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Category: United States of America

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

    Source: The White House

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    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
    Section 1.  Purpose.  Abundant energy is a vital national- and economic-security interest.  In conjunction with domestic fossil fuel production, nuclear energy can liberate America from dependence on geopolitical rivals.  It can power not only traditional manufacturing industries but also cutting-edge, energy-intensive industries such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
    Between 1954 and 1978, the United States authorized the construction of 133 since-completed civilian nuclear reactors at 81 power plants. Since 1978, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has authorized only a fraction of that number; of these, only two reactors have entered into commercial operation. The NRC charges applicants by the hour to process license applications, with prolonged timelines that maximize fees while throttling nuclear power development. The NRC has failed to license new reactors even as technological advances promise to make nuclear power safer, cheaper, more adaptable, and more abundant than ever.
    This failure stems from a fundamental error:  Instead of efficiently promoting safe, abundant nuclear energy, the NRC has instead tried to insulate Americans from the most remote risks without appropriate regard for the severe domestic and geopolitical costs of such risk aversion.  The NRC utilizes safety models that posit there is no safe threshold of radiation exposure and that harm is directly proportional to the amount of exposure.  Those models lack sound scientific basis and produce irrational results, such as requiring that nuclear plants protect against radiation below naturally occurring levels.  A myopic policy of minimizing even trivial risks ignores the reality that substitute forms of energy production also carry risk, such as pollution with potentially deleterious health effects.
    Recent events in Europe, such as the nationwide blackouts in Spain and Portugal, underscore the importance of my Administration’s focus on dispatchable power generation –including nuclear power — over intermittent power.  Beginning today, my Administration will reform the NRC, including its structure, personnel, regulations, and basic operations.  In so doing, we will produce lasting American dominance in the global nuclear energy market, create tens of thousands of high-paying jobs, and generate American-led prosperity and resilience.
    Sec. 2.  Policy.  It is the policy of the United States to:
    (a)  Reestablish the United States as the global leader in nuclear energy;
    (b)  Facilitate increased deployment of new nuclear reactor technologies, such as Generation III+ and IV reactors, modular reactors, and microreactors, including by lowering regulatory and cost barriers to entry;
    (c)  Facilitate the expansion of American nuclear energy capacity from approximately 100 GW in 2024 to 400 GW by 2050;
    (d)  Employ emerging technologies to safely accelerate the modeling, simulation, testing, and approval of new reactor designs;
    (e)  Support the continued operation of, and facilitate appropriate operational extensions for, the current nuclear fleet, as well as the reactivation of prematurely shuttered or partially completed nuclear facilities; and
    (f)  Maintain the United States’ leading reputation for nuclear safety.
    Sec. 3.  Reforming the NRC’s Culture.  The Congress has mandated that the NRC’s “licensing and regulation of the civilian use of radioactive materials and nuclear energy be conducted in a manner that is efficient and does not unnecessarily limit — (1) the civilian use of radioactive materials and deployment of nuclear energy; or (2) the benefits of civilian use of radioactive materials and nuclear energy technology to society.”  Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act of 2024, Public Law 118-67, sec. 501(a).  Just as the Congress directed, the NRC’s mission shall include facilitating nuclear power while ensuring reactor safety.  When carrying out its licensing and related regulatory functions, the NRC shall consider the benefits of increased availability of, and innovation in, nuclear power to our economic and national security in addition to safety, health, and environmental considerations.

    Sec. 4.  Reforming the NRC’s Structure.  (a)  The current structure and staffing of the NRC are misaligned with the Congress’s directive that the NRC shall not unduly restrict the benefits of nuclear power.  The NRC shall, in consultation with the NRC’s DOGE Team (as defined in Executive Order 14158 of January 20, 2025 (Establishing and Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency”)), and consistent with its governing statutes, reorganize the NRC to promote the expeditious processing of license applications and the adoption of innovative technology.  The NRC shall undertake reductions in force in conjunction with this reorganization, though certain functions may increase in size consistent with the policies in this order, including those devoted to new reactor licensing.  The NRC shall also create a dedicated team of at least 20 officials to draft the new regulations directed by section 5 of this order.
     (b)  The personnel and functions of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) shall be reduced to the minimum necessary to fulfill ACRS’s statutory obligations.  Review by ACRS of permitting and licensing issues shall focus on issues that are truly novel or noteworthy.

    Sec. 5.  Reforming and Modernizing the NRC’s Regulations.  The NRC, working with its DOGE Team, the Office of Management and Budget, and other executive departments and agencies as appropriate, shall undertake a review and wholesale revision of its regulations and guidance documents, and issue notice(s) of proposed rulemaking effecting this revision within 9 months of the date of this order.  The NRC shall issue final rules and guidance to conclude this revision process within 18 months of the date of this order.  In conducting this wholesale revision, the NRC shall be guided by the policies set forth in section 2 of this order and shall in particular:
    (a)  Establish fixed deadlines for its evaluation and approval of licenses, license amendments, license renewals, certificates of compliance, power uprates, license transfers, and any other activity requested by a licensee or potential licensee, as directed under the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act, rather than the nonbinding “generic milestone schedules” guidelines the NRC has already adopted.  Those deadlines shall be enforced by fixed caps on the NRC’s recovery of hourly fees.  The deadlines shall include:  (1) a deadline of no more than 18 months for final decision on an application to construct and operate a new reactor of any type, commencing with the first required step in the regulatory process, and (2) a deadline of no more than 1 year for final decision on an application to continue operating an existing reactor of any type, commencing with the first required step in the regulatory process.  The regulations should not provide for tolling those deadlines except in instances of applicant failure, and must allow a reasonably diligent applicant to navigate the licensing process successfully in the time allotted.  Moreover, these are maximum time periods; the NRC shall adopt shorter deadlines tailored to particular reactor types or licensing pathways as appropriate. 
    (b)  Adopt science-based radiation limits.  In particular, the NRC shall reconsider reliance on the linear no-threshold (LNT) model for radiation exposure and the “as low as reasonably achievable” standard, which is predicated on LNT.  Those models are flawed, as discussed in section 1 of this order.  In reconsidering those limits, the NRC shall specifically consider adopting determinate radiation limits, and in doing so shall consult with the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Environmental Protection Agency.
    (c)  Revise, in consultation with the Council on Environmental Quality, NRC regulations governing NRC’s compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act to reflect the Congress’s 2023 amendments to that statute and the policies articulated in sections 2 and 5 of Executive Order 14154 of January 20, 2025 (Unleashing American Energy). 
    (d) Establish an expedited pathway to approve reactor designs that the DOD or the DOE have tested and that have demonstrated the ability to function safely. NRC review of such designs shall focus solely on risks that may arise from new applications permitted by NRC licensure, rather than revisiting risks that have already been addressed in the DOE or DOD processes.
    (e)  Establish a process for high-volume licensing of microreactors and modular reactors, including by allowing for standardized applications and approvals and by considering to what extent such reactors or components thereof should be regulated through general licenses.
    (f)  Establish stringent thresholds for circumstances in which the NRC may demand changes to reactor design once construction is underway.
    (g)  Revise the Reactor Oversight Process and reactor security rules and requirements to reduce unnecessary burdens and be responsive to credible risks.  
    (h)  Adopt revised and, where feasible, determinate and data-backed thresholds to ensure that reactor safety assessments focus on credible, realistic risks.  
    (i)  Reconsider the regulations governing the time period for which a renewed license remains effective, and extend that period as appropriate based on available technological and safety data.
    (j)  Streamline the public hearings process.
    Sec. 6.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
     (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
    (d)  The Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall provide funding for publication of this order in the Federal Register.

                                  DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,
        May 23, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump is Restoring Gold Standard Science in America

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-center”>RESTORING GOLD STANDARD SCIENCE IN AMERICA: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to restore Gold Standard Science as the cornerstone of Federal scientific research and rebuild public trust in science.

    • Gold Standard Science is:
      • Reproducible, transparent, and falsifiable;
      • Subject to unbiased peer review;
      • Clear about errors and uncertainties;
      • Skeptical of assumptions;
      • Collaborative and interdisciplinary;
      • Accepting of negative results as positive outcomes; and
      • Free from conflicts of interest.
    • With this Executive Order, President Trump is directing Federal agencies to align new and existing programs and activities with Gold Standard Science principles.
    • This Order reinstates the scientific integrity policies of the first Trump Administration and ensures that science is no longer manipulated or misused to justify political ends, ensures agencies prioritize data transparency, acknowledges scientific uncertainties, remains transparent about the likelihood of future scenarios, evaluates scientific findings objectively, and communicates scientific data accurately.
    • The EO charges the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to work with agency heads to issue guidance for adopting Gold Standard Science principles in 30 days and report their implementation progress within 60 days.
    • Agencies will publicly share data, analyses, models, and conclusions associated with scientific and technological information produced or used by the agency.
    • Agencies will also transparently acknowledge and document uncertainties, apply a “weight of scientific evidence” approach to decisionmaking, and ensure that scientific communication aligns with rigorous analysis.

    A CALL TO EXCELLENCE FOR AMERICA’S RESEACHERS: The Trump Administration encourages American research organizations across academia, industry, and philanthropy to return to core principles of scientific inquiry and align their activities to Gold Standard Science.

    • For too long, bureaucratic agendas, political interference, and inconsistent standards have eroded the American people’s trust in science.
    • Under the Biden Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) incorporated edits by a teachers’ union into its school reopening guidance, which discouraged in-person learning. This was despite the best available scientific evidence at the time showing that the COVID-19 risk for children was minimal, leading to prolonged closures that harmed students’ education.
    • The National Marine Fisheries Service adopted an admittedly flawed “worst-case scenario” projection for the North Atlantic right whale population, which could have devastated the historic Maine lobster fishery had the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals not overturned the opinion for skewing evidence analysis.
    • Agencies have relied on the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 to justify climate change policies that hamper the American energy industry, an unrealistic worst-case climate scenario with exaggerated coal use assumptions, which scientists have criticized as misleading.
    • The Biden Administration manipulated science to achieve political ends, and conducted subpar science designed to support predetermined outcomes instead of objective science that informed well-designed policies.
    • President Trump’s restoration of Gold Standard Science will rebuild the nation’s confidence in science and its use in Federal decisionmaking, and ensure continued American strength and global leadership in technology.
    • New scientific integrity policies will:
      • Encourage the open exchange of ideas;
      • Ensure consideration of different or dissenting viewpoints; and
      • Protect employees from efforts to dissuade or prevent consideration of alternative scientific opinions.

    USHERING IN AMERICA’S GOLDEN AGE OF INNOVATION: This Executive Order is another step forward in President Trump’s agenda to ensure unquestioned American scientific and technological global dominance.

    This Order imposes the highest standards of scientific rigor on both the development and use of science by Federal agencies to restore public trust and ensure that policymaking follows, or adequately addresses, scientific findings, for demonstratable positive outcomes for the American public.

