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Category: Trumpism

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, UW Medicine & Harborview CEOs Sound Alarm on How Republican Medicaid Cuts Will Devastate Hospitals, Threaten Specialty Care People in Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming Rely on

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Hospitals in WA provide essential, high-level specialty care to people across the entire Mountain West and Alaska

    WA hospitals will lose $662 million in Medicaid revenue every year, 400,000 people in Washington state alone expected to lose health coverage under Republicans’ newly-passed bill

    ***WATCH FULL VIDEO from press conference; DOWNLOAD HERE***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S.Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a virtual press conference with Dr. Timothy Dellit, CEO of UW Medicine, and Sommer Kleweno-Walley, CEO of Harborview Medical Center, laying out how the massive health care cuts in Republicans’ reconciliation bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will be devastating for hospitals and all Americans’ access to care. A focus of the press conference was how these cuts will affect people in red states including Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming—which, with Washington state, make up the WWAMI region—who rely on Washington state hospital networks for access to high-level specialty care they can’t get in their home states.

    Republicans’ reconciliation bill cuts more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) over the next 10 years. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that Republicans’ health care cuts will terminate health insurance for at least 17 million Americans nationwide and will make health care more expensive and harder to access.

    “It is important for people to understand, Republicans are making health care more expensive and harder to access for everyone, no matter what kind of insurance you’re on, or where you go for care,” Senator Murray said on the press call today. “When people lose their health insurance, they don’t suddenly stop needing care. They’re still going to show up at hospitals and emergency rooms if they break a leg or suffer a heart attack. The difference is, hospitals will no longer be reimbursed by Medicaid for providing that care. Meaning they’ll be forced to raise costs elsewhere, for example, on patients who still have insurance, including private insurance through their employers or otherwise. And what happens at hospitals in Washington state also affects people in Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho—whose senators all voted for the Big Ugly bill, by the way. Because hospitals in Washington state provide essential, high-level specialty care to people across the entire Mountain West… I am going to keep doing everything I possibly can to protect Americans’ health care and make it less expensive, not more—and make sure people know exactly who to hold accountable for their neighbors losing health care, or their local hospital shutting down.”

    “Keeping patients enrolled in Medicaid along with direct Medicaid support to UW Medicine is critical to allow us to serve as the state’s safety net, helping to support the over $688 million in uncompensated care our hospitals provide to the public every year. It also allows us to continue to educate the next generation of healthcare professionals as UW Medicine provides over 68 percent of Washington’s medical education and training. With loss of Medicaid funding, we risk elimination of clinical services, closures of hospitals, and reduced access to care for everyone,” said Dr. Timothy Dellit, CEO of UW Medicine. “This bill has three major impacts for UW Medicine and the communities we serve. First, it removes patients from Medicaid coverage, leaving patients uninsured with limited access to care. Public hospitals like ours will need to provide increased levels of uncompensated care, stressing our ability to stay open and serve the community. Second, it eliminates UW Medicine’s supplemental direct Medicaid funding that was designed to help cover the cost of treating patients with Medicaid and allows us to serve as the safety net for the most vulnerable. And third, it makes pursuing a career in health care more difficult to afford, by reducing student loan and repayment options, essentially eliminating access to medical education for a subset of the population just as we face a shortage of physicians, particularly in our rural and underserved communities.”

    “Harborview Medical Center is the region’s leading safety net hospital, serving a large number of Medicaid and uninsured patients who need our care. Cutting Medicaid coverage and funding threatens our ability to deliver essential care to patients across Washington state and the broader region,” said Sommer Kleweno-Walley, CEO of Harborview Medical Center. “These cuts to federal Medicaid funding will impact hundreds of thousands of patients across not only Washington state, but the entire WWAMI region that Harborview and the rest of UW Medicine serve. Our hospitals play a crucial role in the region, offering highly specialized services that aren’t available in other states… Harborview is the only Level 1 Adult and Pediatric Trauma and Burn Center in Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. UW Medical Center, in partnership with  the Fred Hutch Cancer Center, provides the most highly specialized cancer care in the region. Because of this, UW Medicine takes care of patients from places like Northern Alaska and eastern Montana. Many of these patients are insured by the Medicaid program. People come from all over the region to receive specialized treatment from UW Medicine for conditions and injuries such as severe trauma with complex spine, pelvic, face, eye and hand injuries; heart, lung and multi-organ transplants; complex adult congenital heart repairs; and the most severe pediatric trauma injuries that occur in that WWAMI region, to name just a few. For these patients Harborview or UW Medical Center are the closest medical centers that can provide this level of complex clinical care that they desperately need. Harborview also provides the most acute emergency behavioral health care in the state and region, with services to patients in severe crisis due to mental health and substance use disorder. At Harborview, the region’s largest safety net care hospital, over 34 percent of our patients are reliant on Medicaid for health coverage and another 5 percent of our patients remain uninsured despite the Medicaid expansion. This means that these Medicaid cuts will have an outsized impact here.”

    Washington will be among the states hit hardest by Republicans’ legislation according to an analysis by KFF, which estimates the state will lose an estimated 26 percent of its Medicaid enrollment. Right now in Washington state, nearly 2 million people—roughly 1 in 5—are enrolled in Apple Health, including 800,000 children. Washington state’s 4th and 5th Congressional Districts, represented by Republicans who voted for the reconciliation bill, have the highest percentages of people who rely on Apple Health. About 400,000 Washingtonians are expected to lose health care coverage under the Republican bill, including at least 250,000 who will lose Apple Health coverage and as many as 150,000 who will be newly priced out of the state’s health care exchange, Washington Healthplanfinder. Hospitals in Washington state could lose at least $662 million in Medicaid revenue every year—forcing hospitals to lay off staff, cut services, or close their doors entirely. Overall, Washington state is expected to lose between $31 billion and $51 billion in federal Medicaid dollars over the next decade. Last year, Washington had an uninsured rate of 4.8 percent—the lowest in the country—but the Republican bill is expected to balloon that number into the double digits.

    Nationwide, the Republican health care cuts represent a more than $400 billion dollar hit to America’s hospitals—which are the sixth-largest employer in the country. Over 330 hospitals will likely be forced to close or scale back their services—including 14 hospitals in Washington state—which will force more Americans to travel further for maternity care and emergency rooms, and face longer wait times. An estimated 477,000 health workers will lose their jobs as a result of the Republican cuts to Medicaid.

    Senator Murray has held constant recent events—including multiple events in Washington state—to sound the alarm on Republicans’ devastating reconciliation bill and encourage constituents to raise their voices and call on their Members of Congress to oppose the legislation. Senator Murray and Democrats forced Republicans to take dozens of tough votes over a nonstop 30-hour “vote-a-rama,” which came after Democrats forced a full reading of every word of Republicans’ 940-page bill. During vote-a-rama, Senator Murray put forward an amendment to strike a provision of the legislation that achieves anti-abortion extremists’ long-sought goal of “defunding” Planned Parenthood; Republicans blocked the amendment. Senator Murray spoke repeatedly on the Senate floor during debate over the bill, laying out in detail the harm the legislation would cause. Senator Murray also spoke out repeatedly on the Senate floor against Republicans’ use of a depictive so-called “current policy baseline” to hide the true cost of their deficit-busting tax cuts for billionaires.

    Senator Murray’s full remarks, as delivered, are below and video is HERE:

    “Thank you to everyone for joining us today.

    “You know, just weeks ago, Republicans jammed through Congress—on Trump’s command—a devastating, rushed, and partisan bill that will force 17 million Americans to lose their health care and force hundreds of hospitals and health care clinics across the country to close their doors.

    “President Trump calls it his ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ but the only Big Bill here is the one Americans are going to be stuck paying after they get sick and no longer have health coverage because Republicans ripped it away.

    “It is important for people to understand: Republicans are making health care more expensive and harder to access for everyone, no matter what kind of insurance you’re on, or where you go for care. It makes the largest-ever cuts to Medicaid—which we know in Washington state as Apple Health—and which nearly 2 million people, including the majority of kids in 26 of our state’s 39 counties rely on. Most of them are in districts represented by Republicans!

    “At least 250,000 people in Washington state will lose Apple Health coverage under this bill. And as many as 150,000 more are going to be priced out of our state’s health care exchange because Republicans outright refused to extend important tax credits that lower the cost of health care for middle-class families and small business owners. And it is very hard to overstate how much this bill attacks our hospitals and the care they provide to everyone.

    “So, I’m glad to be joined on this call by folks from Harborview and UW Medicine who will speak more to that.

    “Now, under this bill, Washington state is expected to lose between $31 and $51 billion dollars in federal Medicaid funding over the next 10 years. Hospitals in Washington state alone could lose $662 million in Medicaid revenue every year according to a recent analysis—forcing hospitals to lay off staff, cut their services, or even close their doors entirely.

    “That means that people will have to travel further for care and wait even longer to get it. In fact, over 330 rural hospitals are expected to be forced to close their doors or scale back services because of the cuts in Republicans’ bill—including 14 hospitals in Washington state.

    “And when people lose their health insurance, they don’t suddenly stop needing care. They’re still going to show up at hospitals and emergency rooms if they break a leg or suffer a heart attack. The difference is, hospitals will no longer be reimbursed by Medicaid for providing that care. Meaning they will be forced to raise costs elsewhere, for example, on patients who still have insurance—including private insurance through their employers or otherwise.

    “And what happens at hospitals in Washington state also affects people in Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho—whose senators all voted for this Big Ugly Bill, by the way. Because hospitals in Washington state actually provide essential, high-level specialty care to people across the entire Mountain West.

    “In fact, Harborview is the only Level 1 Adult and Pediatric Trauma and Burn Center for all of Washington, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Alaska. So, any Western senator who thinks their constituents aren’t going to be affected by what happens in Washington state are sorely mistaken.

    “And there’s a reason Republicans refused to hold a single public hearing about this bill before forcing it through the Senate in the dead of night—they want Americans to know as little as possible about what’s actually in it. I mean for goodness sake, they were revising the bill as we were debating it—most Republican Senators didn’t even fully understand what was in it before they voted for it!

    “But here’s the thing: the more people know about what’s in it, the less they like it! Nearly two-in-three Americans view this bill unfavorably, and that goes up to nearly four-in-five when they learn it will cut off funding to local hospitals.

    “But Republicans forced it into law anyway, over the objections of Democrats and members of their own party, because Trump and Republicans really will stop at nothing to pass tax breaks for billionaires. The bottom line is this bill steals from people who need help the most and gives more to people who need help the least.

    “And make no mistake, the harm is already being felt—despite Republicans’ cynical efforts to delay some of the worst provisions from taking effect until after the midterms.

    “Hospitals across the country are already bracing for cuts—it’s law. They know these cuts are coming, they have to plan their budgets over years, not month by month. One clinic in Nebraska already announced it will have to shut its doors because of this bill. More will follow.

    “Now, before I hand it off to our speakers who can say a lot more about what this awful bill will mean for hospitals in Washington state and care for the entire region, I want to make clear: this bill may be law, but that does not mean we stop fighting. That does not mean that we give up.

    “For my part, I am going to keep doing everything I possibly can to protect Americans’ health care and make it less expensive, not more—and make sure people know exactly who to hold accountable for their neighbors losing health care, or their local hospital shutting down.

    “Because, at the end of the day, the American people will have their voices heard. And they will show Republicans exactly how they feel about this Big Ugly Betrayal Bill at the ballot box.

    “Thank you, and I will now turn it over to Dr. Dellit from UW Medicine.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement on President Trump Signing the GENIUS Act into Law

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    President Trump’s signing the GENIUS Act is a monumental step forward for crypto assets, financial markets, and our country. As I have stated previously, blockchain and crypto asset technologies have the potential to revolutionize America’s financial infrastructure and deliver new efficiencies, cost reductions, transparency, and risk mitigation for the benefit of all Americans. Ensuring that the U.S. is the best and most secure place in the world to invest and do business requires clear rules of the road that allow market participants to adopt emerging technologies with confidence. President Trump and the entire Administration are sending a powerful message that America is ready to embrace crypto asset innovation.

    The GENIUS Act provides necessary guidance for a crucial element of the emerging crypto asset ecosystem. Clear payment stablecoin regulation allows companies and individuals to transact in ways that boost efficiency and lower costs. Payment stablecoins will play a significant role in the securities industry moving forward, which is why I have asked SEC staff to consider whether guidance, rulemaking, or other steps may be helpful to accommodate SEC registrants utilizing payment stablecoins, including for settlement and margining. I invite market participants to engage with the SEC staff on what is needed for our securities markets to take advantage of the GENIUS Act’s full potential.

    Today’s developments are a major milestone in achieving President Trump’s goal of making America the “crypto capital of the world.” The Trump Administration and Congress have thus far made terrific progress, and there is more work to do. The SEC will work diligently to consider any changes needed to achieve regulatory clarity. Together we will make America the center of crypto asset innovation and strengthen the financial markets for the benefit of all Americans.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RELEASE: Senator Mullin tells Indian Affairs Committee: “Leave the Politics Out of it and put Indian Country First.”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

    RELEASE: Senator Mullin tells Indian Affairs Committee: “Leave the Politics Out of it and put Indian Country First.”

    Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, emphasized the importance of seeing Native issues through a nonpartisan lens at the nomination hearing to consider Mr. William Kirkland to be President Trump’s Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs within the Department of the Interior.
    In his remarks, Senator Mullin discussed his experience as a member of Cherokee Nation, Mr. Kirkland’s background, and the crucial responsibility members of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs have to honor America’s federal obligation to Indian Country. Highlights below.

