NewzIntel.com

Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI Global: An ‘earthquake swarm’ is shaking Santorini. It could persist for months

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Dee Ninis, Earthquake Scientist, Monash University

    Greece’s government has just declared a state of emergency on the island of Santorini, as earthquakes shake the island multiple times a day and sometimes only minutes apart.

    The “earthquake swarm” is also affecting other nearby islands in the Aegean Sea. It began gradually with numerous very minor (less than magnitude 3) and mostly imperceptible earthquakes in late January. However, at the start of February, the seismic activity intensified as the quakes became larger and more frequent.

    So far, several thousand quakes have been recorded in the last two weeks. As many as 30 a day have been above magnitude 4.0 – most of them at less than 10km depth, which is large and shallow enough to be felt by people living on local islands.

    These larger earthquakes have resulted in rock falls along the islands’ coastal cliffs, as well as minor damage to vulnerable buildings. The largest earthquake so far was magnitude 5.1 on February 6, which was also felt in the capital city, Athens, as well as in Crete and in parts of Turkey more than 240km away.

    Usually a popular tourist destination, Santorini is now virtually empty. Over the past week, some 11,000 holidaymakers and locals have left the island, with many fearing the seismic activity may presage a volcanic eruption.

    So how exactly does an “earthquake swarm” happen? And what might happen in the coming days and weeks?

    No stranger to earthquakes

    This area of the world is no stranger to earthquakes. Greece is one of the most seismically active regions in Europe.

    The current seismic activity is located near Anydros, an uninhabited islet about 30km northeast of Santorini. This region lies within the volcanic arc of the “Hellenic subduction zone”, where the African tectonic plate is slowly sliding beneath the Eurasian plate (and specifically the Aegean microplate). The region hosts volcanoes as well as numerous weak zones in the crust – what earth scientists often call “faults”.

    Santorini itself is a mostly submerged caldera – a crater formed as a result of volcanic activity over the past 180,000 years, with its last eruption in the 1950s. Earthquakes can be connected to volcanic activity – specifically, the movement of magma beneath the surface.

    However, this earthquake sequence is not located beneath Santorini. And local scientists monitoring Santorini have reported no change to indicate the current seismic activity is a forerunner of another Santorini eruption. Instead, the earthquakes appear to align with faults lying between Santorini and the neighbouring island Amorgos.

    Nearby faults are known to have produced earthquakes before. For example, in 1956, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake here also produced a damaging tsunami and was soon followed by a magnitude 7.2 aftershock. More than 53 people died as a result of this earthquake and the aftershock and tsunami. Many more were injured.

    Earthquakes, shown as coloured circles, of the January-February 2025 Anydros swarm, near Santorini, Greece (Source: seismo.auth.gr) and known active faults, depicted as black lines (Source: https://zenodo.org/records/13168947).
    Dee Ninis & Konstantinos Michailos

    No single stand-out event

    Tectonic earthquakes occur when accumulating stress in Earth’s crust is suddenly released, causing a rupture along a fault and releasing energy in the form of seismic waves.

    Typically, moderate to major earthquakes (known as mainshocks) are followed by smaller quakes (known as aftershocks) that gradually diminish in magnitude and frequency over time. This is what seismologists call the mainshock–aftershock sequence.

    Some sequences behave differently and do not exhibit a single stand-out event. Instead, they involve multiple earthquakes of a similar size that take place over days, weeks, or even months. These types of sequences are what seismologists call “earthquake swarms”.

    The 1956 earthquake was a mainshock–aftershock sequence, with aftershocks lasting at least eight months after the mainshock. However, the current ongoing seismic activity near Santorini, at least as of February 7, features thousands of earthquakes, many with magnitudes ranging between 4.0 and 5.0.

    This suggests it is most likely an earthquake swarm.

    Earthquake swarms are often associated with fluid movement in the earth’s crust and the resulting seismic activity is usually less dramatic than the sudden movement of a strong mainshock.

    Seismologists are interested in distinguishing between mainshock–aftershock sequences and earthquake swarms as it can help them better understand the processes that drive these phenomena.

    A larger quake is still possible

    We cannot predict exactly what will come from the earthquake activity near Santorini. Global observations of earthquakes tell us that only a small fraction (about 5%) of earthquakes are foreshocks to larger earthquakes.

    That said, there could still be a possibility that a larger and potentially damaging earthquake could occur there soon.

    Although swarms typically involve earthquakes of lower magnitudes, they can last for days to weeks, or persist for months. They can even slow down, and then intensify again, unsettling locals with intermittent ground shaking.

    Dee Ninis works at the Seismology Research Centre, is Vice President of the Australian Earthquake Engineering Society, and a Committee Member for the Geological Society of Australia – Victoria Division.

    Konstantinos Michailos does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. An ‘earthquake swarm’ is shaking Santorini. It could persist for months – https://theconversation.com/an-earthquake-swarm-is-shaking-santorini-it-could-persist-for-months-249278

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Britt, Warnock, Peters Reintroduce Retirement Fairness Legislation for Non-Profit Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Katie Britt (R-AL), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Gary Peters (D-MI) reintroduced the Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Actto enhance investment options for 403(b) retirement plans. 403(b) plans are a type of retirement savings plan, similar to a 401(k), offered to employees of non-profit organizations like public universities, hospitals, churches, and charities.
    “Non-profit employees should have the same access to investment strategies for their retirement plans as private sector employees,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Social Security is going insolvent. We need to give Americans every tool to help make their retirement more secure.”
    “The Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act would level the playing field so more hardworking Americans can access retirement resources that best fit their needs. Our legislation would allow Americans in the non-profit sector to access the same investment options available to those in the private sector,” said Senator Britt. “This commonsense bipartisan bill would help Americans who work for non-profits, including many of our hospitals, achieve long-term financial stability.” 
    “America’s retirees deserve the peace of mind that comes with financial security when they transition into retirement. This is especially true for non-profit workers who dedicate their lives to serving their communities— they deserve access to the same retirement investment opportunities private sector employees have,” said Senator Warnock. “That’s why I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan legislation which provides equal opportunity for non-profit employees and helps ensure they can retire with dignity.”
    “Hardworking public service and non-profit employees who support our health care and human services, arts and culture, civic engagement, and more deserve access to all available financial tools that can help them plan for retirement,” said Senator Peters. “This legislation would put those using a 403(b) plan on a level playing field with other retirement plan participants by allowing them to invest in collective investment trusts, giving them an equal opportunity to achieve their financial goals.” 
    The Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Actwould expand retirement savings opportunities for non-profit employees by allowing 403(b) plan participants to invest in collective investment trusts (CITs). A CIT is a tax-exempt investment vehicle that provides a diversified, pooled investment option—similar to a mutual fund. CITs offer greater flexibility in investment strategies for retirement plans and reliable, often higher, net returns for plan participants.
    Under current law, unlike 401(k) holders, 403(b) plan sponsors are not able to use this stable investment option in their plan. This legislation would create parity between 403(b) and 401(k) retirement savings plans, benefitting over 15 million hardworking employees at hospitals, universities, charities, and other non-profit organizations.
    The Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Actis supported by the American Bankers Association, American Benefits Council, American Heart Association, American Life Insurance Association, American Retirement Association, Aon, Church Alliance, Great Gray, Insured Retirement Institute, Investment Company Institute, March of Dimes, MetLife, Mercer, Mission Square, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, National Council of Nonprofits, Nationwide, Prudential, SPARK Institute, Stable Value Investment Association, United Way, and Vanguard.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Honors Victims and Families of Wichita, KS Plane Crash on Senate Floor

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. spoke on the Senate floor before passing a resolution to honor the memory of the 67 lives lost in the tragic mid-air collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a United States Army helicopter on January 29, 2025. 
    The resolution also commemorates the bravery, dedication, and swift action of the first responders who played a critical role in the recovery efforts under harsh conditions. Shortly after speaking, the resolution passed unanimously through the Senate.
    The full text of the resolution can be found HERE.

    You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full remarks. 
    Quotes from Senator Marshall’s remarks include:
    “It’s been more than a week since that horrific night, but it feels as if it just happened hours ago. It doesn’t seem possible. In the blink of an eye, we lost 67 brave souls. Each morning I wake up hoping it was all just a nightmare, that somehow it wasn’t real, but we all know it was, and it is.”
    “The psalmist writes in the 34th chapter, the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit…It’s times like these, when grief is overwhelming that we hold on to the promise of Scripture and the faith passed down from generation to generation, a faith that’s carried Kansans through hardship and loss.”
    “We remember 1955 a tornado leveled the little city of Udall and 75 Kansans lost their lives. Another horrific plane crash in 1970 carrying the Wichita State University football team and 31 souls were lost, the tornadoes, the storms, the floods, the wildfires, all these disasters have taken too many lives and left so many hearts shattered, and yet through it all, one thing has remained: our faith and the love and support of our families and our communities. That’s what’s carried us before, and that’s what will carry us now.”
    “I fear for the loved ones left behind, because I know this pain never truly goes away, and I know, like my colleagues have said, there’s truly no words that can capture the depth of our sorrow that we all feel right now, and we can’t begin to imagine the grief of these family members. But yet we want you, each to know you don’t stand alone, that we’re with you. We stand beside you. We’re mourning with you. Our communities are wrapping their arms around you in prayer and support.”
     “To speak to the family specifically, we too are broken hearted just like you, and that we’re also crushed in spirit, but yet there’s hope, and we want you to know this, that even in this tragedy, God has not deserted us. He walks with us through these darkest of valleys, and he weeps with those who weep. We’re praying for your strength. We’re praying for God’s comfort and peace to cover you all as we mourn together.”
     “I want to express my deepest gratitude for all the emergency responders and especially the divers who I really believe risked their own lives by jumping into a dark, fast, cold river in search of survivors. Thank you so much for doing that and for doing your job so well. Your courage will not be forgotten.”
    “I said this the night of the tragedy. When one life is lost, it is a tragedy. When many are lost at once, it’s an unbearable sorrow. It’s a heartbreak beyond measure. Again, to the families, we’re with you, and so is our Father in Heaven.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – Green light for remote tech to sort the wood from the trees – Flinders

    Source: Flinders University

    New Zealand and Flinders University experts have deployed artificial intelligence and 3D laser scanning to accurately map planted pine (radiata) forests for most of NZ’s North Island.  

    The results, which distinguish planted large estates, small woodlots and newly established stands as young as three years old, showcase a new way of using remote sensing with other technology to reveal forest growth and update growth information.

    This approach is just as relevant for Australia, where radiata pine is also widely grown, says Dr Grant Pearse, Senior Lecturer in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at Flinders University.

    “In New Zealand, where radiata pine plantations dominate the forestry sector, the current national forest description lacks spatially explicit information and struggles to capture data on small-scale forests,” says Dr Pearse, from the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia.

    “We combined deep learning-based forest mapping using high-resolution aerial imagery with regional airborne laser scanning data to map all planted forest and estimate key attributes.”

    The spatially explicit forest description provides wall-to-wall information on forest extent, age, and volume for all sizes of forest. This facilitates stratification by key variables for wood supply forecasting, harvest planning, and infrastructure investment decisions – applications equally valuable for other forestry industries.

    The research, with New Zealand timber industry researchers from Rotorua, Christchurch and Auckland, was carried out on planted forests in the Gisborne region, which has publicly available aerial imagery and airborne laser scanning data.

    This region is particularly significant as it was severely impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle in early 2023, which caused widespread landslides and forest debris flows.

    For such vulnerable terrain, knowing exactly where forests are located in the landscape, their age and condition is key to managing the risks of harvesting operations on the region’s steep slopes.

    “We propose satellite-based harvest detection and digital photogrammetry to continuously update the initial forest description. This methodology enables near real-time monitoring of planted forests at all scales and is adaptable to other regions with similar data availability,” researchers say in a new article.

    Along with the economic importance of NZ’s 1.8 million hectares of radiata pine forestry for export timber and fibre, these planted forests are a key part of the country’s emission trading scheme and are expected to play a significant role in achieving the government’s target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

    The forest map derived from artificial intelligence can be viewed at: www.forestinsights.nz

    In South Australia, plantation estates covering about 40,000 hectares support a $3 billion industry and employ 18,000 people as well as construction, manufacturing, tourism and regional communities.

    The article. ‘Developing a forest description from remote sensing: Insights from New Zealand’ (2024) byGrant D Pearse (Flinders University), Sadeepa Jayathunga, Nicolò Camarretta, Melanie E Palmer, Benjamin SC Steer, Michael S Watt (all Scion), Pete Watt and Andrew Holdaway (both Indufor Asia Pacific)  has been published in the journal Science of Remote Sensing. DOI: 10.1016/j.srs.2024.100183. (ref. https://www.forestinsights.nz/ )

    Acknowledgements: This project was funded through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Strategic Science Investment Fund (administered by Scion, the New Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd) and through the MBIE Programme (grant number C04X2101).

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UniSA welcomes new leader for its Mount Gambier campus

    Source: University of South Australia

    07 February 2025

    Peta Crewe, incoming Regional Manager for UniSA’s Mount Gambier campus

    PIRSA regional development lead Peta Crewe is joining the University of South Australia to head up its Mount Gambier campus as new Regional Manager.

    From forestry to vines, livestock and community, Crewe’s connection to the Limestone Coast region spans a quarter of a century including roles in Government, at ForestrySA, and on strategic working groups and committees.

    Her current role is General Manager, Regions for SA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), where she oversees regional development across 11 regional offices.

    Crewe will commence in her UniSA role on 3 March.

    UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd is delighted to welcome her to the University community.

    “Peta has an outstanding track record delivering successful regional programs and addressing the key issues in regional communities, including workforce shortages, lack of affordable housing, industry development, and community capacity building,” Prof Lloyd says.

    “Her experience and connections in the Limestone Coast region, a region of enormous social, cultural and economic significance to SA, will be a great asset to our University and the local community.”

    Ian McKay, Mount Gambier’s current Regional Manager, will retire on 14 March after eight years in the role.

