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Category: Trump

  • MIL-OSI Russia: D. Trump Calls on Congress to ‘Do Away’ Voice of America Radio Station

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    WASHINGTON, June 26 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on Congress to “end” the Voice of America radio station, marking his administration’s second attempt since returning to the White House.

    “Why would Republicans want the Voice of America, the Democrats’ mouthpiece, to continue to exist?” the US president wrote on the social network Truth Social. “It is a complete disaster for the left. No Republican should vote for its survival. End it!”

    Calling for the VOA shutdown back in February, Elon Musk, then head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), wrote on social media site X: “These are just left-wing crazy people talking to themselves while burning $1 billion a year in US taxpayer money.”

    The Trump administration issued a statement in March calling the station “the voice of radical America,” accusing it of spreading “radical propaganda” and promoting “anti-American” stories. The statement cited “anti-Trump content on social media” and instructed the station’s staff “not to refer to Hamas or its members as terrorists, except when quoting statements.”

    About 1,400 Voice of America employees have reportedly been laid off since March. On Friday, the latest round of layoffs occurred, with more than 600 employees receiving layoff notices, bringing the workforce down to fewer than 200.

    Echoing Trump’s close ally and senior adviser to the Agency for Global Media, Kari Lake, also called on Congress on Wednesday to shut down the station.

    At a congressional hearing, Lake called the Voice of America “outrageous,” “deeply corrupt,” “politically biased,” and “a grave threat to our national security.”

    The Voice of America, founded in 1942 to combat Nazi propaganda, has long been seen as an important vehicle for delivering “voices from America.” –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai meets Japan’s former Economic Security Minister Kobayashi Takayuki

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-06-16
    President Lai meets delegation led by Representative Bera, co-chair of US Congressional Taiwan Caucus
    On the morning of June 16, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Representative Ami Bera, co-chair of the US Congressional Taiwan Caucus. In remarks, President Lai thanked the representatives in Congress for actively voicing support for Taiwan and proposing numerous Taiwan-friendly initiatives to strengthen Taiwan-US ties, helping expand Taiwan’s international space and continuing to place focus on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The president said that we will continue to strengthen bilateral investment and industrial cooperation and create a more comprehensive environment for economic and trade exchanges to jointly enhance economic and developmental resilience. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I am delighted to meet with the delegation and welcome Congressman Bera back to the Presidential Office. Last January, he visited after the presidential election, demonstrating the steadfast backing of the US Congress for democratic Taiwan. This time, as head of a delegation of new members of the House Armed Services Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee, he is continuing to foster US congressional support for Taiwan. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend a sincere welcome to Congressman Bera and all our esteemed guests. Over the years, staunch bipartisan US congressional backing of Taiwan has been a key force for steadily advancing our bilateral relations. I thank the representatives in Congress for actively voicing support for Taiwan and proposing numerous Taiwan-friendly initiatives, thereby strengthening Taiwan-US ties, helping expand Taiwan’s international space, and continuing to place focus on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. I want to emphasize that Taiwan has an unwavering determination to safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Over the past year, the government and private sector have been working together to enhance Taiwan’s whole-of-society defense resilience and accelerate reform of national defense. The government is also prioritizing special budget allocations to ensure that our defense budget exceeds three percent of GDP this year. I hope that Taiwan-US security cooperation will evolve beyond military procurement to a partnership that encompasses joint research and development and joint production, further strengthening cooperation and exchange in the defense industry. Regarding industrial exchanges, last month, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-huei (郭智輝) each visited Texas to see firsthand Taiwan-US collaboration in AI and semiconductors. And the delegation led by Executive Yuan Secretary-General Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) sent by Taiwan to this year’s SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, DC, was again the largest of those attending. All of this demonstrates Taiwan’s commitment to working alongside the US to create mutual prosperity. In the future, we will continue to strengthen bilateral investment and industrial cooperation. And I hope that the legislation addressing the issue of Taiwan-US double taxation will become law this year. I want to thank Congressman Bera for co-leading a joint letter last November signed by over 100 members of Congress calling for such legislation. I believe that by creating a more comprehensive environment for economic and trade exchanges, Taiwan and the US can enhance economic and developmental resilience. In closing, I thank you all for making the long journey here to advance Taiwan-US relations. Let us continue working together to promote the prosperous development of this important partnership. Congressman Bera then delivered remarks, saying that on behalf of the delegation, it is an honor for him to be here once again, it being last January that he and Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart visited and congratulated President Lai on his election victory, noting that theirs was the first congressional delegation to do so. Congressman Bera said that this is an important time, not just for the US and Taiwan relationship, but for all relationships around the world. When we look at conflicts in Europe and in the Middle East, he said, it is incumbent upon democracies to hold the peace in Asia. He emphasized that is why it is important for them to bring a delegation of members of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Armed Services Committee, adding that he believes for all of them it is their first trip to Taiwan.  Congressman Bera said that while this is a delegation of Democratic members of Congress, in a bipartisan way all of Congress continues to support the people of Taiwan. As such, in this visit he brings support from his co-chairs on the Taiwan caucus, Congressman Díaz-Balart and Congressman Andy Barr. He also took a moment to recognize the passing of Congressman Gerald Connolly, who was a longtime friend of Taiwan and one of their co-chairs on the caucus. Congressman Bera mentioned that there is always a special bond between himself and President Lai because they are both doctors, and as doctors, their profession is about healing, keeping the peace, and making sure everybody has a bright, prosperous future. In closing, he highlighted that it is in that spirit that their delegation visits with the president. The delegation also included members of the US Congress Gabe Amo, Wesley Bell, Julie Johnson, Sarah McBride, and Johnny Olszewski.

    Details
    2025-06-13
    President Lai meets delegation led by French National Assembly Taiwan Friendship Group Chair Marie-Noëlle Battistel
    On the morning of June 12, President Lai Ching-te met a delegation led by Marie-Noëlle Battistel, chair of the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group. In remarks, President Lai thanked the National Assembly for its long-term support for Taiwan’s international participation and for upholding security in the Taiwan Strait, helping make France the first major country in the world to enact legislation to uphold freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait. The president also said that exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and France are becoming more frequent, and that he hopes this visit by the Taiwan Friendship Group will inject new momentum into Taiwan-France relations and help build closer partnerships in the economy, trade, energy, and digital security.  A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: First, I would like to welcome Chair Battistel, who is once again leading a visiting delegation. Last year, Chair Battistel co-led a delegation to attend the inauguration ceremony for myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao. This is her fourth visit, and first as chair of the Taiwan Friendship Group, which makes it especially meaningful. This delegation’s visit demonstrates strong support for Taiwan, and on behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to express my sincerest welcome and thanks. France is a pioneer in promoting free and democratic values. These are values that Taiwan cherishes and is working hard to defend. I want to express gratitude to the French Parliament for their long-term support for Taiwan’s international participation, and for upholding security in the Taiwan Strait. The French Parliament’s two chambers have continued to strongly support Taiwan, with the passage of a resolution supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations in 2021, as well as the passage of the seven-year Military Programming Law in 2023. This has made France the first major country in the world to enact legislation to uphold freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait. Through it all, the Taiwan Friendship Group has played a key role, and I want to thank all of our distinguished guests for their efforts. Over the past few years, Taiwan and France have continued to deepen cooperation in areas including the economy, technology, culture, and sports. At the Choose France summit held in Paris last month, Taiwanese and French enterprises also announced they will launch cooperation in the semiconductor and satellite fields. The VivaTech startup exhibition, now being held in France, also has many Taiwanese vendors participating. Exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and France, whether official or people-to-people, are becoming more and more frequent. I hope that this visit by the Taiwan Friendship Group will inject new momentum into Taiwan-France relations, building closer partnerships in the economy, trade, energy, and digital security.  To address current geopolitical and economic challenges, Taiwan will continue to join forces with France and other like-minded countries to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, and contribute our concerted efforts to global prosperity and development. Once again, I want to welcome our visitors to Taiwan. I hope to continue our joint efforts to create a more prosperous future for both Taiwan and France.   Chair Battistel then delivered remarks, thanking President Lai for extending this invitation. Last year on May 20, she said, she and her delegation attended the presidential inauguration ceremony, so she was delighted to visit Taiwan once again with the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group and bear witness to their friendship with Taiwan. Chair Battistel noted that this visit has given them an opportunity to strengthen Taiwan-France relations in areas including the economy, culture, the humanities, and diplomacy, and conduct exchanges with numerous heads of government agencies and research institutes. It has also been an opportunity, she said, to witness the importance of exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan in areas including energy, semiconductors, youth, and culture, and the impact created by important issues of mutual concern, including AI and disinformation, on the security of many countries. Chair Battistel praised Taiwan for its youth development efforts, and said that under the Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative, 30 Taiwanese young people have embarked on a visit to France, with itineraries including the United Nations Ocean Conference and the VivaTech exhibition, as well as the city of Toulouse, which is strategically important for the aerospace industry. Members of the group are also conducting exchanges at the French National Assembly, she said.  Chair Battistel stated that the Taiwan-France partnership is growing closer, and that she hopes to continue to strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation, as supporting peace for Taiwan supports peace around the world.  The delegation also included Taiwan Friendship Group Vice Chair Éric Martineau, as well as National Assembly Committee on Foreign Affairs Vice Chair Laetitia Saint-Paul and Deputies Marie-José Allemand and Claudia Rouaux. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by French Office in Taipei Deputy Director Cléa Le Cardeur.

    Details
    2025-06-05
    President Lai hosts state banquet for President Bernardo Arévalo of Republic of Guatemala  
    At noon on June 5, President Lai Ching-te hosted a state banquet at the Presidential Office for President Bernardo Arévalo of the Republic of Guatemala and his wife. In his remarks, President Lai noted that Taiwan and Guatemala have both undergone an arduous democratization process, and therefore, in face of the continuous expansion of authoritarian influence, must join hands in brotherhood and come together in solidarity to safeguard our hard-earned freedom and democracy. President Lai also expressed hope that both countries will work together and continue to deepen various exchanges and cooperation, taking a friendship that has lasted over 90 years to new heights. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Once again, I would like to offer a warm welcome to President Arévalo and First Lady Lucrecia Peinado, who are leading this delegation to Taiwan. President Arévalo’s previous visit to Taiwan was 31 years ago. Back then, Taiwan did not have direct presidential elections, and the nation was continuing to make progress toward democratization. Today, 31 years later, Taiwan has conducted direct presidential elections eight times, with three transfers of power between political parties. On this visit, I am sure that President Arévalo will gain a deep appreciation for Taiwan’s free and democratic atmosphere.  Taiwan and Guatemala have both undergone an arduous democratization process. A little over 200 years ago, the people of Guatemala took a stand against colonial oppression, seeking national dignity and the freedom of its people. Eighty-one years ago, President Arévalo’s father, Juan José Arévalo, became Guatemala’s first democratically elected president, establishing an important foundation for subsequent democratic development.  Our two peoples have democracy in their blood. Both know the value of freedom and democracy and are willing to take a stand for those values. Therefore, in face of the continuous expansion of authoritarian influence, our two countries must join hands in brotherhood to respond to threats and challenges, and come together in solidarity to safeguard our hard-earned freedom and democracy. I hope that both countries will work together to continue to deepen various exchanges and cooperation, taking a friendship that has lasted over 90 years to new heights. I hope that on this visit, in addition to gaining a deeper understanding of Taiwan’s political, economic, and social development, President Arévalo can also reacquaint himself with the democratic vitality and cultural diversity of Taiwan by sampling various gourmet delicacies and once again experiencing the beauty of our scenery and warmth of our people. Guatemala is a very beautiful country. In the future, I hope to have a chance to personally experience that beauty, explore Mayan civilization, and savor local Guatemalan coffee. In closing, I wish the visiting delegation a smooth and successful trip, and beautiful, unforgettable memories. May President Arévalo enjoy the best of health, and may the diplomatic friendship between our two countries endure. President Arévalo then delivered remarks, stating that at different times and by different means, the people of Taiwan and Guatemala have relentlessly sought to defend freedom and democracy. We share the same expectations, he said, and are walking the right path amid today’s complex international circumstances.  President Arévalo stated that Taiwan and Guatemala are true democratic nations, where the government’s goal is to serve all the people. He noted that this is far from easy under current circumstances, as many authoritarian regimes use their long-term hold on power to safeguard the interests of select groups and neglect the wellbeing of the population as a whole. President Arévalo said that last week Guatemala commemorated the 40th anniversary of its constitution, which was enacted in 1985 and is Guatemala’s ultimate guide, setting the foundation for democracy and clearly outlining the path ahead. He said that over the past 40 years, Guatemala has continued to follow the democratic blueprint established by the constitution and end the civil war so that the nation could make the transition to real democracy. Although more than a few ambitious people have attempted to destroy that process from within, he noted, the people of Guatemala have never given up the pursuit of democracy as an ideal. President Arévalo stated that our two sides’ coming together here is due to such shared values as freedom and democracy as well as the idea of serving all the people. He underlined that the governments of both countries will continue to work hard and provide mutual support to smooth out each other’s path of democracy, freedom, and justice. President Arévalo emphasized that the government of Guatemala will always be Taiwan’s ally, and that he firmly believes Taiwan is Guatemala’s most reliable partner on the path of democracy and economic prosperity and development. The president said he hopes this visit will be the first step towards setting a new course for the governments and peoples of both countries. Also in attendance at the banquet were Guatemala Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Ramiro Martínez, Minister of the Economy Gabriela García, and Guatemala Ambassador Luis Raúl Estévez López.  