    Since inauguration, the President has taken significant action to:

    • Define America’s key scientific priorities in artificial intelligence, quantum information science, nuclear technology, and biotechnology.
    • Secure trillions of dollars in U.S.-based technology and research & development investments.
    • Create new educational and workforce development opportunities in artificial intelligence technology for America’s youth.

    Improve the safety and security of biological research. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Reinvigorates the Nuclear Industrial Base

    Source: The White House

    REINVIGORATING THE NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to expedite and promote the production and operation of nuclear energy, which is necessary to power the next generation technologies that secure our global industrial, digital, and economic dominance, achieve energy independence, and protect our national security.

    • This Order tasks the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), to report on a recommended national policy to support spent nuclear fuel management, an evaluation of policies regarding commercial recycling and reprocessing of nuclear fuels, and recommendations for the efficient use of nuclear waste materials.
    • The Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Director of OMB, will develop a plan to expand domestic uranium conversion capacity and enrichment capabilities to meet projected civilian and defense reactor needs.
    • This Order directs the Secretary of Energy to create a program to dispose of surplus plutonium by processing and making it available for advanced reactor fuel fabrication, stopping the surplus plutonium disposition program other than with respect to existing legal obligations.
    • President Trump is leveraging the Defense Production Act to seek voluntary agreements with domestic nuclear energy companies for the procurement of enriched uranium and for consultation regarding methods to enhance domestic capability to manage spent nuclear fuel.
    • The Secretary of Energy is authorized to support the establishment of nuclear industry consortia by ensuring offtake for newly established domestic fuel supply across milling, conversion/deconversion, enrichment, fabrication, and recycling and reprocessing.

    ACCELERATING NEW NUCLEAR ENERGY PRODUCTION: President Trump is leveraging the full suite of Federal financial resources to support the restart, completion, uprate, and construction of nuclear plants.

    • The Department of Energy will prioritize the facilitation of 5 GW of power uprates to existing nuclear reactors and construction on 10 new large reactors by 2030.
    • Federal loans and loan guarantees will be prioritized to support increased nuclear energy, including restarting closed nuclear power plants and completing construction of prematurely suspended plants.
    • The Order tasks the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, to prioritize funding for companies with potential for near-term deployment of advanced nuclear technologies.

    EXPANDING THE AMERICAN NUCLEAR WORKFORCE: President Trump is taking action to expand pathways for Americans to gain employment in the domestic nuclear workforce.

    • Nuclear engineering and nuclear energy-related careers will be considered priority areas for actions directed pursuant to Executive Order 14278.
    • The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education will increase participation in nuclear energy-related registered apprenticeships and career and technical education programs.
    • The Secretary of Energy will increase access to R&D infrastructure, workforce, and expertise at Department of Energy National Laboratories for college and university nuclear engineering students.

    STRENGTHENING THE DOMESTIC NUCLEAR FUEL SUPPLY CHAIN: To enable the long-term expansion of nuclear energy, the Federal government shall pursue policies to maximize the value of nuclear fuel and expand the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain.

    • The Nation’s nuclear fuel cycle infrastructure has severely atrophied, with domestic fuel sources supplying only about 5% of the fuel used in U.S. reactors. In addition to permitting challenges in mining the relevant minerals, in 1977 the Federal government introduced a policy that did not allow reprocessing of used fuel for commercial reactors, leaving the United States heavily dependent on foreign sources of uranium as well as uranium enrichment and conversion services. 
    • The United States possesses ample deposits of uranium and thorium that can power advanced nuclear reactors. The President has already taken decisive action to advance mining activities relevant to these minerals pursuant to his Executive Order “Immediate Measures to Increase Domestic Mineral Production.”
    • This Executive Order supplements the Administration’s actions on mineral production to ensure that we can not only mine, but also process and refine, nuclear fuel domestically. This is crucial for energy independence and national security.
    • Treatment of nuclear waste is one of the most difficult problems in the nuclear supply chain, and this Order brings together all relevant Federal agencies to develop implementable solutions.
    • 60% of the nuclear workforce is between the ages of 30 and 60, and this Order takes decisive action to generate a pipeline of workers to supply the demand for this crucial industry.

    UNLEASHING AMERICAN ENERGY: President Trump believes in supporting all forms of reliable, dispatchable energy, harnessing nuclear, fossil fuels, and emerging technologies to secure American energy independence and fuel economic growth.

    • On Day One, President Trump declared a National Energy Emergency to eliminate bureaucratic barriers, unleash innovation, and restore America’s position as the world’s leading energy producer.
    • Unleashing American energy will create jobs and economic prosperity, improve the United States’ trade balance, help our country compete with hostile foreign powers, strengthen relations with allies and partners, and support international peace and security.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base

    Source: The White House

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

    Section 1.  Purpose.  The United States originally pioneered nuclear energy technology during a time of great peril.  We now face a new set of challenges, including a global race to dominate in artificial intelligence, a growing need for energy independence, and access to uninterruptible power supplies for national security. 
    It took nearly 40 years for the United States to add the same amount of nuclear capacity as another developed nation added in 10 years.Further, as American deployment of advanced reactor designs has waned, 87 percent of nuclear reactors installed worldwide since 2017 are based on designs from two foreign countries.At the same time, the Nation’s nuclear fuel cycle infrastructure has severely atrophied, leaving the United States heavily dependent on foreign sources of uranium as well as uranium enrichment and conversion services.These trends cannot continue.
    Swift and decisive action is required to jumpstart America’s nuclear energy industrial base and ensure our national and economic security by increasing fuel availability and production, securing civil nuclear supply chains, improving the efficiency with which advanced nuclear reactors are licensed, and preparing our workforce to establish America’s energy dominance and accelerate our path towards a more secure and independent energy future.

    Sec. 2.  Policy.  It is the policy of the United States to expedite and promote to the fullest possible extent the production and operation of nuclear energy to provide affordable, reliable, safe, and secure energy to the American people, to power advanced nuclear reactor technologies, as defined in 42 U.S.C. 16271(b)(1)(A), and to build associated supply chains that secure our global industrial and digital dominance, achieve our energy independence, protect our national security, and maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of nuclear fuel through recycling, reprocessing, and reinvigorating the commercial sector.

    Sec. 3.  Strengthening the Domestic Nuclear Fuel Cycle.  (a)  Within 240 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), shall prepare and submit to the President, through the Chair of the National Energy Dominance Council and the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, a report that includes:

    (i.) a recommended national policy to support the management of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste and the development and deployment of advanced fuel cycle capabilities to establish a safe, secure, and sustainable long-term fuel cycle;

    (ii.) a review of relevant statutory authorities to identify any legislative changes necessary or desirable to achieve the national policy recommended under subsection (a)(i) of this section; 

    (iii.) an evaluation of the reprocessing and recycling of spent nuclear fuel from the operation of Department of Defense and Department of Energy reactors and other spent nuclear fuel managed by the Department of Energy, along with a discussion of steps the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy are taking or must take to improve such reprocessing and recycling processes;

    (iv.) an analysis of legal, budgetary, and policy considerations relevant to efficiently transferring spent nuclear fuel from reactors to a government-owned, privately operated reprocessing and recycling facility;

    (v.) recommendations for the efficient use of the uranium, plutonium, and other products recovered through recycling and reprocessing;

    (vi.) recommendations for the efficient disposal of the wastes generated by recycling or reprocessing through a permanent disposal pathway;

    (vii.) a recommended process for evaluating, prior to disposal, nuclear waste materials for isotopes of value to national security, or medical, industrial, and scientific sectors;

    (viii.) a reevaluation of historic and current nuclear reprocessing, separation, and storage facilities slated for decommissioning and that are identified as having valuable materials, isotopes, equipment, licenses, operations, or experienced workers, and that may have potential fuel cycle or national security benefits if operations are continued or increased; and

    (ix.) a program to develop methods and technologies to transport, domestically and overseas, used and unused advanced nuclear fuels and advanced nuclear reactors containing such fuels in a safe, secure, and environmentally sound manner, including any legislation required to support this initiative     (b) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Director of OMB, shall develop a plan to expand domestic uranium conversion capacity and expand enrichment capabilities sufficient to meet projected civilian and defense reactor needs for low enriched uranium (LEU), high enriched uranium (HEU) and high assay, low enriched uranium (HALEU), subject to retention of such stockpiles as are necessary for tritium production, naval propulsion, and nuclear weapons. The plan shall be implemented based on the timeframes set forth in the plan.

      (b) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Director of OMB, shall develop a plan to expand domestic uranium conversion capacity and expand enrichment capabilities sufficient to meet projected civilian and defense reactor needs for low enriched uranium (LEU), high enriched uranium (HEU) and high assay, low enriched uranium (HALEU), subject to retention of such stockpiles as are necessary for tritium production, naval propulsion, and nuclear weapons. The plan shall be implemented based on the timeframes set forth in the plan.
      (c) The Secretary of Energy shall halt the surplus plutonium dilute and dispose program except with respect to the Department of Energy’s legal obligations to the State of South Carolina. In place of this program, the Secretary of Energy shall establish a program to dispose of surplus plutonium by processing and making it available to industry in a form that can be utilized for the fabrication of fuel for advanced nuclear technologies.
      (d) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense as appropriate, shall update the Department of Energy’s excess uranium management policy to align with the policy objectives of this order and the Nuclear Fuel Security Act, factoring in the national security need to modernize the United States nuclear weapon stockpile. The Secretary of Energy shall prioritize contracting for the development of fuel fabrication facilities that demonstrate the technical and financial feasibility to supply fuel to qualified test reactors or pilot program reactors within 3 years from the date of such applications.
      (e) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, shall utilize the authority provided to the President in section 708(c)(1) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA) (50 U.S.C. 4558(c)(1)), which has been delegated to the Secretary of Energy pursuant to Executive Order 13603 of March 16, 2012 (National Defense Resources Preparedness), to seek voluntary agreements pursuant to section 708 of the DPA with domestic nuclear energy companies.The Secretary of Energy should prioritize agreements with those companies that have achieved objective milestones (e.g., Department of Energy-approved conceptual safety design reports, the ability to privately finance their fuel, or the demonstrated technology capability) for the cooperative procurement of LEU and HALEU, including as needed by the Federal Government for tritium production, naval propulsion, and nuclear weapons.
      (f)  The Secretary of Energy, the Attorney General, and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission shall take all necessary and appropriate steps under sections 708(c), (d), (e), and (f)(1)(A) of the DPA (50 U.S.C. 4558(c), (d), (e), (f)(1)(A)), for the Secretary of Energy to form agreements pursuant to subsection (e) of this section. 
      (g)  The Attorney General shall, after consultation with the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, consider whether to make the finding described in section 708(f)(1)(B) of the DPA (50 U.S.C. 4558(f)(1)(B)), with respect to any agreement and, no later than 30 days after any voluntary agreement is reached, shall publish such finding as appropriate. 
      (h)  Such voluntary agreements shall further allow consultation with domestic nuclear energy companies to discuss and implement methods to enhance the capability to manage spent nuclear fuel, including the recycling and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, to ensure the continued reliable operation of the Nation’s nuclear reactors.  Such voluntary agreements shall also allow industry consultation to establish consortia and plans of action to ensure that the nuclear fuel supply chain capacity, including milling, conversion, enrichment, deconversion, fabrication, recycling, or reprocessing, is available to enable the continued reliable operation of the Nation’s existing, and future, nuclear reactors.  The Secretary of Energy, consistent with applicable law, is authorized to provide procurement support, forward contracts, or guarantees to such consortia as a means to ensure offtake for newly established domestic fuel supply, including conversion, enrichment, reprocessing, or fabrication capacity.