    “Ian has been a wonderful advocate and ambassador for UniSA and has made a significant impact in the Mount Gambier community,” Prof Lloyd says.

    “UniSA’s regional engagement and connections to the Mount Gambier community have greatly expanded under Ian’s leadership. On behalf of the University, I thank him for his contributions and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”

    Crewe has an agriculture degree from the University of Adelaide and a Master in Forest Science. Her previous roles include PIRSA’s regional coordinator for the Limestone Coast. Among her many community roles and professional memberships, she is team manager for the Blue Lake Soccer Club’s Senior Women’s team.

    Media contact: Megan Andrews M: +61 434 819 275 142 E: megan.andrews@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is DOGE a cybersecurity threat? A security expert explains the dangers of violating protocols and regulations that protect government computer systems

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Richard Forno, Teaching Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, and Assistant Director, UMBC Cybersecurity Institute, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    People protest DOGE’s access to sensitive personal data. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

    The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), President Donald Trump’s special commission tasked with slashing federal spending, continues to disrupt Washington and the federal bureaucracy. According to published reports, its teams are dropping into federal agencies with a practically unlimited mandate to reform the federal government in accordance with recent executive orders.

    As a 30-year cybersecurity veteran, I find the activities of DOGE thus far concerning. Its broad mandate across government, seemingly nonexistent oversight, and the apparent lack of operational competence of its employees have demonstrated that DOGE could create conditions that are ideal for cybersecurity or data privacy incidents that affect the entire nation.

    Traditionally, the purpose of cybersecurity is to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of information and information systems while helping keep those systems available to those who need them. But in DOGE’s first few weeks of existence, reports indicate that its staff appears to be ignoring those principles and potentially making the federal government more vulnerable to cyber incidents.

    Technical competence

    Cybersecurity and information technology, like any other business function, depend on employees trained specifically for their jobs. Just as you wouldn’t let someone only qualified in first aid to perform open heart surgery, technology professionals require a baseline set of credentialed education, training and experience to ensure that the most qualified people are on the job.

    Currently, the general public, federal agencies and Congress have little idea who is tinkering with the government’s critical systems. DOGE’s hiring process, including how it screens applicants for technical, operational or cybersecurity competency, as well as experience in government, is opaque. And journalists investigating the backgrounds of DOGE employees have been intimidated by the acting U.S. attorney in Washington.

    DOGE has hired young people fresh out of – or still in – college or with little or no experience in government, but who reportedly have strong technical prowess. But some have questionable backgrounds for such sensitive work. And one leading DOGE staffer working at the Treasury Department has since resigned over a series of racist social media posts.

    Wired’s Katie Drummond explains what the magazine’s reporters have uncovered about DOGE staffers and their activities.

    According to reports, these DOGE staffers have been granted administrator-level technical access to a variety of federal systems. These include systems that process all federal payments, including Social Security, Medicare and the congressionally appropriated funds that run the government and its contracting operations.

    DOGE operatives are quickly developing and deploying major software changes to very complex old systems and databases, according to reports. But given the speed of change, it’s likely that there is little formal planning or quality control involved to ensure such changes don’t break the system. Such actions run contrary to cybersecurity principles and best practices for technology management.

    As a result, there’s probably no way of knowing if these changes make it easier for malware to be introduced into government systems, if sensitive data can be accessed without authorization, or if DOGE’s work is making government systems otherwise more unstable and more vulnerable.

    If you don’t know what you’re doing in IT, really bad things can happen. A notable example is the failed launch of the healthcare.gov website in 2013. In the case of the Treasury Department’s systems, that’s fairly important to remember as the nation careens toward another debt-ceiling crisis and citizens look for their Social Security payments.

    On Feb. 6, 2025, a federal judge ordered that DOGE staff be restricted to read-only access to the Treasury Department’s payment systems, but the legal proceedings challenging the legality of their access to government IT systems are ongoing.

    DOGE email servers

    DOGE’s apparent lack of cybersecurity competence is reflected in some of its first actions. DOGE installed its own email servers across the federal government to facilitate direct communication with rank-and-file employees outside official channels, disregarding time-tested best practices for cybersecurity and IT administration. A lawsuit by federal employees alleges that these systems did not undergo a security review as required by current federal cybersecurity standards.

    There is an established process in the federal government to configure and deploy new systems to ensure they are stable, secure and unlikely to create cybersecurity problems. But DOGE ignored those practices, with predictable results.

    For example, a journalist was able to send invitations to his newsletter to over 13,000 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees through one of these servers. In another case, the way in which employee responses to DOGE’s Fork in the Road buyout offer to federal employees are collected could easily be manipulated by someone with malicious intent – a simple social engineering attack could wrongly end a worker’s employment. And DOGE staff members reportedly are connecting their own untrusted devices to government networks, which potentially introduces new ways for cyberattackers to penetrate sensitive systems.

    However, DOGE appears to be embracing creative cybersecurity practices in shielding itself. It’s reorganizing its internal communications in order to dodge Freedom of Information Act requests into its work, and it’s using cybersecurity techniques for tracking insider threats to prevent and investigate leaks of its activities.

    Lacking management controls

    But it’s not just technical security that DOGE is ignoring. On Feb. 2, two security officials for the U.S. Agency for International Development resisted granting a DOGE team access to sensitive financial and personnel systems until their identities and clearances were verified, in accordance with federal requirements. Instead, the officials were threatened with arrest and placed on administrative leave, and DOGE’s team gained access.

    The Trump administration also has reclassified federal chief information officers, normally senior career employees with years of specialized knowledge, to be general employees subject to dismissal for political reasons. So there may well be a brain drain of IT talent in the federal government, or a constant turnover of both senior IT leadership and other technical experts. This change will almost certainly have ramifications for cybersecurity.

    DOGE operatives now have direct access to the Office of Personnel Management’s database of millions of federal employees, including those with security clearances holding sensitive positions. Without oversight, this access opens up the possibilities of privacy violations, tampering with employment records, intimidation or political retribution.

    Support from all levels of management is crucial to provide accountability for cybersecurity and technology management. This is especially important in the public sector, where oversight and accountability is a critical function of good democratic governance and national security. After all, if people don’t know what you’re doing, they don’t know what you’re doing wrong.

    At the moment, DOGE appears to be operating with very little oversight by anyone in position willing or able to hold it responsible for its actions.

    Mitigating the damage

    Career federal employees trying to follow legal or cybersecurity practices for federal systems and data are now placed in a difficult position. They either capitulate to DOGE staffers’ instructions, thereby abandoning best practices and ignoring federal standards, or resist them and run the risk of being fired or disciplined.

    The federal government’s vast collections of data touch every citizen and company. While government systems may not be as trustworthy as they once were, people can still take steps to protect themselves from adverse consequences of DOGE’s activities. Two good starting points are to lock your credit bureau records in case your government data is disclosed and using different logins and passwords on federal websites to conduct business.

    It’s crucial for the administration, Congress and the public to recognize the cybersecurity dangers that DOGE’s activities pose and take meaningful steps to bring the organization under reasonable control and oversight.

    Richard Forno has received research funding related to cybersecurity from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the US Army during his academic career since 2010.

    – ref. Is DOGE a cybersecurity threat? A security expert explains the dangers of violating protocols and regulations that protect government computer systems – https://theconversation.com/is-doge-a-cybersecurity-threat-a-security-expert-explains-the-dangers-of-violating-protocols-and-regulations-that-protect-government-computer-systems-249111

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Murkowski Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Promote Geothermal Exploration and Development

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) reintroduced their bipartisan, bicameral legislation to promote geothermal energy. The STEAM Act would expedite geothermal exploration and development in previously studied or developed areas. Representatives Susie Lee (D-Nev.-03) and Celeste Maloy (R-Utah-02) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

    “Nevada’s clean energy economy is spurring innovation and lowering energy costs for residents across the Silver State,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “My commonsense, bipartisan legislation will cut red tape, create good-paying jobs, and let communities take advantage of Nevada’s untapped geothermal potential.”

    “Unleashing the full potential of clean, reliable, baseload geothermal will help to bolster our energy independence and power our communities. The STEAM Act takes a step forward to remove unnecessary hurdles for geothermal exploration and cuts through the red tape slowing down deployment of geothermal technologies,” said Senator Murkowski. “I look forward to continuing to advocate for this legislation to help boost geothermal as a source of domestic energy.”

    “Nevada has incredible energy potential and geothermal energy is a key piece of that,” said Rep. Lee. “Yet, red tape has prevented us from fully unleashing its potential. This bipartisan bill will cut red tape, help strengthen U.S. energy independence, and lower costs.”

    “Utah’s second district has some of the most abundant geothermal resources in the world,” said Rep. Maloy. “Unfortunately, bureaucratic red tape and inefficiency makes developing geothermal resources risky. The STEAM Act will clear the way for Utah to produce more energy and create more jobs.”

    “In 2005, the U.S. faced an energy crisis and rightly granted oil and gas a categorical exclusion to produce more energy to meet demand,” said Jeremy Harrell, CEO, ClearPath Action. “As the U.S. faces new challenges to meet rising demand, this bill helps achieve parity for 24/7, clean, reliable geothermal power. This legislation is important in unlocking American geothermal energy to support our economy and the environment.”

    “The STEAM Act is an important step in advancing geothermal energy exploration and development in previously studied or developed areas,” said Jeanine Vany, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Eavor. “By ensuring geothermal exploration can move forward as efficiently and responsibly as other energy resources, this bill paves the way for the expansion of a proven, clean, and reliable energy solution. We’re encouraged by continued bipartisan action that prioritizes domestic geothermal applications as a key part of our future energy portfolio.”

    “The bipartisan STEAM Act would extend permitting parity across oil, gas, and geothermal for American generation projects,” said Ben Serrurier, Senior Manager of Government Affairs and Policy, Fervo Energy. “The permitting improvements from the STEAM Act have been tested and perfected for two decades now — and banks, operators, and agencies know how they work. This will help geothermal projects advance more quickly and at reasonable costs with financing and drilling. Fervo applauds Representatives Celeste Maloy and Susie Lee and Senators Lisa Murkowski and Catherine Cortez Masto for their hard work to advance this source of clean, firm energy to power America.”

    Right now, there is an expedited review and permitting process for oil and gas development projects on land that has already gone through environmental studies. The Streamlining Thermal Energy through Advanced Mechanisms (STEAM) Act would cut red tape by allowing geothermal projects in previously developed or studied areas to also bypass cumbersome, repetitive environmental impact studies.  

    Senator Cortez Masto has consistently worked to support Nevada’s battery supply chain and clean energy industry, which has created nearly 42,000 good-paying clean energy jobs across Nevada. Through her Innovation State Initiative, Senator Cortez Masto has been a proponent of renewable and sustainable energy, passing bipartisan legislation to promote Nevada’s mining and emerging battery industries. She has also set up a sustainable critical mineral supply chain and led efforts in the Senate to create good-paying solar energy jobs. Cortez Masto recently announced that the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) has been designated as a Tech Hub for innovation and job creation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 4 Status Reports

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Search by city or zip code. Press enter or select the go button to submit request
    Local forecast by”City, St” or “ZIP” 

    SPC on Facebook

    @NWSSPC

    NCEP Quarterly Newsletter

    Home (Classic)SPC Products   All SPC Forecasts   Current Watches   Meso. Discussions   Conv. Outlooks   Tstm. Outlooks   Fire Wx Outlooks     RSS Feeds   E-Mail AlertsWeather Information   Storm Reports   Storm Reports Dev.   NWS Hazards Map   National RADAR   Product Archive   NOAA Weather RadioResearch   Non-op. Products   Forecast Tools   Svr. Tstm. Events   SPC Publications   SPC-NSSL HWTEducation & Outreach   About the SPC   SPC FAQ   About Tornadoes   About Derechos   Video Lecture Series   WCM Page   Enh. Fujita Page   Our History   Public ToursMisc.   StaffContact Us   SPC Feedback

    Watch 4 Status Reports

    Watch 4 Status Message has not been issued yet.

    Top/Watch Issuance Text for Watch 4/All Current Watches/Forecast Products/Home

    Weather Topics:Watches, Mesoscale Discussions, Outlooks, Fire Weather, All Products, Contact Us

    NOAA / National Weather ServiceNational Centers for Environmental PredictionStorm Prediction Center120 David L. Boren Blvd.Norman, OK 73072 U.S.A.spc.feedback@noaa.govPage last modified: February 07, 2025
    DisclaimerInformation QualityHelpGlossary
    Privacy PolicyFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)About UsCareer Opportunities

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey Leads Members of Massachusetts Delegation, Unions in Disavowing Trump’s Attempt to Dismantle Education Department

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (February 6, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Health Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation — Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representatives Richard Neal (MA-01), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), and Bill Keating (MA-09) — along with the Massachusetts Teachers Association, American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts, Massachusetts Association of School Committees, and Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, released the following statement today after President Trump vowed to dismantle the Department of Education. 

    “President Trump’s vow to dismantle the Department of Education is an attack on the entire public school system, and it is an attack that we cannot accept. Every day, educators, students, administrators, and parents in Massachusetts demonstrate what a world class public education system can do: provide every child with the opportunity to thrive, strengthen our communities, and drive economic growth. Students, parents, educators, and communities deserve consistent leadership committed to improving education for all, not to be used as political pawns. 

    “We stand united in our determination to resist President Trump’s attacks on public education; united in our belief that a strong and well-funded public education system is crucial to the well-being of our country; and united in our determination to deliver the promise of education to every student in the Commonwealth and across the country.”

    In Fiscal Year 2024 in Massachusetts, the Department of Education provided more than $720 million to support 1,800 K-12 schools and more than 926,000 students, including:

    • $366 million in annual funding for 182,000 students with disabilities – reflecting 20% of Massachusetts’s student population;
    • $289 million in annual funding for schools enrolling 425,000 students from low-income backgrounds – reflecting 46% of Massachusetts’s student population; 
    • $20.5 million in annual funding for about 97,000 English learners – reflecting 10% of Massachusetts’s student population;  
    • $1.5 million in annual funding for students enrolled in rural schools; and 
    • $812,000 in annual funding to support children living on military bases or Native American reservations.