    Sen. Mullin’s full remarks can be found here.
    On being a member of Cherokee Nation and serving in the U.S. Senate:
    “I’m Cherokee, and I never knew I was special for being Cherokee until I came to D.C., because where I’m from, everybody’s Indian or wants to be. And when I came up here, Tom Cole was the first one that came up to me and said, ‘Congratulations, we just doubled the size of our Native American Caucus.’ That was back in 2013. I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ He’s like, ‘Well, I’m Chickasaw and you’re Cherokee.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, we taught you how to read and write.’ No, I’m kidding. And we joked about it, because sometimes there’s a misunderstanding.”
    On those not from Indian Country misunderstanding Tribal issues:
    “But what they don’t understand about Indian Country, and tell me if I’m wrong, is we don’t look at the world through an ‘R’ or ‘D’ lens. We look at it from our heritage perspective… And sometimes people that aren’t from Indian Country and they’re not Native, they don’t understand it. They don’t get it. Because politics is their world… Tribal issues, it’s a federal responsibility we have, and so you can separate the politics out of it, because we have an obligation.”
    On Mr. Kirkland’s background:
    “All our Tribes in Oklahoma are going to be different from the Tribes in the Midwest. And I think one of the coolest things that you have the ability to do is you get to learn all those different needs. And when you go in there with a with a background like yourself, and with Native people at the front of your mind and any decision you make, you have an opportunity to actually get to know them and get to know what their unique challenges are.”
    On the responsibility of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs:
    “I just hope in this committee, that we try to leave the politics out of it and just put Indian Country first. That’s what our responsibility is here. That’s why I think this committee is unique because if there’s ever a committee that works in a real bipartisan manner, it’s this committee, and we have to be careful that we don’t we don’t separate that because, as I repeat myself again, we have a federal obligation. And regardless if you’re a Native or you’re not, if we’re in this position of authority, if we’re in this position to actually affect that, we need to understand that and just all be in the same boat, working together.”
    On Mr. Kirkland’s willingness to serve:
    “So, thank you for standing up. Thank you for your family too, to going through this with you, because it’s a challenge and your ability to continue to stay in the fight for Indian Country is commendable. So, God bless you.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Peters Secures Funding to Strengthen Public Safety, Michigan Manufacturing, and Great Lakes Protections in Appropriations Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) helped secure funding in the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act to fund Michigan priorities, high-impact local projects, and federal programs that support manufacturing, our environment and Great Lakes, public safety, law enforcement, and cutting-edge research.

    “This bipartisan legislation advances critical projects in Michigan and across the country,” said Senator Peters. “The bill makes needed investments to strengthen public safety, support local law enforcement, and boost Michigan’s economic competitiveness. It will also help safeguard our state’s precious natural resources and the Great Lakes for future generations. I’m proud to have helped secure this funding and will keep working to get it across the finish line.”

    Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is considering their own funding bills. The Senate and House will then need to reach an agreement on a final funding bill and have it pass both chambers before being sent to the President to be signed into law.

    The bill includes numerous measures led and supported by Peters, including:

    Strengthening Michigan’s Manufacturing Sector

    Preventing Illegal Trump Administration Cuts to Manufacturing Programs: The bill included language Senator Peters authored to prevent the Department of Commerce from unilaterally defunding or withdrawing contracts from Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Programs – like the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center. The bill also includes $175 million for the MEP program despite the Trump Administration’s budget proposal to eliminate it. This program helps small and medium manufacturers grow their business, integrate advanced manufacturing techniques and technology, and works to strengthen our domestic manufacturing supply chain. For every dollar of federal investment, MEP generates $24.60 in new sales growth for manufacturers and $27.50 in new investment. This translates into $4.3 billion in new sales annually. In 2024, the Michigan Manufacturing Tech Center estimated they helped 584 businesses produce over $150 million in sales growth and over $100 million in investments. For every $1 of a company’s investment, the Center returns $18 in financial returns.

    Addressing Unfair Chinese Trade Practices: Peters secured language in the bill recognizing that non-allied nations like China are becoming large global exporters of electric vehicles and underscoring a concern that these electric vehicles will soon flood the U.S. market. Some Chinese motor vehicle producers are seeking to establish manufacturing plants in Mexico and other strategic locations to sidestep U.S. tariffs. Peters’ provision in the bill directs the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), in consultation with other relevant departments and agencies, to examine non-allied nations’ non-market policies and practices related to electric vehicles, including policies that prevent U.S auto manufacturers from competing in their markets on a level playing field.

    USMCA: In the summer of 2026, the United States’ trade agreement with Mexico and Canada will undergo a mandatory review period. Peters secured language directing the Office of the United States Trade Representative to pursue changes to the agreement that will improve the agreement’s labor standards, prevent China from taking advantage of it, and onshore more manufacturing jobs throughout the United States, including Michigan.

    National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): The bill invests heavily in the National Institute of Standards and Technology. These resources will help NIST advance research in cutting-edge fields like carbon dioxide removal, artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and cybersecurity. NIST will also develop standards, tools, and tests to help ensure AI systems operate safely.

    Making Michigan Communities Safer

    PAWS Act: Peters secured $3 million in the Fiscal Year 2026?Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for the Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Assistance Grant Program, which was established by Peters’ Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act. The grant program, administered by the Department of Justice, provides emergency and transitional shelter options for domestic violence survivors with companion animals. Peters secured language in the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act encouraging the Department of Justice to continue providing robust funding for grants under the program.

    Project Safe Neighborhood: Peters secured funding in the bill for the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative – a nationwide law enforcement program that uses evidence-based and data-driven approaches to reduce violent crime. Last Congress, the Senate passed Peters’ bipartisan legislationto reauthorize the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.

    Promoting Community Policing in Oakland County: The bill includes $1 million to modernize Oakland County’s Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information Systems (CLEMIS), which will improve transparency of law enforcement activity and promote community policing.

    Improving Criminal Investigation in Van Buren County: Peters secured $576,000 in the bill for Van Buren County to support purchase of rapid-processing DNA technology, which will reduce a current backlog and enable crimes to be solved more efficiently.

    Purchasing New Patrol Vehicles in Kalamazoo: The bill includes $490,000 to help the City of Kalamazoo upgrade its public safety vehicles, which will allow personnel to respond to service calls safely and efficiently.

    Making Road Patrols Safer in Oakland County: The bill would provide $26,000 for the Oakland County Sherriff’s Office to purchase safety equipment for motorcycle patrol officers.

    Supporting Safe Traffic Stops in Warren: Peters secured $38,000 in the bill to help the City of Warren Police Department purchase new safety equipment to aid officers during traffic stops and investigations.

    Improving the Health of the Great Lakes: The bill includes $1,500,000 for the Great Lakes Commission to improve the health of the Great Lakes. Specifically, funding will help address water quality, nutrient pollution, harmful algal blooms, aquatic invasive species, and coastal management throughout the Great Lakes region.

    Upgrading Police Communications in Marquette: The bill would provide $264,000 for the City of Marquette to purchase new portable radios, which would improve emergency response for Marquette Police Department officers.

    Upgrading Aging Patrol Vehicle Fleet in Houghton: The bill includes $385,000 for the City of Houghton to purchase new police patrol vehicles, helping to improve emergency response throughout the region.

    Bolstering AI Research to Help Small and Medium Sized Manufacturers: Senator Peters secured $2,000,000 in this bill to support Michigan Tech’s research into and deployment of AI standards and practices that would help boost small and medium manufacturers in Michigan.

    Westland Police Technology Update: The bill also includes $100,000 to upgrade aging computer systems in police squad cars in Westland.

    Preventing Violence Against Women: The bill contains increased funding for the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and its lifesaving programs. Grants from OVW programs support training for police officers, state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, rape prevention programs, homicide reduction initiatives, domestic violence hotlines, women’s shelters, transitional housing, and rural support services. In addition, Peters secured language in the bill directing the Department of Justice to develop best practices, in consultation with Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) community-based organizations, for the investigation and prosecution of violence against MENA women.

    Improving Police-Community Relations: The bill provides funding for State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance and Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office grant programs which aim to strengthen police-community relations.

    Addressing Substance Use Disorder in Our Communities: The bill provides significant funding to help our communities and first responders address substance use disorders, including opioids, and to address drug trafficking.

    Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program: Peters helped secure funding for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program. This program is critical to thousands of abused or neglected children who have highly trained and extremely dedicated advocates appointed on their behalf, and to child victims who are still waiting for the presence of a consistent, caring adult to speak for their best interests in the courtroom and in the community. This funding will help improve outcomes for every abused and neglected child, as was the intention of Congress when it enacted the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990.

    Investing in Sustainable Solutions to Protect Michigan’s Environment, Natural Resources

    Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory: The bill provides funding for the Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab (GLERL), which studies the dynamic environments and ecosystems of the Great Lakes. The work produced and shared by GLERL informs local decisions for safe and sustainable resource management throughout the Great Lakes Basin. GLERL research also plays a crucial role in the work carried out by the Coast Guard’s Center of Expertise for Oil Spill Preparedness and Response in Sault Ste Marie. Peters secured language in the bill recognizing the importance of continued support for the work of the Great Lakes Center of Expertise for Oil Spill Preparedness and Response, which examines the impacts of oil spills in freshwater environments and develops effective responses. Peters-led efforts made the Great Lakes Center of Expertise a reality. Peters authored and passed legislation into law establishing the Great Lakes Center of Expertise in 2018, and then successfully secured $4.5 million in total to kick-start the initiative the following year. Peters then announced the Great Lakes Center of Expertise will be headquartered in two Michigan locations to maximize research and operational capabilities. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Peters has continued to secure funding to support the Center’s work.

    Great Lakes Monitoring: The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is the nation’s premier ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes observing program. The bill provides funding to fill critical gaps in our nation’s ocean and Great Lakes observation infrastructure. It will also ensure the availability of coastal data to inform management decisions on oil spill planning and response, navigation safety, fisheries management, and harmful algal blooms.

    Addressing Harmful Algal Blooms: The bill supports the National Ocean Service’s research on harmful algal blooms (HABs). This funding is vital to preserving the health of the Great Lakes, which provide drinking water to more than 40 million people; support a $16 billion recreational boating industry; and draw 37 million anglers, hunters, and bird watchers each year. HABs, which produce toxic or harmful effects on people and wildlife, have been reported in the Great Lakes and in every U.S. coastal state. According to NOAA, their occurrence may be on the rise.

    Coastal Zone Management Grants: This bill provides much-needed funding for NOAA’s Coastal Zone Management Program, which provides grants to states with approved coastal zone management plans for the protection, restoration, and enhancement of coastal zone areas, including those in the Great Lakes region. All eight Great Lakes states have active Coastal Zone Management programs committed to preserving the health of the Lakes and the $6 trillion regional economy they help sustain. This unique program is essential to the economic and ecological importance of our coastlines and Great Lakes shorelines while supporting state and local efforts to address critical management issues such as coastal hazards, habitat, and water quality.

    Marine Debris Program: The NOAA Marine Debris Program is a joint effort that supports national and international efforts to prevent, identify, and reduce the occurrence of marine debris. The program leverages resources from state and local agencies, tribes, non-governmental organizations, academia, and industry for innovative research, outreach, and education initiatives. This bill provides funding to allow this important work to continue.

    Improving the Census Process to Ensure Michigan Communities Are Accurately Represented

    Census Bureau: The bill provides funding for the U.S. Census Bureau, however, it provides less funding than is required to meet the needs of the upcoming 2030 decennial census. The census and other key federal surveys are tied to important outcomes for communities in Michigan and across the country, including federal resources for education, health care and infrastructure. The resources allocated by this bill will give the Census Bureau the tools it needs to prepare for the 2030 Census, produce critical economic data, and ensure the public can access high-quality data that keeps pace with the needs of our nation. This funding is essential to ensuring the Bureau does not fall behind on crucial preparations and can control long-term costs. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where Peters serves as Ranking Member, is responsible for conducting oversight of the Census Bureau. Peters previously convened a hearing in downtown Detroit to examine impacts of the 2020 Census on Michigan. Peters also convened a hearing in 2021 with senior federal officials to examine how lawmakers can work to improve operations at the Census Bureau. Peters has also pressed the Census Bureau to ensure it addresses 2020 Census undercounts and improves annual population data.

    Investing in Science, Innovation, and the STEM Workforce

    Michigan Technological University AI Program: Peters secured $2.5 million in funding from the Safe and Secure AI Manufacturing Implementation Program for Michigan Technological University to support research into and deployment of AI standards and practices to support small and medium manufacturers.

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): The bill provides continued funding for key NASA science and STEM education programs that support cutting edge research and scholarships at Michigan’s Universities. The STEM education programs also strengthen our aerospace workforce pipeline. These programs were partially eliminated under the Trump Administration’s budget request.,

    Fully Fund the Artemis Space Mission: This bill includes full funding that Senator Peters’ championed for the Artemis Mission, which is set to take the United States back to the Moon as well as, eventually, to Mars. This mission was partially eliminated under the Trump budget proposal. The Artemis program is supported by Michigan Aerospace manufacturers and one of the astronauts participating in the upcoming Artemis III mission is a Michigander, Christina Koch.

    National Science Foundation: Senator Peters helped secure $9 billion in funding for the National Science Foundation. This level of funding avoids the catastrophic 55% cut proposed by the Trump Administration, which would have devastated U.S. scientific and STEM leadership, and harmed Michigan’s research institutions’ ability to continue to do cutting edge research.

    Implementation of Peters’ PROSWIFT Act: Peters secured funding for the pilot program Peters created through his Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow (PROSWIFT) Act. The program aims to strengthen our nation’s ability to predict severe space weather events and mitigate their harmful impacts on Earth – work being spearheaded at Michigan’s own Universities.