      Sec. 4.  Funding for Restart, Completion, Uprate, or Construction of Nuclear Plants.  (a)  To maximize the speed and scale of new nuclear capacity, the Department of Energy shall prioritize work with the nuclear energy industry to facilitate 5 gigawatt of power uprates to existing nuclear reactors and have 10 new large reactors with complete designs under construction by 2030.  To help achieve these objectives, the Secretary of Energy, through the Department of Energy Loan Programs Office, shall, subject to the requirements of the Federal Credit Reform Act and other applicable law and OMB Circular A-11, prioritize activities that support nuclear energy, including actions to make available resources for restarting closed nuclear power plants, increasing power output of operating nuclear power plants, completing construction of nuclear reactors that was prematurely suspended, constructing new advanced nuclear reactors, and improving all associated aspects of the nuclear fuel supply chain.  
      (b) The Secretary of Energy shall also coordinate with the Secretary of Defense to assess the feasibility of restarting or repurposing closed nuclear power plants as energy hubs for military microgrid support, consistent with applicable law, focusing initially on installations with insufficient power resilience or grid fragility.
      (c) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, prioritize funding for qualified advanced nuclear technologies through grants, loans, investment capital, funding opportunities, and other Federal support. Priority shall be given to those companies demonstrating the largest degrees of design and technological maturity, financial backing, and potential for near-term deployment of their technologies.

      Sec. 5.  Expanding the Nuclear Energy Workforce. (a Nuclear engineering and other careers and education pathways that support the nuclear energy industry shall be considered areas of focus and priority pursuant to Executive Order 14278 of April 23, 2025 (Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future).    
      (b)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education shall seek to increase participation in nuclear energy-related Registered Apprenticeships and Career and Technical Education programs by:
      (i)    using apprenticeship intermediary contracts and allocating existing discretionary funds, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to engage industry organizations and employers to perform a gap analysis of apprenticeship programs, and facilitate the development of Registered Apprenticeship programs, in nuclear energy-related occupations that are underrepresented;
      (ii)   encouraging States and grantees to use funding provided under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Public Law 113-128), as amended, to develop nuclear engineering and other nuclear energy-related skills and to support work-based learning opportunities, including issuing related guidance to State and local workforce development boards and others regarding use of such funds for such purposes; and
      (iii)  consistent with applicable law, establishing nuclear engineering and other nuclear energy-related skills training and work-based learning as a grant priority in Employment and Training Administration and Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education discretionary grant programs.
      (c)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, all executive departments and agencies that provide educational grants shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, consider nuclear engineering and other nuclear energy-related careers as a priority area for investment.
      (d)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Energy shall take steps to increase access to research and development infrastructure, workforce, and expertise at Department of Energy National Laboratories for college and university students studying nuclear engineering and other nuclear energy-related fields, and Department of Defense personnel affiliated with nuclear energy programs.

      Sec. 6.  Other Provisions.  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect OMB functions related to procurement actions and related policy.  This order shall be carried out subject to the budgetary, legislative, and procurement processes and requirements established by the Director of OMB, and coordinated with OMB, as appropriate, prior to the initiation of any new program, obligation, or commitment of Federal funds, or submission of any legislative or procurement proposal arising from this order.  This order shall be carried out in a manner which adheres to applicable legal requirements, conforms with nonproliferation obligations, and meets the highest safeguards, safety, and security standards.

      Sec. 7.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
      (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
      (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
      (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
      (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
      (d)  The Department of Energy shall provide funding for publication of this order in the Federal Register.

                                     DONALD J. TRUMP

      THE WHITE HOUSE,
          May 23, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Restoring Gold Standard Science

    Source: The White House

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 7301 of title 5, United States Code, it is hereby ordered:
    Section 1.  Policy and Purpose.  Over the last 5 years, confidence that scientists act in the best interests of the public has fallen significantly.  A majority of researchers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics believe science is facing a reproducibility crisis.  The falsification of data by leading researchers has led to high-profile retractions of federally funded research.  
    Unfortunately, the Federal Government has contributed to this loss of trust.  In several notable cases, executive departments and agencies (agencies) have used or promoted scientific information in a highly misleading manner.  For example, under the prior Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued COVID-19 guidance on reopening schools that incorporated edits by the American Federation of Teachers and was understood to discourage in-person learning.  This guidance’s restrictive and burdensome reopening conditions led many schools to remain at least partially closed, resulting in substantial negative effects on educational outcomes — even though the best available scientific evidence showed that children were unlikely to transmit or suffer serious illness or death from the virus, and that opening schools with reasonable mitigation measures would have only minor effects on transmission.  
    The National Marine Fisheries Service justified a biological opinion by adopting an admitted “worst-case scenario” projection of the North Atlantic right whale population that it believed was “very likely” wrong.  The agency’s proposed actions could have destroyed the historic Maine lobster fishery.  The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently overturned that opinion because the agency’s decision to seek out the worst-case scenario skewed its approach to the evidence.  
    Similarly, agencies have used Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenario 8.5 to assess the potential effects of climate change in a “higher” warming scenario.  RCP 8.5 is a worst-case scenario based on highly unlikely assumptions like end-of-century coal use exceeding estimates of recoverable coal reserves.  Scientists have warned that presenting RCP 8.5 as a likely outcome is misleading.
    Actions taken by the prior Administration further politicized science, for example, by encouraging agencies to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations into all aspects of science planning, execution, and communication.  Scientific integrity in the production and use of science by the Federal Government is critical to maintaining the trust of the American people and ensuring confidence in government decisions informed by science.
    My Administration is committed to restoring a gold standard for science to ensure that federally funded research is transparent, rigorous, and impactful, and that Federal decisions are informed by the most credible, reliable, and impartial scientific evidence available.  We must restore the American people’s faith in the scientific enterprise and institutions that create and apply scientific knowledge in service of the public good.  Reproducibility, rigor, and unbiased peer review must be maintained.  This order restores the scientific integrity policies of my first Administration and ensures that agencies practice data transparency, acknowledge relevant scientific uncertainties, are transparent about the assumptions and likelihood of scenarios used, approach scientific findings objectively, and communicate scientific data accurately.  Agency use of Gold Standard Science, as set forth in this order, will spur innovation, translate discovery to success, and ensure continued American strength and global leadership in technology.

    Sec. 2.  Definitions.  For the purposes of this order:
    (a)  “Employee” has the meaning given that term in 5 U.S.C. 2105.
    (b)  “Scientific information” means factual inputs, data, models, analyses, technical information, or scientific assessments related to such disciplines as the behavioral and social sciences, public health and medical sciences, life and earth sciences, engineering, physical sciences, or probability and statistics.  This includes any communication or representation of knowledge such as facts or data, in any medium or form, including textual, numerical, graphic, cartographic, narrative, or audiovisual forms.
    (c)  “Scientific misconduct” means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, reviewing, or reporting the results of scientific research, but does not include honest error or differences of opinion.  For the purposes of this definition;
    (i)    “fabrication” is making up data or results and recording or reporting them;
    (ii)   “falsification” is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record; and
    (iii)  “plagiarism” is the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit.
    (d)  “Senior appointee” means an individual appointed by the President (or an individual performing the functions and duties of an individual appointed by the President) or a non-career member of the Senior Executive Service.
    (e)  “Weight of scientific evidence” means an approach to scientific evaluation in which each piece of relevant information is considered based on its quality and relevance, and then transparently integrated with other relevant information to inform the scientific evaluation prior to making a judgment about the scientific evaluation.  Quality and relevance determinations, at a minimum, should include consideration of study design, fitness for purpose, replicability, peer review, and transparency and reliability of data.

    Sec. 3.  Restoring Gold Standard Science.  (a)  Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP Director) shall, in consultation with the heads of relevant agencies, issue guidance for agencies on implementation of “Gold Standard Science” in the conduct and management of their respective scientific activities.  For the purposes of this order, Gold Standard Science means science conducted in a manner that is:
    (i)     reproducible;
    (ii)    transparent;
    (iii)   communicative of error and uncertainty;
    (iv)    collaborative and interdisciplinary;
    (v)     skeptical of its findings and assumptions;
    (vi)    structured for falsifiability of hypotheses;
    (vii)   subject to unbiased peer review;
    (viii)  accepting of negative results as positive outcomes; and
    (ix)    without conflicts of interest.
    (b)  Upon publication of the guidance prescribed in subsection (a), each agency head, as necessary and appropriate and in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB Director) and the OSTP Director, shall promptly update applicable agency policies governing the production and use of scientific information, including scientific integrity policies, to implement the OSTP Director’s guidance on Gold Standard Science and ensure that agency scientific activities are conducted in accordance with this order.
    (c)  Each agency head shall, to the extent practicable, incorporate the OSTP Director’s guidance on Gold Standard Science and the requirements of this order into the processes by which their agency conducts, manages, interprets, communicates, and uses scientific or technological information prior to the finalization of the updated policies under this section.
    (d)  Within 60 days of the publication of the guidance prescribed in section 3(a), agency heads shall report to the OSTP Director on the actions taken to implement Gold Standard Science at their agency.

