Category: Donald Trump

MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar Statement on Supreme Court CPSC Ruling

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the following statement after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to remove three Democratic Consumer Product Safety Commissioners while challenges to their firings continue.

“For over 50 years, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has been free from politics so it can remain focused on its core mission of keeping Americans safe—from banning lead paint, to ensuring electronics aren’t fire hazards, to making swimming pools safe for kids. Last year alone, the Commission recalled 153 million unsafe items.”

“By firing the three Democratic commissioners, the President has undermined the independent structure of the Commission and its critical work—and the Supreme Court is letting it happen.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: More Than $5 Million Grant to Boost Digital Skills Statewide
Source: US State of New York

overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the re-release of the ConnectALL Digital Equity Program Capacity Grant Request for Applications (RFA), committing over $5 million in State funding to continue New York’s digital equity grantmaking after federal funding was terminated by the Trump administration in May 2025. The ConnectALL Digital Equity Program will award grants across the state to support digital equity and inclusion projects that provide New Yorkers with devices, skills, and awareness needed to make use of affordable, reliable broadband service. Applications are due August 25, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET and must be submitted through the New York State Consolidated Funding Application Portal at https://apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/cfa.

“Digital access is essential for success in today’s world — whether it’s applying for a job, completing schoolwork, accessing health care, or staying connected to loved ones. In New York, we believe that access to affordable, reliable internet is a basic right, not a luxury,” Governor Hochul said. “That’s why we are taking action to ensure every New Yorker has the tools, skills, and support they need to thrive in the digital age. No matter the challenges, we will continue forging ahead — investing in communities, strengthening partnerships, and delivering on our promise of a more connected and equitable future.”

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Digital equity is essential to economic mobility, educational access, and full participation in modern life. New York State remains unwavering in our commitment to ensuring that every community — urban, rural, and everything in between—can connect to the resources and opportunities the digital world offers. Through continued investment, strong partnerships, and innovative strategies, we are moving forward to close the digital divide and build a more inclusive future for all New Yorkers.”

Governor Hochul also announced a campaign to educate New Yorkers on the low-cost internet service options available under New York State’s Affordable Broadband Act (ABA) — the nation’s first legally mandated low-cost broadband option. Under the ABA, internet service providers are required to offer internet connections for $20/month or less and to promote and provide enrollment guidance to consumers.

By re-releasing the Digital Equity Program RFA, ConnectALL reaffirms the Governor’s commitment to address barriers to internet adoption and access and enhance the opportunities and security for New Yorkers using the internet by:
- Increasing access to affordable broadband subscriptions
- Providing access to internet devices
- Expanding digital literacy programs
- Protecting the privacy and safety of residents, and
- Ensuring the accessibility of government services
ConnectALL will work with state and local partners to promote enrollment in low-cost internet options secured for eligible consumers through the Affordable Broadband Act.

This groundbreaking legislation has earned national recognition, with ConnectALL winning the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) Community Broadband and Digital Equity Award for 2025 Broadband Visionary/Legislative Achievement of the Year.

ConnectALL will partner with New York City and State agencies to engage with eligible households, make them aware of low-cost internet plans, and support their enrollment. This partnership will implement a multi-channel outreach strategy that includes multilingual flyers, text campaigns to households receiving public benefits, summer street and back-to-school outreach, information via NYC 3-1-1, and a plain language self-enrollment guide, among other actions. In addition, the State is investing $500,000 in 2-1-1 NY, a subsidiary of the United Way New York, to launch ABA support for 2-1-1 callers with screenings and targeted enrollment guidance for up to 10,000 low-income households seeking reduced-cost internet services outside of New York City.

Expanding New York’s Digital Infrastructure

Governor Hochul has made expanding broadband access a cornerstone of her administration’s efforts to create a more equitable New York. Through the ConnectALL initiative, New York State is investing over $1 billion to transform the state’s digital infrastructure, enhance competition among providers, and ensure that every New Yorker has access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet. To date, ConnectALL has overseen the successful launch and implementation of several programs to advance broadband access, including:
- The Digital Equity Program is implementing the $50 million New York State Digital Equity Plan to close the digital divide. The Plan outlines New York’s statewide strategy to increase its capacity to improve digital literacy and digital job readiness skills, facilitate access to affordable internet and devices, enhance digital privacy and safety, and make government services more accessible through the internet.
- The Municipal Infrastructure Program has awarded over $242 million to support construction of open access municipal broadband networks across the state. The program, funded by the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the American Rescue Plan’s Capital Projects fund, facilitates a variety of models of municipal broadband and public-private partnerships to provide New Yorkers with affordable, high-quality service options. Information on projects funded through this program is available on the ConnectALL Projects Dashboard (Beta).
- The Affordable Housing Connectivity Program will bring new broadband infrastructure to homes in affordable and public housing leveraging federal support from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Capital Projects Fund as part of an overall $100 million investment. Information on projects funded through this program is available on the ConnectALL Projects Dashboard (Beta).
- The Connectivity Innovation Program advances innovation and new broadband solutions, business models, and technologies in order to increase private sector investment and entrepreneurship; drive equity and innovation in the broadband marketplace; and reinforce a thriving research, development, and manufacturing ecosystem to support connectivity innovation in New York. ConnectALL is reviewing applications to the Connectivity Innovation – Mobile Service RFA, which closed in June 2025.
MIL OSI USA News –
July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI China: 3rd round of Russia-Ukraine talks agrees on prisoner exchange, differs on ceasefire

Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

Russian and Ukrainian delegations held a third round of peace talks on Wednesday evening at the Ciragan Palace, during which the two sides agreed on another prisoner exchange but clashed on ceasefire terms and a potential presidential meeting.

Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky and Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov led the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, respectively. The closed-door talks were chaired by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Following the talks, which lasted for less than one hour, Umerov said at a press conference that Ukraine continues to insist on a full and unconditional ceasefire as the essential foundation for effective diplomacy.

“We are ready for a ceasefire now and to start substantive peace negotiations, and it is up to the other side to accept this basic step towards peace,” Umerov said.

“We emphasize that the ceasefire must be genuine. It must include a complete cessation of strikes on civilian and critical infrastructure,” he said.

Prior to the talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Moscow and Kiev are “diametrically opposed” in their positions on how to end the conflict, noting that “much work” still needs to be done.

The Ukrainian side has proposed to Russia to hold a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “by the end of August,” where the participation of U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be “especially valuable,” he said.

During a separate press conference after the talks, Medinsky said Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange 1,200 prisoners of war each, including a proposal from Moscow to swap about 30 civilians held by Ukraine in the Kursk region.

Russia has returned the bodies of 7,000 fallen Ukrainian soldiers and is ready to return 3,000 more, he said, requesting the return of any number of deceased Russian soldiers from Ukraine.

He also said that the Russian side proposed establishing three online working groups with Ukraine to address political, humanitarian, and military issues, and asked Ukraine to consider declaring short ceasefires of 24-48 hours along the contact line to evacuate the wounded soldiers and recover the bodies of fallen troops.

As to the Putin-Zelensky meeting Ukraine proposed, Medinsky said such a meeting is not being considered until certain processes are completed.

Meanwhile, Zelensky wrote on social media platform X after the talks that the ninth stage of prisoner exchange took place “today,” which involved more than 1,000 people from the Ukrainian side, including those “seriously ill and severely wounded.”

“It is important that the exchanges are ongoing,” he wrote.

In his opening remarks to the talks, Fidan urged the two delegations to engage in result-oriented negotiations aimed at achieving a ceasefire and ultimately ending the war.

“Our goal is to end this bloody war, which has come at a heavy cost, as soon as possible,” Fidan said.

While the previous two rounds of talks in Istanbul — held on May 16 and June 2 — led to the exchange of thousands of war prisoners and the bodies of fallen soldiers, they produced little progress toward a ceasefire.

MIL OSI China News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kaine, Vindman & Colleagues Introduce Bill to Restore Illegally Withheld Support for Students with Disabilities in Spotsylvania County

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, (D-VA) and U.S. Representative Eugene Vindman (D-VA-07), alongside Senate and House colleagues, introduced the bicameral Charting My Path to Future Success Act, legislation to restore the abruptly discontinued federal program designed to help students with disabilities succeed in adulthood. The funding disruption has impacted 13 school districts across 11 states, including Spotsylvania County Public Schools.

The legislation directs the U.S. Department of Education to reissue the solicitation and award the contract for the “Charting My Path for Future Success Program,” a $45 million, ten-year initiative originally launched in 2019 during President Donald Trump’s first term, which works to help students with disabilities transition from high school to adulthood. The program was abruptly canceled in February 2025 after more than $25 million had already been spent and just as participating students began receiving services.

“Ripping away critical funding and resources for students with disabilities is cruel and hurts America’s future,” said Kaine. “The Charting My Path for Future Success Program was established during Trump’s first term, but now Trump and DOGE have cancelled funding with no warning. Not only does this harm students with disabilities who are depending on this support, it also hurts the teachers and Spotsylvania schools whose jobs and school budgets depend on this funding. I’m proud to introduce the Charting My Path for Future Success Act to immediately reissue this funding and ensure all students are set up for success.”

“Students across Virginia’s Seventh District and our country deserve a real chance to thrive after high school. And yet, the Trump Administration just recklessly cut the ‘Charting My Path for Future Success’ program from Spotsylvania County Public Schools and I cannot let that stand,” said Vindman. “That’s why I am proud to introduce this bill – we owe it to students and families to re-start this program and prohibit the Administration from canceling it without Congressional approval.”

Designed to support students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) across a wide range of disabilities, the “Charting My Path for Future Success Program” provided one-on-one and small group sessions, mentoring, and year-round tutoring. Over 1,600 high school juniors, seniors, and their families were affected across the 11 states. In addition to Virginia, impacted districts include school systems in Georgia, Utah, Massachusetts, California, Alaska, and New York.

The bill is endorsed by a coalition of disability advocacy organizations, including the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities Education Task Force, the National Center for Learning Disabilities, The Arc of the United States, the Autism Society of America, the National Disability Rights Network, and the Council of Administrators of Special Education.

In addition to Kaine, U.S. Senators Edward Markey (D-MA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the legislation in the Senate. In addition to Vindman, U.S. Representatives Lucy McBath (D-GA-06), Juan Vargas (D-CA-52), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53), and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10) introduced the legislation in the House.

The full text of the resolution is available here.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Criminal Illegal Alien Accused of Murdering 15-Year-Old and Attempting to Rape Mother

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

This criminal illegally entered the country three times since 2021

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an arrest detainer against Gildardo Amandor-Martinez, a criminal illegal alien accused of murdering a 15-year-old boy and assaulting a minor female with a firearm after he attempted to rape their mother in Morehead, Kentucky.

ICE detainers are legal requests to state or local law enforcement to hold illegal aliens in custody until they can be turned over to immigration authorities.

According to local reports, on July 20, Amandor-Martinez arrived at an apartment shared with his girlfriend, Aleida Lopez, early in the morning and attempted to rape her. After she fended him off, Amandor-Martinez assaulted her by biting her left hand, right armpit, and injured her arm. Her 15-year-old-son, Luis Lopez, tried to intervene and was shot by Amandor-Martinez three times and murdered. The criminal illegal alien then assaulted Lopez’s daughter with a firearm.

15-year-old Luis Lopez who was tragically killed the criminal illegal alien was greatly admired and called a “sweet student” by Rowan County Senior High School. He would have been a sophomore this fall.

Amandor-Martinez a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, attempted to enter the country THREE times under the Biden administration in 2021, at the southern border. He successfully illegally entered the country on his third try at an unknown date and location and without inspection by an immigration officer.

“15-year-old Luis Lopez died trying to save his mother from this criminal illegal alien who was attempting to rape her. Gildardo Amandor-Martinez is a rapist and cold-blooded killer who should have never been in this country,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “The Biden administration’s open-border policies allowed this monster to walk American streets and commit these evil crimes, including murder, assault, and attempted rape, against a mother and her children. ICE has placed an arrest detainer to ensure Amandor-Martinez will not be released onto America’s streets and allowed to terrorize American families again.”

Secretary Noem relaunched the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office. The VOICE office was shuttered by the previous administration, which left victims of alien crime without access to many key support services and resources. The office was first launched in 2017 by the Trump administration as a dedicated resource for those who have been victimized by crime with a nexus to immigration.

MIL Security OSI –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Promotes the Export of American AI Technologies
Source: US Whitehouse
PROMOTING THE EXPORT OF AMERICAN AI: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to support the American AI industry by promoting the export of full-stack American AI technology packages to allies and partners worldwide.
- The Order directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish and implement the American AI Exports Program to support the development and deployment of U.S. full-stack AI export packages.
  
  These full-stack, end-to-end packages include hardware, data systems, AI models, cybersecurity measures, applications for sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, and transportation, and more.
  
  The packages must comply with export controls and other relevant requirements.
- The Order directs the Secretary of Commerce to review and select proposals that will receive export support from the Economic Diplomacy Action Group, such as loans, guarantees, and technical assistance.
SUPPORTING THE U.S. AI INDUSTRY: President Trump is advancing American leadership in AI to secure economic growth, national security, and global competitiveness.
- AI is a foundational technology that will shape the future of innovation, defense, and prosperity for decades to come.
- The United States must lead in developing and deploying AI technologies, standards, and governance models to reduce global reliance on systems from adversarial nations.
- By exporting American AI, the U.S. will strengthen ties with allies, promote U.S. standards and governance models, and maintain technological dominance.
- This initiative supports U.S. businesses, including small businesses, by facilitating investment in AI development and infrastructure, ensuring America remains the global leader in AI innovation.
MAKING AMERICA THE GLOBAL LEADER IN AI: President Trump has made American leadership in AI a national priority.
- President Trump signed the first-ever Executive Order on AI in 2019 recognizing the paramount importance of American AI leadership to the economic and national security of the United States.
  
  In historic actions, the Trump Administration established the first-ever national AI research institutes, strengthened American leadership in AI technical standards, and issued the world’s first AI regulatory guidance to govern AI development in the private sector.
- President Trump also took executive action in 2020 to establish the first-ever guidance for Federal agency adoption of AI to more effectively deliver services to the American people and foster public trust in this critical technology.
- In January 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order to reverse harmful Biden Administration AI policies and enhance America’s global AI dominance.
- In April 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order to advance AI education for America’s youth.
MIL OSI USA News –
July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Accelerates Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure
Source: US Whitehouse
ACCELERATING DATA CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to facilitate the rapid and efficient buildout of data center infrastructure.
- The Order directs the Secretary of Commerce to launch an initiative to provide financial support, such as loans, grants, and tax incentives, for Qualifying Projects.
  
  These Qualifying Projects include data centers that require greater than 100 megawatts of new load, infrastructure projects related to data center energy needs, semiconductor facilities, networking equipment, or other data center or related infrastructure projects selected by the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Commerce, or Secretary of Energy.
- The Order revokes a Biden-era Executive Order that would have saddled AI data center development on Federal lands with pages of DEI and climate requirements.
- The Order instructs agencies to streamline environmental reviews and permitting for data centers and related infrastructure by leveraging existing exemptions and creating new ones to expedite the construction of Qualifying Projects.
- The Order enhances transparency and efficiency by designating Qualified Projects for expedited permitting under the FAST-41 framework.
- The Order promotes the use of Brownfield and Superfund sites for data center development, repurposing these lands for productive use.
- The Order directs the Department of the Interior, the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense to authorize data center construction on appropriate Federal lands.
STRENGTHENING AMERICA’S AI AND MANUFACTURING LEADERSHIP: President Trump is promoting the rapid buildout of AI data centers and critical infrastructure to secure economic prosperity, national security, and scientific leadership.
- AI data centers and supporting infrastructure, such as energy systems and semiconductors, are essential for powering America’s technological and industrial future.
- Lengthy and complex Federal regulations can delay critical projects, hindering America’s ability to lead in AI and manufacturing.
- By streamlining permitting and providing financial support, the U.S. will accelerate the development of data centers and enable our global dominance in AI, which will in turn create jobs and enhance national security.
- This initiative ensures American leadership in AI and critical technologies, positioning the U.S. to outpace global competitors and drive innovation for decades to come.
USHERING IN A GOLDEN AGE FOR AMERICAN TECHNOLOGICAL DOMINANCE: President Trump has made American leadership in AI a national priority.
- President Trump signed the first-ever Executive Order on AI in 2019 recognizing the paramount importance of American AI leadership to the economic and national security of the United States.
  
  In historic actions, the Trump Administration established the first-ever national AI research institutes, strengthened American leadership in AI technical standards, and issued the world’s first AI regulatory guidance to govern AI development in the private sector.
- President Trump also took executive action in 2020 to establish the first-ever guidance for Federal agency adoption of AI to more effectively deliver services to the American people and foster public trust in this critical technology.
- In January 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order to reverse harmful Biden Administration AI policies and enhance America’s global AI dominance.
- In April 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order to advance AI education for America’s youth.
- The Administration is capitalizing on other permitting successes that will also enable data center development, such as dramatically reducing NEPA’s impact on critical infrastructure projects, developing emergency NEPA procedures that can permit major mining projects in under 28 days at the Department of the Interior, revising NOAA’s deep sea mining regulations, and more.
MIL OSI USA News –
July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Prevents Woke AI in the Federal Government
Source: US Whitehouse
PREVENTING WOKE AI IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) models procured by the Federal government prioritize truthfulness and ideological neutrality.
- President Trump is protecting Americans from biased AI outputs driven by ideologies like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at the cost of accuracy.
- The Order directs agency heads to procure only large language models (LLMs) that adhere to “Unbiased AI Principles” defined in the Order: truth-seeking and ideological neutrality.
  
  Truth-seeking means that LLMS shall be truthful and prioritize historical accuracy, scientific inquiry, and objectivity, and acknowledge uncertainty where reliable information is incomplete or contradictory.
  
  Ideological neutrality means that LLMs shall be neutral, nonpartisan tools that do not manipulate responses in favor of ideological dogmas like DEI, and that developers will not intentionally encode partisan or ideological judgments into an LLM’s outputs unless those judgments are prompted by or readily accessible to the end user.
- The Order instructs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with other Federal leaders, to issue guidance for agencies to implement these principles in AI procurement.
- The Order mandates that Federal contracts for LLMs include terms ensuring compliance with the Unbiased AI Principles, including terms holding vendors accountable for certain costs if contracts are terminated due to noncompliance.
SAFEGUARDING TRUST IN FEDERAL AI USE: President Trump is advancing trustworthy AI in the Federal government to protect the integrity of information and services provided to the American people.
- AI is a critical technology that will shape how Americans learn, access information, and navigate their daily lives.
- Ideological biases, such as those driven by DEI, can distort AI outputs, undermine historical and scientific accuracy, and erode public trust in AI systems.
  
  For example, one major AI model changed the race or sex of historical figures—including the Pope, the founding Fathers, and Vikings—when prompted for images because it was trained to prioritize DEI requirements.
  
  In another case, an AI model asserted that a user should not “misgender” another person even if necessary to stop a nuclear apocalypse.
- By requiring truth-seeking and ideologically neutral AI models, the Federal government ensures reliable, objective information for Americans and prevents the spread of biased or misleading outputs.
SERVING AMERICA, NOT IDEOLOGICAL AGENDAS: President Trump is terminating DEI across the Federal government and advancing American leadership in AI to ensure technology and policies serve the public, not ideological agendas.
- President Trump is harnessing AI to strengthen national security, economic prosperity, and technological leadership.
  
  In January 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order to reverse harmful Biden Administration AI policies and enhance America’s global AI dominance.
  
  In April 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order to advance AI education for America’s youth.
  
  Today, President Trump also signed Executive Orders on facilitating the rapid and efficient buildout of data infrastructure and promoting the export of American AI technologies.
- President Trump is restoring fairness and merit by dismantling radical DEI programs
  
  In January, President Trump signed executive actions to end radical and wasteful DEI programs and preferencing, terminate radical DEI preferencing in Federal contracting and spending, eliminate DEI and restore excellence and safety within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and abolish DEI bureaucracy within the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security.
  
  In March, President Trump signed a Memorandum removing DEI from the Foreign Service.
  
  In April, President Trump signed an Executive Order to ensure school discipline policies are based on objective behavior, not DEI.
  
  President Trump: “We will terminate every diversity, equity, and inclusion program across the entire Federal government.”
MIL OSI USA News –
July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure

Source: US Whitehouse

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. Policy and Purpose. My Administration has inaugurated a golden age for American manufacturing and technological dominance. We will pursue bold, large-scale industrial plans to vault the United States further into the lead on critical manufacturing processes and technologies that are essential to national security, economic prosperity, and scientific leadership. These plans include artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and infrastructure that powers them, including high‑voltage transmission lines and other equipment. It will be a priority of my Administration to facilitate the rapid and efficient buildout of this infrastructure by easing Federal regulatory burdens.

In addition, my Administration will utilize federally owned land and resources for the expeditious and orderly development of data centers. This usage will be done in a manner consistent with the land’s intended purpose — to be used in service of the prosperity and security of the American people.