    Improving Access to Reentry: Peters secured language in the bill directing Residential Reentry Centers, where individuals often go between prison and full return to their communities, to better collect ID-related data. A 2022 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that opportunities exist to better assist incarcerated people with obtaining ID documents prior to release. Peters’ language requires an assessment from BOP regarding the feasibility of contracting with additional state DMVs to provide identification document services to qualifying individuals prior to release.

    National Marine Fisheries Services – Studying PFAS in Fish: The bill recognizes the threat posed by the concentration of PFAS detected in fish tissue. The bill directs NOAA to conduct fish tissue sampling and monitoring of PFAS to evaluate the impacts on aquatic health.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Passes Annual Defense Funding Bill, Rep. Moore Votes “Yes”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

    Washington, D.C. – Early this morning, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4016, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026. Congressman Riley M. Moore, who is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, voted “Yes” on the bill.

    The legislation provides $831.5 billion for annual military expenses, including operations and maintenance; personnel; procurement; and research, development, test, and evaluation.

    Congressman Moore issued the following statement:

    “This defense funding bill makes critical investments to rebuild our military and prioritizes lethality after years of distraction with extreme left-wing ideology. I was proud to vote ‘Yes.’

    “The legislation ensures a 21st-century military by modernizing our nuclear triad, investing in hypersonics, propping up the Golden Dome, and developing the next generation of fighter aircraft. It also supports our troops by providing a 3.8% pay raise for all military personnel.

    “Our bill supports President Trump’s broader strategic vision of peace through strength. With it, we’re sending a clear message to our adversaries abroad: the days of prioritizing DEI trainings, drag queen shows on ships, transgender surgeries for troops, and funding abortion-related travel are over. From here on out, our sole focus is warfighting.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AG Labrador Leads States Backing Trump’s Decision to End Racial Discrimination in Federal Contracting

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Home Newsroom AG Labrador Leads States Backing Trump’s Decision to End Racial Discrimination in Federal Contracting

    BOISE — Attorney General Raúl Labrador led a 20-state coalition in filing an amicus brief urging a federal court to approve the Trump Administration’s decision to stop enforcing racial discrimination in federal transportation contracting. The brief, filed in Mid-America Milling Company v. United States Department of Transportation, supports a proposed consent order that would end the federal government’s enforcement of race-based preferences in the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program.
    “The DBE program requires states receiving federal funds to award a certain percent of federal transportation contract dollars to minority and women-owned businesses, regardless of whether those businesses submit the lowest bids,” said Attorney General Labrador. “This federal mandate forces states to sometimes reject the most qualified, cost-effective contractors based solely on the race and gender of business owners, resulting in higher costs for taxpayers. The Trump Administration is right to end this, and Idaho is proud to support them in doing so.”
    In Idaho, this discrimination has proven expensive. Over a recent 44-month period, the DBE program required Idaho’s Transportation Department to reject the lowest bid eight times, wasting $15.2 million in total project costs that could have been spent on other transportation projects. In one example, Idaho was forced to reject a $2.2 million bid and instead accept a $2.7 million bid to meet these federal demographic targets.
    The Mid-America Milling case was originally filed during the Biden Administration, challenging the DBE program as unconstitutional racial discrimination, and the Biden Administration vigorously defended the discriminatory program. After President Trump took office, his Administration reversed course, acknowledging that the program violates the Constitution and agreeing to a consent order that would stop enforcing it. The coalition’s brief urges the court to approve the proposed consent order, arguing that the DBE program violates the Equal Protection Clause.
    The $15.2 million figure represents only cases where the lowest bid was rejected outright. According to an MIT study cited in the brief, the total cost may be significantly higher because DBE requirements artificially inflate most contract prices. The study found that when California ended race-based contracting preferences, state contract costs fell 5.6% compared to federal contracts that still required such preferences.
    Joining Idaho are attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia, along with the Arizona Legislature.
    Read the brief here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Pettersen Votes Against Republican Defense Spending Bill

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

    Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) released the following statement after voting against Republicans’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Department of Defense funding bill:

    “At a time when the United States should be showing strength and moral leadership on the global stage, this bill does the exact opposite. It abandons our allies, hands Putin a strategic win, and jeopardizes our military readiness with divisive policies and culture wars. 

    “Women and LGBTQ+ servicemembers make the same sacrifices all of our servicemembers make to defend our freedom, they all deserve our full respect. But Donald Trump has proven time and again that he does not support our troops – from calling them suckers and losers, to the devastating cuts he has made at the VA. This bill is yet another example of Trump’s horrific leadership as the Commander in Chief. This unserious funding bill is an attack on women and LGBTQ+ servicemembers, and serves as another example of Trump and his congressional leadership prioritizing culture wars instead of funding the support our troops need and deserve.

    “Despite including two of my amendments that would benefit Colorado, I could not in good conscience vote for a bill that otherwise undermines our values, weakens our global standing, and fails to support the servicemembers who put their lives on the line for this country.”

    Specifically, Republicans’ FY 26 Department of Defense spending bill:

    • Weakens Ukraine and empowers Russia by eliminating support for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
    • Undermines democracy at home and abroad by allowing disinformation and extremist views to flourish.
    • Limits women’s access to abortion by preventing service personnel from traveling to seek reproductive health care. 
    • Harms our military readiness with divisive provisions that undermine morale and fail to support our service personnel, by:
      • Continuing DOGE and the Administration’s cuts to vital civilian positions;
      • Attacking the LGBTQ+ community with hateful policies; and 
      • Banning funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

    Two of Rep. Pettersen’s amendments were included in the FY 2026 Defense bill:

    • Pettersen’s amendment advances cutting-edge aerospace research and strengthens national security through lunar technology.
    • Pettersen’s other amendment supports using quantum computing to predict and prevent threats to our electrical grid, bolstering national security and grid resilience. 

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    To access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here. To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here. Residents can also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CWA: NLRB Nominations Display Trump’s Anti-Worker Agenda

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the nomination of Jim Murphy and Scott Mayer to be Board members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Claude Cummings Jr., President of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union, issued the following statement:

    Trump’s anti-worker agenda and disrespect for the rule of law continue to be on full display. President Trump is seeking to replace National Labor Relations Board Member Gwynne A. Wilcox, an experienced Black woman who is well steeped in labor law, with two anti-worker men, who have elevated corporate interests above workers’ rights for decades. It’s way past time to return Gwynne A. Wilcox to her rightful position at the NLRB, to implore Congress members to confirm only fully qualified individuals committed to the NLRB’s mission and to actually represent the interests of American workers and their families, to urge the Supreme Court to respect and preserve the Constitution and full separation of powers of the three branches of government, and to call out the President for his anti-worker and unlawful actions.

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    About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

    cwa-union.org @cwaunion

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Frankel, Meeks, Meng Introduce Legislation to Prevent Destruction of Foreign Aid Commodities

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

    Representatives Lois Frankel, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Program, Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Grace Meng, Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus International Women’s Rights Task Force, issued a statement on their introduction of legislation to ensure U.S. taxpayer-purchased foreign aid commodities reach their intended beneficiaries rather than go to waste or be destroyed.

    According to recent reports, the Trump administration plans to destroy more than $9 million worth of family planning supplies and incinerate 500 metric tons of emergency food assistance that expired after officials refused for months to authorize delivery. The food alone could have fed approximately 1.5 million children for a week, or 27,000 people for an entire month. The contraceptives, depending on the method mix, represent millions of doses and other essentials—enough to support the reproductive health needs of hundreds of thousands of women and families. These commodities—meant for some of the world’s most vulnerable people—were purchased with taxpayer dollars but left to rot or burn.

    “The Trump administration is incinerating critical U.S.-purchased commodities—like contraceptives and emergency food—denying women health care, keeping meals from starving families, and literally sending millions of taxpayer dollars up in smoke,” said the Members. “This cruel and senseless destruction is a textbook example of the very waste, fraud, and abuse the administration claims to oppose.

    Our legislation prohibits the destruction of food and medical supplies purchased with taxpayer funds unless every effort has been made to ensure those supplies can be used as intended. That’s common sense—and the humane thing to do—for American taxpayers and for vulnerable communities around the world.”

    Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State Department, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Ranking Member Brian Schatz introduced the bill in the Senate last week.

    The full text of the legislation is available here. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brownley, Democratic Women’s Caucus Demand Investigation into ICE and CBP’s Abuse of Women

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) joined her Democratic Women’s Caucus colleagues, including Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-NC), and Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-CA), in urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Government Accountability Office, and the Warden of Richwood Correctional Center to conduct an immediate investigation into the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP)’s mistreatment of women in their custody. The Members raised serious concerns about ICE and CBP’s disturbing patterns of abuse, mistreatment, and medical neglect of women, including pregnant and postpartum women. Reports detail cases of women being violently detained, denied medical care, and subjected to inhumane treatment while in detention.

    Specifically, the Members highlighted the troubling cases of Iris Dayana Monterroso-Lemus and Cary López Alvarado. Monterroso-Lemus, a pregnant detainee, suffered a stillbirth after ICE repeatedly denied her requests for medical care. Doctors later concluded her baby’s death was a result of the lack of prenatal care, which she had repeatedly sought.

    López Alvarado, a U.S. citizen who was nine months pregnant at the time, was violently shoved by an ICE agent after identifying herself as pregnant while trying to protect her husband. She was hospitalized with sharp pains after her release and received no documentation about the incident.

    “Disregard for women’s health and safety is not just a one-time instance, the abuse and neglect are part of a larger, systemic failure to treat women with dignity, compassion, and basic medical care,” the members explained in the letter.

    The Democratic Women’s Caucus is demanding transparency, accountability, and immediate action from the administration. The Members are calling for a full investigation into Monterroso-Lemus’ pregnancy loss and broader patterns of mistreatment of women in ICE and CBP custody, particularly pregnant and postpartum individuals.

    “Over and over again, women are being mistreated by ICE, CBP, and contractors from detainment to detention. These horrifying stories are the result of systemic neglect, cruelty, and policy failures that we must confront head-on. We demand answers, accountability, and action. Your administration cannot claim to ‘protect women’ when your agents are on video ripping babies out of women’s arms and pushing them to the ground aggressively.”

    The letter was also signed by Representatives Alma Adams, Yassamin Ansari, Suzanne Bonamici, Shontel Brown, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Judy Chu, Yvette Clarke, Jasmine Crockett, Diana DeGette, Maxine Dexter, Sarah Elfreth, Valerie Foushee, Lois Frankel, Laura Friedman, Sylvia Garcia, Pramila Jayapal, Summer Lee, Teresa Leger Fernández, Doris Matsui, April McClain Delaney, Betty McCollum, Gwen Moore, Kelly Morrison, Eleanor Norton, Ilhan Omar, Brittany Pettersen, Chellie Pingree, Delia Ramirez, Luz Rivas, Andrea Salinas, Janice Schakowsky, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Norma Torres, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Nikema Williams, and Frederica Wilson.

    The full letter can be found here and below: 

    The Honorable Kristi Noem
    Secretary
    Department of Homeland Security
    2707 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE
    Washington, DC 20528-0525

    The Honorable Gene Dodaro
    U.S. Comptroller General
    Government Accountability Office
    441 G St., NW
    Washington, DC 20548

    The Honorable Joseph V. Cuffari
    Inspector General
    Department of Homeland Security
    245 Murray Lane SW
    Washington, DC 20528-0305

    Ms. Lisa Bowen Warden
    Richwood Correctional Center
    180 Pine Bayou Circle
    Monroe, LA 71202

    Dear Secretary Noem, Inspector General Cuffari, Comptroller General Dodaro, and Mr. Deville:

    As members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, we write with grave and urgent concern about the treatment of women in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Too many disturbing stories have emerged from women’s interactions with ICE agents over the last few months–even elected officials have encountered aggressive, unprovoked, and unacceptable treatment. In addition to this aggression, we are deeply concerned about women’s access to health care, especially maternal health care, in ICE detention. The reported assaults, medical neglect, and overall mistreatment of women by ICE agents and contractors demands immediate and thorough oversight and accountability, and this abuse must stop immediately. We request an immediate and in-depth investigation into the violations against women while in ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody.

    These accounts of abuse are horrifying but not new. In September 2020, during Trump’s first term, a complaint was filed at the Irwin County Detention Center (ICDC) regarding the unethical treatment of detainees at ICDC – medical neglect and a concerningly high rate of women undergoing gynecological procedures without proper informed consent. It was also reported that ICDC staff downplayed the health concerns from detainees. These reports were confirmed in an investigation in 2022. It is beyond our comprehension that women were unknowingly sterilized without their consent while in government custody. Although the facility was shut down, this was not an isolated case; rather, this is a consistent pattern perpetrated by this administration.

    We also know that this is an intentional action by the administration and not an unintended consequence to mass detention. In May, CBP quietly repealed protections for pregnant and postpartum women in custody, removing requirements for appropriate medical care, lactation accommodations, and basic supplies like diapers and baby formula. Your disregard for women’s health and safety is not just a one time instance, the abuse and neglect are part of a larger, systemic failure to treat women with dignity, compassion, and basic medical care.

    In May 2025, Iris Dayana Monterroso-Lemus, a pregnant woman, was arrested in Lenoir City, Tennessee and taken into ICE custody. Throughout her detainment, Monterroso-Lemus repeatedly requested medical care but was denied. Monterroso-Lemus reported experiencing pain and no fetal movement for three days, yet she was ignored. She told reporters on a phone call, “They didn’t give me medical attention — nowhere. Not in Louisiana, not in Alabama. I was in Alabama too, sleeping on the floor.” After multiple transfers and too many pleas, she was finally admitted to a hospital on April 29th, where she delivered a stillborn baby. The doctors noted that her loss was a result of not receiving prenatal care – the care she asked for repeatedly.