    President Trump’s nominee to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Education, Linda McMahon, is expected to appear before the HELP Committee on Thursday, February 13.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sullivan, Colleagues Call for Quick Implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan

    02.06.25

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and 27 of his Senate colleagues sent a letter this week to the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration calling for the immediate implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act to provide full Social Security benefits for millions of public servants impacted by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). The Social Security Fairness Act, which fully repeals the two unfair Social Security provisions, WEP and GPO, was signed into law on January 5, 2025.

    “The Social Security Fairness Act restores full Social Security benefits for the millions of teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public servants who are unfairly penalized by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO),” wrote the senators.

    “The Social Security Administration’s website currently states, ‘SSA expects that it could take more than one year to adjust benefits and pay all retroactive benefits’ owed under the Social Security Fairness Act. We call for the immediate implementation of this legislation to provide prompt relief to the millions of Americans impacted by WEP and GPO,” continued the senators. 

    Senator Sullivan was joined by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jerry Moran (R-Kans.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Fetterman (D-Penn.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), John Hickenlooper (D-Co.), Angus King (I-Maine), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Dick Durbin (D-Il.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Min.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).

    Read the full letter here or below:

    Dear Acting Commissioner King,

    We write to you concerning the implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act (Public Law No: 118-273). This legislation passed Congress on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis on December 21st, 2024 and was signed into law on January 5th, 2025. The Social Security Fairness Act restores full Social Security benefits for the millions of teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public servants who are unfairly penalized by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

    The Social Security Administration’s website currently states, “SSA expects that it could take more than one year to adjust benefits and pay all retroactive benefits” owed under the Social Security Fairness Act. We call for the immediate implementation of this legislation to provide prompt relief to the millions of Americans impacted by WEP and GPO. In the interim, we request monthly updates and briefings regarding the status of the Social Security Administration’s progress towards implementing the Social Security Fairness Act. 

    Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.  We look forward to your response.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Scientists hit the water for Maaui dolphin population survey

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  07 February 2025

    This research, conducted every five years, uses a proven genetic mark-recapture method to estimate the Maaui dolphin population along the west coast of the North Island. DNA samples will be collected from live, wild dolphins using a small biopsy dart, providing essential information about population size, genetic diversity, and movement patterns.

    “The Maaui dolphin is critically endangered, and every sighting or sample contributes to our understanding of the species and its future survival,” says Cara Hansen, DOC Ranger.

    The most recent abundance estimate, completed in 2021, indicated there were approximately 54 individual Maaui dolphins over the age of one year in the water off the North Island’s west coast (the animals’ known habitat). This new survey will provide an updated estimate to help track changes in the population and inform conservation efforts.

    The survey will be carried out over two summer seasons, in 2025-26 and 2026-27, with field teams operating between the entrance of Kaipara Harbour and the Mokau River in Taranaki. Staff from DOC’s Taranaki, Auckland, and Waikato districts, the Marine Species Team, the University of Auckland, and Ngaati Te Ata will collaborate on this important project.

    The public can also play a role in conservation efforts by reporting any sightings of Maaui dolphins and being aware of the threat that toxoplasmosis has on Maaui dolphins. The dolphins have a distinctive round dorsal fin, often likened to an ear from the cartoon character Mickey Mouse.

    “Real-time reports help our field teams understand where the dolphins are being seen and improve the success of our survey,” says Cara.

    Sightings can be reported through DOC’s hotline at 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) or online Marine mammal sighting form.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Volcano Watch — An assembly of volcano scientists to gather in Hilo

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. Today’s article is by HVO geologist Kendra J. Lynn.

    This cartoon schematic depicts the Kīlauea 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption and coincident summit collapse. It is the logo for the American Geophysical Union Chapman Meeting on Caldera-Forming Eruptions at Basaltic Volcanoes, to be held in Hilo, Hawaii, from February 9-14, 2025. More info: https://www.agu.org/chapman-basaltic-caldera-forming-eruptions.

    Next week, during February 9-14, volcano scientists from around the world are gathering in Hilo, united by the common goal of understanding caldera-forming eruptions at basaltic volcanoes. 

    The occasion for the assembly is the American Geophysical Union Chapman Conference on Caldera-forming Eruptions at Basaltic Volcanoes: Insights and Puzzles from Kīlauea 2018 and Beyond. The meeting is directly aligned with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Volcano Hazards Program mission—“to enhance public safety and minimize social and economic disruption from volcanic unrest and eruption.”

    Basaltic caldera-forming rift eruptions, like the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea, represent an underappreciated hazard for many global communities, but also a chance to better understand some of Earth’s most active volcanoes. A handful of these eruptions have been documented globally in the last half-century, including at Miyakejima (Japan), Piton de la Fournaise (La Réunion), and Bárðarbunga (Iceland). Kīlauea’s 2018 eruption was its most impactful in centuries, was documented in remarkable detail, and it involved more than one cubic kilometer of basaltic lava flows, a magnitude-6.9 flank earthquake, and a major summit collapse. 

    Observations from Kīlauea and similar eruptions around the globe offer an unprecedented opportunity to understand calderas and associated rift systems and the dynamics of their interplay, but a community-driven synthesis has been lacking, and numerous fundamental scientific questions remain. The experts who will gather on the Island of Hawaiʻi will assess current understanding, share insights, and map out work on critical outstanding issues. Resulting insights should prove valuable when the next large basaltic caldera collapse takes place somewhere on Earth.

    This conference will bring together an interdisciplinary assembly of volcano scientists to contrast observations from historic global caldera-rift eruptions, establish the state-of-the-art understanding, identify important questions, and initiate lasting new research efforts. We will address the causes of these eruptions, the dynamics of basaltic caldera collapses, the interaction between summit calderas and rift zones, the geometry and physical properties of magma storage, and the challenges in forecasting associated hazards. 

    A significant investment in research and monitoring of Hawaii’s volcanoes was made through the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (H.R. 2157), which provided Supplemental funding to USGS for recovery and rebuilding activities in the wake of the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. Results from recent large-scale science experiments at Kīlauea supported by this funding will be shared and discussed at the Chapman. Field trips will give participants an opportunity to visit important sites on the volcano. Finally, teams will be formed to discuss science questions in detail and establish priorities for additional work following the meeting.

    The conference is being organized by U.S. Geological Survey and academic volcano researchers, bringing over 150 scientists together for presentations, discussions, workshops, and field trips. Participants represent 15 countries outside the United States and will include presentations about volcanoes around the world. Roughly 25% of presenters are undergraduate or graduate students, representing a new generation of volcano scientists tackling our field’s biggest challenges. We are very excited that several University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and Mānoa students will be presenting their research at the meeting. Additionally, partners from Hawai‘i County Civil Defense, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, the Hawaiian Volcano Education & Resilience Institute, the Pacific Tsunami Museum, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center will participate. 

    During the week of the conference, winning art and haiku submissions from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) Volcano Awareness Month competition will be on display. In addition, a public After Dark in the Park presentation by Icleandic Meteorological Office scientist Gro Pederson will summarize the ongoing volcanic crisis on Reykjanes Peninsula, Southwest Iceland on February 6 in the Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Dr. Pederson is a former USGS HVO volunteer, and her presentation will highlight parallels between Hawaiian and Icelandic volcanoes and their hazards to our communities. 

    We look forward to a productive week learning from our colleagues and partners. E komo mai to the assembly of volcanologists that is soon to arrive!

    Volcano Activity Updates

    Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is WATCH.

    The summit eruption at Kīlauea volcano that began in Halemaʻumaʻu crater on December 23 continued over the past week, with one eruptive episode. Episode 8 was active from the evening of February 3 until the evening of February 4. Kīlauea summit has been inflating since episode 8 ended. Resumption of eruptive activity is possible between February 8-11 if summit inflation continues at current rate. Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region during active eruption episodes. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. 

    Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.

    No earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week.

    HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

    Please visit HVO’s website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias

    Source: The White House

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

         Section 1.  Purpose and Policy.  It is the policy of the United States, and the purpose of this order, to protect the religious freedoms of Americans and end the anti-Christian weaponization of government.  The Founders established a Nation in which people were free to practice their faith without fear of discrimination or retaliation by their government. 

         For that reason, the United States Constitution enshrines the fundamental right to religious liberty in the First Amendment.  Federal laws like the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.), further prohibit government interference with Americans’ rights to exercise their religion.  Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.), prohibits religious discrimination in employment while Federal hate-crime laws prohibit offenses committed due to religious animus.

         Yet the previous Administration engaged in an egregious pattern of targeting peaceful Christians, while ignoring violent, anti-Christian offenses.  The Biden Department of Justice sought to squelch faith in the public square by bringing Federal criminal charges and obtaining in numerous cases multi-year prison sentences against nearly two dozen peaceful pro-life Christians for praying and demonstrating outside abortion facilities.  Those convicted included a Catholic priest and 75-year-old grandmother, as well as an 87-year-old woman and a father of 11 children who were arrested 18 months after praying and singing hymns outside an abortion facility in Tennessee as a part of a politically motivated prosecution campaign by the Biden Administration.  I rectified this injustice on January 23, 2025, by issuing pardons in these cases. 
     
         At the same time, Catholic churches, charities, and pro-life centers sought justice for violence, theft, and arson perpetrated against them, which the Biden Department of Justice largely ignored.  After more than 100 attacks, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning this violence and calling on the Biden Administration to enforce the law.
     
         Then, in 2023, a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) memorandum asserted that “radical-traditionalist” Catholics were domestic-terrorism threats and suggested infiltrating Catholic churches as “threat mitigation.”  This later-retracted FBI memorandum cited as support evidence propaganda from highly partisan sources.
       
         The Biden Department of Education sought to repeal religious-liberty protections for faith-based organizations on college campuses.  The Biden Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sought to force Christians to affirm radical transgender ideology against their faith.  And the Biden Department of Health and Human Services sought to drive Christians who do not conform to certain beliefs on sexual orientation and gender identity out of the foster-care system.  The Biden Administration declared March 31, 2024 — Easter Sunday — as “Transgender Day of Visibility.”
       
          In this atmosphere of anti-Christian government, hostility and vandalism against Christian churches and places of worship surged, with the number of such identified acts in 2023 exceeding by more than eight times the number from 2018.  Catholic churches and institutions have been aggressively targeted with hundreds of acts of hostility, violence, and vandalism.
         
         My Administration will not tolerate anti-Christian weaponization of government or unlawful conduct targeting Christians.  The law protects the freedom of Americans and groups of Americans to practice their faith in peace, and my Administration will enforce the law and protect these freedoms.  My Administration will ensure that any unlawful and improper conduct, policies, or practices that target Christians are identified, terminated, and rectified.

         Sec. 2.  Establishing a Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias.  (a)  There is hereby established within the Department of Justice the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias (Task Force).
         (b)  The Attorney General shall serve as Chair of the Task Force.
         (c)  In addition to the Chair, the Task Force shall consist of the following other members:
              (i)     the Secretary of State;
              (ii)    the Secretary of the Treasury;
              (iii)   the Secretary of Defense;
              (iv)    the Secretary of Labor;
              (v)     the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
              (vi)    the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
              (vii)   the Secretary of Education;
              (viii)  the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
              (ix)    the Secretary of Homeland Security;
              (x)     the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;
              (xi)    Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations;
              (xii)   the Administrator of the Small Business Administration;
              (xiii)  the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
              (xiv)   the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy;
              (xv)    the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
              (xvi)   the Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and
              (xvii)  the heads of such other executive departments, agencies, and offices that the Chair may, from time to time, invite to participate.

         Sec. 3.  Task Force Functions.  (a)  The Task Force shall meet as required by the Chair and shall take appropriate action to:
              (i)    review the activities of all executive departments and agencies (agencies), including the Department of State, the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, over the previous Administration and identify any unlawful anti-Christian policies, practices, or conduct by an agency contrary to the purpose and policy of this order;
              (ii)   recommend to the head of the relevant agency steps to revoke or terminate any violative policies, practices, or conduct identified under subsection (3)(a)(i) of this section and remedial actions to fulfill the purpose and policy of this order;
              (iii)  share information and develop strategies to protect the religious liberties of Americans and advance the purpose and policy of this order;
              (iv)   solicit information and ideas from a broad range of individuals and groups, including Americans affected by anti-Christian conduct, faith-based organizations, and State, local, and Tribal governments, in order to ensure that its work is informed by a broad spectrum of ideas and experiences;
              (v)    identify deficiencies in existing laws and enforcement and regulatory practices that have contributed to unlawful anti-Christian governmental or private conduct and recommend to the relevant agency head, or recommend to the President, through the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, as applicable, appropriate actions that agencies may take to remedy failures to fully enforce the law against acts of anti-Christian hostility, vandalism, and violence; and
              (vi)     recommend to the President, through the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, any additional Presidential or legislative action necessary to rectify past improper anti-Christian conduct, protect religious liberty, or otherwise fulfill the purpose and policy of this order.
         (b)  In order to advise the President regarding its work and assist the President in formulating future policy, the Task Force shall submit to the President, through the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy:
              (i)    a report within 120 days from the date of this order regarding the Task Force’s initial work;  
              (ii)   a report within 1 year from the date of this order that summarizes the Task Force’s work; and
              (iii)  a final report upon the dissolution of the Task Force.

         Sec. 4.  Administration.  (a)  The heads of agencies shall, to the extent permitted by law, upon the request of the Chair, provide the Task Force with any information required by the Task Force for the purpose of carrying out its functions.
         (b)  The Department of Justice shall provide such funding and administrative and technical support as the Task Force may require, to the extent permitted by law and as authorized by existing appropriations.

         Sec. 5.  Termination.  The Task Force shall terminate 2 years from the date of this order unless extended by the President.