Sec. 2. Definitions. For purposes of this order:

(a) “Data Center Project” means a facility that requires greater than 100 megawatts (MW) of new load dedicated to AI inference, training, simulation, or synthetic data generation.

(b) “Covered Components” means materials, products, and infrastructure that are required to build Data Center Projects or otherwise upon which Data Center Projects depend, including:

(i)    energy infrastructure, such as transmission lines, natural gas pipelines or laterals, substations, switchyards, transformers, switchgear, and system protective facilities;

(ii)   natural gas turbines, coal power equipment, nuclear power equipment, geothermal power equipment, and any other dispatchable baseload energy sources, including electrical infrastructure (including backup power supply) constructed or otherwise used principally to serve a Data Center Project;

(iii) semiconductors and semiconductor materials, such as wafers, dies, and packaged integrated circuits;

(iv)   networking equipment, such as switches and routers; and

(v)    data storage, such as hardware storage systems, software for data management and protection, and integrated services that work with public cloud providers.

(c) “Covered Component Project” means infrastructure comprising Covered Components, or a facility with the primary purposes of manufacturing or otherwise producing Covered Components.

(d) “Qualifying Project” means:

(i)    a Data Center Project or Covered Component Project for which the Project Sponsor has committed at least $500 million in capital expenditures as determined by the Secretary of Commerce;

(ii)   a Data Center Project or Covered Component Project involving an incremental electric load addition of greater than 100 MW;

(iii) a Data Center Project or Covered Component Project that protects national security; or

(iv)   a Data Center Project or Covered Component Project that has otherwise been designated by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary of Energy as a “Qualifying Project”.

(e) “Project Sponsor” means the lead sponsor providing financial and other support for a Data Center Project or Covered Component Project, as determined by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary of Energy, as appropriate.

(f) “Superfund Site” means any site where action is being taken pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 9604, 9606, or 9620.

(g) “Brownfield Site” means a site as defined in 42 U.S.C. 9601(39).

Sec.  3. Encouraging Qualifying Projects. The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and other relevant executive departments and agencies (agencies), shall launch an initiative to provide financial support for Qualifying Projects, which could include loans and loan guarantees, grants, tax incentives, and offtake agreements. All relevant agencies shall identify and submit to the Director of OSTP any such relevant existing financial support that can be used to assist Qualifying Projects, consistent with the protection of national security.

Sec. 4. Revocation of Executive Order 14141. Executive Order 14141 of January 14, 2025 (Advancing United States Leadership in Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure), is hereby revoked.

Sec.  5. Efficient Environmental Reviews. (a) Within 10 days of the date of this order, each relevant agency shall identify to the Council on Environmental Quality any categorical exclusions already established or adopted by such agency pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), reliance on and adoption of which by agencies (pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 4336 and 4336c) could facilitate the construction of Qualifying Projects.

(b) The Council on Environmental Quality shall coordinate with relevant agencies on the establishment of new categorical exclusions to cover actions related to Qualifying Projects that normally do not have a significant effect on the human environment. Agencies shall, for purposes of establishing these categorical exclusions, rely on any sufficient basis to do so as each such agency determines.

(c) Consistent with 42 U.S.C. 4336e(10)(B)(iii), loans, loan guarantees, grants, tax incentives, or other forms of Federal financial assistance for which an agency lacks substantial project-specific control and responsibility over the subsequent use of such financial assistance shall not be considered a “major Federal action” under NEPA. For purposes of this order, Federal financial assistance representing less than 50 percent of total project costs shall be presumed not to constitute substantial Federal control and responsibility.

Sec.  6. Efficiency and Transparency Through FAST‑41. (a) The Executive Director (Executive Director) of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (FPISC) may, within 30  days of the date that a project is identified to FPISC by a relevant agency, designate a Qualifying Project as a transparency project pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 4370m-2(b)(2)(A)(iii) and section 41003 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (Public Law 114-94, 129 Stat. 1312, 1747) (FAST-41). Within 30 days of receiving such agency notification, the Executive Director may publish Qualifying Projects on the Permitting Dashboard established under section 41003(b) of FAST-41, including schedules for expedited review.

(b) In consultation with Project Sponsors, the Executive Director shall expedite the transition of eligible Qualifying Projects from transparency projects to FAST-41 “covered projects” as defined by 42 U.S.C. 4370m(6)(A). To the extent that a Qualifying Project does not meet the criteria set forth in 42 U.S.C. 4370m(6)(A)(i) or (iii), FPISC may consider all other available options to designate the project a covered project under 42 U.S.C. 4370m(6)(A)(iv).

Sec. 7. Streamlining of Permitting Review. (a) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall assist in expediting permitting on Federal and non-Federal lands by developing or modifying regulations promulgated under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.); the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.); the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.); the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.); and other relevant applicable laws, in each case, that impact the development of Qualifying Projects.

(b) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall, consistent with the Environmental Protection Agency’s statutory authorities, expeditiously identify Brownfield Sites and Superfund Sites for use by Qualifying Projects. As part of this effort, within 180 days of the date of this order, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall develop guidance to help expedite environmental reviews for qualified reuse and assist State governments and private parties to return such Brownfield Sites and Superfund Sites to productive use as expeditiously as possible.

Sec.  8. Biological and Water Permitting Efficiencies. (a) Upon identification of sites by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Energy as described in section 9 of this order, the action agency, as identified through the process described in the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544) (ESA), shall initiate consultation under section 7 of the ESA with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, or both with respect to common construction activities for Qualifying Projects that will occur over the next 10 years at a programmatic level. The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce shall utilize programmatic consultation to ensure timely and efficient completion of such consultation.

(b) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, shall review the nationwide permits issued under section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1344) and section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403) to determine whether an activity-specific nationwide permit is needed to facilitate the efficient permitting of activities related to Qualifying Projects.

Sec. 9. Federal Lands Availability. (a) The Department of the Interior and the Department of Energy shall, after consultation with industry and further in consultation with the Department of Commerce as to the Project Sponsors to which relevant authorizations shall be granted, offer appropriate authorizations for sites identified by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Energy, as applicable and appropriate for the relevant uses, consistent with 42 U.S.C. 2201, 42 U.S.C. 7256, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq., and all other applicable law.

(b) The Secretary of Defense shall, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2667 or other applicable law and as and when the Secretary of Defense deems it necessary or desirable, identify suitable sites on military installations for Covered Component infrastructure uses and competitively lease available lands for Qualifying Projects to support the Department of Defense’s energy, workforce, and mission needs, subject to security and force protection considerations.

Sec. 10. 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.

(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Energy.

                              DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    July 23, 2025.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Promoting The Export of the American AI Technology Stack

Source: US Whitehouse

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Purpose. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a foundational technology that will define the future of economic growth, national security, and global competitiveness for decades to come. The United States must not only lead in developing general-purpose and frontier AI capabilities, but also ensure that American AI technologies, standards, and governance models are adopted worldwide to strengthen relationships with our allies and secure our continued technological dominance. This order establishes a coordinated national effort to support the American AI industry by promoting the export of full-stack American AI technology packages.

Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to preserve and extend American leadership in AI and decrease international dependence on AI technologies developed by our adversaries by supporting the global deployment of United States-origin AI technologies.

Sec. 3. Establishment of the American AI Exports Program. (a) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce shall, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), establish and implement the American AI Exports Program (Program) to support the development and deployment of United States full-stack AI export packages.

(b) The Secretary of Commerce shall issue a public call for proposals from industry-led consortia for inclusion in the Program. The public call shall require that each proposal must:

(i)   include a full-stack AI technology package, which encompasses:

(A) AI-optimized computer hardware (e.g., chips, servers, and accelerators), data center storage, cloud services, and networking, as well as a description of whether and to what extent such items are manufactured in the United States;

(B) data pipelines and labeling systems;

(C) AI models and systems;

(D) measures to ensure the security and cybersecurity of AI models and systems; and

(E) AI applications for specific use cases (e.g., software engineering, education, healthcare, agriculture, or transportation);

(ii) identify specific target countries or regional blocs for export engagement;

(iii) describe a business and operational model to explain, at a high level, which entities will build, own, and operate data centers and associated infrastructure;

(iv)   detail requested Federal incentives and support mechanisms; and

(v)    comply with all relevant United States export control regimes, outbound investment regulations, and end-user policies, including chapter 58 of title 50, United States Code, and relevant guidance from the Bureau of Industry and Security within the Department of Commerce.

(c) The Department of Commerce shall require proposals to be submitted no later than 90 days after the public call for proposals is issued, and shall consider proposals on a rolling basis for inclusion in the Program.

(d) The Secretary of Commerce shall, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, and the Director of OSTP, evaluate submitted proposals for inclusion under the Program. Proposals selected by the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, and the Director of OSTP, will be designated as priority AI export packages and will be supported through priority access to the tools identified in section 4 of this order, as consistent with applicable law.

Sec. 4. Mobilization of Federal Financing Tools. (a) The Economic Diplomacy Action Group (EDAG), established in the Presidential Memorandum of June 21, 2024, chaired by the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative, and as described in section 708 of the Championing American Business Through Diplomacy Act of 2019 (Title VII of Division J of Public Law 116-94) (CABDA), shall coordinate mobilization of Federal financing tools in support of priority AI export packages.

(b) I delegate to the Administrator of the Small Business Administration and the Director of OSTP the authority under section 708(c)(3) of CABDA to appoint senior officials from their respective executive departments and agencies to serve as members of the EDAG.

(c) The Secretary of State, in consultation with the EDAG, shall be responsible for:

(i)    developing and executing a unified Federal Government strategy to promote the export of American AI technologies and standards;

(ii) aligning technical, financial, and diplomatic resources to accelerate deployment of priority AI export packages under the Program;

(iii) coordinating United States participation in multilateral initiatives and country-specific partnerships for AI deployment and export promotion;

(iv)   supporting partner countries in fostering pro‑innovation regulatory, data, and infrastructure environments conducive to the deployment of American AI systems;

(v)    analyzing market access, including technical barriers to trade and regulatory measures that may impede the competitiveness of United States offerings; and

(vi)   coordinating with the Small Business Administration’s Office of Investment and Innovation to facilitate, to the extent permitted under applicable law, investment in United States small businesses to the development of American AI technologies and the manufacture of AI infrastructure, hardware, and systems.

(d) Members of the EDAG shall deploy, to the maximum extent permitted by law, available Federal tools to support the priority export packages selected for participation in the Program, including direct loans and loan guarantees (12  U.S.C. 635); equity investments, co-financing, political risk insurance, and credit guarantees (22  U.S.C. 9621); and technical assistance and feasibility studies (22 U.S.C. 2421(b)).

Sec. 5. 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.

(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Commerce.

                              DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    July 23, 2025.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Preventing Woke AI in the Federal Government

Source: US Whitehouse

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. Artificial intelligence (AI) will play a critical role in how Americans of all ages learn new skills, consume information, and navigate their daily lives. Americans will require reliable outputs from AI, but when ideological biases or social agendas are built into AI models, they can distort the quality and accuracy of the output.

One of the most pervasive and destructive of these ideologies is so-called “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI). In the AI context, DEI includes the suppression or distortion of factual information about race or sex; manipulation of racial or sexual representation in model outputs; incorporation of concepts like critical race theory, transgenderism, unconscious bias, intersectionality, and systemic racism; and discrimination on the basis of race or sex. DEI displaces the commitment to truth in favor of preferred outcomes and, as recent history illustrates, poses an existential threat to reliable AI.

For example, one major AI model changed the race or sex of historical figures — including the Pope, the Founding Fathers, and Vikings — when prompted for images because it was trained to prioritize DEI requirements at the cost of accuracy. Another AI model refused to produce images celebrating the achievements of white people, even while complying with the same request for people of other races. In yet another case, an AI model asserted that a user should not “misgender” another person even if necessary to stop a nuclear apocalypse.

While the Federal Government should be hesitant to regulate the functionality of AI models in the private marketplace, in the context of Federal procurement, it has the obligation not to procure models that sacrifice truthfulness and accuracy to ideological agendas. Building on Executive Order 13960 of December 3, 2020 (Promoting the Use of Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence in the Federal Government), this order helps fulfill that obligation in the context of large language models.

Sec. 2. Definitions. For purposes of this order:

(a) The term “agency” means an executive department, a military department, or any independent establishment within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 101, 102, and 104(1), respectively, and any wholly owned Government corporation within the meaning of 31 U.S.C. 9101.

(b) The term “agency head” means the highest-ranking

official or officials of an agency, such as the Secretary, Administrator, Chairman, Director, Commissioners, or Board of Directors.

(c) The term “LLM” means a large language model, which is a generative AI model trained on vast, diverse datasets that enable the model to generate natural-language responses to user prompts.

(d) The term “national security system” has the same meaning as in 44 U.S.C. 3552(b)(6).

Sec. 3. Unbiased AI Principles. It is the policy of the United States to promote the innovation and use of trustworthy AI. To advance that policy, agency heads shall, consistent with applicable law and in consideration of guidance issued pursuant to section 4 of this order, procure only those LLMs developed in accordance with the following two principles (Unbiased AI Principles):

(a) Truth-seeking. LLMs shall be truthful in responding to user prompts seeking factual information or analysis. LLMs shall prioritize historical accuracy, scientific inquiry, and objectivity, and shall acknowledge uncertainty where reliable information is incomplete or contradictory.

(b) Ideological Neutrality. LLMs shall be neutral, nonpartisan tools that do not manipulate responses in favor of ideological dogmas such as DEI. Developers shall not intentionally encode partisan or ideological judgments into an LLM’s outputs unless those judgments are prompted by or otherwise readily accessible to the end user.

Sec. 4. Implementation. (a) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation with the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, the Administrator of General Services, and the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, shall issue guidance to agencies to implement section 3 of this order. That guidance shall:

(i)    account for technical limitations in complying with this order;

(ii)   permit vendors to comply with the requirement in the second Unbiased AI Principle to be transparent about ideological judgments through disclosure of the LLM’s system prompt, specifications, evaluations, or other relevant documentation, and avoid requiring disclosure of specific model weights or other sensitive technical data where practicable;

(iii) avoid over-prescription and afford latitude for vendors to comply with the Unbiased AI Principles and take different approaches to innovation;

(iv)   specify factors for agency heads to consider in determining whether to apply the Unbiased AI Principles to LLMs developed by the agencies and to AI models other than LLMs; and

(v)    make exceptions as appropriate for the use of LLMs in national security systems.

(b) Each agency head shall, to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law:

(i)    include in each Federal contract for an LLM entered into following the date of the OMB guidance issued under subsection (a) of this section terms requiring that the procured LLM comply with the Unbiased AI Principles and providing that decommissioning costs shall be charged to the vendor in the event of termination by the agency for the vendor’s noncompliance with the contract following a reasonable period to cure;

(ii)   to the extent practicable and consistent with contract terms, revise existing contracts for LLMs to include the terms specified in subsection (b)(i) of this section; and

(iii) within 90 days of the OMB guidance issued under subsection (a) of this section, adopt procedures to ensure that LLMs procured by the agency comply with the Unbiased AI Principles.

Sec. 5. 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.

(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the General Services Administration.

                              DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    July 23, 2025.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Pressley Lead Colleagues in Renewing Push to Protect Access to Reproductive Care for Low-Income Americans, Servicemembers and Millions More

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

July 23, 2025

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D–IL) and U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07) led their fellow Senate and House Democratic colleagues in reintroducing legislation to protect Americans’ right to access reproductive health care, regardless of income, insurance or zip code. The Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Healthcare (EACH) Act would end the discriminatory Hyde Amendment and help lift unjust abortion coverage restrictions for those who depend on Medicaid and other government-sponsored plans—reaffirming the right to access reproductive health care after Donald Trump signed his Big, Beautiful Betrayal into law that will rip health care away from over 15 million Americans.

“Ever since Trump’s far-right Supreme Court majority struck down Roe, Republicans have made it their mission to strip away a woman’s right to reproductive health care—a right they have no place to stand in the way of,” said Senator Duckworth. “As Republicans’ Big, Beautiful Betrayal kicks millions off their health care, we must act to help strengthen access to abortion coverage for low-income Americans, servicemembers and millions more—no matter their zip code. I’m proud to reintroduce this legislation alongside my colleagues so we can do just that.”

“Abortion care is health care, and health care is a human right. With Trump and Republicans advancing a cruel, coordinated assault on our bodily autonomy—gutting Medicaid, defunding Planned Parenthood, and decimating access to care—we must use every tool available to protect and expand reproductive healthcare,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “The EACH Act would help us do just that. By repealing the racist and discriminatory Hyde Amendment, which has denied necessary care for vulnerable communities for nearly half a century, our bill would help ensure everyone in America can get the reproductive healthcare they need, regardless of income, insurance, or zip code. I’m grateful to Senator Duckworth and our colleagues for their partnership on this critical priority.”

Along with Duckworth, the legislation is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Fetterman (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM).

Along with Pressley, the legislation is cosponsored in the House by more than 150 U.S. Representatives.

Copy of the bill text is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.

Throughout her time in the Senate, Duckworth has made protecting reproductive freedom a top priority in the face of Republicans’ anti-choice crusade. Two weeks ago, Duckworth successfully included her provision to expand access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) for military families in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed through the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.

Duckworth has also long pushed to pass her Right to IVF Act—which Senate Republicans blocked not once, but twice last year. This legislation would both establish a right to IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART), expand access for hopeful parents, Veterans and federal employees, as well as lower the costs of IVF for middle-class families across the country. Last September’s vote marked the fourth time Senate Republicans blocked Duckworth-led legislation that would protect access to IVF nationwide.

Duckworth was the first Senator to give birth while serving in office and had both of her children with the help of IVF. In 2018, she advocated for the Senate to change its rules so she could bring her infant onto the Senate floor.

-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Michigan Receives Disaster Declaration from President Trump for Northern Michigan Ice Storm Recovery Efforts

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

Today, Rep. Jack Bergman joined Governor Gretchen Whitmer announcing that President Donald Trump has approved Michigan’s request for a disaster declaration to help communities impacted by the historic ice storm in Northern Michigan earlier this year. The devastating storm knocked out power and communications and left hundreds of miles of roads blocked by fallen trees and debris.

“President Trump’s approval of a Major Disaster Declaration for the counties impacted by March’s devastating ice storm is welcome news,” said U.S. Representative Jack Bergman. “I’m grateful to his Administration for working to get this done. This long-awaited decision unlocks critical resources to help our communities recover and rebuild as quickly as possible. It’s been a true team effort – from local agencies to state and federal partners. Northern Michigan is no stranger to tough times – but it’s in moments like these, when our communities rally and move forward together, that the true spirit of Northern Michigan shines brightest.”

“Yesterday, I spoke to President Trump who confirmed that communities in Northern Michigan impacted by the historic ice storm damage earlier thisnyear will start to receive federal disaster funding,” said Governor Whitmer. “With this initial support, we can help communities recover costs associated with cleanup efforts. I want to thank the president and our congressional delegation for supporting our request, and I look forward to collaborating further on much-needed additional resources. Michiganders across the state stepped up to help our neighbors, and while other parts of our request remain under review, we will continue advocating together to help Northern Michigan recover and rebuild.”

“Many Northern Michigan individuals, families, and small businesses are still recovering from the historic ice storms that hit our state earlier this year,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “This federal emergency declaration will help local leaders, communities, and Northern Michigan families get back on their feet and move forward with their lives. While this storm was devastating, Michiganders are strong, and we will Stand Tall together.”

“I’m pleased that funding is coming to Northern Michigan to bolster the ongoing recovery efforts following the ice storm this March,” said U.S. Senator Gary Peters. “The State of Michigan and local emergency managers continue to work hard because this job is not finished, and I’ll keep fighting to help our communities get the resources they need to bounce back stronger.”

“The Michigan State Police has supported response efforts from the moment this storm began, coordinating statewide resources through the State Emergency Operations Center to assist local communities impacted by the storm,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP. “This federal declaration is a crucial next step. It allows us to continue supporting our partners through long-term recovery.”

Federal Disaster Declaration

The declaration opens the path to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance in Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Kalkaska, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, and Presque Isle Counties and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. The administration continues to review the request for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance under Schedule F.

Advocating for Northern Michigan

On June 25th, Rep. Jack Bergman led a letter with the entire Michigan Congressional Delegation, urging President Donald J. Trump in the strongest possible terms,to approve Governor Whitmer’s May 16 request for a Major Disaster Declaration.

On May 30th, Rep. Jack Bergman joined Michigan USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Director Joel Johnson to announce that assistance through the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) is on the way for Northern Michigan. Both programs are designed to help landowners recover from severe storm damage and restore their operations.

On May 19th, Rep. Jack Bergman expressed his full support for Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration in response to the ice storm that struck Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula in March.

On April 5th, Rep. Bergman visited the affected counties and met with local emergency leaders, linemen, and first responders to discuss the needs across the region.