    In the same facility that Monterroso-Lemus was overlooked and neglected during her pregnancy pains, multiple reports surfaced that highlighted Richwood’s horrific conditions. In 2020, the National Immigrant Justice Center alongside several other organizations released a report that found numerous reports of delayed care and medical neglect at the Richwood Correctional Center. For example, the medical staff interviewed admitted that treatment for a broken arm could take a week. In 2023, the Office of Inspector General conducted an investigation and found that the detention center violated and compromised the health, safety, and rights of detainees. Richwood Correctional Center was found not to have a reliable system for detainees to file grievances and denied detainees the right to file medical grievances. How can women like Iris Dayana Monterroso-Lemus seek justice and reconciliation if the facility refuses to permit a system of accountability?

    In addition to the treatment of women in detention, we are deeply worried about the aggression ICE agents have shown when arresting people, particularly women. Earlier this month Cary López Alvarado, a nine-months pregnant U.S. citizen was detained by agents in Harthorne while trying to protect her undocumented husband and co-worker on private property. Agents accused her of obstructing an arrest, despite her repeatedly stating she was pregnant and unable to resist. During the confrontation, she was shoved by an officer, falling to the ground. Following her release from ICE detention, López Alvarado was hospitalized for sharp pains and monitored due to concerns of her and her baby’s well being, as her due date was only a week away. She was told agents would contact her regarding the obstruction allegations, but received no documentation or citation related to the incident.

    Over and over again, women are being mistreated by ICE, CBP, and contractors from detainment to detention. These horrifying stories are the result of systemic neglect, cruelty, and policy failures that we must confront head-on. We demand answers, accountability, and action. Your administration cannot claim to ‘protect women’ when your agents are on video ripping babies out of women’s arms and pushing them to the ground aggressively. We request a response to the following questions within 60 days of receipt:

    1. What concrete and immediate steps will this administration take to protect the rights, health, and lives of women in detention?
    2. How will you ensure transparency, accountability, and oversight across bodies responsible for their care?
    3. How will you uphold women and their babies’ basic human dignity and ensure their health needs are met without delay or discrimination?
    4. We demand a full, transparent investigation into the pregnancy loss of Iris Dayana MonterrosoLemus’s and the broader mistreatment of pregnant and postpartum women in ICE and CBP custody. We request a report that outlines the incident, accountability, and corrective actions.

    The Democratic Women’s Caucus will not stay silent while women, many of them mothers, many of them fleeing violence and hardship, are mistreated and neglected in government custody. Again, we request a prompt and thorough investigation into the treatment of women within ICE and CBP custody.

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    Issues: 119th Congress, Immigration

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – US trade: Impact on the Single Market – Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

    Source: European Parliament

    On 15 July 2025, Commission officials gave an update on the ongoing trade negotiations between the EU and the US, focusing on the most recent round, which was abruptly interrupted over the weekend of 12–13 July 2025, following President Trump’s announcement of a 30% tariff on all EU imports. They emphasized the serious impact such a measure would have on the EU Single Market, given the high level of economic integration between the two regions.

    While negotiations continue, Commission officials (DG GROW) confirmed that it is preparing a second list of products–beyond steel and aluminium–that could be subject to EU counter-tariffs, aiming to minimise the negative impact on the internal market.

    Members questioned the EU’s negotiation approach, which appears to reflect the lowest common denominator among Member States, even in areas where the Commission has full competence to act independently. They also asked whether a Digital Services Tax could be introduced as a retaliatory measure.

    Additionally, Members expressed concern over media reports suggesting that possible compromises under discussion might weaken EU legislation. The Commission reassured them that preserving the EU’s regulatory autonomy remains a non-negotiable principle and that all options remain on the table should talks fail.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Alford, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Recognizing the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings’ Successful Execution of Operation Midnight Hammer

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Alford (Missouri 4th District)

    Today, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) was joined by Congressmen Tony Gonzales (TX-23) and Don Davis (NC-01) in introducing a House Resolution to congratulate the Airmen of the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings for successfully completing Operation Midnight Hammer.

    “Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, Operation Midnight Hammer was executed with unparalleled coordination, precision, and competence to decapitate Iran’s nuclear program,” said Congressman Alford. “The men and women of the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings out of Whiteman Air Force Base showed their exemplary dedication and skill. They deserve the recognition of the American people’s elected representatives. That’s why I’m proud to introduce this Resolution to honor their service and success.”

    “The B-2s’ historic precision strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities highlighted the unparalleled capability of the United States military, as well as the exceptional bravery of the bomber and fighter pilots, crew members, and maintenance teams who flawlessly executed the mission,” said Congressman Davis. “These individuals are our heroes who have effectively worked to protect America and our allies in response to increasing threats from the Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies.”

    “During my 20 years of military service, including multiple campaigns in the Middle East, I served side by side with the finest troops in the world. No matter what the mission is, American servicemembers always rise to the challenge, and Operation Midnight Hammer in Iran is no exception. There is no other military in the world that could have executed a precision strike on nuclear sites with such excellence, and the men and women who made it happen deserve full recognition for their efforts,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales.

    Read the full text of the resolution here.

    The resolution is also cosponsored by Rep. John Carter (TX-31), Rep. Sam Graves (MO-06), and Rep. Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06).

    Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District, which Congressman Alford represents, includes Whiteman Air Force Base, home of the B-2 Stealth Bomber, the Air Force’s 509th Bomb Wing, and the Air National Guard’s 131st Bomb Wing. Congressman Alford is also the Co-chair of the Congressional Long Range Strike Caucus.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Moran Votes to Strengthen National Defense and Support America’s Servicemembers

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

    Congressman Moran Votes to Strengthen National Defense and Support America’s Servicemembers

    The FY26 Defense Appropriations Bill Reins in Wasteful Spending and Invests in Military Readiness

    Washington, D.C., July 18, 2025

    Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) released the following statement after voting in favor of the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 4016), which passed the U.S. House of Representatives today:

    “Under President Trump’s leadership, we’re finally rebuilding the strength and resolve of our Armed Forces. This bill reflects that effort—by investing in servicemembers, eliminating waste, countering foreign threats like China and Iran, and ensuring our defense dollars are focused on combat readiness, not left-wing social experiments.

    “The FY26 Defense Appropriations Act supports our troops, prioritizes taxpayer accountability, and delivers critical investments for military families across East Texas. I was proud to vote for this bill and will continue standing with those who defend our nation.”

    Securing Texas Wins

    • Increases funding for pay and benefits for active-duty military and reserve personnel across all branches, including over $10.2 billion for the Army National Guard and $5.3 billion for the Air National Guard, both with strong Texas footprints.
    • Delivers $575+ million for environmental restoration across Army, Navy, and Air Force installations, including former sites in Texas.
    • Provides over $36.9 billion for shipbuilding and naval modernization, supporting Gulf Coast industrial jobs tied to defense manufacturing.
    • Maintains support for hypersonic and next-generation weapons research, much of which is based in Texas institutions.

    Cutting Waste, Refocusing Defense Priorities

    • Saves taxpayer dollars by reducing inefficient Pentagon programs and bureaucratic offices.
    • Blocks efforts to consolidate legislative liaison offices that reduce transparency and Congressional oversight.

    Securing the Border and Combating Terrorism 

    • Fully funds $357 million for the Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund, including tight vetting restrictions to prevent funding terrorist-linked individuals or groups.
    • Expands National Guard and Reserve Equipment Procurement by $800 million, bolstering homeland defense and disaster response readiness.
    • Allocating approximately $13 billion for missile defense and space programs to augment and integrate in support of the Golden Dome effort.

    Deterring China, Iran, and Other Foreign Adversaries

    • Increases funding for DOD’s Cooperative Threat Reduction program ($282 million) to reduce chemical, biological, and nuclear risks, particularly from regimes like Iran and North Korea.
    • Provides new authority and funding for DOD-led cybersecurity and supply chain risk reduction to block Chinese espionage and hacking efforts.

    Ensuring Oversight & Accountability

    • Requires quarterly public reporting to Congress on use of funds for foreign military assistance and classified operations.
    • Expands restrictions on use of funds for procurement from countries hostile to U.S. national security interests.

    You can learn more about the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act HERE.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Colleagues Condemn Trump Administration for Letting Credit Union Off the Hook for Overcharging Military Families

    US Senate News:

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

    July 18, 2025

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he has joined Senate colleagues in condemning the Trump administration for its recent decision to terminate the consent order against Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU), effectively excusing it from accountability for charging millions in illegal surprise overdraft fees to their members – primarily active-duty service members, veterans, Department of Defense employees, and their families.

    “In 2024, the CFPB found that between 2017 and 2022, NFCU charged overdraft fees on ATM withdrawals and debit card purchases – even when accounts showed sufficient funds,” the senators wrote in a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Acting Director Russell Vought. “In response, the Bureau issued a consent order requiring NFCU to pay $95 million in penalties and restitution: $80.6 million directly to harmed consumers and $15 million to the CFPB’s victims relief fund.”

    That order was rescinded on July 1, 2025.

    “As former CFPB officials have noted, this decision raises serious concerns about whether the Bureau is still capable – or even willing – to fulfill its legal mandate,” the senators continue. “At a minimum, the public and Congress deserve answers.”

    The letter was led by U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. In addition to Wyden, the letter was cosigned by U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md.

    “The Trump-era CFPB cannot reverse this consent order and simultaneously claim that it is prioritizing the interests of servicemembers,” said Adam Rust, Director of Financial Services for the Consumer Federation of America. “This action has diverted millions of dollars owed to military families—an unacceptable breach of trust. Acting Director Vought owes the public a clear and immediate explanation.”

    The full text of the letter is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Colleagues Condemn Trump Administration for Letting Credit Union Off the Hook for Overcharging Military Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    July 18, 2025
    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he has joined Senate colleagues in condemning the Trump administration for its recent decision to terminate the consent order against Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU), effectively excusing it from accountability for charging millions in illegal surprise overdraft fees to their members – primarily active-duty service members, veterans, Department of Defense employees, and their families.
    “In 2024, the CFPB found that between 2017 and 2022, NFCU charged overdraft fees on ATM withdrawals and debit card purchases – even when accounts showed sufficient funds,” the senators wrote in a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Acting Director Russell Vought. “In response, the Bureau issued a consent order requiring NFCU to pay $95 million in penalties and restitution: $80.6 million directly to harmed consumers and $15 million to the CFPB’s victims relief fund.”
    That order was rescinded on July 1, 2025.
    “As former CFPB officials have noted, this decision raises serious concerns about whether the Bureau is still capable – or even willing – to fulfill its legal mandate,” the senators continue. “At a minimum, the public and Congress deserve answers.”
    The letter was led by U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. In addition to Wyden, the letter was cosigned by U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md.
    “The Trump-era CFPB cannot reverse this consent order and simultaneously claim that it is prioritizing the interests of servicemembers,” said Adam Rust, Director of Financial Services for the Consumer Federation of America. “This action has diverted millions of dollars owed to military families—an unacceptable breach of trust. Acting Director Vought owes the public a clear and immediate explanation.”
    The full text of the letter is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 🚨 TAKE ACTION : Tell Your Representative to Restore Federal Worker Collective Bargaining Rights

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    A bipartisan measure to reverse President Trump’s executive order that denies collective bargaining rights to millions of federal workers is making headway — and we need your help to win for working families. 
    Federal sector workers in the IAM Union and the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), along with allies in labor and Congress, are pushing for a discharge petition that would put the Protect America’s Workforce Act on the House floor for a vote. 
    “An attack on our federal workers is an attack on all workers, and we can’t let this administration trample on our right to join a union,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Let’s pass the common-sense Protect America’s Workforce Act and restore the rights of this essential workforce.”
    NFFE-IAM National President Randy Erwin recently appeared alongside House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) to call for an immediate vote on the Protect America’s Workforce Act. 
    “Our civil service has been stressed to an unprecedented degree, and the critical services federal employees provide, and the American people rely on, are at risk as long as this assault on collective bargaining rights goes unchecked,” said Erwin. “I call on every House member to sign this discharge petition today — to reinforce an essential right of working Americans protected by the Constitution.” 
    Call 202-224-3121 to tell your Representative to sign the discharge petition and put the Protect America’s Workforce Act to a vote today. 

    The post 🚨 TAKE ACTION : Tell Your Representative to Restore Federal Worker Collective Bargaining Rights appeared first on IAM Union.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: How the ‘big, beautiful bill’ will deepen the racial wealth gap – a law scholar explains how it reduces poor families’ ability to afford food and health care

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Beverly Moran, Professor Emerita of Law, Vanderbilt University

    President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio watch Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on television after the House passed the bill on July 3, 2025. Joyce N. Boghosian/White House via AP

    President Donald Trump has said the “big, beautiful bill” he signed into law on July 4, 2025, will stimulate the economy and foster financial security.

    But a close look at the legislation reveals a different story, particularly for low-income people and racial and ethnic minorities.

    As a legal scholar who studies how taxes increase the gap in wealth and income between Black and white Americans, I believe the law’s provisions make existing wealth inequalities worse through broad tax cuts that disproportionately favor wealthy families while forcing its costs on low- and middle-income Americans.

    The widening chasm

    The U.S. racial wealth gap is stark. White families’ median wealth between 2019 and 2022 grew to more than $250,000 higher than Black families’ median wealth.

    This disparity is the result of decades of discriminatory policies in housing, banking, health care, taxes, education and employment.