    Details
    2025-06-05
    President Lai welcomes President Bernardo Arévalo of Republic of Guatemala with military honors  
    On the morning of June 5, President Lai Ching-te welcomed with full military honors President Bernardo Arévalo of the Republic of Guatemala and his wife, who are leading a delegation of cabinet members visiting Taiwan for the first time, demonstrating the deep and enduring alliance between our nations. In remarks, President Lai noted that over the past few years, bilateral cooperation between Taiwan and Guatemala has grown closer and more diverse, and said that moving forward, based on a foundation of mutual assistance for mutual benefit, we will continue to promote programs in line with international trends, spurring prosperity and development in both our nations. The military honors ceremony began at 10:30 a.m. in the Entrance Hall of the Presidential Office. After a 21-gun salute and the playing of the two countries’ national anthems, President Lai and President Arévalo each delivered remarks. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Today, President Arévalo and First Lady Lucrecia Peinado are leading a delegation of cabinet members visiting Taiwan for the first time, demonstrating the deep and enduring alliance between our nations. On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I want to extend my sincerest welcome. Last year, our two countries celebrated the 90th anniversary of diplomatic ties, providing mutual support all along the way. Especially over the past few years, bilateral cooperation has grown closer and more diverse. We have a long record of remarkable results, whether in terms of medicine and public health, education and culture, technological cooperation, or economic and trade exchanges. Moving forward, based on a foundation of mutual assistance for mutual benefit, Taiwan and Guatemala will continue to promote programs in line with international trends. We will continue to strengthen exchange and cooperation for young people, as well as scholarship programs, and actively cultivate high-tech and information and communications technology industry talent, spurring prosperity and development in both our nations. Although separated by a great distance, the peoples of both countries are closely connected by their ideals and values. I am confident that with President Arévalo’s support, bilateral exchanges and cooperation will become closer and more diverse, beginning a very promising new chapter. I wish the visiting delegation a smooth and successful trip. President Arévalo then delivered remarks, saying that on behalf of the government and people of Guatemala, he is honored to visit the Republic of China (Taiwan), this beautiful nation, and to receive full military honors, which reflects the mutual respect between our two nations as well as our solid friendship. Especially as this state visit comes as we celebrate 90 years of formal diplomatic ties, he said, he has brought the foreign minister, economics minister, private secretary to the president, and social communication secretary as members of his delegation, in the hope of our ties embarking on a new chapter. President Arévalo said that Guatemala-Taiwan ties have in recent years been growing steadily on a foundation of mutual understanding and cooperation, making significant progress, and that our peoples have also cultivated sincere friendships and cooperative relationships across many fields. Our nations are especially promoting public health, education, agricultural technology, and infrastructure, he said, key fields which are conducive to economic and social development. He expressed his hope that on such good foundations of the past, we can further strengthen our bilateral ties for the future. President Arévalo stated that through this state visit they not only want to reaffirm the good bilateral ties between our nations, but that they also hope to define a trajectory for the future of our cooperation in the direction of expanding economic cooperation, building economic and trade alliances, and facilitating investment to foster a Taiwan-Guatemala relationship that benefits both peoples. He then expressed gratitude to the people of Taiwan for helping Guatemala over the past 90 years and reaffirmed the unwavering support of Guatemala for the Republic of China (Taiwan). On the occasion of this visit, he said, he hopes to extend a friendly hand to the people of Taiwan, adding that he looks forward to our nations continuing to take major steps forward on the road of mutual assistance and prosperity. Also in attendance at the welcome ceremony were Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Andrea Clare Bowman, and members of the foreign diplomatic corps in Taiwan.  

    Details
    2025-06-03
    President Lai confers decoration on President Hilda C. Heine of Republic of the Marshall Islands, hosts state banquet  
    At noon on June 3, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, conferred a decoration upon President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and hosted a state banquet for President Heine and her husband at the Presidential Office. In remarks, President Lai thanked President Heine for her commitment to deepening the diplomatic partnership between our nations and speaking up for Taiwan in the international arena. He also expressed hope for Taiwan and the Marshall Islands to work together to address various challenges through an even greater diversity of exchanges, and that together, we can contribute even more to peace, stability, and development throughout the Pacific region. At the decoration ceremony, President Lai personally conferred the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon on President Heine before delivering remarks, a translation of which follows:  The Marshall Islands was the first Pacific ally that I visited after taking office as president. When I arrived there, I was immediately drawn to its beautiful scenery. And I received a very warm welcome from the local people. This gesture showed the profound friendship between our two nations. I was truly touched. I also remember trying your nation’s special Bob Whisky for the first time. The flavor was as unique and impressive as the landscape of the Marshall Islands.  In addition to welcoming our distinguished guests today, we also presented President Heine with the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to thank President Heine for her commitment to deepening the diplomatic partnership between our nations, and for staunchly speaking up for Taiwan in the international arena. Both I and the people of Taiwan are profoundly grateful to President Heine for her friendship and support. Over the past few years, cooperation between Taiwan and the Marshall Islands has grown ever closer. And this visit by our distinguished guests will allow our two countries to further expand areas of bilateral exchange. I have always believed that only through mutual assistance and trust can two countries build a longstanding and steadfast partnership. I once again convey my sincere aspiration that Taiwan and the Marshall Islands work together to address various challenges through an even greater diversity of exchanges. Together, we can contribute even more to peace, stability, and development throughout the Pacific region. In closing, I want to thank President Heine and First Gentleman Thomas Kijiner, Jr. for leading this delegation to Taiwan, which deepens the foundations of our bilateral relationship. May our two nations enjoy a long and enduring friendship. President Heine then delivered remarks, stating that she felt especially privileged to receive the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and humbly accepted the honor with the utmost gratitude, humility, and deep responsibility. This is a deep responsibility, she said, because she understands that since its inception in 1933, this order has been bestowed upon a select few. She then thanked President Lai for this great honor. President Heine stated that the banquet was not just a celebration of our bilateral friendship, but a true reflection of the generosity of the Taiwan spirit and a testament to the enduring ties between our nations, founded on shared values and aspirations, including a respect for the rule of law, the preservation of human dignity, and a deep commitment to democracy. President Heine stated that the Taiwan-Marshall Islands partnership continues to evolve through practical cooperation and mutual support. In recent years, she said, our countries have worked hand in hand across a range of vital sectors, including the recent opening of the Majuro Hospital AI and Telehealth Center and the ongoing and successful Taiwan Health Center, various technical training and scholarship programs, and various climate change adaptation projects in renewable energy, coastal resilience, and sustainable agriculture.   President Heine emphasized that the Marshall Islands continues to be a proud and vocal supporter of Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations system and other international organizations. Taiwan’s exclusion from these platforms, she said, is not only unjust, but is bad for the world, and the global community needs Taiwan’s voice and expertise.  President Heine also expressed sincere appreciation to all of the Taiwanese friends who have contributed their efforts to deepening bilateral relations, including government officials, healthcare workers, teachers, engineers, and volunteers. The people of the Marshall Islands, she said, deeply appreciate and value everyone’s efforts and service. President Heine said that as we celebrate our partnership, let us look to the future with hope and determination, continue to work together, learn from one another, and support one another to champion a world where all nations can chart their own course based on peace and international law. Also attending the state banquet were Marshall Islands Council of Iroij Chairman Lanny Kabua, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kalani R. Kaneko, Minister of Finance David Paul, Nitijela Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Chairperson Joe Bejang, and Charge d’Affaires a.i. Anjanette Davis-Anjel of the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.  

    Details
    2025-05-20
    President Lai interviewed by Nippon Television and Yomiuri TV
    In a recent interview on Nippon Television’s news zero program, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Mr. Sakurai Sho and Yomiuri TV Shanghai Bureau Chief Watanabe Masayo on topics including reflections on his first year in office, cross-strait relations, China’s military threats, Taiwan-United States relations, and Taiwan-Japan relations. The interview was broadcast on the evening of May 19. During the interview, President Lai stated that China intends to change the world’s rules-based international order, and that if Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted. Therefore, he said, Taiwan will strengthen its national defense, prevent war by preparing for war, and achieve the goal of peace. The president also noted that Taiwan’s purpose for developing drones is based on national security and industrial needs, and that Taiwan hopes to collaborate with Japan. He then reiterated that China’s threats are an international problem, and expressed hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war. Following is the text of the questions and the president’s responses: Q: How do you feel as you are about to round out your first year in office? President Lai: When I was young, I was determined to practice medicine and save lives. When I left medicine to go into politics, I was determined to transform Taiwan. And when I was sworn in as president on May 20 last year, I was determined to strengthen the nation. Time flies, and it has already been a year. Although the process has been very challenging, I am deeply honored to be a part of it. I am also profoundly grateful to our citizens for allowing me the opportunity to give back to our country. The future will certainly be full of more challenges, but I will do everything I can to unite the people and continue strengthening the nation. That is how I am feeling now. Q: We are now coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and over this period, we have often heard that conflict between Taiwan and the mainland is imminent. Do you personally believe that a cross-strait conflict could happen? President Lai: The international community is very much aware that China intends to replace the US and change the world’s rules-based international order, and annexing Taiwan is just the first step. So, as China’s military power grows stronger, some members of the international community are naturally on edge about whether a cross-strait conflict will break out. The international community must certainly do everything in its power to avoid a conflict in the Taiwan Strait; there is too great a cost. Besides causing direct disasters to both Taiwan and China, the impact on the global economy would be even greater, with estimated losses of US$10 trillion from war alone – that is roughly 10 percent of the global GDP. Additionally, 20 percent of global shipping passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, so if a conflict breaks out in the strait, other countries including Japan and Korea would suffer a grave impact. For Japan and Korea, a quarter of external transit passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and a third of the various energy resources and minerals shipped back from other countries pass through said areas. If Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted, and therefore conflict in the Taiwan Strait must be avoided. Such a conflict is indeed avoidable. I am very thankful to Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru and former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio, as well as US President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, and the other G7 leaders, for continuing to emphasize at international venues that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential components for global security and prosperity. When everyone in the global democratic community works together, stacking up enough strength to make China’s objectives unattainable or to make the cost of invading Taiwan too high for it to bear, a conflict in the strait can naturally be avoided. Q: As you said, President Lai, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is also very important for other countries. How can war be avoided? What sort of countermeasures is Taiwan prepared to take to prevent war? President Lai: As Mr. Sakurai mentioned earlier, we are coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. There are many lessons we can take from that war. First is that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. From the tragedies of WWII, there are lessons that humanity should learn. We must pursue peace, and not start wars blindly, as that would be a major disaster for humanity. In other words, we must be determined to safeguard peace. The second lesson is that we cannot be complacent toward authoritarian powers. If you give them an inch, they will take a mile. They will keep growing, and eventually, not only will peace be unattainable, but war will be inevitable. The third lesson is why WWII ended: It ended because different groups joined together in solidarity. Taiwan, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific region are all directly subjected to China’s threats, so we hope to be able to join together in cooperation. This is why we proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we will strengthen our national defense. Second, we will strengthen economic resilience. Third is standing shoulder to shoulder with the democratic community to demonstrate the strength of deterrence. Fourth is that as long as China treats Taiwan with parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China, and seek peace and mutual prosperity. These four pillars can help us avoid war and achieve peace. That is to say, Taiwan hopes to achieve peace through strength, prevent war by preparing for war, keeping war from happening and pursuing the goal of peace. Q: Regarding drones, everyone knows that recently, Taiwan has been actively researching, developing, and introducing drones. Why do you need to actively research, develop, and introduce new drones at this time? President Lai: This is for two purposes. The first is to meet national security needs. The second is to meet industrial development needs. Because Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines are all part of the first island chain, and we are all democratic nations, we cannot be like an authoritarian country like China, which has an unlimited national defense budget. In this kind of situation, island nations such as Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines should leverage their own technologies to develop national defense methods that are asymmetric and utilize unmanned vehicles. In particular, from the Russo-Ukrainian War, we see that Ukraine has successfully utilized unmanned vehicles to protect itself and prevent Russia from unlimited invasion. In other words, the Russo-Ukrainian War has already proven the importance of drones. Therefore, the first purpose of developing drones is based on national security needs. Second, the world has already entered the era of smart technology. Whether generative, agentic, or physical, AI will continue to develop. In the future, cars and ships will also evolve into unmanned vehicles and unmanned boats, and there will be unmanned factories. Drones will even be able to assist with postal deliveries, or services like Uber, Uber Eats, and foodpanda, or agricultural irrigation and pesticide spraying. Therefore, in the future era of comprehensive smart technology, developing unmanned vehicles is a necessity. Taiwan, based on industrial needs, is actively planning the development of drones and unmanned vehicles. I would like to take this opportunity to express Taiwan’s hope to collaborate with Japan in the unmanned vehicle industry. Just as we do in the semiconductor industry, where Japan has raw materials, equipment, and technology, and Taiwan has wafer manufacturing, our two countries can cooperate. Japan is a technological power, and Taiwan also has significant technological strengths. If Taiwan and Japan work together, we will not only be able to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific region, but it will also be very helpful for the industrial development of both countries. Q: The drones you just described probably include examples from the Russo-Ukrainian War. Taiwan and China are separated by the Taiwan Strait. Do our drones need to have cross-sea flight capabilities? President Lai: Taiwan does not intend to counterattack the mainland, and does not intend to invade any country. Taiwan’s drones are meant to protect our own nation and territory. Q: Former President Biden previously stated that US forces would assist Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. President Trump, however, has yet to clearly state that the US would help defend Taiwan. Do you think that in such an event, the US would help defend Taiwan? Or is Taiwan now trying to persuade the US? President Lai: Former President Biden and President Trump have answered questions from reporters. Although their responses were different, strong cooperation with Taiwan under the Biden administration has continued under the Trump administration; there has been no change. During President Trump’s first term, cooperation with Taiwan was broader and deeper compared to former President Barack Obama’s terms. After former President Biden took office, cooperation with Taiwan increased compared to President Trump’s first term. Now, during President Trump’s second term, cooperation with Taiwan is even greater than under former President Biden. Taiwan-US cooperation continues to grow stronger, and has not changed just because President Trump and former President Biden gave different responses to reporters. Furthermore, the Trump administration publicly stated that in the future, the US will shift its strategic focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. The US secretary of defense even publicly stated that the primary mission of the US is to prevent China from invading Taiwan, maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific, and thus maintain world peace. There is a saying in Taiwan that goes, “Help comes most to those who help themselves.” Before asking friends and allies for assistance in facing threats from China, Taiwan must first be determined and prepared to defend itself. This is Taiwan’s principle, and we are working in this direction, making all the necessary preparations to safeguard the nation. Q: I would like to ask you a question about Taiwan-Japan relations. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, you made an appeal to give Japan a great deal of assistance and care. In particular, you visited Sendai to offer condolences. Later, you also expressed condolences and concern after the earthquakes in Aomori and Kumamoto. What are your expectations for future Taiwan-Japan exchanges and development? President Lai: I come from Tainan, and my constituency is in Tainan. Tainan has very deep ties with Japan, and of course, Taiwan also has deep ties with Japan. However, among Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, Tainan has the deepest relationship with Japan. I sincerely hope that both of you and your teams will have an opportunity to visit Tainan. I will introduce Tainan’s scenery, including architecture from the era of Japanese rule, Tainan’s cuisine, and unique aspects of Tainan society, and you can also see lifestyles and culture from the Showa era.  The Wushantou Reservoir in Tainan was completed by engineer Mr. Hatta Yoichi from Kanazawa, Japan and the team he led to Tainan after he graduated from then-Tokyo Imperial University. It has nearly a century of history and is still in use today. This reservoir, along with the 16,000-km-long Chianan Canal, transformed the 150,000-hectare Chianan Plain into Taiwan’s premier rice-growing area. It was that foundation in agriculture that enabled Taiwan to develop industry and the technology sector of today. The reservoir continues to supply water to Tainan Science Park. It is used by residents of Tainan, the agricultural sector, and industry, and even the technology sector in Xinshi Industrial Park, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Because of this, the people of Tainan are deeply grateful for Mr. Hatta and very friendly toward the people of Japan. A major earthquake, the largest in 50 years, struck Tainan on February 6, 2016, resulting in significant casualties. As mayor of Tainan at the time, I was extremely grateful to then-Prime Minister Abe, who sent five Japanese officials to the disaster site in Tainan the day after the earthquake. They were very thoughtful and asked what kind of assistance we needed from the Japanese government. They offered to provide help based on what we needed. I was deeply moved, as former Prime Minister Abe showed such care, going beyond the formality of just sending supplies that we may or may not have actually needed. Instead, the officials asked what we needed and then provided assistance based on those needs, which really moved me. Similarly, when the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 or the later Kumamoto earthquakes struck, the people of Tainan, under my leadership, naturally and dutifully expressed their support. Even earlier, when central Taiwan was hit by a major earthquake in 1999, Japan was the first country to deploy a rescue team to the disaster area. On February 6, 2018, after a major earthquake in Hualien, former Prime Minister Abe appeared in a video holding up a message of encouragement he had written in calligraphy saying “Remain strong, Taiwan.” All of Taiwan was deeply moved. Over the years, Taiwan and Japan have supported each other when earthquakes struck, and have forged bonds that are family-like, not just neighborly. This is truly valuable. In the future, I hope Taiwan and Japan can be like brothers, and that the peoples of Taiwan and Japan can treat one another like family. If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem; if Japan has a problem, then Taiwan has a problem. By caring for and helping each other, we can face various challenges and difficulties, and pursue a brighter future. Q: President Lai, you just used the phrase “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” In the event that China attempts to invade Taiwan by force, what kind of response measures would you hope the US military and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take? President Lai: As I just mentioned, annexing Taiwan is only China’s first step. Its ultimate objective is to change the rules-based international order. That being the case, China’s threats are an international problem. So, I would very much hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war – prevention, after all, is more important than cure.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NATO countries agree to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    THE HAGUE, June 26 (Xinhua) — Member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have agreed to increase annual defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035, according to a statement released Wednesday following a summit in The Hague, the Netherlands.