State Actions

On March 31, Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency to respond to the storm’s impact. The declaration initially covered 10 counties and was expanded to include 12 counties: Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, and Presque Isle counties. Governor Whitmer also deployed the Michigan National Guard to provide more personnel and specialized equipment to help with ice storm recovery efforts in northern Michigan. Lastly, the Governor Whitmer declared an energy emergency in the Upper Peninsula to help expedite delivery of fuel and other critical supplies to impacted areas.

On May 16, Governor Whitmer submitted a formal request for a major disaster declaration to help Northern Michigan recover and rebuild from the historic ice storms that hit the region hard in late March. The governor also traveled to the White House to meet with President Trump, advocating for federal assistance for Northern Michigan. The governor previously asked for an Emergency Declaration, which would authorize up to $5 million in immediate public assistance to support emergency efforts, including debris management needs.

She will continue working with the administration to pursue further relief from FEMA, and her request for individual assistance (IA) remains under review by the federal administration. IA can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. She will also seek resources for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Resources

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.

On June 11, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) separately granted an administrative disaster declaration for Cheboygan County and the contiguous counties of Charlevoix, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Otsego, and Presque Isle. SBA established two Disaster Loan Outreach Centers for one-on-one assistance, open now through July 26 at 2:00pm:

229 Court St.

Cheboygan, MI 49721

8288 S. Pleasantview Rd.

Harbor Springs, MI 49740

Loan applications are also available online or by mail. For additional information on low-interest SBA loans or the application process, visit the MySBA Loan Portal or call 1-800-659-2955. The physical loan application deadline is Aug. 8. Small businesses and non-profits have until March 9, 2026, to apply for EIDLs (working capital loans). So far SBA has disbursed $572,322 in loans for this disaster.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Senator Peters Advocates for Policies to Support Truck Drivers, Safer Roads in Michigan

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
WASHINGTON, DC – During a hearing in the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) advocated for Michigan’s truck drivers, which make up roughly 1 in 15 jobs throughout the state, according to the Michigan Trucking Association. As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Peters delivered opening remarks where he underscored his commitment to ensuring Michigan truck drivers receive the wages and benefits they deserve.
“Our nation’s truck drivers are the backbone of our economy. These frontline workers spend long hours, often away from their families and at all times of day and night, transporting goods across the country to America’s communities… It’s not an exaggeration to say that the trucking industry touches every American’s daily life,” said Senator Peters, Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety. “That’s especially true for Americans who have made trucking their career. There are nearly 250,000 trucking jobs in Michigan alone, making up 1 in 15 jobs throughout my state. From long and short-haul drivers, to mechanics, dispatchers, and logistics coordinators, these jobs provide key economic opportunities for Michiganders, and I am committed to making sure that these jobs live up to their promise for Michiganders by providing fair wages, health care, and retirement benefits. That’s why I am proud to have one of the foremost leaders of that fight here to testify today, Teamsters President Sean O’Brien.”
During the hearing, Peters also advocated for policies to improve roadway safety to protect both truckers and the drivers they share the road with.
“Mr. O’Brien and the members of this panel know very well that the single most important factor in the success of our truck drivers and this industry, as well as road users across this country, is safety,” Peters continued. “I believe this committee must prioritize safety in the next surface transportation reauthorization bill for both truckers and those they share the road with, from the deployment of advanced safety technology and driver assistance systems, to investing in safer streets and stronger bridges, to tackling truck parking issues and defending drivers’ access to rest and bathrooms, to addressing freight fraud and theft.”
Peters also highlighted the current challenges that truck drivers and businesses face as the industry navigates the Trump Administration’s tariff policies.
“I want to acknowledge that today’s trucking industry, as well as all freight and multimodal industries, is facing an incredibly challenging economic environment with this Administration’s chaotic approach to tariffs. This doesn’t just impact truckers and consumers, changing rules, rising prices, and economic uncertainty impacts the manufacturers that build the trucks that move our goods and keep drivers safe,” said Peters. “In Michigan, the commercial vehicle manufacturing supply chain relies on cross border trade with Canada, and with a global supply chain. Many of these businesses have been forced to consider laying off workers or pausing investments due to a lack of certainty created by constantly shifting tariff policies.”
“We can and should pursue policies to create commercial trucking manufacturing jobs here at home, but this continued chaos will only serve to harm U.S. manufacturers, consumers, and our intermodal freight system,” Peters continued.

To watch video of Senator Peters’ opening remarks and question at the hearing, click here.
Peters has consistently advocated for investments and legislation to support truckers and the trucking industry. In the bipartisan infrastructure law, Peters secured more than $4.6 billion to improve roads, bridges, and highways throughout Michigan, including over $1.8 million for the improvement of the Blue Water Bridge to reduce freight delays and ensure the efficient movement of goods across the bridge via truck. In 2024, Peters’ bipartisan Strengthening the Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS) Act was signed into law to protect funding for the Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS), a crucial, nationwide computer system that ensures commercial drivers have only one license and one complete driver record.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: US Department of Labor applauds President Trump’s ‘AI Action Plan’ to achieve global dominance in artificial intelligence

Source: US Department of Labor

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling today praised the release of President Trump’s artificial intelligence policy strategy, “Winning the Race: America’s AI Action Plan.”Developed in response to the President’s January Executive Order “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence,” the AI Action Plan sets a clear policy roadmap of the specific actions needed to help the U.S. achieve global AI dominance. The plan illustrates how American workers will be central to the Trump Administration’s AI policy and includes two areas outlining the Labor Department’s integral role in creating a future-ready workforce: “Empower American Workers in the Age of AI” and “Train a Skilled Workforce for AI Infrastructure.”“Since day one, President Trump has made it his top priority to put American Workers First by expanding opportunity and ensuring all are prepared for the challenges of the future,” said Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. “By boosting AI literacy and investing in skills training, we’re equipping hardworking Americans with the tools they need to lead and succeed in this new era. The Department of Labor is proud to help deliver on the President’s vision for global AI dominance by building a stronger, more resilient American workforce.”“The AI Action Plan demonstrates President Trump’s bold leadership in driving forward a worker-centric AI strategy that will create a new era of economic prosperity for American workers,” said Deputy Secretary Sonderling. “The Department of Labor looks forward to executing the critical AI Action Plan efforts that will support our workforce, including expanding AI literacy nationwide, creating a new hub to analyze AI’s impact on the labor market, and piloting innovative models to help workers succeed in an AI-driven economy.”The “Empower American Workers in the Age of AI” initiative includes proposed actions for the Department of Labor, in collaboration with other federal agencies, to:Prioritize AI skills development as a core objective of education and workforce funding streams, including career and technical education, apprenticeships, and other federally supported skills initiatives.Establish the AI Workforce Research Hub to lead a sustained federal effort to evaluate AI’s impact on the labor market and the American worker, including recurring analysis, scenario planning, and actionable insights for workforce and education policy.Study AI’s impact on the labor market by providing the AI Workforce Research Hub with analysis to support tracking of AI adoption, job creation, displacement, and wage effects.Fund rapid retraining for individuals impacted by AI-related job displacement, as well as issue guidance clarifying how funds can be used to proactively upskill workers at risk of future displacement.Pilot new approaches to meet workforce challenges created by AI, which may include areas such as rapid retraining models to respond to labor market shifts and new models to support pathways into entry-level roles.The “Train a Skilled Workforce for AI Infrastructure” initiative includes proposed actions for the Department of Labor, in collaboration with other federal agencies, to:Create a national initiative identifying high-priority occupations critical to AI infrastructure.Partner with state and local governments and workforce system stakeholders to support the creation of industry-driven training programs for priority AI infrastructure occupations.Partner with education and workforce system stakeholders to expand early career exposure programs and pre-apprenticeship opportunities for middle and high school students in AI infrastructure occupations.Expand Registered Apprenticeships for occupations critical to AI infrastructure.Learn more about President Trump’s AI Action Plan.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Luján Fights for National Lab Science Funding, Presses Trump Administration to Protect America’s Scientific Innovation and Reverse Course on Cuts to Research and Development Programs

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Co-Chair of the Senate National Labs Caucus, called on President Trump to reverse course on proposed reductions in the Fiscal Year 2026 federal budget to research and development programs within the Department of Energy (DOE), including cuts to programs at National Laboratories. In the letter to President Trump, Senator Luján highlights the successful economic impacts by these DOE research and development programs, including our National Laboratories’ critical role in driving global scientific leadership.

Senator Luján wrote, “These proposed changes jeopardize not only our nation’s economic competitiveness but also our national security, energy independence, and capacity for innovation. Slashes to these programs undermine the core principles and opportunities that America promises its citizens: through bold investment in knowledge and innovation, we build a stronger, safer, and more just future.”

“Without adequate support, the United States risks ceding leadership in emerging industries to nations with more consistent and centralized science investment strategies. Slashing funding to these programs is not fiscal responsibility – it is strategic negligence,” continued Senator Luján.

“As a proud and steadfast champion of the groundbreaking innovation coming out of the national labs in my state, I’m constantly reminded of their extraordinary contributions,” concluded Senator Luján.

The full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear President Trump:

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the proposed reductions in the Fiscal Year 2026 federal budget to research and development programs within the Department of Energy (DOE), including significant cuts to the Office of Science, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), and the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA–E). These proposed changes jeopardize not only our nation’s economic competitiveness but also our national security, energy independence, and capacity for innovation. Slashes to these programs undermine the core principles and opportunities that America promises its citizens: through bold investment in knowledge and innovation, we build a stronger, safer, and more just future.

The national laboratories are not just the Department of Energy’s research hubs; they are engines of economic empowerment. These nearly 80,000 scientists, engineers, and staff are at the forefront of pioneering technologies in advanced energy systems, life-saving medical isotopes, next-generation manufacturing, and national defense. The proposed 14% reduction to the Office of Science and 74% cut to EERE will have an immediate and destabilizing impact – threatening the continuation of critical research programs, leading to the loss of thousands of skilled jobs. Investments in science ARE investments in American leadership.

Specifically, EERE has been responsible for more than $624 billion in net economic benefits, heavily contributing to U.S. energy bill reductions of over $800 billion since 1980. These cuts will impede 100s of ongoing lab-based projects in clean energy, grid modernization, and industrial decarbonization, while endangering 1,000s of jobs across multiple national laboratories, and undermine a network that has historically returned over $10 in economic output for every dollar of federal R&D investment. We don’t just silence the potential for future discoveries that could deliver heat and power to every corner of the country, we squander the ingenuity of the very Americans who have the knowledge and drive to make it happen.

Similarly, proposed budget reductions would scale back fellowships, internships, and research grants that support tens of thousands of graduate and postdoctoral researchers. Around half of STEM graduate students rely on federal support to complete their training. The elimination of these opportunities would be devastating to early-career researchers and erode our long-term competitiveness, particularly in fields like quantum, biotechnology, and energy.

For decades, DOE’s national laboratories have played a critical role in translating federal research into commercial success. The DOE national labs outperform other agencies in innovation productivity, producing 3.5x more patents per dollar and 1.4x higher licensing rate per patent than the federal agency average. Every year the labs execute 1000s of partnership agreements, including 100s of agreements to commercialize technology. These efforts are part of a larger ecosystem that has enabled the United States to maintain global leadership in critical technologies such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced computing, and energy efficiency. This innovation culture, rooted in federally funded basic and applied science, has given the United States a durable advantage over strategic competitors, including China, whose state-led investments are rapidly closing the gap.

Programs like ARPA-E, which the budget proposes to cut by 57%, have been instrumental in maintaining this leadership. The agency has funded over 1,000 high-risk projects, resulted in over 700 patents, and attracted over $12 billion in follow-on private investment. Reducing federal investments in ARPA-E and DOE lab commercialization programs could shift the global balance of innovation. Without adequate support, the United States risks ceding leadership in emerging industries to nations with more consistent and centralized science investment strategies. Slashing funding to these programs is not fiscal responsibility – it is strategic negligence.

The United States did not become a global leader in science and technology by retreating from bold investment. We became that leader by making deliberate, courageous decisions to fund basic and applied research, to believe in our academic institutions, and to empower our national laboratories as centers of excellence. At a time when other nations are dramatically increasing their R&D investments, it would be short-sighted and strategically dangerous for the United States to step back.

As a proud and steadfast champion of the groundbreaking innovation coming out of the national labs in my state, I’m constantly reminded of their extraordinary contributions. At Sandia National Laboratories, researchers invented clean rooms, a technology essential to manufacturing microchips that power high performance computing and artificial intelligence, while also revolutionizing hospital operating room safety. Sandia isn’t just refining the economics of LED light bulbs, they’re re-engineering light itself to promote human health and increase agricultural yields. At Los Alamos, during the Human Genome Project, scientists developed GenBank, the genetic sequence database that has become indispensable to modern drug discovery and our understanding of disease. Los Alamos also remains one of the nation’s only sources of critical medical isotopes used in targeted cancer therapies – treatments that can destroy breast cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. Slashing funding to these transformative institutions isn’t just short-sighted – it’s an assault on the standard of living, health, and opportunity for every American.

America’s scientific capacity is one of its most valuable assets. We must treat it accordingly – with care, with vision, and with the full weight of federal support. I respectfully urge you to reconsider these reductions and restore full funding for DOE research and innovation programs – including ARPA-E, EERE, the Office of Science, the associated workforce, and their commercialization initiatives.

Thank you for your consideration and commitment to the future of American science, security, and prosperity.

Sincerely,

MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: HHS, FDA and USDA Address the Health Risks of Ultra-Processed Foods

Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

For Immediate Release:
July 23, 2025

Under the leadership of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture are accelerating federal efforts to address the growing concerns around ultra-processed foods and the current epidemic of diet-related chronic disease that is plaguing America. The agencies are announcing a joint Request for Information (RFI) to gather information and data to help establish a federally recognized uniform definition for ultra-processed foods—a critical step in providing increased transparency to consumers about the foods they eat.
“Ultra-processed foods are driving our chronic disease epidemic,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “We must act boldly to eliminate the root causes of chronic illness and improve the health of our food supply. Defining ultra-processed foods with a clear, uniform standard will empower us even more to Make America Healthy Again.”
Currently, there is no single authoritative definition for ultra-processed foods for the U.S. food supply. Creating a uniform federal definition will serve as a key deliverable on the heels of the recently published Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment, which recognizes that the overconsumption of ultra-processed foods is one of the driving factors of the childhood chronic disease crisis.
“President Trump has made it a priority to improve health outcomes for American families and communities. And this Request for Information is yet another step in seeking commonsense ways to foster improved and more informed consumer choice. A unified, widely understood definition for ultra processed foods is long overdue and I look forward to continued partnership with Secretary Kennedy to Make America Healthy Again. As this process unfolds, I will make certain the great men and women of the agriculture value chain are part of the conversation,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins.
“I am delighted to lead this critical effort at the FDA,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “The threats posed to our health by foods often considered ultra-processed are clear and convincing, making it imperative that we work in lockstep with our federal partners to advance, for the first time ever, a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods.”
It is estimated that approximately 70% of packaged products in the U.S. food supply are foods often considered ultra-processed, and that children get over 60% of their calories from such foods. Dozens of scientific studies have found links between the consumption of foods often considered ultra-processed with numerous adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity and neurological disorders. Helping to address overconsumption of ultra-processed foods is a key element to Make America Healthy Again.
A uniform definition of ultra-processed foods will allow for consistency in research and policy to pave the way for addressing health concerns associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods. The RFI will be publicly available in the federal register on July 24 and seeks information on what factors and criteria should be included in a definition of ultra-processed foods.
Alongside developing a uniform definition, the FDA and National Institutes of Health are investing in high-quality research to help answer remaining questions about the health impacts of ultra-processed foods through its recently announced Nutrition Regulatory Science Program. The Department will also continue to pursue developing and implementing other key policies and programs that seek to, collectively, dramatically reduce chronic disease and help ensure a healthy future for our nation.

Consumer:888-INFO-FDA

###

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Content current as of:
07/23/2025

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: July 23rd, 2025 N.M. Delegation Announces President’s Approval of Major Disaster Declaration for Lincoln County, Maintains Push for Major Disaster Declaration for Chaves, Otero, & Valencia Counties

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) released the following joint statement, welcoming President Donald Trump’s granting of a Major Disaster Declaration for Lincoln County, while renewing their call for President Trump to grant a Major Disaster Declaration for Chaves, Otero, and Valencia Counties and authorize Public Assistance Categories C-G in the wake of severe flooding that took the lives of three people and damaged homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure.

“The loss of life and devastation in Ruidoso as a result of this catastrophic flooding is horrific and heartbreaking. After seeing the destruction firsthand and hearing from families who have lost everything, our thoughts remain with those mourning loved ones and the hundreds of New Mexicans forced to flee their homes or watch their businesses be destroyed. We are deeply grateful to the first responders, local leaders, medical providers, and rescue teams working tirelessly to help their communities recover.

“This Major Disaster Declaration for Lincoln County will unlock funding needed for disaster response, and we will continue to push President Trump to grant the State’s Major Disaster Declaration request for Chaves, Otero, and Valencia Counties and authorize additional Public Assistance to make sure that all New Mexicans impacted by this disaster are provided with the federal support necessary to rebuild.”

On July 10, the N.M. Delegation welcomed an emergency declaration for Chaves, Lincoln, Otero, and Valencia Counties. The emergency declaration opened up access to specific FEMA funds for immediate disaster response, including support for search and rescue and incident management efforts. An emergency declaration does not preclude a subsequent Major Disaster Declaration. Therefore, the N.M. Delegation pushed President Trump to approve a Major Disaster Declaration request from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Through a Major Disaster Declaration request, the State of New Mexico has requested Public Assistance, Category A through G, including Direct Federal Assistance for Lincoln County, Chaves County, Otero County, and Valencia County, as well as Individual Assistance, including Housing Assistance, Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance, Disaster Case Management, Transitional Sheltering Assistance, Serious Needs Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Disaster Legal Services, Disaster Unemployment, and Displacement Assistance for Lincoln County and Valencia County. The State also requested Hazard Mitigation statewide, as facilitated by New Mexico’s Natural Disaster Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The N.M. Delegation will continue to push President Trump to authorize Public Assistance Categories C-G and approve a Major Disaster Declaration request for Chaves, Otero, and Valencia Counties from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Additionally, on July 15, the N.M. Delegation called on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Acting Director David Richardson to disburse critical and overdue funds that would provide immediate assistance in response to the catastrophic flash flooding in and around Ruidoso.

In a letter to OMB Director Vought and FEMA Acting Director Richardson, the Delegation urged OMB to release reimbursement funds from a project undertaken in the wake of last year’s South Fork and Salt Fires — currently stalled in “Large Project Review” — so they can be redirected to Lincoln County after recent severe flooding. The project in question was completed last year, has been fully reviewed by FEMA, and has an estimated cost of $7.7 million. These funds could be deployed immediately to assist Lincoln County and impacted residents as they continue to assess and respond to the recent severe flooding. But with no timeline provided to Lincoln County or the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) for completing the “Large Project Review” by the Administration, the Delegations is demanding answers. Read the full letter here.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Grassley Ask For Unanimous Consent To Pass Their Bill To Crack Down On Pharmaceutical Advertisements

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

July 23, 2025

The Senators’ bill would force Big Pharma to disclose prices when advertising prescription drugs, the UC request was blocked by a Senate Republican

WASHINGTON – Today on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) asked for unanimous consent (UC) to pass their bipartisan Drug-price Transparency for Consumers (DTC) Act, a bipartisan bill that would require price disclosures on advertisements for prescription drugs in order to empower patients and reduce Americans’ colossal spending on medications. The United States is one of only two industrialized countries in the world that allow drug advertising. Despite prior support for the measure from the Trump Administration, the request was blocked by a Senate Republican.

“You know the ads with the catchy jingle and flashy images of patients rock climbing, golfing, dancing, [or] parading? Big Pharma spends more than $6 billion a year to flood the airwaves with ads for the latest wonder-drug. Why? Why would they spend this much money to advertise [these drugs]? They [Big Pharma] spend such astronomical sums to promote their drugs because it increases their profit margins. Big Pharma thinks that if they hit you hard enough and often enough ad on TV, not only will you be able to pronounce but [you’ll also be able to] spell Xarelto. You’ll also [be able to] tell your doctor ‘that is my favorite blood thinner, I’ve seen that ad over and over again.’ Don’t take my word for it. The American Medical Association said ‘direct-to-consumer advertising inflates demand for new and expensive drugs, even when these drugs may not be appropriate,’” Durbin said.

“When President Biden announced the 15 drugs that Medicare will negotiate for discounts, most Americans knew the names, maybe even knew the jingle: Ozempic, Trelegy, Ibrance, and Otezla. Sound familiar? Pharma spent hundreds of millions of dollars each year for you to ‘ask your doctor’ about these drugs. The result? Medicare spent $22 billion last year alone on these four heavily advertised medications,” said Durbin.