    The new legislation will widen these chasms through its permanent extension of individual tax cuts in Trump’s 2017 tax reform package. Americans have eight years of experience with those changes and how they hurt low-income families.

    The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, for example, predicted that low-income taxpayers would gain US$70 a year from the 2017 tax cuts. But that figure did not include the results of eliminating the individual mandate that encouraged uninsured people to get health insurance through the federal marketplace. That insurance was heavily subsidized by the federal government.

    The Republican majority in Congress predicted that the loss of the mandate would decrease federal spending on health care subsidies. That decrease cost low-income taxpayers over $4,000 per person in lost subsidies.

    The Congressional Budget Office examined the net effect of the 2025 bill by combining the tax changes with cuts to programs like Medicaid and food assistance. It found that the bill will reduce poor families’ ability to obtain food and health care.

    Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico speaks during a news conference at the Capitol focused on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, on June 3, 2025.
    AP Photo/Rod Lamkey Jr.

    Wealth-building for whom?

    Perhaps the most revealing part of the bill is how it turns ideas for helping low-income families on their head. They are touted as helping the poor – but they help the wealthy instead.

    A much publicized feature of the bill is the creation of “Trump Accounts,” a pilot program providing a one-time $1,000 government contribution to a tax-advantaged investment account for children born between 2025 and 2028.

    While framed as a “baby bonus” to build wealth, the program’s structure is deeply flawed and regressive. Although the first $1,000 into the accounts comes from the federal government, the real tax benefits go to wealthy families who can avoid paying taxes by contributing up to $5,000 per year to their children’s accounts.

    As analysts from the Roosevelt Institute, a progressive economic and social policy think tank, have pointed out, this design primarily benefits affluent families who already have the disposable income to save and can take full advantage of the tax benefits.

    For low-income families struggling with daily expenses, making additional contributions is not a realistic option. These accounts do not address the fundamental barrier to saving for low-income families – a lack of income – and are more likely to widen the wealth gap than to close it.

    This regressive approach – regressive because the wealthy get larger benefits – to wealth-building is mirrored in the bill’s renewal and enhancement of the New Markets Tax Credit program. Although extended by the “big, beautiful bill” to drive investment into low-income communities by offering capital gains tax breaks to investors, the program subsidizes luxury real estate projects that do little to benefit existing low-income residents and accelerate gentrification and displacement. Studies show that there is very little increase in salaries or education in areas with these benefits.

    A harsh new rule

    The child tax credit is another part of the bill that purports to help the poor and working classes while, in fact, giving the wealthy more money.

    A family can earn up to $400,000 and still get the full $2,200 tax credit per child, which reduces their tax liability dollar for dollar. In contrast, a family making $31,500 or less cannot receive a tax credit of more than $1,750 per child. And approximately 17 million children – disproportionately Black and Latino – will not receive anything at all.

    More significantly, the law tightens eligibility by requiring not only the child but also the taxpayer claiming the credit to have a Social Security number. This requirement will strip the credit from approximately 4.5 million U.S. citizen children in mixed-status families – families where some people are citizens, legal residents and people living in the country without legal permission – where parents may file taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number but lack a Social Security number, according to an April 2025 study.

    President Donald Trump, joined by Republican lawmakers, holds a gavel after signing the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act into law, on July 4, 2025 in Washington, DC.
    Eric Lee/Getty Images

    A burden on the poor

    Perhaps most striking is the law’s “pay-fors” – the provisions designed to offset the cost of the tax cuts.

    The legislation makes significant changes to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, lifelines for millions of low-income families.

    The law imposes new monthly “community engagement” requirements, a form of work requirement, for able-bodied adults to maintain Medicaid coverage. The majority of such adults enrolled in Medicaid already work. And many people who do not work are caring full time for young children or are too disabled to work. The law also requires states to conduct eligibility redeterminations twice a year.

    Redeterminations and work requirements have historically led to eligible people losing coverage. For SNAP, the bill expands work requirements to some Americans who are up to 64 years old and the parents of older children and revises benefit calculations in ways that will reduce benefits.

    By funding tax cuts for the wealthy while making cuts to essential services for the poor, the bill codifies a transfer of resources up the economic ladder.

    In my view, the “big, beautiful bill” represents a missed opportunity to leverage fiscal policy to address the American wealth and income gap. Instead of investing in programs to lift up low- and middle-income Americans, the bill emphasizes a regressive approach that will further enrich the wealthy and deepen existing inequalities.

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

    – ref. How the ‘big, beautiful bill’ will deepen the racial wealth gap – a law scholar explains how it reduces poor families’ ability to afford food and health care – https://theconversation.com/how-the-big-beautiful-bill-will-deepen-the-racial-wealth-gap-a-law-scholar-explains-how-it-reduces-poor-families-ability-to-afford-food-and-health-care-260680

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Carbajal Slams Republicans’ Passage of President Trump’s Cuts to Public Broadcasting & Other Essential Programs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

    Carbajal Slams Republicans’ Passage of President Trump’s Cuts to Public Broadcasting & Other Essential Programs

    Washington, July 18, 2025

    U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) released the statement below following the House passage of President Trump’s request to cancel $9 billion in congressionally appropriated funding. The canceled funding includes $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) — which oversees public media networks like NPR, PBS, and their member stations — and about $7 billion in foreign aid.

    “Just weeks after ramming through a reckless budget that slashes food assistance and health care for millions of Americans, while also ballooning our national debt — all to give billionaires big tax breaks — Republicans are back at it with another disastrous bill,” said Rep. Carbajal. “This package guts public media, threatening the local radio stations that keep Central Coast families informed, especially during wildfire season. And it doesn’t stop there. The bill’s extreme cuts to foreign aid will cause needless suffering around the world and weaken our country’s national security. As Republicans turn their backs on these public institutions, I will work with my Democratic colleagues to defend the critical programs working families rely on.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Publishes Proposed Rule to Grant Relief to Certain Individuals Precluded from Possessing Firearms

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: Justice Department Publishes Proposed Rule to Grant Relief to Certain Individuals Precluded from Possessing Firearms

    WASHINGTON — President Trump directed the Department of Justice to address the ongoing infringements of the Second Amendment rights of our citizens—all of them. Federal law disables the firearms rights of many citizens who have been convicted of crimes without regard to whether they actually pose a threat of violence. But federal law also empowers the Attorney General to restore Second Amendment rights to individuals who are not “likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety.” Today, the Department of Justice submitted to the Office of the Federal Register a proposed rule regarding the exercise of the Attorney General’s authority under 18 U.S.C. 925(c) to grant relief to individuals who are otherwise precluded from possessing firearms. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Publishes Proposed Rule to Grant Relief to Certain Individuals Precluded from Possessing Firearms

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    WASHINGTON — President Trump directed the Department of Justice to address the ongoing infringements of the Second Amendment rights of our citizens—all of them. Federal law disables the firearms rights of many citizens who have been convicted of crimes without regard to whether they actually pose a threat of violence. But federal law also empowers the Attorney General to restore Second Amendment rights to individuals who are not “likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety.” Today, the Department of Justice submitted to the Office of the Federal Register a proposed rule regarding the exercise of the Attorney General’s authority under 18 U.S.C. 925(c) to grant relief to individuals who are otherwise precluded from possessing firearms.

    “For too long, countless Americans with criminal histories have been permanently disenfranchised from exercising the right to keep and bear arms—a right every bit as constitutionally enshrined as the right to vote, the right to free speech, and the right to free exercise of religion—irrespective of whether they actually pose a threat,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “No longer.”

    The proposed rule will provide citizens whose firearm rights are currently under legal disability with an avenue to restore those rights, while keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous criminals and illegal aliens. Ultimate discretion to grant relief will remain with the Attorney General, and she will exercise that discretion on a case-by-case basis in light of all available facts and evidence that bear on an individual’s application. But absent extraordinary circumstances, violent felons, registered sex offenders, and illegal aliens, in particular, will remain presumptively ineligible for relief.

    “General Bondi’s support of the rebooted 925(c) program is consistent with President Donald J. Trump’s promise to the American people to support the beautiful Second Amendment,” said U.S. Pardon Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. “My team and I are developing a 925(c) program landing page with a sophisticated, user-friendly platform for Americans petitioning for the return of their gun rights, which will make the process easier for them.”

    The Justice Department welcomes comments from communities that could be affected by a final rule including law enforcement, victims’ advocates, elected officials, and individuals who would like to apply to have their gun rights restored. Because this proposed rule is intended to create a fair and thoughtful system to evaluate applications for the restoration of firearms right, the Justice Department recommends that individuals seeking the restoration of their firearm rights review and comment on the proposed process rather than submit applications at this time.  

    View the proposed rule as it was submitted to the Office of the Federal Register HERE. An official copy will be published next week. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: New era, new mood, new challenges

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    Historian and podcaster Adam Tooze says we are at a turning point in history – as the Trump administration upends decades of assumptions on geopolitics, trade and the economy. Coinciding with the dawn of artificial intelligence, the rise of China, and demographic shifts are adding to transformative changes for us all.
    CNBC anchor Chery Kang joins us in the studio at AMNC25 to co-host the episode.

    The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

    World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
    Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
    YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
    Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/ 
    Twitter ► https://twitter.com/wef
    LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
    TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
    Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

    #WorldEconomicForum

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOlOPL3woKA

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Golden Dome Caucus Co-Chairs’ Statement on Confirmation of Golden Dome Czar

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dale Strong (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressional Golden Dome Caucus Co-Chairs, U.S. Representatives Dale Strong (AL-05) and Jeff Crank (CO-05) released the following statement after the Senate’s unanimous confirmation of Gen. Michael A. Guetlein to lead the Department of Defense’s Golden Dome project:   

    “President Trump’s decision to have General Guetlein serve as the Golden Dome Czar is a strategic move to strengthen our national defense at a critical time. I applaud the Senate for swiftly taking up his nomination, and I look forward to working with him to defend our homeland and advance the Golden Dome’s mission to keep Americans safe,” said Representative Dale Strong.  

    “Congratulations to General Guetlein on his confirmation. I am confident that under his leadership, President Trump’s vision to innovate our homeland missile defense through Golden Dome will soon become a reality – creating a strong deterrence against our adversaries. I look forward to working with General Guetlein to ensure Congress is providing as much support as possible for this essential program,” said Representative Jeff Crank.  

    BACKGROUND: 

    The Congressional Golden Dome Caucus was established in June 2025, following President Trump’s Executive Order, issued on January 27, 2025, directing the implementation of a “next-generation missile defense shield for the United States against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks.”  

    Guetlein is no stranger to North Alabama, having served as the Program Executive for Programs and Integration within the Missile Defense Agency at Redstone Arsenal from April 2017 – June 2019. 

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Virginia The Only State In America Where The Unemployment Rate Rose In June, Per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

     The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) today reported that the unemployment rate in Virginia rose again in June, to 3.5 percent. The BLS report notes that “Virginia had the only rate increase” in the month of June. This was the sixth consecutive increase in Virginia’s unemployment rate, the first time the Commonwealth’s unemployment has continuously risen over half a year since the Great Recession job losses of 2008-2009.

    Virginia’s rising unemployment rate comes amid the Trump Administration’s purges of thousands of federal workers and contractors across the Commonwealth, many of which are not captured in this data because they will not take effect until subsequent months. CNBC just downgraded Virginia in its annual “Top State for Business” rankings to the lowest point in nearly a decade, specifically citing “federal job cuts.” Recent mass firings by the Trump Administration are likely to substantially increase these cuts even further in coming months.

    The rising unemployment rate in Virginia may also be an early indicator of broader damage to the Commonwealth’s economy which Virginia-based forecasters warn could be severe. Yet despite these warnings and increasingly threatening strains on local governments, Governor Youngkin and Lieutenant Governor Earle-Sears have so far continued to support the Trump Administration’s mass layoffs and broader cuts to the federal government’s footprint in Virginia.

    Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), who serves as the top House Democrat on the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, said:

    “With six monthly unemployment increases in a row and the only June increase in America, this can no longer be waived away: Virginia’s unemployment rate is clearly rising in a sustained way, and it is a certainty that this increase is being driven by the Trump Administration’s policies. Trump’s mass firings and cuts are draining Virginia’s economy, while also hurting the services Virginians depend on, and many of those cuts are not even showing up in the data yet. I fear it will only get worse as the number of workers purged rises and the economic damage spreads further to other sectors of our economy.

    “Governor Youngkin took office in 2022 at a time of historic job growth in Virginia, with an unemployment rate of 2.7 percent the day he was sworn in. Youngkin and  Sears are presiding over a worrying increase in Virginia unemployment, but rather than stand up and fight for Virginians, they are cheering it on for purely political reasons. It’s hard to imagine a worse indictment of their leadership, and Virginians deserve better.”

    Historical economic data, including unemployment rates for states including Virginia, is tracked by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED).

    Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) is the Senior House Democrat on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee, and serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, which has jurisdiction over major economic levers include tax policy, trade, and Social Security. He previously served as Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor from 1990-1998.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Huffman, Colleagues Oppose Trump’s Latest Attempt to Undermine Church-State Separation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

    July 18, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressional Freethought Caucus Co-Chairs Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) led their colleagues in a letter to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Billy Long expressing concerns regarding the Trump administration’s recent court filing that undermines the constitutional separation of church and state.

    The filing signals that Trump can allow churches to endorse or oppose political candidates from the pulpit – blatantly violating the 70-year-old Johnson Amendment while still maintaining their tax-exempt status. The motion is a strikingly inaccurate reinterpretation of current U.S. laws that help reconcile and harmonize our nation’s core principles of free speech, free exercise of religion, and the separation between church and state.

