelligence (“AI”) company that offers services and solutions to reinvent client business models, drive better outcomes and unlock growth with speed. EXL harnesses the power of data, AI, and deep industry knowledge to transform businesses, including the world’s leading corporations in industries including insurance, healthcare, banking and financial services, media and retail, among others. EXL was founded in 1999 with the core values of innovation, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect. We are headquartered in New York and have more than 60,000 employees spanning six continents. For more information, visit www.exlservice.com.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You should not place undue reliance on those statements because they are subject to numerous uncertainties and factors relating to EXL’s operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond EXL’s control. Forward-looking statements include information concerning EXL’s possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of its business strategy. These statements may include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate” or similar expressions. These statements are based on assumptions that we have made in light of management’s experience in the industry as well as its perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. You should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although EXL believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect EXL’s actual financial results or results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors, which include our ability to maintain and grow client demand, our ability to hire and retain sufficiently trained employees, and our ability to accurately estimate and/or manage costs, rising interest rates, rising inflation and recessionary economic trends, are discussed in more detail in EXL’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including EXL’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made herein, or elsewhere, speaks only as of the date on which it is made. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible to predict these events or how they may affect EXL. EXL has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof, except as required by applicable law.

    EXLSERVICE HOLDINGS, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
    (In thousands, except per share amount and share count)
     
      Three months ended March 31,
        2025       2024  
    Revenues, net $ 501,019     $ 436,507  
    Cost of revenues (1)   307,705       273,424  
    Gross profit (1)   193,314       163,083  
    Operating expenses:      
    General and administrative expenses   59,417       53,243  
    Selling and marketing expenses   41,925       35,970  
    Depreciation and amortization expense   13,557       12,346  
    Total operating expenses   114,899       101,559  
    Income from operations   78,415       61,524  
    Foreign exchange gain, net   1,192       359  
    Interest expense   (4,144 )     (3,291 )
    Other income, net   4,703       3,952  
    Income before income tax expense and earnings from equity affiliates   80,166       62,544  
    Income tax expense   13,496       13,753  
    Income before earnings from equity affiliates   66,670       48,791  
    Loss from equity-method investment   (109 )     (28 )
    Net income $ 66,561     $ 48,763  
    Earnings per share:      
    Basic $ 0.41     $ 0.30  
    Diluted $ 0.40     $ 0.29  
    Weighted-average number of shares used in computing earnings per share:      
    Basic   162,490,179       165,082,387  
    Diluted   164,557,333       166,726,853  

    (1) Exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense.

    EXLSERVICE HOLDINGS, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
    (In thousands, except per share amount and share count)
     
        As of
        March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024
             
    Assets        
    Current assets:        
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 140,442     $ 153,355  
    Short-term investments     190,978       187,223  
    Restricted cash     9,826       9,972  
    Accounts receivable, net     339,856       304,322  
    Other current assets     150,203       140,317  
    Total current assets     831,305       795,189  
    Property and equipment, net     107,148       101,837  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets     71,150       68,784  
    Restricted cash     8,210       8,071  
    Deferred tax assets, net     109,953       104,747  
    Goodwill     420,494       420,387  
    Other intangible assets, net     46,092       49,331  
    Long-term investments     20,134       13,972  
    Other assets     61,925       56,085  
    Total assets   $ 1,676,411     $ 1,618,403  
    Liabilities and stockholders’ equity        
    Current liabilities:        
    Accounts payable   $ 5,648     $ 5,884  
    Current portion of long-term borrowings     4,886       4,886  
    Deferred revenue     20,138       19,264  
    Accrued employee costs     63,575       129,994  
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     131,980       113,597  
    Current portion of operating lease liabilities     17,426       16,491  
    Total current liabilities     243,653       290,116  
    Long-term borrowings, less current portion     302,377       283,598  
    Operating lease liabilities, less current portion     61,408       59,851  
    Deferred tax liabilities, net     1,625       1,403  
    Other non-current liabilities     55,471       53,573  
    Total liabilities     664,534       688,541  
    Commitments and contingencies        
    Stockholders’ equity:        
    Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized, none issued     —       —  
    Common stock, $0.001 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized, 207,758,497 shares issued and 162,683,343 shares outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and 206,510,587 shares issued and 161,801,212 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2024     207       206  
    Additional paid-in capital     609,592       588,583  
    Retained earnings     1,348,521       1,281,960  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (142,787 )     (154,722 )
    Total including shares held in treasury     1,815,533       1,716,027  
    Less: 45,075,154 shares as of March 31, 2025 and 44,709,375 shares as of December 31, 2024, held in treasury, at cost     (803,656 )     (786,165 )
    Total Stockholders’ equity     1,011,877       929,862  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 1,676,411     $ 1,618,403  
     