         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.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    THE WHITE HOUSE,
        February 6, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Holds Senate Floor to Protest Project 2025 Architect Russell Vought’s Cabinet Nomination and Trump’s Illegal Power Grabs That Are Harming the Middle Class and Our National Security

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    February 06, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senate Democrats’ 30-hour protest opposing Project 2025 architect Russell Vought’s nomination to serve as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under President Donald Trump. Holding the floor, Duckworth delivered an impassioned speech slamming Trump and unelected billionaire Elon Musk’s ongoing illegal power grabs—including his unlawful federal grant freeze and his shuttering of USAID—that are inflicting pain on middle-class Americans and endangering our national security. Video of Duckworth’s opening remarks can be found on the Senator’s YouTube and her full speech can be found on the Senator’s Twitter/X and Facebook.

    Key quotes:

    • “Decades before I ever considered a career in politics, when I was just starting out in the Army, I raised my right hand and took an oath. I swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. I vowed to protect our nation against all enemies—foreign and domestic. And in this moment, at this precipice for our country, I need to make good on that promise. Because in the just 18 days since Donald Trump was inaugurated, we have witnessed an all-out assault on the system of checks and balances that our government was founded upon. We have seen the President both overreach and underdeliver: proving through executive orders and Twitter marching orders that he cares more about the billionaires who belong to Mar-a-Lago than the middle-class folks he pretended to care for on the campaign trail.”
    • “Last week, news broke that Trump had declared a blanket freeze on all federal grants. Ignoring the fact that Congress had already appropriated those funds. Ignoring that he point-blank did not have the authority to do so. Ignoring that his action would—and already has—hurt countless folks who rely on these grants for their most basic needs… He manufactured a crisis that has left that single mom working a double shift in a Southside nursing home unsure whether her Medicaid will be stripped away in the dark of the night. He’s created a crisis that has left Veterans wondering if they’ll be able to access the benefits they earned with the blood they were brave enough to shed for our country. He’s fabricated a nightmarish reality where homeless shelters might have to close their doors and turn back onto the streets the at-risk teenagers who rely on their care.”
    • “Elon Musk is unelected, unvetted and unqualified—he does not have the legal authority to dismantle entire agencies. Yet in Trump’s America, the size of his bank account and how far he is willing to bend the knee is enough for our President to bestow on him unchecked power. Musk is willing to bow down to Trump’s throne made of fool’s gold and false promises. So in return, Elon gets to run wild, run rampant. He for some reason gets to have full access to Americans’ social security numbers and Veterans’ personal information—for what reason, no one knows and all of us should fear. He gets to hijack our systems to enrich himself rather than the middle class. He gets to stomp on those in need, then fire anyone who dares stand up for what’s right—or what’s legal…They aren’t making America great. They’re making it authoritarian.”

    Duckworth’s opening remarks as prepared below:

    I take the verbal baton from Senator King after hours and hours of arguments from my Democratic colleagues, not because I woke up this morning with a strong desire to hear my own voice for as long as I could on the Senate floor, but because decades before I ever considered a career in politics—when I was just starting out in the Army—I raised my right hand and took an oath. I swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. I vowed to protect our nation against all enemies—foreign and domestic.

    And in this moment, at this precipice for our country, I need to make good on that promise.

    Because in the just 18 days since Donald Trump was inaugurated, we have witnessed an all-out assault on the system of checks and balances that our government was founded upon.

    We have seen the President both overreach and underdeliver—proving through executive orders and Twitter marching orders that he cares more about the billionaires who belong to Mar-a-Lago than the middle-class folks he pretended to care for on the campaign trail.

    Look, 250 years ago this April, a few brave patriots grabbed their muskets and risked their lives at Lexington and Concord, sacrificing for a country that was still more of an idea, more of an ideal, than reality.

    They did so because they could no longer stand living under a tyrannical leader. 

    They did so because they had dreamt up the notion of a government of, by and for the people—and they knew that a system based on checks and balances was the best way to keep this new nation’s leaders from turning into the kind of tyrant they’d fled England to escape.  A system of checks and balances.

    Well, two weeks into Trump’s America, the only checks I see are the ones going into the pockets of Trump’s rich friends. The only balance I see is Trump’s balancing act between ripping off the middle class and endangering our national security.

    Our system of government is being eroded before our eyes. It is being perverted to work for the few—the billionaires—rather than the many, the people.

    And it is sickening to see so many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle put their hands over their eyes and pretend they don’t see what’s happening, refusing to speak up as our President turns into more of a despot every day, as his power-grabs get more extreme, more insidious, more cruel. 

    Even if we took the full 30 hours of debate on this nomination, I don’t think we could get through all the ways that Trump’s absolute disregard for the rule of law over the past two weeks has already harmed America—and Americans. But let me use my time to try.

    Last week, news broke that Trump had declared a blanket freeze on all federal grants. Ignoring the fact that Congress had already appropriated those funds. Ignoring that he point-blank did not have the authority to do so. Ignoring that his action would—and already has—hurt countless folks who rely on these grants for their most basic needs.

    President Trump may think that he “owned the Libs” by causing havoc in our federal government. But what he’s really done is create a reality where his own voters who depend on groups like Meals on Wheels aren’t sure how they’re going to put food on the table next week.

    He may think he “destroyed woke culture” with this freeze. But no. No, he didn’t. Instead, he manufactured a crisis that has left that single mom working a double shift in a Southside nursing home unsure whether her Medicaid will be stripped away in the dark of the night.

    He’s created a crisis that has left Veterans wondering if they’ll be able to access the benefits they earned with the blood they were brave enough to shed for our country.

    He’s fabricated a nightmarish reality where homeless shelters might have to close their doors and turn back onto the streets the at-risk teenagers who rely on their care.

    Listen, when I was in high school, my family struggled. We had no money and some days had no food. I still remember going to the grocery store and counting out our last five one-dollar food stamps to buy as much bread and bologna as possible—then praying we’d have enough to last the week. I still remember the hours my dad spent walking from payphone to payphone, hoping to find just 50 cents so my brother and I could buy lunch at school the next afternoon. A lot of times, that hot lunch at school was the only meal I could count on.

    So as a former hungry kid, and now as a mom of two little girls, I cannot imagine the pain of parents who rely on school meals to feed their own kids and who are now terrified that Trump’s vanity project of a federal freeze will force their five-year-old to go hungry as the grants that fund cafeteria meal programs may now get gutted.

    Shame on Donald Trump. And shame on the Republicans who can’t seem to find the ounce of courage necessary to stand up and say what all of us in this Chamber so obviously know: That this is wrong. That this is outrageous. And that this is a wild, unlawful abuse of power.

    But Trump didn’t stop with the grant freeze. Last weekend, he gave Elon Musk—the world’s richest person—the power to cut off aid from the world’s most vulnerable people. He gave him the authority to dismantle an entire agency in one illegal, fell swoop. Together, they are now actively gutting USAID, completely undermining the United States’ national security and global standing—knowingly, intentionally—jeopardizing the safety of countless innocent people worldwide who rely on the organization for humanitarian assistance.

    Now, bad actors in the PRC and Russia will be able to step in to fill the leadership vacuum that Trump created—forcing folks in need across the world to turn to our adversaries, not us, for help.

    Let me be clear: USAID is an organization dedicated to doing good around the globe—but the good that it does also has a direct, tangible impact on the safety and economic security of families here at home.

    It is an organization that helps allies detect fentanyl—in part so we can stop it before it comes across our own borders.

    It’s an organization that help feeds starving families worldwide—but it does so using 2 billion dollars of food purchased from American farmers, with the paychecks going into their red, white and blue pockets so they can keep their family farms for another generation.

    It is an organization that helps stop global pandemics. And it’s an organization that works to make sure the poorest children in the poorest countries don’t die from drinking dirty water—a mission that also happens to be critical to our national strength, as when countries experience water insecurity, they’re more likely to undergo political instability as well, increasing the odds that their governments fail and power falls into the wrong hands—a sequence of events that often leads to the kind of immigration crisis we’re already facing at our border.

    I know there is waste, fraud and abuse in our government—and I am all for rooting that out. In fact, I’ve written and passed legislation to do just that.  But eliminating an entire agency with such a vital mission is not the way to go about this.

    USAID makes up just 1% of our federal budget. And these short-sighted cuts will end up costing the American taxpayer even more in the long term, as there will be more global instability, more migrations crises, more pandemics to contend with as a result of this frankly idiotic decision.

    It’s ironic. The guy charged with making our government more efficient is making it more costly and more chaotic. Case in point: He’s threatening to use American troops to bring home USAID workers if they don’t leave their overseas posts in the next 30 days—a move that in itself would cost Americans an estimated 100 million dollars.

    Elon Musk is unelected, unvetted and unqualified—he does not have the legal authority to dismantle entire agencies. Yet in Trump’s America, the size of his bank account and how far he is willing to bend the knee is enough for our President to bestow on him unchecked power.

    Musk is willing to bow down to Trump’s throne made of fool’s gold and false promises. So in return, Elon gets to run wild, run rampant.

    He for some reason gets to have full access to Americans’ social security numbers and Veterans’ personal information—for what reason, no one knows and all of us should fear.

    He gets to hijack our systems to enrich himself rather than the middle class.

    He gets to stomp on those in need, then fire anyone who dares stand up for what’s right—or what’s legal.

    Trump and Musk are not bringing back the good ole days of Ronald Reagan. Reagan believed in international aid. He is the one whose name is on the front of USAID’s building.

    They aren’t making America great. They’re making it authoritarian. And we should all be asking ourselves—if we let them gut USAID, then what’s next?

    The answer is the Department of Education. And then your Social Security. Your Medicaid. The things you and your families need to get by are right behind.

    Look, Trump ran his campaign on the idea of lowering costs for the middle class. He said he’d reverse inflation on day one. Well, day one has come and gone. So has day two, three, four.

    Here we are, weeks in, and all he’s done is take actions that have hurt everyday Americans to help his rich buddies afford another private jet. Under his wise stewardship, egg prices have skyrocketed. Inflation remains sky-high. A needless trade war seems to be getting closer every day, which could raise the price of gas and groceries even further. And all of us are in greater danger from bad actors the world-over.

    Enough is enough. Enough was enough a very long time ago. Donald Trump is unchecked. The scales of our government have become unbalanced. Every day those scales tip more and more away from serving the needs of the working class and toward feeding the greed of the billionaires who pal around with the President on the golf course.

    It was Ronald Reagan who once said, quote: “[T]he genius of our constitutional system is its recognition that no one branch of government alone could be relied on to preserve our freedoms… The great safeguard of our liberty is the totality of the constitutional system, with no one part getting the upper hand.”

    Reagan also described the Constitution as a “covenant” — a covenant that, quote: “[W]e have made not only with ourselves, but with all of mankind.”

    Today, I am asking my Republican colleagues to honor the covenant so cherished by their own conservative hero, Ronald Reagan. I am asking them to heed his words. To heed his warning. To heed his plea to us all.

    Under Donald Trump, our government is not of, by or for the people. It is of, by and for the people with the deepest pockets. “E pluribus unum,” “out of many one,” is supposed to signify the strength of our union—the solidarity of our nation.

    Do not let Donald Trump pervert it to mean that out of the many people, he is the only one who matters.

    To my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: All I am asking of you today is to do the jobs you were elected to do. 

    All I am begging for is that you make good on the oath you took when you were first sworn into this chamber: To support and defend our Constitution.

    Trump is acting as if he believes that the Constitution is just an old, yellowing piece of paper that he can crumble up at his will. My colleagues, you know better. And you know your constituents deserve better. 

    Please, find the courage to stand up and say so. It’s the least each of us can do for the country that we are lucky enough to have been elected to protect.

    You can do that, today, by voting no on Trump’s latest unqualified, unfit cabinet nominee, Russell Vought:

    A man who doesn’t even care to hide that he will happily rubber-stamp Trump’s worst instincts. 

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Free breakfast for 88,000 additional public school students

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 7 February 2025

    Released by: Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Early Learning

    At least 88,000 additional public school students can start their school day right, with a nutritious, free breakfast, as the Minns Labor Government continues its work to double the number of schools participating in Foodbank’s School Breakfast 4 Health program.

    The Minns Labor Government made a commitment in the lead up to the last state election to increase the number of participating public schools to 1,000 by 2027.

    It is investing $8 million in partnership with Foodbank to give public school children the best possible start to their day, with the program having grown by over a third from 500 to 676 schools in less than two years.

    New schools to take on the program in the last two years include Blacktown Girls High School, Birrong Public School, Melonba High School, Villawood North Public School, Whalan Public School, Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School, Narellan Public School, Miller Public School and Maryland Public School.

    Every day Foodbank staff and volunteers undertake a huge logistical exercise to supply high-quality breakfast foods including milks, juices, breakfast cereals, fruits and breads, so that every child enters the classroom well-fed, energised, focused and ready to learn.

    Foodbank data indicates:

    • 80 per cent of schools in the program reported an increase in attendance and;
    • 89 per cent saw an increase in class engagement

    The program improves students’ nutrition, eating habits, boosts their mental and physical health and can increase learning. Schools have also reported improvements in school attendance and engagement.

    The program runs in schools across NSW, including rural and regional areas, and as the cost-of-living continues to affect many, this is one way Minns Labor Government is helping families make ends meet.

    As work continues to grow the program further, the Minns Labor Government has been working closely with Foodbank to simplify and accelerate the onboarding process for schools, so they can access the program as quickly and seamlessly as possible. 

    Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

    “Parents and families are continuing to struggle with the cost-of-living, which is why this program has been so important, particularly over the past two years.

    “Across NSW, thousands of students are benefitting from free breakfasts at their school every day and starting the day full of energy, and ready to learn, thanks to the hard work of Foodbank staff and volunteers.

    “The Foodbank program helps ensure children are given the best chance to be ready to learn when they enter the classroom while helping families with cost-of-living pressures.”