    According to the five-point statement, the new spending target would be divided into two key categories: 3.5 percent for core defense and 1.5 percent for other defense-related spending, including critical infrastructure, cybersecurity and defense industrial development.

    As specified in the document, the plan will be revised in 2029, taking into account the strategic situation and revision of potential targets.

    US President Donald Trump welcomed the agreement at a press conference following the summit, saying Washington had long borne a very large share of the alliance’s defence burden.

    He also criticised Spain as the only country refusing to fully meet its obligations.

    According to D. Trump, the United States is negotiating a trade agreement with Spain, and Madrid could “pay twice as much” through trade measures.

    Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced earlier on Sunday, ahead of the summit, that Spain had agreed with NATO to limit military spending to 2.1 percent of GDP.

    In his statement, P. Sanchez warned that “a rapid transition to 5 percent” would lead to higher prices and government spending, and reduce investment in important areas such as education and digital development.

    Calling the 5 percent target “disproportionate and unnecessary” for Spain, P. Sanchez stressed that Spain is “one of the five NATO countries with the largest number of troops deployed worldwide.” He also noted that “asymmetry within NATO is normal and inevitable,” citing the economic diversity among allies. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: As one of Shakespeare’s least performed plays, Coriolanus is startlingly relevant under Trump 2.0

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kirk Dodd, Lecturer in English and Writing, University of Sydney

    Brett Boardman/Bell Shakespeare

    Coriolanus is one of Shakespeare’s least performed plays; perhaps because the hero is so pugnacious and classist, impressive in his strident vehemence, but lacking the vulnerability of a Macbeth or Othello.

    Set in the turbulent early Roman Republic (490s BC) – about 450 years before Caesar’s death – the play follows the glorious rise of Gnaeus Marcius Coriolanus, a terrifying war machine on the battlefield who could carve his way through enemy regiments.

    According to one site, the play has not been professionally staged outside the United Kingdom since 2000. This is only the second time Bell Shakespeare has performed Coriolanus, with their other production staged 29 years ago, in 1996.

    Directed by Peter Evans and starring Hazem Shammas, this Coriolanus delivers Shakespeare’s most consciously political play with an explosive energy that charts the hero’s psychological downfall.

    Published as a tragedy in the 1623 First Folio, Coriolanus can loosely be described as a history play. But it is more commonly recognised as one of Shakespeare’s Roman plays, alongside Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, and Titus Andronicus.

    War and exile

    Renamed “Coriolanus” after the town he most recently conquered (Corioli), occupied by the arch enemies of Rome (the Volsci), Coriolanus is a devoted son to his fiercely ambitious “tiger mum” Volumnia (Brigid Zengeni).

    Shakespeare was never shy about the feats of his warrior protagonists, describing Coriolanus’ ability as a war machine most memorably as:

    His sword, Death’s stamp,
    Where it did mark, it took; from face to foot
    He was a thing of blood, whose every motion
    Was timed with dying cries. Alone he entered
    The mortal gate o’ th’ city, which he painted
    With shunless destiny; aidless came off
    And with a sudden reinforcement struck
    Corioles like a planet.

    But Coriolanus, who was brought up to win every contest, is also an upper-class patrician, dismissively scornful of the common people’s plebeian rights in the burgeoning Roman Republic.

    Hazem Shammas as Coriolanus is a force to be reckoned with.
    Brett Boardman/Bell Shakespeare

    Coriolanus’s absolute refusal to flatter the plebeians – and so refusing their political influence – ignites a brutal conflict between populism and elitism that results in the people’s sway.

    Coriolanus is exiled from Rome, the very homeland he fought so valiantly to protect.

    Incensed, Coriolanus joins forces with Rome’s greatest enemy, the Volscian Aufidius (Anthony Taufa) and marches against Rome. This forces Coriolanus to confront his own loyalties to his formidable mother and to doting wife Virgilia (Suzannah McDonald), with tragic consequences.

    Wonderful performances

    Evans has loosely set this production in Europe in the mid-1990s, following the fall of the Berlin Wall, though this creates a vibe more than a direct correlation to events.

    Evans also designed the set, making dynamic use of a traverse stage that forces audiences to see each other across the divide. This enhances the sense of a sprawling populous while prompting reflections on our own political milieu. Audiences are told as they enter whether they will sit on the “plebeian” or “patrician” side: a fun ploy, but perhaps unnecessary.

    Stealing the show is a wonderful performance by Peter Carroll as Menenius, a sagely Roman senator who uses his charm and political tact to mediate between the patricians and the plebeians. Carroll brings great irony to the role, using eye-rolls and tutting even as he attends dutifully to the new political expectations of the tribunes.

    Peter Carroll as Menenius steals the show in a wonderful performance.
    Brett Boardman/Bell Shakespeare

    The tribunes Sicinius (Matilda Ridgway) and Brutus (Marco Chiappi) are performed as shabbier left-wing agitators pitched against the conservative patricians in formal dark suits (costumes by Ella Butler). This makes familiar the political and class tensions, and the layers and dramatic dimensions explored by Shakespeare.

    Zengeni brings tremendous heart to Coriolanus’s mother, Volumnia. She is especially good at applying a tiger mother’s pressure of unrelenting standards. There is no doubt that the shining elitism of her son was roughly forged by her sharp expectations.

    Shammas as Coriolanus is a force to be reckoned with. His rigid athleticism perfectly suits the superman heroics of this Roman warrior. His unabashed gesticulations are a welcome contribution to the sense of the lines he delivers.

    The shabby dress of the tribunes pitches them against the conservative patricians in formal dark suits.
    Brett Boardman/Bell Shakespeare

    Following a scene that ends with one of Coriolanus’s unleashed tirades against the plebeians, Shammas’ performance is so dynamic, and his invective so rigorously conveyed, it seems to remain on stage after he exits.

    A timeless tale

    There is some reluctance to physically depict the pitched battle of Corioli, which falls a bit flat and misses an opportunity to heighten the dramatic stakes. But this production does very well to animate the complex political and familial drivers that compel Coriolanus toward his inevitable end.

    As President Trump drops f-bombs because his real bombs did not make people do his bidding, this rare Shakespeare play becomes timeless.

    There has always been need to explore the tragic consequences of leaders who subjectively refuse the offers of diplomacy. Bell Shakespeare’s choice of scheduling war plays this season offers countless ways to reflect on our own world, and the populations of real people connected to the decisions of those in power.

    Coriolanus is at the The Neilson Nutshell, Sydney, until July 19, then touring to Melbourne.

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

    – ref. As one of Shakespeare’s least performed plays, Coriolanus is startlingly relevant under Trump 2.0 – https://theconversation.com/as-one-of-shakespeares-least-performed-plays-coriolanus-is-startlingly-relevant-under-trump-2-0-257548

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • Trump says US to hold nuclear talks with Iran next week

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would likely seek a commitment from Iran to end its nuclear ambitions at talks next week and credited U.S. strikes on Iran with bringing a swift end to the war between Israel and Tehran.

    Trump said his decision to unleash huge bunker-busting bombs in Sunday’s attack had devastated Iran’s nuclear program and called the outcome “a victory for everybody”.

    “It was very severe. It was obliteration,” he said, shrugging off an initial assessment by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency that Iran’s path to building a nuclear weapon may have been set back only by months.

    Meanwhile, anxious Iranians and Israelis sought to resume normal life after 12 days of the most intense confrontation ever between the two foes and a ceasefire that took effect Tuesday.

    Speaking in The Hague where he attended a NATO summit on Wednesday, Trump said he did not see Iran again engaging in nuclear weapons development. Tehran has for decades denied accusations by Western leaders that it is seeking nuclear arms.

    “We’re going to talk to them next week, with Iran. We may sign an agreement. I don’t know. To me, I don’t think it’s that necessary,” Trump said.

    “I’ll tell you, the last thing they want to do is enrich anything right now. They want to recover,” he said, referring to Western accusations that Iran has been enriching uranium to near-weapons-grade purity.

    Later on Wednesday, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe said in a statement that the U.S. air strikes had “severely damaged” Iran’s nuclear program, but he stopped short of declaring that the program had been destroyed.

    The agency confirmed a “body of credible evidence” that several key Iranian facilities were destroyed and would take years to rebuild, he said.

    Israel’s nuclear agency assessed the strikes had “set back Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years”. The White House also circulated the Israeli assessment, although Trump said he was not relying on Israeli intelligence.

    Trump said he was confident Tehran would pursue a diplomatic path towards reconciliation. The president gave no details on the discussions next week such as the venue and participants.

    If Iran tried to rebuild its nuclear programme, “we won’t let that happen. Number one, militarily we won’t,” he said, adding that he thought “we’ll end up having something of a relationship with Iran” to resolve the issue.

    The head of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, dismissed what he called the “hourglass approach” of assessing damage to Iran’s nuclear programme in terms of months needed to rebuild as besides the point for an issue that needed a long-term solution.

    “In any case, the technological knowledge is there and the industrial capacity is there. That, no one can deny. So we need to work together with them,” he said. His priority was returning international inspectors to Iranian nuclear sites, which he said was the only way to find out precisely what state they were in.

    IRAN PRESIDENT HINTS AT DOMESTIC REFORMS

    Israel’s bombing campaign, launched with a surprise attack on June 13, wiped out the top echelon of Iran’s military leadership and killed leading nuclear scientists. Iran responded with missiles that pierced Israel’s defences in large numbers for the first time.

    Iranian authorities said 627 people were killed and nearly 5,000 injured in Iran, where the extent of the damage could not be independently confirmed because of tight restrictions on media. Twenty-eight people were killed in Israel.

    Israel claimed to have achieved its goals of destroying Iran’s nuclear sites and missiles; Iran claimed to have forced the end of the war by penetrating Israeli defences.

    Israel’s demonstration that it could target Iran’s senior leadership seemingly at will posed perhaps the biggest challenge yet for Iran’s clerical rulers, at a critical juncture when they must find a successor for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, now 86 and in power for 36 years.

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, a relative moderate elected last year in a challenge to years of dominance by hardliners, said it could result in reform.

    “This war and the empathy that it fostered between the people and officials is an opportunity to change the outlook of management and the behaviour of officials so that they can create unity,” he said in a statement carried by state media.

    Still, Iran’s authorities moved swiftly to demonstrate their control. The judiciary announced the execution of three men on Wednesday convicted of collaborating with Israel’s Mossad spy agency and smuggling equipment used in an assassination. Iran had arrested 700 people accused of ties with Israel during the conflict, the state-affiliated Nournews reported.

    During the war, both Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump publicly suggested that it could end with the toppling of Iran’s entire system of clerical rule, established in its 1979 revolution.

    But after the ceasefire, Trump said he did not want to see “regime change” in Iran, which he said would bring chaos at a time when he wanted the situation to settle down.

    RELIEF, APPREHENSION, EXHAUSTION

    In both Iran and Israel, residents expressed relief at the end of the fighting, but also apprehension.

    “We came back after the ceasefire was announced. People are relieved that the war has stopped, but there’s a lot of uncertainty about what comes next,” said Farah, 67, who returned to Tehran from nearby Lavasan, where she had fled to escape Israeli bombing.

    In Tel Aviv, Rony Hoter-Ishay Meyer, 38, said the war’s end brought mixed emotions: relief that children could return to school and normal life resume, but exhaustion from the stress.

    “Those past two weeks were catastrophic in Israel, and we are very much exhausted and we need to get back to our normal energy.”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Kelly releases statement on President Trump’s decision to bomb Iran

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

    MATTESON, ILL. — U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) released the following statement after President Donald Trump announced the U.S. military strike against Iran:

    “President Trump’s decision to bomb Iran will not lead to peace but rather cause more violence, destruction, and conflict in the Middle East. Iran can never be allowed nuclear weapons, but it was President Trump’s decision to break the Iran Nuclear Deal that allowed Iran to speed up their enrichment program, making us and our allies less safe. Instead of using diplomacy to lower temperatures, President Trump has escalated the situation, which will further destabilize the region and cause  repercussions here at home and across the globe. The Trump Administration must come to Congress for an Authorization for Use of Military Force.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Kelly rejects deadly cuts to Medicaid at health center

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

    Rep. Kelly, Cook County Health, healthcare leaders gathered at Blue Island Health Center to condemn the Republican tax bill

    BLUE ISLAND, ILL. – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) gathered elected officials, healthcare leaders and those who would be directly affected by Medicaid cuts at Cook County Health Blue Island Health Center.