    EXLSERVICE HOLDINGS, INC.

    Reconciliation of Adjusted Financial Measures to GAAP Measures

    In addition to its reported operating results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), EXL has included in this release certain financial measures that are considered non-GAAP financial measures, including the following:

    (i) Adjusted operating income and adjusted operating income margin;
    (ii) Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin;
    (iii) Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share; and
    (iv) Revenue growth on constant currency basis.

    These non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Accordingly, the financial results calculated in accordance with GAAP and reconciliations from those financial statements should be carefully evaluated. EXL believes that providing these non-GAAP financial measures may help investors better understand EXL’s underlying financial performance. Management also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when read in conjunction with EXL’s reported results, can provide useful supplemental information for investors analyzing period-to-period comparisons of the Company’s results and comparisons of the Company’s results with the results of other companies. Additionally, management considers some of these non-GAAP financial measures to determine variable compensation of its employees. The Company believes that it is unreasonably difficult to provide its earnings per share financial guidance in accordance with GAAP, or a qualitative reconciliation thereof, for a number of reasons, including, without limitation, the Company’s inability to predict its future stock-based compensation expense under ASC Topic 718, the amortization of intangibles associated with future acquisitions and the currency fluctuations and associated tax effects. As such, the Company presents guidance with respect to adjusted diluted earnings per share. The Company also incurs significant non-cash charges for depreciation that may not be indicative of the Company’s ability to generate cash flow.

    EXL non-GAAP financial measures exclude, where applicable, stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, provision for litigation matters, effects of termination of leases, certain defined social security contributions, allowance for certain material expected credit losses, other acquisition-related expenses or benefits and effect of any non-recurring tax adjustments. Acquisition-related expenses or benefits include, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration, external deal costs, integration expenses, direct and incremental travel costs and non-recurring benefits or losses. Our adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS also excludes the effects of income tax on the above pre-tax items, as applicable. The effects of income tax of each item is calculated by applying the statutory rate of the local tax regulations in the jurisdiction in which the item was incurred.

    A limitation of using non-GAAP financial measures versus financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP is that non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect all of the amounts associated with our operating results as determined in accordance with GAAP and exclude costs that are recurring, namely stock-based compensation and amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets. EXL compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from non-GAAP financial measures to allow investors to evaluate such non-GAAP financial measures.

    EXL’s primary exchange rate exposure is with the Indian rupee, the Philippine peso, the U.K. pound sterling and the South African rand. The average exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the Indian rupee increased from 83.12 during the quarter ended March 31, 2024 to 86.52 during the quarter ended March 31, 2025, representing a depreciation of 4.1% against the U.S. dollar. The average exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the Philippine peso increased from 56.24 during the quarter ended March 31, 2024 to 57.86 during the quarter ended March 31, 2025, representing a depreciation of 2.9% against the U.S. dollar. The average exchange rate of the U.K. pound sterling against the U.S. dollar decreased from 1.27 during the quarter ended March 31, 2024 to 1.26 during the quarter ended March 31, 2025, representing a depreciation of 0.1% against the U.S. dollar. The average exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the South African rand decreased from 18.96 during the quarter ended March 31, 2024 to 18.49 during the quarter ended March 31, 2025, representing an appreciation of 2.5% against the U.S. dollar.