    In their letter to Commissioner Long, the lawmakers demand that the IRS immediately reconsider its motion and remedy its failure to enforce the Johnson Amendment in accordance with longstanding legal interpretations and statutory requirements.

    “As members of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, we urge you to reconsider the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) decision to propose the deeply flawed proposed settlement in the matter of National Religious Broadcasters Association et al v. Long. We strongly disagree with the stunningly inaccurate reinterpretation of the Johnson Amendment adopted in this proposed settlement,” the lawmakers wrote. “Congress passed the Johnson Amendment 70 years ago to reconcile and harmonize our nation’s core principles of free speech, free exercise of religion and the separation between church and state. This proposed settlement now threatens to upend and unravel that careful and delicate balance.”

    The lawmakers continued, “When writing the tax code in 1954 to establishguardrails around organizational tax exemption, Congress included the Johnson Amendment without any extended discussion or debate. It was noncontroversial and widely supported precisely because it established reasonable boundaries between partisan politics and tax-exempt religious exercise. Under the Johnson Amendment, houses of worship are protected from government interference by securing tax exemptions while taxpayers are protected from being compelled to subsidize religious institutions’ political speech.”

    “It is therefore deeply troubling that the IRS, in supporting the flawed arguments made by the plaintiffs in this case, accepts the false opposition that the religious Right has tried to create between the First Amendment’s Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses,” the lawmakers added.

    In addition to Reps. Huffman and Raskin, the letter was signed by Reps. Yassamin Ansari, Becca Balint, Suzanne Bonamici, Julia Brownley, Greg Casar, Sean Casten, Lizzie Fletcher, Laura Friedman, Robert Garcia, Pramila Jayapal, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mark Pocan, Delia C. Ramirez, Emily Randall, Andrea Salinas, Rashida Tlaib, and Nydia Velázquez.

    The Congressional Freethought Caucus is an interfaith group of Members dedicated to advocating for religious freedom, church-state separation, and public policies based on science and reason.

    Read the full letter here.

    ###

    Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Labrador Letter: Supreme Court tees up perfect chance to fully protect women’s sports

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Home Newsroom Labrador Letter: Supreme Court tees up perfect chance to fully protect women’s sports

    Op-Ed: Supreme Court tees up perfect chance to fully protect women’s sports
    by Attorney General Raúl Labrador
    In 2019, the University of Montana allowed a runner named June Eastwood, a biological male who had adopted a female identity, to compete against women. Among Eastwood’s competitors were two young women attending Idaho State University, Madison Kenyon and Mary Kate Marshall, who were unjustly defeated by Eastwood on multiple occasions. 
    The following year, the Idaho Legislature passed HB 500, making Idaho the first state in the nation to protect women and girls from losing to men in their own sports.
    The years since have brought both setbacks and breakthroughs. Gender identity activists at the ACLU immediately sued Idaho to block the law, and so far, the courts have agreed. Meanwhile, cases like UPenn swimmer Lia Thomas — who became the first man to win an NCAA women’s swimming title — kept the national debate intensifying.
    By the 2024 election, President Trump made this issue a centerpiece of his campaign, exposing the Democratic Party’s radical stance on gender identity issues. His victory paved the way for this February’s executive order with a clear message echoing Idaho’s law: Men don’t belong in women’s sports.
    The mounting cases of men taking medals from women shifted public opinion decisively. A New York Times/Ipsos poll revealed that 79 percent of Americans agree that women’s sports should be for women only. This groundswell of support gave Trump’s executive order real momentum, prompting even the NCAA to abandon its policy allowing males to compete against women.
    Yet despite this national shift, Idaho remains unable to enforce its own pioneering law, for now. It’s time to end this historic violation of equal opportunity for women and let Idaho guarantee fairness to all of our female athletes.
    Idaho wasn’t alone in this fight. West Virginia passed similar protections, and predictably, the ACLU sued to block its law, too. Recognizing the need for national clarity, both states joined with attorneys at Alliance Defending Freedom to petition the Supreme Court. On July 3 — the 135th anniversary of Idaho’s statehood — the court granted review in both cases, giving us the chance to secure nationwide fairness for women and girls who simply want to compete on a level playing field.
    This is an important moment for all of us who are fighting to preserve safety, dignity, and fair competition in women’s sports. While Trump’s executive order pushed the ball forward for branches of the federal government, the Supreme Court’s pending review in Little v. Hecox (Idaho’s case) and West Virginia v. BPJ leaves open the question of whether states can pass laws that preserve the integrity of women’s sports.
    The Supreme Court’s recent decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti offers an encouraging precedent. That ruling upheld Tennessee’s law preventing medical professionals from subjecting children to dangerous, experimental transition drugs and surgeries. That decision also allowed Idaho to enforce our own child-protection law.
    However, Skrmetti left the women’s sports question unresolved. Both Idaho and West Virginia urged the court to address this gap by reviewing our cases alongside that precedent. The justices’ decision to grant review suggests they recognized the need for comprehensive clarity.
    If the Supreme Court agrees with our arguments, that means states will be free to ensure female athletes enjoy a level playing field for competition. Girls will once again be free to become champions in their own sports and pursue collegiate and professional opportunities without fear of losing to the opposite sex.
    We couldn’t have gotten here without the brave women who took a stance for their sports, such as the four high school athletes in Connecticut who said enough is enough, or the young women in West Virginia who intervened to preserve their state’s law, or the aforementioned Madison and Mary Kate, who intervened to protect Idaho’s law.
    There’s still much more work to be done before we can fully guarantee that women’s sports are fully protected, but there are many signs of hope for a brighter future. As we’ve recently seen, UPenn, which had allowed a male to compete and steal medals from women, changed its tune (thanks to pressure by the Trump administration) by apologizing and preventing any more men from competing and restoring the records of female athletes affected by his participation.
    By granting our cases, the Supreme Court is giving West Virginia, Idaho, and many other states the opportunity to cross the finish line. But more importantly, it’s giving every girl in America a fair chance to win.
    This op-ed originally ran in The Hill on July 10, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: ‘People who spent years saving lives are now struggling to survive’ – how we witnessed Trump’s USAID cuts devastate health programmes in Kenya

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rachael Eastham, Lecturer in Young People’s Health Inequalities, Division of Health Research, Lancaster University

    Homabay, Kenya, in February 2025. Rachael Eastham, CC BY

    My phone wouldn’t stop ringing – nurses, social workers, young mothers – all begging for help. ‘I’ve lost my job,’ ‘I have no food,’ ‘What do we do now?’ I felt helpless.

    These are the words of Rogers Omollo, founder and CEO of Activate Action – a youth-led non-profit organisation that supports young people with HIV and disabilities in Homa Bay, a town in west Kenya on the shores of Lake Victoria.

    As specialists in youth and sexual and reproductive health, we were on a field trip to learn from Omollo and others like him. We wanted to find out about the work they were doing to tackle HIV, stigma and health inequalities.

    But our time there was dominated by one thing: President Donald Trump’s executive order which put almost all international spending by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on pause for a 90-day review and subsequently took a wrecking ball to all international aid programmes funded by the US.

    In July, research published in The Lancet medical journal found that the US funding cuts towards foreign humanitarian aid could cause more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, with a third of those at risk of premature deaths being children. Davide Rasella, who co-authored the report, said low- and middle-income countries were facing a shock “comparable in scale to a global pandemic or a major armed conflict”.

    In the immediate aftermath, we saw firsthand the profound impact the “pause” had in this community. Activate Action is not directly funded by USAID, but as we followed in the footsteps of our host, Omollo, meeting the organisation’s collaborators and beneficiaries, the true extent of the funding freeze became shockingly apparent.

    Places like Homa Bay relied heavily on USAID funding to keep hospitals and clinics running, to ensure access to essential medicines, and to support reproductive health and HIV programmes. The executive order, in principle, resulted in the immediate halting of over US$68 billion (£51 billion) in foreign aid, a substantial portion of which supports lifesaving reproductive health and HIV programmes worldwide.

    The Insights section is committed to high-quality longform journalism. Our editors work with academics from many different backgrounds who are tackling a wide range of societal and scientific challenges.

    As we walked through abandoned offices and healthcare facilities speaking to bewildered people out of work and in need of critical services in February 2025, the chilling reality set in. Omollo reflected:

    People who have spent years saving lives are now struggling to survive. The clinics are empty, the hope in their voices fading. It broke my heart. I wanted to scream, to fix it, but the truth hit hard – we can’t depend on one lifeline. If funding stops, lives should not. We must build something stronger, something that lasts.

    Research shows that global financial strain can foster a conservative political climate. For example, the global financial crisis of 2008 has been associated with the rise of right-wing populism.

    The current populist political climate is demonstrably hostile towards matters like reproductive health and rights. There are reports that reproductive rights are “backsliding” globally. For example, in the US abortion services have been increasingly restricted. In countries like Kenya, this is compounded by the longstanding global tendency towards anti-African or anti-black sentiment reflected in the foregrounding of stories that primarily depict Africa as a problem or a failure.

    So, before we even set off on our research trip to unite sexual and reproductive health advocates and collaborate with African partners, we knew we were swimming against this tide.

    Final figures remain unclear but in early 2025, the abrupt suspension of an estimated US$500 million of funding to Kenya was suggested by Amnesty International to have led to the layoff of 54,000 community health workers – many of whom had been part of robust, locally led responses to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.

    The decision to do this was driven by US audit and efficiency “reevaluations” over 8,000 miles away in Washington. Decisions were made and implemented by small numbers of people within the Trump administration including Elon Musk, whose estimated individual wealth far exceeds the gross domestic product of many entire east African nations, including Kenya.

    Despite years of progress in community-based healthcare systems managed by Kenyans just like Activate Action, these cuts by one external donor disrupted critical services overnight. This also demonstrated that African health systems, no matter how effective, remain subject to profound external control.

    Our project was funded in October 2024, before Trump’s re-election. One week of activities in the UK, one week in Kenya. By the time Activate Action visited Lancaster, in the north of England, in January 2025, we had already started to raise eyebrows as our colleagues began receiving communications from USAID-funded initiatives about pausing projects. Two weeks later, by the time we gathered in Kenya, the immediate human cost was clear to see.

    ‘The field has been eviscerated’

    We sat at the back of a meeting observing training for an Activate Action initiative that would see community health champions offer peer support for their neighbours on safer sex and HIV prevention. In a building that was usually busy and populated by USAID-funded staff, the lights remained on in only one room.

    Before visiting Homa Bay, we knew of its reputation when it came to the so-called triple threat of gender-based violence, HIV infection and teenage pregnancy rates – all of which disproportionately affects this semi-rural county in west Kenya.

    As we watched the training, a colleague based in Europe (who was instrumental in connecting some of the members of our group) texted after learning we were in Kenya, saying:

    It’s terrifying. Document it. No one gets it. The field has been eviscerated.

    So, what did this evisceration look like?

    Staff directly affected by the order were either not permitted to talk about what was happening on the record or didn’t feel safe doing so. We spoke to at least five people who told us directly they couldn’t “speak out” and were nervous about us taking any photographs.

    An Activate Action event on International Condoms Day in February 2023.
    Rogers Omollo, CC BY

    We saw how scores of people were served their notice to cease projects, backdated and effective immediately – a stop work order, followed by (for reasons with cloudy legal foundations) official terminations to contracts. Their economic and professional futures left hanging in the balance.

    As we navigated workshops and meetings, Omollo (now unexpectedly advantaged through Activate Action not being USAID-funded) continued to receive multiple texts, calls and emails from people seeking work.

    A researcher we know working on a USAID supported HIV and maternity care project described doing frantic overtime in the face of uncertainty. She needed to put in hours of extra (unpaid) work to communicate with research participants as it would not be ethical to abruptly disappear on people currently engaged in an active research programme.

    She had no way to manage expectations with those she spoke to and no way of knowing if they were saying a final “thank you and goodbye” to the people she had been working with for months. Despite the descriptions of USAID project funds being “paused”, she was quickly served a full termination of employment notice.

    In east Africa, where this sudden and mass unemployment of vital technical and administrative staff is happening, more than half of young people aged 15-35 are unemployed. The rate is even higher among young women in rural areas (up to 66%.)

    A greater horror unfolds when you consider who these unemployed workers are usually paid to help because they serve communities with some of the highest needs related to HIV, teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence.

    The youth health facility we visited, for example, was locked up when we arrived. We sat in stunned silence in an empty three-roomed building with a youth HIV counsellor. We were shown photographs that showed how it was once a vibrant and busy place.

    Locked up youth health facility.
    Rachael Eastham, CC BY

    Here, the free services and information on HIV, contraception and mental health was being delivered by skilled and non-judgmental youth specialists. But it was closed down from January 20, 2025 and its future remains uncertain. A free condom dispenser outside lay empty, all supplies given out on closure day in a last ditch attempt to help young people remain safe over the coming weeks.

    In Homa Bay, huge achievements have been made in addressing teenage pregnancy and adolescent HIV infection in recent years. There has been a remarkable decline in prevalence rates, new infections, and HIV-related deaths, aided by robust treatment programmes that contribute to better health. People have been living with HIV at undetectable levels, therefore unable to transmit infection. But this “safe” status requires ongoing treatment with antiretroviral medication.

    What now in the absence of USAID?

    But at the time of our visit, the delivery of antiretroviral therapy was becoming more restricted and would require collection by the user every three weeks, rather than the usual three months, therefore lasting the user a shorter time. To service providers we spoke to, this increase in the frequency of collection of medication was known to be a significant barrier for people having to travel long distances more frequently without transport to get their supply replenished.