Last week, Durbin released a report about a new telehealth-advertising scheme launched by Pfizer and Eli Lilly. The report revealed relationships between drug companies seeking to sell their medications, and the telehealth companies hand-picked by these pharmaceutical giants, appear intended to steer patients toward particular medications. As the pharmaceutical industry floods the airwaves with commercials to increase demand for high-cost medications, these new telehealth platforms appear intended to churn out prescriptions to patients with just a few clicks online.

Durbin continued, “With online promotions and new websites, Pharma is urging patients to ‘click here’ to speak with a doctor. But those telehealth doctors are handpicked, they’ve been recruited, and paid for by the drug companies. Pharma is funneling patients to their chosen health care providers, to influence prescriptions for costly drugs. This raises concerns about conflicts of interest and inappropriate prescribing of drugs. All of this is a result of Pharma’s rampant advertising spree.”

Since 2017, Durbin has worked with Grassley to introduce bipartisan legislation to crack down on DTC advertisements. One-third of all commercials displayed on TV are of drugs from prescription drug companies. In 2023, Illinois company AbbVie spent $315 million on TV ads for Rinvoq, an eczema and arthritis drug. Nowhere in the commercial do they disclose it’s more than $6,100 per month.

Durbin continued, “It’s time to end Big Pharma’s secrecy. If they are going to advertise a drug, they also need to [mention] to the American public how much it costs. It’s basic. No gimmicks, no tricks. Just the truth by advertising [what]… the drug companies publish as the official price.”

Durbin continued, “Our common sense plan to require price disclosures in direct-to-consumer drug ads has already passed the Senate once before, in 2018… we knew that 88 percent of Americans support what we’re doing: disclosure of price. In fact, because of our work on this measure, Donald Trump made a statement: ‘Big announcement today: Drug companies have to come clean about their prices in TV ads. Historic transparency for American patients is here. If drug companies are ashamed of those prices—lower them!’”

“Big Pharma hates being honest with patients about the price of their drugs. They fear it’s going to cut into their profits. Patients, American citizens, and others deserve lower drug prices. The Trump Administration has called on Congress to rein in these deceptive drug advertisements. But Big Pharma is looking for one Senator to come down and object to the passage of this common sense bill. I hope we can pass it right now to deliver real relief at the pharmacy counter,” Durbin concluded.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that prescription drugs advertised directly to consumers accounted for 58 percent of Medicare’s spending on drugs between 2016 and 2018, while a 2023 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that two-thirds of advertised drugs offered “low therapeutic value.” By requiring direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements forprescription drugs to include a disclosure of the list price, patients can make informed choices when inundated with drug commercials and pharmaceutical companies may reconsider their pricing and advertising tactics. In recent years, the pharmaceutical industry has sued to keep the prices of their drugs out of their TV advertisements.

Video of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here for TV Stations.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Graham Statement on Largest Seizure of Fentanyl in South Carolina History

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement after the U.S. Attorney for South Carolina Bryan Stirling announced what is believed to be the largest seizure of fentanyl in South Carolina history. The drug bust, part of the Department of Justice’s nationwide Operation Take Back America, resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of 156 pounds of fentanyl and 44 pounds of methamphetamine.
“Well done to the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, South Carolina’s U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling, and everyone else involved in this historic drug bust.
“The fentanyl seized in this investigation, equivalent to 36 million lethal doses, is believed by investigators to have originated in Mexico. Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and the historic investment in border security he just signed into law, the days of fentanyl pouring across our border and into our communities unfettered are over.
“What a difference six months can make. South Carolina is being kept safe under the leadership of President Trump.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts on the Senate Floor: Iran Doesn’t Need More Time – It Needs More Pressure. The E3 Should Snapback As Soon As Possible.

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) urged European allies to reject Iran’s threats and delaying tactics during upcoming talks on the Iranian nuclear program. The speech was given in support of a resolution, cosponsored by 19 other Senators, that calls for the E3 (United Kingdom, France, and Germany) to trigger the snapback of UN sanctions against Iran as soon as possible.
Watch the video here
“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” said Ricketts. “This has been a red-line for decades, going back to President Clinton. And the reason is because the results would be catastrophic.”
“Iran is as weak now as it has ever been since the 1980s, and probably weaker,” said Ricketts. “[Trump’s] strikes have delayed Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon by a few years. But in order to seize this moment, the U.S. and our allies must impose maximum pressure to the highest extent possible to force Iran to agree to permanently and verifiably end its nuclear program, including its capacity to enrich uranium.”
“Our European allies have said they are prepared to trigger snapback by the end of August if no firm, tangible, and verifiable nuclear commitments from Iran are in place,” said Ricketts. “This is being done in close coordination with the Trump administration, which continues to pursue diplomatic talks with Iran. I commend our allies for setting a deadline. However, this path is under a timeline that leaves little room for error. Unsurprisingly, the Iranian regime is resorting to its longstanding playbook to delay, to delay, to delay and prevent snapback from happening. Later this week, the Iranians are scheduled to meet with the E3 in Istanbul. There are rumors that discussions could center on what conditions the E3 would postpone snapback. But I stand today to urge our European friends to hold the line and not bend to Iranian threats or be fooled by Iranian assurances.”
“A window now exists to completely change the trajectory of the Middle East for the better,” concluded Ricketts. “But that window will close unless we convince Iran that its nuclear weapons program will never be tolerated, period. That’s why this resolution urges the E3 to snapback sanctions as soon as possible. We must not let Iran off the hook.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Smith Op-Ed: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Trump’s Trade Policy Will Do What ‘Bidenomics’ Never Could

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — Today, Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith published an op-ed in the Washington Examiner highlighting how the One Big Beautiful Bill and President Trump’s trade policy will do what ‘Bidenomics’ NEVER could.

“Democrats in Washington like to push a narrative that you cannot cut taxes and decrease the deficit. But economic growth fueled by The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, combined with common-sense government spending cuts and President Donald Trump’s successful America First trade policy, will prove them wrong once again,” Chairman Smith wrote.

Read Chairman Smith’s full op-ed in Washington Examiner here or below:

For four years, Democrats in Washington pushed a reckless tax-and-spend agenda known as “Bidenomics” that blew a hole in the U.S.’s national debt. More than $10 trillion later, and along with 20% inflation that federal spending created, our nation is at a fiscal crossroads. The status quo is not acceptable or sustainable.

Democrats in Washington like to push a narrative that you cannot cut taxes and decrease the deficit. But economic growth fueled by The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, combined with common-sense government spending cuts and President Donald Trump’s successful America First trade policy, will prove them wrong once again.

In fact, it is already happening. June saw the first federal budget surplus in more than nine years, with revenues exceeding spending by $26 billion, thanks to a windfall of $18 billion in new tariff revenue. While deficits are likely to continue in the near term, this is a start in the right direction.

The myth that you cannot cut taxes and restore fiscal sanity depends on dismissing the tax incentives in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that will drive investment, create jobs, and grow our economy. The simple truth: They will, and they have before.

Even though the 50-year historic average GDP growth is over 2.7%, the “nonpartisan” Congressional Budget Office forecasts economic growth will be just 1.8% in the coming years, and the projected deficit impact of the “big, beautiful bill” based on that growth would be $3.3 trillion over ten years. However, if our nation’s economic growth rises just 0.1% above the historic average and clocks in at 2.8%, federal deficits will actually be reduced by over half a trillion dollars.

Is this possible? We know it is because in the years following the passage of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, the United States’s economy grew by 2.8%. It can and will happen again.

Increased federal revenues driven by economic growth are just one piece of the equation. Trump’s successful America First trade policy is not only forcing our trading partners to the table to deliver better deals for American manufacturers and farmers, but it is also providing tens of billions of dollars for deficit reduction each month.

Even the CBO predicts that the new tariff policies will generate $2.5 trillion in new revenue for the federal government over the next 10 years. That is no small sum.

Putting direct tariff revenue aside, as countries come to the table and more markets open for American producers, our economic growth will accelerate further. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act and America First trade policies will turbocharge our entrepreneurs to produce more, hire more, and invest more here at home. This will only boost revenues flowing into the federal government further.

While economic growth and tariffs are part of the solution, Congress must be forced to address the elephant in the room: federal spending. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act took a massive turn down the correct path by cutting over $1.5 trillion in mandatory spending — the most in American history.

Complacency and lax oversight for years have allowed spending to explode, mostly in our nation’s social safety net programs. Fraud and abuse were allowed to run rampant, putting these programs at risk for the people who truly rely on them.

Through common-sense reforms such as work requirements, which more than 80% of the public supports, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has eliminated wasteful spending and protected these programs for future generations. But more must be done.

Economic growth and tariff revenue alone will not save us, but they are certainly a start. Congress must make responsible decisions in the years to come to prevent saddling the next generation with even more crippling debt and economic decline.

Addressing our nation’s debt crisis will require a multifaceted, holistic approach, but Republicans are already taking America down the right track.

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MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Wicker: The Pentagon needs major reform. Now is our chance

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker

Fox News Opinion

Read the full opinion editorial below.

Last year, I released two plans for reforming the military. The first, 21st Century Peace through Strength, focused on the need for additional defense funding to produce what the U.S. military needs to keep the peace.

The second, Restoring Freedom’s Forge, outlined a plan to change fundamentally the Pentagon’s business processes away from a Soviet-style bureaucratic mess to a modern process that rewards commercial innovation and fosters competition.

Fortunately, President Donald Trump campaigned on both these issues. He promised a defense spending boost, and we are well on our way after the $150 billion military infusion included in the reconciliation bill. And the president promised to pursue wholesale Pentagon reform, getting rid of red tape and instead freeing our innovators to build weapons better, faster and at lower cost.

In Congress, we recognize that we have no time to waste. The Senate Armed Services Committee recently voted overwhelmingly (26-1) to advance Congress’ annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This bill contains the most significant reforms to the Pentagon’s weapons-buying process in generations.

For decades, we have paid defense companies to develop weapons primarily with taxpayer money. While this process will still be necessary for some systems, there are thousands of innovative companies who are developing weapons using private capital. This bill is written to encourage acquisition by those companies, who are often outpacing the Pentagon’s processes by years.

We have also spent many years under a broken weapons buying process. At dozens of stages, officials can say “No” and slow programs down. As it stands, program managers decide what to buy but shortly thereafter lose authority over the process. From there, contracting officers under a separate reporting structure can take 18 months to run a compliance-based process. This NDAA would create portfolio acquisition executives who are empowered to make decisions, take risk and then be held accountable for decisions.

For decades, we have levied a crazy, years-long bureaucratic process to qualify new parts and types of weapons for military use. That process rewards the status quo and severely discourages competition. This bill will create a new streamlined process for qualification, pairing it with a new $1 billion fund from the reconciliation bill. Taken together, we will dramatically improve competition at the Pentagon and protect against price-gouging.

The United States has a legacy of building some of the most advanced munitions in the world. The track records of our GMLRS surface-to-surface missiles and Patriot air defense interceptors are undeniable. But not every one of our weapons needs to be “exquisite,” a term of art for systems that are sophisticated, intricate and difficult to build. Instead, we are providing nearly $5 billion in defense reconciliation for new lower-cost munitions, many of which will be produced through advanced manufacturing.

We are living in the most dangerous moment since World War II. To enable an American-led 21st century, we need a military and a defense industrial base capable of maintaining the peace. The defense reconciliation bill made a big bet on American innovation, and the Senate’s 2026 NDAA introduces fundamental Pentagon reforms. With both, we can achieve a generational rebuilding of the U.S. military.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Warren Secures Key Commitments from Social Security Chief to Protect Americans’ Benefits
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
July 23, 2025

Bisignano agrees to independent investigation into data and metrics, no Schedule F, and more

Bisignano admits responsibility for inaccurate email about Big Beautiful Bill, says doesn’t know whether White House Office of General Counsel (OGC) reviewed before SSA sent to all beneficiaries

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a leader of the Senate Democrats’ Social Security War Room, secured key commitments and admissions from Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Frank Bisignano during a private meeting. The commitments relate to data and metrics, staffing, paper checks, and more. She also pressed Bisignano for information on his politicization of the SSA.

“It’s my job as a United States Senator to conduct oversight, ask tough questions, and get real answers for the American people. The commitments I secured in today’s meeting with Commissioner Bisignano will make it easier for people to get their checks and get help with their benefits,” said Senator Warren. “I’ll keep pressing on these issues and fighting to protect Americans’ Social Security.”

Senator Warren secured the following commitments and admissions from Commissioner Bisignano:

Commissioner Bisignano agreed to an independent IG investigation of Social Security service data and metrics. Recent reporting highlighted that under Bisignano’s watch, SSA has removed key service metrics, such as call wait times, from its website. An investigation from Senator Warren’s office revealed that the remaining metrics appear to be inaccurate and misleading. In the meeting with Senator Warren, Commissioner Bisignano agreed to an independent audit of both the collecting and reporting of data. He also committed that specific data will be publicly reported, such as the number of dropped calls, how often calls are transferred to incorrect departments, and what percentage of callers actually resolve their issue over the phone.

Commissioner Bisignano committed that SSA will not shift workers to Schedule F. Previous Acting SSA Commissioner Leland Dudek publicly called for entire SSA offices to be converted to Schedule F, which would, in effect, make it easier for leadership to fire workers with little cause. In today’s meeting, Senator Warren secured a commitment from Commissioner Bisignano to change course and not shift SSA workers to Schedule F. However, Senator Warren was concerned that Bisignano confirmed SSA has no plans to hire back workers who have been gutted from the agency — even amid reported capacity issues.

Commissioner Bisignano admitted he was responsible for the inaccurate SSA email about Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill that went out to all beneficiaries, that his team had discussed the email with the White House, and that he was not sure whether the SSA’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) had reviewed it. Immediately following Congressional Republicans passing Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” SSA sent an inaccurate email to all beneficiaries with inaccurate information about benefits they could expect as a result of the bill. After receiving backlash, SSA quietly added a few lines at the bottom of the online version of their press release and sent out no correction email to beneficiaries.In the meeting with Senator Warren, Commissioner Bisignano revealed that his team at SSA was responsible for the initial email. He confirmed that it was discussed with the White House, but admitted that he didn’t know whether it had been run by SSA’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) before it was sent out to all beneficiaries. When Senator Warren asked whether he planned to send out a correction to all beneficiaries given the inaccurate and misleading information provided to them about their benefits, Bisignano said he did not know why they had not initially sent out a correction but believed the email had “aged” and did not require a follow-up.

Commissioner Bisignano committed not to entirely remove the option for beneficiaries to receive paper checks, backtracking on the agency’s own recent announcement to “stop issuing” them. SSA recently announced that it would stop issuing paper checks, which would significantly disrupt services for some of the most vulnerable Americans. In the meeting with Senator Warren, Commissioner Bisignano backtracked, confirming that paper checks will remain an option for beneficiaries who need them.

Senate Dems’ Social Security War Room is a coordinated effort to fight back against the Trump administration’s attack on Americans’ Social Security. The War Room coordinates messaging across the Senate Democratic Caucus and external stakeholders; encourages grassroots engagement by providing opportunities for Americans to share what Social Security means to them; and educates Senate staff, the American public, and stakeholders about Republicans’ agenda and their continued cuts to Americans’ Social Security services and benefits.
MIL OSI USA News –
July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: U.S.-Indonesia Trade Deal Is Another America First Win

US Senate News:

Source: US Whitehouse
President Donald J. Trump’s landmark reciprocal trade agreement with Indonesia is another critical step forward in the Trump Administration’s relentless pursuit of trade policy that finally puts America First. The deal eliminates ~99% of tariff barriers for a full range of U.S. industrial, food, and agricultural exports, unlocks new market access, and breaks down non-tariff barriers — and represents the latest victory for American workers, farmers, and manufacturers.
The trade deal was immediately hailed across American industry:
American Iron and Steel Institute President and CEO Kevin Dempsey: “AISI is encouraged by today’s announcement of a framework for negotiating an agreement with Indonesia to remove Indonesia’s existing export restrictions on critical minerals, such as nickel, which is critical to stainless steel production. Indonesia’s existing export ban and other restrictions on nickel, together with its close ties to Chinese steel producers that have invested in that country as a result of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, have resulted in significant distortions in the global market for nickel to the detriment of steel producers in the United States. We look forward to working with USTR to address the Indonesian nickel export restrictions and other trade-distorting policies as these negotiations move forward.”
Association for Competitive Technology President Morgan Reed: “This is another win for U.S. small tech developers. For years the App Association and our members have raised concerns with the U.S. Trade Representative regarding Indonesia’s inclusion of software and other digital goods in their tariff system, among several other digital trade barriers. We thank USTR and the Administration for their tireless work on behalf of small tech companies and look forward to our continued work strengthening American competitiveness globally. Further, we commend the Indonesian government for joining the United States in committing to support a World Trade Organization agreement that ensures countries will not apply taxes or customs duties to digital service transmissions.”
Business Software Alliance SVP Aaron Cooper: “The US-Indonesia trade agreement is a breakthrough in digital trade policy. The agreement’s provisions to eliminate tariffs on intangible digital products, guaranteeing cross-border data transfers, and supporting the permanent extension of the moratorium on digital customs duties expands access to digital services and supports the adoption of technology. This agreement sends a strong signal to the global economy and many industries that rely on open and secure digital trade, and reflects key reforms that have been core BSA priorities for nearly a decade.”
American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland: “We appreciate President Trump and his administration’s efforts in maintaining market access for U.S. soybeans into Indonesia, and the commitment from USTR to address non-tariff barriers in that market. We look forward to future deals like this that reduce tariffs and ensure continued and increased market access for U.S. agriculture.”
Computer and Communications Industry Association VP Jonathan McHale: “The announced Framework agreement for addressing Indonesia’s many trade barriers, including tariff regimes targeting digital products, restrictions on cross-border data flows, and local content requirements for communications devices, is an important and encouraging step in reforming what has long been one of the most challenging markets for U.S. suppliers. We look forward to a binding agreement addressing not only these restrictions, but a path to resolving all outstanding barriers that remain in this important market.”
Consortium for Common Food Names Executive Director Jaime Castaneda: “The prospect of having Indonesia commit to a more transparent and balanced approach to GIs would be a meaningful advance in the global fight to preserve the use of common food names like parmesan and feta. We commend the U.S. negotiators for prioritizing this issue, particularly at a time when European Union is attempting to expand their GI abuse in growing dairy markets and shut out the United States. We will work diligently with the U.S. government to hold Indonesia accountable to their commitments on common names.”
International Dairy Foods Association SVP Becky Rasdall Vargas: “We could not be more enthusiastic and energized about today’s announcement for improved access for U.S. dairy exports to Indonesia. Indonesia is an important trading partner in a region that is critical to U.S. dairy exports, and growing. Today’s announcement represents the largest improvement of access U.S. dairy exporters have seen in the region in over a decade and will be a timely step towards keeping U.S. dairy exporters globally competitive. We express our sincere appreciation to the Administration and the negotiators for achieving this positive outcome for U.S. dairy.”
National Grain and Feed Association President and CEO Mike Seyfert: “America’s grain and feed industry appreciates President Trump and his negotiating team for advancing a bold and strategic trade framework with Indonesia that delivers meaningful wins for U.S agriculture. This agreement opens the door to billions in new exports – including soybeans, wheat, and other key commodities – while eliminating tariffs and cutting red tape that have long held back U.S. producers. We look forward to swift finalization and implementation of this deal and stand ready to work with the Trump Administration open new markets and tear down unfair trade barriers.”
National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Gregg Doud: “This looks like it will be a significant win for U.S. dairy. We commend the Trump Administration for securing an agreement that should deliver real benefits for our dairy farmers. We are pleased to hear this framework removes roadblocks to trade and will help grow dairy sales in one of the world’s most populous markets. NMPF looks forward to reviewing the details of the agreement and working with the Administration to ensure Indonesia upholds its end of the bargain.”
National Oilseed Processors Association President and CEO Devin Mogler: “We commend the Trump Administration for prioritizing U.S. farmers in this trade deal with Indonesia, and specifically for including soybean meal purchases. NOPA members have invested over $6 billion to expand U.S. soybean crushing capacity by over 25% since 2023 levels to meet growing demand for food, feed and biofuel use, adding value to the crops our great U.S. farmers produce. Ensuring we have access to growing soybean meal markets like Indonesia ensures our farmers remain competitive relative to global competitors.”
Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper: “We’re grateful to President Trump and his team for ensuring U.S. agriculture and renewable fuels are prominently included in these framework agreements. These deals will ultimately help open important Asian markets and allow greater access for American farm products, renewable fuels, and co-products like distillers grains. This administration clearly understands the leading role American farmers and renewable fuel producers can play when it comes to feeding and fueling the world, and we salute President Trump’s efforts to secure fair and reciprocal agreements around the globe. Breaking down barriers to fair trade strengthens our rural economy and the United States as a whole.”
The Meat Institute: “The Meat Institute’s members celebrate @realdonaldtrump and @USTradeRep’s work on a deal with Indonesia opening up this important market for meat & poultry. We look forward to seeing the details of the deal & to continued efforts to remove remaining barriers to trade in other SE Asian markets.”
U.S. Dairy Export Council President and CEO Krysta Harden: “Yesterday’s announcement is an important step forward in advancing opportunities for U.S. dairy exporters. This deal is poised to strengthen our long-term partnership with Indonesia while giving U.S. dairy companies a better shot at competing fairly. While verification that Indonesia honors its commitments will be necessary, the removal of both tariff and nontariff barriers is precisely what our industry needs to create new momentum for U.S. dairy exports and deeper collaboration with a key Southeast Asian partner.”
U.S. Grains Council President and CEO Ryan LeGrand: “The U.S. Grains Council commends the Trump Administration on its historic trade deal with Indonesia, that will enhance trade for both countries and places a zero tariff on the products the Council represents. In the 2023-24 marketing year, Indonesia was the fourth largest importer for U.S. distillers dried grains with solubles at 1,024,000 metric tons. That translates into a nearly $299 million market, and we hope the deal announced today will not only help see those numbers increase but open doors wider to the full range of products we have to offer.”
U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom: “USMEF thanks USTR for its tireless efforts to negotiate a meaningful agreement with Indonesia, tackling many challenging issues. Indonesia is a market with incredible potential, in which the opportunity for U.S. beef is estimated at $250 million annually. But today, exports are minimal due to numerous trade barriers. We are encouraged to see that the highlights detailed in the U.S.-Indonesia joint statement include resolving key issues such as import licensing, the commodity balance policy, and Indonesia’s onerous plant-by-plant approval process. For both U.S. beef and U.S. pork, these longstanding restrictions have limited exports to Indonesia. Indonesian importers and consumers are demanding U.S. red meat and we look forward to the swift conclusion of these negotiations and expanded export opportunities.”
U.S. Wheat Associates President and CEO Mike Spier: “We are excited and grateful to track this wide-reaching government commitment that includes the agreement signed earlier this month between Indonesian flour millers and the U.S. wheat industry. We thank the Trump Administration, the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS) for their continued work on behalf of American wheat farmers.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS PANAMA CITY FELON OF DRUG TRAFFICKING AND ILLEGAL FIREARMS CHARGES

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

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jarrel Daniel Rivaz, 35, of Panama City, was found guilty by a federal jury of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon on Tuesday morning, July 22, 2025. The verdict was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Fulfilling the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from violent criminals and drug traffickers requires close collaboration between our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners like we saw in this case. I am deeply appreciative of the outstanding work of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF to get this criminal off our streets, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases to keep our communities safe from the predations of drug traffickers like this defendant.”