    The following table shows the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and March 31, 2024, and the three months ended December 31, 2024:

    Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted EBITDA
    (Amounts in thousands)
     
        Three months ended
        March 31,   December 31,
          2025       2024       2024  
    Net Income (GAAP)   $ 66,561     $ 48,763     $ 50,672  
    add: Income tax expense     13,496       13,753       19,850  
    add/(subtract): Foreign exchange gain, net, interest expense, gain/(loss) from equity-method investment and other income/(loss), net     (1,642 )     (992 )     720  
    Income from operations (GAAP)   $ 78,415     $ 61,524     $ 71,242  
    add: Stock-based compensation expense     19,187       17,852       15,479  
    add: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles     3,246       3,080       4,024  
    Adjusted operating income (Non-GAAP)   $ 100,848     $ 82,456     $ 90,745  
    Adjusted operating income margin as a % of Revenue (Non-GAAP)     20.1 %     18.9 %     18.8 %
    add: Depreciation on long-lived assets     10,311       9,266       12,140  
    Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)   $ 111,159     $ 91,722     $ 102,885  
    Adjusted EBITDA margin as a % of revenue (Non-GAAP)     22.2 %     21.0 %     21.4 %
     
    Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share
    (Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
     
        Three months ended
        March 31,   December 31,
          2025       2024       2024  
    Net income (GAAP)   $ 66,561     $ 48,763     $ 50,672  
    add: Stock-based compensation expense     19,187       17,852       15,479  
    add: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles     3,246       3,080       4,024  
    add/(subtract): Changes in fair value of contingent consideration     —       (589 )     —  
    add/(subtract): Other tax expense/(benefits) (a)     —       151       3,860  
    subtract: Tax impact on stock-based compensation expense (b)     (9,105 )     (5,358 )     (1,769 )
    subtract: Tax impact on amortization of acquisition-related intangibles     (799 )     (766 )     (921 )
    Adjusted net income (Non-GAAP)   $ 79,090     $ 63,133     $ 71,345  
    Adjusted diluted earnings per share (Non-GAAP)   $ 0.48     $ 0.38     $ 0.44  
     

    (a) To exclude other tax expenses/(benefits), primarily related to certain deferred tax assets and liabilities.

    (b) Tax impact includes $14,526 and $7,523 during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 respectively, and $500 during the three months ended December 31, 2024, related to discrete benefit recognized in income tax expense in accordance with ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation.

    Contacts:
    Investor Relations
    John Kristoff
    Vice President, Investor Relations
    +1 212 209 4613
    ir@exlservice.com

    Media – US
    Keith Little
    Assistant Vice President, Media Relations
    +1 703 598 0980
    media.relations@exlservice.com

    This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Oxbridge / SurancePlus to Speak During TOKEN2049 Dubai at THE GREAT GATHER – Day 2

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: OXBR) (“Oxbridge Re”), together with its subsidiary SurancePlus, is engaged in the tokenization of Real-World Assets (“RWAs”), initially with tokenized reinsurance securities and in providing reinsurance solutions to property and casualty insurers in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. The company today announced that its CEO and Chairman, Jay Madhu, will participate in a featured panel discussion at THE GREAT GATHER – DAY 2 hosted by DNA Fund & IBC Ventures during TOKEN2049 Dubai.

    Panel: A Deep Dive into How Traditional Finance Players Are Navigating and Embracing Tokenization
    Date: Thursday, May 1st, 2025
    Time: 4:00PM – 4:30PM (GST)
    Location: DNA House Dubai: Gigi Rigolatto Dubai, J1 Beach – Jumeirah 1 – Dubai, UAE

    Panelists:

    • Jay Madhu (Oxbridge / SurancePlus)
    • Fahmi Syed (Input Output / Midnight)
    • Jake O. (BitGo)

    THE GREAT GATHER – DAY 2

    THE GREAT GATHER is one of the most talked about events of TOKEN2049, bringing together top-tier projects, titans, influencers and investors shaping the future of finance, Web3, AI and tech. Hosted at DNA House with partners Mario Nawfal, Midnight, Zeebu and Multibank, this powerhouse gathering offers two days of premier programming, connections and deal-making opportunities.