    Federal Member for Greenway Michelle Rowland said:

    “Knowing your child will have a healthy breakfast at school is a fantastic thing for all families, and sets our public school children up for success.

    “It is fantastic to see this simple and effective program continue to be so successful at so many schools across NSW.”

    Chief Executive Officer, Foodbank NSW and ACT John Robertson said:

    “We know that children learn their best when they have full bellies. We thank the Minns Labor Government for their continued support to help us get this vital program into more schools around NSW to ensure our future leaders have the best possible start to the day.”

    Lalor Park Public School principal Dee Taylor said:

    “We’re really grateful for our strong partnership with Foodbank. We have students from Preschool to Year 6 who know they can come to school and start the day with a nourishing breakfast.

    “I can’t overstate the positive impact breakfast has on our students’ positive behaviour and ability to stay focused and engaged in the classroom throughout the morning. 

    “The program also helps teach life skills at Lalor Park – clearing your own plate, using manners and helping those around you are key values of breakfast club.” 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Collins, King Join Colleagues in Calling for Prompt Implementation of Social Security Fairness Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King joined 26 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) calling for the immediate implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act. This bipartisan legislation, which Senator Collins coauthored with former Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and which was co-sponsored by King, will provide full Social Security benefits for millions of public servants impacted by the unfair Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). The Social Security Fairness Act fully repealed the WEP and GPO and was signed into law on January 5, 2025.

    “The Social Security Fairness Act restores full Social Security benefits for the millions of teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public servants who are unfairly penalized by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO),” the Senators wrote.

    “The Social Security Administration’s website currently states, ‘SSA expects that it could take more than one year to adjust benefits and pay all retroactive benefits’ owed under the Social Security Fairness Act. We call for the immediate implementation of this legislation to provide prompt relief to the millions of Americans impacted by WEP and GPO. In the interim, we request monthly updates and briefings regarding the status of the Social Security Administration’s progress towards implementing the Social Security Fairness Act,” the Senators concluded.

    In addition to Senators Collins and King, the letter was signed by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mark Warner (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).

    The complete text of the letter can be read here and below.

    +++

    Dear Acting Commissioner King,

    We write to you concerning the implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act (Public LawNo: 118-273). This legislation passed Congress on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis on December 21st, 2024 and was signed into law on January 5th, 2025. The Social Security Fairness Act restores full Social Security benefits for the millions of teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public servants who are unfairly penalized by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

    The Social Security Administration’s website currently states, “SSA expects that it could take more than one year to adjust benefits and pay all retroactive benefits” owed under the Social Security Fairness Act. We call for the immediate implementation of this legislation to provide prompt relief to the millions of Americans impacted by WEP and GPO. In the interim, we request monthly updates and briefings regarding the status of the Social Security Administration’s progress towards implementing the Social Security Fairness Act.

    Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter. We look forward to your response.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Rand Paul Introduces REINS Act to Put Power Back in the People’s Hands

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Rand Paul

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    February 6, 2025

     Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

     

     

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act to help put power back in the people’s hands instead of the administrative state.

    “The whims of an unaccountable administrative state should never rule our lives. For too long, an ever-growing federal bureaucracy has piled regulations and red tape on the backs of the American people without any approval by Americans’ elected representatives. By making Congress more accountable for the most costly and intrusive federal rules, our REINS Act would give Kentuckians and all Americans a greater voice in determining whether these major rules are truly in America’s best interests,” said Dr. Paul. 

    Cosponsors in the Senate include U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), James Risch (R-WI), Rick Scott (R-FL), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Eric Schmitt (R-MO).

    Background:

    Under the REINS Act, once major rules are drafted, they must then be affirmatively approved by both chambers of Congress and then signed by the President, satisfying the bicameralism and presentment requirements of the Constitution. Currently, regulations ultimately take effect unless Congress specifically disapproves.

    The bill defines a “major” rule as one that the Office of Management and Budget determines may result in an economic impact of $100 million or greater each year; “a major increase in costs or prices” for American consumers, government agencies, regions, or industries; or “significant adverse effects” on the economy.

    The REINS Act also includes the following changes from the original bill which has been introduced every Congress since Dr. Paul has been in office:

    • New Defense for Individuals: Individuals can argue that the average person would not have known their actions violated federal law if the statute did not clearly state it.
    • Right to Sue: People can sue to stop enforcement if an agency implements a major rule without getting congressional approval.
    • LIBERTY Act: Agency guidance with an economic impact of $100 million or more needs congressional approval just like major rules.
    • Deregulatory Actions Exempted: Agencies do not need congressional approval to withdraw costly or burdensome rules

    You can read the REINS Act HERE.

    The REINS Act also has wide support:

    “Four years of unprecedented executive branch spending and a record-setting stream of new rules from unelected bureaucrats in Washington have caused the price of everything to go up at the same time the value of every dollar has gone down. American families are left paying more for less in a broken economy that was roaring just a few short years ago,” said Tarren Bragdon, President and CEO of the Foundation for Government Accountability. “The REINS Act would empower Congress to free working families from the suffocating weight of the Biden-Harris bureaucracy and cure the cost-of-living crisis dimming the American Dream. The REINS Act cuts to the core of the fundamental question facing our nation at this critical moment in history: Do we want our future determined by unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., or the elected representatives closest to the people?”

     “For years, the executive branch has grown its power and subverted the will of the people by imposing expensive rules and regulations that should require the consent of Congress. No administration should have the authority to place sweeping regulations on every facet of Americans’ daily lives without giving them the chance to weigh in through their elected representatives and fight back when the executive branch skirts the law. Sen. Paul’s updated REINS Act will help restore the legal rights of Americans and the balance of power laid out in the Constitution,” said Ryan Walker, Executive Vice President of Heritage Action. 

    “For too long, bureaucrats in the administrative state have imposed trillions of dollars in regulatory costs onto American citizens and businesses as they embark on their personal crusades – all without needing the support of a single member of the legislative branch. Now that the Supreme Court has overturned the Chevron Doctrine, leaders on Capitol Hill must pass the REINs Act to return Article 1 lawmaking authority to its rightful home in Congress and end the delegation of power to unelected regulators,” said Club for Growth PAC President David McIntosh. “We applaud Sen. Rand Paul for his work to introduce and champion this bill in the Senate. Every member of Congress should support this commonsense plan to create a more representative approach to how the Federal Government imposes the hidden tax of regulation,” said David McIntosh, President of Club For Growth.

    “Senator Paul’s updated version of the REINS Act is an essential government reform bill that would strengthen congressional oversight, put a brake on administrative state power, and reinstate accountability in the rulemaking process. Building upon all the good the preexisting REINS Act would do, Senator Paul’s updated REINS Act includes a number of new provisions that would further empower Congress to check big government. Importantly, the bill would require that guidance documents and other forms of “regulatory dark matter” be subject to congressional approval. The bill would also address the concern that rules and guidance documents are not properly submitted to Congress or the Government Accountability Office. Together, these provisions would help give greater scrutiny to the regulatory process – a move especially important now since the Biden administration has dismantled President Trump’s guidance portals and rewrote the rules of rulemaking with their Modernizing Regulatory Review directive (Executive Order 14,094). These updates are vitally important as the Supreme Court’s recent rejection of the Chevron Doctrine still leaves progressives with many tools in their toolbox to work around Congress and pursue their regulatory pursuits. Ultimately, Senator Paul’s updated REINS Act is a vital step in restoring accountability to the administrative state and in ensuring that the American people are governed by their duly elected representatives, rather than by unaccountable bureaucrats,” said Clyde Wayne Crews Jr., Fred L. Smith Jr. Fellow in Regulatory Studies at Competitive Enterprise Institute.

    “Regulatory agencies seem to think they can make any rules they want. The REINS Act was already an important reminder that Congress has lawmaking powers, and executive agencies do not. The new version’s expanded protections make REINS even more urgent to pass,” said Ryan Young, Senior Economist at Competitive Enterprise Institute.

    “Federal regulation is out of control.  It’s time for Congress to REINS it in,” said James Carter, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Treasury (2002-06), America First Policy Institute.

    “The REINS Act is desperately needed.  We hear a lot about defending democracy today, but we don’t see much real effort from the administrative state to honor the principles of democracy. Senator Paul’s updated REINS Act will make sure that the people’s representatives in Congress will have to approve of any major rules proposed by an unelected administrative agency. If the economic impact of a rule is $100 million or more, it must have congressional approval. This guarantees that we the people have a voice in the regulatory state that has the impact of being law. It would also guarantee individuals the right to use as an affirmative defense that the regulation they are accused of violating do not logically follow from the statute. It would also allow citizens to seek judicial relief when an agency fails to seek or obtain congressional approval. Any who opposes the REINS Act is clearly not a fan of democracy, but rather prefers a system of unelected oligarchy,” said George Landrith, President, Frontiers of Freedom Institute.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Civil Forfeiture Action Filed In Federal Court Against Bronx Residence Used As Stash House For Firearms And Drug Trafficking

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Residence Located Steps Away from Elementary School was Used by Gang Members to Store Guns, Drugs, and Proceeds from Drug Trafficking

    Danielle R. Sassoon, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Bryan Miller, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”); and Jessica S. Tisch, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the filing of a civil forfeiture Complaint against a Bronx residence located at 3267 Decatur Avenue in the Bronx, New York.  The Complaint alleges that the residence was used by members of the “Drilly Gang” as a stash house for drug trafficking and firearms.

    U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon said: “As alleged, 3267 Decatur Avenue—a Bronx residence located steps away from an elementary school—was used by members of a gang as a stash house for drugs and firearms.  This civil forfeiture action seeking to seize the residence demonstrates that we will use all the tools available to protect the streets of this city.  Together with our law enforcement partners, we remain committed to the fight against gun violence and drug trafficking in our community.”

    ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller said: “Illicit drug trafficking destroys lives and fuels violence. Taking over a home, for the purpose of selling illegal drugs next to a school, while boasting about it on social media, demonstrates a blatant disregard for the safety of our communities. The ATF / NYPD Joint Firearms Task Force remains committed to dismantling criminal networks and protecting innocent people from the tragic consequences of violent crime. No one should have to live or work next to an illegal narcotics operation run by armed criminals. We will remain relentless in our efforts to keep our streets safe. I commend the dedication and hard work of the men and women of the Joint Firearms Task Force, NYPD 52nd Precinct, and SDNY for their efforts in this case.”

    According to the allegations in the Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court today and other court filings: [1]

    Since in or about April 2024, law enforcement agents with the ATF and the NYPD have been conducting an investigation into 3267 Decatur Avenue in the Bronx, New York, including members of a group known as the “Drilly Gang” that used 3267 Decatur Avenue as a stash house for drug trafficking and firearms.  The residence at 3267 Decatur Avenue is located steps away from an elementary school in the Norwood neighborhood of the Bronx.  Members of the Drilly Gang were using 3267 Decatur Avenue as a headquarter of operations, including as a location to film rap videos in furtherance of the Drilly Gang, which included depictions of drugs and weapons.  Members of the Drilly Gang also posted on social media photographs and videos depicting their involvement in the sale of drugs and possession of firearms, as depicted below:

    On or about November 4, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at 3267 Decatur Avenue and recovered, among other things: a pistol magazine; 177.73 grams of cocaine; 33 grams of methamphetamine; 38 grams of fentanyl; 65 grams of psilocybin mushrooms; and 240 grams of marijuana. Investigators also found drug packaging materials, which were designed to make the drugs look like candy (i.e., Welch’s Fruit Snacks, Skittles, Peanut Buddy Bars, etc.) and approximately $1700 in U.S. currency. Depicted below are some of the items seized from 3267 Decatur Avenue:

    *                *                *

    Ms. Sassoon praised the outstanding investigative work of the ATF and the NYPD.

    This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit and Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew K. Chan and Frank J. Balsamello are in charge of the prosecution.

    [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘A relentlessly dull world’ – the case for adding more colour to NZ’s grey prisons

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christine McCarthy, Senior Lecturer in Interior Architecture, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

    Interior of Auckland South Men’s Prison. Getty Images

    Prisons are not colourful places. Typically, they are grey or some variation of a monochrome colour scheme. But increasingly, such a limited palette is being questioned for its impact on health and rehabilitation.

    As the US journalist and broadcaster Michael Montgomery once wrote of the supermax unit of Pelican Bay prison in California:

    I saw a relentlessly dull world; just concrete and steel […] The monochrome landscape seemed to permeate even the faces of the inmates here; men […] had a pasty, ghostly pallor. It was difficult to imagine any kind of sustained life here.

    Prison greyness is partly due to the predominance of steel and concrete, especially in high- and maximum-security units. But the furniture and fixtures – tables, seats and toilets – are also often stainless-steel grey. In New Zealand, even sentenced prisoners’ clothing is grey.

    One reason for this is the Department of Corrections’ concern about gang colours. New Zealand prisoners cannot keep any item of property with gang-related colours. These prohibitions can be zealously but inconsistently enforced.

    As a prisoner once explained to me (when I was president of the Wellington Howard League), a calculator he used for correspondence classes was allowed in one unit but banned in another, simply because it had a blue strip on it.

    Something similar was reported by the Prison Inspectorate in a 2019 report. In that case, staff withheld “black underwear containing small amounts of blue stitching. Staff confirmed this was their approach.”

    Worlds without colour

    Does colour matter in human environments? The answer appears to be yes. Examples include red increasing heart rates, blue and green creating calm, and yellow evoking hope. According to Australian researcher Thomas Edwards:

    yellow may be appropriate in contexts where high motivation and a future-focus are required. By contrast, green and blue may be relevant to settings where low motivation, a present focus, and prosocial behaviours are favoured.

    Colour can also help with legibility and way-finding, and differentiate surfaces to prevent trip hazards – an increasingly important factor as the prison population ages.

    Other over-represented groups in prison can also benefit. For example, Israeli research published in 2022 concluded that soft natural colours and low contrast can improve environments for people with autism spectrum disorder.