    “President Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill is deadly. House Republicans passed a bill that will rip away Americans’ healthcare, overwhelm emergency rooms, and close hospitals, threatening whole communities,” said Rep. Kelly. “I will continue to raise the alarm on all the harmful effects of this legislation. Healthcare leaders, public servants and community members are speaking out in one voice: cuts to Medicaid will cost people their lives.”

    “Blue Island knows all too well what it means to lose a hospital and the impact it has on a community,” said Mayor Fred Bilotto of Blue Island. “Cuts to Medicaid would push more hospitals to the brink and strip essential care from those who need it most. We stand with Rep. Kelly in fighting to protect healthcare access and keep our communities healthy and strong.” 

    “People across the Southland and Illinois rely on Medicaid for access to health care, and I’ll continue to fight against this disastrous Republican bill,” said State Rep. Robert Rita (HD-28). “We cannot cut coverage and care for people who can least afford to lose it.”

    “Study after study shows that uninsured people are more likely to forgo or delay necessary medical care due to cost, leading to advanced diseases and premature death. This means that instead of treating diabetes and high blood pressure we will end up treating more heart attacks and strokes,” said Dr. Erik Mikaitis, Cook County Health CEO. “Cuts to Medicaid will affect every health care consumer, not just those who rely on Medicaid for coverage. Costs to care for more uninsured and sicker patients end up coming full circle in all of our health care premiums, as well as Medicare and Social Security expenses. Reduced reimbursements will impact hospitals, doctors, and nursing homes, and potentially cause closures and service reductions, worsening access and wait times for everyone.”  

    “Being a healthy society means ensuring everyone can access care,” said Dr. Kiran Joshi, chief operating officer of Cook County Department of Public Health, and family medicine physician at Cook County Health. “Medicaid cuts don’t just affect individuals—they would destabilize entire communities, deepening health inequities and setting the stage for a public health crisis driven not by new diseases, but by the deliberate dismantling of access to care.”   

    The House-passed bill cuts Medicaid by $698 billion and would result in 16 million Americans losing healthcare coverage, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office report. Nearly half a million Illinoisans would lose healthcare coverage, including over 38,000 people in the Second District. The historic cuts to Medicaid would also lead to a rise of $1.3 billion in uncompensated care costs in Illinois, threatening nine at-risk rural hospitals in the state.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Trump wants more drones and missiles, fewer F-35s in $893 billion budget request

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump wants a pay raise for troops, more high-tech missiles and drones in next year’s defense budget, while cutting Navy jobs, and buying fewer ships and fighter jets to save money, according to budget materials posted Wednesday.

    At $892.6 billion, the defense and national security budget request is flat compared with this year.

    The budget, which also includes nuclear weapons-related activities carried out by the Department of Energy and increases funding for homeland security, puts Trump’s mark on the military by pulling funds away from weaponry and services to fund his priorities.

    The White House said the funding will be used to deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, and revitalize the defense industrial base.

    Most of the funding for Trump’s marquee Golden Dome missile defense shield was included in a separate budget request and is not part of the latest proposal sent to Congress.

    In the 2026 budget Trump requested fewer F-35 jets made by Lockheed Martin LMT.N and only three warships. Procurement of a Virginia-class made by General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls Industries and 15 other ships are expected to be included in a separate appropriation bill, the Navy said.

    The budget asks for a 3.8% pay raise for troops, but also trims costs by retiring older weaponry including ships and planes that are more expensive to operate. Under the plan, the Navy will reduce its civilian employee workforce by 7,286 people.

    Compared to Biden’s budget from his last year in office, which had asked for 68 F-35 jets in fiscal 2025, Trump’s fiscal 2026 request seeks only 47 of the fighter jets.

    The budget has already sparked debate on Capitol Hill where the House Appropriations Committee’s Defense subcommittee’s draft bill for fiscal-year 2026 boosts the F-35 buy to 69, one more than Biden’s 2025 request.

    The Pentagon continues prioritizing purchasing munitions and key weapons systems.

    The Air Force is continuing its investment the Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range and Long Range Anti-Ship missile which have longer ranges and can be more effective in the Pacific.

    On the other hand, the budget seeks far fewer Precision Strike Missile, which will replace the Army Tactical Missile (ATACM) used in Ukraine.

    Lockheed Martin makes all three missiles.

    The budget also boosts spending on small drones – in part because of lessons learned in Ukraine where unmanned aircraft have proven to be an integral part of low-cost, yet highly effective warfighting.

    The detailed request comes as Republicans debate defense spending priorities in their sweeping $150 billion defense package contained in the pending “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”. The act has already been passed the House of Representatives and will give an initial $25 billion boost to Trump’s controversial Golden Dome missile defense shield.

    Defense spending usually accounts for about half of the U.S. discretionary budget; the rest goes to transportation, education, diplomacy and other departments.

    (Reuters)

  • Trump calls for Israeli PM’s trial to be cancelled

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for Israel to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or cancel his corruption trial, saying the U.S. would save him like it did his country.

    Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 in Israel on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust – all of which Netanyahu denies. The trial began in 2020 and involves three criminal cases. He has pleaded not guilty.

    “Bibi Netanyahu’s trial should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero, who has done so much for the State (of Israel),” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that he had learned that Netanyahu was due to appear in court on Monday.

    Israeli media have reported that cross-examination of Netanyahu began on June 3 in a Tel Aviv court and was expected to take about a year to complete.

    Israeli President Issac Herzog has the power to pardon Netanyahu but has been quoted by Israeli media as saying that a pardon is “not currently on the table.” He also said that “no such request had been made,” according to the reports.

    Trump extolled Netanyahu as a “warrior” but also said in his post: “It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu.”

    That appeared to be a reference to U.S. involvement and support for Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear program.

    It was unclear if Trump meant the U.S. could do anything to aid Netanyahu in his legal battle.

    The Republican president described the case against the Israeli leader as a “witch hunt,” a term Trump has frequently applied to U.S. attempts to prosecute him.

    The warm words contrasted with the rare rebuke he issued on Tuesday over Israel’s post-ceasefire strikes on Iran.

    “Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs, the likes of which I’ve never seen before. The biggest load that we’ve seen. I’m not happy with Israel,” he told reporters.

    Iran and Israel, he added, had been fighting “so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.”

    (Reuters)

  • Mamdani’s stunning upset in New York’s Democratic mayoral primary carries risks, rewards for national Democrats

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Self-described democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani’s unexpected upset in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary on Tuesday exhilarated progressive activists, who had banded together to prevent the more moderate former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo from triumphing.

    But the surprise outcome also generated excitement from a very different group of people: national Republicans.

    Soon after it became clear that Mamdani, a 33-year-old state lawmaker, was likely to prevail, Republican Vice President JD Vance sent congratulations on social media to the “new leader of the Democratic Party.” The Republican’s congressional campaign arm called him an “antisemitic socialist radical” and promised to tie him to every vulnerable Democrat in next year’s midterm elections.

    And on Wednesday, Republican President Donald Trump – a native New Yorker – piled on, writing on social media, “It’s finally happened, the Democrats have crossed the line. Zohran Mamdani, a 100% Communist Lunatic, has just won the Dem Primary, and is on his way to becoming Mayor.”

    The reactions underscore both the risks and the rewards for the Democratic Party – still trying to find its footing five months into Trump’s term – in having an unabashed left-wing nominee running in the country’s biggest city this fall.

    Mamdani’s campaign, which drew plaudits for its cheery tone and clever viral videos, could help energize young voters, a demographic that Democrats are desperate to reach in 2026 and beyond. His rise from a virtual unknown was fueled by a relentless focus on affordability, an issue Democrats struggled to address during last year’s presidential race.

    “Cost of living is the issue of our time,” Neera Tanden, the chief executive of Democratic think tank Center for American Progress wrote on X in response to Mamdani’s win. “It’s the through line animating all politics. Smart political leaders respond to it.”

    His history-making candidacy – Mamdani, born in Uganda to Indian parents, would be the city’s first Muslim and Indian American mayor – could also drive engagement among Asian and especially Muslim voters, some of whom soured on the party after the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza.

    “These elections aren’t about left, right or center, they’re about whether you’re a change to the status quo. People don’t want more of the same, they want someone who plays a different game,” said Democratic strategist Jesse Ferguson.

    But Mamdani’s criticism of Israel and his democratic socialism are also likely to show up frequently in Republican attack ads. Much of the Democratic establishment had lined up behind Cuomo, including former President Bill Clinton, partly out of unease over Mamdani’s platform. Mamdani has repeatedly said he is not antisemitic.

    “I think he’s an easy target for Republicans who want to use scare tactics to talk about the Muslim mayor from New York City who’s uber-left,” said Patrick Egan, a political science professor at New York University. But Egan noted, Mamdani has also proven to be an adept politician.

    “When people get exposed to this guy, they tend to like him,” he said.

    NO APOLOGY

    Basil Smikle, a political analyst and professor at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, said heavy-handed attacks on Mamdani could backfire by energizing “a lot of the Democratic voters to want to push more against Trump.”

    “I don’t think it hurts Democrats in the long run,” he said. “I actually think it helps them.”

    For his part, Mamdani seemed ready to embrace his role as a party leader, telling supporters in his victory speech that he would govern the city “as a model for the Democratic Party – a party where we fight for working people with no apology.” He vowed to use his mayoral power to “reject Donald Trump’s fascism.”

    Democratic voters say they want a new generation of leaders and a party that concentrates on economic issues, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll earlier this month.

    “The Democratic Party is trying to figure itself out,” said Christina Greer, a political science professor at Fordham University in New York.

    While Mamdani enters the general election as the favorite in a city dominated by Democrats, the race is more unsettled than usual.

    Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, is running as an independent after his popularity plummeted following his indictment on corruption charges and the subsequent decision by Trump’s Justice Department to drop the case. Cuomo also retains the ability to run as an independent, though he has not yet decided whether to do so.

    The Republican candidate is Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels. Jim Walden, a former federal prosecutor, is running as an independent, as well.

    The primary had become a two-man race by Election Day between Mamdani and Cuomo, echoing other Democratic nominating contests in which the party’s establishment and liberal wings have wrestled for power. But it was also a generational clash between Mamdani and Cuomo, the 67-year-old scion of a New York political family.

    That said, Cuomo carried plenty of personal baggage, four years after he resigned the governorship amid allegations of sexual harassment, which he has denied.

    “Some people were voting for Mamdani to express their displeasure for Cuomo,” Greer said.

    Mamdani’s unlikely ascension bore some of the same hallmarks of similar rises for two other democratic socialists, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, both of whom endorsed his campaign.

    Sanders, an independent, emerged as a leading Democratic presidential candidate in 2016 and 2020, while Ocasio-Cortez pulled off an upset in 2018 by defeating a longtime incumbent Democrat.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: NZ SUPER FUND STAKEHOLDER UPDATE

    Source: New Zealand Super Fund

    Portfolio Update – The value of the NZ Super Fund has mirrored the performance of global risk assets over the past couple of months, dropping to $74 billion following US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcements on 2 April and subsequently recovering to pass $83 billion.

    Periods of volatility are part and parcel of running a growth-focused portfolio, which we continue to believe is the investment strategy best suited to our mandate and to our purpose, Sustainable Investment Delivering Strong Returns to All New Zealanders.

    As a long-term investor, we are able to ride out, and even take advantage of, short-term market volatility. For example, one of our most successful active strategies over the past few years is Strategic Tilting. This strategy is based on our belief that investments tend to return to fair value over time and that, given our long-term investment horizon, we can improve our risk-adjusted returns by reducing our exposure to assets we believe are over-priced assets in favour of holding assets we believe offer value.

    As we have seen during the GFC and at the outset of the Covid pandemic, this strategy can generate losses over the short to medium term: our operational independence and our clearly defined governance model are essential to the success of this strategy.

    Market Conditions

    Financial markets remain closely attuned to developments in U.S. trade policy and ongoing tariff negotiations under the Trump Administration. These policy uncertainties, combined with concerns over the recently released federal budget – which is projected to significantly widen the U.S. fiscal deficit – have heightened investor caution.

    As a result, long-term U.S. Treasury yields have risen, driven in part by increased investor demand for alternative sovereign debt instruments. Notably, Japanese Government Bonds (JGBs) have seen a pickup in yields, offering a relatively attractive option for investors seeking safety and yield diversification. This shift in sentiment has also contributed to a modest depreciation of the U.S. dollar against major currencies.

    Global economic activity expanded at a moderate pace in Q1, but recent indicators suggest a softening in momentum across several economies. Inflation remains broadly in line with central bank targets, helped by subdued energy prices. In response to the cooling outlook, central banks in New Zealand, Australia, and the Eurozone have eased monetary policy, while the U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates steady.

    Adding to global uncertainty, escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have driven a sharp increase in commodity prices, particularly in oil markets. These developments are likely to be a key source of market volatility in the near term.

    The NZ Super Fund in the Budget

    The amount of money the government is required to contribute to the Super Fund is determined by a formula set out in Section 43 of our Act (the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001).

    It is a complicated-looking calculation, but the most important inputs are the expected nominal GDP and net cost of superannuation over the following 40 years and the size of the Super Fund.

    If nominal GDP or the size of the Super Fund is higher than expected (or if the net cost of superannuation is lower), the Government is required to contribute a lower amount.

    These forecasts are updated by Treasury every six months at the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) and the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU).

    At the last HYEFU, Treasury forecast that the government would be able to make its first withdrawal from the Super Fund in 2031 ($96 million).

    Last month’s updated numbers, published alongside Finance Minister Nicola Willis’s 2025 Budget, forecast that the first withdrawal would come in 2028 ($32 million). 2036 remains the year where withdrawals are forecast to pass $1 billion for the first time.

    Reductions in forecast government contribution have been a trend for the past few years, driven by higher-than-expected returns from the Super Fund and lower-than-previously-expected future net superannuation costs.    

    The Elevate Fund

    The Budget also contained the news that the Government would divert this year’s capital contribution of $61 million to the Elevate Fund, along with a further $39 million from the government’s capital allowance.

    This $100 million commitment provides some welcome certainty for NZGCP, whom the Guardians appointed to manage Elevate in line with the legislation that established the fund in 2019 (the Venture Capital Fund Act), and matches the approach taken by the previous government when it first set up Elevate.

    We look forward to continuing to work with NZGCP to maintain Elevate’s contribution to increasing the venture capital available to New Zealand entities and developing New Zealand’s venture capital markets to function more effectively. 

    Minister of Finance’s Letter of Expectations

    We have now published our response to the Letter of Expectations 2025/26 that we received earlier this year from Finance Minister Nicola Willis.

    Click here to read the Minister’s letter, and here to read our response. 

    Guardians staffer elected to ILPA board

    Del Hart, our Head of External Investments and Partnerships, was recently elected to the Board of the Institutional Limited Partners Association. With 618 institutional members drawn from 50 countries, the ILPA is an important industry advocate and thought leader.