    Jay Madhu, CEO of Oxbridge, commented, “We look forward to joining this distinguished panel at THE GREAT GATHER – Day 2 during TOKEN2049 Dubai to showcase how Oxbridge / SurancePlus are democratizing reinsurance and expanding access to high-yield, uncorrelated investment opportunities through Web3 innovation.”

    Investors can participate directly in SurancePlus offerings:

    Learn more and invest at SurancePlus.com/invest

    Meet Oxbridge / SurancePlus THE GREAT GATHER – Day 2

    Investors and potential partners interested in Oxbridge and SurancePlus’ tokenized reinsurance offerings are encouraged to connect with the team during the event. Contact details are provided below.

    Disclaimer: This press release does not constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy the EtaCat Re or ZetaCat Re tokenized reinsurance securities (the “Securities”). The Securities are not required to be, and have not been, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in reliance on the exemptions provided by Regulation S and SEC Rule 506(c) thereunder. Offers and sales of the Securities are made only by, and pursuant to, the terms set forth in the Confidential Private Placement Memorandum relating to the Securities. The offering of the Securities is not being made to persons in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky, or other laws of such jurisdiction.

    About Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited 

    Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: OXBR, OXBRW) (“Oxbridge”) is headquartered in the Cayman Islands. The company offers tokenized Real-World Assets (“RWAs”) as tokenized reinsurance securities and reinsurance business solutions to property and casualty insurers, through its wholly owned subsidiaries SurancePlus Inc., Oxbridge Re NS, and Oxbridge Reinsurance Limited.

    Insurance businesses in the Gulf Coast region of the United States purchase property and casualty reinsurance through our licensed reinsurers Oxbridge Reinsurance Limited and Oxbridge Re NS.

    Our Web3-focused subsidiary, SurancePlus Inc. (“SurancePlus”), has developed the first “on-chain” reinsurance RWA of its kind to be sponsored by a subsidiary of a publicly traded company. By digitizing interests in reinsurance contracts as on-chain RWAs, SurancePlus has democratized the availability of reinsurance as an alternative investment to both U.S. and non-U.S. investors. 

    Company Contact:
    Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited
    Jay Madhu, CEO
    +1 345-749-7570
    jmadhu@oxbridgere.com

    About Midnight

    The Midnight Network is a data protection blockchain pioneering the use of zero-knowledge technology to empower organizations that stand to benefit from the decentralized web. Midnight is one of the first blockchains to offer programmable data protection by leveraging zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs to provide selective disclosure for sensitive data. It is designed to help app developers meet regulatory requirements. Midnight is set to launch as the first partner chain of Cardano, benefiting from the network’s decentralization and security from day one.

    About BitGo:

    BitGo is the leading infrastructure provider of digital asset solutions, delivering custody, wallets, staking, trading, financing, and settlement services from regulated cold storage. Since our founding in 2013, we have focused on enabling our clients to securely navigate the digital asset space. With a large global presence through multiple regulated entities, BitGo serves thousands of institutions, including many of the industry’s top brands, exchanges, and platforms, as well as millions of retail investors worldwide. As the operational backbone of the digital economy, BitGo handles a significant portion of Bitcoin network transactions and is the largest independent digital asset custodian, and staking provider, in the world. For more information, visit www.bitgo.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “project” and other similar words and expressions are intended to signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions but rather are subject to various risks and uncertainties. A detailed discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in our Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on 26th March 2024. The occurrence of any of these risks and uncertainties could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Any forward-looking statements made in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this press release, even if the Company’s expectations or any related events, conditions or circumstances change.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amid Coast Guard Recruitment Challenges, Duckworth Leads Colleagues in Calling for Increased Funding for Great Lakes Workforce