    Ultimately, a colourless world is not a good one. Grey and neutral colours reduce visual stimulation, demotivate, increase boredom and can lead to depression. Colour takes on particular importance for people who spend most or all of the day indoors, such as the prisoners in high- and maximum-security units.

    Murals are on the wall and patterned tables in a Californian prison unit.
    Getty Images

    The need for variety

    Colour has a graduated spectrum – there isn’t only one blue, for example. Tints, tones and shades add another level of complexity. Coloured surfaces are affected by their material and degree of sheen. Different combinations of colours and different light sources also affect how a colour looks and its likely impact on people.

    This means there are many possible variants to consider. But most research is highly specific and the findings are rarely universally applicable. The impact of context, cultural differences, our personal preferences and colour associations can also be difficult to measure.

    But this theoretical complexity shouldn’t prevent the use of more colour in prison architecture. Variety in colour, rather than the use of specific colours, is the fundamental change that is needed. Likewise, concerns about gang colours can be mitigated if pattern and colour combinations are astutely used.

    In 2019, Edinburgh College of Art researchers led a project involving dementia patients, adding colour to corridors at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Multicoloured strips of block colours were painted on the white corridor walls to relieve the monotony of these spaces.

    Fewer aggressive incidents between patients or with staff were reported after the project. The specific reason is unclear, but it appears better demarcation of spaces led to fewer patients congregating and causing conflict in circulation areas.

    Another example at a semi-open prison in Bosnia saw prisoners painting diagonal lines on walls, creating triangles painted in different colours. Researchers concluded that “bright colours are recommended in the prison, with green and blue […] being the best rated because people perceive them as soothing, stimulating, pleasant and safe”.

    Brighter futures

    There are many other instances in healthcare settings throughout New Zealand where decals of photographic or other images have transformed walls, lifting the atmosphere of a space.

    Increasing the amount of colour on a wall is an inexpensive way to improve prison environments for both staff and prisoners. It can easily create variety and relieve the tedium of otherwise indistinguishable spaces.

    Housing prisoners in a dreary architecture of grey walls, grey furniture and people in grey jumpsuits must make it difficult for them to imagine and prepare for a positive future in the community.

    This can be inferred from studies of prisoners in solitary confinement which have established that living in extremely monotonous environments can cause depression, paranoia, anxiety, aggression and self-harm.

    The new expansion to Waikeria Prison, and its 100-bed mental health unit Hikitia, is an opportunity to significantly shift this attitude to prison interior architecture – but it shouldn’t stop there.

    All prisons would benefit from replacing the typically monochromatic palette of prison architecture with something more colourful.

    Christine McCarthy is a past President of the Wellington Howard League for Penal Reform (2018–20).

    – ref. ‘A relentlessly dull world’ – the case for adding more colour to NZ’s grey prisons – https://theconversation.com/a-relentlessly-dull-world-the-case-for-adding-more-colour-to-nzs-grey-prisons-248665

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: HP Inc. Names Songyee Yoon to Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) today announced the appointment of Songyee Yoon to its Board of Directors. Songyee is the Founder and Managing Partner of Principal Venture Partners and former President for NCSoft Corporation, a leading gaming developer. Her appointment is effective immediately.

    “We’re thrilled to welcome Songyee to the HP Board of Directors,” said Chip Bergh, Chair of the HP Board. “Songyee brings expertise in international business and a deep understanding of AI. As a renowned leader and innovator, Songyee offers a global perspective on emerging technologies and trends in AI, which will undoubtedly help us advance HP’s strategic priorities.”

    Ms. Yoon holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, a Juris Doctor degree from Santa Clara University, and a PhD in Computational Neuroscience from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Additionally, she serves on the Board of Trustees of MIT.

    A respected leader in the industry, Ms. Yoon brings significant experience in technology, AI, and international business. Her venture fund, Principal Venture Partners, L.P., focuses on investments in AI-native companies. As a former President and Chief Strategy Officer of NCSoft, she led global expansion and AI integration across multiple countries. She has also served under two presidents as a member of South Korea’s Presidential Advisory Council for Science and Technology.

    “We are pleased to welcome Songyee to our Board of Directors,” says HP Inc. President and CEO, Enrique Lores. “With a proven track record in strategic capabilities and extensive experience in AI, Songyee will play a crucial role in advancing HP’s plans to lead in the future of work. I am confident that her addition to the Board will strengthen our leadership in AI-enabled technology and contribute to our continued growth.”

    The full HP Board is listed at HP.com.

    About HP Inc.

    HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) is a global technology leader and creator of solutions that enable people to bring their ideas to life and connect to the things that matter most. Operating in more than 170 countries, HP delivers a wide range of innovative and sustainable devices, services and subscriptions for personal computing, printing, 3D printing, hybrid work, gaming, and more. For more information, please visit: http://www.hp.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: David Gillers to Step Down as Chief of Staff

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced that David Gillers will step down as Chief of Staff to Commissioner Behnam on February 7. From 2021 until January 20, 2025, Mr. Gillers served as Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer of the agency, in which capacity he was the lead advisor to then-Chairman Rostin Behnam on legal, policy and administrative matters, and was responsible for the commission’s daily operations and its 1,000 personnel. Mr. Gillers joined the agency in July 2019 as Commissioner Behnam’s Chief of Staff, and has not announced plans. 
    “David has been my trusted Chief of Staff for over five and half years, and a key part of everything I have done at the Agency. He has led efforts to engage, negotiate and coordinate with members of Congress, fellow regulators, the White House and industry on all matters of the agency’s pressing needs and ably oversaw all agency operations,” said Commissioner Behnam. “He’s directed the most sensitive policy and legal conversations, while still delivering on our priorities. I wish him well as he turns to new opportunities in his career.”
    “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with such a talented team at the CFTC,” said Mr. Gillers. “Our division directors and staff, Chairman’s Office staff, and the other Commissioners and their staff have been second to none, and have made my time at the agency memorable. I am deeply grateful to former Chairman Behnam for making this job so rewarding, and I wish Acting Chairman Pham all the best in her new role.”   
    During Mr. Gillers’ tenure, he oversaw a host of novel derivatives markets policy engagements regarding digital assets, artificial intelligence, event contracts, market structure, cybersecurity and environmental derivatives products, as well as the end of the COVID era work posture and return to office. He led the agency’s review of voluntary carbon credit derivatives and directed the development and finalizing of guidance on voluntary carbon credit derivative contracts. Mr. Gillers was instrumental in expanding the agency’s engagement in the digital asset regulatory evolution, working with policy and enforcement divisions at the agency, other regulators and departments in the federal government, as well as helping Congressional committees to develop a legislative framework. 
    Prior to joining the CFTC in 2019, Mr. Gillers spent a decade on Capitol Hill focused on financial services, energy, and energy markets matters on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. He worked for Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, and Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia. He worked extensively on the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, and the energy provisions of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act of 2015. While in Congress, he oversaw programs at the Department of the Treasury, Department of Energy, and the Small Business Administration. Mr. Gillers was a corporate attorney prior to his time in Congress.  He holds a BA from Columbia College and a JD from Boston College Law School, where he was a Weinstein Scholar.     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nurse Practitioner Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for $11.2 Million Disability Loan Fraud Scheme

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    Danielle R. Sassoon, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that CATHERINE SEEMER, a nurse practitioner who stole the identities of 12 medical doctors and orchestrated an $11.2 million disability loan fraud scheme, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel to five years in prison. 

    U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon said: “Today, Catherine Seemer has been held accountable for defrauding a federal loan forgiveness program created to help ease the financial burden of those who suffer from permanent physical or mental disabilities, including military veterans who endure service-related disabilities.  Seemer used the stolen identities of a dozen medical doctors to falsify disabilities and cause more than $11.2 million in loans to be fraudulently discharged.  This Office remains dedicated to rooting out fraud and abuse of taxpayer-funded government programs.”

    According to the allegations contained in the Complaint, Information, and statements made in court:

    From June 2017 through March 2022, SEEMER orchestrated a scheme to cause the fraudulent discharge of millions of dollars’ worth of student loans for borrowers who did not qualify for relief under the federal Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Program and its private analogue.  As part of the scheme, SEEMER deceived over 125 borrowers into believing they qualified for various forms of student loan relief and charged them fees to facilitate their loan discharge process.  She then used the personal identifying information of the unsuspecting borrowers to submit fraudulent applications for student loan discharge on the basis of non-existent permanent physical and mental disabilities.  In support of these applications, SEEMER used the stolen identities, medical license numbers, and forged signatures of over a dozen medical doctors to falsify medical diagnoses and disability certifications.  The scheme resulted in the wrongful discharge of over approximately $11.2 million in loans under the disability-based relief programs.  

    *               *                *

    In addition to the prison term, SEEMER, 44, of Elmsford, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $635,352.

    Ms. Sassoon praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General. 

    The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Qais Ghafary is in charge of the prosecution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Kendrick Lamar’s big Super Bowl moment

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Christina L. Myers, Assistant Professor of Journalism, Michigan State University

    Lamar’s Super Bowl appearance marks a political reckoning for the NFL. Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images

    In the September 2024 NFL ad announcing Kendrick Lamar as the halftime performer at Super Bowl 59, the 37-year-old rapper stands before a colossal American flag, feeding footballs into a machine that launches the balls to wide receivers.

    “Will you be pulling up? I hope so,” he says, plugging his forthcoming appearance on one of the world’s biggest stages, where the cultural stakes can be as high as the athletic ones. “Wear your best dress too, even if you’re watching from home.”

    The casual yet evocative scene was classic Kendrick.

    As a world-renowned Grammy- and Pulitzer Prize-winning artist, Lamar stands in a league of his own. His unflinching critiques of racial injustice, systemic inequality and the exploitation of Black culture have made him a boundary-pushing artist and cultural visionary.

    My work examines how race and racism are constructed, represented and challenged in mass media, particularly in news, music and sports. I think the NFL’s complicated history with social justice makes his participation even more significant.

    With a discography expansive enough to eclipse the time constraints of Sunday’s game, I’m eager to see whether Lamar will weave his lyrical masterpieces into a performance that entertains, educates and challenges viewers.

    Sports, politics and backlash

    Sports have always been political, despite persistent calls to keep politics out of sports.

    The tradition of playing the national anthem before sporting events is but one example: The song is rooted in wartime sorrow and serves as a call to patriotism.

    Then there are unsanctioned acts of protests by players and fans. Whenever professional athletes go on strike, it’s political. When fans unfurl banners in support of Palestinians, it’s political.

    From Tommie Smith and John Carlos’ fist-raising at the 1968 Olympics in solidarity with Black communities during the Civil Rights Movement, to Muhammad Ali’s refusal to fight in the Vietnam War, to Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling to protest police brutality, athletes have long used their platforms to confront injustice and challenge norms.

    Yet, acts of protest often incite backlash, and the NFL has haphazardly tried to police political speech.

    Kaepernick’s protests sparked a national debate about ideas of patriotism and the appropriateness of protest on the playing field. At the same time, NFL owners appeared to effectively blacklist him from the league.

    Nick Bosa, a defensive end with the 49ers, was fined for violating a rule forbidding players from wearing clothes conveying “personal messages” when he wore a MAGA hat during a postgame interview in 2024. Meanwhile, NFL owners have donated millions to presidential campaigns, with most of those contributions given to Republican candidates.

    Kansas City Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt has donated to Republican politicians and causes, even as the league tries to muzzle players’ political speech.
    Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

    An artist and activist

    The Super Bowl halftime show has long been more than just a musical interlude. It’s a stage where cultural and political currents converge.

    During Beyoncé’s 2016 appearance alongside headliner Bruno Mars, she paid homage to the Black Panthers, Malcolm X and the Black Lives Matter movement. U2’s act during the 2002 Super Bowl provided a moment of collective mourning and hope for a country still reeling from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. More recently, Dr. Dre’s 2022 performance celebrated hip-hop’s rise from a marginalized genre to a dominant cultural force. Eminem, who also participated in that performance, took a knee on stage to critique the NFL’s treatment of Black athletes and activists.

    Rapper Eminem takes a knee as he performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl 56 on Feb. 13, 2022.
    Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

    To me, Lamar’s Super Bowl appearance symbolizes a broader reckoning with how the NFL handles the tension between politics and corporate entertainment.

    That’s because Kendrick Lamar’s artistry is more than just music. It’s activism.

    From his Grammy award-winning album “To Pimp a Butterfly” to the raw, introspective, Pulitzer Prize-winning album “DAMN.,” Lamar has consistently confronted themes of systemic oppression, racial injustice and Black life in America.

    Tracks like “DNA.” are unapologetic celebrations of Blackness and generational resilience: 

     I got loyalty, got royalty inside my DNA
 Quarter piece, got war and peace inside my DNA
 I got power, poison, pain and joy inside my DNA
 I got hustle, though, ambition flow inside my DNA

    “The Blacker the Berry” delves into the complexities of Black identity and confronting systemic racism:

      I said they treat me like a slave, cah me Black
  Woi, we feel whole heap of pain cah we Black
  And man a say they put me inna chains cah we Black

    And “XXX.” confronts the greed, violence and hypocrisy at the core of American life.

      Hail Mary, Jesus and Joseph
  The great American flag
  Is wrapped and dragged with explosives
  Compulsive disorder, sons and daughters
  Barricaded blocks and borders, look what you taught us
  It's murder on my street
  Your street, back streets, Wall Street

    Unlike many mainstream artists, Lamar seems to have mastered the delicate balance between commercial success and politically charged content. His genius lies in his ability to write songs that transcend race, gender and class.

    At a time when the nation grapples with efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion practices, and as corporate power continues to go unchecked, conversations about race and inequality remain at the fore.

    Lamar has never hesitated to confront uncomfortable truths through his music. He has a unique opportunity to merge art, activism and a critique of the nation. I expect this moment will be no exception.

    Will you be pulling up? I will.