Evidence admitted at trial established that on December 21, 2023, during a search warrant executed at the defendant’s house in Panama City, law enforcement found and seized over 900 grams of cocaine, a large quantity of marijuana, two firearms, and ammunition. One of the firearms was found loaded in a locked shed in the same bag as some of the marijuana. Rivaz had previously been convicted of a felony drug trafficking offense in New York under the name “Gerald Walker.”

Sentencing is scheduled for October 16, 2025, at 10 a.m. in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II. Rivaz faces a minimum mandatory term of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum possible sentence of life.

The verdict was the result of a joint investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ward Narramore and Alicia Forbes.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

MIL Security OSI –

July 24, 2025

MIL-OSI: Northrim BanCorp Earns $11.8 Million, or $2.09 Per Diluted Share, in Second Quarter 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Northrim BanCorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:NRIM) (“Northrim” or the “Company”) today reported net income of $11.8 million, or $2.09 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2025, compared to $13.3 million, or $2.38 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2025, and $9.0 million, or $1.62 per diluted share, in the second quarter a year ago. The increase in second quarter 2025 profitability as compared to the second quarter a year ago was primarily the result of an increase in net interest income, higher purchased receivable income, and increased mortgage banking income, which were partially offset by a higher provision for credit losses, higher other operating expenses, and a higher provision for income taxes. Net interest income increased primarily due to higher loan balances and higher yields on earning assets. Purchased receivable income increased primarily due to the Company’s acquisition of Sallyport Commercial Finance, LLC (“Sallyport or SCF”), which was completed on October 31, 2024. Sallyport and its direct and indirect subsidiaries provide services and products related to purchased receivable factoring and asset-based lending in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Dividends per share in the second quarter of 2025 remained consistent with the first quarter of 2025 at $0.64 per share as compared to $0.61 per share in the second quarter of 2024.

“Strong loan growth, increasing asset yields, and stable funding costs drove record net interest income in the second quarter of this year,” said Mike Huston, Northrim’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We continue to attract new customers to Northrim and believe we have an opportunity to steadily increase our market share over the next few years.”

Second Quarter 2025 Highlights:

Net interest income in the second quarter of 2025 increased 7% to $33.6 million compared to $31.3 million in the first quarter of 2025 and increased 24% compared to $27.1 million in the second quarter of 2024.
Net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis (“NIMTE”)^* was 4.72% for the second quarter of 2025, up 11-basis points from the first quarter of 2025 and up 42-basis points from the second quarter a year ago.
Return on average assets (“ROAA”) was 1.48% and return on average equity (“ROAE”) was 16.37% for the second quarter of 2025 compared to ROAA of 1.76 and ROAE of 19.70 in the prior quarter and ROAA of 1.31% and ROAE of 14.84% for the second quarter of 2024.
Portfolio loans were $2.20 billion at June 30, 2025, up 4% from the preceding quarter and up 17% from a year ago, primarily due to new customer relationships and expanding market share, as well as retaining certain mortgages originated by Residential Mortgage, a subsidiary of Northrim Bank (the “Bank”). The Company sold $61 million in consumer mortgages in the second quarter of 2025 that were included in loans held for investment as of the end of 2024 to reduce the concentration of residential real estate loans and to provide additional liquidity for future commercial and construction loan growth.
Total deposits were $2.81 billion at June 30, 2025, up 1% from the preceding quarter, and up 14% from $2.46 billion a year ago. Non-interest bearing demand deposits increased 5% from the preceding quarter and increased 10% year-over-year to $777.9 million at June 30, 2025 and represent 28% of total deposits.
The average cost of interest-bearing deposits was 2.04% at June 30, 2025, up slightly from 2.01% at March 31, 2025 and down from 2.21% at June 30, 2024.
Mortgage loan originations were $277.1 million in the second quarter of 2025, up from $121.6 million in the first quarter of 2025 and up from $181.5 million in the second quarter a year ago. Mortgage loans funded for sale were $249.7 million in the second quarter of 2025, compared to $108.5 million in the first quarter of 2025 and $152.3 million in the second quarter of 2024.

Financial Highlights	Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	June 30, 2025			March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024
Total assets	$	3,243,760		$	3,140,960		$	3,041,869		$	2,963,392		$	2,821,668
Total portfolio loans	$	2,202,115		$	2,124,330		$	2,129,263		$	2,007,565		$	1,875,907
Total deposits	$	2,809,170		$	2,777,977		$	2,680,189		$	2,625,567		$	2,463,806
Total shareholders’ equity	$	290,219		$	279,756		$	267,116		$	260,050		$	247,200
Net income	$	11,778		$	13,324		$	10,927		$	8,825		$	9,020
Diluted earnings per share	$	2.09		$	2.38		$	1.95		$	1.57		$	1.62
Return on average assets		1.48	%		1.76	%		1.43	%		1.22	%		1.31	%
Return on average shareholders’ equity		16.37	%		19.70	%		16.32	%		13.69	%		14.84	%
NIM		4.66	%		4.55	%		4.41	%		4.29	%		4.24	%
NIMTE^*		4.72	%		4.61	%		4.47	%		4.35	%		4.30	%
Efficiency ratio		64.68	%		63.54	%		66.96	%		66.11	%		68.78	%
Total shareholders’ equity/total assets		8.95	%		8.91	%		8.78	%		8.78	%		8.76	%
Tangible common equity/tangible assets^*		7.50	%		7.41	%		7.23	%		8.28	%		8.24	%
Book value per share	$	52.55		$	50.67		$	48.41		$	47.27		$	44.93
Tangible book value per share^*	$	43.35		$	41.47		$	39.17		$	44.36		$	42.03
Dividends per share	$	0.64		$	0.64		$	0.62		$	0.62		$	0.61
Common stock outstanding		5,522,271			5,520,892			5,518,210			5,501,943			5,501,562

^* References to NIMTE, tangible book value per share, and tangible common equity to tangible common assets, (both of which exclude intangible assets) represent non-GAAP financial measures. Management has presented these non-GAAP measurements in this earnings release, because it believes these measures are useful to investors. See the end of this release for reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures.

Alaska Economic Update
(Note: sources for information included in this section are included on page 14.)

The Alaska Department of Labor (“DOL”) has reported Alaska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in May of 2025 was 4.7% compared to the U.S. rate of 4.2%. The rate has held steady in Alaska at 4.7% for eight consecutive months. The total number of payroll jobs in Alaska, not including uniformed military, increased 1.1% or 3,800 jobs between May of 2024 and May of 2025.

According to the DOL, the Oil and Gas sector had the largest growth rate in new jobs of 8.8% through May of this year compared to the prior year, up 700 direct jobs. The Construction sector added 700 positions for a year-over-year growth rate of 3.7% through May of 2025. The larger Health Care sector grew by 1,200 jobs for an annual growth rate of 2.9%. Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities added 600 jobs for a 2.3% growth rate over the same period. Professional and Business Services increased 500 jobs year-over-year through May of 2025, up 1.7%.

The Government sector grew by 200 jobs for 0.2% growth, adding 400 State positions while losing 200 Federal jobs in Alaska over the same period. Declining sectors between May 2024 and May 2025 were Information down 100 jobs or (-2.3%), Manufacturing (primarily seafood processing) shrinking 200 positions (-2.1%), Wholesale Trade lost 100 jobs (-1.5%) and Financial Activities, down 100 jobs (-0.9%).

Alaska’s seasonally adjusted personal income was $57.4 billion in the first quarter of 2025 according to the Federal Bureau of Economic Analysis (“BEA”). This was an annualized improvement in the first quarter of 6.4% for Alaska, compared to the national average of 6.7%. Alaska enjoyed an annual personal income improvement of 6% in 2024 compared to the U.S. increase of 5.4%, ranking Alaska 6^th best in the nation. The $885 million increase in personal income in the first quarter of 2025 in Alaska came from a $352 million increase in net earnings from wages, $440 million growth in government transfer receipts, and a $92 million increase in investment income.

Alaska’s Gross State Product (“GSP”) in the first quarter of 2025 reached $72 billion according to the BEA. Alaska’s inflation adjusted “real” GSP increased 1.5% in 2024 and decreased -1.8% annualized in the first quarter of 2025. The average U.S. GDP growth rate was 2.8% for 2025 and -0.5% in the first quarter of 2025. Alaska’s real GSP decrease in the first quarter of 2025 was primarily caused by a decrease in the Mining, Oil & Gas sector, somewhat offset by improvements in the Construction sector.

Alaska exported $5.9 billion in goods to foreign countries in 2024 according to the U.S. International Trade Administration. China is the largest importer of Alaska’s products at $1.5 billion, followed by Australia at $804 million, Japan at $674 million and South Korea at $634 million in 2024. Fish and related maritime products accounted for the largest volume at $2.1 billion, followed by minerals and ores at $2 billion, and primary metals at $992 million in 2024. Oil & Gas exports are $380 million because the majority of Alaska’s production is refined and consumed in the United States. Chief Credit Officer and Bank Economist Mark Edwards stated, “President Trump’s significant changes to international tariffs has created uncertainty in trade markets. At this time, it is unknown how each country will respond. Alaska’s natural resources are highly valued commodities throughout the world. If issues arise with one country, such as China, it is most likely that Alaska’s products will be redirected to other markets like Japan and South Korea or sold domestically in the United States. Canada is the largest long-term investor in Alaska’s mining industry. This involves significant fixed capital investments made over decades that are unlikely to shift dramatically in the short-run. Alaska’s Legislature just passed a bill HJR-11 with an approval vote of 33-4 titled, Recognizing and honoring the relationship between Canada and Alaska. It highlights the deeply interconnected friendship between Alaska and Canada culturally, economically, and militarily.”

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) for the U.S. increased 2.7% between June of 2024 and June of 2025. In Alaska, the rate of CPI increase was lower at 1.6% for the same time period. Food and beverage, housing costs, and medical care costs were the largest causes for inflation. Declining motor fuel prices, transportation, recreation and household furnishing costs have helped moderate inflationary pressures in Alaska.

The monthly average price of Alaska North Slope (“ANS”) crude oil has ranged between $76.39 a barrel in January of 2025 and $67.07 in May of the prior year. The June 2025 average was $72.62. The Alaska Department of Revenue (“DOR”) calculated ANS crude oil production was 461 thousand barrels per day (“bpd”) in Alaska’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Production rose to 469 thousand bpd in fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. In the Spring 2025 Revenue Forecast published March 12, 2025, the DOR expects production to continue to grow to 663 thousand bpd by fiscal year 2034. This is primarily a result of new production coming on-line in and around the NPR-A region west of Prudhoe Bay. A partnership between Santos and Repsol is constructing the new Pikka field and ConocoPhillips is developing the large new Willow field. There are also a number of smaller new fields in the ANS that are contributing to the State of Alaska’s production growth estimates.

The Alaska Permanent Fund is seeded annually by the oil wealth the State continues to save each year and has grown significantly over 40 years of successful investment. As of May 31, 2025 the fund’s value was $83.13 billion. According to the DOR it is scheduled to contribute $3.7 billion to Alaska General Fund in fiscal year 2025 for general government spending and to pay the annual dividend to Alaskan residents.

According to the Alaska Multiple Listing Services, the average sales price of a single family home in Anchorage rose 6.2% in 2024 to $510,064, following a 5.2% increase in 2023. This was the seventh consecutive year of price increases. Through June of 2025 prices have continued to increase on average 2.6% to $523,059.

The average sales price for single family homes in the Matanuska Susitna Borough rose 3.8% in 2024 to $412,859, after increasing 4% in 2023. This continues a trend of average price increases for more than a decade in the region. Through June of 2025 prices have continued to increase on average 6.9% to $441,463. These two markets represent where the vast majority of the Bank’s residential lending activity occurs.

The Alaska Multiple Listing Services reported a 3.4% increase in the number of units sold in Anchorage when comparing 2024 to 2023. The first six months of 2025 has seen a 4.8% increase in home sales compared to the first half of 2024 in Anchorage.

There was virtually no change in the number of homes sold in the Matanuska Susitna Borough, with only four fewer homes sold in 2024 than in 2023 or -0.2%. In the first six months of 2025 the number of units sold has increased 13.1% in the Matanuska Susitna Borough compared to the first half of 2024.

Northrim Bank sponsors the Alaskanomics blog to provide news, analysis, and commentary on Alaska’s economy. Join the conversation at Alaskanomics.com, or for more information on the Alaska economy, visit: www.northrim.com and click on the “Business Banking” link and then click “Learn.” Information from our website is not incorporated into, and does not form, a part of this earnings release.

Review of Income Statement

Consolidated Income Statement

In the second quarter of 2025, Northrim generated a ROAA of 1.48% and a ROAE of 16.37%, compared to 1.76% and 19.70%, respectively, in the first quarter of 2025 and 1.31% and 14.84%, respectively, in the second quarter a year ago.

Net Interest Income/Net Interest Margin

Net interest income increased 7% to $33.6 million in the first quarter of 2025 compared to $31.3 million in the first quarter of 2025 and increased 24% compared to $27.1 million in the second quarter of 2024. Interest expense on deposits increased to $10.3 million in the second quarter of 2025 compared to $9.9 million in the first quarter of 2025 and compared to $9.5 million in the second quarter of 2024.

NIMTE^* was 4.72% in the second quarter of 2025 up from 4.61% in the preceding quarter and 4.30% in the second quarter a year ago. NIMTE^* increased 42 basis points in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the second quarter of 2024 primarily due to a favorable change in the mix of earning-assets towards higher loan balances as a percentage of total earning-assets, higher yields on those assets as variable rate loans reset at higher rates which were only partially offset by an increase in borrowings. The weighted average interest rate for new loans booked in the second quarter of 2025 was 7.27% compared to 7.30% in the first quarter of 2025 and 7.90% in the second quarter a year ago. The yield on the investment portfolio in the second quarter of 2025 increased to 3.07% from 2.97% in the first quarter of 2025 and 2.82% in the second quarter of 2024. “We are continuing to see some benefits from the repricing of our loan portfolio and new production increasing our margin” said Jed Ballard, Chief Financial Officer. Northrim’s NIMTE^* continues to remain above the peer average of 3.26% posted by the S&P U.S. Small Cap Bank Index with total market capitalization between $250 million and $1 billion as of March 31, 2025.

Provision for Credit Losses

Northrim recorded a provision for credit losses of $2.0 million in the second quarter of 2025, which was comprised of a provision for credit losses on loans of $1.8 million, a $157,000 provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments, and a provision for credit losses on purchased receivables of $18,000. This compares to a benefit to the provision for credit losses of $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2025, which was comprised of a benefit to the provision for credit losses on loans of $1.1 million, a $322,000 benefit for credit losses on unfunded commitments, and a provision for credit losses on purchased receivables of $46,000. In the second quarter a year ago, Northrim recorded a benefit to the provision for credit losses of $120,000 which was comprised of a $134,000 provision for credit losses on loans and a $254,000 benefit to the provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments.

The increase to the provision for credit losses on loans in the second quarter of 2025 as compared to the prior quarter and the same quarter a year ago was primarily a result of increased loan balances as well as an increase in estimated loss rates due to less favorable economic forecasts and trends in qualitative factors. The increase to the provision for unfunded commitments in the second quarter of 2025 was primarily due to an increase in estimated loss rates which was only partially offset by changes in mix of unfunded commitments.

Nonperforming assets, net of government guarantees, decreased during the quarter to $11.9 million at June 30, 2025, compared to $12.3 million at March 31, 2025, and increased compared to $5.1 million at June 30, 2024. The increase in nonperforming assets, net of government guarantees at June 30, 2025 compared to June 30, 2024 is primarily the result of the acquisition of Sallyport in the fourth quarter of 2024.

The allowance for credit losses on loans was 290% of nonperforming loans, net of government guarantees, at the end of the second quarter of 2025, compared to 262% three months earlier and 365% a year ago.

Other Operating Income

In addition to home mortgage lending, Northrim has interests in other businesses that complement its core community banking activities, including purchased receivables financing and wealth management. Other operating income contributed $16.6 million, or 33% of total second quarter 2025 revenues, as compared to $13.0 million, or 29% of revenues in the first quarter of 2025, and $9.6 million, or 26% of revenues in the second quarter of 2024. The increase in other operating income in the second quarter of 2025 as compared to the second quarter of 2024 was primarily the result of increased purchased receivable income due to the Company’s acquisition of Sallyport on October 31, 2024. Mortgage banking income in the second quarter of 2025 increased as compared to the first quarter of 2025 and second quarter of 2024 due to a higher volume of mortgage activity. See further discussion regarding mortgage activity contained under “Home Mortgage Lending” below.

Other Operating Expenses

Operating expenses were $32.5 million in the second quarter of 2025, compared to $28.2 million in the first quarter of 2025, and $25.2 million in the second quarter of 2024. The increase in other operating expenses in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2025 was primarily due to an increase in salaries and other personnel expense, including $980,000 in higher mortgage commissions expense due to higher mortgage volume, $763,000 in higher salary expense, a $760,000 increase in group medical expenses, and increases in profit share expense and payroll taxes. Additionally, marketing expense increased due to timing of annual charitable contributions. The increase in total other operating expenses in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the second quarter a year ago was primarily due to an increase in salaries and other personnel expense, the increase in compensation expense for Sallyport acquisition payments, and an increase in data processing expense. Total other operating expense increased $2.1 million in the Specialty Finance segment in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the second quarter of 2024 due to the acquisition of Sallyport on October 31, 2024.

Income Tax Provision

In the second quarter of 2025, Northrim recorded $4.0 million in state and federal income tax expense for an effective tax rate of 25.3%, compared to $4.3 million, or 24.2% in the first quarter of 2025 and $2.5 million, or 21.9% in the second quarter a year ago. The increase in the tax rate in the second quarter of 2025 as compared to the first quarter of 2025 and second quarter of 2024 is primarily the result of a decrease in tax credits and tax exempt interest income as a percentage of pre-tax income in 2025 as compared to 2024.

Community Banking

Northrim is committed to meeting the needs of the diverse communities in which it operates. As a testament to that support, the Bank has branches in four regions of Alaska identified by the Federal Reserve as ‘distressed or underserved non-metropolitan middle-income geographies’.

Net interest income in the Community Banking segment totaled $30.0 million in the second quarter of 2025, compared to $28.2 million in the first quarter of 2025 and $24.3 million in the second quarter of 2024. Net interest income increased $5.7 million or 23% in the second quarter of 2025 as compared to the second quarter of 2024 mostly due to higher interest income on loans. This increase was only partially offset by lower interest income on investments and higher interest expense on deposits and borrowings.