    Omollo explained to us that Homa Bay is also a medication hub, of sorts. People come here from other communities where, due to stigma, the risks of being identified as someone who is HIV positive in their own communities are much higher.

    Successes notwithstanding, Homa Bay county’s teenage pregnancy rate is over 20% and HIV prevalence is some of the highest in Kenya (15.2% overall in Homa Bay, higher than the national average of 3.7%), with 75% of new HIV infections across the country affecting young people aged under 34. There are almost as many people living with HIV in Homa Bay county as there are in the whole of the UK and many are children. In other words, the demand for accessible and sustained services is high and the impact of their absence is huge.

    Every conversation we had yielded new information about the reality. Gender-based violence projects were also suspended, in part because of the Trump administration’s intentions to end “gender ideology”. A service provider joked despondently during a presentation how: “I got sacked for saying gender.”

    In Kenya, femicide (the murder of women or girls because of their gender) has been described as a “crisis” requiring urgent action. In Homa Bay specifically, the sexual and gender-based violence statistics are higher than national averages and have been on the rise, especially among young people.

    This follows alarming countrywide coverage about femicide across Kenya including high profile and horrifying cases such as that of the Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei.. Official figures are unclear but there are currently widespread protests and calls to action related to this injustice.

    Activate Action had recently won one USAID award focusing on men living with HIV and substance use problems (factors that are both implicated in gender-based violence). Since the USAID funding freeze this offer has instantly been dissolved with no expectation of reinstatement.

    Meanwhile, the fight against cervical cancer – the leading cause of cancer death in Kenya – has also been hit.
    Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination campaigns across the county have stalled, despite the fact the vaccines help prevent cervical cancer.

    At one point, a 23-year-old mother of three small children asked us directly if we found it troubling (as she did) that she will not be able to receive maternal healthcare and her contraception. The list of effects is grim and feels endless.

    Collateral damage

    When our group convened for a workshop at a community venue with sexual and reproductive health and rights staff from across the area, the chatter was similarly focused on the effects of the USAID funding freeze, but this time in the direct shadow of operations.

    Next door, four-wheel drive Jeeps had been recalled and locked behind USAID premises gates, gathering dust instead of being out in the field delivering HIV outreach services. They represented the stasis of operations more widely.

    Dr Peter Ibembe, from a party of service providers visiting from Uganda, was formerly a Programme Director for the non-governmental organisation Reproductive Health Uganda where he was in charge of service delivery. He spoke to us about the atmosphere:

    An eerie tone of quiet has descended on the place. Many have been suddenly rendered jobless; creating mental stress, depression, anxiety. But there has also been an indirect effect on the wider community through the entire value chain: landlords, banks and other credit institutions; food vendors; gas stations; transportation facilities and companies; hotels, restaurants and lodges; schools hospitals and the like.

    Everyone has been left in limbo. Kenya, despite gradual improvements, is a lower middle income country. Poverty identified by the World Bank as a key development challenge for the nation with, in 2022, over 20 million Kenyans identified as living below the poverty line. So these knock-on effects can be drastic.

    At an organisational level we also saw clearly how the boundaries of any one project running within any organisation cannot be neatly drawn, nor can projects be plucked from this matrix discretely in the way we might imagine when we hear how “USAID projects” have been suspended. This way of thinking profoundly undermines the reality of what these cuts mean because many projects are interdependent and interrelated. Omollo added:

    Whilst Activate Action was not directly funded by USAID, the overall reduction in health services affects the community they serve. The lack of support for HIV prevention, mental health and economic empowerment programmes placed additional strain on grassroots organisations like us … which have had to fill gaps with limited resources.

    Omollo taking a selfie with Activate Action on International Condoms Day in February 2023.
    Rogers Omollo, CC BY

    Services the world over, especially community based services, usually operate with multiple funding streams each providing different projects. Naturally the people, resources and activities overlap. To stress, this is not evidence of the “corruption” the Trump administration claims it wants to weed out, but it is the reality of how services reliant on external funding work.

    It is usual that a patchwork of project grants function together to keep the doors open and the lights on. In fact, the sharing of operational resource is what bolsters an organisation’s capacity to serve its communities most effectively.

    Considering “USAID projects” as single discretely bounded entities belie the messy complexity of how community and healthcare services work.

    For another example of this kind of inter-connection, look no further than “table banking”. Table banking has been described as a “microcredit movement by women and for women” – effectively a DIY bank. We saw table banking used at Activate Action’s Street Business School, an initiative that tackles HIV through training women and building economic sustainability so they do not become trapped in poverty which may force them into have transactional sex. From a seated circle under trees, we watched as the collective pay in and take out loans to support their businesses from a central informal “bank account”.

    Beneficiaries from this project continue to come together every Thursday, pooling finances and taking loans to sustain their business needs for the coming week (for example, buying stock for their market stalls). They told us how they are planning to collaborate on a catering business which will mean the older, sicker members of the group remain able to work and earn.

    Similarly, Omollo told us how “a bit like table banking”, among his friends and colleagues, they also pool finance on a weekly basis to tick off items on a collective shopping list. He said: “One week we buy for one person, the next week, the next person and so on, until we all have a microwave.”

    These demonstrations of microfinance arguably present, however idealistic, inspiration for a more financially sustainable future whereby its principles offer a “light of hope” at grassroots level, possibilities for nations in meeting sustainable development goals and, crucially in this context, freedom from dependency on external donors.

    Social dictators of health

    When we planned this exchange project, we wanted to work with Activate Action because of our shared interests.

    Its explicit focus on the “social determinants of health” (the non-medical factors that affect health) is a refreshing departure from so many health programmes that seek to intervene on a person’s behaviour without attending to how it may be shaped by the wider social system.

    For example, in the case of Homa Bay, Activate Action works to address root causes, such as poverty. Poverty means that transactional sex (which could be sex for food or period products) is common. Unsafe sex can be a hallmark of these sexual encounters, increasing HIV risk and transmission. Helping women build businesses, earn their own money to buy food and make their own period pads, reduces the need to trade sex for necessities.

    As we sat discussing the various ways the cancelling of USAID would have devastating effects on different programmes and so the lives of different people, we realised how myriad social determinants – such as income, unemployment and healthcare services – are overwhelmingly contingent on distant regimes. Regimes run by people who seem to demonstrate little regard for the lives of disadvantaged and minoritised people.

    No period of consultation, no management of expectations – a profound example of how bigger systems that govern our social lives can, in fact, dictate the outcomes of our health.

    Antiretroviral drugs for HIV literally keep people alive and prevent transmission to others. Efforts to critique the USAID freeze by the inspector general of USAID, Paul Martin, saw him sacked. Again, no reason was given, and the White House did not have any comment.

    When we were trying to explore whether termination notices for staff in Kenya were even legal, one media report about a judicial effort to halt the USAID stop work order noted that Trump has a “high threshold for legal risk”. An insight into what type of threats we may need to consider when trying to understand risks to and protections for health in the future.

    Dr Ibembe, who provided closing remarks to our workshop, highlighted how “the effect of USAID cuts on the east African development landscape has been nothing short of seismic. It has created an environment of uncertainty, fear and stress. In some instances, up to 80% of health-related initiatives are donor supported. The funding and operational gap created is almost insurmountable.”

    This reliance on external financial support and limited domestic financing in Kenya and other sub-Saharan African countries is common. This makes a nation vulnerable. Kenya also experiences substantial “donor dependency” especially across the health system which makes it harder to absorb the shock of a donor pulling funds.

    In other words, this is a highly precarious system that is going through a shock which it will find incredibly difficult to withstand.

    The situation is a stark reminder of just how unfair the power dynamics are that dictate African health governance and sovereignty.

    Conversations about reducing the dependence of countries like Kenya on external donors have been going on for a long time. Throughout it has been acknowledged that any transition away from donor dependence needs to be carefully managed to avoid upsetting all the gains that have been made through initiatives like those funded by USAID. This has been completely impossible given the pace of change since January 2025 when the USAID stop work order came into play.

    African solutions to African problems

    The question now is not merely how African institutions will survive these disruptions but how they will leverage them as an impetus for change. Discussions about donor dependency arguably contribute to the framing of African states and institutions that are economically vulnerable and a “risk”. This in turn creates a negative bias that has recently been identified as costing African nations billions in lost or missed investment opportunities.

    While financial constraints are a reality, the dominance of stereotypes also means we may overlook the effective strategic responses and resilience demonstrated by African organisations over the years. The challenge is not simply to reduce donor reliance but to reposition African institutions as key architects of health solutions through approaches that emphasise ownership, sustainability and regional integration.

    Omollo talking to The Street Business School in January 2023.
    Rogers Omollo, CC BY

    The Afya na Haki (Ahaki) institute provides a clear example of this shift towards what they refer to as “Africentric” models of health governance. The aim is to build African solutions to African problems.

    This approach is anchored on four key pillars: amplifying positive African narratives; strengthening engagement with African regional institutions; supporting and fostering collaboration among African non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other organisations; and bringing together African experts and communities to create knowledge that reflects local realities and needs.

    Yet, restrictive policies that pre-date the USAID cuts such as the global gag rule which means NGOs are prohibited from receiving any US government funding if they provide, advocate for, or even refer to abortion services, have significantly disrupted this work, forcing institutions to rethink their operational strategies. An Ahaki staff member told us how their core focus on empowering Africans has been “thrown into disarray”.

    Research that puts African stories and priorities front and centre is crucial – not just for shaping policies but for shifting the focus from dependence on external aid to African-led solutions and self-determination.

    ‘Hope hasn’t disappeared’

    Within days of the USAID executive order on January 20, the USAID website was unreachable and our colleagues in Homa Bay sat reeling. By February 14, just after our visit, it was confirmed that a federal judge had successfully blocked the funding suspensions, although the relevance of this for people and projects like those we met in Homa Bay, whose contracts had already been terminated, was limited.

    This executive order is one of many that has triggered global shockwaves. But for every action there is a reaction and we have also witnessed international resistance, from protests of USAID and nonprofit workers in Washington, to 500 Kenyan community workers demanding their unpaid salaries.

    Musk’s company Tesla has been subject to widespread boycott and coordinated protest by “Tesla Takedown” in over 250 cities around the world. Canada has also made strides to reject American imports and strengthen its domestic markets, building greater independence from the USA, echoing desires of many African nations in relation to US donor dependence.

    Musk suggested that USAID needs “to die” due to widespread corruption – an assertion that remains unsubstantiated. However, the violence and damage of this sentiment is being realised. As the sites we visited remain eerie and empty, gathering dust, our immediate concern is for the people and communities that agencies once funded by USAID represent and serve.

    Omollo, and others like him, are now finding new ways to navigate these problems. The ripple effects of the USAID funding freeze have hit hard, programs have stalled, uncertainty has grown and communities are feeling the strain.

    “But in the cracks, we’ve found ways to adapt,” he said. “At Activate Action, we’ve leaned on local partnerships, stretched every resource, and kept showing up for young people. Hope hasn’t disappeared; it’s just become something we fight for daily.”

    For you: more from our Insights series:

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    We would like to acknowledge the specific contribution of Rogers Omollo from Activate Action in developing this article.

    Christopher Baguma works with Afya na Haki as a Director of Programmes.

    – ref. ‘People who spent years saving lives are now struggling to survive’ – how we witnessed Trump’s USAID cuts devastate health programmes in Kenya – https://theconversation.com/people-who-spent-years-saving-lives-are-now-struggling-to-survive-how-we-witnessed-trumps-usaid-cuts-devastate-health-programmes-in-kenya-256250

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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Cognitive warfare: why wars without bombs or bullets are a legal blind spot

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Gisselsson Nord, Professor, Division of Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University

    Master1305/Shutterstock

    Imagine waking up to the news that a deadly new strain of flu has emerged in your city. Health officials are downplaying it, but social media is flooded with contradictory claims from “medical experts” debating its origin and severity.

    Hospitals are filled with patients showing flu-like symptoms, preventing other patients from accessing care and ultimately leading to deaths. It gradually emerges that a foreign adversary orchestrated this panic by planting false information – such as the strain having a very high death rate. Yet despite the casualties, no rules define this as an act of war.

    This is cognitive warfare, or cog war for short, where the cognitive domain is used on battlefields or in hostile attacks below the threshold of war.

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    A classical example of cog war is a concept called “reflexive control” – an art refined by Russia over many decades. It involves shaping an adversary’s perceptions to your own benefit without them understanding that they have been manipulated.

    In the context of the Ukraine conflict, this has included narratives about historical claims to Ukrainian land and portraying the west as morally corrupt.

    Cog war serves to gain advantage over an adversary by targeting attitudes and behaviour at the individual, group or population level. It is designed to modify perceptions of reality, making “human cognition shaping” into a critical realm of warfare. It is therefore a weapon in a geopolitical battle that plays out by interactions across human minds rather than across physical realms.

    Because cog war can be waged without the physical damage regulated by the current laws of war, it exists in a legal vacuum. But that doesn’t mean it cannot ultimately incite violence based on false information or cause injury and death by secondary effects.

    Battle of minds, bodily damage

    The notion that war is essentially a mental contest, where cognitive manipulation is central, harks back to the strategist Sun Tzu (fifth century BC), author of The Art of War. Today, the online domain is the main arena for such operations.

    The digital revolution has allowed ever-more tailored content to play into biases mapped through our digital footprint, which is called “microtargeting”. Machine intelligence can even feed us targeted content without ever taking a picture or recording a video. All it takes is a well-designed AI prompt, supporting bad actors’ pre-defined narrative and goals, while covertly misleading the audience.