     Sec. 4.  Improving the Use, Interpretation, and Communication of Scientific Data.  No later than 30 days after the date of this order, agency heads and employees shall adhere to the following rules governing the use, interpretation, and communication of scientific data, unless otherwise provided by law:
    (a)  Employees shall not engage in scientific misconduct nor knowingly rely on information resulting from scientific misconduct.
    (b)  Except as prohibited by law, and consistent with relevant policies that protect national security or sensitive personal or confidential business information, agency heads shall in a timely manner and, to the extent practicable and within the agency’s authority:
    (i)  subject to paragraph (ii), make publicly available the following information within the agency’s possession:
    (A)  the data, analyses, and conclusions associated with scientific and technological information produced or used by the agency that the agency reasonably assesses will have a clear and substantial effect on important public policies or important private sector decisions (influential scientific information), including data cited in peer-reviewed literature; and
    (B)  the models and analyses (including, as applicable, the source code for such models) the agency used to generate such influential scientific information.  Employees may not invoke exemption 5 to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552(b)(5)) to prevent disclosure of such models unless authorized in writing to do so by the agency head following prior notice to the OSTP Director.
    (ii)  risk models used to guide agency enforcement actions or select enforcement targets are not information that must be disclosed under this subsection.
    (c)  When using scientific information in agency decision-making, employees shall transparently acknowledge and document uncertainties, including how uncertainty propagates throughout any models used in the analysis.
    (d) Where employees produce or use scientific information to inform policy or legal determinations they must use science that comports with the legal standards applicable to those determinations, including when agencies evaluate the realistic or reasonably foreseeable effects of an action.
    (e)  Employees shall be transparent about the likelihood of the assumptions and scenarios used.  Highly unlikely and overly precautionary assumptions and scenarios should only be relied upon in agency decision-making where required by law or otherwise pertinent to the agency’s action.
    (f)  When scientific or technological information is used to inform agency evaluations and subsequent decision-making, employees shall apply a “weight of scientific evidence” approach.
    (g)  Employees’ communication of scientific information shall be consistent with the results of the relevant analysis and evaluation and, to the extent that uncertainty is present, the degree of uncertainty should be communicated.  Communications involving a scientific model or information derived from a scientific model should include reference to any material assumptions that inform the model’s outputs.
    (h)  Once the guidance on Gold Standard Science is established and promulgated pursuant to section 3 of this order, it shall, among other things, form the basis for employees’ evaluation of all scientific and technological information called for in this order except where otherwise required by law.

    Sec. 5.  Interim Scientific Integrity Policies.  (a)  Until the issuance of updated agency scientific integrity policies pursuant to section 3 of this order, and except where required by law:
    (i)    scientific integrity policies in each agency shall be governed by the scientific integrity policies that existed within the executive branch on January 19, 2021, except that in the event of a conflict between such policies and the policies and requirements of this order, the policies and requirements of this order control; and
    (ii)   agency heads shall take all necessary actions to reevaluate and, where necessary, revise or rescind scientific integrity policies or procedures, or amendments to such policies or procedures, issued between January 20, 2021, and January 20, 2025.
    (iii)  each agency head shall promptly revoke any organizational or operational changes, designations, or documents that were issued or enacted pursuant to the Presidential Memorandum of January 27, 2021 (Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking), which was revoked pursuant to Executive Order 14154 and shall conduct applicable agency operations in the manner and revert applicable agency organization to the same form as would have existed in the absence of such changes, designations, or documents.
    (b)  In updating applicable scientific integrity policies pursuant to section 3 of this order, agencies should ensure they:
    (i)    encourage the open exchange of ideas;
    (ii)   provide for consideration of different or dissenting viewpoints; and
    (iii)  protect employees from efforts to prevent or deter consideration of alternative scientific opinions.
    (c)  Agencies, unless prohibited by law, shall review agency actions taken between January 20, 2021, and January 20, 2025, including regulations, guidance documents, policies, and scientific evaluations and take all appropriate steps, consistent with law, to ensure alignment with the policies and requirements of this order.

    Sec. 6.  Scope and Applicability.  (a)  The policies and rules set forth in this order apply to all employees involved in the generation, use, interpretation, or communication of scientific information, regardless of job classification, and to all agency decision-making, except where precluded by law.
    (b)  Agency heads and employees shall, to the extent practicable and consistent with applicable law, require agency contractors to adhere to these policies and rules as though they were agency employees.  
    (c)  The policies and rules set forth in this order govern the use of science that informs agency decisions but they are not applicable to non-scientific aspects of agency decision-making.

    Sec. 7.  Enforcement and Oversight.  (a)  Each agency head shall establish internal processes to evaluate alleged violations of the requirements of this order and other applicable agency policies governing the generation, use, interpretation, and communication of scientific information.  Such processes shall be the responsibility, and administered under the direction, of a senior appointee designated by the agency head and shall provide for taking appropriate measures to correct scientific information in response to violations, consistent with the requirements and procedures of section 515 of the statute commonly known as the Information Quality Act, Public Law 106-554, appendix C (114 Stat. 2763A-153).  The designated senior appointee may also forward potential violations to the relevant human resources officials for discipline to the extent the potential violation also violates applicable agency policies and procedures.  The designated senior appointee may consult appropriate officials with scientific expertise when establishing such processes.  
    (b)  The processes created under this section are, unless otherwise required by applicable law, the sole and exclusive means of evaluating and, as applicable, addressing alleged violations of this order and other agency policies governing the use, interpretation, and communication of scientific information.

    Sec. 8.  Waivers.  (a)  An agency head may request in writing that the OMB Director, in consultation with the OSTP Director, waive any of the requirements of this order for good cause shown.  Such request must explain how the requested waiver is consistent with the policies and purposes of this order.
    (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this order, the policies and requirements of this order shall apply to agency actions that pertain to foreign or military affairs, or to a national security or homeland security function of the United States, only to the extent that the applicable agency head, in his or her sole and exclusive discretion, determines they should apply.

    Sec. 9.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
    (d)   The Office of Management and Budget shall provide funding for publication of this order in the Federal Register.

                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,
        May 23, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: CETY Signs Non-Binding Offer with a European Solar and Wind Development Company

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    IRVINE, CA., May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Clean Energy Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: CETY) (the “Company” or “CETY”), a turnkey energy solutions provider leveraging advanced technologies to deliver cost-effective, eco-friendly green energy solutions, clean energy fuels, and alternative electricity for a sustainable future is pleased to announce signing a Non-Binding Offer (the “NBO”) with a European Solar and Wind development company (whose identity is currently undisclosed due to confidentiality reasons).

    In connection with the proposed transaction contemplated by the NBO, CETY has secured an initial $4,400,000 in equity investment that is expected to form a portion of the funds that would be deployed by the Company in connection with the NBO transactions. The total deal size is estimated to be approximately $85,000,000, with investments in the development company based on scheduled milestones.

    This transaction is expected to expand CETY’s operations to Europe and allow CETY to gain a foothold in the scalable and lucrative market of solar and wind power generation. CETY also believes that Europe has strong and stable government policies that support long-term growth of renewable energy.

    About Clean Energy Technologies, Inc. (CETY)

    Headquartered in Irvine, California, Clean Energy Technologies, Inc. (CETY) is a rising leader in the zero-emission revolution by offering eco-friendly green energy solutions, clean energy fuels and alternative electric power for small and mid-sized projects in North America, Europe, and Asia. We deliver power from heat and biomass with zero emission and low cost. The Company’s principal products are Waste Heat Recovery Solutions using our patented Clean CycleTM generator to create electricity. CETY Waste to Energy Solutions convert waste products created in manufacturing, agriculture, wastewater treatment plants and other industries to electricity and BioChar. CETY Engineering, Consulting and Project Management Solutions provide expertise and experience in developing clean energy projects for municipal and industrial customers and Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) companies.

    CETY’s common stock is currently traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CETY.” For more information, visit www.cetyinc.com.

    Follow CETY on our social media channels: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook

    This summary should be read in conjunction with the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024 and other periodic filings made pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which contain, among other matters, risk factors and financial footnotes as well as a discussions of our business, operations and financial matters located on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This news release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to achieving corporate objectives, developing additional project interests, the Company’s analysis of opportunities in the acquisition and development of various project interests and certain other matters. These statements are made under the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements contained herein. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on the Company’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of CETY’s business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Company’s control. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “anticipate,” “plan,” “expect,” “estimate,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar references to future periods. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

    Clean Energy Technologies, Inc.

    Investor and Investment Media inquiries:
    949-273-4990
    ir@cetyinc.com

    Source: Clean Energy Technologies, Inc.

    The MIL Network –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Video: Life Jackets Worn…Nobody Mourns!

    Source: United States Department of Defense (video statements)

    As temperatures heat up and outdoor activities increase, please remember to wear a life jacket when in, on, or near open water. Life is an adventure, enjoy it…safely!

    #military #usa #watersafety

    For more on the Department of Defense, visit: http://www.defense.gov

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJa_7N84Zok

    MIL OSI Video –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas Adds 334 New Immigration Cases This Week

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

    SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 334 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from May 16 through May 22.

    Among the new cases, Salvadoran felon Erick Douglas Serrano-Aleman was arrested by Van Horn Border Patrol agents for being an illegal alien present in the U.S. A criminal complaint indicates Serrano-Aleman was previously convicted of transporting and selling a controlled substance as well as accessory. In 2004, he was convicted for illegal re-entry in Nogales, Arizona. Serrano-Aleman has been deported twice and allegedly claims to be a member of the Sureño 13 gang.

    In El Paso, multiple alleged human smugglers were arrested, including U.S. citizen Ernesto Covarrubias and Tanya Joselyn De La Paz-Nunez, a Mexican national in possession of a legal B1/B2 Visa Border Crossing Card. Covarrubias, as the vehicle driver, and De La Paz-Nunez allegedly picked up five illegal aliens inside a pecan orchard near the Tornillo Port of Entry, intending to transport them to a stash house.

    U.S. citizen Gabriela Ivon Trejo-Gonzalez was arrested after U.S. Border Patrol agents allegedly observed six individuals crawl through a breach in the border fence near the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry and board Trejo-Gonzalez’s vehicle. The defendant allegedly drove away at a high rate of speed and continued in an attempt to evade law enforcement before becoming inoperable. Trejo-Gonzalez allegedly claimed she would be paid $500 per alien. She was convicted for alien smuggling in New Mexico in June 2023 and probation violation in October 2023.

    Juan Pedro Carmona-Cerritos, a Mexican felon, was arrested in El Paso and charged with illegal re-entry. Carmona-Cerritos was last removed from the U.S. in April 2009. He was previously convicted of child abuse in 2004 and second degree reckless homicide in 2005 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, for which he was sentenced to a total of approximately three years in prison. Guatemalan national Ramon Cortes-Velasquez was also arrested for illegal re-entry in El Paso, having been convicted of assault causing bodily injury to a family member in February and removed from the U.S. to Guatemala in March.

    Mexican nationals Jose Rolando Arenas-Aleman and J Angel Nava-Sanchez were arrested near Del Rio. According to court documents, Arenas-Aleman was arrested May 14 by U.S. Border Patrol agents for being an illegal alien present in the United States. He had previously been removed to Mexico for the second time through Laredo on Sept. 6, 2024 following his second conviction for Driving While Intoxicated. Nava-Sanchez was arrested May 15 after allegedly crossing the Rio Grande River near Del Rio. Nava-Sanchez was convicted twice in Tarrant County. He was found sentenced to 45 days in jail for a DWI in July 2022 and 29 days in jail in August 2018, for assault causing bodily injury to a family member.

    A U.S. citizen was arrested May 19 during a traffic stop on Highway 85 near Dilley. A criminal complaint alleges that Alex Guadalupe Nieto was the driver of a vehicle transporting six illegal aliens. The complaint alleges that Nieto stated he and another individual drove from Houston, picking up the six illegal aliens on the side of the road, and that he had expected to be paid $500.00 to transport the aliens.

    In Austin, Mexican national Juan Robledo-Trevino aka Octavio Garcia-Sanchez was taken into federal custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after being arrested and sentenced to 10 days in the Travis County Jail for failure to identify. Robledo-Trevino has two prior convictions for illegal re-entry, and four previous DWI convictions. He’s been removed from the U.S. to Mexico four times, most recently in November 2016, and voluntarily returned to Mexico twice.

    Mexican national Jose Hernandez-Martinez was taken into ICE custody in Austin where he had been arrested for his second DWI and spent 20 days in the Travis County Jail. Hernandez-Martinez has a prior illegal entry conviction along with convictions for theft and assault causing bodily injury to a family member. He voluntarily returned to Mexico in 2006, and has been twice removed from the U.S.

    Edgar Aguilar-Mejia, a Guatemalan national, was also taken into ICE custody in Austin. Aguilar-Mejia was convicted twice in 2023 for illegal re-entry and has been removed from the U.S. three times before, as recent as April 2024.

    These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.

    These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera Joins Hundreds of Volunteers at PeriodPalooza, Helping Colorado Students Access Period Products

    Source: US State of Colorado

    GREENWOOD VILLAGE — Today, Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera joined students, educators, lawmakers, and over 400 volunteers at PeriodPalooza, a high-energy community event organized by the nonprofit Justice Necessary to help Coloradans access period products. 

    This event follows the passage of House Bill 24-1164 — a landmark law signed by Governor Polis requires Colorado schools to provide free menstrual hygiene products in at least 25% of restrooms by June 2025 and 50% by June 2026. PeriodPalooza marked the culmination of a statewide initiative to assemble and distribute one million organic period products to students across Colorado. 

    Lt. Governor Primavera delivered remarks and read a proclamation recognizing Menstrual Hygiene Day alongside Attorney General Phil Weiser, Secretary of State Jenna Griswold, and Denver Health CEO and former Lt. Governor Donna Lynne. 

    “Access to period products should never be a barrier to education or health,” said Lt. Governor and Director of the Office of Saving People Money on Health Care, Dianne Primavera. “From ending the tampon tax to advancing legislation that ensures menstrual dignity in our schools, we’re working to make basic hygiene essentials more affordable, more equitable, and more accessible to all Coloradans.” 

    The event also recognized the work of Justice Necessary, founded by Diane Cushman Neal.

    “When 80% of Colorado students who experience periods miss class due to a lack of access to period products, we partnered with legislators and stakeholders to pass HB24-1164. But passing a law isn’t enough. Real change comes from putting policy into practice,” said Diane Cushman Neal, Founder and President of Justice Necessary. “We launched PeriodPalooza to bring communities and schools together to pack and distribute over 2.5 million period products. Our goal is to raise awareness about the barriers students face and remind us all that access to period products just is necessary.” 

    To support the rollout of HB24-1164, Justice Necessary launched a Menstrual Access Grant delivering over 2.5 million organic period products and 1,371 dispensers to more than 460 Colorado schools, along with full installation support. 

    This work builds on Colorado’s broader efforts to reduce hygiene poverty and promote health equity. In 2022, under the leadership of Governor Polis and Lt. Governor Primavera, Colorado became one of the first states to eliminate the state sales and use tax on both diapers and menstrual products. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Signs Laws to Fully Fund Colorado Schools, Expand Resources for Students, and Foster a Stronger Workforce, Economy & Colorado for All, Takes Action on Bills

    Source: US State of Colorado

    DENVER – Today, Governor Polis attended a preschool graduation at Stevens Elementary School to celebrate the successful second year of the Colorado Universal Preschool Program, which is strengthening early childhood education and saving Colorado families more than $6,100 every year. The Governor also signed new laws to fully fund Colorado schools, strengthen our K-12 accountability system, and foster a strong workforce by creating more avenues for Coloradans to gain relevant skills that will help them succeed in the workforce. 

    “Congratulations, preschool class of 2025! I am so excited to be joining in on the celebrations and highlighting the second consecutive year of the successful Universal Preschool Program. Since day one, it has been my goal to expand access to early childhood education, helping students and families to find the best fit for their child, and ensuring that our early learners are ready for the next step in their academic journey,” said Governor Polis. 

    Colorado’s Universal Preschool Program (UPK) is seeing record enrollment numbers in its second year, serving more than 50,000 students and saving families an average $6,100 a year. 

    Later in the morning, Governor Polis signed HB25-1320 – School Finance Act, sponsored by Representatives McCluskie and Lukens, and Senators Lundeen and Bridges, fully funding K-12 education under Amendment 23, to support students and educators. 

    “With this bill, Colorado has made good on our promise to fully fund K-12 education and meet students where they are and bolster educational outcomes across our state. I appreciate the sponsors of this bill for working to increase school funding and turning on the new, student-focused school finance formula in a sustainable way,” said Governor Polis 

    Governor Polis additionally signed: 

    • HB25-1278 – Education Accountability System, sponsored by Representatives Bird and Lukens, and Senators Kirkmeyer and Michaelson Jenet
    • SB25-200 – Dyslexia Screening and READ Act Requirements, sponsored by Senators Kolker and Mullica, and Representatives Soper and Hamrick 

    “Every student should have the opportunity to succeed in the classroom, and today is another step forward in making sure that students, regardless of learning ability, have the correct resources to reach their fullest potential. Thank you to the sponsors for working diligently to ensure all Colorado students and educators have the tools to make a difference,” said Governor Polis. 

    Governor Polis also signed HB25-1192 – Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement, sponsored by Representatives Anthony Hartsook and Jennifer Bacon, and Senators Jeff Bridges and Lisa Frizell.

    “Increasing financial literacy helps young adults gain financial knowledge and make informed decisions about their personal finances. Thank you to the sponsors for recognizing the importance of education around money management and financial planning for young adults,” said Governor Polis. 

    Governor Polis concluded the day by signing bills into law, fostering a strong workforce by creating more avenues for Colordans to gain relevant skills that will help them succeed in the workforce. 

    • SB25-315 – Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness Programs, sponsored by Senators Jeff Bridges and Barbara Kirkmeyer and Representatives Shannon Bird and Emily Sirota
    • HB25-1105 – Public Employees’ Retirement Association True-up of Denver Public Schools Division Employer Contribution, sponsored by Representatives Sean Camacho and Jennifer Bacon, and Senators Julie Gonzales and Jeff Bridges 

    “Colorado is a national leader in connecting Coloradans to the skills needed to fill in-demand jobs, earn a good wage, and drive our state’s economic success. These laws build upon our work to create a more robust workforce in Colorado and help Coloradans save and plan for retirement,” said Governor Polis. 

    Earlier this week, Governor Polis signed an Executive Order building on Colorado’s success in strengthening the workforce by directing Colorado’s state agencies, including the Department of Education, to work together to help more post-high school learners access needed credentials. 

    As Chair of the National Governors Association, Governor Polis launched Let’s Get Ready, a yearlong initiative designed to support the nation’s Governors in driving innovative education policies. Let’s Get Ready aims to help Governors form policies that better evaluate outcomes for state investments in education and improve outcomes for learners at all stages of their education journey. The initiative also focuses on the ways states can meet the future needs of the workforce by preparing students for success in and outside of the classroom.

     Governor Polis also signed HB25-1309 – Protect Access to Gender-Affirming Health Care, sponsored by Representatives Brown and Titone, and Senators Cutter and Gonzales. 

    “Building a Colorado for All means ensuring that everyone can thrive no matter who you are or how you identify. This legislation takes another step toward making this vision a reality for everyone,” said Governor Jared Polis. 

    The Governor signed the following bills administratively: 

    • SB25-276 – Protect Civil Rights Immigration Status, sponsored by Senators Gonzales and Weissman, and Representatives Velasco and Garcia
    • HB25-1314 – Peace Officer Status for Certain Department of Revenue Employees, sponsored by Representatives Lindstedt and Sirota, and Senator Kipp 

    The Governor also vetoed the following bills: 

    • HB25-1291 – Transportation Network Company Consumer Protection, sponsored by Representatives Willford and Froelich, and Senators Winter and Danielson
    • HB25-1220 – Regulation of Medical Nutrition Therapy, sponsored by Representatives Karen McCormick and Anthony Hartsook, and Senators Byron Pelton and Kyle Mullica.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) Introduces the Targeting Child Predators Act

    Source:

    Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) Introduces the Targeting Child Predators Act

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) reintroduced the Targeting Child Predators Act, a critical piece of legislation aimed at strengthening law enforcement’s ability to investigate and prosecute online child exploitation.

    Under current law, when officials identify a suspected child predator through an IP address, they can issue a subpoena to the Internet Service Provider (ISP) to obtain the name and account information tied to that address. While ISPs typically comply with these subpoenas, they sometimes alert the targeted user, who, in these cases, are suspected child predators.

    This early notification can have devastating consequences and allow suspects to tamper with evidence, flee prosecution, intimidate witnesses, and jeopardize investigations before charges can be filed.

    The Targeting Child Predators Act would give law enforcement the ability to request a temporary nondisclosure order that is valid for up to 180 days, preventing ISPs from alerting suspects while investigators build their case. 

    This specific authority would apply only in cases of suspected child exploitation. In addition, law enforcement must certify that, if the Internet Service Provider disclosed the information request to the targeted suspect, that disclosure could enable suspects and result in:

    1. Endangering the life or physical safety of an individual

    2. Flight from prosecution

    3. Destruction of or tampering with evidence

    4. Intimidation of potential witnesses or

    5. Seriously jeopardizing an investigation

    The bill does not expand what type of evidence law enforcement can collect and ensures all subpoenas remain subject to judicial review.

    “We must ensure that child predators are brought to justice, and not tipped off by the systems that are meant to hold them accountable,” said Congressman Fry. “The Targeting Child Predators Act strikes a balance between protecting due process and giving law enforcement the tools they need to stop online exploitation before it’s too late. This legislation is a vital step toward protecting our children and ensuring investigators have the ability to act swiftly and effectively.”

    The Targeting Child Predators Act is supported by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Child Rescue Coalition, RAVEN, Major County Sheriffs of America, and the National Fraternal Order of Police.

    “The Targeting Child Predators Act gives law enforcement additional tools to ensure investigations can move swiftly and securely without giving child predators an opportunity to delete valuable evidence,” said South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. “I support this legislation and commend Congressman Fry for his leadership in standing up for the safety of our children.”

    “The TCPA will streamline data access for law enforcement in child exploitation cases, without compromising their investigations, or repeatedly burdening the Judiciary, enabling quicker investigations to protect and rescue victims from online predators,” said the Child Rescue Coalition.

    “This bill is a commonsense step to help law enforcement move faster in child exploitation investigations,” said RAVEN Director of Legislative Affairs Jennifer Dunton. “By removing the extra step of seeking a court order just to delay user notification, we’re eliminating a procedural bottleneck that can cost investigators critical time. When children’s safety is on the line, we need to prioritize speed, discretion, and effectiveness — this bill does exactly that.”

    “MCSA commends Congressman Fry for introducing the Targeting Child Predators Act,” said Major County Sheriffs of America Executive Director Megan Noland. “If those who target and exploit children are tipped off when a criminal investigation is underway, they can destroy evidence and complicate efforts to bring them to justice. This bill helps minimize that risk and improves our ability to hold offenders accountable. We encourage Congress to act on this important legislation.” 

    Congressman Fry serves on both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. To stay up to date with Congressman Fry and his work for the Seventh District, follow his official Facebook, Instagram, and X pages and visit his website at fry.house.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Young Kim Receives FMC Statesmanship Award

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

    Washington, DC – This week, the Former Members of Congress (FMC) announced U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) as a recipient of the 2025 FMC Statesmanship Awards for her outstanding service to our nation and commitment to reaching across the aisle.  

    For 28 years, FMC has awarded one Representative and one Senator from each party with a Statesmanship Award. Fellow 2025 FMC Statesmanship Award recipients include Rep. Ed Case (HI-01) and Sens. Todd Young (R-IN) and Cory Booker (D-NJ). 

    “While I remain firm in my principles, I believe bipartisanship drives results and is needed now more than ever to deliver solutions for complex challenges,” said Congresswoman Kim. “I thank FMC for the recognition and for their work to foster opportunities for collaboration here at home and around the world.”  

    “It’s an honor to be able to recognize Congresswoman Young Kim as our 2025 Republican House Statesmanship Award Honoree. FMC has worked with Rep. Kim for nearly four years now as Co-Chair of our Congressional Study Group on Korea, and we have seen firsthand her commitment putting aside partisan politics in order to produce common sense legislation for her constituents and American citizens. From her time as a Congressional staffer, to being Chair of the House Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, Rep. Kim has been a leader in foreign policy and bipartisanship, and we’re grateful for her service,” Pete Weichlein, CEO, Former Members of Congress. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick Reintroduces Farm to Market Road Improvement Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Florida 20th district))

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), David Valado (CA-22), Vince Fong (CA-20), and Jim Costa (CA-21) introduced the Farm to Market Road Improvement Act. This bipartisan bill would make additional federal resources available to help repair and maintain the infrastructure that keeps America’s food supply chain moving.

    “Farmers in the Glades rely on safe, drivable roads that allow them to feed families across both our state and nation,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan piece of legislation to protect our agricultural backbone, repair local infrastructure, and strengthen our supply chains.”

    “The Central Valley is the backbone of our nation’s food supply, but after years of wear and tear from heavy trucks, many of our rural roads are in desperate need of repair,” said Congressman Valadao. “This bipartisan bill gives our communities access to the federal resources needed to repair and strengthen critical infrastructure, and I’m proud to lead this effort to support our farmers, grow our economy, and keep America’s food supply chain moving.”

    “My district is one of the top agricultural producing regions in the nation, and I’m proud to partner with Congressman Valadao to create another resource to improve roadways in the Central Valley,” said Congressman Fong. “By investing in our rural infrastructure we’re supporting the hardworking farmers who feed America and strengthening the supply chain that keeps our economy moving.”

    “Our farmers grow the food that feeds the nation, but they can’t do it without reliable roads to get their goods to market. The Farm to Market Roads Improvement Act ensures that rural communities like those in the San Joaquin Valley aren’t left behind,” said Congressman Costa. “By setting aside dedicated funding for farm-to-market road projects, we’re investing in the backbone of America’s agricultural economy and strengthening our rural infrastructure.” 

    “Palm Beach County, Florida supports resources to agricultural and rural communities to assist in repairing Farm to Market roads as efficiently as possible, so that agricultural products can be transported safely and quickly from farms to consumers,” said Maria G. Marino, Mayor, Palm Beach County, FL. “We support the legislative efforts of Reps. Valadao, Cherfilus-McCormick, Fong and Costa to define Farm-to-Market Roads in eligible counties, ensuring that 10% of the Rural Transportation Grant Program is directed to these crucial agricultural roadways.”

    “Reps. Valadao, Cherfilus-McCormick, Fong, and Costa’s legislation directs more federal transportation funding to communities like Tulare County,” said Tulare County Association of Governments Chairman Rudy Mendoza. “Our roads are used not only by residents traveling to work, but by agricultural goods on their way to markets across the world. This bill recognizes the national economic impact of our region and we appreciate our Congressional delegation’s continued support.”

    “Our local economy depends on safe, reliable infrastructure to move agricultural goods efficiently from the fields to the market,” said Kings County Supervisor Doug Verboon. “Farm-to-market roads are vital for connecting growers to processors, distributors, and markets across the region. The Farm to Market Road Improvement Act recognizes the unique transportation needs of rural farming communities and delivers the kind of targeted federal investment needed to maintain and modernize these critical routes.”

    “We welcome Rep. Valadao’s attention on this issue, particularly at a time when investments in our nation’s rural infrastructure continues to lag behind our more urban areas,” said Shannon Douglass, President, California Farm Bureau. “As we like to say—food security is national security—and this legislation would help provide a much-needed boost towards protecting our critical food supply chains.” 

    Read the full bill here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Lauren Boebert Announces June Staff Mobile Office Hours

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lauren Boebert (Colorado, 3)

    EATON, CO– Staff from Congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s (CO-04) office will be holding Mobile Office Hours in June across the district to connect with constituents within their communities. In addition to the Congresswoman’s congressional offices in Eaton and Lone Tree, the Mobile Office Hours aim to provide services to constituents who need in-person guidance.

    “Our Congressional Mobile Office Hours provide an opportunity for constituents from across the 4th District to get the assistance they need from our staffers who can help them in a variety of ways,” stated Congresswoman Boebert. “Meeting Coloradans where they are is a critical part of the work our office does, and I know our Mobile Office Hours will be a huge help to constituents of all backgrounds and locations.” 

    Staff from Congresswoman Boebert’s office will be available to help constituents who aren’t getting answers from federal agencies, like veterans seeking to get the care they earned from the VA, travelers that need expedited assistance to receive a passport on short notice, taxpayers being harassed by the IRS, and senior citizens having issues with the Social Security Administration or Medicare. Additionally, constituents are invited to come to the office hours to express their viewpoints on legislative issues or request special Congressional Commendations from the Congresswoman recognizing outstanding public achievements.

    Since the beginning of her tenure as Representative for the 4th Congressional District on January 3rd, 2025, Congresswoman Boebert’s office has returned $2,738,423.80 to constituents. 

    Mobile Office Hours will be available at the following times and locations:

    THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2025 

    Elbert County Mobile Office Hours 

    Agate Fire Protection District, Meeting Room 

    40160 County Road 153 

    Agate, CO 

    12:30-1:30pm 

    Lincoln County Mobile Office Hours 

    Flagler Town Hall, Library Meeting Room 

    311 Main Street 

    Flagler, CO  

    3:00-4:00pm

    Washington County Mobile Office Hours 

    Otis Fire Department  

    409 E 5th Ave 

    Otis, Co 

    10:00-11:00am 

    Logan County Mobile Office Hours 

    Fleming Community Center 

    117 N. Logan Ave 

    Fleming, CO  

    2:00-3:00pm

    THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2025   

    Cheyenne County Mobile Office Hours 

    Town Hall, Community Building  

    301 Main Street 

    Kit Carson, CO 

    10:30am-12:00pm 

    TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2025 

    Yuma County Mobile Office Hours 

    Grassroots Community Center 

    6671 US HWY 36 

    Joes, CO 

    10:00-11:00am 

    WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2025   

    Crowley County Mobile Office Hours 

    401 Warner Street 

    Olney Springs, CO 

    11:30am-1:00pm 

    East Weld County Mobile Office Hours 

    Hudson Public Library 

    100 S. Beech St. 

    4:00-5:00pm 

    TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2025 

    Adams County Mobile Office Hours 

    Bennett Town Hall 

    207 Muegge Way 

    3:30-4:30pm

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Navy Public Health Team Leads the Way in Blast Exposure Strategy While Operating Side-by-Side with Sailors and Marines

    Source: United States Navy

    PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Recognizing a hazard that needs to be monitored is nothing new to those in the public health field because that’s what they do–identify, assess and control risks to protect population health, from infectious diseases and environmental exposures to occupational threats. The goal? To make operations safer, smarter, and to preserve readiness.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Honors Memorial Day

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Honors Memorial Day

    Governor Stein Honors Memorial Day
    lsaito
    Fri, 05/23/2025 – 17:30

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Josh Stein released the following statement in commemoration of Memorial Day:

    “Throughout our nation’s history, North Carolinians have answered the call to serve our country and protect our freedoms, and this weekend we honor those who paid the ultimate price in that service. Anna’s and my heart are with all the North Carolinians who are mourning their loved ones. Let us honor their legacy by preserving their memories, celebrating their bravery, and nourishing our democracy.” 

    All U.S. and North Carolina flags will be lowered to half staff from sunrise until noon on Monday, May 26th.  

    May 23, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Joins Multistate Coalition to Oppose Trump Administration’s Reclassification of Federal Employees

    Source: US State of California

    New Trump employment classification would strip civil-service protections from tens of thousands of nonpartisan federal employees and risk eroding the effectiveness of the federal government  

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in submitting a comment letter that opposes the Office of Personnel Management’s proposed rule to create a new employment classification in the federal civil service called “Schedule Policy/Career.”  If implemented, this classification, a reinstatement of the previously failed “Schedule F,” would strip critical workplace protections from tens of thousands of career federal employees, allowing the Trump Administration to fire them for “subverting Presidential directives” or purely political or reasons unrelated to their job performance. 

    “The Trump Administration is looking to trample on workers’ rights by reinstating the Schedule F classification,” said Attorney General Bonta. “This would be a direct assault on the integrity of our federal workforce by threatening to replace experienced, nonpartisan professionals with political loyalists. This change would not only undermine the trust and stability of our strong federal workforce comprised of subject matter experts, it would also break the very foundation of a government that serves all Americans, not just those who implement President’ Trump’s agenda.”  

    Under the current federal civil service system, approximately 2 million federal employees serve in the “competitive service,” meaning they are hired through a merit-based process and protected by civil-service laws that guard against arbitrary dismissal or political interference. These federal employees are nonpartisan professionals hired for their expertise and expected to carry out the laws passed by Congress regardless of political shifts. 

    The new Schedule Policy/Career classification that attempts to reprise the previously proposed Schedule F would reclassify a broad range of policy-related civil servants—such as analysts, attorneys, scientists, and regulators — into an at-will employment status. Unlike traditional Schedule C appointees who change with each new presidential administration, Schedule Policy/Career would apply to nonpartisan federal career staff not normally subject to such turnover. This reclassification would remove long-standing due process protections that guard the apolitical nature of the federal workforce and open these employees up to being fired on political grounds.  

    As of March 2024, there were only roughly 1,600 Schedule C employees across the entire federal government, which illustrates just how narrow Congress intended the exemptions from merit-based employment to be. When the first Trump Administration attempted to implement Schedule F, one estimate projected it would reclassify as many as 50,000 federal employees. 

    In the comment letter, the attorneys general argue that the Trump Administration’s proposed rule is unlawful, unconstitutional, and harmful to states. Schedule Policy/Career violates the clear intent of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, which Congress passed to protect federal employees from arbitrary dismissal and ensure merit-based hiring. It also raises due process concerns under the Fifth Amendment by retroactively stripping career civil servants of vested employment rights. From a policy standpoint, the rule would politicize the federal workforce, chill the independence of career professionals, make it more difficult to retain experienced employees, and open the door to partisan retaliation against public servants when their expertise conflicts with a presidential administration’s political agenda.

    The attorneys general also emphasize the rule’s dangerous impact on states, including California, which depend on consistent, professional federal partners to administer shared programs. States rely on civil servants at agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Education to implement laws, distribute funds, and provide technical guidance. This reclassification would also affect civil servants at agencies that states rely on to manage disasters, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The attorneys general further warn that the implementation of Schedule Policy/Career could return key parts of the federal workforce to a spoils system that enables a president to reward loyalists with jobs, rather than allow federal agencies to hire based on merit. Politicizing these positions would undermine cooperation, destabilize federal-state programs like Medicaid and environmental enforcement, and significantly degrade the effectiveness of the federal government, as well as its adherence to the rule of law. The attorneys general warn in the comment letter that Schedule F would erode federal-state relations by effectively shifting regulatory and programmatic burdens onto the states and coercing state compliance with federal political priorities. 

    This letter was co-led by Attorneys General Keith Ellison of Minnesota and Anne E. Lopez of Hawaii. They were joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

    A copy of the comment letter can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer Travels to Ottawa with Bipartisan Delegation, Visits Canadian Leadership

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    ***Click here for media resources.***

    OTTAWA, CANADA – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), co-chair of the Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group and the Senate American Canadian Economy and Security (ACES) Caucus, joined a bipartisan group of senators in traveling to Ottawa this week to reaffirm and strengthen the partnership between the two countries. Canada and the United States share a unique relationship. The two countries have fostered one of the most significant bilateral trading relationships in the world, one characterized by their close economic and national security ties.

    The delegation met with Prime Minister Mark Carney, Foreign Minister Anita Anand, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, Canada’s Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly, and representatives from industry and business groups. The overarching theme of the trip centered on advancing mutual priorities such as defense and security cooperation through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Arctic readiness, cross-border economic integration, addressing trade disruptions, and coordinated responses to global challenges.

    “The United States and Canada share more than a border,” said Cramer.“From national security to commerce, we have both interests and challenges in common, working through them with open, frank dialogue. It was an honor to join my colleagues as part of this delegation to Ottawa. I was encouraged by the meetings, and the Prime Minister’s transparent and thoughtful words were smart and instructive. I look forward to working with our friends, business partners, and neighbors in Canada to strengthen our relationship and address mutual issues facing our great countries.”

    While in Ottawa, Cramer visited with Ambassador Hoekstra about establishing a relationship focused on fostering fair trade. More than half of North Dakota’s exports are directed toward Canada. In 2024 alone, North Dakota exported $3.9 billion in goods to Canada, representing 70% of the state’s global exports. As former State Tourism and Economic Development Director in North Dakota, Cramer brought that perspective to additional discussions about the declines northern border states are experiencing in trade and tourism and emphasized the need to find a solution benefitting both nations.

    The visit included a lunch with Canadian Foreign Minister Anand and a meeting with Canada’s Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly. Discussions included updates on further safeguards for the military readiness of NATO, and a review of the member states agreement in 2014 to commit two percent of their national gross domestic product (GDP) to defense spending. However, Canada only allocated 1.37% of its GDP to defense in 2024, prompting Cramer and his colleagues to send a letter to then-Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, asking him to examine whether a member of the NATO “has achieved defense spending of not less than 2 percent of its gross domestic product” when considering U.S. investments.

    In addition to meeting with government officials, Cramer and colleagues participated in a roundtable with the Business Council of Canada, American Chamber of Commerce, and other leading Canadian companies.

    Cramer was recently appointed co-chair of the Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group and introduced a bipartisan resolution with fellow ACES co-chair U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME). The resolution recognizes the U.S.-Canada partnership and its shared interests in economic, energy and critical minerals, and national security. Among other provisions, it reaffirms the bilateral and international alliance between the two countries, which allows both countries to face common threats together and uphold common values, including democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Risch Applauds President Trump’s Executive Orders on Nuclear Energy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch released a statement today on President Donald Trump’s executive actions to expand American nuclear energy production and streamline the deployment of advanced civil nuclear technologies.  

    “Nuclear energy is America’s creation and will be essential to powering our nation’s future,” said Risch.“President Trump’s actions present a significant opportunity for the U.S. civil nuclear industry to support America’s growing energy demands, bolster national security, and reinforce America’s leadership in energy innovation.”

    On Friday, May 23, President Trump signed four executive orders to strengthen the American nuclear industrial base, expedite deployment of advanced nuclear technologies for national security, streamline testing on Department of Energy sites, and modernize the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

    As a senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Risch is a leading voice on energy policy in the U.S. Senate. President Trump’s executive orders build on several priorities Risch has spearhead, including:

    • Promoting American Nuclear Exports: Risch led his colleagues in introducing the International Nuclear Energy Act to prioritize American dominance in nuclear energy and offset China and Russia’s growing influence on international nuclear energy development.

    • Fostering Nuclear Innovation: Risch co-founded the Senate Advanced Nuclear Caucus to amplify and support emerging nuclear technologies like those being developed at the Idaho National Laboratory. In a recent Washington Times editorial, Risch underscored the critical role of nuclear energy in powering America’s current and future energy needs.

    • Accelerating New Nuclear: Risch is a strong proponent of domestic nuclear energy production and the commercialization of advanced nuclear technologies, and has introduced legislation to accelerate new nuclear investment.

    • Reinvigorating the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Risch was a leader in passing legislation to develop a domestic nuclear fuel supply chain and end U.S. reliance on Russian uranium.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar Meets With Canadian Prime Minister Carney Regarding Trade

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)
    Senator Part of First Bipartisan Delegation to Meet with a Canadian Prime Minister in Canada in Five Years   
    Canadian Prime Minister and Klobuchar also talked ongoing women’s pro hockey finals with Minnesota Frost and Ottawa Charge tied in series 
    MINNESOTA— Today, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar met with newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa to discuss rebuilding trade relations with Canada. This meeting came at a critical time in response to the ongoing tariff issues between the two countries since Donald Trump assessed tariffs on Canada and other nations Klobuchar was one of a bipartisan group of five U.S. senators, and the first group of lawmakers to meet with a prime minister in Canada in five years.
    Joining Klobuchar were Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Tim Kaine, Kevin Cramer, and Peter Welch.
    Senator Klobuchar is Co-Chair of the Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group along with Republican Senator Cramer of North Dakota.  
    “Canada is Minnesota’s neighbor, top trading partner and close friend. We share a deep bond grounded in trust and a shared commitment to democracy,” said Klobuchar. “I also made clear there is bipartisan commitment to restoring stability, credibility, and sanity to our trade policy with Canada.”
    In addition to discussing tariffs, Klobuchar also commended the Prime Minister for his decision to spend an hour with the bipartisan delegation and focus on issues ranging from tourism to energy policy.
    When discussing the ongoing women’s pro hockey finals between the Minnesota Frost and the Ottawa Charge, she noted to Prime Minister Carney that diplomacy can only go so far: “Go Minnesota Frost,” she said. 
    Klobuchar and her colleagues also met with Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Minister of National Defense David McGuinty, Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly, the Business Council of Canada, and other leading Canadian companies and business groups. 
    This week, Klobuchar joined Cramer and Kaine in introducing a bipartisan resolution to recognize the U.S.-Canada partnership and its shared interests in economic, energy and critical minerals, and national security.
    In April, Klobuchar’s bipartisan resolution with Kaine and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) to reverse President Trump’s across-the-board tariffs on Canadian goods passed the Senate. 
    Photos available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: We should use the conference to form measures to safeguard the Two-State Solution and uphold international law: UK statement at the UN

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    We should use the conference to form measures to safeguard the Two-State Solution and uphold international law: UK statement at the UN

    Statement by Stephen Hickey, Director for Middle East and North Africa in the FCDO, at the Preparatory meeting of the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

    In addition to co-chairing Working Group Five on Humanitarian Action and Reconstruction in Gaza with our Egyptian colleagues, the UK is also looking forward to engaging across all the working groups.

    I would like to set out three priority areas where the UK thinks this Conference can have real impact in moving us closer to achieving a Two-State Solution.

    First, the Palestinian Authority. To achieve a sovereign and unified Palestinian State living in peace and security with Israel, we need to provide support to the Palestinian Authority so that it can effectively govern the entirety of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This includes financial and technical assistance, as it delivers vital reforms.

    We should also explore how to strengthen support for Palestinian Authority fiscal and trade reforms, especially under the PA-EU reform framework, with the aim of restoring the Palestinian Authority’s economic viability.

    Second, security. Through Working Group Two, we have an important opportunity to consider how we can ensure long-term security for Israelis and Palestinians alike. 

    We should use this to build international consensus on the transitional security and governance arrangements for the future of Gaza, without Hamas, that can lay the ground for sustainable peace in the region.

    Third, we should use the conference to consider concrete measures for safeguarding the Two-State Solution and upholding international law. This should include concrete measures to oppose illegal settlement activities and any attempts at annexation.

    For its part, the UK has announced a series of sanctions targeting those responsible for supporting, inciting and promoting violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 

    In addition to these three important themes, we must continue to press for an immediate and rapid increase in humanitarian aid delivery and distribution in Gaza. And we must also support the efforts led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to secure an immediate ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages, and achieve a long-term political solution. 

    This is the best and only way to ensure lasting prosperity and stability in the region.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman García Takes House Floor, Condemns Republicans’ Tax Scam

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Today, Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to condemn the Republican tax proposal that would strip healthcare and food assistance from millions of Americans to provide tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.

    A video of the speech can be found here. 

    Remarks as delivered:

    “I rise today to speak against the Republican budget–a cynical plan that gives tax breaks to billionaires while ripping away health care and food from working families like those I represent.

    “This Republican Tax Scam would kick off nearly 14 million Americans off their health care, leaving them without coverage.

    “In my district, a mother working nights and caring for her family by day told us that she doesn’t know how they’ll survive if Medicaid is cut– her child relies on it for epilepsy medication. Without it, there’s no safety net. Just fear and uncertainty. 

    “This budget slashes Medicaid and SNAP, taking food from children, from seniors, from veterans, and people with disabilities. Even Republican Senators have called it ‘morally wrong’.

    “In my district alone, 278,000 people rely on these programs. Republicans want to take that away– we can’t allow them to continue to loot this country dry. America was not built for billionaires to hoard wealth while kids go hungry. Tax them — fairly, fully, now.”

     # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman García Votes Against Trump’s Tax Scam

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) issued the following statement after voting against Trump’s Tax Scam:

    “Republicans rammed through their Tax Scam in the dead of the night because they know the truth: this bill is a handout to billionaires at the expense of working families.  

    “The bill is cruel, harmful, and deliberate. The largest cut to healthcare and food assistance in U.S. history! Republicans ripped away care from children, seniors, and people with disabilities—just to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy.

    “Nearly 14 million people will lose their health care. Millions more will have to pay higher premiums. In my district alone, 278,000 people who rely on Medicaid are at risk. 

    “The bill redirects nearly $80 billion to Trump’s mass deportation machine while terrorizing immigrants and imposing a new tax on non-citizens’ remittances.

    “I voted no. I stand with working families, not billionaires and bullies.”

     

    # # #

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman García’s Statement on Shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.  — Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) issued the following statement about the killing of two Israeli Embassy employees at the Capital Jewish Museum: 

    “I strongly condemn this horrible, senseless act of antisemitism. My heart is with the victims, and everyone impacted by the attack. We mourn the lives lost and reject the idea that justice can be won through violence.”

     

     # # # 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Larsen Releases Statement on Trump’s Attacks on Education

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

    Today, Rep. Rick Larsen released the following statement on the Trump administration’s attacks on academic freedom and access to education:

    “The Trump administration is attacking colleges and universities to exact political revenge. These tactics will fail, and I stand with Harvard and all educational institutions against the President’s unlawful attempts to bully his opponents into silence.

    “The Administration should be investing in research and young people to keep the U.S. globally innovative and competitive. Instead, it is slashing funding that supports cutting-edge science, hard-working students and local jobs.

    “In Northwest Washington, funding cuts have jeopardized climate resiliency research at the University of Washington and Mars sample testing at Western Washington University. Funding cuts are also threatening the Federal TRIO Programs and Pell Grants, which have a proven track record of helping low-income and first-generation students succeed.

    “I will continue to fight against the Trump administration’s budget cuts, and to fight for academic freedom, college affordability, and keeping the U.S. globally innovative and competitive.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Opens Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Duncan

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today the opening of a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Stephens County to assist small businesses, private nonprofit (PNP) organizations, and residents affected by severe storms and flooding beginning April 19.

    “Beginning Tuesday, May 27, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Duncan to answer questions and assist with the disaster loan application process. No appointment is necessary, walk-ins are welcome. Those who prefer to schedule an in-person appointment in advance can do so at appointment.sba.gov.

    The center’s hours of operation are as follows:

    STEPHENS COUNTY

    Disaster Loan Outreach Center

    Stephens County Fairgrounds

    Prairie Room

    2002 S. 13th St.

    Duncan, OK  73533

    Opens at 12 p.m., Tuesday, May 27

    Tuesday, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

    Wednesday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

    Thursday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

    Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

    Closes permanently at COB Friday, May 30

    “When disasters strike, SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers perform an important role by assisting small businesses and their communities,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the U.S. Small Business Administration. “At these centers, our SBA specialists help business owners and residents apply for disaster loans and learn about the full range of programs available to support their recovery.”

    Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

    Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.

    Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.

    The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to these disasters. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

    EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the 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.

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.62% for nonprofits, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA determines eligibility and sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    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 filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is July 11, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 12, 2026.

    ###

    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, 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 –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lummis, Daines Introduce the Protecting Veteran Community Care Act to Protect, Expand, Veterans’ Access to Community Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis
    Washington, D.C.— Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced legislation today that would ensure Wyoming veterans’ access to mental healthcare in their local communities.
    “Providing for those who’ve defended our nation is the VA’s core purpose,” said Lummis. “This means Wyoming’s courageous veterans deserve top-tier healthcare services regardless of their geographic location. I remain committed to ensuring veterans throughout our state can access the medical care they’ve earned in their local communities.”
    “Our nation’s veterans have put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms, and the last thing they should have to worry about is mismanagement and delays at the VA. I’m proud to work with my colleagues on this bill to strengthen the availability of community based mental health programs and ensure that our veterans have access to the care and resources that they deserve,” said Daines.  
    “No veteran should face unnecessary delays in accessing mental health care,” said Tim Sheppard, Executive Director of the Wyoming Veterans Commission. “This bill guarantees that those who served are prioritized, not left waiting.”
    Background:
    The Protecting Veteran Community Care Act strengthens the existing community care program, limits the VA’s ability to restrict access to care in the community, and requires the VA to track relevant community care data and provide those statistics to Congress.
    Specifically, this legislation would:
    Amend the MISSION Act to specifically include inpatient mental health standards.
    Add clarity to veteran eligibility for care in the community. 
    Require the VA to track and present to Congress data on how veterans are requesting and using community care, along with what services community care funds are paying for.
    Require passage of a Joint Resolution in both chambers of Congress to modify community care eligibility.
    The 2018 VA MISSION Act was a landmark piece of legislation that overhauled the VA Choice Program to provide veterans with improved access to healthcare. Unfortunately, the VA has failed to live up to its obligation to provide timely care. Veterans are still facing unacceptably long waiting periods and frequently rescheduled appointments. The VA continues to fall short on the complete and proper implementation of the MISSION Act. This has resulted in the need for Congress to strengthen existing authorities to ensure that the VA isn’t restricting care in the community for veterans who need it most.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle Push for Federal Disaster Declaration in Response to Severe Flooding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    May 23, 2025
    Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, alongside U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), are calling for swift approval of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The push comes in response to devastating flooding and other damaging weather-related events that severely impacted Coos, Curry, Douglas, and Harney counties in March.
    “Given the extent of the damage to both physical and social infrastructure across four counties, we urge you and your administration to act swiftly to ensure that State and Local governments have all the federal resources they need to recover and rebuild,” the lawmakers said in their letter to President Trump.
    The wide-ranging weather triggered several incidents from the South Coast to Eastern Oregon between March 13 and March 20, as warm rains led to rapid snowmelt that contributed to severe runoff and erosion. Three rivers reached major flood levels, and wind gusts of over 45 miles per hour caused power outages and blocked roads.
    In Harney County, a critical levee system protecting the City of Burns and members of the Burns Paiute Tribe failed, causing floodwaters to rapidly increase and inundate homes and agricultural fields.
    “Local leaders, first responders, volunteers, and neighbors stepped up heroically to protect lives and begin recovery efforts across Coos, Curry, Douglas, and Harney Counties. These are close- knit, self-reliant communities that have banded together to recover from these severe weather events and support one another,” the lawmakers stressed. “We encourage your administration to deliver the tools needed to protect lives, restore order, and get families back on their feet.”
    In addition to supporting the Governor’s request for Public Assistance (PA) to help communities in all four counties quickly recover from this disaster, the letter from lawmakers calls on FEMA to provide support to eligible individuals and households in Coos, Curry, and Douglas affected by the disaster through the Individual Assistance (IA) program.  
    They also urged the White House to make the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) available statewide for this event to help rural communities rebuild in a way that mitigates future disaster losses.
    “Oregon has demonstrated its ability to successfully use federal disaster dollars in the past, and we are confident they will be effective and efficient with funds from FEMA should they be provided for this disaster as well,” emphasized the lawmakers.
    Full text of the letter can be found by clicking HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Merkley, Wyden Press for Federal Support in Harney County’s Flooding Recovery

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    May 23, 2025
    Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden are calling on President Trump to urgently approve Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s request for Individual Assistance (IA) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support the Harney County community as they continue to recover from the worst flooding the region has seen in nearly 70 years.
    The flooding left hundreds of rural homes damaged and overwhelmed the City of Burns’ sewer system which required many residents to leave their homes to use portable toilets or travel to the next town to shower. Today, many of these homes remain contaminated due to the raw sewage that washed through the floors and along the walls.
    “Raging waters damaged homes and small businesses and created dangerous health conditions,” the Senators wrote in their letter to the White House.
    At the height of the flood on April 7 of this year, more than 1,400 people were advised to evacuate their homes in Burns and the Burns Paiute Reservation. This was a significant part of Harney County’s population, which is only around 7,400. The Senators also noted that this flood comes on the heels of other natural disasters in the region, including wildfires and severe drought.
    “The combined toll of these events has pushed many rural Oregonians to the brink,” the Senators stressed. “While the people of Harney County are resilient and deeply rooted in the values of hard work and self-reliance, they also rely on government at all levels to fulfill its basic duty in times of crisis.”
    The scale of the disaster in Harney County, combined with limited local resources, has left many rural Oregonians without the means to rebuild on their own—making Individual Assistance through FEMA critical.
    “Smart, targeted federal aid can make a lasting difference – especially when delivered in cooperation with local officials who know their communities best,” the Senators closed.
    The full text of the Senator’s letter can be found by clicking HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Zinke Celebrates Butte VA Clinic Renaming in Honor of RFC Charlie Dowd

    Source:

    (Butte, MT.) Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke attended the renaming ceremony for the Butte Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinic, which is now officially named the “Charlie Dowd Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.” Congressman Zinke introduced the legislation to rename the clinic in January of 2024, with companion legislation introduced by Senator Steve Daines. The legislation was signed into law in July of 2024.

    “Today was a deeply meaningful day as we renamed the Butte VA Clinic in honor of Radioman Charlie Dowd, a Pearl Harbor and WWII hero, and truly incredible American who dedicated his life after the Navy to serving Montana,” said Congressman Zinke

    Zinke continued, “I had the privilege of visiting with Charlie many times over the years, and I’ll never forget listening to him share stories from Pearl Harbor and the South Pacific. Even at 99, he could still fit into his uniform and tap out Morse code like he did in the service. The ‘Charlie Dowd Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic’ will serve as a lasting reminder of Devil Dog Dowd’s legacy of bravery and lifelong commitment to his country, his fellow veterans, and his community.”

    Charlie Dowd enlisted in the U.S. Navy in January 1941 and served as a radioman at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. During the infamous attack on December 7, 1941, which damaged 21 ships and claimed the lives of 2,400 Americans, Charlie, in a t-shirt and trousers, sprinted from the barracks to the armory, where he climbed to the roof to fire at the Japanese enemy aircraft, namely low-flying torpedo bombers. Through his act of bravery and continued service in the Navy in both the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, he earned the nickname “Devil Dog Dowd” from his shipmates for his unwavering willingness to volunteer for the most dangerous mission assignments.

    After receiving an honorable discharge from the Navy along with seven Bronze Star Medals, Charlie became a respected member of the Anaconda, Montana, community. He was known for his advocacy on behalf of fellow veterans, his dedication to preserving the memory of the events of World War II, and his active membership in the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. Charlie loved speaking to civic groups and museums across Montana. He was also an avid sportsman and served as an outdoor writer for the Anaconda Leader newspaper.

    After Dowd’s passing in March 2023, Congressman Zinke honored him in the Congressional Record. Read the issue here.

    See photos from the event here.

     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 27, 2025
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