The provision for credit losses in the Community Banking segment was $1.3 million in the second quarter of 2025 compared to a benefit to the provision for credit losses of $1.8 million in the first quarter of 2025 and a benefit to the provision for credit losses of $184,000 in the same quarter a year ago. The increase to the provision for credit losses in the Community Banking segment in the second quarter of 2025 as compared to the prior quarter and the same quarter a year ago was primarily a result of increased loan balances as well as an increase in estimated loss rates due to less favorable economic forecasts and trends in qualitative factors. In the first quarter of 2025, the Company recorded a net benefit for credit losses in the Community Banking segment primarily due to changes in the Company’s loss rate regression models for commercial, commercial real estate, and construction loans. These decreases in the provision were only partially offset by increases in estimated loss rates for management’s assessment of economic conditions and an increase for higher loan balances.

Other operating expenses in the Community Banking segment totaled $21.8 million in the second quarter of 2025, up $3.2 million or 17% from $18.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, and up $3.7 million or 20% from $18.1 million in the second quarter a year ago. The increase in the second quarter of 2025 as compared to the prior quarter and compared to the same quarter a year ago was primarily due to increases in salaries and other personnel expense, including $667,000 in higher salary expense, an $873,000 increase in group medical expenses, as well as increases in profit share expense and payroll taxes. Additionally, marketing expense increased due to timing of annual charitable contributions.

The following tables provide highlights of the Community Banking segment of Northrim:

	Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	June 30, 2025		March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024		September 30, 2024		June 30, 2024
Net interest income	$	29,971	$	28,151		$	27,643	$	25,928	$	24,318
(Benefit) provision for credit losses		1,319		(1,768	)		771		1,492		(184	)
Other operating income		3,268		2,703			2,535		3,507		2,451
Other operating expense		21,764		18,581			19,116		18,723		18,069
Income before provision for income taxes		10,156		14,041			10,291		9,220		8,884
Provision for income taxes		2,413		3,253			1,474		2,133		1,786
Net income	$	7,743	$	10,788		$	8,817	$	7,087	$	7,098
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted		5,611,558		5,608,102			5,597,889		5,583,055		5,558,580
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Community Banking	$	1.37	$	1.93		$	1.58	$	1.26	$	1.27

	Year-to-date
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	June 30, 2025			June 30, 2024
Net interest income	$	58,122		$	48,533
(Benefit) provision for credit losses		(449	)		13
Other operating income		5,971			4,919
Other operating expense		40,345			35,247
Income before provision for income taxes		24,197			18,192
Provision for income taxes		5,666			3,752
Net income Community Banking segment	$	18,531		$	14,440
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted		5,611,734			5,562,025
Diluted earnings per share	$	3.30		$	2.59

Home Mortgage Lending

During the second quarter of 2025, mortgage loans funded for sale were $249.7 million, compared to $108.5 million in the first quarter of 2025, and $152.3 million in the second quarter of 2024.

During the second quarter of 2025, the Bank purchased loans of $27.5 million from its subsidiary, Residential Mortgage, of which approximately half were jumbos, one-quarter were mortgages for second homes, and one-quarter were adjustable rate mortgages, with a weighted average interest rate of 6.71%, as compared to $13.1 million and 6.39% in the first quarter of 2025, and $29.2 million and 6.82% in the second quarter of 2024. Net interest income contributed $3.5 million to total Home Mortgage Lending revenue in the second quarter of 2025, up from $3.0 million in the prior quarter, and up from $2.8 million in the second quarter a year ago.

The Company reclassified $100 million in consumer mortgages held for investment to held for sale in the first quarter of 2025 and recorded unrealized losses of $1.2 million related to this portfolio in the first quarter of 2025. In the second quarter of 2025, the Company sold $61 million of the $100 million that was reclassified to loans held for sale in the first quarter of 2025 for a total realized loss of $545,000.

The Arizona, Colorado, and Pacific Northwest mortgage expansion markets were responsible for 22% of Residential Mortgage’s $216 million total production in the second quarter of 2025 (excluding the $61 million in mortgages sold noted above), 20% of $122 million total production in the first quarter of 2025, and 22% of $182 million total production in the second quarter of 2024.

The provision for credit losses in the Home Mortgage Lending segment was $639,000 in the second quarter of 2025 compared to a benefit to the provision for credit losses of $307,000 in the first quarter of 2025 and a provision for credit loses of $64,000 in the second quarter of 2024. The increase in the provision for credit losses in the second quarter of 2025 in the Home Mortgage Lending segment as compared to the prior quarter and the same quarter a year ago was primarily a result of increased loan balances. The benefit to the provision for loan losses in the Home Mortgage Lending segment in the first quarter of 2025 was primarily the result of the reclassification of $100 million in mortgage loans to loans held for sale, which was only partially offset by an increase in the provision for loan losses due to changes in the Company’s loss rate regression models for home mortgage loans.

The net change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights decreased mortgage banking income by $818,000 during the second quarter of 2025 compared to a decrease of $855,000 for the first quarter of 2025 and a decrease of $81,000 for the second quarter of 2024. Mortgage servicing revenue increased to $3.0 million in the second quarter of 2025 from $2.7 million in the prior quarter and increased from $2.2 million in the second quarter of 2024 due to an increase in production of Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) mortgages, which contribute to servicing revenues at origination. In the second quarter of 2025, the Company’s servicing portfolio increased $69.3 million compared to a $24.0 million increase in the first quarter of 2025, and an increase of $41.8 million in the second quarter of 2024.

As of June 30, 2025, Northrim serviced 6,458 loans in its $1.55 billion home-mortgage-servicing portfolio, a 5% increase compared to the $1.48 billion serviced as of the end of the first quarter of 2025, and a 41% increase from the $1.10 billion serviced a year ago.

The following tables provide highlights of the Home Mortgage Lending segment of Northrim:

	Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	June 30, 2025			March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024
Mortgage commitments	$	73,198		$	68,258		$	32,299		$	77,591		$	88,006

Mortgage loans funded for sale	$	249,680		$	108,499		$	162,530		$	209,960		$	152,339
Mortgage loans funded for investment		27,455			13,061			23,380			38,087			29,175
Total mortgage loans funded	$	277,135		$	121,560		$	185,910		$	248,047		$	181,514
Mortgage loan refinances to total fundings		10	%		11	%		11	%		6	%		6	%
Mortgage loans serviced for others	$	1,553,987		$	1,484,714		$	1,460,720		$	1,166,585		$	1,101,800

Net realized and unrealized gains on mortgage loans sold and held for sale	$	5,091		$	1,580		$	3,747		$	5,079		$	3,189
Change in fair value of mortgage loan commitments, net		(110	)		660			(665	)		60			390
Total production revenue		4,981			2,240			3,082			5,139			3,579
Mortgage servicing revenue		2,957			2,696			2,847			2,583			2,164
Change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights:
Due to changes in model inputs of assumptions¹		(355	)		(322	)		1,372			(566	)		239
Other²		(463	)		(533	)		(499	)		(402	)		(320	)
Total mortgage servicing revenue, net		2,139			1,841			3,720			1,615			2,083
Other mortgage banking revenue		280			170			238			293			222
Total mortgage banking income	$	7,400		$	4,251		$	7,040		$	7,047		$	5,884

Net interest income	$	3,507		$	3,046		$	3,280		$	2,941		$	2,775
Provision (benefit) for credit losses		639			(307	)		305			571			64
Mortgage banking income		7,400			4,251			7,040			7,047			5,884
Other operating expense		7,593			6,490			7,198			7,643			6,697
Income before provision for income taxes		2,675			1,114			2,817			1,774			1,898
Provision for income taxes		746			310			842			497			532
Net income	$	1,929		$	804		$	1,975		$	1,277		$	1,366

Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted		5,611,558			5,608,102			5,597,889			5,583,055			5,558,580
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Home Mortgage Lending	$	0.34		$	0.14		$	0.35		$	0.23		$	0.25

¹Principally reflects changes in discount rates and prepayment speed assumptions, which are primarily affected by changes in interest rates.
²Represents changes due to collection/realization of expected cash flows over time.

	Year-to-date
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	June 30, 2025			June 30, 2024
Mortgage loans funded for sale	$	358,179		$	236,663
Mortgage loans funded for investment		40,516			46,578
Total mortgage loans funded	$	398,695		$	283,241
Mortgage loan refinances to total fundings		10	%		6	%

Net realized and unrealized gains on mortgage loans sold and held for sale	$	6,671		$	5,168
Change in fair value of mortgage loan commitments, net		550			777
Total production revenue		7,221			5,945
Mortgage servicing revenue		5,653			3,725
Change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights:
Due to changes in model inputs of assumptions¹		(677	)		528
Other²		(996	)		(634	)
Total mortgage servicing revenue, net		3,980			3,619
Other mortgage banking revenue		450			351
Total mortgage banking income	$	11,651		$	9,915

Net interest income	$	6,553		$	5,007
Provision for credit losses		332			16
Mortgage banking income		11,651			9,915
Other operating expense		14,083			12,783
Income before provision for income taxes		3,789			2,123
Provision for income taxes		1,056			595
Net income Home Mortgage Lending segment	$	2,733		$	1,528

Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted		5,611,734			5,562,025
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.48		$	0.28

Specialty Finance

The Company’s Specialty Finance segment includes Northrim Funding Services and Sallyport. Northrim Funding Services is a division of the Bank and has offered factoring solutions to small businesses since 2004. Sallyport is a leading provider of factoring, asset-based lending and alternative working capital solutions to small and medium sized enterprises in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom that the Company acquired on October 31, 2024 in an all cash transaction valued at approximately $53.9 million. The composition of revenues for the Specialty Finance segment are primarily purchased receivable income, but also includes interest income from loans and other fee income.

The acquisition of Sallyport included $1.1 million in one-time deal related costs which are reflected in other operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2024 in the tables below. Total pre-tax income for Sallyport for the second quarter of 2025 was $1.3 million compared to $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2025 and $945,000 for the two months of operations in the fourth quarter of 2024, excluding transaction costs.

Average purchased receivables and loan balances at Sallyport were $71.0 million for the second quarter of 2025 with a yield of 27.23% compared to average balances of $59.9 million for the first quarter of 2025 and a yield of 35.8%. The yield in the first quarter of 2025 included the recognition of $899,000 in nonaccrual fee income collected during the quarter related to two nonperforming receivables and the collection of a $350,000 line termination fee. The yield excluding these items for the first quarter of 2025 was 27.4%.

The following tables provide highlights of the Specialty Finance segment of Northrim:

	Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	June 30, 2025		March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024		June 30, 2024
Purchased receivable income	$	5,897	$	6,150		$	3,526		$	1,033	$	1,242
Other operating income		75		(64	)		(68	)		—		—
Interest income		782		596			407			158		170
Total revenue		6,754		6,682			3,865			1,191		1,412
Provision for credit losses		18		666			125			—		—
Compensation expense – SCF acquisition payments		600		600			—			—		—
Other operating expense		2,531		2,500			3,063			362		428
Interest expense		668		496			489			185		210
Total expense		3,817		4,262			3,677			547		638
Income before provision for income taxes		2,937		2,420			188			644		774
Provision for income taxes		831		688			53			183		218
Net income Specialty Finance segment	$	2,106	$	1,732		$	135		$	461	$	556
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted		5,611,558		5,608,102			5,597,889			5,583,055		5,558,580
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Specialty Finance	$	0.38	$	0.31		$	0.02		$	0.08	$	0.10

	Year-to-date
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	June 30, 2025		June 30, 2024
Purchased receivable income	$	12,047	$	2,587
Other operating income		11		—
Interest income		1,378		382
Total revenue		13,436		2,969
Provision for credit losses		684		—
Compensation expense – SCF acquisition payments		1,200		—
Other operating expense		5,031		802
Interest expense		1,164		422
Total expense		8,079		1,224
Income before provision for income taxes		5,357		1,745
Provision for income taxes		1,519		494
Net income Specialty Finance segment	$	3,838	$	1,251
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted		5,611,734		5,562,025
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.69	$	0.23

Balance Sheet Review

Northrim’s total assets were $3.24 billion at June 30, 2025, up 3% from the preceding quarter and up 15% from a year ago. Northrim’s loan-to-deposit ratio was 78% at June 30, 2025, up from 76% at both March 31, 2025 and June 30, 2024.

At June 30, 2025, liquid assets, investments, and loans maturing within one year were $1.15 billion and our funds available for borrowing under our existing lines of credit were $507.9 million. Given these sources of liquidity and our expectations for customer demands for cash and for our operating cash needs, we believe our sources of liquidity to be sufficient for the foreseeable future.

Average interest-earning assets were $2.89 billion in the second quarter of 2025, up 4% from $2.78 billion in the first quarter of 2025 and up 12% from $2.57 billion in the second quarter a year ago. The average yield on interest-earning assets was 6.27% in the second quarter of 2025, up from 6.10% in the preceding quarter and up from 5.83% in the second quarter of 2024.

Average investment securities decreased to $515.9 million in the second quarter of 2025, compared to $523.8 million in the first quarter of 2025 and $640.0 million in the second quarter a year ago. The average net tax equivalent yield on the securities portfolio was 3.07% for the second quarter of 2025, up from 2.97% in the preceding quarter and up from 2.82% in the year ago quarter. The average estimated duration of the investment portfolio at June 30, 2025, was approximately 2.4 years compared to approximately 2.5 years at June 30, 2024. As of June 30, 2025, $55.7 million of available for sale securities with a weighted average yield of 1.40% are scheduled to mature in the next six months, $106.8 million with a weighted average yield of 1.28% are scheduled to mature in six months to one year, and $145.0 million with a weighted average yield of 1.96% are scheduled to mature in the following year, representing a total of $307.5 million or 11% of earning assets that are scheduled to mature in the next 24 months.

Total unrealized losses, net of tax, on available for sale securities decreased by $1.9 million in the second quarter of 2025 resulting in total unrealized loss, net of tax, of $3.6 million compared to $5.5 million at March 31, 2025, and $15.2 million a year ago. The average maturity of the available for sale securities with the majority of the unrealized loss is 1.3 years. Total unrealized losses on held to maturity securities were $711,000 at June 30, 2025, compared to $1.1 million at March 31, 2025, and $3.0 million a year ago.

Average interest bearing deposits in other banks decreased to $27.2 million in the second quarter of 2025 from $38.0 million in the first quarter of 2025 and increased from $17.4 million in the second quarter of 2024, as cash was used to fund loan growth and provide liquidity.

Loans held for sale decreased to $127.1 million at June 30, 2025, compared to $159.6 million at March 31, 2025, largely due to the sale of $61 million consumer mortgage loans in the second quarter of 2025 that had been reclassified to loans held for sale from portfolio loans in the first quarter of 2025, and increased from $85.9 million a year ago, due to higher loan production by Residential Mortgage.

Portfolio loans were $2.20 billion at June 30, 2025, up 4% from the preceding quarter and up 17% from a year ago. Portfolio loans, excluding consumer mortgage loans, were $2.00 billion at June 30, 2025, up $59.1 million or 3% from the preceding quarter and up 21% from a year ago. This increase in the second quarter of 2025 was diversified throughout the loan portfolio including consumer mortgage loans increasing by $19 million, construction loans increasing by $31.2 million, commercial real estate owner-occupied loans increasing $17.1 million, and nonowner-occupied commercial real estate and multi-family loans increasing by $6.5 million from the preceding quarter. These increases were partially offset by a $3.8 million decrease in commercial loans. Average portfolio loans in the second quarter of 2025 were $2.17 billion, which was consistent with the preceding quarter after the sale of $61 million in consumer mortgage loans, and up 18% from a year ago. Yields on average portfolio loans in the second quarter of 2025 increased to 6.99% from 6.89% in the first quarter and increased from 6.87% in the second quarter of 2024. The yield on new portfolio loans, excluding consumer mortgage loans, was 7.45% in the second quarter of 2025 as compared to 7.43% in the first quarter of 2025 and 8.26% in the second quarter of 2024.

Northrim’s loans and credit lines are subject to approval procedures and amount limitations. These limitations apply to the borrower’s total outstanding indebtedness and commitments to us, including the indebtedness of any guarantor. Generally, Northrim is permitted to make loans to one borrower of up to 15% of the unimpaired capital and surplus of the Bank. The legal lending limit was $39.4 million at June 30, 2025. At June 30, 2025, Northrim had 22 relationships totaling $504.0 million in portfolio loans whose total direct and indirect commitments were greater than 50% of the legal lending limit.

Alaskans continue to account for substantially all of Northrim’s deposit base. Total deposits were $2.81 billion at June 30, 2025, up 1% from $2.78 billion at March 31, 2025, and up 14% from $2.46 billion a year ago. “The increase in deposits in the second quarter of 2025 was consistent with our customers’ normal business cycles which typically result in increases in deposit balances in the second and third quarters and decreases in the first and fourth quarters,” said Ballard. At June 30, 2025, 75% of total deposits were held in business accounts and 25% of deposit balances were held in consumer accounts. Northrim had approximately 34,000 deposit customers with an average balance of $60,000 as of June 30, 2025. Northrim had 27 customers with balances over $10 million as of June 30, 2025, which accounted for $731.1 million, or 27%, of total deposits. Demand deposits increased by 5% from the prior quarter and increased 10% from the prior year to $777.9 million at June 30, 2025. Demand deposits were 28% of total deposits at June 30, 2025 up from 27% at March 31, 2025 and were down from 29% of total deposits at June 30, 2024. Average interest-bearing deposits were up 1% to $2.03 billion with an average cost of 2.04% in the second quarter of 2025, compared to $2.00 billion and an average cost of 2.01% in the first quarter of 2025, and up 18% compared to $1.73 billion and an average cost of 2.21% in the second quarter of 2024. Uninsured deposits totaled $1.02 billion or 36% of total deposits as of June 30, 2025 compared to $1.08 billion or 40% of total deposits as of December 31, 2024.

Shareholders’ equity was $290.2 million, or $52.55 book value per share, at June 30, 2025, compared to $279.8 million, or $50.67 book value per share, at March 31, 2025 and $247.2 million, or $44.93 book value per share, a year ago. Tangible book value per share^* was $43.35 at June 30, 2025, compared to $41.47 at March 31, 2025, and $42.03 per share a year ago. The increase in shareholders’ equity in the second quarter of 2025 as compared to the first quarter of 2025 was largely the result of earnings of $11.8 million and an increase in the fair value of the available for sale securities portfolio, which increased $1.9 million, net of tax, which were only partially offset by dividends paid of $3.6 million. The Company did not repurchase any shares of common stock in the second quarter of 2025 and currently has no plans to repurchase shares this year. Tangible common equity to tangible assets^* was 7.50% as of June 30, 2025, compared to 7.41% as of March 31, 2025 and 8.24% as of June 30, 2024. Northrim continues to maintain capital levels in excess of the requirements to be categorized as “well-capitalized” with Tier 1 Capital to Risk Adjusted Assets of 9.80% at June 30, 2025, compared to 9.76% at March 31, 2025, and 11.68% at June 30, 2024.

Asset Quality

Northrim believes it has a consistent lending approach throughout economic cycles, which emphasizes appropriate loan-to-value ratios, adequate debt coverage ratios, and competent management.

Nonperforming assets (“NPAs”) net of government guarantees were $11.9 million at June 30, 2025, down from $12.3 million at March 31, 2025 and up from $5.1 million a year ago. Of the NPAs at June 30, 2025, $4.2 million are attributable to the Community Banking segment and $7.5 million are attributable to the Specialty Finance segment.

Net adversely classified loans were $35.8 million at June 30, 2025, as compared to $20.4 million at March 31, 2025, and $7.1 million a year ago. Adversely classified loans are loans that Northrim has classified as substandard, doubtful, and loss, net of government guarantees. The increase in adversely classified loans, net of government guarantees, at June 30, 2025 as compared to the prior quarter is mostly attributable to two commercial relationships totaling $16.0 million. Net loan charge-offs were $140,000 in the second quarter of 2025, compared to net loan recoveries of $34,000 in the first quarter of 2025, and net loan recoveries of $26,000 in the second quarter of 2024. Additionally, Northrim had 13 loan modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty totaling $3.3 million, net of government guarantees that had been modified in the last twelve months as of June 30, 2025.

Northrim had $141.2 million, or 6% of portfolio loans, in the Healthcare sector, $127.2 million, or 6% of portfolio loans, in the Tourism sector, $121.0 million, or 5% of portfolio loans, in the Accommodations sector, $93.4 million, or 4% of portfolio loans, in the Retail sector, $84.2 million, or 4% of portfolio loans, in the Aviation (non-tourism) sector, $76.2 million, or 3% of portfolio loans, in the Fishing sector, and $59.5 million, or 3% in the Restaurants and Breweries sector as of June 30, 2025.