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
    April 29, 2025
    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services (SASC) and Veterans’ Affairs (SVAC) Committees—led four of her fellow Senate Democratic colleagues in calling on the Trump Administration to prioritize funding for U.S. Coast Guard recruitment and retention. In a letter to Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Coast Guard Acting Commandant, Admiral Lunday, the lawmakers outlined how critical operations have been disrupted as a result of personnel shortages and how further investment is key to supporting ongoing recruitment and retention efforts for the Coast Guard serving the Great Lakes region.
    “As the Trump administration finalizes its Budget of the United States Government for fiscal year 2026, we request prioritizing the United States Coast Guard’s recruitment and retention initiatives by providing an effective funding level that preserves progress and enhances future efforts despite ongoing staggering workforce shortages and the forthcoming rise in vessel traffic, particularly on the Great Lakes during the busy summer season,” wrote the lawmakers in a letter to Director Vought, Secretary Noem and Admiral Lunday.
    The Coast Guard is facing a shortfall of 3,000 personnel, which has already disrupted critical operations like search and rescue. In 2024, staffing shortages forced widespread operational cutbacks, including in 29 Great Lakes units. While recruitment efforts showed progress in 2024, the lawmakers expressed how further investment is key to sustaining and supporting growing recruitment and retention efforts for the Coast Guard, especially on the Great Lakes ahead of the busy summer season. 
    In addition to Duckworth, the letter is co-signed by U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (D-MN) and Gary Peters (D-MI).
    The full text of the letter is available on Senator Duckworth’s website and below:
    Dear Director Vought, Secretary Noem, and Admiral Lunday:
    As the Trump administration finalizes its Budget of the United States Government for fiscal year 2026, we request prioritizing the United States Coast Guard’s recruitment and retention initiatives by providing an effective funding level that preserves progress and enhances future efforts despite ongoing staggering workforce shortages and the forthcoming rise in vessel traffic, particularly on the Great Lakes during the busy summer season.
    Of the Coast Guard’s 46,000 active-duty and reserve personnel, the Service is 3,000 members short of its targeted enlisted capacity. In 2023, because of this personnel shortage, the Coast Guard experienced unpredictable interruptions in vital operations involving essential search and rescue and law enforcement missions. In 2024, the service was forced to make temporary, undesirable nation-wide changes to its operational posture to prevent the continued decline of its operational capacity and to ensure the safety and security of our constituents in the maritime domain.
    Unfortunately, personnel constraints resulting from inadequate funding of recruitment and retention initiatives are expected to force the Coast Guard to once again diminish its operational footprint in summer 2025. Across the Great Lakes, 29 units located in Michigan (13), Ohio (5), Wisconsin (4), Illinois (3), New York (2), Indiana (1) and Minnesota (1) have been temporarily closed, have billets unfilled or have transitioned to “scheduled only” operations. Weakened redundancy in operational assets forces the Coast Guard to operate with a single point of failure vulnerability across missions, including ensuring the safety of vessel traffic, the free flow of commerce and the security of our maritime borders. This status quo is unacceptable.
    The Coast Guard’s prioritization of recruiting efforts is beginning to yield positive results. Fiscal year 2024 marked the first year since 2017 in which the Coast Guard exceeded its recruiting targets across enlisted, officer, reserve and active-duty components. It is critical that Congress build on this momentum by empowering the Coast Guard to further enhance recruiting initiatives to continue shrinking the enlisted workforce gap through new accessions until the operational restrictions under the Force Alignment Initiative may be reversed. 
    The Coast Guard plays a critical role in the safety and security of vessels on the Great Lakes. Historically, numerous small boat stations and aids to navigation teams across the Great Lakes have been staffed to full capacity during heightened boating seasons to respond directly to search and rescue and law enforcement missions.
    The Coast Guard should seek to return to such a posture by requesting Congress provide prioritized and dedicated recruiting and retention funding that would support additional recruiting personnel and offices to improve recruiter-to-recruit ratios and expand the Service’s recruiting footprint. New recruiting locations would increase the output of qualified members at accession points and provide closer alignment with the DoD recruiting footprint. Enhanced funding is also urgently needed to enable the Coast Guard to accelerate exigent efforts to efficiently hire new talent and strengthen its workforce to fill current operational gaps emerging this year. 
    We thank you in advance for your consideration of our request and hope the Coast Guard will ask Congress to provide effective recruitment and retention funding levels for fiscal year 2026 that will empower the Service to continue its progress reducing personnel shortfalls and strengthen future efforts by expanding the Coast Guard recruiting capabilities and capacity.  
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Pettersen Introduces Bipartisan Resolution Marking National Fentanyl Awareness Day

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brittany Pettersen (Colorado 7th District)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Lisa McClain (MI-10), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Joe Neguse (CO-02), and Addison McDowell (NC-06) introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing April 29, 2025, as National Fentanyl Awareness Day in order to increase awareness about the growing threat of counterfeit fentanyl pills and their devastating impact on families and young people across the United States. 

    The resolution seeks to unite the public and policymakers in the fight against this deadly epidemic as fentanyl-related deaths continue to rise. In 2024 alone, law enforcement seized 60 million counterfeit pills, equating to over 377 million lethal doses.

    “Like far too many Americans, my family was impacted by the opioid crisis. My mom’s addiction that started with prescription opioids led to a decades long struggle including heroin and fentanyl. In one year alone, my mom overdosed over 20 times because of fentanyl,” said Pettersen. “I know firsthand that we need to be at the forefront of this epidemic as it continues to take the lives of young people at an alarming rate. National Fentanyl Awareness Day is an opportunity to increase awareness about the dangers to prevent further tragedies and protect the next generation.”

    “Countless Michigan families have suffered unimaginable loss due to this deadly drug,” said McClain. “We must secure our borders and crack down on the cartels that are fueling this epidemic. The safety of our communities and our children’s future depend on it.”

    “The fentanyl-fueled overdose crisis is devastating families and communities in every corner of our country,” said Trahan. “By establishing National Fentanyl Awareness Day, we not only honor the lives lost, but also shine a light on the urgent need for action. This bill is about raising awareness, saving lives, and reaffirming our commitment to ending this crisis.”

    “Counterfeit fentanyl is now the leading killer of young Americans, devastating families in every corner of our nation,” said Fitzpatrick. “I’ve seen the human cost of this crisis firsthand. As Co-Chair and a founding member of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, I’m working to turn awareness into action—stopping the flow of deadly counterfeit pills, strengthening prevention and enforcement, and saving lives. Recognizing National Fentanyl Awareness Day is a critical part of that mission and of building the national response this crisis demands.” 

    “Fentanyl-related overdoses and drug poisonings have had a devastating impact on communities across my home state of Colorado,” said Neguse.“In championing an effort to designate April 29th as National Fentanyl Awareness Day, we are not just bringing attention to this crisis but also sharing information and best practices for preventing the spread and sale of synthetic opioids—and, ultimately, fighting to save lives.”

    “Today is Fentanyl Awareness Day, and I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan resolution,” said McDowell. “I lost my younger brother Luke to this poison at just 20 years old. Too many families have gotten the same tragic news we did. Enough is enough.” 

    Text of the resolution can be found HERE. 

    Rep. Pettersen has been a leading voice in Congress on addressing the opioid crisis and expanding access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment. Inspired by her own mother’s struggle, Pettersen has fought for legislation to prevent the import of illicit drugs, crack down on drug traffickers and their financing operations, and prevent overdose deaths by ensuring airplanes, law enforcement, and hospitals are able to distribute naloxone when necessary.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Moran Applauds First 100 Days of the Trump Administration

    Source: Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01)

    Congressman Moran Applauds First 100 Days of the Trump Administration

    Moran: “President Trump Has Wasted No Time Getting America Back on Track”

    Washington, D.C., April 29, 2025

    Washington, D.C. ­– Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) released the following statement applauding the first 100 days of the second Trump Administration: 

    “Since taking the oath of office, President Trump and his Administration have wasted no time getting America back on track. President Trump’s strong, decisive, and bold leadership has restored the belief in American exceptionalism and ushered in a new optimism across our country—an optimism that had been lost under the previous Administration. I look forward to continuing to work with my Republican colleagues and President Trump to advance the America First Agenda and reaffirm our commitment to restoring America’s strength, security, and prosperity.”

    Congressman Moran meets with President Trump in the Oval Office

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    ”

    Congressman Moran meets with President Trump in the Oval Office

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    Congressman Moran meets with President Trump in the Oval Office

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    Congressman Moran meets with President Trump in the Oval Office

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Pfluger Reflects on First 100 Days – Delivering for Americans and Restoring Texas Values

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    Rep. Pfluger Reflects on First 100 Days – Delivering for Americans and Restoring Texas Values

    Washington, April 29, 2025

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today marks 100 days since President Trump took office for his second term. To reflect on these first 100 days, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) released the following video recapping what he sees as the top accomplishments Republicans have secured and highlighting the role he has played in them.

    To watch the recap, click here or the image below.

    Additionally, Rep. Pfluger released the following statement reflecting on the first 100 days of President Trump back in office:

    “President Trump is turning campaign promises into measurable outcomes. With a Republican Congress working in tandem, we have begun reversing the damage done under the previous administration and laying the groundwork for a stronger, safer, and more self-reliant America. The first 100 days have made one thing abundantly clear: under Republican leadership, commonsense is being restored, and the American people are once again being prioritized. Change is never easy, but President Trump’s willingness to shake up a broken system has already produced tangible, meaningful victories and has set the tone for where we are going. Illegal border crossings have dropped to historic lows, energy production is surging in the Permian Basin, and Texas values are no longer under siege—they’re leading the way.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Frankel Slams Pete Hegseth’s Attack on Women, Peace, and Security

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

    Today, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Women, Peace, and Security Caucus, released the following statement after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced he was eliminating Women, Peace, and Security efforts at the Department of Defense. President Trump signed the Women, Peace, and Security Act into law in 2017 after Congress passed it unanimously.

    “Hegseth’s elimination of Women, Peace, and Security work inside the Department of Defense is an outrageous and reckless move. The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) initiative isn’t “woke”—it’s smart, strategic policy grounded in decades of research and bipartisan law, signed by President Trump in 2017,” said Rep. Frankel.

    “WPS reflects what our military leaders and national security experts have long recognized: including women in peace and security efforts gives us a strategic advantage. When women are at the table—whether in preventing conflict, negotiating peace, or leading recovery—peace agreements are more durable, communities are more resilient, and missions are more successful. This matters especially in conflict zones, where rape is used as a weapon of war, and women are often left to protect and provide for their families,” continued Rep. Frankel.

    “Dismissing WPS as a “UN feminist plot” is not just ignorant—it’s dangerous. It denies the reality on the ground, ignores our own defense and diplomatic priorities, and weakens our national security. Undermining women’s leadership undermines our values—and hands our adversaries an advantage. We must not let this stand.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Read More (Steube Calls for Suncoast Cooperation With ICE)

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

    April 29, 2025 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) has sent a letter to police chiefs in Florida’s 17th congressional district urging them to enroll their respective departments in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s 287(g) program.
    President Trump’s Executive Order 14159, Protecting People Against Invasion, directed Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) to permit enrolled state and local authorities to perform specific immigration officer functions under section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). All agencies enrolled in the 287(g) program are directed and supervised by ICE in their execution of immigration law enforcement. 
    “After four years of disastrous border and immigration policies under the former Biden administration, the American people overwhelmingly entrusted President Trump to secure our border and protect the American homeland from the violence that criminal illegal aliens have brought to our country,” said Rep. Steube. “This is not just a duty for our law enforcement and border patrol partners at the southern and northern borders, but for every single law enforcement agency in Florida and the United States.”
    Representative Steube’s letter comes in the wake of the recent arrest of an illegal immigrant in Sarasota for assault and sexual battery. In his letter, Representative Steube requested police chiefs in Florida’s 17th district clarify whether their agency or department was enrolled or pursuing enrollment in the 287(g) program. He also asked that they provide a report on any grants or funding their agency was receiving or seeking from the federal government. Representative Steube emphasized the need for law enforcement to partner with ICE in resolving the migrant crisis and restoring security to the United States.
    Over the course of the Biden administration’s four years in office, Border Patrol encountered more than three times as many illegal immigrants crossing the southern border than under the first Trump administration. Since taking office and signing Executive Order 14159, President Trump has overseen the largest reduction in illegal migration in American history with illegal entries into the U.S. falling to their lowest level since 1968. 
    Read the letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 191

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL1

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 191
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    330 PM EDT Tue Apr 29 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
    Western and Northern New York
    Western and Central Pennsylvania
    Northern West Virginia
    Lake Erie
    Lake Ontario

    * Effective this Tuesday afternoon and evening from 330 PM until
    1000 PM EDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
    Scattered large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible
    A tornado or two possible

    SUMMARY…Multiple lines and clusters of thunderstorms will traverse
    the watch area through the afternoon and early evening. The
    strongest storms will pose a risk of damaging winds gusts and some
    hail.

    The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 80
    statute miles north and south of a line from 15 miles west northwest
    of Pittsburgh PA to 60 miles south southeast of Massena NY. For a
    complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
    update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
    favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
    Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
    weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
    warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
    tornadoes.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 187…WW 188…WW
    189…WW 190…

    AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
    1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A
    few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector
    24035.

    …Hart

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW1
    WW 191 SEVERE TSTM NY PA WV LE LO 291930Z – 300200Z
    AXIS..80 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF LINE..
    15WNW PIT/PITTSBURGH PA/ – 60SSE MSS/MASSENA NY/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 70NM N/S /20SW EWC – 49SSE MSS/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..1.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24035.

    LAT…LON 41748049 45287437 42977437 39418049

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU1.

    Watch 191 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    Low (20%)

    Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

    Low (5%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    High (70%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    Low (20%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Mod (40%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Low (20%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (90%)

    For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Chavez-DeRemer celebrates President Trump’s first 100 days of economic success with visit to California’s Central Valley

    Source: US Department of Labor

    WASHINGTON – To mark President Donald Trump’s successful first 100 days in office, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer traveled to California’s Central Valley to meet with local businesses and workers who are benefiting from the new Administration’s America First policies. The Secretary joined Rep. Vince Fong for a workforce development roundtable and a tour of a California Resources Corporation’s energy facilities.

    “It was great to celebrate President Trump’s first 100 days near the community I grew up in California’s Central Valley,” Secretary Chavez-DeRemer said. “From demand-focused job training to strengthening our energy security, the Central Valley is at the cutting edge of economic development. I appreciate Congressman Fong for hosting me as I continue hearing the stories of America at Work.”

    “It was an honor to host Secretary Chavez-DeRemer, a proud Central Valley native, in my district,” said Rep. Vince Fong. “She understands firsthand our region’s vital role as the economic engine of California, and I look forward to working closely with her to advance policies that strengthen our local economy and create more opportunities for the hardworking people of the Central Valley.”

    Secretary Chavez-DeRemer and Congressman Fong first held a roundtable with the Fresno Economic Development Corporation. EDC’s workforce development program, Good Jobs 4 the Central Valley, unites dozens of organizations to place 2,500 people into high-quality jobs through demand-focused programming.

    Following the roundtable, they visited Bakersfield and participated in an educational tour hosted by California Resources Corporation (CRC). CRC gave Secretary Chavez-DeRemer and Congressman Fong an in-depth review of local energy facilities and an exclusive preview of upcoming projects – an integral part in unleashing America’s energy independence.

    MIL OSI USA News –