    Private markets are growing and changing rapidly. Del’s perspective will be of great value as we continue to refine our thinking about investing in this asset class.

    Industry recognises Leadership Team member’s career and contribution

    Paula Steed, recently appointed as Guardians GM Technology (and previously GM Strategy and Shared Services), has been inducted as a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants Association of Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ). Fellowships are given for outstanding career achievements or contributions to the profession, as decided by CAANZ members.  

    NZ Super Fund Scholarship winner

    Avondale College alumna Chana Malungahu is the latest recipient of the NZ Super Fund AUT Business Scholarship – Pacific. Chana, who enrolled at AUT in the second semester last year, is currently studying business strategy, international business management, and entrepreneurship and innovation, and working towards a Bachelor of Business degree. 

    AUT Business School announced the award of this scholarship via their LinkedIn page.

    Annual Report voted best in Australasia

    For the fourth time in five years the Guardians’ annual report has been named Report of the Year at this year’s ARA awards. Judges described the report as “designed to engage readers and effectively communicate the organisation’s messages … customer centric and easy to understand.”

    Read our Annual Report for FY24 here.

    The Judges’ comments and a full list of award winners can be found on the ARA website.

    In the news

    Guardians Board member (and former Senior Investment Strategist at the NZ Super Fund) Sue Brake and CalPERS Chief Investment Officer (and former Chief Investment Officer at the NZ Super Fund) Stephen Gilmore talk about the Total Portfolio Approach to investing with Thinking Ahead Institute Associate Director Isabella Martin – the latest in Isabella’s Investing for the Future series of podcasts.

    The Guardians is gearing up to combine a multitude of investment data models across the organisation into a central model-of-models, which should lead to better investment decisions and cost savings. Maaike van Tol, our Director of Portfolio Design, recently sat down with the Investment Innovation Institute’s Director of Content, Wouter Klijn, to talk about how a comprehensive data analytics function can lead to more meaningful conversations, better investment decisions, and lower costs. Read Wouter’s report here.   

    Sustainable Investment Analyst Laumanu Mafi recently featured on RadioNZ’s Pacific Waves programme, where she and host Susana Suisuiki discussed some of the difficulties Pacific women face in accessing the retirement benefits they need. An economist by training, Laumanu spent three years on the investment team at Tonga’s Retirement Fund Board before joining the Guardians two years ago. Go to RNZ Pacific to listen to their conversation.

    Congratulations to former Guardians Board member Mark Tume, winner of the Invest New Zealand – Te Tohu Kahukura Māori Leadership in Finance Award at the recent INFINZ awards. A full list of award winners can be found here.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Moolenaar Statement on American Strikes on Iran

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

    Headline: Moolenaar Statement on American Strikes on Iran

    Congressman John Moolenaar released the following statement on the American strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities:

    “President Trump has been consistent. A nuclear Iran poses a threat to our nation, our military personnel, and our allies in the region. His decision to strike Iran is necessary to keep our nation and our allies safe, and ensure the number one sponsor of terrorism does not develop nuclear weapons.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Moolenaar, Walberg, Bergman Introduce Legislation to Protect Line 5

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

    Headline: Moolenaar, Walberg, Bergman Introduce Legislation to Protect Line 5

    Today, Congressman John Moolenaar introduced legislation to ensure Line 5 remains open to provide low-cost energy for Michigan residents. The Line 5 Act would prevent future administrations from shutting down the international pipeline. Moolenaar’s legislation is cosponsored by Congressmen Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Jack Bergman (R-MI).

    “Line 5 is a vital source of energy for Michigan families. Unfortunately, the previous administration did not recognize its value to our state and fought to shut down the pipeline with bureaucratic red tape. Thankfully, the Trump administration has worked to ensure Line 5 remains open to serve Michigan residents. The Line 5 Act is a commonsense, two-page bill, which will stop future administrations from reversing the progress made by President Trump’s administration on Line 5, so Michigan families can count on it to affordably heat their homes,” said Congressman Moolenaar. 

    “Michiganders rely on Line 5 for a safe, secure, and reliable supply of energy to heat their homes and power our local economy,” said Rep. Walberg. “While the Trump administration has shown its steadfast dedication to securing American energy reliability, it is vital that we prevent future presidents from shutting down this safe and essential pipeline. Energy security is national security, and we must protect our critical energy infrastructure.” 

    “Line 5 is critical to Michigan families and our way of life. No president, regardless of their party – should have the power to shut it down with the stroke of a pen. Line 5 keeps energy affordable, supports thousands of Michigan jobs, and helps fuel our economy. This bill is about putting common sense and stability ahead of political agendas,” said General Bergman. 

    Approximately 320,000 households in Michigan rely on propane to heat their homes. Line 5 provides 55% of the state’s propane supply. 

    The text Line 5 Act can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn: Big Beautiful Bill Will Prevent Tax Hike on Texans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – Today on Fox Business’ Kudlow, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) praised the One Big Beautiful Bill as a historic opportunity to prevent a more-than $3,000 tax hike on Texas families and bend the spending curve. Excerpts are below, and video can be found here.
    “We’ve got to continue the current tax provisions so we don’t see a multitrillion-dollar tax increase.”
    “President Trump understands that the real key here is getting our economy growing again, and his deregulatory agenda, his focus on American energy production, and lowering taxes, and expensing equipment, and things like that, is going to see this economy boom – just like it did after the 2017 tax bill up until the time the pandemic hit. It was the best economy I’ve seen in my lifetime, and I think this promises to be even better.”
    “If you don’t vote for the bill, you’re going to see a multitrillion-dollar tax increase. That does nothing for the deficit and debt.”
     “So we’re making good, incremental change – a good first start.”
    “We need to get this bill done so people don’t experience a huge tax increase.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Gonzalez Calls on President Trump to Save the American Workforce

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

    Pushes President to Issue Executive Order that Helps Struggling South Texas Businesses

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) announcedthat he has called on President Trump to save the American workforce by sending a letter urging executive action to help struggling businesses in South Texas and across the U.S.  

    This comes as the administration’s mass deportation agenda has disproportionately hurt many businesses, including the agriculture, construction, and hospitality sectors.

    The letter reads, “Like you, I am a strong supporter of legal migration and the apprehension of criminals, which is why I voted in support of legislation like the Laken Riley Act. However, American businesses are being harmed by what you described as a “…very aggressive policy…” This country is heavily reliant on an undocumented workforce in industries like construction, agriculture, and hospitality. That is why I urge you to protect American businesses and issue an executive order that would allow small business to sponsor undocumented migrants who have been in the country for three years and have no criminal record. This executive order would provide migrants temporary lawful status on a yearly basis and allow them to continue working without fear of deportation.”

    Currently, the Trump Administration’s mass deportation policies could lead to the removal of an estimated:  

    1.5 million workers from the construction workforce 

    1 million workers in the hospitality industry 

    870,400 workers in the manufacturing industry 

    500,800 workers in general services 

    460,500 workers in transportation and warehousing 

    224,700 workers from the agriculture industry 

    Read the full letter here. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen Celebrates Passage of Bill to Protect Against Influence of Foreign Adversaries

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Pillen Celebrates Passage of Bill to Protect Against Influence of Foreign Adversaries

     

    LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen celebrated passage of LB644, brought on his behalf by Senator Eliot Bostar. During the news conference, the Governor signed ceremonial copies of the bill. He officially signed the legislation into law on June 4.

    LB644 creates two new acts: the Foreign Adversary and Terrorist Agent Registration Act and the Crush Transnational Repression in Nebraska Act. Together, the acts are aimed at knowing who represents foreign adversaries within the state, curbing the information and/or data they may access or distribute, as well as providing protection against tactics that could be utilized by such organizations to cause undue influence or harm. Reporting requirements and penalties for violations are outlined within each Act.

    “Iran, China, Russia, North Korea, Cuba and the Maduro regime in Venezuela are all designated as foreign adversaries by the U.S. Government,” said Gov. Pillen. “They do not have our best interests at heart and as a result, we need to take appropriate steps to make sure that as a state, we are protected.”

    LB644 represents the latest of several executive and legislative actions that Gov. Pillen has authorized since taking office – all aimed at making sure state assets including infrastructure, land, technology and people are protected.

    “In today’s world, the means of getting access, of getting information, and crippling our most critical systems is easier than ever, which is why we are highly focused on addressing these issues,” continued Gov. Pillen.

    Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly, who serves as the state’s director of homeland security, called attention to several of the executive orders and bills signed by Gov. Pillen over the two previous legislative sessions — including LB683 and LB1301 — both brought Sen. Bostar. Those bills, respectively, address the protection of communications equipment and prohibit companies from adversarial countries bidding on state and local procurement contracts.

    “This year, primarily, the legislation is focused on guarding against foreign adversarial influence operations,” said Bostar. “We have some existing transparency requirements for those who would seek to influence policy in the state of Nebraska, but not enough. It doesn’t prohibit the circumvention of full transparency over interests that would be adversarial to the interests of Nebraskans.”

    Michael Lucci, founder and CEO of State Armor, pointed to Nebraska’s leadership among other states when it comes to addressing national security issues.

    “Resilience is the key topic for states to address — being ready for potential conflict, being ready to counter political warfare — this is a part of resilience,” noted Lucci.

    State Armor works alongside states to identify solutions to global security issues and was founded following the introduction of LB683 in 2023.

    “One of the first things when our organization was founded was to tell states, ‘do what Nebraska did.’  And we have not stopped conveying that message.”  

    Lucci commended Nebraska lawmakers on taking a bipartisan approach to legislation aimed at protecting the state and signaled it was the approach President Trump and other federal officials want to see.  

    Major General Craig Strong, adjutant general for the Nebraska National Guard and director of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) remarked that in his dual role, homeland security was top of mind.

    “Our adversaries can reach out at us through many different methods, and not just through the traditional, conventional munitions, but by way of cyber-attack, satellite imagery and other vectors that we have to be aware of, such as drones,” said MG Strong. “This bill clearly helps us maintain the level of awareness and readiness that are important elements of our state emergency response plans, particularly as it relates to Nebraska’s homeland defense.

     Also attending today’s news conference and ceremonial bill signing were senators Beau Ballard, Barry DeKay and Brian Hardin.

     Links to executive orders, legislation and letters signed by Gov. Pillen to protect the state against foreign adversaries can be found below.

    https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/gov-pillen-joins-letter-calling-halt-foreign-land-grabs

    https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/governor-pillen-senators-push-back-against-foreign-adversaries

    https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/gov-pillen-senators-and-dept-ag-present-laws-protect-nebraska-foreign-adversaries-during-news

    https://governor.nebraska.gov/gov-pillen-signs-executive-order-banning-more-ccp-tech

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Iran ratifies plan to halt cooperation with IAEA

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

    The Iranian parliament on Wednesday approved the general outlines and details of a plan to suspend the country’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

    The bill was approved at an open session of the parliament in the Iranian capital Tehran, with 221 votes in favor and one abstention, reported the ICANA news agency affiliated with Iran’s legislative body.

    According to the report, the plan requires the Iranian administration to suspend its cooperation with the IAEA, the United Nations nuclear watchdog.

    The plan stipulates that, given the violation of Iran’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity by Israel and the United States through attacking the country’s peaceful nuclear facilities and jeopardizing its interests, the Iranian government is duty-bound to immediately suspend any kind of cooperation with the IAEA based on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement until a number of preconditions are met.

    It lists the conditions as ensuring respect for Iran’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the security of the country’s nuclear centers and scientists within the framework of the UN Charter and the complete recognition of Iran’s inherent rights under the NPT, especially the enrichment of uranium on Iranian soil.

    Elaborating on the plan, Seyed Mohammad Nabavian, an Iranian lawmaker, said it was not focused on Iran’s withdrawal from the NPT, as the country was committed to the treaty and had announced that its nuclear activities were all peaceful, ICANA reported.

    On June 13, Israel launched major airstrikes on different areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing several senior commanders, nuclear scientists and many civilians. Iran responded by launching several waves of missile and drone attacks on Israel, inflicting casualties and heavy damage.

    On Saturday, the U.S. Air Force bombed three Iranian nuclear sites of Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. In retaliation, Iran on Monday struck the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar with missiles.

    Following Iran’s attack, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel would begin around 0400 GMT Tuesday. Both sides later confirmed the start of the ceasefire. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Zelensky, Trump discuss steps to ceasefire

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

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that he discussed steps toward a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

    “We discussed how to achieve a ceasefire and a real peace. We spoke about how to protect our people,” Zelensky said on social media platform X.

    Ukraine appreciates the attention and the readiness of the United States to help bring peace closer, Zelensky said.

    Zelensky and Trump met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: NATO countries agree to hike defense spending to 5 pct of GDP by 2035

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

    Member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have agreed to raise their defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) annually by 2035, according to a declaration issued on Wednesday following the high-level summit in The Hague.

    The five-paragraph statement outlined that the new spending target will be split between two key categories: 3.5 percent for core defense and 1.5 percent for related areas, including critical infrastructure, networks, and defense industrial capabilities.

    The plan will undergo a review in 2029, taking into account the strategic environment and revised capability targets, the document added.

    U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the agreement at a press conference after the summit, asserting that Washington had long carried more than its fair share of the alliance’s defense burden.

    However, he singled out Spain, criticising Madrid as the only country refusing to meet its full commitment.

    Trump said the United States is negotiating a trade deal with Spain and warned that Madrid could be made to “pay twice as much” through trade measures.

    Spain has agreed with NATO to limit its military spending to 2.1 percent of GDP, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Sunday, ahead of the NATO summit.

    In his Sunday statement, Sanchez warned that “rushing toward 5 percent” would lead to rising prices and public spending, and reduce investment in key sectors such as education and digital development.