Northrim estimates that $105.9 million, or approximately 5% of portfolio loans, had direct exposure to the oil and gas industry in Alaska, as of June 30, 2025, and $1.5 million of these loans are adversely classified. As of June 30, 2025, Northrim has an additional $76.9 million in unfunded commitments to companies with direct exposure to the oil and gas industry in Alaska, and no unfunded commitments on adversely classified loans. Northrim defines direct exposure to the oil and gas sector as loans to borrowers that provide oilfield services and other companies that have been identified as significantly reliant upon activity in Alaska related to the oil and gas industry, such as lodging, equipment rental, transportation and other logistics services specific to this industry.

About Northrim BanCorp

Northrim BanCorp, Inc. is the parent company of Northrim Bank, an Alaska-based community bank with 20 branches throughout the state and differentiates itself with its detailed knowledge of Alaska’s economy and its “Customer First Service” philosophy. The Bank has two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Sallyport Commercial Finance, LLC, a specialty finance company and Residential Mortgage Holding Company, LLC, a regional home mortgage company. Pacific Wealth Advisors, LLC is an affiliated company.

www.northrim.com

Forward-Looking Statement

This release may contain “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined for purposes of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are, in effect, management’s attempt to predict future events, and thus are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s views only as of the date hereof. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, regarding our financial position, business strategy, management’s plans and objectives for future operations are forward-looking statements. When used in this report, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” and “intend” and words or phrases of similar meaning, as they relate to Northrim and its management are intended to help identify forward-looking statements. Although we believe that management’s expectations as reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure readers that those expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements, are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from our expectations as indicated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include: descriptions of Northrim’s and Sallyport’s financial condition, results of operations, asset based lending volumes, asset and credit quality trends and profitability and statements about the expected financial benefits and other effects of the acquisition of Sallyport by Northrim Bank; expected cost savings, synergies and other financial benefits from the acquisition of Sallyport by Northrim Bank might not be realized within the expected time frames and costs or difficulties relating to integration matters might be greater than expected; the ability of Northrim and Sallyport to execute their respective business plans; potential further increases in interest rates; the value of securities held in our investment portfolio; the impact of the results of government initiatives, including tariffs, on the regulatory landscape, natural resource extraction industries, and capital markets; the impact of declines in the value of commercial and residential real estate markets, high unemployment rates, inflationary pressures and slowdowns in economic growth; changes in banking regulation or actions by bank regulators; potential further increases in inflation, supply-chain constraints, and potential geopolitical instability, including the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East; financial stress on borrowers (consumers and businesses) as a result of higher rates or an uncertain economic environment; the general condition of, and changes in, the Alaska economy; our ability to maintain or expand our market share or net interest margin; the sufficiency of our allowance for credit losses and the accuracy of the assumptions or estimates used in preparing our financial statements, including those related to current expected credit losses accounting guidance; our ability to maintain asset quality; our ability to implement our marketing and growth strategies; our ability to identify and address cyber-security risks, including security breaches, “denial of service attacks,” “hacking,” and identity theft; disease outbreaks; and our ability to execute our business plan. Further, actual results may be affected by competition on price and other factors with other financial institutions; customer acceptance of new products and services; the regulatory environment in which we operate; and general trends in the local, regional and national banking industry and economy. In addition, there are risks inherent in the banking industry relating to collectability of loans and changes in interest rates. Many of these risks, as well as other risks that may have a material adverse impact on our operations and business, are identified in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and from time to time are disclosed in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. However, you should be aware that these factors are not an exhaustive list, and you should not assume these are the only factors that may cause our actual results to differ from our expectations. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release, and Northrim does not undertake any obligation to release revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or conditions after the date of this release.
References:

https://www.bea.gov/

http://almis.labor.state.ak.us/

http://www.tax.alaska.gov/programs/oil/prevailing/ans.aspx

http://www.tax.state.ak.us/

https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/consumerpriceindex_anchorage.htm

https://www.alaskarealestate.com/MLSMember/RealEstateStatistics.aspx

https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/34?Hsid=HJR011C

https://www.trade.gov/data-visualization/tradestats-express-trade-partner-state

https://tax.alaska.gov/programs/programs/reports/RSB.aspx?Year=2025&Type=Spring

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https://www.capitaliq.spglobal.com/web/client?auth=inherit&overridecdc=1&#markets/indexFinancials

Contact:	Mike Huston, President, CEO, and COO
	(907) 261-8750
	Jed Ballard, Chief Financial Officer
	(907) 261-3539

Income Statement
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	Three Months Ended								Year-to-date
(Unaudited)	June 30,		March 31,			June 30,			June 30,		June 30,
		2025		2025			2024			2025		2024
Interest Income:
Interest and fees on loans	$	40,519	$	37,470		$	32,367		$	77,989	$	62,817
Interest on portfolio investments		3,765		3,675			4,310			7,440		8,830
Interest on deposits in banks		515		416			232			931		1,070
Total interest income		44,799		41,561			36,909			86,360		72,717
Interest Expense:
Interest expense on deposits		10,304		9,935			9,476			20,239		18,656
Interest expense on borrowings		903		329			380			1,232		561
Total interest expense		11,207		10,264			9,856			21,471		19,217
Net interest income		33,592		31,297			27,053			64,889		53,500

Provision (benefit) for credit losses		1,976		(1,409	)		(120	)		567		29
Net interest income after provision for credit losses		31,616		32,706			27,173			64,322		53,471

Other Operating Income:
Mortgage banking income		7,400		4,251			5,884			11,651		9,915
Purchased receivable income		5,897		6,100			1,242			12,047		2,587
Bankcard fees		1,153		1,074			1,105			2,227		2,022
Service charges on deposit accounts		726		677			572			1,403		1,121
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable equity securities		78		(50	)		(60	)		28		254
Other income		1,386		988			834			2,324		1,522
Total other operating income		16,640		13,040			9,577			29,680		17,421

Other Operating Expense:
Salaries and other personnel expense		20,854		17,223			16,627			38,077		32,044
Data processing expense		3,366		3,104			2,601			6,470		5,260
Occupancy expense		2,104		1,889			1,843			3,993		3,805
Professional and outside services		1,113		1,115			726			2,228		1,481
Marketing expense		1,042		672			690			1,714		1,203
Insurance expense		756		1,017			692			1,773		1,471
Compensation expense – SCF acquisition payments		600		600			—			1,200		—
OREO expense, net rental income and gains on sale		2		3			2			5		(389	)
Other expense		2,651		2,548			2,013			5,199		3,957
Total other operating expense		32,488		28,171			25,194			60,659		48,832

Income before provision for income taxes		15,768		17,575			11,556			33,343		22,060
Provision for income taxes		3,990		4,251			2,536			8,241		4,841
Net income	$	11,778	$	13,324		$	9,020		$	25,102	$	17,219

Basic EPS	$	2.13	$	2.41		$	1.64		$	4.54	$	3.13
Diluted EPS	$	2.09	$	2.38		$	1.62		$	4.47	$	3.10
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic		5,521,811		5,519,998			5,500,588			5,520,905		5,500,083
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted		5,611,558		5,608,102			5,558,580			5,611,734		5,562,025

Balance Sheet
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)	June 30,			March 31,			June 30,
		2025			2025			2024

Assets:
Cash and due from banks	$	43,734		$	29,671		$	33,364
Interest bearing deposits in other banks		97,549			35,852			21,058
Investment securities available for sale, at fair value		429,421			463,096			584,964
Investment securities held to maturity		36,750			36,750			36,750
Marketable equity securities, at fair value		8,747			8,669			12,381
Investment in Federal Home Loan Bank stock		8,343			5,342			4,929
Loans held for sale		127,116			159,603			85,926

Portfolio loans		2,202,115			2,124,330			1,875,907
Allowance for credit losses, loans		(22,585	)		(20,922	)		(17,694	)
Net portfolio loans		2,179,530			2,103,408			1,858,213
Purchased receivables, net		109,098			95,489			25,722
Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value		27,506			26,814			21,077
Other real estate owned, net		—			—			—
Premises and equipment, net		36,501			37,070			40,393
Lease right of use asset		7,033			7,632			8,244
Goodwill and intangible assets		50,824			50,824			15,967
Other assets		81,608			80,740			72,680
Total assets	$	3,243,760		$	3,140,960		$	2,821,668

Liabilities:
Demand deposits	$	777,948		$	742,560		$	704,471
Interest-bearing demand		1,196,048			1,187,465			906,010
Savings deposits		248,141			256,650			238,156
Money market deposits		196,166			193,842			195,159
Time deposits		390,867			397,460			420,010
Total deposits		2,809,170			2,777,977			2,463,806
Other borrowings		63,026			13,136			43,961
Junior subordinated debentures		10,310			10,310			10,310
Lease liability		7,077			7,682			8,269
Other liabilities		63,958			52,099			48,122
Total liabilities		2,953,541			2,861,204			2,574,468

Shareholders’ Equity:
Total shareholders’ equity		290,219			279,756			247,200
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	3,243,760		$	3,140,960		$	2,821,668

Additional Financial Information
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

Composition of Portfolio Loans
	June 30, 2025					March 31, 2025					December 31, 2024					September 30, 2024					June 30, 2024
	Balance			% of total		Balance			% of total		Balance			% of total		Balance			% of total		Balance			% of total
Commercial loans	$	569,753		27	%	$	573,593		27	%	$	518,148		24	%	$	492,414		24	%	$	495,781		26	%
Commercial real estate:
Owner occupied properties		447,561		20	%		430,442		20	%		420,060		20	%		412,827		20	%		383,832		20	%
Nonowner occupied and
multifamily properties		696,766		31	%		690,277		32	%		619,431		29	%		584,302		31	%		551,130		30	%
Residential real estate:
1-4 family properties
secured by first liens		206,905		9	%		188,219		9	%		270,535		13	%		248,514		12	%		222,026		12	%
1-4 family properties
secured by junior liens &
revolving secured by first liens		60,118		3	%		53,836		3	%		48,857		2	%		45,262		2	%		41,258		2	%
1-4 family construction		36,005		2	%		34,017		2	%		39,789		2	%		39,794		2	%		29,510		2	%
Construction loans		187,442		8	%		156,211		7	%		214,068		10	%		185,362		9	%		154,009		8	%
Consumer loans		7,570		—	%		7,424		—	%		7,562		—	%		7,836		—	%		6,679		—	%
Subtotal		2,212,120					2,134,019					2,138,450					2,016,311					1,884,225
Unearned loan fees, net		(10,005	)				(9,689	)				(9,187	)				(8,746	)				(8,318	)
Total portfolio loans	$	2,202,115				$	2,124,330				$	2,129,263				$	2,007,565				$	1,875,907

Composition of Deposits
	June 30, 2025				March 31, 2025				December 31, 2024				September 30, 2024				June 30, 2024
	Balance		% of total		Balance		% of total		Balance		% of total		Balance		% of total		Balance		% of total
Demand deposits	$	777,948	28	%	$	742,560	27	%	$	706,225	27	%	$	763,595	29	%	$	704,471	29	%
Interest-bearing demand		1,196,048	42	%		1,187,465	43	%		1,108,404	41	%		979,238	37	%		906,010	36	%
Savings deposits		248,141	9	%		256,650	9	%		250,900	9	%		245,043	9	%		238,156	10	%
Money market deposits		196,166	7	%		193,842	7	%		196,290	7	%		204,821	8	%		195,159	8	%
Time deposits		390,867	14	%		397,460	14	%		418,370	16	%		435,870	17	%		420,010	17	%
Total deposits	$	2,809,170			$	2,777,977			$	2,680,189			$	2,628,567			$	2,463,806

Additional Financial Information
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

Asset Quality	June 30,		March 31,		June 30,
		2025		2025		2024
Nonaccrual loans – Community Banking	$	4,180	$	4,274	$	4,233
Nonaccrual loans – Home Mortgage Lending		197		221		253
Nonaccrual loans – Specialty Finance		3,484		3,573		344
Nonaccrual loans – Total		7,861		8,068		4,830
Loans 90 days past due and accruing – Community Banking		—		—		17
Loans 90 days past due and accruing – Total		—		—		17
Total nonperforming loans – Community Banking		4,180		4,274		4,250
Total nonperforming loans – Home Mortgage Lending		197		221		253
Total nonperforming loans – Specialty Finance		3,484		3,573		344
Total nonperforming loans – Total		7,861		8,068		4,847
Nonperforming loans guaranteed by gov’t – Community Banking		70		80		—
Nonperforming loans guaranteed by gov’t – Total		70		80		—
Net nonperforming loans – Community Banking		4,110		4,194		4,250
Net nonperforming loans – Home Mortgage Lending		197		221		253
Net nonperforming loans – Specialty Finance		3,484		3,573		344
Net nonperforming loans – Total		7,791		7,988		4,847

Repossessed assets – Community Banking		50		297		297
Repossessed assets – Total		50		297		297

Nonperforming purchased receivables – Specialty Finance		4,017		4,007		—

Net nonperforming assets – Community Banking		4,160		4,491		4,547
Net nonperforming assets – Home Mortgage Lending		197		221		253
Net nonperforming assets – Specialty Finance		7,501		7,580		344
Net nonperforming assets – Total	$	11,858	$	12,292	$	5,144

Adversely classified loans, net of gov’t guarantees – Community Banking	$	32,128	$	16,592	$	6,006
Adversely classified loans, net of gov’t guarantees – Home Mortgage Lending		223		252		718
Adversely classified loans, net of gov’t guarantees – Specialty Finance		3,484		3,573		344
Adversely classified loans, net of gov’t guarantees – Total	$	35,835	$	20,417	$	7,068

Special mention loans, net of gov’t guarantees – Community Banking	$	3,966	$	14,496	$	8,902
Special mention loans, net of gov’t guarantees – Home Mortgage Lending		790		637		—
Special mention loans, net of gov’t guarantees – Total	$	4,756	$	15,133	$	8,902

Asset Quality, Continued	June 30,				March 31,				June 30,
		2025				2025				2024
Nonperforming loans, net of government guarantees / portfolio loans		0.35		%		0.38		%		0.26		%
Nonperforming loans, net of government guarantees / portfolio loans,
net of government guarantees		0.38		%		0.40		%		0.28		%
Nonperforming assets, net of government guarantees / total assets		0.37		%		0.39		%		0.18		%
Nonperforming assets, net of government guarantees / total assets
net of government guarantees		0.38		%		0.41		%		0.19		%

Loans 30-89 days past due and accruing, net of government guarantees /								%
portfolio loans		0.06		%		0.04		%		0.03		%
Loans 30-89 days past due and accruing, net of government guarantees /
portfolio loans, net of government guarantees		0.06		%		0.04		%		0.04		%

Allowance for credit losses for loans / portfolio loans		1.03		%		0.98		%		0.94		%
Allowance for credit losses for loans / portfolio loans, net of gov’t guarantees		1.10		%		1.06		%		1.01		%
Allowance for credit losses for loans / nonperforming loans, net of
government guarantees		290		%		262		%		365		%

Gross loan charge-offs for the quarter – Community Banking	$3				$50				$—
Gross loan charge-offs for the quarter – Specialty Finance		152				—				—
Gross loan charge-offs for the quarter – Total		155				50				—

Gross loan recoveries for the quarter – Community Banking		(15	)			(84	)			(26	)
Gross loan recoveries for the quarter – Home Mortgage Lending		—				—				—
Gross loan recoveries for the quarter – Specialty Finance		—				—				—
Gross loan recoveries for the quarter – Total	($15		)		($84		)		($26		)

Net loan (recoveries) charge-offs for the quarter – Community Banking	($12		)		($34		)		($26		)
Net loan (recoveries) charge-offs for the quarter – Specialty Finance		152				—				—
Net loan (recoveries) charge-offs for the quarter – Total	$140				($34		)		($26		)

Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) year-to-date – Community Banking	($46		)		($34		)		($68		)
Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) year-to-date – Specialty Finance		152				—				—
Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) year-to-date – Total	$106				($34		)		($68		)

Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) for the quarter / average loans, for the quarter		0.01		%		—		%		—		%

Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) year-to-date / average loans,
year-to-date annualized		0.01		%		(0.01	)	%		(0.01	)	%

Allowance for credit losses for purchased receivables / purchased receivables		3.05		%		3.72		%		—		%

Net purchased receivable charge-offs (recoveries) for the quarter	$281				$—				$—

Net purchased receivable charge-offs (recoveries) year-to-date	$281				$—				$—

Net purchased receivable charge-offs (recoveries) for the quarter /
average purchased receivables, for the quarter		0.27		%	NA				NA

Net purchased receivable charge-offs (recoveries) year-to-date / average
purchased receivables, year-to-date annualized		0.61		%	NA				NA

Additional Financial Information
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

Average Balances, Yields, and Rates
	Three Months Ended
	June 30, 2025					March 31, 2025					June 30, 2024
				Average					Average					Average
	Average			Tax Equivalent		Average			Tax Equivalent		Average			Tax Equivalent
	Balance			Yield/Rate		Balance			Yield/Rate		Balance			Yield/Rate
Assets
Interest bearing deposits in other banks	$	27,216		7.60	%	$	37,969		4.44	%	$	17,352		5.27	%
Portfolio investments		515,916		3.07	%		523,753		2.97	%		639,980		2.82	%
Loans held for sale		173,675		6.50	%		46,223		5.86	%		65,102		6.08	%
Portfolio loans		2,172,482		6.99	%		2,173,425		6.89	%		1,845,832		6.87	%
Total interest-earning assets		2,889,289		6.27	%		2,781,370		6.10	%		2,568,266		5.83	%
Nonearning assets		306,206					293,415					204,509
Total assets	$	3,195,495				$	3,074,785				$	2,772,775

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Interest-bearing deposits	$	2,029,100		2.04	%	$	2,002,594		2.01	%	$	1,725,013		2.21	%
Borrowings		86,404		4.14	%		37,081		3.55	%		38,390		3.92	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities		2,115,504		2.12	%		2,039,675		2.04	%		1,763,403		2.25	%

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits		737,112					697,534					706,339
Other liabilities		54,320					63,348					58,549
Shareholders’ equity		288,559					274,228					244,484
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	3,195,495				$	3,074,785				$	2,772,775
Net spread				4.15	%				4.06	%				3.58	%
NIM				4.66	%				4.55	%				4.24	%
NIMTE^*				4.72	%				4.61	%				4.30	%
Cost of funds				1.57	%				1.52	%				1.60	%
Average portfolio loans to average
interest-earning assets		75.19	%				78.14	%				71.87	%
Average portfolio loans to average total deposits		78.54	%				80.49	%				75.92	%
Average non-interest deposits to average
total deposits		26.65	%				25.83	%				29.05	%
Average interest-earning assets to average
interest-bearing liabilities		136.58	%				136.36	%				145.64	%

Additional Financial Information
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

Average Balances, Yields, and Rates
	Year-to-date
	June 30, 2025					June 30, 2024
				Average					Average
	Average			Tax Equivalent		Average			Tax Equivalent
	Balance			Yield/Rate		Balance			Yield/Rate
Assets
Interest bearing deposits in other banks	$	32,563		5.77	%	$	39,457		5.36	%
Portfolio investments		519,813		3.02	%		655,458		2.82	%
Loans held for sale		110,301		6.35	%		48,868		6.10	%
Portfolio loans		2,172,950		6.94	%		1,819,629		6.81	%
Total interest-earning assets		2,835,627		6.19	%		2,563,412		5.76	%
Nonearning assets		299,848					202,819
Total assets	$	3,135,475				$	2,766,231

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Interest-bearing deposits	$	2,015,920		2.02	%	$	1,728,468		2.17	%
Borrowings		61,879		3.96	%		31,167		3.55	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities		2,077,799		2.08	%		1,759,635		2.19	%

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits		717,432					705,736
Other liabilities		58,809					59,478
Shareholders’ equity		281,435					241,382
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	3,135,475				$	2,766,231
Net spread				4.11	%				3.57	%
NIM				4.61	%				4.20	%
NIMTE^*				4.66	%				4.26	%
Cost of funds				1.55	%				1.57	%
Average portfolio loans to average interest-earning assets		76.63	%				70.98	%
Average portfolio loans to average total deposits		79.50	%				74.75	%
Average non-interest deposits to average total deposits		26.25	%				28.99	%
Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities		136.47	%				145.68	%

Additional Financial Information
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

Capital Data (At quarter end)
	June 30, 2025				March 31, 2025				June 30, 2024
Book value per share	$52.55				$50.67				$44.93
Tangible book value per share^*	$43.35				$41.47				$42.03
Total shareholders’ equity/total assets		8.95		%		8.91		%		8.76		%
Tangible Common Equity/Tangible Assets^*		7.50		%		7.41		%		8.24		%
Tier 1 Capital / Risk Adjusted Assets		9.80		%		9.76		%		11.68		%
Total Capital / Risk Adjusted Assets		10.71		%		10.62		%		12.58		%
Tier 1 Capital / Average Assets		7.99		%		8.02		%		9.17		%
Shares outstanding		5,522,271				5,520,892				5,501,562
Total unrealized loss on AFS debt securities, net of income taxes	($3,571		)		($5,452		)		($15,197		)
Total unrealized gain on derivatives and hedging activities, net of income taxes	$1,026				$1,097				$1,212

Profitability Ratios
	June 30, 2025		March 31, 2025		December 31, 2024		September 30, 2024		June 30, 2024
For the quarter:
NIM	4.66	%	4.55	%	4.41	%	4.29	%	4.24	%
NIMTE^*	4.72	%	4.61	%	4.47	%	4.35	%	4.30	%
Efficiency ratio	64.68	%	63.54	%	66.96	%	66.11	%	68.78	%
Return on average assets	1.48	%	1.76	%	1.43	%	1.22	%	1.31	%
Return on average equity	16.37	%	19.70	%	16.32	%	13.69	%	14.84	%

	June 30, 2025		June 30, 2024
Year-to-date:
NIM	4.61	%	4.20	%
NIMTE^*	4.66	%	4.26	%
Efficiency ratio	64.14	%	68.85	%
Return on average assets	1.61	%	1.25	%
Return on average equity	17.99	%	14.35	%

*Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

Non-GAAP financial measures have inherent limitations, are not required to be uniformly applied, and are not audited. Although we believe these non-GAAP financial measures are frequently used by stakeholders in the evaluation of the Company, they have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of results as reported under GAAP.