    Such disinformation campaigns increasingly reach into the physical domain of the human body. In the war in Ukraine, we see continued cog war narratives. These include allegations that the Ukrainian authorities were concealing or purposefully inciting cholera outbreaks. Allegations of US-supported bioweapons labs also formed part of false-flag justifications for Russia’s full-scale invasion.

    During COVID, false information led to deaths when people refused protective measures or used harmful remedies to treat it. Some narratives during the pandemic were driven as part of a geopolitical battle. While the US engaged in covert information operations, Russian and Chinese state-linked actors coordinated campaigns that used AI-generated social media personas and microtargeting to shape opinions at the level of communities and individuals.

    Fake image of Donald Trump being arrested.
    wikipedia

    The capability of microtargeting may evolve rapidly as methods for brain-machine coupling become more proficient at collecting data on cognition patterns. Ways of providing a better interface between machines and the human brain range from advanced electrodes that you can put on your scalp to virtual reality goggles with sensory stimulation for a more immersive experience.

    Darpa’s Next-Generation Nonsurgical Neurotechnology (N3) program illustrates how these devices may become capable of reading from and writing to multiple points in the brain at once. However, these tools might also be hacked or fed poisoned data as a part of future information manipulation or psychological disruption strategies. Directly linking the brain to the digital world in this way will erode the line between the information domain and the human body in a way never done before.

    Legal gap

    Traditional laws of war assume physical force such as bombs and bullets as the primary concern, leaving cognitive warfare in a legal grey zone. Is psychological manipulation an “armed attack” that justifies self-defence under the UN charter? Currently, no clear answer exists. A state actor could potentially use health disinformation to create mass casualties in another country without formally starting a war.

    Similar gaps exist in situations where war, as we traditionally see it, is actually ongoing. Here, cog war can blur the line between permitted military deception (ruses of war) and prohibited perfidy.

    Imagine a humanitarian vaccination programme secretly collecting DNA, while covertly used by military forces to map clan-based insurgent networks. This exploitation of medical trust would constitute perfidy under humanitarian law – but only if we start recognising such manipulative tactics as part of warfare.

    Developing regulations

    So, what can be done to protect us in this new reality? First, we need to rethink what “threats” mean in modern conflict. The UN charter already outlaws “threats to use force” against other nations, but this makes us stuck in a mindset of physical threats.

    When a foreign power floods your media with false health alerts designed to create panic, isn’t that threatening your country just as effectively as a military blockade?

    While this issue was recognised as early as 2017, by the groups of experts who drafted the Tallinn Manual on cyberwarfare (Rule 70), our legal frameworks haven’t caught up.

    Second, we must acknowledge that psychological harm is real harm. When we think about war injuries, we picture physical wounds. But post-traumatic stress disorder has long been recognised as a legitimate war injury – so why not the mental health effects of targeted cognitive operations?

    Finally, traditional laws of war might not be enough – we should look to human rights frameworks for solutions. These already include protections for freedom of thought, freedom of opinion and prohibitions against war propaganda that could shield civilians from cognitive attacks. States have obligations to uphold these rights both within their territory and abroad.

    The use of increasingly sophisticated tactics and technologies to manipulate cognition and emotion poses one of the most insidious threats to human autonomy in our time. Only by adapting our legal frameworks to this challenge can we foster societal resilience and equip future generations to confront the crises and conflicts of tomorrow.

    David Gisselsson Nord receives funding from the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Cancer Society and the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation. He has also received a travel grant from the US Department of Defence.

    Alberto Rinaldi has received funding from the The Raoul Wallenberg Visiting Chair in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and the Swedish Research Council.

    – ref. Cognitive warfare: why wars without bombs or bullets are a legal blind spot – https://theconversation.com/cognitive-warfare-why-wars-without-bombs-or-bullets-are-a-legal-blind-spot-260607

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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Decoding hints that Xi Jinping may be under pressure to relinquish some of his power

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Chee Meng Tan, Assistant Professor of Business Economics, University of Nottingham

    Political and economic pressures might force Chinese president and overall leader Xi Jinping to delegate some of his powers to his deputies in a highly significant move. This has prompted some observers and media outlets to speculate that Xi’s grip on power may be waning.

    A major part of why this is happening is likely to stem from Xi’s difficulties in dealing with China’s economic woes, which began from a real estate crisis in 2021. For years, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has relied on providing economic prosperity to legitimise its rule over the country.

    But the continuously lacklustre performance of the Chinese economy over the past four years coupled with Trump’s trade war with Beijing is making recovery a difficult task. And this is likely to be a factor that undermines Xi’s rule.

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    These rumours about Xi started just after the latest meeting, on June 30, of the politburo (the principal policy making body of the party), which brings China’s top leaders together to make major decisions.

    For people who don’t follow Chinese politics, the idea of Xi delegating some authority might seem nothing special. However, in understanding China, it’s important to understand that Xi has massive power, and it seems the politburo is signalling there are some changes on the horizon.

    What are the clues?

    Symbolism and indirect language play an important role in how the communist party communicates with Chinese people. The way it is done comes through slogans or key phrases, which are collectively known as “tifa (提法)”’.

    This method of information is important since it shapes political language and debate, and influences how a Chinese, and international, audience understands what’s going on. At first glance, the politburo’s call for enhancing “policy coordination” and the “review process” of major tasks may appear to indicate that the central government is seeking to ensure local officials follow through with Beijing’s agenda.

    But there is probably more to the politburo’s statement than meets the eye. The statement said that specialised bodies that exist within the party’s central committee, which includes the powerful commissions that Xi’s loyalists now hold, should focus on “guidance and coordination over major initiatives” and to “avoid taking over others’ functions or overstepping boundaries”“.

    For experienced China watchers there are hints here that this powerful decision-making body is making a veiled threat against Xi for holding on to too much power. But the opaque nature of China’s elite decision-making process, where a great deal of backroom politics occurs behind closed doors, means that decoding its messages isn’t always easy.

    China’s president Xi Jinping on a public outing, after several weeks when he was not seen in public.

    Because of all of this, there is increasing speculation that a power struggle is in progress. This isn’t entirely surprising given Xi’s purge of many senior party officials through anti-corruption campaigns and dominance over the highest levels of government is likely to have earned him many enemies over the years.

    Another sign that all isn’t going well with Xi’s regime is the removal of some his allies from key positions within the government. Xi began his anti-corruption campaign in 2012 when he became China’s leader. On paper, while officially framed as a drive to clean up corruption, evidence suggests that the campaign may have been used to remove Xi’s political rivals.

    The problem for Xi is that the campaign is being used against his loyalists as well. In October 2023, defence minister Li Shangfu, who was considered a Xi ally, was sacked due to what was later confirmed in 2024 to be from due to corruption charges. But the dismissals of Xi loyalists continued.

    Admiral Miao Hua, who was in charge of ideological control and personnel appointment within the armed forces and Xi’s associate since his days as a party official in Fujian province, was suspended from office in November 2024. And in June 2025, he was removed after being investigated for corruption .

    The previous month, General He Weidong, who was vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission, was arrested also for alleged corruption. Are the purges a consequence of Xi ceding ground to political rivals? This is a possibility.

    But even if it weren’t and the purges are part of a concerted effort to stamp out corruption, Xi’s campaign will not only cast aspersions on his ability to appoint the right people into government, but also create a climate of fear among allies and potentially create further enemies. Either scenario puts Xi on the spot. But since Xi became China’s head of state in 2013, he and his loyalists have taken over leadership of many key national commissions, making him the most powerful Chinese leader since the time of Chairman Mao.

    These commissions include the Central Financial Commission, which regulates China’s financial markets, the Central Science and Technology Commission, which aims to accelerate China’s technological progress, and the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, which regulates China’s digital content.

    Who is on the up?

    But it looks like Xi is about to delegate some of his power, and there are some other decisions that may indicate a shift. For the first time since coming into power in 2012, Xi skipped the annual summit organised by the Brics group (named after Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). Instead, from July 5 to 7 this year, Chinese premier Li Qiang, led a delegation to Rio de Janeiro.

    This isn’t the first time that Li has represented Xi in high-profile conferences abroad. In September 2023, Li attended the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, and has taken part in Asean summits.

    But the Brics appearance alongside with Li’s increasingly prominent role in economic policy making may suggest that his influence is on the rise, while Xi’s is declining. Watch this space.

    Chee Meng Tan 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. Decoding hints that Xi Jinping may be under pressure to relinquish some of his power – https://theconversation.com/decoding-hints-that-xi-jinping-may-be-under-pressure-to-relinquish-some-of-his-power-228240

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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: The US Environmental Protection Agency’s retreat from science endangers the health of people and the planet

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Scott Glaberman, Associate Professor of Comparative Toxicology, University of Birmingham

    Andromeda stock/Shutterstock

    Pollution causes more illness and early death than any other environmental threat, accounting for one in six deaths worldwide. For decades, the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD) has driven many of the biggest advances for safeguarding human health and ecosystems from chemicals.

    But this year, the Trump administration began dismantling the office by terminating programmes, cutting staff, closing laboratories and moving remaining scientists into regulatory offices. Legal challenges temporarily blocked mass government layoffs.

    But that changed when a recent Supreme Court ruling gave the Trump administration the green light to proceed with widespread redundancies and the total elimination of ORD.

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    Now, in so doing, the US is not just gutting its own scientific foundation. It’s also putting decades of global progress in chemical safety, pollution control and public health at risk.

    ORD is the EPA’s independent science arm, conducting research that supports clean air, water and land. From detecting pollutants and assessing health risks to guiding environmental cleanup, it ensures EPA decisions are grounded in credible, evidence-based research. ORD develops this science under intense scientific, policy, political and legal scrutiny, which means it produces the best available science that is credible and robust.

    ORD doesn’t just study pollution, it uncovers threats before they become crises. Take North Carolina’s Cape Fear River, which supplies drinking water to an estimated 2 million people.

    While most scientists focused on known pollutants, ORD used advanced screening tools to detect GenX, a little-known synthetic “forever chemical”. Despite evidence that GenX was contaminating the river basin since the 1980s, not much was known about its potential to harm living systems.

    Forever chemicals were found to be polluting North Carolina’s Cape Fear River in the US.
    Kosoff/Shutterstock, CC BY-NC-ND

    ORD rapidly filled this void, linking GenX to decreased birth weight and increased mortality in newborn rats, prompting swift regulatory action against the manufacturer to ensure cleaner, safer water for local communities. No other government agency in the world delivers this kind of rapid, science-led response.

    It’s not just the strength of ORD’s science that sets it apart, but also its visionary thinking. Among ORD’s most influential ideas is a model that maps out how a chemical is causing harm.

    This works like a chain of building blocks, linking tiny effects (like a chemical disrupting a hormone) to much bigger problems, such as cancer or even extinction. Each step shows how one change leads to another until it reaches something we truly care about. This approach helps scientists detect danger early, before it leads to irreversible damage.

    Then there’s the EPA’s groundbreaking work in computational toxicology. Nearly two decades ago, leading scientists warned that chemical safety testing relied too heavily on outdated methods and animal experiments.

    In response, ORD built ToxCast, a system that uses tiny cells and computer models to screen thousands of chemicals for effects like endocrine disruption or cell damage. It’s faster, cheaper and more humane, and helps scientists predict which substances may pose serious risks.

    These scientific breakthroughs don’t come from policy offices. They require researchers with the independence to explore and innovate.

    Beyond the US

    Europe has bold goals to phase out animal testing. Much of the science driving this shift comes from ORD.

    Tools like Ecotox (the world’s largest chemical toxicity database) and the CompTox dashboard (a platform that links predictive models and non-animal test data for over a million substances) are widely used across the EU and UK. Without ORD, these vital resources, hosted by EPA, could disappear, stalling global progress toward safer, more ethical chemical testing.

    EPA also collaborates closely with European partners. It maintains formal agreements and joint programmes with the European Chemicals Agency and the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Areas of focus include air quality, computational toxicology and chemical risk assessment.

    ORD is a leading scientific institution with global reach. Its tools and ideas have shaped how governments detect hazardous chemicals, understand their effects, and protect people and the planet. From toxicity databases to modern, non-animal testing methods, ORD underpins how we respond to pollution. Eliminating it would create a dangerous void, just as chemical and climate threats are accelerating.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Scott Glaberman previously worked at the US EPA.

    North Carolina State University receives funding from the California Air Resources Board for a research project for which Dr. Frey is a co-principal investigator. H. Christopher Frey served from 2022 to 2024 as Assistant Administrator for the Office of Research and Development, and as Science Advisor, at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

    Tamara Tal previously worked at the US EPA in the Office of Research and Development.

    – ref. The US Environmental Protection Agency’s retreat from science endangers the health of people and the planet – https://theconversation.com/the-us-environmental-protection-agencys-retreat-from-science-endangers-the-health-of-people-and-the-planet-260956

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Sherrill Statement on Trump Administration Plan To Use Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst for DHS Operations

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Rep. Mikie Sherrill issued the following statement condemning the Trump Administration for the decision to use Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst for DHS detention operations:

    “It is unacceptable that Secretary Hegseth has approved the use of property at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst for DHS detention operations.  

    “This is a blatant misuse of one of New Jersey’s most critical military assets and reduces a vital national security installation to a stage for political theater, which flies in the face of an apolitical military. Using the base for detention operations risks degrading operational capacity, places an inappropriate burden on our servicemembers, and harms civil-military relations.

    “The administration has diverted funding away from supporting our troops for this effort in other states, which is another reason I am strongly opposed to this plan. If DHS needs additional capacity for immigration enforcement, it should seek appropriate funding and resources from Congress, not rely on the military to fill the gap.

    “The administration should immediately reverse this decision and respect the essential role our servicemembers and military bases play in defending the nation.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –