NewzIntel.com

Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Files Amicus Brief Supporting Challenge to the Trump Administration’s Unlawful Freeze of Federal USAID Funding

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, as part of a coalition of 23 attorneys general, announced filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in support of the Plaintiffs’ opposition to the Trump Administration’s appeal of a preliminary injunction order in Global Health Council, et al. v. Trump, et al., a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s freeze of federal funding of foreign assistance funds from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). In their brief, the attorneys general argue that the Trump Administration’s unlawful impoundment of USAID funds undermines Congress’s constitutional authority and is contrary to the public interest, harming amici states and their residents.

    “The Trump Administration does not have the authority to unilaterally withhold lawfully appropriated federal funds,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The unlawful impoundment of these funds results in irreparable harm to states across the nation that rely on federal funding for critical humanitarian and public health programs, research, and initiatives. In California alone, organizations and universities receive over $1.2 billion in USAID funding.”

    In the amicus brief, the coalition of attorneys general urges the court to affirm the district court’s preliminary injunction order, arguing that the Trump Administration is constitutionally obligated to spend funds appropriated by Congress and that the unlawful freeze of USAID funding poses irreparable harm to states. In stopping the flow of billions of dollars of USAID funding for foreign assistance programs, the Trump Administration has inflicted substantial harms on universities, farmers, nonprofits, and small businesses across the nation. To date, hundreds of domestic workers have been terminated, substantial amounts of American crops intended for international distribution have been unallocated, and hundreds of millions of dollars of cutting-edge research projects at some of the nation’s top public universities have been halted as a result of the Trump Administration’s unlawful actions.

    In filing the amicus brief, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of the District of Columbia, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin

    A copy of the amicus brief can be found here.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Services Council spotlights good regulatory practices, advances discussions on other issues

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Services Council spotlights good regulatory practices, advances discussions on other issues

    On 10 June, members also participated in an event under the “Simply Services” series, which serves as an informal platform for sharing the latest developments in trade in services (see below).
    Thematic session on good regulatory practices
    An informal thematic session on good regulatory practices (GRPs) was held on 12-13 June, as agreed at the March meeting of the Council for Trade in Services. GRPs for services trade refer to approaches to designing and implementing regulations aimed at achieving better regulatory outcomes. Discussions focused on measures such as increased transparency, including through stakeholder engagement, streamlining and digitalizing authorization processes, and promoting impartial and independent regulatory decision-making.
    The session featured extensive experience-sharing. The WTO Secretariat provided a broad overview of GRPs in services trade, including their role in regional trade agreements and their economic benefits. International organizations and regional economic fora — including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Bank, United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat, and the International Trade Centre (ITC) — shared data demonstrating how effective design and implementation of GRPs can boost both trade and economic growth. They also emphasized the importance of addressing implementation gaps between high- and low-income countries through capacity building, institutional strengthening, and more inclusive stakeholder engagement.
    Several members, including Australia, China, the European Union, Hong Kong China, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom, as well as other organizations, presented national experiences in leveraging GRPs to facilitate services trade. They highlighted domestic reforms to simplify procedures, reduce regulatory burdens, and improve regulatory quality, including through digital tools, single online portals, regulatory impact assessments, and enhanced stakeholder engagement. The importance of predictability, proportionality, inter-agency coordination, and outcome-focused regulation was underscored, alongside efforts to foster innovation, facilitate cross-border trade, and strengthen regulatory cooperation.
    Members reflected on the key takeaways from the session, emphasizing the rich discussions and valuable insights shared. Several noted that GRPs not only support international trade but also enhance domestic competitiveness and consumer welfare. The role of GRPs in strengthening crisis preparedness and resilience was also emphasized, with examples showing how transparent, predictable and streamlined regulatory frameworks can support faster and more effective responses in times of emergency.
    There was broad recognition of the role that international commitments, such as WTO members’ recent adoption of disciplines on services domestic regulation and regional trade agreements, play in providing a stable framework for consolidating domestic reforms aimed at improving the domestic business environment. Members expressed interest in continuing experience-sharing and peer learning. They also encouraged other members to adopt WTO disciplines on services domestic regulation to sustain reform efforts and promote services trade. 
    At the close of the session, the Chair of the Council for Trade in Services, H.E. Ambassador Ram Prasad Subedi (Nepal), emphasized that the depth and quality of GRP implementation by ministries and regulatory authorities is essential, with regulatory reforms representing an ongoing process informed by experience, evolving capacities and changing circumstances. He underlined the value of peer learning and regular exchanges on regulatory innovation, as well as the role that technical assistance can play in supporting members’ reform efforts.
    Responding to ministerial mandates
    Members continued efforts to advance the instruction in the 2024 Ministerial Declaration to reinvigorate work on trade in services and facilitate greater participation of developing members in services trade.
    The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group introduced a submission on the role of services trade in responding to crises and resilience-building, as well as on the challenges faced by developing members in realizing the full potential of services trade. Members supported deepening work on the ACP Group’s proposal, with some suggesting a thematic session for further discussions.
    Barbados, South Africa, and the United Kingdom also presented a proposal for a thematic session on the green services economy and sustainable development. Members agreed in principle to organize an informal experience-sharing session in December, contingent on agreeing on an acceptable outline, to further explore the opportunities and challenges of leveraging services trade to deliver on environmental objectives. Suggestions were made on possible topics and speakers.
    As previously agreed at the March meeting, the Council is scheduled to organise an informal thematic session on the recognition of professional qualifications in October, subject to convergence on the session’s outline.
    Participation of least-developed countries in services trade
    Members received an update by the WTO Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group regarding its request to conduct a survey, hosted on the WTO website, to collect information on how their service suppliers engage with consumers and businesses in other economies. The LDC Group reported on ongoing consultations with a member who has maintained reservations about the request since the March meeting.
    The Group reaffirmed the importance of the survey in supporting LDCs’ participation in services trade, in line with the ministerial mandate to operationalize the “LDC Services Waiver,” adopted at the 8th Ministerial Conference in 2011.
    Engagement between the members concerned will continue to reach consensus on the issue.
    Services trade concerns
    The Council addressed issues related to recent unilateral tariff measures. China noted the need to consider overall trade balances, that include services trade, when setting trade policy. It also expressed concerns about the impact of US “reciprocal” tariffs on global supply chains and underscored the importance of multilateral collaboration under the WTO. The latter point in particular was echoed by other members. The United States said that, in contrast to the openness of its service markets, China maintained many restrictions and uncompetitive practices in numerous services sectors.
    Members also reverted to previously raised specific trade concerns. Japan and the United States repeated their concerns over cybersecurity measures implemented by China and Viet Nam, with several members echoing these concerns.
    China reiterated its concerns regarding certain US services measures and India’s measures affecting mobile applications.
    Trade in financial services
    On 11 June, the Committee on Trade in Financial Services appointed Mr. Will Nixon of Australia as its new Chair.
    Members focused on a proposal to organize an informal thematic session on “Facilitating Digital Payment Systems and Remittance Services”, building on the original proposal submitted by China, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, which was first reviewed at the March meeting. The proposal covers three main topics: developing robust digital payment systems, ensuring interoperability of payment systems, and facilitating cross-border remittances.
    The Committee agreed to consider the latest version of the draft agenda put forward by China and the Philippines. Unless any objections are raised by 20 June 2025, the proposal will be automatically adopted. If approved, the session will take place alongside the next cluster of services meetings scheduled for 29 September to 3 October.
    The Committee also discussed a new submission by Morocco (S/FIN/W/103) on reducing the costs of cross-border remittances. Morocco emphasized the strategic importance of remittances for the economic and social development of developing members and called for multilateral cooperation to improve remittance transfers, reduce costs, and enhance transparency. It also expressed its intent to bring this issue to the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in March 2026. Members agreed to continue discussions at the next Committee meeting.
    Classification of environmental services
    At its 11 June meeting, the Committee on Specific Commitments confirmed Mr. Sirapat Vajraphai of Thailand as its new Chair. The Committee is one of the subsidiary bodies of the Services Council.
    Discussions focused on the classification of environmental services. Building on previous discussions regarding the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) and its contributions to defining and classifying environmental services, the United Kingdom presented its new analysis (S/CSC/W/80), comparing the APEC Reference List and the ACCTS List. Delegates welcomed the UK’s analysis as a valuable foundation for further work and expressed interest in continued engagement on this issue.
    Members also revisited Canada’s proposal (S/CSC/W/77) for an informal experience-sharing session on services classification related to the environment. They agreed to hold the session in October alongside the next services cluster of meetings.
    Recent developments in services trade policy
    An event held on 12 June, entitled “Services Unbound — Digital Technologies and Policy Reform in East Asia and the Pacific,” addressed the region’s challenges, particularly barriers to competition in key services that hinder innovation. Participants also called for deeper domestic reforms and stronger international cooperation.
    The event was organized by the WTO’s Trade in Services and Investment Division as part of the “Simply Services” speaker series, an informal platform for sharing the latest information on services trade trends. The webcast of the event is available here.

    Share

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Cleaver, Davids Demand Answers on Lack of Funding for Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

    The federal funding for National Heritage Areas was signed into law by President Trump in March but has not been delivered, with no explanation

    (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Sharice Davids (D-KS) have called on the Trump Administration to immediately release long-overdue funding for National Heritage Areas (NHAs), which preserve local history, create jobs, and drive tourism across the country.

    Despite being signed into law in March, federal funding for NHAs — including the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) in western Missouri and eastern Kansas — still hasn’t been delivered. As a result, local sites are struggling to keep staff employed, preserve historic landmarks, and continue educational programs that serve thousands of visitors and students each year.

    “NHAs contribute billions to the U.S. economy annually and support hundreds of thousands of jobs, leveraging each dollar of federal funding into more than $5 of nonfederal resources,” the lawmakers wrote. “For example, FFNHA provided 61 percent of its FY24 income from nonfederal sources. Our nation’s 62 NHAs provide an excellent and sustainable model of economic development at little cost to the federal government. This delay in funding is causing significant strain on our NHAs – many of which rely on small staffs and robust volunteer networks; annual NPS appropriations are critical to attracting private donations, planning grants and historic preservation efforts, and executing educational opportunities.”

    “We respectfully request that you quickly provide us with a timeline as to when FY25 appropriations for NHAs will be processed and work to execute these funding awards as soon as possible,” the lawmakers concluded.

    NHAs are public-private partnerships that highlight culturally significant regions across the U.S., from Civil War battlefields to Indigenous heritage sites. Each federal dollar invested generates over $5 in private and local support. Without this timely funding, programs grind to a halt and community-driven preservation work suffers.

    Established in 2006, the FFNHA is one of 55 National Heritage Areas throughout the United States. FFNHA tells the stories and builds awareness of western Missouri and eastern Kansas’ past, present, and future, including stories of American settlement of the western frontier, Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War, Brown v. Board of Education, and significant figures in our nation’s history such as President Harry Truman, Amelia Earhart, and the Native tribes of the Great Plains. 

    The FFNHA supports and promotes roughly 323 partners, including historic sites, museums, historical societies, libraries, and other cultural-heritage tourism destinations in 41 counties across the Missouri-Kansas border.

    Some notable FFNHA partners in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri include the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Truman Presidential Library, American Jazz Museum, the National WWI Museum and Memorial, and more.

    Some notable FFNHA partners in the Third Congressional District of Kansas include Old Quindaro Museum, John Brown Museum, Kansas City Area Historic Trails Association, Kaw Point Park, Louisburg Historical Society, and more.

    The official letter from Reps. Cleaver and Davids is available here.

     

    Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Change in Disaster Recovery Center Hours in South Texas

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Change in Disaster Recovery Center Hours in South Texas

    Change in Disaster Recovery Center Hours in South Texas

    Change in Disaster Recovery Center Hours in South TexasAUSTIN – In coordination with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), FEMA and U

    S

    Small Business Administration (SBA) have been staffing Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) to offer face-to-face help to residents of the four South Texas counties affected by the severe storms and flooding that occurred March 26-28, 2025

    Starting Saturday, June 21, new weekend hours of operation for all seven DRCs are:Saturdays: Open 8 a

    m

    to 5 p

    m

    Sundays: ClosedWeekday hours remain the same: Monday – Friday, 8 a

    m

    to 7 p

    m

    All DRCs will be closed for the Juneteenth Holiday (Thursday, June 19); and reopen on Friday, June 20, at 8 a

    m

    Homeowners and renters in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties may be eligible for FEMA assistance for losses not covered by insurance

    FEMA and SBA support state-led recovery efforts at the recovery centers

    Staff can help survivors apply for federal assistance

    They can also identify potential needs and connect survivors with local, state and federal agencies, as well as nonprofits and community groups

     The list of DRCs by county is as follows:Cameron CountySan Benito Parks and Recreation Building705 N Bowie St

    San Benito, TX Harlingen Convention Center701 Harlingen HeightsHarlingen, TX 78552 Hidalgo CountyLas Palmas Community Center1921 N

    25th St

      McAllen, TX   Pharr Development & Research Center  850 W

    Dicker Rd  Pharr, TX Weslaco EDC275 S

    Kansas Ave

    Weslaco, TX 78596 Starr CountyStarr County Courthouse Annex100 N FM 3167Rio Grande City, TX 78582 Willacy CountySebastian Community Center434 West 8th St

    Sebastian, TX 78594 For information and to apply online visit SBA

    gov/disaster

    Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba

    gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance

    For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services

    Survivors can apply to FEMA in several ways including going online to DisasterAssistance

    gov, downloading the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

    Calls are accepted every day from 6 a

    m

    to 10 p

    m

    CT

    Help is available in most languages

     If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service

    To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube

    For more information, visit fema

    gov/disaster/4871

    Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x

    com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook

    com/FEMARegion6/
    toan

    nguyen
    Mon, 06/16/2025 – 16:22

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Announces Winners of 2025 Student Launch Competition

    Source: NASA

    By Beth Ridgeway 
    NASA’s Student Launch competition celebrated its 25th anniversary on May 4, just north of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, bringing together more than 980 middle school, high school, college, and university students from across the U.S. to showcase and launch their high-powered rocketry designs.
    The event marked the conclusion of the nine-month challenge where teams designed, built, and launched more than 50 rockets carrying scientific payloads—trying to achieve altitudes between 4,000 and 6,000 feet before executing a successful landing and payload mission.

    [embedded content]

    “This is really about mirroring the NASA engineering design process,” Kevin McGhaw, director of NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement Southeast Region, said. “It gives students hands-on experience not only in building and designing hardware, but in the review and testing process.  We are helping to prepare and inspire students to get out of classroom and into the aerospace industry as a capable and energizing part of our future workforce.”
    NASA announced James Madison University as the overall winner of the agency’s 2025 Student Launch challenge, followed by North Carolina State University, and The University of Alabama in Huntsville. A complete list of challenge winners can be found on the agency’s Student Launch webpage.

    Each year, a payload challenge is issued to the university teams, and this year’s task took inspiration from the agency’s Artemis missions, where NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefit, and to build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars. Teams were challenged to include sensor data from STEMnauts, non-living objects representing astronauts. The STEMnaut “crew” had to relay real-time data to the student team’s mission control, just as the Artemis astronaut crew will do as they explore the lunar surface.  
    Student Launch is one of NASA’s seven Artemis Student Challenges – activities that connect student ingenuity with NASA’s work returning to the Moon under Artemis in preparation for human exploration of Mars.
    The competition is managed by Marshall’s Office of STEM Engagement. Additional funding and support are provided by the Office of STEM Engagement’s Next Generation STEM project, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, the agency’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, Northrup Grumman, National Space Club Huntsville, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Association of Rocketry, Relativity Space, and Bastion Technologies Inc.
    To watch the full virtual awards ceremony, please visit NASA Marshall’s YouTube channel.
    For more information about Student Launch, visit:
    https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/nasa-student-launch/

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Seeks Commercial Feedback on Space Communication Solutions

    Source: NASA

    NASA is seeking information from U.S. and international companies about Earth proximity relay communication and navigation capabilities as the agency aims to use private industry satellite communications services for emerging agency science missions.
    “As part of NASA’s Communications Services Project, the agency is working with private industry to solve challenges for future exploration,” said Kevin Coggins, deputy associate administrator of NASA’s SCaN Program. “Through this effort, NASA missions will have a greater ability to command spacecraft, resolve issues in flight, and bring home more data and scientific discoveries collected across the solar system.”
    In November 2024, NASA announced the TDRS (Tracking and Data Relay Satellite) system, the agency’s network of satellites relaying communications from the International Space Station, ground controls on Earth, and spacecraft, will support only existing missions.
    NASA, as one of many customers, will obtain commercial satellite services rather than owning and operating a replacement for the existing satellite system. As NASA transitions to commercial relay services, the agency will leverage commercial capabilities to ensure support for future missions and stimulate private investment into the Earth proximity region. Commercial service offerings could become available to NASA missions as early as 2028 and will continue to be demonstrated and validated through 2031.
    NASA’s SCaN issued a Request for Information on May 30. Responses are due by 5 p.m. EDT on Friday, July 11.NASA’s SCaN Program serves as the management office for the agency’s space communications and navigation. More than 100 NASA and non-NASA missions rely on SCaN’s two networks, the Near Space Network and the Deep Space Network, to support astronauts aboard the International Space Station and future Artemis missions, monitor Earth’s weather, support lunar exploration, and uncover the solar system and beyond.
    Learn more about NASA’s SCaN Program at:
    https://www.nasa.gov/scan

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Government Watchdog Finds Trump Admin is Illegally Impounding Funding for Museums and Libraries Across America; Senator Murray Responds

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on another Government Accountability Office (GAO) decision announced this morning, which concludes that President Trump is illegally impounding funding approved by Congress for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in violation of the Impoundment Control Act (ICA):
    “Here again, it is clear as day President Trump is breaking the law to block funding Congress provided—in this case, we’re talking about investments in local museums and libraries in all fifty states.
    “President Trump may not like the fact that Congress has, on a bipartisan basis, invested in helping kids learn at their local library—but that does not change the fact that he himself signed these investments into law, and they need to start flowing immediately. The president’s funding freeze isn’t just illegal; every day it continues, it hurts real people and communities across our country who are suffering the consequences as investments they count on get choked off.”
    Presidents do not wield the power to unilaterally withhold or block investments that have been enacted into law through what’s known as “impoundment.” This foundational principle has been affirmed time and again. The Impoundment Control Act (ICA) of 1974 makes this plain and establishes limited procedures the president can and must follow to propose delaying or rescinding enacted funding. The Impoundment Control Act also charges the GAO with the responsibility of investigating and reporting to Congress when the president illegally withholds funding. In testimony to the Committee this spring, the GAO acknowledged that it has opened 39 impoundment investigations and counting. Today’s announcement follows the GAO’s first decision in May in one of its ongoing investigations, which concluded Trump is illegally impounding funding. The ICA also authorizes the Comptroller General to file suit when the president illegally impounds funding.
    IMLS was established and funded by Congress on a bipartisan basis to support museums, libraries, and similar entities in every part of the country through grants, research, and policy development. But earlier this year, President Trump signed an executive order calling for IMLS to be eliminated, which was followed by grant cancellations, delays in allocating required funds, and nearly all of IMLS’ employees being put on administrative leave.
    In its decision today, the GAO concluded that:
    “IMLS has not responded to GAO’s requests for information regarding the potential impoundment of appropriated funds. Yet publicly available evidence, including sworn testimony, federal court cases, data on USAspending.gov, and information on IMLS’s website, indicates that IMLS withheld grant and other appropriated funds. Based on the available evidence and the lack of any special message pertaining to IMLS funds, GAO concludes that IMLS has violated the ICA by withholding funds from obligation and expenditure. GAO also concludes that IMLS violated the ICA by withholding funds that cannot be withheld under the ICA’s fourth disclaimer. …. The Constitution specifically vests Congress with the power of the purse, providing that ‘No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.’ The Constitution also gives Congress the exclusive power to legislate, and sets forth the procedures of bicameralism and presentment, through which the President may accept or veto a legislative bill passed by both houses of Congress, and Congress may subsequently override a presidential veto. This process does not grant the President the authority to pass his own laws or to ignore or amend a law duly enacted by Congress. …. If IMLS wishes to make changes to the appropriation provided to IMLS, it must propose funds for rescission or otherwise propose legislation to make changes to the law for consideration by Congress.”
    Since his first hours in office, President Trump has illegally blocked funding owed to communities across the country through a variety of different means. Senate and House Appropriations Committee Democrats have been tracking Trump’s illegal funding freeze and found that, as of June 3, President Trump is blocking at least $425 billion in funding owed to the American people.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trump Administration Allows VA Doctors to Deny Care to Unmarried Women and Democrats, Senator Murray Responds

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, released the following statement on new U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital guidelines from the Trump administration explicitly eliminating language requiring healthcare professionals to care for veterans regardless of their politics and marital status, and allowing doctors and other medical staff to be barred from working at VA hospitals based on their marital status, political party affiliation or union activity:
    “Health care isn’t just a special privilege Trump gets to dole out to veterans who agree with the President—it’s a moral obligation our country owes to every single man and woman who serves in uniform. Anyone who doesn’t understand that has no business leading our armed forces in any way.
    “It’s outrageous that President Trump and Secretary Collins are effectively green-lighting discrimination against wide swaths of our veteran population and the doctors who serve them. Under Trump’s new rules, veterans can be blocked from getting care, and doctors can be barred from working at VA hospitals for the sole reason that they may be unmarried, belong to a union, are registered Democrats, or identify as gay or trans—it’s appalling and un-American. Servicemembers defend our country in uniform whether they’re Democrat or Republican, married or unmarried, they have already proven they are worthy of VA care.  They shouldn’t have to fight again when they’re home to get benefits they have earned.
    “President Trump is going out of his way to discriminate against veterans and ripping up the sacred contract we make with our veterans that we will take care of them when they come home, and that they are entitled to the best health care our nation has to offer. This is bigotry, plain and simple, and it cannot be allowed to stand—and I sincerely hope my Republican colleagues would agree.
    “It’s disgusting that this policy was ever allowed to go into effect, and I will not let it fly under the radar. This policy must be rescinded immediately—this administration is not immune to public pressure and now is the time for everyone to speak out.” 
    Senator Murray was the first woman to join the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the first woman to chair the Committee—as the daughter of a World War II veteran, supporting veterans and their families has always been an important priority for her. Senator Murray has been a leading voice in the Senate speaking out forcefully against President Trump and Elon Musk’s mass firing of VA employees and VA researchers across the country and Elon Musk and DOGE’s infiltration of the VA, including accessing veterans’ sensitive personal information.
    Last week at a hearing on veterans’ mental health, Senator Murray pressed administration officials on the importance of transparency and communication with Congress and how the Trump administration’s mass firings might undermine care for veterans who have dealt with sexual trauma. In February, Murray grilled Trump’s then-nominee for VA Deputy Secretary, Dr. Paul Lawrence, on the mass firings of VA employees and VA researchers. After pressing Doug Collins on EHR and protecting women’s access to VA health care, including lifesaving abortion care, at his nomination hearing, Senator Murray voted against Doug Collins’s nomination to be VA Secretary in early February, sounding the alarm over Elon Musk and DOGE’s activities at the VA and making clear that the Trump administration’s lawlessness is putting our national security and our veterans at risk.
    Recently, Senator Murray released a report on how Trump’s mass firings at VA are already hurting veterans’ services and health care in Washington state and across the country. Senator Murray and her colleagues have demanded that VA swiftly reverse moves to cut VA researchers, and have sent multiple letters pressing Secretary Collins to sever Elon Musk and DOGE’s access to any VA or other government system with information about veterans, and protect veterans, their families, and VA staff from unprecedented access to sensitive information.
    Last month, Senator Murray grilled Secretary Collins on how the Trump administration’s mass firing of VA employes is hurting veterans’ ability to get the health care they need—from jeopardizing VA research, to creating new risks around the deployment of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system to additional VA Medical Centers, which the Trump administration is insisting on moving ahead with despite persistent and unresolved issues at the sites where it is currently deployed. Murray also pressed Secretary Collins on new policies the Trump administration recently rolled out that severely limit Congressional engagement with veterans and VA for no legitimate reason.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Relief Still Available to North Carolina Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Severe Storms and Flooding

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in North Carolina of the July 15 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by severe storms and flooding on Sept. 16-20, 2024.

    The disaster declaration covers the North Carolina counties of Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, and Pender as well as Horry in South Carolina.  

    Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses and PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature impacted by financial losses directly related to the disaster. Example of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools, and colleges.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the Small Business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

    “SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

    The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for private nonprofit organizations, and terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to a disaster.

    To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 15, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Infusion Pump Recall: Zyno Medical Removes Certain Z-800 Series Infusion Pumps due to Software Issue

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    This recall involves removing certain devices from where they are used or sold. The FDA has identified this recall as the most serious type. This device may cause serious injury or death if you continue to use it.
    Affected Product

    Affected Serial Numbers for Z-800 (UDI-DI: 00814377102006)

    800242

    801925

    802867

    900875

    901058

    901089

    901101

    901126

    901143

    901567

    904021

    904073

    800378

    801950

    803020

    900914

    901061

    901090

    901102

    901129

    901145

    901795

    904023

    904083

    801082

    802113

    803268

    900961

    901066

    901091

    901103

    901130

    901230

    904004

    904026

    904087

    801353

    802131

    803526

    900964

    901070

    901092

    901110

    901131

    901240

    904006

    904027

    904093

    801420

    802160

    803768

    901001

    901076

    901093

    901112

    901132

    901241

    904007

    904028

    904094

    801503

    802645

    900029

    901014

    901077

    901094

    901113

    901133

    901244

    904009

    904029

    905077

    801601

    802753

    900035

    901024

    901081

    901095

    901115

    901134

    901245

    904011

    904030

    905162

    801640

    802764

    900051

    901041

    901083

    901096

    901116

    901136

    901246

    904012

    904031

    906681

    801852

    802771

    900115

    901054

    901085

    901097

    901117

    901138

    901249

    904013

    904038

    906692

    801855

    802774

    900133

    901055

    901086

    901098

    901118

    901140

    901250

    904014

    904040

    906693

    801881

    802780

    900147

    901056

    901087

    901099

    901119

    901141

    901252

    904018

    904042

    906716

    801884

    802798

    900569

    901057

    901088

    901100

    901123

    901142

    901255

    904020

    904053

    906720

    906721

     
     
     
     
     

    Affected Serial Numbers for Z-800F (UDI-DI: 00814371020013)

    600091

    600133

    600203

    600259

    600320

    600361

    600404

    600446

    600482

    600526

    600565

    600601

    600094

    600138

    600204

    600261

    600321

    600362

    600406

    600447

    600483

    600528

    600566

    600603

    600095

    600139

    600206

    600262

    600322

    600363

    600407

    600449

    600485

    600529

    600568

    600604

    600099

    600141

    600207

    600263

    600323

    600364

    600408

    600450

    600487

    600531

    600569

    600605

    600100

    600142

    600209

    600265

    600324

    600369

    600410

    600451

    600488

    600532

    600570

    600608

    600102

    600143

    600211

    600266

    600325

    600370

    600411

    600452

    600489

    600533

    600571

    600609

    600104

    600146

    600215

    600267

    600326

    600376

    600412

    600453

    600490

    600535

    600572

    600610

    600105

    600148

    600217

    600268

    600328

    600377

    600414

    600454

    600495

    600536

    600573

    600611

    600106

    600150

    600220

    600270

    600330

    600378

    600415

    600456

    600496

    600539

    600574

    600612

    600108

    600151

    600223

    600271

    600331

    600379

    600416

    600457

    600498

    600540

    600575

    600613

    600109

    600152

    600224

    600289

    600335

    600383

    600417

    600458

    600499

    600541

    600576

    600614

    600110

    600153

    600227

    600292

    600336

    600384

    600418

    600460

    600504

    600542

    600577

    600615

    600111

    600154

    600228

    600294

    600338

    600385

    600419

    600461

    600505

    600543

    600578

    600617

    600112

    600155

    600229

    600295

    600339

    600386

    600422

    600462

    600506

    600545

    600579

    600618

    600113

    600156

    600230

    600297

    600341

    600387

    600423

    600464

    600509

    600546

    600580

    600921

    600114

    600157

    600231

    600298

    600342

    600388

    600424

    600465

    600510

    600549

    600583

    601325

    600115

    600158

    600235

    600299

    600343

    600389

    600425

    600466

    600511

    600551

    600584

    601433

    600116

    600159

    600238

    600300

    600344

    600391

    600427

    600467

    600513

    600553

    600585

    601514

    600118

    600160

    600239

    600301

    600347

    600392

    600430

    600470

    600514

    600554

    600586

    601603

    600120

    600161

    600240

    600302

    600348

    600393

    600431

    600471

    600516

    600555

    600587

    601651

    600121

    600162

    600249

    600303

    600349

    600394

    600432

    600473

    600517

    600556

    600589

    602578

    600122

    600164

    600250

    600304

    600350

    600396

    600436

    600474

    600518

    600557

    600591

    602743

    600126

    600165

    600251

    600305

    600351

    600398

    600437

    600475

    600519

    600558

    600592

    602807

    600127

    600168

    600252

    600306

    600352

    600399

    600438

    600476

    600520

    600559

    600594

    603858

    600129

    600174

    600253

    600308

    600353

    600400

    600440

    600477

    600521

    600560

    600595

    604637

    600130

    600176

    600254

    600309

    600356

    600401

    600442

    600478

    600522

    600562

    600596

    605411

    600131

    600188

    600255

    600310

    600357

    600402

    600443

    600480

    600523

    600563

    600599

    605870

    600132

    600192

    600257

    600319

    600359

    600403

    600445

    600481

    600525

    600564

    600600

    605918

    605964

    606886

    607077

    607891

    608058

    608061

    608612

    613123

    614776

     
     
     

    Affected Serial Numbers for Z-800W (UDI-DI: 00814371020020)

    700063

    700163

    700203

    700402

    700488

    700093

    700169

    700210

    700428

    700495

    700104

    700172

    700214

    700431

    700503

    700111

    700188

    700225

    700440

    700510

    700120

    700189

    700230

    700449

    700513

    700135

    700190

    700285

    700460

    700541

    700145

    700192

    700375

    700471

    700481

    700150

    700195

    700391

    700472

    700397

    700159

    700199

    700393

    700478

    700201

    700162

     
     

    Affected Serial Numbers for Z-800WF (UDI-DI: 00814371020037)

    500004

    500005

    500006

    500810

    500812

    500813

    501748

    503680

    503681

    503682

     
     

    What to Do
    On May 7, 2025 Zyno Medical sent all affected customers an email recommending the following actions:

    Discontinue use of affected devices and follow instructions for the return of the device.
    Check inventory for affected products, verify serial numbers, and confirm product location.
    Report any transferred product and pass this notice to the appropriate personnel who need to be informed if the identified devices have been transferred to another location.
    A representative from Zyno Medical’s partner company, Intuvie LLC, will be in contact with you to coordinate instructions on exchanging devices to remediate this action.

    Reason for Recall
    Zyno Medical stated that certain Z-800, Z-800F, Z-800W and Z-800WF infusion pumps were released to customers with incorrect software versions that had not undergone required verification and validation testing. As a result, these pumps can experience unexpected performance problems, including issues with essential functions and risk measures such as air in line detection, alarm volume, and reverse flow prevention.
    The worst case scenarios of incorrect air in line detection and incorrect audio alarms associated with other failures could result in serious harms such as under- or over-delivery of drugs, air in line that infuses a venous air embolism of up to 1mL, undetected flow reversal of drugs or parenteral fluids, and lowering of the Keep Vein Open (KVO) rate from 5 mL/hr to 1 mL/hr, which can lead to very low KVO flow rates and possibly cause a blood clot to form at the distal end of the catheter, ultimately leading to peripheral IV catheter (PIV) failure.
    At this time, Zyno Medical has not reported any serious injuries or deaths.
    Device Use
    The Zyno Medical Z-800 Infusion System is intended to provide intravenous infusion ofparenteral fluids, blood, and blood products to a patient under the direction or supervision of a physician or other certified health care professional.
    Contact Information
    Customers in the U.S. with adverse reactions, quality problems, or questions about this recall should contact Zyno Medical at feedback@intuvie.com or 508-650-2008.
    Unique Device Identifier (UDI)
    The unique device identifier (UDI) helps identify individual medical devices sold in the United States from distribution to use. The UDI allows for more accurate reporting, reviewing, and analyzing of adverse event reports so that devices can be identified more quickly, and as a result, problems potentially resolved more quickly.

    How do I report a problem?
    Health care professionals and consumers may report adverse reactions or quality problems they experienced using these devices to MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.

    Content current as of:
    06/16/2025

    Regulated Product(s)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: North Dakota Department of Commerce Releases Comprehensive Workforce Ecosystem Assessment Findings

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    The North Dakota Department of Commerce has released the findings of its North Dakota Workforce Ecosystem Assessment, a comprehensive review of the state’s workforce landscape. Conducted by Deloitte, a global professional services network, the 20-week assessment aimed to understand current programs and services. This report was developed in collaboration with the Workforce Development Council (WDC) and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) core partners, including Job Service ND, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Adult Education.

    The assessment gathered insights from a wide range of stakeholders, revealing key themes:

    • Need for Unified Leadership: Stakeholders expressed a desire for more aligned leadership and a clear, central vision to drive statewide workforce outcomes.
    • Access Barriers Despite Strong Partnerships: While relationships within the ecosystem are strong, access to programs often depends on personal connections, leaving many employers and jobseekers unaware of available resources.
    • Increased Need for Wraparound Services: Barriers like childcare, housing, and transportation continue to impact employment readiness, particularly in rural communities.
    • Rural-Urban Disparities: Program access remains more limited in rural areas, placing a greater strain on these communities and their businesses.
    • Labor Market Misalignment: There’s a persistent mismatch between worker interests and employer needs, highlighting a demand for more workers and quicker adaptation of training programs to evolving demands.
    • Funding and Staffing Gaps: Many programs face limitations due to stagnant federal funding and increased demand, hindering innovation and staff retention, especially in rural areas.
    • Data and Knowledge Sharing Challenges: Limited data sharing across programs creates redundant processes for jobseekers and impedes efficient collaboration among partners.

    “This assessment gives us crucial insights into our workforce ecosystem,” said Commerce Deputy Commissioner and Workforce Development Director Katie Ralston Howe. “It clearly outlines where we need to focus our efforts to build a stronger, more responsive workforce for North Dakota.”

    The report also highlighted strengths, including innovative programs like the Regional Workforce Impact Program (RWIP) and Job Placement Pilot Program (JP3), and the strong collaborative spirit among leaders.

    The assessment outlines four key areas for future focus:

    • Strategic Vision: Defining clear goals and roles for ecosystem steering.
    • Customer Focus: Streamlining access and engaging with customer needs.
    • Awareness and Engagement: Enhancing outreach to communities and partners.
    • Information Tracking and Sharing: Improving data collection and sharing for program efficiency.

    Commerce is committed to collaborating with all partners to address these findings and create a more effective workforce system for the state.

    View the full report at https://www.commerce.nd.gov/workforce.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Brazilian National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully residing in Worcester, Mass. pleaded guilty in federal court in Worcester to unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.

    Thiago Aquino-De Paula, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Aug. 28, 2025. In April 2025, Aquino-De Paula was indicted by a federal grand jury.

    Aquino-De Paula was deported from the United States on three previous occasions including on or about Nov. 4, 2021. Sometime after his removal, Aquino-De Paula illegally reentered the United States without permission. Aquino-De Paula was found in Massachusetts after being arrested in Uxbridge for allegedly operating under the influence.

    The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Peter McNeilly Appointed As United States Attorney for the District of Colorado

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DENVER – Peter McNeilly has been appointed as the United States Attorney for the District of Colorado by U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. Mr. McNeilly was sworn in by United States District Judge Daniel D. Domenico on June 16, 2025.

    Mr. McNeilly has been an Assistant United States Attorney in Colorado since 2014. During his time as a federal prosecutor, Mr. McNeilly has focused on pursuing members of Mexican drug cartels, combatting the deadly fentanyl epidemic, and reducing violent crime. Mr. McNeilly’s work prosecuting fentanyl cases—and particularly cases involving fatal overdoses—has made him one of the leading experts on fentanyl prosecutions in Colorado and a resource for other federal prosecutors throughout the country. As a supervisor within the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he has overseen the creation and expansion of federal task forces which focus on transnational organized crime and violent crime. Mr. McNeilly has previously served as the Deputy United States Attorney, the Chief of the Transnational Organized Crime and Money Laundering Section, the District of Colorado’s Opioid Coordinator, and the Lead Strike Force Attorney for the Denver Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force.

    Mr. McNeilly is a lieutenant colonel in the United States Marine Corps. Mr. McNeilly supported commanders and advanced the rule of law as a Marine judge advocate on active duty before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and he has continued that work in the reserves for his entire time with the office. On active duty, he prosecuted complex cases throughout the Marine Corps’ western region, including sexual assaults, child exploitation, financial crimes, and crimes committed in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the reserves, Mr. McNeilly has served as a prosecutor, as a legal advisor on the staff for a three-star commanding general, and he is currently in his second tour as a military judge.

    As United States Attorney, Mr. McNeilly will oversee all federal criminal prosecutions as well as all civil litigation undertaken on behalf of the United States Government in Colorado. Mr. McNeilly leads a dedicated team of more than 160 attorneys, professional staff, and government contractors.

    Mr. McNeilly’s senior leadership team includes J. Bishop Grewell, who will serve as First Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of the Appellate Division, and Marcy Cook, who will serve as Deputy United States Attorney.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Eight Members and Associates of the Transnational 18th Street Gang Charged with Racketeering Crimes in Queens

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    The Defendants’ Crimes Involved Brutal Assaults, Extortion, Drug Trafficking, Production and Sale of Fraudulent Identification Documents, and Counterfeit Currency

    Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging eight members and associates of the 18th Street gang, a violent transnational criminal organization, with serious crimes.  Six defendants are charged with racketeering conspiracy, including predicate acts involving narcotics and firearms trafficking, production and sale of fraudulent identification documents, and extortion. Seven defendants are also charged with assaults in aid of racketeering.  One defendant is charged with being an alien in possession of a 9mm semiautomatic pistol and ammunition. 

    Seven defendants were taken into custody in New York City and are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Cheryl M. Pollak.  Another defendant, currently in custody on separate criminal charges, is expected to be arraigned tomorrow. 

    Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Melinda Katz, Queens District Attorney, announced the arrests and charges.

    “This indictment represents a significant step in our ongoing effort to dismantle violent gang networks in our communities,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “The 18th Street gang exploited a Queens neighborhood as a hub for violence and illicit activity.  Today’s arrests show the community that my Office and our law enforcement partners are working tirelessly to put these violent criminals behind bars.”

    Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, the FBI New York Metro Safe Streets Task Force, the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General – New York Office, the United States Secret Service, and the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, New York City Field Office, for their invaluable assistance with the case.

    “These violent members and associates of the 18th Street gang allegedly relied on violence—including assault of innocent civilians and rival gang members—to exert and maintain control over a busy commercial corridor along Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens. Those arrested today acted and behaved with callous and cruel disregard for those around them. Our actions today represent yet another example of the FBI’s commitment to crushing the violent transnational gangs plaguing our communities,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.

    “The defendants in this case are accused of unleashing terror onto Queens communities through brutal assaults, extortion, fraud, and drug trafficking—all in furtherance of the 18th Street gang’s agenda. Every resident deserves to feel safe walking down the street, without having to worry about gang violence. My office will continue to combat violent criminal enterprises and assist partner investigations to dismantle gangs as they try to establish themselves in our neighborhoods, stated Queens District Attorney Katz.  “We thank the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, the FBI and the NYPD for their hard work in this case.”

    As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, the 18th Street gang is a violent transnational criminal organization with members and associates throughout the United States and Central America.  The gang is divided into several “cliques.”  The defendants are members and associates of the “54 Tiny Locos” clique, which controls a busy commercial corridor along Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens. For years, 18th Street has maintained control over this area through violence, including assaults on perceived rival gang members that often result in harm to innocent civilians.  The gang financed its operations through drug-dealing and various other crimes, including trafficking in fraudulent identification documents and counterfeit currency.  The gang’s production and sale of fraudulent documents—including fake passports, permanent resident cards, Social Security cards, driver’s licenses, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cards—was a primary driver of income for its members and associates.  Members of 18th Street, including the defendants, also committed extortion by charging “rent” to other illicit businesses operating in the area, including unregulated brothels. 

    Certain of the defendants are also charged in connection with three assaults in-aid-of racketeering in Queens, New York, that wounded four individuals.

    The December 2021 Assault

    As alleged, on December 31, 2021, members of 18th Street, including Bonilla Ramos, Ramirez, and a co-conspirator, assaulted two victims, including John Doe #1, outside of a bar in Queens, New York, after asking if they were in a gang.  The defendants violently beat both John Doe #1 and his friend, including twice smashing John Doe #1’s head with a glass bottle of tequila, leaving him with severe lacerations to his face and nerve damage.

    The January 2022 Assault

    As alleged, on January 15, 2022, members of 18th Street attacked two victims, John Doe #2 and John Doe #3, outside a bar in Queens, New York. A co-conspirator stabbed John Doe #2 while two other defendants held him in place.  John Doe #2 sustained serious injuries, including injuries to his lung. The defendants then attacked a second victim, John Doe #3, with large wooden planks, causing lacerations that required sutures.  The serious injuries to John Doe #2, the victim who was stabbed, were reflected in the blood left behind after the assault.

    The June 2024 Assault

    As alleged, on June 20, 2024, members of 18th Street attacked a victim, John Doe #4, who they believed was a rival gang member, in a parking lot in Queens, New York.  The assailants, including certain of the defendants, beat John Doe #4 with a bike lock and a metal chair, among other things.  John Doe #4 received medical care for lacerations to his head, which required sutures. 

    1. The charges announced today are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
    2. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at eradicating transnational criminal organizations, combating violent crime, and restoring the rule of law.
    3. This prosecution also is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.  OCDETF targets the highest-level criminal organizations threatening the U.S., using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  More info is available here: www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren A. Bowman, Andy Palacio, and Kamil R. Ammari are in charge of the prosecution.

    The Defendants:

    FELIX BONILLA RAMOS (also known as “Chabelo” and “Ferras”)
    Age: 36
    Corona, New York

    URIEL LOPEZ (also known as “Tanke”)
    Age: 30
    Jackson Heights, New York

    REFUGIO MARTINEZ (also known as “Cuco”)
    Age: 32
    Elmhurst, New York

    MARGARITO ORTEGA (also known as “Pinocchio”)
    Age: 38
    Elmhurst, New York

    ORLANDO RAMIREZ (also known as “Niñote”)
    Age: 24
    Elmhurst, New York

    GERMAN RODRIGUEZ (also known as “Loco”)
    Age: 34
    Woodhaven, New York

    DAVID VASQUEZ CORONA (also known as “Teba”)
    Age: 29
    Elmhurst, New York

    MARCO VIDAL MENDEZ (also known as “Matute”)
    Age: 36
    Formerly of Elmhurst, New York

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-196

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Port Charlotte Man Indicted For Production And Distribution Of Child Sexual Abuse Material

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Tyler Russell Kuhn (29, Port Charlotte) with one count of production and one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material. If convicted on all counts, Kuhn faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in federal prison. 

    According to the indictment and court records, in October 2019, Kuhn engaged in an online conversation with another individual. During the conversation, Kuhn produced a video and image of child sexual abuse material involving himself and a toddler. Kuhn distributed this video and image over the internet, to the individual to whom he was speaking.

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Tampa and Houston Field Offices. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tampa Man Indicted For Attempted Enticement Of A Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Johan Smith Pavon Mejia (Tampa, 41) with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, Mejia faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. 

    According to the indictment and court records, in April 2025, Mejia communicated online with an undercover detective with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and arranged to meet a fictitious minor to engage in sexual activity. Mejia traveled to an agreed upon location to meet the fictitious minor and arrived with items requested by the undercover detective, including candy, iced tea, and money to pay for the arranged sexual acts.

    An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

    This case was investigated by FBI Tampa and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sanford Man Sentenced For Possessing A Machinegun

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Orlando, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Timothy Aden-Alan Calhoun (27, Orlando) to 2 years and 10 months in federal prison for possession of a machinegun. The court also ordered Calhoun to forfeit the firearm he possessed. Calhoun pleaded guilty on February 25, 2025.

    According to court documents, officers from the Maitland Police Department stopped Calhoun for a traffic violation while he was operating a stolen motorcycle. During a search incident to his arrest, an officer located a Glock 19 with an extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device installed. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was contacted and confirmed that the firearm was converted into a fully automatic weapon.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Maitland Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael P. Felicetta and Kaley Austin-Aronson.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Husband & wife plead guilty to wire fraud related to pandemic relief funds

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CINCINNATI – A West Chester couple pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to committing wire fraud to obtain pandemic relief funds. The husband and wife were owners or associates of multiple transportation firms. 

    Ajay Chawla, 60, and his wife, Ruhi Chawla, 50, admitted that they fraudulently received more than $900,000 in pandemic relief funds. Specifically, they received four Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) loans and three Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).

    According to their court documents, on their loan applications, the Chawlas falsely reported the number of employees and gross revenues for their businesses: Prime Transportation and Logistics Inc., ABC Trucking Inc., Apex Truck Lines LLC and A1 Diesel Truck Repair LLC. Ajay Chawla also submitted a false statement to Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regarding the ownership of Apex Truck Lines.

    “The investigative efforts of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and its partners, along with the prosecutorial work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, demonstrate the commitment to pursuing, capturing, and prosecuting those who try to defraud the American people,” said TIGTA Special Agent-in-Charge Kelly Moening. 

    “Today’s guilty pleas underscore our steadfast commitment to identifying and addressing fraud that undermines the integrity of Department of Transportation programs and requirements,” said Anthony Licari, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Midwestern Region. “Greed has no place in pandemic relief programs, and together with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will continue to hold offenders accountable.”

    The couple were charged in March 2025 by a bill of information.

    Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Congress sets minimum and maximum statutory sentences. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

    Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Springer is representing the United States in this case, which was investigated by the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Returns Over $680,000 in Stolen Cryptocurrency Using Civil Asset Forfeiture

    Source: US FBI

    ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The United States has recovered and cleared title to over $680,000 worth of stolen cryptocurrency using civil asset forfeiture and is in the process of returning those funds to the victim, a cryptocurrency and blockchain company.

    According to court documents, on March 28, 2023, an unidentified person sought to exploit a vulnerability in a cryptocurrency product created by SafeMoon, LLC. SafeMoon used a reserve, called a liquidity pool, to allow trading between different types of cryptocurrency by securing a supply of cryptocurrency assets to ensure sufficient liquidity in the market. This allowed SafeMoon to prevent large fluctuations in the price of SafeMoon’s cryptocurrency. The liquidity pool was secured and managed by a digital program called a “smart contract” that automatically executed when specified conditions occurred. The smart contract was mistakenly programmed, however, so that it could be used by anyone to “burn,” or destroy, tokens from the SafeMoon liquidity pool.

    The exploiter’s scheme involved manipulating SafeMoon’s cryptocurrency by initiating a transaction that would burn a large number of SafeMoon tokens simultaneously, resulting in an artificial price spike. Then the exploiter could sell tokens back to the liquidity pool at an artificially inflated price at a loss to SafeMoon.

    At the same time, however, an automated cryptocurrency trading program called a “bot” was engaged in “front-running,” which exploits normal delays in the processing of transactions by scanning and simulating pending transactions to determine how profitable they are, then executes profitable trades ahead of the original trader. In this case, the front-running bot caused the exploiter’s transaction to fail and directed the profits from its own trade to an account the bot operator controlled. The cryptocurrency stolen from SafeMoon was worth over $8.5 million on the day it was stolen.

    Within a few hours of the attack, the front-running bot operator contacted SafeMoon, claiming to have prevented an attack. While purportedly offering to return the stolen cryptocurrency, the bot operator also threatened to withhold the entirety of the cryptocurrency stolen from SafeMoon if SafeMoon did not allow the operator to keep a percentage. SafeMoon relented and let the bot operator keep 20 percent of the stolen cryptocurrency.

    On May 15, 2023, the FBI seized $680,467.92 and 480.996 BNB from accounts at OKX, a cryptocurrency exchange platform, representing approximately half of the 20 percent extorted from SafeMoon. SafeMoon has since filed for bankruptcy, but the funds are being returned to the bankruptcy trustee for SafeMoon.

    Neither the original exploiter nor the bot operator has been identified to date and they may be located abroad. Without the possibility of a criminal prosecution, the United States used a civil asset forfeiture action against this stolen cryptocurrency to recover these funds for theft victims.  The civil asset forfeiture action afforded all potential claimants an opportunity to contest the forfeiture in court and put the government to its burden of proof.   

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Emily Odom, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Divisions, made the announcement after the settlement order between the United States and the SafeMoon bankruptcy trustee was issued by U.S. District Judge Patricia T. Giles.

    The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Hudson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Keim and Former Eastern District of Virginia prosecutor Jay V. Prabhu supported the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cv-1065.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Fallon Introduces the MERICA Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pat Fallon (TX-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Pat Fallon (TX-04) introduced the Mineral Extraction for Renewable Industry and Critical Applications (‘MERICA) Act, which would amend the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (MLAAL), clarifying that all lands acquired by the federal government are eligible to be considered for hardrock mineral leasing. 

    This legislation is cosponsored by Representative Nathaniel Moran (TX-01).

    “I am proud to introduce a common-sense solution to unleash America’s mineral wealth. This bill would amend current law so that all federally acquired lands can be considered for hardrock mineral leasing,” said Rep. Fallon. “Right now, in places like my district, we have valuable lithium deposits locked up on federal lands, and we cannot utilize them. The MERICA Act would give the Secretary of the Interior the authority to follow through on President Trump’s Executive Order to ramp up mineral production on federal lands.” Rep. Fallon continued, “By tapping into these critical resources, we can strengthen our economy, bolster national security, and ensure America stays a global leader.”

    Rep. Moran commented, “The MERICA Act will strengthen America’s ability to produce the critical minerals we need—right here at home, not from China. This is about creating opportunity, driving investment, and helping keep our nation self-reliant. I’m proud to stand with Congressman Fallon in advancing this important bill for Texas and for our country.”

    On the introduction of this bill, Scott Norton, Executive Director & CEO of TexAmericas Center commented, “TexAmericas Center appreciates Congressman Pat Fallon for introducing legislation to amend the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands in support of increasing access to critical hard rock minerals on federal lands and their continued efforts to create capital investment and quality jobs in our region. Congressman Fallon and TexAmericas Center have been working together well over a year, resulting in a strong working relationship that has resulted in measurable success and a path forward to make lithium extraction a reality in Northeast Texas.  We are hopeful the passage and enactment of this legislation will move Northeast Texas towards lithium production in the near future.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Larsen Releases Statement on World Cup 2026 Travel

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

    Today Representative Rick Larsen, Co-Chair of the Congressional Soccer Caucus, released the following statement about the impact of President Trump’s travel ban on World Cup 2026:

    “I want World Cup 2026 to be a showcase of great soccer, and everything that’s great about the United States. 

    “Yet, as a life-long soccer player and big soccer fan, I can say the United States is perilously close to being unwelcoming to all soccer fans who want to come here for the single largest sporting event in the world.

    “At this point, it seems like Iranian fans may be the only ones directly prevented from coming to the U.S. to support their national team because of the travel ban, although the World Cup hopes of Haiti and Sudan are still up in the air.

    “However, the Trump administration needs to devote resources to consular services worldwide so soccer fans are not prevented from attending because of slow processing times for required visas.

    “A bigger issue going forward will be the Olympics in 2028, when fans from many more countries, including those covered by the ban, will be coming to support their athletes.

    “I know the White House Task Force on the World Cup is aware of these issues. It must ensure that federal agencies are doing their job to ensure fans from all participating nations are welcome.

    “Go USA!”

    Rep. Larsen’s statement was featured on CNN’s Inside Politics with Manu Raju. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Speaker Johnson Postpones Address to the Israeli Knesset

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

    Speaker Johnson Postpones Address to the Israeli Knesset

    Washington, June 16, 2025

    WASHINGTON — Speaker Johnson today released the following statement postponing his address to the Israeli Knesset which was scheduled to take place this Sunday, June 22.

    “Due to the complex situation currently unfolding in Iran and Israel, Speaker Ohana and I have made the decision to postpone the special session of the Knesset. We look forward to rescheduling the address in the near future and send our prayers to the people of Israel and the Middle East.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Carter leads letter calling for state management of red snapper fisheries

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

    Headline: Carter leads letter calling for state management of red snapper fisheries

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) led members of the Georgia House Republican delegation in a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick calling for state management of red snapper and other reef fish species in the South Atlantic.

    The letter expresses “strong support” for governors’ request to grant an Exempted Fishing Permit, allowing for state management of red snapper and other reef fish in the South Atlantic. According to the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation, red snapper populations are the healthiest in history, rendering unnecessary the current burdensome and overreaching policy of the federal government to severely restrict recreational fishing.

    In the letter, the members write: “Georgia’s recreational fishing industry has long struggled under federal fisheries data that limit access and impose heavy-handed restrictions, often set by bureaucrats far removed from our coastal communities. State management, as proposed, would empower Georgia to tailor conservation and fishing policies to local needs, mirroring the successful Gulf of America model where state oversight allows for 127 fishing days.”

    The members continue, “We urge the Department of Commerce to work with the administration to cut federal red tape and grant Georgia, alongside Florida and South Carolina, authority to manage these fisheries.”

    Members signing the letter include: Austin Scott (R-GA), Mike Collins (R-GA), Rick Allen (R-GA), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Brian Jack (R-GA), and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).

    Read the full letter to the Department of Commerce here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Files Amicus Brief in Support of Job Corps

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta, alongside 18 attorneys general, filed an amicus brief in support of Job Corps, a national program that offers career training and housing to young Americans from low-income backgrounds. Job Corps has nearly 100 residential campuses across the country, and the Trump Administration’s illegal termination of the program threatens to leave thousands of vulnerable young Americans homeless.

    “Job Corps has opened doors for low-income youth, offering job training, education, and a pathway to economic stability,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The Trump Administration’s attempt to gut this critical program jeopardizes thousands of young people nationwide who rely on it. Not only is dismantling Job Corps unlawful, but it will hinder economic growth by dismantling a strong pipeline of skilled workers.” 

    The brief explains that “in the sixty years since Congress created Job Corps, millions of young Americans from low-income backgrounds have been served by the program’s unique combination of education, training, housing, healthcare and community.”  The unlawful termination will impact tens of thousands of young Americans who are currently enrolled and housed at campuses in all fifty states. Thousands of these program participants were unhoused or in foster care when they enrolled and have no alternative housing if they lose their residence through the program.

    The amicus filing reaffirms that the injunction is necessary to protect vulnerable state residents and promote state goals in education and workforce development. It further reinforces the point that the Trump Administration cannot violate federal law and the Constitution by terminating congressionally mandated programs it opposes.

    Attorney General Bonta is joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Oregon, and Vermont, in filing this amicus brief. 

    A copy of the amicus brief is available here.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: After Two-Day Manhunt, Suspect Charged with Shooting Two Minnesota Lawmakers and Their Spouses

    Source: US State of California

    Vance Boelter, 57, of Green Isle, Minnesota, has been charged by federal complaint with stalking and murdering Minnesota House of Representatives Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, in addition to stalking and shooting Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife.

    According to court documents, in the early morning hours of June 14, 2025, Vance Luther Boelter put into effect a calculated plan to inflict fear and violence upon Minnesota elected officials and their families. Boelter equipped himself with firearms and body armor, disguised himself as a law enforcement officer, and drove to the home of Senator Hoffman. Boelter knocked on the door repeatedly, claiming to be a police officer. Shortly after the Hoffmans opened the door, they were alarmed to realize Boelter was wearing a facemask. The Hoffmans tried to close the door on Boelter, but Boelter repeatedly shot both Senator and Mrs. Hoffman.

    “The horrific, targeted murders of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, as well as the shooting of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman, have shocked the nation and united us in grief,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “These horrific acts of violence will not go unanswered: the Department of Justice will prosecute this suspect to the fullest extent of the law and if convicted deliver severe consequences for his alleged crimes.”

    “According to the charges, the defendant had a list of possible targets and went to the homes of public officials to conduct violent attacks,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This type of violence is unacceptable, and the FBI stands united with our law enforcement partners to find and hold accountable anyone who commits such despicable acts. I commend all the law enforcement officers who worked throughout the weekend to find the defendant and take him into custody.”

    “Vance Luthor Boelter went on a violent rampage against our elected officials,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson for the District of Minnesota. “These were targeted political assassinations the likes of which have never been seen in Minnesota. It was an attack on our state and on our democracy. We will not rest until he is brought to justice.” 

    “This was a horrific act of targeted violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office. “A gunman, impersonating a police officer, deliberately lured public servants to their own doorstep and opened fire. A Minnesota lawmaker and her spouse were murdered in cold blood, and others wounded, simply for serving as elected officials. This is not only unacceptable — it is an attack on the democratic values that define this nation. This marked the largest manhunt in Minnesota’s history, and it would not have been possible without the extraordinary partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The tireless coordination and commitment ensured Boelter was located and taken into custody without further incident. The FBI remains steadfast in our pursuit of justice. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the communities they served.”

    “The deliberate targeting of elected officials and their families is an appalling act of political violence that has no place in our country,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) St. Paul Field Division. “We extend our deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and all those affected by this tragedy. In response, ATF brought forward key investigative resources, including firearms tracing, NIBIN analysis, and a specially trained K-9 team, to help recover evidence and generate leads. Our agents contributed their full expertise and manpower to the search and continue to support the ongoing investigation. I’m proud of the role ATF has played and commend the extraordinary work of all law enforcement partners who came together to bring the suspect into custody.”

    Boelter then traveled to the homes of two other Minnesota elected officials, still disguised as a law enforcement officer. Boelter did not manage to make contact with either of those officials or their families.

    Next, Boelter drove to the home of Speaker Emerita and Representative Melissa Hortman. Meanwhile, local law enforcement, having heard of the shooting at the Hoffman residence, drove to the Hortman household to conduct a safety check. Upon arriving, officers saw Boelter’s car, a black Ford Explorer SUV designed to look at a law enforcement vehicle. It was equipped with police-style lights that were on and flashing. Officers saw Boelter, standing several feet from and facing the front door of the Hortman home. Moments later, Boelter fired several gunshots into the home, repeatedly striking Mr. Hortman. As Boelter did so, he rushed into the home and fired several additional shots, repeatedly striking Representative Hortman. Officers provided medical aid to the Hortmans and attempted to pursue Boelter, who abandoned the SUV and fled, initially, on foot. Both Hortmans died from their wounds.

    Law enforcement searched Boelter’s SUV and recovered five firearms, including semi-automatic, assault-style rifles, a large quantity of ammunition, and several notebooks filled with handwritten notations. Those notes listed out the names of dozens of Minnesota state and federal elected officials. The notes often identified those officials’ home addresses.

    A two-day manhunt, coordinated among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies across the state, ensued. As a result of those efforts, at approximately 9:15 on the evening of June 15, law enforcement located Boelter in a field in Green Isle, Minnesota, approximately one mile from his family residence. Law enforcement officers then took Boelter into custody.

    Boelter will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court today, before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty.

    The FBI, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, ATF, Brooklyn Park Police Department, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sherriff’s Office, Champlin Police Department, and New Hope Police Department, together with several other state and local partners, are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs, Bradley M. Endicott, Matthew D. Forbes, and Daniel W. Bobier for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorneys Dimitriy Slavin and Joshua Champagne of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

    A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: After Two-Day Manhunt, Suspect Charged with Shooting Two Minnesota Lawmakers and Their Spouses

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Vance Boelter, 57, of Green Isle, Minnesota, has been charged by federal complaint with stalking and murdering Minnesota House of Representatives Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, in addition to stalking and shooting Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife.

    According to court documents, in the early morning hours of June 14, 2025, Vance Luther Boelter put into effect a calculated plan to inflict fear and violence upon Minnesota elected officials and their families. Boelter equipped himself with firearms and body armor, disguised himself as a law enforcement officer, and drove to the home of Senator Hoffman. Boelter knocked on the door repeatedly, claiming to be a police officer. Shortly after the Hoffmans opened the door, they were alarmed to realize Boelter was wearing a facemask. The Hoffmans tried to close the door on Boelter, but Boelter repeatedly shot both Senator and Mrs. Hoffman.

    “The horrific, targeted murders of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, as well as the shooting of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman, have shocked the nation and united us in grief,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “These horrific acts of violence will not go unanswered: the Department of Justice will prosecute this suspect to the fullest extent of the law and if convicted deliver severe consequences for his alleged crimes.”

    “According to the charges, the defendant had a list of possible targets and went to the homes of public officials to conduct violent attacks,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This type of violence is unacceptable, and the FBI stands united with our law enforcement partners to find and hold accountable anyone who commits such despicable acts. I commend all the law enforcement officers who worked throughout the weekend to find the defendant and take him into custody.”

    “Vance Luthor Boelter went on a violent rampage against our elected officials,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson for the District of Minnesota. “These were targeted political assassinations the likes of which have never been seen in Minnesota. It was an attack on our state and on our democracy. We will not rest until he is brought to justice.” 

    “This was a horrific act of targeted violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office. “A gunman, impersonating a police officer, deliberately lured public servants to their own doorstep and opened fire. A Minnesota lawmaker and her spouse were murdered in cold blood, and others wounded, simply for serving as elected officials. This is not only unacceptable — it is an attack on the democratic values that define this nation. This marked the largest manhunt in Minnesota’s history, and it would not have been possible without the extraordinary partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The tireless coordination and commitment ensured Boelter was located and taken into custody without further incident. The FBI remains steadfast in our pursuit of justice. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the communities they served.”

    “The deliberate targeting of elected officials and their families is an appalling act of political violence that has no place in our country,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) St. Paul Field Division. “We extend our deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and all those affected by this tragedy. In response, ATF brought forward key investigative resources, including firearms tracing, NIBIN analysis, and a specially trained K-9 team, to help recover evidence and generate leads. Our agents contributed their full expertise and manpower to the search and continue to support the ongoing investigation. I’m proud of the role ATF has played and commend the extraordinary work of all law enforcement partners who came together to bring the suspect into custody.”

    Boelter then traveled to the homes of two other Minnesota elected officials, still disguised as a law enforcement officer. Boelter did not manage to make contact with either of those officials or their families.

    Next, Boelter drove to the home of Speaker Emerita and Representative Melissa Hortman. Meanwhile, local law enforcement, having heard of the shooting at the Hoffman residence, drove to the Hortman household to conduct a safety check. Upon arriving, officers saw Boelter’s car, a black Ford Explorer SUV designed to look at a law enforcement vehicle. It was equipped with police-style lights that were on and flashing. Officers saw Boelter, standing several feet from and facing the front door of the Hortman home. Moments later, Boelter fired several gunshots into the home, repeatedly striking Mr. Hortman. As Boelter did so, he rushed into the home and fired several additional shots, repeatedly striking Representative Hortman. Officers provided medical aid to the Hortmans and attempted to pursue Boelter, who abandoned the SUV and fled, initially, on foot. Both Hortmans died from their wounds.

    Law enforcement searched Boelter’s SUV and recovered five firearms, including semi-automatic, assault-style rifles, a large quantity of ammunition, and several notebooks filled with handwritten notations. Those notes listed out the names of dozens of Minnesota state and federal elected officials. The notes often identified those officials’ home addresses.

    A two-day manhunt, coordinated among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies across the state, ensued. As a result of those efforts, at approximately 9:15 on the evening of June 15, law enforcement located Boelter in a field in Green Isle, Minnesota, approximately one mile from his family residence. Law enforcement officers then took Boelter into custody.

    Boelter will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court today, before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty.

    The FBI, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, ATF, Brooklyn Park Police Department, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sherriff’s Office, Champlin Police Department, and New Hope Police Department, together with several other state and local partners, are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs, Bradley M. Endicott, Matthew D. Forbes, and Daniel W. Bobier for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorneys Dimitriy Slavin and Joshua Champagne of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

    A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse Help Launch State-of-the-Art Support Vehicle for Northern RI Firefighters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    ***WATCH FOOTAGE OF THE NEW AIR SUPPLY UNIT***

    LINCOLN, RI – Fire departments across northern Rhode Island have teamed up to acquire a new regional air/light unit that will help ensure firefighters can safely and effectively respond to a wide range of emergencies throughout their communities.

    After delivering a $586,363 federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) award, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today joined state and local officials, Limerock Fire Chief Tim Walsh, and members of the Greater Woonsocket Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Association to officially launch the new vehicle.

    “This new state-of-the-art vehicle will make it easier for our firefighters to safely and effectively respond to emergencies throughout our communities,” said Senator Reed.  “I am proud to help deliver critical resources and support for our firefighters.  They go above and beyond each day to serve and protect our neighborhoods, and they should have the best gear and technology available to stay safe in the line of duty.”

    “I’m very glad to join Senator Reed and our firefighters to officially launch this new state-of-the-art support vehicle,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “The residents of northern Rhode Island stand to benefit from our federal investment in this truck, which will better allow firefighters do their jobs safely and effectively.”

    “As a Woonsocket firefighter, I know firsthand how important it is for public safety personnel to have the proper equipment. Our lives, and the lives of the community members we’re responding to, are on the line,” said State Rep. Stephen M. Casey (D-Dist. 50, Woonsocket), chair of the House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing. “I was honored to be a sponsor of the legislative grant that helped support the purchase of this unit, and I thank my colleagues for backing it. I’m also very appreciative of Sen. Jack Reed and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, who understand that to keep the public safe, we need to keep our first responders safe. Today is just one more example of how they consistently deliver for Rhode Island.”

    “This unique piece of equipment is set to immediately start serving 13 communities across northern Rhode Island. With this new, advanced vehicle, we will boost the capabilities of the Greater Woonsocket Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Association and better serve people across our region,” said Limerock Fire Chief Tim Walsh. “This achievement would not have been possible without the steadfast support of U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and State Representative Stephen Casey.”

    The new state-of-the-art support unit replaces a shared vehicle that has over 300,000 miles and more than four decades of service providing regional assistance during emergencies. The Rhode Island congressional delegation delivered the federal AFG award for Limerock Fire Department and its neighboring partners in September 2022. In addition to the federal AFG award, the new air/light unit was also supported by a $50,000 legislative grant from the Rhode Island House of Representatives.

    An air/light unit is a critical piece of firefighting equipment that provides support and boosts safety by ensuring firefighters have the tools and equipment they need at the ready to respond to dangerous emergencies. The unit is used to refill Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) air cylinders and provide portable enhanced lighting on scene.

    The Rhode Island fire departments and districts who will utilize this new unit are members of the Greater Woonsocket Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Association, including: Central Falls, Chepachet, Cumberland, East Burrillville, Harmony, Harrisville, Lincoln, Manville, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Smithfield, and Woonsocket. Collectively, these departments are staffed by nearly 500 firefighters and serve more than 460,000 Rhode Islanders.

    Thanks to the Rhode Island congressional delegation, Ocean State fire departments received a record-breaking amount of federal funding last year through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant funding, with a total of nearly $30 million for firefighters and first responders across the state.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed & Whitehouse Help Launch State-of-the-Art Support Vehicle for Northern RI Firefighters

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    ***WATCH FOOTAGE OF THE NEW AIR SUPPLY UNIT***

    LINCOLN, RI – Fire departments across northern Rhode Island have teamed up to acquire a new regional air/light unit that will help ensure firefighters can safely and effectively respond to a wide range of emergencies throughout their communities.

    After delivering a $586,363 federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) award, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today joined state and local officials, Limerock Fire Chief Tim Walsh, and members of the Greater Woonsocket Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Association to officially launch the new vehicle.

    “This new state-of-the-art vehicle will make it easier for our firefighters to safely and effectively respond to emergencies throughout our communities,” said Senator Reed.  “I am proud to help deliver critical resources and support for our firefighters.  They go above and beyond each day to serve and protect our neighborhoods, and they should have the best gear and technology available to stay safe in the line of duty.”

    “I’m very glad to join Senator Reed and our firefighters to officially launch this new state-of-the-art support vehicle,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “The residents of northern Rhode Island stand to benefit from our federal investment in this truck, which will better allow firefighters do their jobs safely and effectively.”

    “As a Woonsocket firefighter, I know firsthand how important it is for public safety personnel to have the proper equipment. Our lives, and the lives of the community members we’re responding to, are on the line,” said State Rep. Stephen M. Casey (D-Dist. 50, Woonsocket), chair of the House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing. “I was honored to be a sponsor of the legislative grant that helped support the purchase of this unit, and I thank my colleagues for backing it. I’m also very appreciative of Sen. Jack Reed and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, who understand that to keep the public safe, we need to keep our first responders safe. Today is just one more example of how they consistently deliver for Rhode Island.”

    “This unique piece of equipment is set to immediately start serving 13 communities across northern Rhode Island. With this new, advanced vehicle, we will boost the capabilities of the Greater Woonsocket Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Association and better serve people across our region,” said Limerock Fire Chief Tim Walsh. “This achievement would not have been possible without the steadfast support of U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and State Representative Stephen Casey.”

    The new state-of-the-art support unit replaces a shared vehicle that has over 300,000 miles and more than four decades of service providing regional assistance during emergencies. The Rhode Island congressional delegation delivered the federal AFG award for Limerock Fire Department and its neighboring partners in September 2022. In addition to the federal AFG award, the new air/light unit was also supported by a $50,000 legislative grant from the Rhode Island House of Representatives.

    An air/light unit is a critical piece of firefighting equipment that provides support and boosts safety by ensuring firefighters have the tools and equipment they need at the ready to respond to dangerous emergencies. The unit is used to refill Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) air cylinders and provide portable enhanced lighting on scene.

    The Rhode Island fire departments and districts who will utilize this new unit are members of the Greater Woonsocket Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Association, including: Central Falls, Chepachet, Cumberland, East Burrillville, Harmony, Harrisville, Lincoln, Manville, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Smithfield, and Woonsocket. Collectively, these departments are staffed by nearly 500 firefighters and serve more than 460,000 Rhode Islanders.

    Thanks to the Rhode Island congressional delegation, Ocean State fire departments received a record-breaking amount of federal funding last year through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant funding, with a total of nearly $30 million for firefighters and first responders across the state.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Gabe Vasquez Blasts Backroom Senate Deal to Steal 3.3 Million Acres of Public Lands

    Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) issued a strong condemnation of a last-minute provision added to the Senate reconciliation proposal that would authorize the sale of up to 3.3 million acres of public lands across the American West.

    “As an avid outdoorsman, conservationist, and co-founder of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, I am outraged by the Senate’s last-minute attempt to sell off millions of acres of our public lands. Just weeks after our efforts rejected a similar effort in the House, this new provision is even worse, threatening up to 3.3 million acres of public lands across the West, including right here in New Mexico.

    “There’s been no public input and no consultation with the communities who live, work, and depend on these lands. And the proposal itself doesn’t even require public hearings on the disposal of the land. Stripping public lands out of the hands of the American people to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy is not just bad policy — it’s morally indefensible.

    “Our public lands are not a bargaining chip and they are not a piggy bank for billionaires. They are our legacy. I will fight this shameless attempt to sell off the soul of the West with everything I’ve got to make sure your children and grandchildren can enjoy these lands for generations to come.”

    Rep. Vasquez has been a vocal champion for land conservation, rural economic development, and outdoor access, and will continue to work with allies across the aisle to defeat this provision and safeguard the public lands that belong to all Americans.

    In addition to Rep. Vasquez’s statement, click here to read the statements of outdoor and conservation organizations in response to Senator Lee’s proposal. 

    ###

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Addresses Racial Discrimination in Lawsuit Challenging Race-Based Admissions at United States Naval Academy

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: Justice Department Addresses Racial Discrimination in Lawsuit Challenging Race-Based Admissions at United States Naval Academy

    WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced a joint filing with the plaintiff challenging former race-based admissions practices at the U.S. Naval Academy to dismiss the lawsuit based on the federal government’s commitments to end those practices permanently. The lawsuit challenged race-based admissions at the Academy as unconstitutional under the Fifth Amendment.

    MIL OSI USA News –