Net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis

Net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis (“NIMTE”) is a non-GAAP performance measurement in which interest income on non-taxable investments and loans is presented on a tax equivalent basis using a combined federal and state statutory rate of 28.43% in both 2025 and 2024. The most comparable GAAP measure is net interest margin and the following table sets forth the reconciliation of NIMTE to net interest margin for the periods indicated.

	Three Months Ended
	June 30, 2025			March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024
Net interest income	$	33,592		$	31,297		$	30,841		$	28,842		$	27,053
Divided by average interest-bearing assets		2,889,289			2,781,370			2,787,517			2,674,291			2,568,266
Net interest margin (“NIM”)²		4.66	%		4.55	%		4.41	%		4.29	%		4.24	%

Net interest income	$	33,592		$	31,297		$	30,841		$	28,842		$	27,053
Plus: reduction in tax expense related to
tax-exempt interest income		409			379			379			385			378
	$	34,001		$	31,676		$	31,220		$	29,227		$	27,431
Divided by average interest-bearing assets		2,889,289			2,781,370			2,787,517			2,674,291			2,568,266
NIMTE²		4.72	%		4.61	%		4.47	%		4.35	%		4.30	%

	Year-to-date
	June 30, 2025			June 30, 2024
Net interest income	$	64,889		$	53,500
Divided by average interest-bearing assets		2,835,627			2,563,412
Net interest margin (“NIM”)³		4.61	%		4.20	%

Net interest income	$	64,889		$	53,500
Plus: reduction in tax expense related to
tax-exempt interest income		788			757
	$	65,677		$	54,257
Divided by average interest-bearing assets		2,835,627			2,563,412
NIMTE³		4.66	%		4.26	%

²Calculated using actual days in the quarter divided by 365 for the quarters ended in 2025 and 366 for the quarters ended in 2024, respectively.

³Calculated using actual days in the year divided by 365 for year-to-date period in 2025 and 366 for year-to-date period in 2024, respectively.

*Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

Tangible Book Value Per Share

Tangible book value per share is a non-GAAP measure defined as shareholders’ equity, less intangible assets, divided by shares outstanding. The most comparable GAAP measure is book value per share and the following table sets forth the reconciliation of tangible book value per share and book value per share for the periods indicated.

	June 30, 2025		March 31, 2025		December 31, 2024		September 30, 2024		June 30, 2024

Total shareholders’ equity	$	290,219	$	279,756	$	267,116	$	260,050	$	247,200
Divided by shares outstanding		5,522		5,521		5,518		5,502		5,502
Book value per share	$	52.55	$	50.68	$	48.41	$	47.26	$	44.93

	June 30, 2025		March 31, 2025		December 31, 2024		September 30, 2024		June 30, 2024

Total shareholders’ equity	$	290,219	$	279,756	$	267,116	$	260,050	$	247,200
Less: goodwill and intangible assets		50,824		50,824		50,968		15,967		15,967
	$	239,395	$	228,932	$	216,148	$	244,083	$	231,233
Divided by shares outstanding		5,522		5,521		5,518		5,502		5,502
Tangible book value per share	$	43.35	$	41.47	$	39.17	$	44.36	$	42.03

Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets

Tangible common equity to tangible assets is a non-GAAP ratio that represents total equity less goodwill and intangible assets divided by total assets less goodwill and intangible assets. The most comparable GAAP measure of shareholders’ equity to total assets is calculated by dividing total shareholders’ equity by total assets and the following table sets forth the reconciliation of tangible common equity to tangible assets and shareholders’ equity to total assets for the periods indicated.

Northrim BanCorp, Inc.	June 30, 2025			March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024

Total shareholders’ equity	$	290,219		$	279,756		$	267,116		$	260,050		$	247,200
Total assets		3,243,760			3,140,960			3,041,869			2,963,392			2,821,668
Total shareholders’ equity to total assets		8.95	%		8.91	%		8.78	%		8.78	%		8.76	%

Northrim BanCorp, Inc.	June 30, 2025			March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			September 30, 2024			June 30, 2024
Total shareholders’ equity	$	290,219		$	279,756		$	267,116		$	260,050		$	247,200
Less: goodwill and other intangible assets, net		50,824			50,824			50,968			15,967			15,967
Tangible common shareholders’ equity	$	239,395		$	228,932		$	216,148		$	244,083		$	231,233

Total assets	$	3,243,760		$	3,140,960		$	3,041,869		$	2,963,392		$	2,821,668
Less: goodwill and other intangible assets, net		50,824			50,824			50,968			15,967			15,967
Tangible assets	$	3,192,936		$	3,090,136		$	2,990,901		$	2,947,425		$	2,805,701
Tangible common equity ratio		7.50	%		7.41	%		7.23	%		8.28	%		8.24	%

Note Transmitted on GlobeNewswire on July 23, 2025, at 12:15 pm Alaska Standard Time.

The MIL Network –

July 24, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Andrea Salinas Leads Colleagues in Letter Opposing Trump Administration’s Attacks on the Forest Service

Source: US Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06)

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06), joined by ten of her colleagues on the House Agriculture Committee, sent a letter to President Trump highlighting the harm his administration has done to the U.S. Forest Service.

The letter demonstrates that the Trump administration’s actions – which include firing thousands of fire-qualified personnel, slashing funding, and moving forward an ill-conceived reorganization plan – will undermine wildfire preparedness and response across the country. The letter calls on President Trump to reverse course to undo the damage his administration has already caused.

Click here or see below for the full letter:

Dear President Trump,

As we move deeper into wildfire season, we write to express our grave concern regarding your administration’s sustained attacks on the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Widespread staff reductions, irresponsible budget proposals, and harmful organizational changes undermine the agency’s ability to effectively manage public lands, mitigate the risk of extreme wildfire, and protect the safety of communities across the country.

In early 2025, USFS undertook large-scale staffing reductions. More than 3,400 probationary employees were terminated, and thousands more departed under early retirement and separation incentives. The agency lost qualified wildfire response staff, as well as personnel specializing in fuels and forest management. These staff also conducted essential forest restoration work in the wake of wildfires to help critical ecosystems recover quickly and effectively. The loss of this expertise directly impairs the agency’s ability to reduce wildfire risk and respond effectively when fires occur moving forward. Despite what DOGE may claim, these employees were not part of some imagined bureaucratic fraud, they were dedicated public servants working to protect our public lands and our communities.

In recent months your administration has advanced plans to shift many wildland fire responsibilities away from USFS and into a new entity housed within the Department of the Interior. This proposal has raised serious concerns among experts in fire response and forest management who warn it would create unnecessary disruption, fragment coordination, and delay urgently needed fuels reduction treatments during a time of escalating wildfire threats. For instance, the National Association of Forest Service Retirees has raised concerns that such an entity would take billions of dollars and many years to establish, even if done in an effective manner that preserves federal firefighting capabilities and minimizes chaos. There is also concern that such a new entity would ignore the critical role rank-and-file USFS workers play in fire preparedness and response and the inherent connection between wildfire and ongoing forest health and management. Moreover, as we move away from having a definable fire season and towards year-round risk of severe fire behavior, it is hard to imagine reorganizing our nation’s federal wildland firefighting responsibilities without creating unnecessary confusion and stress while attempting to protect vulnerable communities.

Unfortunately, based on your administration’s track record, these concerns are well founded. From the chaotic mass firings of USFS personnel and the disruption caused by DOGE’s unfounded allegations of “waste, fraud, and abuse,” to the implementation of ill-conceived funding freezes and issuance of repetitive and vague Executive Orders, your Administration has repeatedly demonstrated an inability to execute complex plans efficiently or in good faith. It should come as no surprise, then, that your budget request included no funding to assist with any reorganization effort – nor did it request funds to replace the loss of personnel critical to the USFS’s wildfire preparedness and response capabilities.

We would be remiss not to also mention our concern with the USFS budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026. Slashing support for state, tribal, and private forestry programs that provide technical and financial assistance to landowners and resource managers to help sustain the nation’s forests and grasslands, protect communities from wildland fire, and restore forest ecosystems is downright dangerous. For example, eliminating funding for the Forest Service’s Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration program, one of the agency’s most popular and effective programs, will actively hinder our ability to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and support economic revitalization in rural communities.

The USFS is also currently withholding funding from critical state, tribal, and private forestry programs, which are essential to preparing for and responding to wildfire on non-federal lands. We are deeply concerned by reports that program funding is being redirected to pay for the unauthorized and ill-conceived Deferred Resignation Program (DRP). Reallocating funding from its congressionally authorized purpose in order to pay employees to not work is an absurd, illegal, and irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars. If additional resources are desired to pursue DRP or other reorganization efforts, USFS should formally request and justify the need for these resources.

Moving forward, we urge you to direct USFS to rectify the harm it has already done to wildfire preparedness and response. That means re-hiring or replacing terminated employees and resuming the distribution of state, tribal, and private forestry grants. It also means dropping ill-conceived reorganization plans until meaningful planning has occurred and required funds have been secured.

The wildfire crisis is not going away. We should work together to reverse the dangerous course USFS is on, and bolster our wildfire preparedness and response capacity through collaborative, interagency efforts with a proven track record of success. Failure to do so will have catastrophic consequences.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall: This is the Greatest Betrayal of American Trust in My Lifetime

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

Senator Marshall Joins The Joe Pags Show to Discuss DNI’s Russia Report
Washington – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Joe Pags on the Joe Pags Show to discuss Medicaid and rural hospitals, the MAHA agenda, what needs to be done to help improve American healthcare outcomes, and what will happen to the perpetrators identified in DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s recent report about the Russia misinformation scandal.

Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview.
On the challenges facing rural hospitals:
“This is one of my favorite topics. You know, I practiced medicine for 25 years in one of these rural hospitals. I helped run the hospital, delivered a baby every day in one of these hospitals for 25 years. You know, the challenge right now for rural hospitals is the rural economy. We have many counties that have lost half their population. They’re all moving to big, wonderful cities like Kansas City and Wichita. So the rural economy is really struggling. Only 5% of Medicaid dollars ever make it to rural America. So yes, 60% of rural hospitals are really struggling.
And enter the One Big, Beautiful Bill – we try to help the rural economy by helping out with crop insurance, reference prices, doubling the death tax, and some of those types of business tax issues as well. So I think it’s the economy, right?”
On Democrat misinformation regarding Medicaid and rural hospitals:“Joe, I think the left controls 90% of the message. They control the national media; it is that simple. But I came to Washington, DC, to save healthcare, and I think that we’ve saved Medicaid. For now, we’ve saved it. We put it back on solid financial footing so that Medicaid is there for those who need it the most. For senior citizens in nursing homes, for people with disabilities, for pregnant women, for children.
“No one’s going to lose Medicaid unless they’re on it illegally, and there are 2 million people on it illegally right now. 2 million people getting it from two states right now. And then, the only other people that will lose their Medicaid are people that refuse to work. And all we’re asking is people work for 20 hours a week. When did having a job, when was that considered punishment? Why is that a bad thing?
“I’m going to give you one more stat, Joe, is that 20 years ago, there was only 7 million healthy people on Medicaid. Today, there’s 34 million healthy people on Medicaid. Let’s help those people find a job. Let’s give them education. Let’s help give them a hand up, and not a handout.”
On the importance of verifying people’s status for Medicaid:
“So this would be Medicaid expansion as you know it. So, Medicaid expansion gives Medicaid to healthy people that are above the poverty line. And then they stopped really doing any types of checks and balances on people. People could just walk in and say, I don’t have a job, I’m not making any money, they would never verify it. But we had the technology data actually verify those things pretty easily, and then we would just check things once a year. So I understand, look, I want to help medicate people out, I want to make sure no one goes to bed hungry, but this idea of just checking people once a year, not verifying their story, is just dishonest.”
On improving the quality of VA care:
“So Joe, again, what’s important to me: my dad served, my brother served, I served, my son is serving everyone. Every generation of my family, someone has served. I want to make sure that we fulfill the promise we made to veterans, but it’s been done inefficiently. It’s amazing, when President Trump 45 was in office, the wait times went down for our veterans, the care was going up, and the patient satisfaction was going up.
“But under Joe Biden, they hired more and more administrator-type of people. And now President Trump went in there and said, ‘we don’t want all this bloated administration.’ There’s hundreds of billions of dollars that we’re increasing every year for veterans. We want to make sure it’s patient interfacing. So it’s the counselors, it’s the nurses, it’s the physical therapists. Those are the people we want. We don’t want more and more bureaucrats setting up here in the VA, here in Washington, DC.”
On what might replace Obamacare:
“Absolutely, and we’ve had these conversations. My big three themes for fixing health care when I came here was anything that makes health care more transparent, anything that promotes innovation, and anything that makes patients consumers again, would drive down the cost of health care. And President Trump already has issued many executive orders on the transparency part of this that are coming to fruition as well… making hospitals show you what they’re going to charge you for if you need an MRI, make that imaging center share with you what it’s going to cost so consumers can shop more.
“So our big thrust of legislation this semester, as I call it, is we dropped a big transparency bill, which in many cases is codifying what President Trump’s executive orders are. And then there’s an issue called prior authorization, where Medicare Advantage companies, especially, are trying to prevent patients from getting the care they need.
“So I was recently with the White House and Dr. Oz, and Secretary Kennedy, putting some more rules around what they can and can’t do as far as withholding health care. So, absolutely, those conversations that went on since day one, and I’m very proud to work beside Dr. Oz, Dr. McCary, over in FDA, as well as Secretary Kennedy.”
On healthcare cost transparency and medical monopolies:
“Joe, I’m not sure if I have a great answer. I can certainly tell you that I believe that insurance companies and big hospitals wrote the ACA. And they knew exactly what they were doing. Through the years, increased regulations have led to monopolies. So, you think about healthcare in each community. There’s one hospital; there’s usually one or two insurance companies that control 80% of the market in the entire state as well. So, through the years, these monopolies have allowed them to do it more.
“So, physicians would like to own hospitals. Hospitals can own physicians, but physicians cannot own hospitals. We would like to come back in and have more competition, but that was outlawed by the ACA as well. So, whenever there’s overregulation, that’s going to lead to consolidation of the industry and get them more and more free rein.”
On the job that HHS Secretary Kennedy is doing thus far:
“Well, I think we’re just getting started again. The backdrop of this is 60% of Americans have a chronic disease. We’re spending 90% of our healthcare dollars on those chronic diseases, think heart disease, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and anxiety. Those seven diseases are taking up 90% of [the] dollars [spent]. We think that there’s a significant nutritional component to all those. I think that we’re going to find that alzheimers is type three diabetes.
“So, what can we do nutritionally to prevent those as well as treat them. So I’ve worked, obviously, I’ve grown up in agriculture, so I’ve had a foot in agriculture my whole life, a foot in healthcare since I was 23 or so, I started medical school, I guess.
“So, as I listened to MAHA, I listened to the American farmers, and said: Where do we meet? How do we get healthy food? Well, I think it starts with healthy soil. It’s kind of a dirty topic, if you will, but that’s the focus. That’s what we’re working with, Secretary Kennedy and Secretary Rollins at Agriculture, who’s doing an incredible job, is trying to work with our farmers to make healthier soil, which is going to lead to healthy food and healthy people. And by the way, American farmers are doing so many great things already in this area.
“So, I’ve been sharing with Secretary Kennedy best practices where we’re growing more with less. We’re decreasing by 90% the amount of fertilizer and pesticides that are leaving our field. We’re decreasing the amount that we’re putting on by 60% through modern-day agriculture practices. So, we’re working on this transition to get everybody practicing this regenerative agriculture.”
On DNI Gabbard’s Russia misinformation report:
“Joe, this is certainly new information to me. This White House meeting, with documentation of that meeting, adds Joe Biden’s name to being in that meeting as well. And I think what that document shows is this is the greatest betrayal of American trust in my lifetime. And you’re out there, your listeners right now, you’re sitting there thinking, well, the Democrats lied to us about COVID. They lied to us about Joe Biden’s health. And here’s his Royal Highness Barack Obama, that he lied to us as well and really organized this fraud, of what happened in this, Russia, Russia, Russia hoax.
“And certainly the FISA court abuse, we knew all about that, but this is news to me that we can actually trace this all the way back to it to one Oval Office meeting, and they absolutely contradicted what the intelligence community was saying. I think that’s accurate.”
On what will happen to the perpetrators of the hoax:
“Yeah, Joe, I think it’s all the above. Certainly, we need the Justice Department to go full speed ahead and do whatever they can do. And meanwhile, the House and the Senate both have investigative committees. James Comer leads that over on the House side, and Rand Paul here on the Senate side. Ron Johnson also has a subcommittee that can focus on this as well. So, all of this needs to happen. Congress’s job is to expose everything and then let the Justice Department prosecute.
“But regardless of where it goes, Joe, I think the story here, to me, is this betrayal of American trust as a physician. One of the first things I learned is that once you lose your reputation, you never get it back. And Americans don’t trust the federal government right now, and why would they right? So, I’m trying to work day and night to help restore that trust, but I think the Democrats just keep digging and digging a hole further and deeper. You know, the first thing you need to do when you’re in a hole is to stop digging. And here they are again, once again, in a deep, deep hole.”
On the American right wanting to see arrests:
“Joe, I sure hope so. I just want to tell you, you sound like my wife. You sound like my mom and dad. They say why isn’t somebody in handcuffs? Everything Hillary Clinton did to erase those emails. And the FISA court abuse. I’m not satisfied. You know, the judges should have paid the price for that. Everyone involved in that food chain of the FISA court abuse should have been fired at a minimum. And maybe one person went to jail, as I recall that.
“So here we are. This is the next chapter of the FISA court abuse, and I think that’s what gives this story legs is… you dove into that story. I dove into that story, saying, my gosh, how did they do this? How did they fall for this, I mean, without orchestrating it? I sure hope so. I’m not a person to overpromise and underdeliver. I do think that Pam Bondi is serious. She would love to throw someone in jail. And I have a feeling Tulsi Gabbard would as well.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Risch Introduces Bill to Strengthen Local, Federal Immigration Enforcement Efforts
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) introduced today the 287(g) Program Protection Act to streamline and strengthen partnerships between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

“President Trump’s enforcement of our immigration laws has brought encounters at the southern border to a screeching halt,” said Risch. “To finish cleaning up the Biden administration’s mess, we must empower our local law enforcement to assist ICE in identifying and detaining the illegal immigrants in our communities.”

Risch is joined by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.).

The 287(g) Program Protection Act has received support from Idaho’s Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris.

“In Kootenai County, we are committed to enforcing the law impartially and responsibly. The 287(g) program offers a structured, transparent framework that supports this mission,” said Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris. “Senator Risch’s leadership in furthering this program by attempting to streamline the process and provide local agencies a fair and timely opportunity to participate in federal enforcement efforts underscores his dedication to public safety, border integrity, and the rule of law. I stand with Senator Risch in urging Congress to advance this legislation and preserve the 287(g) program as a vital component of our national security efforts.”

The 287(g) program enables state and local law enforcement agencies to partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to carry out critical immigration functions.

Under the Biden administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) refused to process new 287(g) program applications, creating a significant backlog, and offered little transparency to the jurisdictions seeking participation.

In January 2025, President Trump issued an executive order to address the backlog and approve hundreds of 287(g) agreements, allowing local officers to enforce immigration laws.

The 287(g) Program Protection Act would:
- Require DHS to approve or deny 287(g) applications within 90 days;
- Require DHS to provide written justification to Congress for denied applications; and
- Prohibit DHS from terminating any existing 287(g) agreement without cause or prior notice to Congress.
The 287(g) Program Protection Act was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Michael Cloud (R-Texas).
MIL OSI USA News –
July 24, 2025

Category: Donald Trump

The Senators’ bill would force Big Pharma to disclose prices when advertising prescription drugs, the UC request was blocked by a Senate Republican