    Calling the 5 percent target “disproportionate and unnecessary” for Spain, Sanchez emphasized that Spain is “one of the five NATO countries with the most troops deployed worldwide.” He also stressed that “asymmetry within NATO is normal and inevitable,” citing the economic diversity among allies. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Demands Update On DOJ’s Implementation Of Law To Combat Gun Trafficking

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    Core Of Gillibrand’s Anti-Gun Trafficking Legislation Passed As Part Of The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
    Provision Got More Than 3,000 Guns Off The Streets In Just Over 2 Years
    Since Trump Has Taken Office, DOJ Has Stopped Providing Congress With Updates On Progress Being Made To Fight Trafficking
    Ahead of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s appearance before the Senate Appropriations Committee, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is requesting an update on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) progress in implementing the anti-gun trafficking statute passed as part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). In previous years, DOJ provided regular updates on the number of alleged firearm traffickers charged and the number of illicit firearms seized using this statute. However, since President Trump took office, these updates have stopped. Gillibrand is requesting that Attorney General Bondi provide a prompt update on what progress DOJ has made in prosecuting dangerous criminals and getting weapons off our streets. 
    “Three years ago, Congress passed the first significant federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years,” said Senator Gillibrand. “In that time, the bill has had tremendous success in getting guns and criminals off our streets. But since President Trump took office, the Justice Department has stopped providing Congress with regular updates on what, if any, progress is being made in fighting gun trafficking. We need full transparency as we continue to implement this legislation, and I am calling on Attorney General Bondi to provide comprehensive data immediately.” 
    Senator Gillibrand’s Hadiya Pendleton and Nyasia Pryear-Yard Gun Trafficking and Crime Prevention Act formed the centerpiece of BSCA’s anti-gun trafficking provision. Gillibrand first introduced the bill in 2009 after meeting with the family of Nyasia Pryear-Yard, who tragically lost her life at 17 years old when she was shot by a perpetrator using an illegally trafficked gun. Gillibrand worked with Nyasia’s mother, Jennifer Pryear, to pass the bill into law, and they attended the bill signing together in 2022. As of September 2024, the statute had been used to charge 423 defendants and secure at least 119 convictions, as well as take more than 3,000 illegal guns off our streets, including 317 AR-15s and AR-style weapons, 478 machine gun conversion devices, and 206 ghost guns.
    The full text of Senator Gillibrand’s letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi is available here or below: 
    Dear Attorney General Bondi,
    As we approach the three-year anniversary of the enactment of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), I write to request an update on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) implementation of the anti-gun trafficking statute, 18 U.S.C. 933 (“trafficking in firearms”). In years past, the Department worked diligently with my office to provide timely and comprehensive reports pertaining to the effectiveness of the anti-gun trafficking statute, demonstrating the Department’s success in using the statute to charge hundreds of firearm traffickers and seize thousands of illicit firearms. Since January 20, 2025, requests to the Justice Department for these reports from my office have gone unanswered.
    Firearms trafficking remains a significant driver of gun violence in the United States. The illicit movement of firearms across state lines floods communities with deadly weapons and allows criminals to get their hands on firearms they would not otherwise be able to possess. This is a particularly pernicious issue in states like New York, where state-level efforts to implement gun safety measures are consistently undermined by the steady influx of illegal firearms from neighboring states. Reports from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have found that nearly 230,000 firearms were trafficked in more than 7,700 cases from 2017-2021 and that unlicensed sellers were the largest source of trafficked firearms.2 Additionally, approximately 80% of firearms connected to a crime and recovered by law enforcement in New York come from out of state.
    In the absence of a dedicated federal law to criminalize interstate firearms trafficking, authorities historically had to rely on a patchwork of weak, easily exploitable statutes to prosecute offenders. This made enforcement extremely difficult and allowed traffickers to operate with little fear of serious consequences. After over a decade of pursuing legislation to close this trafficking loophole and make firearms trafficking a federal crime, I was pleased to see the core of my anti-gun trafficking legislation established in BSCA. Now, under 18 U.S.C. 933, it is illegal to “ship, transport, transfer, cause to be transported, or otherwise dispose of any firearm to another person in or otherwise affecting interstate or foreign commerce, if such person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the use, carrying, or possession of a firearm by the recipient would constitute a felony.” The law also barred the receipt of such firearms “if the recipient knows or has reasonable cause to believe that such receipt would constitute a felony.” Offenders face up to 15 years in prison and must forfeit any property and proceeds related to the violation.
    Authorities have successfully used the statute to break up firearms trafficking operations large and small. In many cases, multiple defendants have been arrested and indicted after attempting to traffic dozens of firearms – often to undercover agents themselves. Charges have been brought against suspected gang members, leaders of gun trafficking rings, and previously convicted felons. In its last communication with my office in late 2024, the DOJ reported that it had prosecuted 489 defendants so far under 18 U.S.C. 933. During your confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you stated your commitment to “enforcing federal gun laws as appropriate and in accordance with the relevant facts and law.” BSCA was a historic piece of legislation – the first significant federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years – but to truly maximize its intended benefits, diligent enforcement, implementation and transparency is required. I look forward to hearing from you and to continuing to work together on these issues.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gillibrand Highlights Impact of Trump’s Big Beautiful Betrayal On New York Children and Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    Today. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference to highlight the catastrophic impact President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” would have on New York’s children and families. More than 37 million children nationwide rely on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to access essential health care, and this legislation would threaten their ability to receive behavioral health treatment, vision and hearing screenings, and other basic care. Furthermore, additional and more onerous work requirements for SNAP included in the bill will apply to parents and households with children; this added red tape could force thousands of kids to go hungry when their parents lose access to benefits. 
    “Republicans’ proposed cuts to SNAP and Medicaid will hurt our kids,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Half of all patients at pediatric hospitals are covered by Medicaid, and thousands of children across the country rely on the Medicaid-funded checkups and mental and behavioral health care they get at school. Harsher work requirements for SNAP will also deprive hungry kids whose parents are struggling to find work of high-quality nutrition. This legislation is a betrayal of our kids and our families, and I am urging my Republican colleagues to reconsider it.” 
    School districts across the country receive Medicaid funding to hire school nurses, psychologists, speech language pathologists, and other health professionals. Medicaid also funds the purchase of assistive technology and specialized equipment for students with disabilities. Stripping Medicaid of funding would force schools to lay off health staff and limit services, depriving many low-income kids of some of their only access to health care. Harsher work requirements for SNAP will force kids to go hungry if their parents cannot find work that covers the cost of child care, provides the minimum number of hours, and does not interfere with a school schedule or caring for a sick child.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER, STANDING WITH FLIGHT 3407 FAMILIES DIRECTLY AFTER MEETING WITH TRUMP’S TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY, SLAMS ADMINISTRATION’S FAILURE TO FULLY COMMIT TO PROTECTING AIR SAFETY REGULATIONS &…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    Trump’s FAA Nominee Earlier This Month Repeatedly Refused To Commit To Protecting Aviation Safety Reforms Created By 3407 Families; Schumer Pushed For 3407 Families To Meet With Secretary Duffy – Like Every Transportation Secretary Before Him –To Discuss Importance Of Air Safety Regulations
    Advocates & Pilots Fear Trump Admin Will Roll Back Critical Flight Safety Regulations, Including Requirement That Pilots Log 1,500 Flight Hours In Order To Receive Certificate And Pilot Record Database, Risking Safety
    Schumer: Keeping Our Skies Safe Means Protecting 1,500-Hour Rule
    Standing with Flight 3407 families after their meeting with Transportation Secretary Duffy, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer slammed the Trump administration’s repeated failure to commit to protecting the 1,500-hour rule and other aviation safety regulations created in the aftermath of the 2009 tragedy in Western NY to prevent an accident like it from ever happening again. Amid growing fears about air safety, and following the Trump’s FAA nominee’s callous disregard to respect these rules, Schumer and the Flight 3407 families are demanding that the FAA not roll back these basic air safety standards, which would weaken the training for our pilots risking air travel safety and lives.
    “Working with the families of Flight 3407 to create the 1,500-hour rule and set a new standard for aviation safety has been one of the most inspirational things I’ve done in Congress. They represent the best of America, turning their grief into action to prevent a tragedy like this from occurring ever again. At this critical moment for aviation safety, after we just experienced a tragic crash here in DC, we need well-trained pilots who are prepared to make last second decisions,” said Senator Schumer. “Weakening the 1,500-hour rule and reducing the number of hours pilots train in the air is dangerous and could cost lives. If the Trump administration thinks we’ll let them turn back the clock on aviation safety, they are in for a rude awakening. We fought for years to create these basic safety reforms and we will not rest until we know they will remain untouched.”
    Earlier today, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted 15-13 to advance Bryan Bedford’s nomination to lead the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with all Senate Democrats opposing. At his nomination hearing earlier this month, Bedford multiple times refused to commit to protecting the 1,500-hour rule and basic aviation safety standards. Schumer said it is concerning that Republicans voted to advance Bedford to lead the very agency tasked with enforcing air safety regulations.
    Amid growing concerns for aviation safety earlier this year, Schumer called for U.S. Transportation Sean Duffy to meet with the families of Flight 3407 and commit to them clearly and unequivocally that he will not roll back the aviation safety law and pilot training standard, including the 1,500 rule, that they fought together to create.
    Schumer has been a long-time, relentless advocate for air safety standards following the tragic crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407. In February 2009, the tragic crash of Flight 3407 near Buffalo, New York claimed 50 lives and alerted the nation to the shortfalls in our aviation safety system, particularly at the regional airline level. In the wake of the tragedy, Schumer worked with the families who lost loved ones in the crash, to pass the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010. This landmark aviation safety legislation addressed many of the factors contributing to the increasing safety gap between regional and mainline carriers by requiring the FAA to develop regulations to improve safety, including enhanced entry-level pilot training and qualification standards, pilot fatigue rules, airline pilot training and safety management programs, and the creation of an electronic Pilot Record Database.
    Notably, the legislation included a mandate that first officers – also known as co-pilots – hold an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, which requires that the pilot log 1,500 flight hours, and the advocacy of the families has led to many other laws including regulations to combat pilot fatigue, the establishment of the electronic Pilot Records Database, and more.
    Schumer has previously raised concerns about the Trump administration’s commitment to upholding air safety standards. Earlier this month, Schumer expressed worry about the nomination of Bryan Bedford, Trump’s nominee for the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, due to his history of trying to repeal the 1,500-rule and continued refusal to commit to protecting the 1,500-hour rule and other aviation safety reforms created by the Flight 3407 during the confirmation process. With the Senate moving forward with Bedford’s nomination today, Schumer said it is important for the Trump administration to be firm in its commitment to maintaining air safety standards.
    As early as 2014, less than a year after the 1500-hour rulemaking process took effect, Mr. Bedford – serving as Republic Airways CEO – sought to reduce the number of hours required to serve as a pilot-in-command of a commercial airline. Again in 2022, the Bedford-led Republic Airways sought to circumvent flight-safety regulations by requesting an exemption from the 1500-hour rule. The FAA eventually denied this request, following strong advocacy from me and the families against Bedford’s attempt to roll back safety standards. Schumer said that, if confirmed as administrator, Bedford would have the authority to effectively erode the 1,500 rule which the Senator vowed to stand against.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Veasey On Trump’s Decision to Strike Iran to Boost His Political Standing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Marc Veasey (33rd District of Texas)

    Headline: Congressman Veasey On Trump’s Decision to Strike Iran to Boost His Political Standing

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Veasey released the following statement regarding Trump’s decision to unilaterally launch strikes against Iran without Congressional authorization:

    “The Constitution is clear: only Congress has the authority to declare war. No president — not even Donald Trump — can unilaterally launch us into a conflict to boost his political standing.

    Let me clear: the Islamic Republic of Iran is a hostile regime that threatens our allies, funds terrorism, and has consistently pursued nuclear capabilities in defiance of international norms. I have no illusions about that. Tehran must never obtain a nuclear weapon — and America must be prepared to act decisively to prevent that outcome.

    But launching a major military strike without Congressional authorization, without coordination with our allies, and without a clear endgame is not leadership — it’s chaos.

    President Trump’s hair trigger foreign policy has made America weaker, not stronger. He abandoned the JCPOA with no viable replacement, gutted our diplomatic and soft power tools like USAID and Radio Farda, and left our allies in the dark. Now, with one strike, he’s escalated tensions across the region, endangered U.S. troops, and risked dragging our nation into a broader conflict — all without a plan. We need a hard line against Iranian theocracy— but it must be smart, lawful, and backed by a coalition of allies.

    I pray for the safety of the US troops stationed abroad as we learn more about the details of this strike.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. ––Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens released the following statement: 

    “For decades, Iran has been the largest state sponsor of terrorism, causing chaos in the Middle East, and putting Americans and our allies in danger. For them to obtain a nuclear weapon would make peace in the Middle East unachievable and make our country and our world an unsafe place. 

    Last night, America’s armed forces carried out an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. I am relieved none of our brave American service men and women were hurt.

    Like most Michiganders, I believe the last thing our country needs is to be involved in another foreign war. Any further action must receive approval from Congress. I intend to use my power as a member of Congress to ensure that this president and this administration do not continue to abuse the system of checks and balances we have in this country. I am also demanding that the Trump administration give Congress a briefing and give us intelligence rationale for this attack and ongoing threats in the region.

    We also must focus on protecting American troops and civilians in the region, and work to evacuate Americans where needed. If any Michiganders are currently in Israel or the Middle East and need help getting home, please contact our district office, who has staff standing by ready to assist.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FACT SHEET: Trump’s Rescission Package Would Devastate Local Public Radio, TV Stations Across America

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Rescissions package that Senate Republicans are debating—and House Republicans passed—would rescind every dollar of federal support for 1500+ local public radio and TV stations nationwide 

    Sweeping cuts would hit rural stations hardest, force layoffs nationwide, and even jeopardize lifesaving emergency alerts people count on 

    Washington, D.C. – Ahead of a hearing on President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescissions request with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released a new fact sheet detailing how the request to zero out $1.1 billion in funding Congress has already appropriated on a bipartisan basis for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) would hurt communities nationwide who count on the programming offered by the over 1500+ public radio and TV stations the funding supports.

    1500+ STATIONS ACROSS AMERICA SET TO LOSE CRITICAL SUPPORT IF PACKAGE PASSES 

     [Full map and CPB data available here] 

    The rescissions package requested by President Trump that the House of Representatives passed in full earlier this month would rescind two years of advance funding Congress has provided for CPB to support public media in fiscal years 2026 and 2027—ripping away support that over 1500 public radio and TV stations all over the country rely on to keep broadcasts on air and deliver impartial news and critical updates that people count on every day.  

    For 50+ years, Congress has provided advance appropriations for CPB to help insulate stations’ programming decisions from politics—and to provide them with the certainty they need to keep the lights on. 

    ALL 50 STATES TO LOSE OUT SIGNIFICANTLY 

    Every state in the country is set to lose critical funding for local public radio and TV stations if the CPB funding is rescinded.  

    FUNDING ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK 

    State  Funding 
    Alabama  $5,408,997  
    Alaska  $12,023,34  
    Arizona  $7,424,661  
    Arkansas  $3,187,528  
    California  $57,105,735 
    Colorado  $7,655,017  
    Connecticut  $3,017,018  
    Delaware  $133,048  
    District of Columbia  $18,275,757 
    Florida  $24,944,99  
    Georgia  $6,558,857  
    Hawaii  $4,292,969  
    Idaho  $3,341,916  
    Illinois  $12,818,816 
    Indiana  $9,388,508  
    Iowa  $4,723,772  
    Kansas  $3,989,434  
    Kentucky  $6,627,021  
    Louisiana  $6,530,752  
    Maine  $2,895,498  
    Maryland  $6,357,641  
    Massachusetts  $22,549,33  
    Michigan  $11,818,761  
    Minnesota  $17,228,752 
    Mississippi  $2,824,520  
    Missouri  $8,677,805  
    Montana  $2,837,807  
    Nebraska  $6,297,290  
    Nevada  $3,881,471  
    New Hampshire  $1,795,240  
    New Jersey  $2,282,024  
    New Mexico  $5,841,697  
    New York  $42,556,210  
    North Carolina  $8,236,216  
    North Dakota  $2,564,579  
    Ohio  $13,341,101  
    Oklahoma  $3,485,600  
    Oregon  $7,468,534  
    Pennsylvania  $14,492,945  
    Rhode Island  $1,082,244  
    South Carolina  $3,488,714  
    South Dakota  $3,038,524  
    Tennessee  $7,365,199  
    Texas  $17,719,507  
    Utah  $7,103,835  
    Vermont  $2,043,510  
    Virginia  $99,465,449  
    Washington  $10,106,644  
    West Virginia  $1,790,242  
    Wisconsin  $8,498,812  
    Wyoming  $1,870,865 

    The totals above detail the funding each state received in fiscal year 2024—the latest full year of data available. [CPB DATA] 

    LIFESAVING EMERGENCY ALERTS IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY 

    When disasters and other threats strike, public radio and TV stations nationwide not only provide critical updates to those affected who may be cut off from other communications channels, they also play an instrumental role in delivering emergency alerts. 

    Since 2013, public TV stations have helped the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system deliver emergency alerts to people’s cell phones via the stations’ own transmitters when cell companies’ connections fail. In 2024, over 11,000 alerts were issued by federal, state, and local authorities via the PBS WARN system. 

    Similarly, the Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS), which is managed by NPR, helps send presidential emergency alerts to local public radio stations nationwide—allowing critical communications to reach people, even when the internet or cellular connections fail.  

    Here are just a few recent examples of how CPB-funded stations and systems have helped disaster survivors: 

    • When wildfires ravaged southern California earlier this year, public media stations provided real-time updates and information to over 18 million people—and issued 100+ geo-targeted Wireless Emergency Alerts, like fire weather warnings, evacuation warnings and orders, and curfew notices. 
    • When Hurricane Helene struck North Carolina, one local public radio station provided essential real-time updates and news as internet and cell services were down. 
    • When severe floods swept across central and eastern Kentucky this year—causing people to lose power and internet connections—local public radio let people know the latest weather reports, evacuation orders, where to take shelter, and how to apply for aid. 

    Zeroing out all CPB funding will seriously jeopardize stations’ ability to continue serving critical, lifesaving alerts and cut resources specifically provided to maintain and strengthen these emergency alert systems. 

    RURAL COMMUNITIES HIT HARDEST 

    Nearly half of all CPB grantees serve rural communities—and these rural stations are disproportionately reliant on CPB funding to keep their broadcast on air. Federal funding supports an average of 17% of rural stations’ revenue versus 9% for non-rural stations.  

    In total, 120 rural stations rely on federal funding for at least 25% of their revenue—and over 30 stations count on it for at least half. Some stations in the most remote parts of the country depend on federal support for even more of their revenue and could be forced to immediately shut down operations if CPB is defunded. 

    If this support is ripped away, stations will be forced to cut back on programming, lay off staff, and even take their broadcasts off the air.  

    “Should the Senate go along with the House and claw back this funding,

    we’re going to see probably a third of our public radio stations go dark.” 

    — Ed Ulman, CEO of Alaska Public Media 

    “We are in a rural area, so a lot of areas don’t have cellphone service.  

    A lot of people do rely on the radio to get much of their information.”  

    — Station Manager at KGVA 88.1 in Montana 

    EDUCATIONAL TOOLS FOR KIDS DEFUNDED 

    Rescinding all CPB funding would rip away federal investments in all manner of educational programming for kids. CPB grants support local programming across the country to educate young Americans about civics, provide educational tools and programming, and much more. Rescinding the funding would also cut off all federal support for PBS LearningMedia, a free digital learning website accessed by more than 1.4 million users each month, which supports teachers and helps students learn and understand new and complex concepts. 

    AMERICANS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT THIS FUNDING 

    A recent survey from the Pew Research Center found that by a two-to-one margin, the American people overwhelmingly favor continuing federal funding for NPR and PBS, which receive support via CPB grants.  

    CUTTING THIS SUPPORT WILL DO NOTHING TO TACKLE OUR NATIONAL DEBT 

    Eliminating support for these stations will do next to nothing to address our annual deficit or growing national debt. The $1.1 billion Congress has already provided for two years of funding for public media represents less than 0.16% of all federal spending in fiscal year 2025 alone.  

    If President Trump and congressional Republicans want to tackle the deficit and our national debt, they can start by not passing their so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which will add $4 trillion to the debt over the next 10 years. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vought Refuses to Rule Out More Illegal End-Runs Around Congress & Refuses to Detail How Trump Will Execute Cuts If Rescissions Bill Passes—Murray Urges Congress to Reject Package in its Entirety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***WATCH and READ: Senator Murray’s opening remarks***

    ***WATCH: Senator Murray questioning Director Vought***

    ***WATCH and READ: Senator Schatz’s testimony***

    ***FACT SHEET: Rescission Package Would Devastate Local Public Radio, TV Stations Across America***

    ***FACT-FICTION: Trump’s Rescission Package Would Gut Bipartisan Foreign Policy Investments***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescission request—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, underscored in how Republicans passing the package would devastate local public radio and TV stations nationwide, gut investments Congress has made to support longstanding bipartisan foreign policy objectives, and undermine the bipartisan annual appropriations process.

    Senator Murray and her colleagues pressed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought on all manner of details on the request and this administration’s actions, and Senator Murray specifically pressed Vought on his plans for future rescissions requests, lack of details about the current rescission package, and his plans to illegally withhold even more funding.

    Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) also provided testimony on President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescission request.

    [KEY TAKEAWAYS]

    Throughout the hearing, Director Vought faced bipartisan pushback over the sweeping cuts in the package, his refusal to provide detail about what exactly the administration will cut if the package passes, and his insistence on justifying the proposed cuts with a highly-selective list of previously funded projects despite the fact that this administration now has discretion over how funding is allocated—and President Trump himself signed a majority of the funding into law himself.

    Among much else, Director Vought:

    • Refused to rule out doing an end-run around Congress through his illegal notion of a “pocket rescission.”
    • Refused to rule out doing an end-run around Congress through an illegal scheme to request sweeping deferrals under the Impoundment Control Act, run out the clock, and then unilaterally impound funding.
    • Refused to commit to getting out the funding that the Government Accountability Office has determined he is illegally impounding.
    • Repeatedly lied about this administration’s and his own office’s actions—even going so far as to absurdly claim: “We have not impounded any funding.” This despite the fact that the Government Accountability Office has now twice ruled he has illegally impounded funds in its first investigation findings (not to mention courts across America)—and despite the fact that at the very same hearing, Vought insisted impoundment is an option on the table.
    • Refused to spell out exactly how the Trump administration will cut specific programs if the rescissions package passes.

    [MURRAY’S OPENING REMARKS]

    “After Congress failed to pass full-year bills in the FY25, it is so important we pass full-year spending bills that deliver the investments that our communities need. And this hearing today asks a very important question: will Congress stand up and protect its constitutional power of the purse—and will this Committee band together to finally say, ‘enough is enough,’ and show bipartisanship still matters? Or will we, for the first time ever, pass an entirely partisan rescissions package and jeopardize the bipartisan work? I hate to be blunt—but that question is at the heart of this first rescissions request, which would gut bipartisan investments in foreign assistance, reliable local news, and high-quality educational programming,” said Senator Murray in her opening remarks. “I have offered to the Chair and others in this room to do what this Committee has always done: consider bipartisan rescissions in our bills through the annual process, which is the right way to do it. …. If President Trump and Director Vought get their way—and Republicans pass this package—they will not only gut the heart of compromise that this Committee is built around, but zero out longstanding bipartisan investments.”

    [TRUMP’S PLANS FOR MORE RESCISSION PACKAGES]

    Senator Murray began her questioning by emphasizing that Congress passes funding bills after bipartisan negotiations, and partisan rescissions packages that cut up bipartisan spending deals undermine that bipartisan negotiation process: “When I cut a deal with Chair Collins, or Senator Graham, or any of my Republican colleagues, there may be parts of it I do not like or they do not like—but we know what we agreed to and passed into law is something we can count on. And that is absolutely essential to getting the 60 votes to make this Appropriations process work. But what we are here today talking about is one party rescinding funding provided with 60 votes with just a simple majority. And if that becomes the new normal for how this body operates, that is going to make Appropriations bills extremely hard to negotiate. So, as we consider this package, this committee deserves to understand the whole picture of this administration’s plans before making a decision on this request.”

    Senator Murray asked, “So, if this package passes, do you intend to send more rescission requests to Congress?”

    Director Vought declined to rule the possibility out, stating, “Senator, that’s up to the President. It’s certainly an option that I’ve stated publicly that we will strongly consider but that’s up to the President. And you know, we will take that on a week-by-week basis. But there is more honestly than $9.4 billion that we have identified. There’s $163 billion in fiscal year 26 that we have identified for less spending than prior budgets.”

    “So, these were bills that this Committee approved on a bipartisan basis, how many packages are you talking about? And what they are?” pressed Senator Murray.

    “Again, we have—no decisions on those have been made. But we do want to see how successful this effort is,” said Director Vought, in part.

    Senator Murray said: “Correct, and I will just remind all of us that the Appropriations Committee worked on those in a bipartisan way. They were not partisan packages that were sent up. So, what I’m hearing you answer me is that there will be more. You don’t know how many more but there will be more so this Committee and this Congress could spend a lot of time going forward on requests for cuts if this package passes.”

    [VOUGHT REFUSES TO RULE OUT “POCKET RESCISSIONS,” MASS DEFERRALS]

    Senator Murray continued by pressing Director Vought on his plans to continue illegally impounding funds already appropriated by Congress, “Director Vought, when asked about this request, you have said that no matter how Congress acts on this request, impoundment is still ‘on the table.’ And, in an acknowledgement of how unpopular your cuts to bipartisan priorities are, you even publicly said you may well try to do an end-run around Congress by requesting rescissions in the last 45 days of the fiscal year, and then pretending that even if Congress fails to approve them, you can rescind those funds anyway. So, let me tell you: that is not how the law works. The President does not have a line-item-veto—much less a retroactive line-item veto. Your notion of this ‘pocket rescission’ defies common sense—and by the way the plain text of the law.”

    Senator Murray asked, “Director Vought, will you commit to this Committee that you will not attempt to do an end-run around Congress with this so-called ‘pocket rescission’—something members on both sides of this dais have made clear is outright illegal?”

    Director Vought refused to commit to not attempt the tactic, instead defending its potential use: “Senator, there’s a lot of mischaracterizations into my previous comments. I would just say that we believe that we have, under the law, numerous options with regards to how to achieve savings including rescissions that are timed at the end of the fiscal year. General Accounting Office has articulated that earlier in the life of the Impoundment Control Act.”

    “This should be a yes or no, and what I hear from you is all kinds of word salad to make sure you are letting us know that you intend to do things that are outside the intent of the law,” pushed back Senator Murray.

    “And it has also been reported that you are considering sending Congress a massive ‘deferral’ package under the ICA in an attempt to run out the clock and avoid legal scrutiny of this administration’s illegal freeze before ultimately impounding the funds at the end of the fiscal year,” Senator Murray said. “Can you commit to this Committee that there be no deferral package?”

    “We certainly are aware of the deferral provisions in the Impoundment Control Act. There are specific statutory requirements there. That if we are in a situation where funds may meet those definitions. They are certainly on the table but again we have made no decisions. The President has not made any decisions with regard to those different tools that exist. And so I’m here to talk about one package and there’s been one decision on one package, $9.4 billion,” responded Director Vought.

    “Director Vought, I just want to be clear to all of us about what’s going on here: you are actually telling Congress, in total disregard for Congress’s Article 1 powers, you and the president will just impound or rescind funds that you don’t agree with on your own,” said Senator Murray. “And Congress, I will say to all of my committee, should not stand that from this President or any President in the future. And I think that’s really important as we consider this. ”

    [REFUSAL TO PROVIDE DETAILS ON HOW ADMIN WILL MAKE CUTS]

    Senator Murray ended her questioning by addressing the complete lack of information that the Trump administration has provided about how it will seek to make the sweeping cuts it proposes: “Director Vought, to justify the $8.3 billion you propose in foreign assistance, you’ve argued that these funds were used by the Biden Administration for ‘woke’ programs or things not aligned to Trump priorities. That’s not how this works. Whatever the Biden Administration may or may not have done, most of what you are proposing, as has been talked about here, to rescind is Congress provided this Administration in the FY25 CR—the same CR that President Trump signed into law in March. And while Congress has provided instructions for target countries, and sectors, and purposes, this administration has flexibility to determine how best to meet those bipartisan objectives. So, you are waving around a tiny, cherry-picked list of past initiatives funded by those accounts. It’s irrelevant when the simple fact is you and this administration now determine how those funds are being provided by Congress and are specifically put to use. And yet, conveniently, you have not spelled out for this Committee and the public what you plan to cut if this package passes, even if you ask us to vote on it.”

    “So, will you tell us specifically, and I’m going to ask you two questions, tell us specifically which global health programs—malaria, TB, polio, funding for GAVI—are you going to cut?” inquired Senator Murray.

    Director Vought replied, “We have two main reductions in global health.”

    Senator Murray pressed, “Can you tell us specifically on any of those today?”

    “We have $500 million for family planning and $400 million to PEPFAR,” said Director Vought, again not noting specific programs or initiatives he plans to cut.

    Senator Murray continued, “But you’re not going to tell us what programs—ok. Will you tell us specifically where—the Philippines, Pacific Islands, Jordan—you’re planning to undermine American interests?”

    Director Vought replied: “Of course not. We have been very clear in all the administration’s priorities that all of our commitments in regard to Jordan and Egypt are maintained,” Director Vought said in part.

    “I assume you are unwilling to share which humanitarian crises this administration plans to walk away with, which is what we would be voting on—and that is critical information,” said Senator Murray.

    [MURRAY’S CLOSING STATEMENT]

    In closing, Senator Murray said:

    “Thank you very much Chair Collins for holding this hearing. This really is an important discussion with really enormous stakes for our communities, with local news that they rely on, whether they’ll go dark. For the world, will America keep its commitments and continue leading on the global stage? And for this Committee, will we keep focused on bipartisan funding bills or will we give that up to spend our time on a wave of partisan rescissions?

    “I’ve made really clear where I stand. I want us to keep working together to write bipartisan bills that allow us to be a strong voice for our constituents. That’s going to prove very difficult, and maybe even impossible, if this body goes down the path Trump is now calling for, a path that would let partisan rescissions rip up our bipartisan agreements.

    “I hope my colleagues will join me in rejecting this destructive request outright, and ensuring decisions about what we fund, and even potential rescissions, are made by us through the annual appropriations process.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vought Refuses to Rule Out More Illegal End-Runs Around Congress & Refuses to Detail How Trump Will Execute Cuts If Rescissions Bill Passes—Murray Urges Congress to Reject Package in its Entirety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***WATCH and READ: Senator Murray’s opening remarks***

    ***WATCH: Senator Murray questioning Director Vought***

    ***WATCH and READ: Senator Schatz’s testimony***

    ***FACT SHEET: Rescission Package Would Devastate Local Public Radio, TV Stations Across America***

    ***FACT-FICTION: Trump’s Rescission Package Would Gut Bipartisan Foreign Policy Investments***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescission request—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, underscored in how Republicans passing the package would devastate local public radio and TV stations nationwide, gut investments Congress has made to support longstanding bipartisan foreign policy objectives, and undermine the bipartisan annual appropriations process.

    Senator Murray and her colleagues pressed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought on all manner of details on the request and this administration’s actions, and Senator Murray specifically pressed Vought on his plans for future rescissions requests, lack of details about the current rescission package, and his plans to illegally withhold even more funding.

    Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) also provided testimony on President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescission request.

    [KEY TAKEAWAYS]

    Throughout the hearing, Director Vought faced bipartisan pushback over the sweeping cuts in the package, his refusal to provide detail about what exactly the administration will cut if the package passes, and his insistence on justifying the proposed cuts with a highly-selective list of previously funded projects despite the fact that this administration now has discretion over how funding is allocated—and President Trump himself signed a majority of the funding into law himself.

    Among much else, Director Vought:

    • Refused to rule out doing an end-run around Congress through his illegal notion of a “pocket rescission.”
    • Refused to rule out doing an end-run around Congress through an illegal scheme to request sweeping deferrals under the Impoundment Control Act, run out the clock, and then unilaterally impound funding.
    • Refused to commit to getting out the funding that the Government Accountability Office has determined he is illegally impounding.
    • Repeatedly lied about this administration’s and his own office’s actions—even going so far as to absurdly claim: “We have not impounded any funding.” This despite the fact that the Government Accountability Office has now twice ruled he has illegally impounded funds in its first investigation findings (not to mention courts across America)—and despite the fact that at the very same hearing, Vought insisted impoundment is an option on the table.
    • Refused to spell out exactly how the Trump administration will cut specific programs if the rescissions package passes.

    [MURRAY’S OPENING REMARKS]

    “After Congress failed to pass full-year bills in the FY25, it is so important we pass full-year spending bills that deliver the investments that our communities need. And this hearing today asks a very important question: will Congress stand up and protect its constitutional power of the purse—and will this Committee band together to finally say, ‘enough is enough,’ and show bipartisanship still matters? Or will we, for the first time ever, pass an entirely partisan rescissions package and jeopardize the bipartisan work? I hate to be blunt—but that question is at the heart of this first rescissions request, which would gut bipartisan investments in foreign assistance, reliable local news, and high-quality educational programming,” said Senator Murray in her opening remarks. “I have offered to the Chair and others in this room to do what this Committee has always done: consider bipartisan rescissions in our bills through the annual process, which is the right way to do it. …. If President Trump and Director Vought get their way—and Republicans pass this package—they will not only gut the heart of compromise that this Committee is built around, but zero out longstanding bipartisan investments.”

    [TRUMP’S PLANS FOR MORE RESCISSION PACKAGES]

    Senator Murray began her questioning by emphasizing that Congress passes funding bills after bipartisan negotiations, and partisan rescissions packages that cut up bipartisan spending deals undermine that bipartisan negotiation process: “When I cut a deal with Chair Collins, or Senator Graham, or any of my Republican colleagues, there may be parts of it I do not like or they do not like—but we know what we agreed to and passed into law is something we can count on. And that is absolutely essential to getting the 60 votes to make this Appropriations process work. But what we are here today talking about is one party rescinding funding provided with 60 votes with just a simple majority. And if that becomes the new normal for how this body operates, that is going to make Appropriations bills extremely hard to negotiate. So, as we consider this package, this committee deserves to understand the whole picture of this administration’s plans before making a decision on this request.”

    Senator Murray asked, “So, if this package passes, do you intend to send more rescission requests to Congress?”

    Director Vought declined to rule the possibility out, stating, “Senator, that’s up to the President. It’s certainly an option that I’ve stated publicly that we will strongly consider but that’s up to the President. And you know, we will take that on a week-by-week basis. But there is more honestly than $9.4 billion that we have identified. There’s $163 billion in fiscal year 26 that we have identified for less spending than prior budgets.”

    “So, these were bills that this Committee approved on a bipartisan basis, how many packages are you talking about? And what they are?” pressed Senator Murray.

    “Again, we have—no decisions on those have been made. But we do want to see how successful this effort is,” said Director Vought, in part.

    Senator Murray said: “Correct, and I will just remind all of us that the Appropriations Committee worked on those in a bipartisan way. They were not partisan packages that were sent up. So, what I’m hearing you answer me is that there will be more. You don’t know how many more but there will be more so this Committee and this Congress could spend a lot of time going forward on requests for cuts if this package passes.”

    [VOUGHT REFUSES TO RULE OUT “POCKET RESCISSIONS,” MASS DEFERRALS]

    Senator Murray continued by pressing Director Vought on his plans to continue illegally impounding funds already appropriated by Congress, “Director Vought, when asked about this request, you have said that no matter how Congress acts on this request, impoundment is still ‘on the table.’ And, in an acknowledgement of how unpopular your cuts to bipartisan priorities are, you even publicly said you may well try to do an end-run around Congress by requesting rescissions in the last 45 days of the fiscal year, and then pretending that even if Congress fails to approve them, you can rescind those funds anyway. So, let me tell you: that is not how the law works. The President does not have a line-item-veto—much less a retroactive line-item veto. Your notion of this ‘pocket rescission’ defies common sense—and by the way the plain text of the law.”

    Senator Murray asked, “Director Vought, will you commit to this Committee that you will not attempt to do an end-run around Congress with this so-called ‘pocket rescission’—something members on both sides of this dais have made clear is outright illegal?”

    Director Vought refused to commit to not attempt the tactic, instead defending its potential use: “Senator, there’s a lot of mischaracterizations into my previous comments. I would just say that we believe that we have, under the law, numerous options with regards to how to achieve savings including rescissions that are timed at the end of the fiscal year. General Accounting Office has articulated that earlier in the life of the Impoundment Control Act.”

    “This should be a yes or no, and what I hear from you is all kinds of word salad to make sure you are letting us know that you intend to do things that are outside the intent of the law,” pushed back Senator Murray.

    “And it has also been reported that you are considering sending Congress a massive ‘deferral’ package under the ICA in an attempt to run out the clock and avoid legal scrutiny of this administration’s illegal freeze before ultimately impounding the funds at the end of the fiscal year,” Senator Murray said. “Can you commit to this Committee that there be no deferral package?”

    “We certainly are aware of the deferral provisions in the Impoundment Control Act. There are specific statutory requirements there. That if we are in a situation where funds may meet those definitions. They are certainly on the table but again we have made no decisions. The President has not made any decisions with regard to those different tools that exist. And so I’m here to talk about one package and there’s been one decision on one package, $9.4 billion,” responded Director Vought.

    “Director Vought, I just want to be clear to all of us about what’s going on here: you are actually telling Congress, in total disregard for Congress’s Article 1 powers, you and the president will just impound or rescind funds that you don’t agree with on your own,” said Senator Murray. “And Congress, I will say to all of my committee, should not stand that from this President or any President in the future. And I think that’s really important as we consider this. ”

    [REFUSAL TO PROVIDE DETAILS ON HOW ADMIN WILL MAKE CUTS]

    Senator Murray ended her questioning by addressing the complete lack of information that the Trump administration has provided about how it will seek to make the sweeping cuts it proposes: “Director Vought, to justify the $8.3 billion you propose in foreign assistance, you’ve argued that these funds were used by the Biden Administration for ‘woke’ programs or things not aligned to Trump priorities. That’s not how this works. Whatever the Biden Administration may or may not have done, most of what you are proposing, as has been talked about here, to rescind is Congress provided this Administration in the FY25 CR—the same CR that President Trump signed into law in March. And while Congress has provided instructions for target countries, and sectors, and purposes, this administration has flexibility to determine how best to meet those bipartisan objectives. So, you are waving around a tiny, cherry-picked list of past initiatives funded by those accounts. It’s irrelevant when the simple fact is you and this administration now determine how those funds are being provided by Congress and are specifically put to use. And yet, conveniently, you have not spelled out for this Committee and the public what you plan to cut if this package passes, even if you ask us to vote on it.”

    “So, will you tell us specifically, and I’m going to ask you two questions, tell us specifically which global health programs—malaria, TB, polio, funding for GAVI—are you going to cut?” inquired Senator Murray.

    Director Vought replied, “We have two main reductions in global health.”

    Senator Murray pressed, “Can you tell us specifically on any of those today?”

    “We have $500 million for family planning and $400 million to PEPFAR,” said Director Vought, again not noting specific programs or initiatives he plans to cut.

    Senator Murray continued, “But you’re not going to tell us what programs—ok. Will you tell us specifically where—the Philippines, Pacific Islands, Jordan—you’re planning to undermine American interests?”

    Director Vought replied: “Of course not. We have been very clear in all the administration’s priorities that all of our commitments in regard to Jordan and Egypt are maintained,” Director Vought said in part.

    “I assume you are unwilling to share which humanitarian crises this administration plans to walk away with, which is what we would be voting on—and that is critical information,” said Senator Murray.

    [MURRAY’S CLOSING STATEMENT]

    In closing, Senator Murray said:

    “Thank you very much Chair Collins for holding this hearing. This really is an important discussion with really enormous stakes for our communities, with local news that they rely on, whether they’ll go dark. For the world, will America keep its commitments and continue leading on the global stage? And for this Committee, will we keep focused on bipartisan funding bills or will we give that up to spend our time on a wave of partisan rescissions?

    “I’ve made really clear where I stand. I want us to keep working together to write bipartisan bills that allow us to be a strong voice for our constituents. That’s going to prove very difficult, and maybe even impossible, if this body goes down the path Trump is now calling for, a path that would let partisan rescissions rip up our bipartisan agreements.

    “I hope my colleagues will join me in rejecting this destructive request outright, and ensuring decisions about what we fund, and even potential rescissions, are made by us through the annual appropriations process.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 06.17.2025 Sen. Cruz Applauds Approval of Presidential Permit for the Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released a statement following President Trump’s approval of a presidential permit to expand and maintain a commercial international bridge between Laredo, Texas, and Colombia, Nuevo León, Mexico. This authorization will increase economic success in our border communities by promoting trade, business, and tourism.
    Upon approval Sen. Cruz said, “After tireless work in Congress, I would like to thank President Trump for approving this important presidential permit for the expansion and continued maintenance of the Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge. This permit is a direct result of the legislation I authorized and passed in the National Defense Authorization Act, and I remain committed to securing additional permits that promote economic growth and benefit in Texas.  I look forward to working with President Trump and his administration to promote U.S. trade and jobs throughout the Lone Star State.”
    Sen. Cruz has led the charge in the U.S. Senate to expedite bridge permitting.
    In May 2025, Sens. Cruz and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the International Bridge and Port of Entry Modernization Act. This legislation expedites the presidential permitting process for all international bridges and land ports of entry and expands on legislation written and passed into law by Senator Cruz that streamlined permits for international bridges in Eagle Pass, Laredo, and Brownsville.
    Sen. Cruz was the first elected Republican member to be awarded the Key to the City of Laredo for his leadership in streamlining the presidential permitting process and securing permits to build and expand four major international bridges in South Texas, including two in Laredo.
    In October 2024, Sens. Cruz and Cornyn secured a presidential permit for the Laredo 4/5 International Bridge (Bridge 4/5) in Webb County.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley Demand Trump Administration Resume Processing DACA Applications

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    June 25, 2025

    Over 100,000 initial applications are pending with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., today joined Senate colleagues to urge U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to immediately resume processing DACA applications

    “Noncitizens brought to the United States as children, often known as Dreamers, are American in every way but their immigration status,” the lawmakers wrote to Acting Director Angelica Alfonso-Royals.  “Americans overwhelmingly support providing Dreamers a path to citizenship, and in December 2024, President Trump stated that he supported protections for Dreamers to remain in the United States.” 

    The DACA program has been paused since 2021 after a Texas judge ruled that the federal government must stop processing applications. Earlier this year, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals limited that ruling to apply to Texas only, allowing the Trump administration to resume processing applications until the courts come to a final decision. The senators strongly urged Acting Director Alfonso-Royals to resume processing DACA applications, emphasizing that over 100,000 initial applications are currently pending with USCIS.

    “Consistent with this statement, we implore you to use your authority at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to resume processing initial applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and provide such protections for Dreamers immediately,” the senators wrote.

    The letter was led by Senators Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and John Hickenlooper, D-Colo. Along with Wyden and Merkley, the letter was also signed by Senators Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Peter Welch, D-Vt., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Chris Coons, D-Del., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., John Fetterman, D-Pa., Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Tim Kaine, D-Va., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Angus King, I-Maine, Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., Ed Markey, D-Mass., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Mark Warner, D-Va., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.

    The text of the letter is here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Applauds Commonwealth’s Authorization for $11 Billion LNG Investment in Louisiana

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) applauded the announcement that the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a final order upholding authorization for Commonwealth’s 9.5 million tonnes per annum liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project in Calcasieu Ship Channel near Cameron, Louisiana. In May, Cassidy urged FERC Chairman Mark Christie to give swift consideration to Commonwealth’s application.
    “This project is a huge win for our state—creating jobs, investing in the community, and unleashing American energy,” said Dr. Cassidy. “President Trump and Republicans want to reestablish American energy dominance. That starts in Louisiana.”
    Background
    Commonwealth LNG’s terminal is an important project that will contribute to American energy dominance due to its capacity to process up to 9.5 million tonnes per year of LNG upon project completion. Furthermore, the Commonwealth project represents a direct investment of $11 billion in Louisiana, and construction of the terminal will generate 2,000 jobs during peak construction and maintain 200 jobs during regular operations. 

    MIL OSI USA News –