    Christina L. Myers is affiliated with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

    – ref. Kendrick Lamar’s big Super Bowl moment – https://theconversation.com/kendrick-lamars-big-super-bowl-moment-247976

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin Demands Answers from Trump Administration After Funding Blocked for Wisconsin Head Start

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is demanding answers from the Trump Administration on why half of Wisconsin’s Head Start programs, which provide childcare and preschool education to children, were unable to access previously approved federal funding, forcing at least one program to shutter. After the Trump Administration illegally ordered a pause on previously Congressionally approved federal grants and loans, half of Wisconsin Head Start programs were locked out of systems they use to pay staff and keep operations running. 

    “Head Start is a critical lifeline for families,” wrote Senator Baldwin in a letter to the Acting Secretaries of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Head Start. “Disruptions in services impact entire communities – from the children who are unable to be in the classroom, to the parents who are unable to work due to the lack of childcare, and Head Start professionals who love their jobs but are unable to be in their classrooms. I am also deeply concerned about the impact this chaos will have on the recruitment and retention of staff at Head Start centers.”

    Last week, the Trump Administration sent a letter from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directing a pause on virtually all federal grants and loans, with minimal details on what programs would and would not be impacted. While the memo was later rescinded, eight Head Start programs around the state have continued to experience issues accessing their federal funding, forcing one Head Start Center in Waukesha to close last week and leaving more than 250 families without childcare.

    “It is clear that funding issues persisted even after the Administration attempted to backtrack on the OMB memo and clarify that it did not apply to Head Start programs and following federal court orders that blocked the implementation of the memo,” wrote Senator Baldwin. “I am still hearing from Head Start grantees in Wisconsin who are continuing to have problems accessing their funds. I request your immediate attention to resolve any outstanding issues for Head Start payment systems.”

    In her letter, Senator Baldwin asked Dorothy A. Fink, M.D., Acting Secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services, and Tala Hooban, Acting Director of the Office of Head Start, to immediately respond with the following: 

    • A full accounting of the directives your department and agency received from the Trump Administration regarding the initial freeze of federal funds in the OMB memo. 
    • A full accounting of the directives received from the Trump Administration regarding the disbursement of federal funds after the clarification that the freeze did not apply to Head Start programs and after federal court orders were issued blocking implementation of the OMB memo.
    • The number of Head Start grantees who were unable to access or experienced difficulties in accessing the Payment Management System – the system used to access their federal funding – on or after January 28 and the dates in which they were unable to access the system.
    • Detail the reasons as to why these users were unable to access the Payment Management System.
    • Information on what resources you need, funding or otherwise, to ensure these issues do not happen in the future.

    A full version of this letter is available here and below.

    Dear Acting Secretary Fink and Acting Director Hooban:

    I write to you out of concern for what is happening at Head Start programs in Wisconsin during the first few weeks of the Trump Administration.  After the Administration ordered a pause on federal grants and loans, half of Wisconsin Head Start programs were locked out of systems they use to pay staff and keep operations running.  A Head Start Center in Waukesha closed last week and left more than 250 families without childcare.  Still today, Head Start programs in Wisconsin are having problems accessing their funds, which raises continued uncertainty about their ability to keep their doors open.  This is unacceptable and requires your immediate attention.

    There has been a long bipartisan history of providing federal funding for Head Start.  For Fiscal Year 2024, as Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations subcommittee, I was proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to provide $12.3 billion for Head Start in the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 which was signed into law by President Biden on March 23, 2024.  This carefully negotiated and bipartisan appropriation was a $275 million increase over Fiscal Year 2023 levels, which was celebrated in both red and blue states.

    Despite this history of strong bipartisan support and a clear Congressional directive, on January 28th President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a memorandum (M-25-13) ordering a halt to all federal grants and loans. This memo caused widespread chaos and confusion across the federal government and impacted every state in our nation.  While I understand the Trump Administration sought to clarify that they did not intend for Head Start to be included in the funding freeze, the reality for Head Start across the country and in Wisconsin was an inability to access funding that had already been approved by Congress.

    In the wake of this chaos, I met with and heard from Head Start programs across Wisconsin about the devastating impact the unlawful federal funding freeze had on their individual programs and in our communities.  About half of the Head Start programs in Wisconsin experienced prolonged issues in accessing their funds.  When attempting to draw down these federal dollars, these programs were met with only a response that the funding was ‘pending.’

    Head Start is a critical lifeline for families.  Disruptions in services impact entire communities –

    from the children who are unable to be in the classroom, to the parents who are unable to work due to the lack of child care, and Head Start professionals who love their jobs but are unable to be in their classrooms.  I am also deeply concerned about the impact this chaos will have on the recruitment and retention of staff at Head Start centers.  Head Start programs have continued to endure staffing shortfalls which has resulted in a reduction in slots for children and the number of families being served.  Disruption and uncertainty only serves to compound staffing recruitment challenges. 

    The years before a child reaches kindergarten are among the most critical in their life.  Research has shown participating in early childhood education programs helps better prepare children for their future and can result in better grades, higher school completion rates, reduction in the criminal justice system, and greater economic self-sufficiency as adults.  This is why programs like Head Start enjoy broad bipartisan support and are so critical in ensuring that our youngest children will be prepared to succeed later in their educational careers.  We know these long-term benefits make early childhood education programs a cost-effective way to strengthen society as a whole.

    It is clear that funding issues persisted even after the Administration attempted to backtrack on the OMB memo and clarify that it did not apply to Head Start programs and following federal court orders that blocked the implementation of the memo. I am still hearing from Head Start grantees in Wisconsin who are continuing to have problems accessing their funds. I request your immediate attention to resolve any outstanding issues for Head Start payment systems.

    Additionally, I ask you to provide the following:

    • A full accounting of the directives your department and agency received from the Trump Administration regarding the initial freeze of federal funds in M-25-13 OMB memo. 
    • A full accounting of the directives received from the Trump Administration regarding the disbursement of federal funds after the clarification that the freeze did not apply to Head Start programs and after federal court orders were issued blocking implementation of the M-25-13 OMB memo.
    • The number of Head Start grantees who were unable to access or experienced difficulties in accessing the Payment Management System on or after January 28 and the dates in which they were unable to access the system.
    • Detail the reasons as to why these users were unable to access the Payment Management System.
    • Information on what resources you need, funding or otherwise, to ensure these issues do not happen in the future.

    I thank you for your attention to this matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin Leads Colleagues on Bill to Close Tax Loophole and Make Wall Street Pay Its Fair Share

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) led thirteen of her colleagues in introducing the Carried Interest Fairness Act to eliminate a tax loophole that benefits wealthy money managers on Wall Street. The current carried interest loophole allows investment managers to often pay almost half the tax rate compared to most other Wisconsin workers.

    “Wall Street investors should not be paying less in taxes than Wisconsin firefighters, teachers, and small business owners. But right now, the wealthiest Americans are gaming our tax system to get out of paying their fair share, passing their tax burden onto working Wisconsinites,” said Senator Baldwin. “Closing the carried interest loophole will ensure super-wealthy Americans do their part, reducing the deficit and increasing fairness in our tax code. As President Trump has previously said, this loophole is ‘unfair to American workers’ and I look forward to working with him to finally close it.”

    The carried interest loophole allows investment managers to pay the lower 23.8 percent capital gains tax rate on income received as compensation, rather than the ordinary income tax rates of up to 40.8 percent that they would pay for the same amount of wage income. The Carried Interest Fairness Act requires carried interest income to be taxed at ordinary wage rates. According to the Treasury proposal, closing this loophole will raise $6.5 billion in revenue over 10 years.

    Despite President Donald Trump previously saying, “…we will eliminate the carried interest deduction and other special interest loopholes…”  during the 2016 election, his 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act “failed to eliminate [the] key deduction used by wealthy investment firms that Trump had vowed to kill,” leading PolitiFact to rate this a “Promise Broken.” Senate Republicans rejected an amendment to the tax bill by Senator Baldwin to close the loophole, which all Senate Democrats supported in 2017.

    The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Peter Welch (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI). Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-03) also introduced this bill today in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    The legislation is endorsed by Communications Workers of America, Americans for Tax Fairness, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Public Citizen, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Alliance for Retired Americans, Americans for Financial Reform, Take on Wall Street, Patriotic Millionaires, 20/20 Vision, Main Street Alliance, American Federation of Government Employees, Small Business Minority, Economic Policy Institute, and the National Women’s Law Center.

    “The carried interest loophole is an expensive subsidy of the billionaire executives who are raiding the public purse right now to pay for their next private island,” said Porter McConnell, Senior Director of Take on Wall Street at Americans for Financial Reform. “We commend Senator Baldwin for her leadership on closing this egregious loophole so that working families can stop subsidizing ultra wealthy hedge fund and private equity executives.”

    “The carried interest loophole is an unfair Wall Street tax break that enriches billionaires who end up paying lower tax rates than teachers, nurses, and firefighters.” said Oscar Valdés Viera, research manager at Americans for Financial Reform. “We applaud Senator Baldwin for her unwavering leadership in introducing the Carried Interest Fairness Act and urge the Senate to swiftly move on this legislation.”

    “The carried interest loophole gives a class of the wealthy elite – hedge fund managers and executives – an enormous and unfair advantage by allowing them to pay a significantly lower tax rate on their compensation than working- and middle-class Americans. Senator Baldwin’s Carried Interest Fairness Act would work to close this loophole, enhancing tax fairness, narrowing the growing wealth gap, and providing crucial revenue for investments in the American people,” said Casey Conroy, Senior Fiscal Policy Analyst at 20/20 Vision.

    “Small business owners work hard every day to keep their doors open, staff on payroll and shelves stocked. Meanwhile, investment managers pay a lower tax rate than Main Street because of a ridiculous loophole. Main Street Alliance and our 30,000 members strongly support Senator Baldwin’s Carried Interest Fairness Act. Our tax code should focus on supporting the 20 million new small business owners who have started since 2020, not glitzy hedge funds,” said Richard Trent, Main Street Alliance Executive Director.

    “There are a lot of economically and morally unjustifiable tax loopholes that disproportionately benefit wealthy people like me, but the carried interest loophole may just take the cake. Ultra-wealthy hedge fund managers should not receive a tax break on the income they earn managing other people’s money, as the last time I checked, nurses don’t get a tax break on the money they make ‘managing’ people’s lives with their blood, sweat, and tears. It’s time for lawmakers to pass the Carried Interest Fairness Act and close this egregious loophole once and for all,” said Morris Pearl, Chair of the Patriotic Millionaires and a former Managing Director at BlackRock.

    “The carried interest tax loophole stands as one of the most glaring examples of how the ultra-wealthy exploit and rig our broken tax system to their advantage,” said David Kass, executive director of Americans for Tax Fairness. “It’s common sense—Wall Street hedge fund managers shouldn’t pay lower federal tax rates than nurses, teachers, and most working Americans. This change is long overdue and represents a critical step toward a fairer tax system that ensures these uber-wealthy individuals pay their fair share like everyone else.”

    “There is no reason that private equity managers, some of the wealthiest people in the country, should get away with paying lower tax rates than average families, especially as the care crisis continues to strain family budgets. Closing the carried interest loophole is an important step towards making sure the wealthiest are paying their fair share and that our tax code works for all of us, not just those at the top,” said Melissa Boteach, Vice President for Income Security and Child Care/Early Learning at the National Women’s Law Center.

    A one-pager on this legislation is available here. Bill text of this legislation is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: DTE Energy names Casey Santos to board of directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Detroit, Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) has named Casey Santos to its board of directors effective Feb. 6. Santos recently joined Caliber as chief technology officer. Prior to Caliber, Santos led Asurion’s global technology and procurement teams as their chief information officer. She has more than 25 years of experience as an executive leader, an independent board director for public and private organizations, and advisor with expertise across a diverse range of industries, business lines and functions.  

    “We are pleased to welcome Casey to DTE Energy’s board of directors,” said Jerry Norcia, chairman and CEO of DTE Energy. “Her deep expertise in leading innovation, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity will be invaluable to DTE as we work to build the grid of the future and deliver safe, reliable, affordable and cleaner energy to our customers now and in the years to come.”

    “DTE Energy’s mission to improve people’s lives with their energy directly aligns with my values,” Santos said.  “Energy is essential to modern life, and I look forward to contributing my personal energy to serve millions of people in Michigan and across the United States.” 

    Prior to her work at Asurion, Santos held technology leadership roles in the finance industry and was a strategy consultant with McKinsey serving clients in the United States and Europe. Santos began her career as a NASA Flight Controller supporting over 20 space shuttle missions, including the first MIR docking and Hubble Telescope repair missions.

    Santos earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and holds dual master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, including a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School and a Master of Arts in management from the Lauder Institute. She has been recognized for her contributions to the industry and community, most recently as a Top 100 Chief in Tech Leaders to Watch in 2024 by WomenTech Network, Nashville Technology Council’s CIO of the Year in 2023, and a HiTec 100 Leader in 2019 and 2023. She is a member of Latino Corporate Directors Association, Women Corporate Directors, NACD, and T200. She is the Board Chair of the Nashville Technology Council and works with non-profits to help advance STEM education and technology leadership.

    About DTE Energy 

    DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric company serving 2.3 million customers in Southeast Michigan and a natural gas company serving 1.3 million customers across Michigan. The DTE portfolio also includes energy businesses focused on custom energy solutions, renewable energy generation, and energy marketing and trading. DTE has continued to accelerate its carbon reduction goals to meet aggressive targets and is committed to serving with its energy through volunteerism, education and employment initiatives, philanthropy, emission reductions and economic progress. Information about DTE is available at dteenergy.com, empoweringmichigan.com, x.com/DTE_Energy and facebook.com/dteenergy. 

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin to Serve as Adviser to Apollo and Appointed to Athene Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) and Athene Holding Ltd. (“Athene”), today announced that former U.S. Senator Joseph Manchin III has been named an adviser to Apollo and appointed to the Athene Board of Directors, effective February 3, 2025. Senator Manchin will provide advisory services to Apollo on various matters including energy markets, given the firm’s leading role in providing capital to enable the global industrial renaissance.

    Senator Manchin served as a United States Senator for West Virginia from 2010 to 2025. He was Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, as well as a member of the Appropriations, Armed Services, and Veterans’ Affairs Committees. Prior to his tenure in the Senate, he served as the 34th Governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010 and as West Virginia Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. He graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in business administration.

    Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo, said, “Senator Manchin’s distinguished career experience and expertise will be incredibly valuable to Apollo and our clients and partners. We look forward to his contributions to help meet the unprecedented capital need required to drive the global industrial renaissance and support the significant retirement needs of Americans and families around the globe.”

    Jim Belardi, CEO of Athene, said, “Senator Manchin is a great addition to Athene’s Board as we address the significant need for next generation retirement products. His public sector experience, expertise on a broad range of issues, and track record of independent thinking make him a valuable member of our Board.”

    Senator Manchin said, “Apollo is a forward-thinking financial services firm that has been able to offer capital at scale to drive the American economy forward. Athene provides critical retirement services to millions of Americans and is the leading innovator in tackling modern retirement challenges. I look forward to bringing a unique perspective to both the team at Apollo and the Athene Board, contributing to the firm’s continued success in retirement services and providing capital to enable energy accretion and transition.”

    About Athene
    Athene is a leading retirement services company with over $350 billion of total assets as of September 30, 2024, and operations in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, and Japan. Athene is focused on providing financial security to individuals by offering an attractive suite of retirement income and savings products and also serves as a solutions provider to corporations. For more information, please visit www.athene.com.

    About Apollo
    Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of December 31, 2024, Apollo had approximately $751 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

    Contacts:

    Joanna Rose
    Global Head of Corporate Communications
    Apollo Global Management, Inc.
    212-822-0491
    communications@apollo.com

    Jeanne Hess
    Vice President, External Relations
    Athene
    646-768-7319
    jeanne.hess@athene.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Introduces Bill to Make More Federal Lands Available for Housing Development, Protect Public Lands in Washoe County

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    The Washoe County Lands Bill Would Protect Public Lands, Support Tribal Communities, Allow For Responsible Development, And Create New Opportunities To Lower Housing Costs
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced that she is reintroducing the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act, also known as the Washoe County Lands Bill, to expand economic development opportunities and make more land available for housing in Washoe County, support local Tribal communities, increase access to outdoor recreation, and protect public lands . As the state with the highest percentage of public land in the nation, Nevada relies on federal legislation to make land available for development, like affordable housing, and to permanently protect outdoor spaces for future generations.
    For years, Senator Rosen has been working with a wide range of stakeholders across Washoe County to develop this comprehensive legislation. In 2023, she unveiled a working draft of the bill and collected feedback from hundreds of Nevadans during a public comment period, which she then incorporated into this legislation, which was previously introduced last year with the support of local government officials, conservation advocates, and business leaders.
    “As Nevadans continue to deal with high housing costs, I’m working to increase the amount of federal land available for housing development to bring down home prices and support sustainable growth for Washoe County,” said Senator Rosen. “My Washoe County Lands Bill will do that while also protecting hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands and supporting our state’s Tribal communities. I’ll keep working to ensure that this bill passes this new Congress to lower housing prices for hardworking Nevada families and help shape a better future for our state.”
    “I’m so proud that the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners supported Senator Rosen’s Truckee Meadows Public Lands Bill,” said Alexis Hill, Chair of the Washoe County Board of Commissioners. “We are committed to preserving our natural resources while allocating appropriate land for affordable and workforce housing, local governmental and tribal interests. We are especially excited about the potential revenue opportunities for Truckee River investments. This Bill will be a game changer for the future of northern Nevada.” 
    “Thank you to Senator Rosen for taking this all-important step to introduce a Lands Bill, which I believe is the single largest federal priority for the City of Sparks, Washoe County, and Reno areas,” said Ed Lawson, Mayor of the City of Sparks. “It will have a significant impact for all of us as we address the affordable housing issues throughout the region.”
    “With the collaborative effort from all stakeholders and Senator Rosen’s Office since 2017, a lands bill was created to greatly benefit the entire Truckee Meadows region,” said Daryl D. Gardipe, Chair of the Reno Sparks Indian Colony. “We are hopeful the re-introduction of this bill will pass unanimously as it represents all parties’ interests in an equitable fashion. Reno-Sparks Indian Colony is appreciative of all the support we received from all stakeholders to preserve our culturally important areas and our future growth.”
    “This legislation is a milestone in the history of public lands conservation in Nevada,” said Shaaron Netherton, Executive Director of Friends of Nevada Wilderness. “Northern Washoe County is home to critical wildlife habitat, uniquely dark skies, priceless cultural resources, and amazing outdoor recreation opportunities. Because Senator Rosen and her team spent countless hours consulting with multiple stakeholders, we now have a widely supported bill that will protect these values. We thank the Senator for her persistent leadership and look forward to working with her to help move this bill through Congress.”
    “The Nevada Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is pleased to support the Truckee Meadows Public Land Management Act as recently introduced by Sen. Rosen and we thank her for her leadership. We see this legislation as a good representation of compromise by many stakeholders and interests that took many years and many versions to achieve,” said Bryce Pollock, Vice Chair, Nevada Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “We are very appreciative of Sen. Rosen’s consideration to ensure that public land access would not be limited for hunters and anglers along the Truckee River. We look forward to the conservation of more than one million acres of public lands, including many valuable recreation areas in North Washoe County, and are excited for the addition of a public shooting range that hunters can utilize for many generations to come.”
    “The Nevada Wildlife Federation thanks Senator Rosen for bringing all stakeholders together to create the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act,” said Russell Kuhlman, Executive Director of Nevada Wildlife Federation. “This legislation provides the county with the opportunity to balance our increasing human population while safeguarding our access to public lands, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation, which includes hunting and fishing.”
    “EDAWN truly appreciates the dedication Senator Rosen has given this critical issue,” said Taylor Adams, President and CEO of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN). “In addition to safeguarding the natural beauty of Northern Nevada for future generations, this bill provides much-needed land that will ensure our region can continue to deliver sustainable growth of commercial development, housing, and the infrastructure required for both.”
    “The Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce is pleased to support Senator Rosen’s land management legislation,” said Ann Silver, CEO of the Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce. “The legislation provides a pathway for communities in the Truckee Meadows to develop much-needed affordable housing and expanded land uses that can be managed as we continue to grow. The legislation also conserves pristine areas in northern Nevada where residents, tribes, and visitors can explore and recreate.”
    Senator Rosen’s Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act will: 

    Permanently protect more than 1,000,000 acres of public lands.
    Promote sustainable growth and economic development by directing over 15,200 acres of public lands to be made eligible for sale, all of which must be assessed for its suitability for new affordable housing. An additional 33 acres are set aside to only be sold for affordable housing. Any land sold for affordable housing would have to be sold at less than fair market value.
    Support local Tribal communities by expanding land held in trust by more than 8,400 acres for the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, 11,300 acres for the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, and over 1,000 acres for the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.
    Provide local governments over 3,700 acres for public purposes such as parks, water treatment facilities, and schools. Land is specifically conveyed to Washoe County, the City of Reno, the City of Sparks, the Incline Village General Improvement District, the Gerlach General Improvement District, the State of Nevada, the Truckee River Flood Management Authority, the Washoe County School District, and the University of Nevada Reno.

    Senator Rosen has been working tirelessly to pass her Washoe County Lands Bill. Last year, she successfully urged the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to hold a hearing on this legislation. After it passed out of committee, she took to the Senate floor to try to pass the legislation by unanimous consent, but was blocked by Washington politicians. She vowed to reintroduce the Washoe County Bill in her second term and is fulfilling that promise today.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Cost-of-living help for students visiting nation’s capital

    Source: Australia Government Ministerial Statements

    The Albanese Government is taking the pressure off family budgets by boosting travel rebates for students who visit the nation’s capital in 2025.

    The Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) program provides financial assistance for students to visit Canberra and experience our national democratic, historical and cultural institutions first-hand.

    Rebates have been extended for 2025 and will range up to $2,040 per student, depending on the location of the school, with additional loadings for eligible schools in disadvantaged, regional, and remote areas. Home schooling families are also eligible for the rebate. 

    These additional rebates, for example, take the rebate amount for a student from a remote, disadvantaged school in New South Wales, 500-999 kilometres from Canberra, from $45 to $165.

    For a student from a very remote, disadvantaged school in the Northern Territory, 3,000 kilometres or more from Canberra, the rebate has increased from $510 to $2,040.

    To further boost student knowledge of Australia’s system of government, legal system and Australian citizenship, a new online hub has been launched. 

    The Civics and Citizenship Education (CCE) Hub contains more than 200 nationally coordinated, high-quality teaching resources that will save teachers time and support them to teach students from Years 3 to 10. 

    Teachers have access to resources to help them run mock parliamentary debates and elections, quizzes, case studies and a range of other sources to support student learning.

    The CCE Hub forms part of a suite of online resources and professional learning from the Albanese Government to support teaching and learning of the Australian Curriculum, with $34.6 million being invested over four years.

    For more information on the PACER rebate including the eligibility criteria, visit www.pacer.org.au.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

    “It’s important to get out of the classroom and experience our historical and cultural institutions first-hand.

    “To see and feel our history at the War Memorial and Old Parliament House, and see it being made in the new Parliament.

    “That’s why the Albanese Government is helping families with cost-of-living by offering rebates to make it more affordable to come to the Capital.

    “I want more Australian students, wherever they live, to do this and that’s what these rebates do.”
     

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s push to shut down USAID shows how international development is also about strategic interests

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Nelson Duenas, Assistant Professor of Accounting, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

    The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is on the verge of being shut down by United States President Donald Trump’s administration.

    On Feb. 4, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the agency would be taken over by the State Department. He stated that “all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally.”

    This move comes after Trump and his officials have heavily criticized the role and ineffectiveness of the agency. Trump said USAID had “been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out,” while Tesla CEO and special government employee Elon Musk said it was “time for it to die.”

    The closure of USAID will have significant consequences for many countries in the Global South. USAID is one of the largest development agencies in the world and funds programs that benefit millions of people, from supporting peace agreements in Colombia to fighting the spread of HIV in Uganda.

    Around US$40 billion is allocated annually from the U.S. federal budget for humanitarian and development aid. If USAID is dismantled, it raises questions about how these funds will be redirected and the long-term impacts it will have on global development efforts.

    A geopolitical fallout?

    The potential dismantling of USAID has raised concerns among international development experts about a potential geopolitical fallout that could create unintended consequences for the U.S. itself.

    Global issues, such as human security and climate change, are expected to be heavily affected. The U.S. also risks losing influence in the fight for soft power since dismantling USAID could leave behind a power vacuum. Other countries like Russia or China may occupy the space left by what was the largest international aid program in the world.



    Read more:
    USAid shutdown isn’t just a humanitarian issue – it’s a threat to American interests

    This shift could result in the U.S. losing its influence in regions like Africa, South America and Asia, where the country distributed aid to a number of non-governmental organizations, aid agencies and non-profits.

    While the future of U.S. foreign assistance remains uncertain, other world powers have a role to play. European donors, despite some limitations in resources, remain committed to the 2030 Sustainable Development agenda.

    Beyond humanitarianism

    If the agency is shut down, it may be widely condemned on moral and humanitarian grounds. However, its closure would respond to a logic of strategic and ideological interests that has long shaped the international development system. This a key finding from my longstanding field research with organizations that receive funding, not only from USAID, but also from Canadian and European donors.

    International development largely unfolded in the aftermath of the Second World War when global powers competed to establish a new world order. This led to the creation of international agreements and multilateral institutions, with major industrialized nations emerging as the primary donors of foreign aid.

    While many international initiatives, like the Millennium Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, have guided development as we know it, the governments of main donor countries have their own interests in mind when providing aid.

    In my research, I have interviewed many people involved in the foreign aid chain, including directors and offices of international non-governmental organizations and governmental co-operation agencies. Many said development relationships are shaped by both the interests of donors and those of recipient populations and organizations.

    While these relationships may be based on humanitarian objectives, such as disaster relief or human rights advocacy, they can also be influenced by ideological, geopolitical, economic and social agendas.

    In this context, the American move to eliminate USAID could be seen as one that prioritizes national security and economic goals over traditional global humanitarian concerns. Governments steer the wheel of international development according to their political ideologies and interests, regardless of the shock this may generate among citizens.

    Canada’s role in all this

    The U.S. is not the only country re-evaluating its international development policy. Sweden, another major country in the foreign aid sphere, is also changing its co-operation strategy following changes in its government and criticism of the NGOs that deploy their development assistance.

    Canada’s role in this unfolding situation remains uncertain. With the resignation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as head of the Liberal Party and the upcoming federal election, it’s unclear what will happen to Canada’s international development strategy going forward.

    Under Stephen Harper, the country’s international development strategy was closely tied to expanding trade with developing countries based on maximizing the value of extractive economies and a strong defence policy. This approach aimed to bring value not only to the recipient country of aid, but to Canada as well.

    When Trudeau took office, Canada’s development strategy turned to a more progressive agenda centred on peace keeping, feminist approaches and humanitarian programs.

    Will Canada continue to champion human rights, human security and progressive agendas? Or will Canada reduce funds for foreign assistance, which seems to be the wish of many of its citizens?

    The answer to these questions will depend on the direction that our political leaders decide to take, and the sentiments of citizens. Still, Canada’s approach to development aid will probably remain in a trade-off between moral imperatives of humanitarianism and strategic national interests.

    Nelson Duenas receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
    Nelson Duenas is a researcher associated to l’Observatoire canadien sur les crises et l’action humanitaires

    – ref. Trump’s push to shut down USAID shows how international development is also about strategic interests – https://theconversation.com/trumps-push-to-shut-down-usaid-shows-how-international-development-is-also-about-strategic-interests-249118

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –