Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)
WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee — announced he will co-chair the Congressional Friends of Australia Caucus alongside long-time co-chair, Congressman Joe Courtney AO (D-Conn.).
“As the United States’ adversaries work together to create an increasingly dangerous world, trusted allies like Australia are as critical as ever. That’s why I’ve worked diligently to strengthen AUKUS — the Australia-U.K.-U.S. alliance that keeps Chairman Xi up at night,”said Rep. McCaul.“A strong U.S. relationship with Australia benefits both of our economies, enhances our mutual security, and deters the CCP’s malign ambitions in the Indo-Pacific. I look forward to working with Congressman Courtney, who has a proven commitment to the U.S.-Australia alliance, to continue bolstering the caucus’ work at this important time in history.”
“I am very excited to work with Congressman McCaul, who demonstrated his active support for the U.S.-Australia alliance in 2023 by partnering to enact historic bipartisan AUKUS authorities,”said Rep. Courtney AO. “As Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he guided committee approval of key ITAR provisions that were incorporated into the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. The bipartisan Friends of Australia Caucus has more work to do to build on that success, and I look forward to working with Michael to achieve this goal.”
Background:
The Congressional Friends of Australia Caucus seeks to expand and enrich the partnership between the United States and Australia, which enjoy strong economic and defense ties. McCaul has long supported the relationship between the U.S. and Australia, acknowledging that Australia is one of our most important strategic allies in the Indo-Pacific.
Last Congress, McCaul championed several pieces of legislation to strengthen the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) defense pact. He also penned a recent op-ed in the National Review on the critical importance of AUKUS.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)
Also suggests Department of Defense helicopters be prohibited in commercial airline corridors
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, discussed implementation of the 2024 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization law, including his EVAC Act, at a full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on an update of the measure on the anniversary of its passage.
During the hearing, Congressman Cohen said in part:
“We passed a great bill last year but…implementation is what’s important and right now the FAA is clearly not tracking what they were intended to do, what we expected…”
In his questions to expert witnesses, Congressman Cohen suggested that the FAA “immediately” prohibit Department of Defense helicopters from operating in the flight paths of commercial airliners to prevent the kind of accident that led to 67 fatalities near Reagan National Airport in January. He also asked about the telecommunications outages that have been occurring at Newark Liberty International Airport. He also inquired on the status of the study called for in his Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act, to determine whether a realistic cohort of air travelers can evacuate a plane within the mandated 90 seconds, required to be completed by tomorrow’s May 16 deadline.
See his line of questions here.
Witnesses at today’s hearings were:
Jodi Baker, Deputy Associate Administrator of Aviation Safety, Federal Aviation Administration;
Wayne Heibeck, Deputy Associate Administrator of Airports, Federal Aviation Administration;
Frank McIntosh, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Air Traffic Organization, Federal Aviation Administration; and
Derrick Collins, Director of Physical Infrastructure, United States Government Accountability Office.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)
Davids Backs Cutting Waste — Not Cutting Off Kansas Families.
Last night, during a U.S. House Agriculture Committee markup, Representative Sharice Davids spokeout against President Trump and U.S. House Republicans’ extreme budget proposal, which would slash Medicaid and take food off Kansans’ tables — all to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. Davids noted the reckless proposal comes as families are struggling with higher costscaused by Trump’s reckless tariffs.
House Republicans are pushing a budget that would make the largest cuts to Medicaidand food assistancein American history — all to fund over $1 trillionin tax giveaways for billionaires. These extreme cuts would gut programs that help Kansans afford food and stay healthy.
Cuts to Health Care: A nonpartisan analysis estimates that 13.7 millionAmericans would lose health coverage with this bill. In total, more than 61,000 Kansans in Kansas’ Third District — including more than 41,000 children and 11,000 seniors — are at risk of losing coverage. Finally, Medicaid cuts would lead to more hospital closures, reduced services, and worse care for all Kansas families, especially in rural communities where 82 percent of hospitals operate at a loss.
Cuts to Food Access: In Kansas’ Third District alone, 8,000 householdscould lose access to the emergency food assistance they rely on through this bill. Also, up to 27,000 grocerystores nationwide may be forced to close due to lost revenue, worsening food deserts, especially in rural communities. Finally, cutting SNAP at these levels would reduce farm income by more than $30 billion and threaten good-paying jobs.
Read a full transcript of Davids’ remarksbelow:
“Thank you, Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Craig.
“Right now, families in Kansas and across the country are feeling the pinch of rising costs – in large part due to the administration’s reckless policies.
“Prices are up, retirement savings are down, tariffs are impacting farmers, and for many, one unexpected bill could push them into crisis. This is not the time to pull the rug out from under folks who are doing their best to make ends meet.
“Yet that’s exactly what this partisan Republican budget proposes: deep, harmful cuts to programs like Medicaid and food assistance — programs that help people stay afloat when times are tough.
“Republicans have said their goal is to secure $1 trillion in federal cuts. But nonpartisan experts have said they can’t reach that goal without taking health care and food away from millions of parents, kids, seniors, pregnant women, veterans, and people with disabilities.
“Look, I’m all for improving government efficiency and fiscal responsibility. But this budget proposal pushed by the Trump Administration has real consequences.
“It includes cuts that could force rural hospitals to close. Cuts that would mean empty dinner plates for families already struggling. But don’t take it from me — take it from Robert in Louisburg, Kansas, who wrote to my office.
“He said, and I quote: ‘To pay for massive tax giveaways to billionaires and wealthy corporations, these budget proposals would slash programs that help everyday families afford food, health care, child care, housing, education, and more.’
“He continued by saying: ‘Families shouldn’t have to take hit after hit while billionaires get even more tax breaks. Enough is enough.’
“I couldn’t agree more, Robert.
“This budget doesn’t rein in waste. It doesn’t close corporate loopholes. It doesn’t go after fraud. What it does is protect tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations — and asks struggling families to foot the bill. And on top of that, it would likely add hundreds of billions to the deficit.
“I was raised by a single mom who served in the Army. My brothers and I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck. I know what these programs mean for families like mine. We should be working to make them stronger and fairer — not slashing them to reward the wealthiest among us.
“Kansans deserve smart policies that protect our economy, support hardworking people, and actually reduce fraud and waste — not rushed cuts that leave our communities hungrier, sicker, and further behind.
“I would urge my colleagues, and in this instance, actually plead with my colleagues to please reject these reckless cuts. This body can do better than what we’ve been seeing.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)
On the final day of Infrastructure Week, Rep. Hank Johnson introduces legislation to invest $80B in public transit across large cities, small towns, and rural communities to better serve constituents and working families
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the final day of Infrastructure Week, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, re-introduced the Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act, which would provide $20 billion annually for four years ($80 billion total) to transit systems for their operating budgets.
The bill would provide targeted federal funding to help transit agencies increase bus and rail service, especially in places with existing poor service, disadvantaged communities, and areas of persistent poverty. The funding will be in addition to existing state, local and farebox revenue and will support additional services above and beyond what is currently being provided. Agencies could use funding under this bill to make “substantial improvements to transit service.”
“Transit in our communities is as essential as food on our tables, clothes on our backs and a roof over our heads,” said Rep. Johnson. “This kind of funding is a game-changer for Atlanta and communities across the nation. Simply put, people could get to more places in less time using transit. Jobs, schools, and other daily destinations that previously took too long to reach would become more accessible. People would feel less strain on household budgets as their transportation costs shrink. They would have more time to spend with their families as time spent commuting falls.”
The Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act builds on the momentum of Infrastructure Week by supporting efforts to create a more equitable, efficient, and connected transportation system for all Americans.
The Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act would:
• Authorize $20 billion annually for FY2025-FY2028 • Create a new formula grant program to support the operating costs of public transportation and certain associated capital costs • Require funds must be used for projects that make “substantial improvements to transit service” – that directly boosts frequency of buses, trains and increases routes • Clearly define funding for “areas of persistent poverty” and “underserved communities;”
According to the Transit Center, a foundation that works to improve public transit in cities across the U.S., in Atlanta alone, $20 billion in annual transit funding could mean a 40 percent gain in service that could vastly improve access to transit that arrives at least every 15 minutes, all day, seven days a week.
In some parts of the city, that would increase the number of jobs reachable within 30 minutes on transit by a factor of eight, it said.
In cities and communities across the country, a federal program to support transit services could yield similar benefits by helping families lower transportation costs, drive economic opportunity and racial equity and reduce greenhouse gases.
The bill is supported by: Transport Workers Union of America, Amalgamated Transit Union, MARTA, T4America, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Campaign for Transit Justice, Sierra Club, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Union of Concerned Scientists
What stakeholders are saying:
“The federal government inexplicably funds transit capital investments without providing the operations funding to ensure that buses and trains can run safely, on time, and frequently enough to benefit working families,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “This bill would end a transit funding practice that doesn’t make sense and ensure that federal dollars can go toward transit operating expenses that improve service and ridership.”
“Transportation labor has long supported strong federal action that facilitates sustainable and reliable public transit service,” Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO President Greg Regan said. “By providing $20 billion per year over the next four years, transit agencies would have the opportunity to increase service frequency, expand service areas, extend operating hours and overall improve the passenger experience. We applaud Rep. Johnson for understanding the importance of this public service and introducing this legislation.”
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) arrived in Wellington, New Zealand for a port visit, May 16, 2025. This historic arrival marks the first time Blue Ridge has visited New Zealand as well as its capital city. The last two U.S Navy ships to visit Wellington were USS Howard (DDG 83) in 2021 and USS Sampson (DDG 102) in 2016.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Delegations of Russia and Ukraine start their meeting in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 16, 2025. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye/Handout via Xinhua)
Delegations of Russia and Ukraine concluded their meeting in Türkiye’s Istanbul on Friday, agreeing to hold a new round of negotiations and have a large-scale prisoner exchange.
As a key outcome of the two-hour talks, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a prisoner exchange involving 1,000 people from each side.
According to Russian diplomatic sources, Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky said the swap would take place soon. He also expressed overall satisfaction with the meeting and confirmed that Russia is ready to continue the dialogue.
Medinsky noted that both sides will soon present their detailed views on a possible ceasefire, after which the negotiations will move forward.
He also said that Ukraine proposed direct talks between the two presidents, and that Russia “took note” of the request.
The convoy arrives at the Dolmabahce Presidential Office for meeting in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 16, 2025. Delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Türkiye convened at the Dolmabahce Presidential Office here on Friday for the first trilateral meeting ahead of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Following the trilateral meeting, a separate session will be held between delegations from Russia, Ukraine and Türkiye. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, quoted by the state-run Anadolu Agency, said both sides focused on three key topics: a ceasefire, the prisoner exchange, and the possibility of a future presidential summit.
Umerov described the agreement on the prisoner swap as “the largest exchange since the beginning of the war.”
In a post on X, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who chaired the negotiation, noted that the meeting produced several important outcomes aimed at building trust and laying the foundation for future negotiations.
He said Russia and Ukraine agreed to “share with the other side in writing the conditions that would make it possible to reach a ceasefire,” and reached an agreement “to meet again in principle.”
“As Türkiye, we will continue to make every effort to enable a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a press conference at the Ukrainian Embassy in Ankara, Türkiye, May 15, 2025. Zelensky said on Thursday that he would not personally show up at the negotiating table in Istanbul with a commitment to ending the conflict with Russia. (Mustafa Kaya/Handout via Xinhua)
The Istanbul talks follow a proposal by Putin on Sunday to resume direct negotiations with Ukraine. Zelensky has previously said he is open to a face-to-face meeting with Putin. However, the Kremlin said Putin would not attend the talks.
The last direct talks between Ukraine and Russia took place in Istanbul in March 2022, where the two sides failed to agree to halt the fighting.
SANTA RITA, Guam — The U.S. Coast Guard, with support from U.S. Navy and local partners, located the 47-foot vessel Lucky Harvest, carrying two mariners, which had been missing since departing Alamagan Island, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, on May 12, 2025, en route to Saipan.
Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
05.16.25
Cantwell Statement on Trump Administration Withholding $500M for Fish Passage at Howard Hanson Dam
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, released this statement following news that the Trump administration is withholding $500 million in planned federal funding to construct fish passage at Howard Hanson Dam.
“Constructing fish passage at Howard Hanson Dam was key to reopening at least 60 miles of prime salmon and steelhead habitat, nearly doubling Green River spawning grounds for endangered salmon and steelhead,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Withholding funding for this project is a stab in the back to tribal, commercial, and recreational fishing families. It also amounts to an abandonment of our commitment to tribal treaty rights, and ignores federal law intended to protect salmon.”
In November 2021, nine members of the Washington Democratic congressional delegation led by Sen. Cantwell and Rep. Kim Schrier, M.D. (D, WA-08) sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael Connor and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Shalanda Young requesting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and OMB prioritize funding for the planned Howard A. Hanson Dam fish passage facility on the Green River as part of the $17.1 billion in funding included for the Corps in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
In February 2020, Sen. Cantwell joined Rep. Schrier and the entire bipartisan Washington congressional delegation in sending a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and OMB requesting funding for the dam.
Sen. Cantwell was the leading champion in securing a historic $2.855 billion investment in salmon recovery and ecosystem restoration programs in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that passed in November 2021. This funding includes a Cantwell-authored provision to provide $1 billion for the U.S. Department of Transportation to create a new program aimed at removing, replacing, or restoring culverts, which enable the recovery of salmon passage and habitats.
SANTA RITA, Guam — The U.S. Coast Guard, with support from U.S. Navy and local partners, located the 47-foot vessel Lucky Harvest, carrying two mariners, which had been missing since departing Alamagan Island, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, on May 12, 2025, en route to Saipan.
For breaking news follow us on twitter @USCGHawaiiPac
Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan
05.16.25
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, received commitments from Adam Telle, President Trump’s nominee to head the Army Corps of Engineers, to expedite efforts to protect homes and property from the recurring threat of glacial lake outburst flooding in Juneau, Alaska. Sen. Sullivan emphasized the unique challenges facing Alaska’s capital city, where seasonal glacial flooding has become an urgent concern, damaging hundreds of homes and causing millions of dollars in losses to personal property and infrastructure last year. Sen. Sullivan also received a commitment from Mr. Telle to implement President Trump’s Day One executive order, “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential,” declaring “the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works shall immediately review, revise or rescind any agency action that may in any way hinder, slow, or otherwise delay any critical project in the state of Alaska.”
Sen. Sullivan posed his questions to Mr. Telle during his confirmation hearing before the committee.
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Below is a full transcript of Sen. Sullivan’s exchange with Mr. Telle.
Sen. Dan Sullivan: Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you to the witnesses and your families for your service. Mr. Telle, you’re a glutton for punishment. A lot of folks don’t know you had your Armed Services confirmation hearing yesterday, so you did a great job on that one. This should be a piece of cake.
Adam Telle: Thank you, Senator Sullivan.
DS: By the way, in my state—I’m going to focus a lot on Alaska. I appreciated our meetings, Mr. Telle and Mr. McMaster. It’s hard to build anything in Alaska. Right? You want to build a road, a sidewalk, you usually get 12 radical far-left environmental groups that sue to stop it. We have the King Cove Road. We’ve only been trying to get that done for 40 years. A nine-mile, single-lane gravel road that every Democrat in the country—including, God rest his soul, Jimmy Carter, writes op-eds [saying] you can’t build a road in Alaska. Then it went so bad, we had the Biden administration’s Last Frontier Lock Up. My great state suffered through 70 executive orders and executive actions from the Biden administration singularly focused on Alaska. I like ripping this up because that’s not the issue anymore. We now have President Trump who issued his day-one executive order called, “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential.” Mr. Telle, as you and I discussed, there’s a lot of great provisions in here. This is all about getting things done in Alaska, not crushing us as the radical left wants to do. There’s a really good provision about the Corps of Engineers. I’m going to read it to you: “The assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works”—that’s you—”shall immediately review, revise or rescind any agency action that may in any way hinder, slow, or otherwise delay any critical project in the state of Alaska.” That’s from the President. Will you commit to abide by that very expansive provision to get things done in my great state after four years of being crushed by the previous administration?
AT: Senator Sullivan, absolutely. When I visited your office, I tattooed the executive order that the President issued on Alaska on my heart.
DS: By the way, that’s a great answer.
AT: I will go ahead and read the second paragraph to you from memory, which essentially says that I shall, if confirmed, coordinate as closely with the Governor of Alaska as a human could possibly coordinate.
DS: Good. And the Senator from Alaska.
AT: Of course.
DS: Okay. Just double checking on that. We talked about the Juneau glacial lake outburst flooding. You want to talk about a unique issue in Alaska—we’ve had this flooding that pretty much happens now every summer. It’s amazing it hasn’t killed anybody. We need the Corps’ help, right? This is a unique challenge. The Corps is uniquely qualified to help us. You can’t have flooding. I went and toured where this happened this past summer. Over 200 homes were flooded. We’ve got to fix it and the Corps initially said, “Well, Senator, we’re going to work on this. We think it’ll be ten years to study and fix this.” Say what? That is the wrong answer. Can you commit to me, and really importantly, the citizens of Juneau, Alaska, that the Corps is going to bring its best minds in a very rapid way to help address this unique challenge that we really need the Corps’ help on?
AT: Senator Sullivan, thank you for the question. I failed to mention as a part of my answer to your previous question that Alaska is home to greater than 60% of the U.S.’s wetlands. So it makes the work of the Corps of Engineers critically important. That’s the need for the executive order. With regard to the glacial outburst issue, you rightly point out that this is an issue that is brand new, as far as I understand it to be, in terms of flood risk management, and it’s going to require creativity.
DS: Yes, it is.
AT: The Corps of Engineers was made to solve tough problems. I look forward to working with you, with the surrounding communities, to try to solve this challenge.
DS: Great. Thank you. In an expedited manner, not ten years. That’s just…
AT: In an expedited manner, Senator.
Below is a timeline of Senator Sullivan’s work to address the Juneau flooding challenge:
On August 7, 2024, Sen. Sullivan visited Juneau following the largest glacial outburst flow ever recorded along the Mendenhall River system. Sen. Sullivan surveyed the damage and spoke to homeowners and local leaders.
On August 8, 2024, Sen. Sullivan spoke with the FEMA administrator to coordinate the immediate emergency response to the flooding.
On August 16, 2024, Sen. Sullivan coordinated an initial meeting between the City and Borough of Juneau and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on long-term response solutions. Corps flood fighting officials visited Juneau in September, October, and November 2024 to provide flood fighting expertise and insight.
On September 27, 2024, Sen. Sullivan led a letter to the Corps with his Alaska congressional delegation colleagues requesting the agency to advance measures to mitigate the imminent threat of glacial flooding by prioritizing a long-term engineering solution for the community.
On October 16, 2024, following advocacy from the Alaska delegation, President Biden approved the major disaster declaration for the Juneau flood.
On November 19, 2024, Senator Sullivan led a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with his Alaska delegation colleagues requesting that funding for the Mendenhall Glacier flood recovery and mitigation be considered and included in the disaster supplemental request to Congress, including the addition of necessary expenses related to flood mitigation, disaster relief, long-term recovery, and restoration in areas that received a major disaster designation due to “glacial flooding.”
On December 3, 2024, Sen. Sullivan met with Lt. Gen. William “Butch” Graham Jr., Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the Corps, and pressed the urgency of achieving a solution for Juneau. In this meeting, Graham shared that the Corps was committed to Juneau and leading the project to a long-term engineering solution.
On December 21, 2024, H.R.10545, the American Relief Act, was signed into law and included a Sullivan-led provision for a Corps study of Juneau’s glacial lake outburst flooding, the first step to identify long-term engineering solutions for the community.
On January 14, 2025, Sen. Sullivan led a letter to OMB urging that, as the funding allocations under the American Relief Act are evaluated, recognition of the congressional intent to address the Mendenhall Glacial flood recovery and mitigation efforts be reflected in OMB’s budget.
On March 4, 2025, Sen. Sullivan sent a letter to OMB with his Alaska congressional delegation colleagues requesting an increased permitting budget for the Corps in Alaska to better reflect Alaska’s geographic scope, unique regulatory challenges, and the new directives outlined in Executive Order (EO) 14153, “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential,” issued by President Trump to expedite permitting and infrastructure development in Alaska.
On March 14, 2025, the Corps designated $4.75 million for a feasibility study following Sen. Sullivan’s requests for funding.
LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Crane Regional Defense Group hosted its annual Connect to Mission (C2M) event at the WestGate Academy last week in Odon, Indiana, spotlighting the strategic priorities of NSWC Crane’s Global Deterrence & Defense Department. The event served as a high-impact forum for collaboration among defense leaders, elected officials, and industry partners working to advance U.S. strategic mission capabilities.
The Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS) Other Transaction Authority (OTA), managed by the National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL), played a key role in the event by supporting NSWC Crane in facilitating meaningful discussions around current and future defense acquisition needs. The S²MARTS team engaged in 13 focused networking discussions with prospective industry partners, fostering connections and laying the groundwork for agile prototyping pathways that accelerate delivery and innovative solutions through the OTA model.
“Events like Connect to Mission are critical to aligning government and industry around urgent national security priorities,” said Tony Kestranek, VP of NSTXL, S²MARTS. “By helping NSWC Crane connect with non-traditional innovators, S²MARTS enables faster, more collaborative approaches to solving critical challenges – not just nationally, but right here in Southern Indiana. These conversations aren’t just networking, they’re where the next generation of solutions takes shape.”
C2M 2025 emphasized Southern Indiana’s unique value as a regional innovation hub, bringing together talent across the defense industrial base. With participation from 13 NSWC Crane offices and 11 key industry partners, the event generated new opportunities for technical collaboration, workforce development, and long-term economic impact in the area surrounding Crane, Indiana.
Guest speakers included Dr. Angie Lewis, Technical Director at NSWC Crane; Greg Goode, State Director for U.S. Senator Todd Young and Indiana State Senator; along with technical leaders from various Crane divisions including Strategic Microelectronics, Trusted Microelectronics, and Strategic Systems Guidance Navigation & Control.
The presence and active engagement of the S²MARTS team demonstrated how agile acquisition vehicles like OTAs are becoming essential tools in bridging the gap between government requirements and innovative commercial solutions. Through C2M and ongoing collaboration, NSTXL and NSWC Crane are helping to accelerate technology development that supports the nation’s most critical strategic deterrence and spectrum missions—while also fueling growth in Indiana’s defense innovation ecosystem.
About S²MARTS The Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS), managed by NSTXL, is the premier rapid OT contracting vehicle for the Department of Defense (DoD) in trusted microelectronics, strategic & spectrum mission, and other critical mission areas. The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division created S²MARTS to grow and engage an elite network of innovators, shorten the path to defense prototype development, and advance national security efforts.
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
Trump plan takes $437 million away from blue states and moves $258 million toward red states—overall, 64-33 percent red to blue split in Trump admin’s Army Corps work plan versus roughly 50-50 split in budget request, FY25 House and Senate appropriations bills
ICYMI: Senator Murray on Trump Defunding Blue State Army Corps Construction: “This is Some Corrupt B-S”
***WATCH HERE; DOWNLOAD HERE***
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, held a virtual press conference with Tacoma Public Utilities and the Covington Water District to speak out against President Trump’s outrageous decision to zero out and significantly cut Army Corps of Engineers construction projects in blue states such as Washington state—including the complete elimination of construction funding for Howard Hanson Dam.
The Howard Hanson Dam facility in Washington state was poised to receive $500 million this year in funding Senator Murray secured in the fiscal year 2025 appropriations bill she wrote as Chair and passed through committee in August 2024, as well as in House Republicans’ fiscal year 2025 bill. The funding was needed for the Army Corps to execute a construction contract option this year, allowing construction to begin in 2026 as scheduled. But instead of working with Democrats to pass full-year funding bills that would have directed that funding, Republicans in Congress passed a yearlong continuing resolution (CR) that enabled the administration to determine how to allocate the funding it did provide—a scenario Murray repeatedly warned about. The Army Corps’ work plans released Thursday—which lay out how the Army Corps will spend the funding provided by Congress under Republicans’ yearlong continuing resolution for fiscal year 2025—include zero funding for the project.
“President Trump’s Army Corps construction plan utterly tramples all of the careful, painstaking negotiations we did in Congress to reach a bipartisan understating about what projects need funding, and replaces it with his own partisan vision—a vision that rips away hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars from blue states like mine. There is just no getting around it: this plan is utterly partisan—and sets a truly egregious precedent. We should all be outraged,” said Senator Murray. “The balance of states Trump wants to give more funding to, and the states he wants to cut funding from—is completely lopsided—roughly two-thirds for red states, and one-third for blue states. For comparison, the budget request, our bipartisan Senate bill, and yes, even House Republicans’ bill, split funding between red and blue states about 50-50. We are talking about critical Army Corps projects to maintain and build foundational water infrastructure, from dredging for our ports, to protecting communities from flood waters, or maintaining major dams.”
“Back in Washington state, this plan cuts us out, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars,” continued Senator Murray. “It is completely outrageous. It is completely unacceptable…I will not let defunding Howard Hanson Dam stand in any future bipartisan spending bill. However, that could be a long ways away. So, I’ll be speaking with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and making clear to them we have to rein Trump in—or he is going to keep trampling the powers of Congress, and he is going to keep trampling the communities we all came here to fight for. It may not be your state today, but what happens when your governor disagrees with the President?”
Overall, the Army Corps’ plans released by the Trump administration would steer roughly $258 million dollars more in construction funding to red states while ripping away roughly $437 million dollars in construction funding for blue states, relative to the president’s fiscal year 2025 request—which, historically, has been fully funded and was fully funded in the draft fiscal year 2025 bills produced on a bipartisan basis in the Senate and by House Republicans in the House. This includes the complete elimination of Army Corps construction funding for states like California. Trump’s work plan steers two-thirds of all Army Corps construction funding to red states—the budget request and House and Senate bills would have split it roughly 50-50 to red and blue states.
“Tacoma Public Utilities (TPU) has made significant investments in the Howard A. Hanson Dam for decades. This project is one of the most significant steps toward ensuring long-term water reliability for over one million people across our broader region—not just for today, but for generations to come,” said Heather Pennington, TPU Water Superintendent.
“Without this key part of the project, the District may not have enough summertime supply to meet our current and future customer needs starting as early as the mid-2030s. That’s not very far from now folks. For the District, it feels like we purchased a 4 bedroom home, but having the builder tell us we can occupy 2 bedrooms. Not to mention, this action will further delay access for endangered salmon to over 100 miles of pristine spawning habitat above Howard Hansen Dam. It is just unfair on many levels,” said Thomas Keown, General Manager of the Covington Water District. “For instance, the decision is also unfair to the many local stakeholders who have invested time and money, hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars in infrastructure and watershed benefits in and along the Green River in preparation of the project coming online. This is now unfortunately shaping up as a waste of a perfectly good ‘shovel ready’ project that is likely to be mothballed for who knows how long.”
Supporting the Howard Hanson Dam has been a longtime priority for Senator Murray, and she has pressed the Army Corps to prioritize funding for the Dam for years. Under the last administration, Senator Murray was able to secure critical funding boosts for Howard Hanson Dam, including $220 million in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $50 million to begin construction of the Fish Passage facility in the funding bills for fiscal year 2024 that Murray wrote as then-Chair of the Appropriations Committee. Back in 2010, Murray secured $44 million in badly needed emergency funds for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair the Howard Hanson Dam. In the draft fiscal year 2025 appropriations bill she cleared unanimously out of Committee last year, Senator Murray secured $500 million for the construction of a fish passage facility, which would also address flood risk and water supply issues for cities like Tacoma and Covington. $500 million was also included in the House’s draft fiscal year 2025 appropriations bill. The funding is needed to execute a construction option on the contract for the project, which would have allowed construction to begin in 2026 as scheduled.
Congress typically provides specific, detailed instructions in its annual appropriations bills on how the Army Corps (and so many other agencies) must spend funding provided by Congress. Annual appropriations bills note exactly what Army Corps projects must be funded and at what levels. But instead of working with Democrats to pass full-year appropriations bills that deliver for communities across America, Republicans in Congress put forth a yearlong continuing resolution (CR) that failed to include hundreds of specific directives on how funding must be spent. For months, Senator Murray warned of the dangers of passing Republicans’ slush fund CR, noting, for example, that it would allow the administration to zero out funding for Army Corps projects.
Senator Murray’s full remarks, as delivered, are available below and HERE:
“Yesterday, the Trump Administration released a plan to blatantly rob blue states and completely politicize federal funding for crucial projects. We are talking historically blatant thuggery from the White House here.
“President Trump’s Army Corps construction plan utterly tramples all the careful, painstaking negotiations we did in Congress to reach a bipartisan understating about what projects need funding and replaces it with his own partisan vision—a vision that rips away hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars from blue states like mine.
“There is just no getting around it: this plan is utterly partisan—and sets a truly egregious precedent. We should all be outraged.
“The balance of states Trump wants to give more funding, and the states he wants to cut out off—is completely lopsided—roughly two-thirds for red states, and one-third for blue states.
“For comparison, the budget request, our bipartisan Senate bill, and yes, even House Republicans’ bill, split funding between red and blue states about 50-50.
“We are talking about critical Army Corps projects to maintain and build foundational water infrastructure, from dredging for our ports, to protecting communities from flood waters, or maintaining major dams.
“Back in Washington state, this plan cuts us out, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.
“We are losing some funding for our waterways and fish mitigation, funding for our ports, and we are completely losing funding for the Howard Hanson Dam, which—before Trump meddled with these funds—was set to receive $500 million to execute a necessary construction contract this year.
“This is a crucial project, years in the making, that is important to safeguard our water supply, protect our communities from dangerous flooding, and save our salmon. I have pounded the pavement getting support for this project. This funding had bipartisan support—our Committee cleared a bill for this unanimously.
“Howard Hanson was even fully funded in the House Appropriations bill drafted by Republicans—every cent! But now, thanks to this administration, it’s dust. Trump is completely defunding Howard Hanson Dam.
“They are not giving us even a hint of a real explanation why—but the motivation here is obvious and it is alarming. Especially when Trump’s budget completely zeros out Army Corps Construction in California. That’s right—he just completely cut the most populous state in the country out of Army Corp construction funding.
“It is completely outrageous. It is completely unacceptable. And it is exactly why I voted against Republicans’ partisan CR.
“I warned, repeatedly, that we should not give Trump new flexibility to move Army Corps funding around and hang this threat over everyone. That’s a reckless amount of power to give any President—and certainly not this one, who shows us every minute of every day that he will abuse it.
“This has never been a President we can expect to operate in good faith. This has never been a President we can expect to follow precedent, decency, or even basic common sense. But Republicans’ slush fund CR passed and gave Trump dangerous authority, and it should be no surprise to anyone—he is using it.
“I am speaking out today: I will not let defunding Howard Hanson Dam stand in any future bipartisan spending bill.
“However, that could be a long ways away. So, I’ll be speaking with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and making clear to them we have to rein Trump in—or he is going to keep trampling the powers of Congress, and he is going to keep trampling the communities we all came here to fight for.
“It may not be your state today, but what happens when your governor disagrees with the President? What happens you vote against him and your state loses out on funding? What happens when there is a new President and this is just how things work now?
“We have to push back now—today. That’s exactly what I am doing. I will fight tooth and nail to prevent this completely partisan vision from becoming a reality.
“And I have with me some people who can speak more to just how crucial this Army Corps funding is—and why we are not going to stop fighting.”
Source: The White House
class=”has-text-align-center”>BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
On Armed Forces Day, we pause to honor the men and women of America’s Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force. Every day, throughout our homeland and in far-flung regions of the world, our fighting forces valiantly safeguard our liberty, defend our border, and support global stability through humanitarian missions and disaster relief operations. In America’s legacy of awe-inspiring heroes, they are without equal.
As Commander in Chief, my highest responsibility is to ensure our all-volunteer military, 2.1 million-strong, is the world’s most lethal fighting force. I have taken bold steps to prioritize military excellence and readiness across every branch of service, ensuring that all active duty, National Guard, and Reserve members who wear our Nation’s uniform are prepared to deploy, fight, and win against any adversary in any domain. America’s military will soon be stronger and more powerful than ever before. Since November, enlistment numbers for every branch of the Armed Forces have surged — recruitment is now the highest it has been in 30 years.
On Armed Forces Day, we celebrate those for whom patriotism is not a passive, lofty ideal, but a way of life that is measured by the unyielding commitment to serve this Nation with valor, vigilance, integrity, and devotion to duty. It is worthy not only of a day of recognition but also a lifetime of respect from a grateful Nation.
The First Lady joins me in saluting our service members — on land, at sea, and in air and space — along with their devoted families, who share in this legacy of service and sacrifice.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, continuing the tradition of my predecessors in office, do hereby proclaim the third Saturday of each May as Armed Forces Day. I invite the Governors of the States and Territories and other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to provide for the observance of Armed Forces Day within their jurisdiction in an appropriate manner designed to increase public understanding and appreciation of our Armed Forces. I call upon all Americans to display the flag of the United States at their homes and businesses on Armed Forces Day, and I urge citizens to learn more about military service by attending and participating in the local observances of the day. Proclamation 10762 of May 17, 2024, is hereby superseded.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
DONALD J. TRUMP
SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 295 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from May 9 through May 15.
Among the new cases, Mexican nationals Juan Jose Medrano-Escobedo and Rosendo Dominguez-Morales were arrested after allegedly entering the U.S. illegally through the Texas National Defense Area (Tx-NDA) less than half a mile west of the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry in El Paso. Medrano-Escobedo has been previously removed from the U.S. to Mexico twice, most recently July 30, 2024. He has been convicted of three felonies, including evading arrest in 2017 and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in November 2023. Dominguez-Morales was last removed on Aug. 20, 2024, following an Aug. 18, 2024 felony conviction for assault while displaying a dangerous weapon. Medrano-Escobedo and Dominguez-Morales are each charged with two counts related to violating defense property security regulation and one count of illegal re-entry.
Also in El Paso, two U.S. citizens are charged with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens after being arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Fabens. Jared Isai Ramirez and Jesus Alberto Soriano, driving separate vehicles, allegedly attempted to flee from USBP. A criminal complaint alleges Ramirez lost control of his vehicle and collided into a rock wall. He and four passengers allegedly exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot before being apprehended. The four passengers were determined to be illegal aliens and were transported with Ramirez to the Clint Border Patrol Station for further investigation. Soriano eventually stopped the vehicle he was driving and was also transported to the Clint Border Patrol Station. The criminal complaint alleges that Ramirez admitted that he would be paid $300 for each of the four illegal aliens he was transporting. Soriano allegedly stated that he had agreed to scout the area for law enforcement during the smuggling scheme.
A Mexican national was encountered at the Bastrop County Jail and charged with illegal re-entry in Austin. Elisandro Enriquez-Sanchez has been removed from the U.S. to Mexico four times in addition to a voluntary return. He had been arrested in Bastrop and charged with driving while intoxicated with an open alcohol container. Enriquez-Sanchez’s lengthy criminal record includes two convictions for illegal re-entry as well as taking a weapon from an officer, assault causing bodily injury to a family member, and three DWIs in a two-year span.
In Presidio County, Honduran national Angel Daniel Vasquez was arrested and charged with illegal re-entry. Vasquez has four prior removals, the last one being to Honduras May 27, 2024. He’s also a twice-convicted felon with a criminal record that includes assault causing bodily injury in Nashville, Tennessee in 2023 and a 2015 illegal re-entry conviction in Phoenix, Arizona. He was also convicted of a misdemeanor in Nashville for driving under the influence in 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.
Source: United States Department of Defense (video statements)
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@usarmy soldiers assigned to the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force under @USARPACPAO fire a M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System as part of Exercise Balikatan 25 in Palawan, Philippines.
#army #military #usa
For more on the Department of Defense, visit: http://www.defense.gov
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02)
Yesterday, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) released the following statement after the Army Corps of Engineers announced their FY 2025 Work Plan which includes funding for the harbors of Holland, Saugatuck, St. Joe, and South Haven.
“Our harbors and rivers are an enormous source of economic activity for communities across Michigan,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “This funding will help ensure that Holland, Saugatuck, St. Joe, and South Haven, as well as portions of the Kalamazoo River are properly dredged, and communities along the Lakeshore are able to reach their full economic potential. I want to thank the Army Corps of Engineers for their work and for prioritizing harbor communities up and down the shores of Lake Michigan.”
Holland Harbor will receive $20,338,000 to perform operations and maintenance work as well as funding for dredging, assessments, critical structure safety maintenance, repairs to North revetment, dredged disposal area maintenance, and engineering and design for dredged material placement site weir repair.
Saugatuck Harbor/Kalamazoo River will receive $385,000 to perform operations and maintenance work as well as funding for assessments and sediment sampling.
South Haven Harbor will receive $1,740,000 to perform operations and maintenance work as well as funding for dredging and assessments.
St. Joe Harbor will receive $3,309,000 to perform operations and maintenance work as well as funding for dredging, assessments, sediment sampling, beach nourishment monitoring and placement of sand.
Additional communities of interest included in the 2025 Army Corps Work Plan.
Grand Haven – $13,638,000
Ludington – $2,078,000
Muskegon – $4,372,000
New Buffalo – $1,475,000
Pentwater – $2,218,000
Congressman Huizenga has been a bipartisan leader in holding the federal government accountable to lakeshore communities for its promises regarding harbor dredging. Huizenga has also been a leader in the bipartisan effort to fully restore and continually fund the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. In 2020, Huizenga helped increase the percentage of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund dollars that go to the Great Lakes. The funding for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund is paid by shippers utilizing ports on the Great Lakes and along our nation’s coasts.
On Friday (16 May), NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska travelled to Estonia.
She began at the Ämari Airbase, from where the Portuguese Air Force currently helps secure the skies as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission. The Deputy Secretary General was also briefed on the ongoing multinational exercise Hedgehog/Siil. Led by Estonia, the exercise brings together over 18,000 Estonian military personnel and forces from eleven Allied countries, including NATO’s multinational presence in Estonia.
At the Lennart Meri Conference later in the day, the Deputy Secretary General outlined NATO’s priorities for the upcoming Summit in The Hague. She discussed the ways to strengthen deterrence and defence in the face of global security challenges, emphasising the importance of increasing defence spending and defence production. She also discussed NATO’s support to Ukraine. Mrs. Shekerinska also visited the Regional Hub of NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), where start-ups work to adapt their innovative technologies to defence, in areas such as sensing and surveillance, energy, and critical infrastructure.
The Deputy Secretary General met the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Margus Tsahkna, and the Minister of Defence, Mr Hanno Pevkur. She thanked Estonia for its exemplary commitment to investing in defence, support for Ukraine, as well as for its contributions to defence innovation and cyber defence.
Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan
05.16.25
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Environment & Public Works (EPW) Committee, secured a commitment this week from Adam Telle, nominated to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works in charge of the Army Corps of Engineers, to prioritize the Port of Nome project, the nation’s first deep-draft Arctic port, in light of Alaska’s strategic importance constituting the entirety of America’s Arctic.
“The Port of Nome has bipartisan support,” said Sen. Sullivan. “We don’t have an Arctic port anywhere to push back on the Russian and Chinese aggression in my part of the [country]. That project, it’s really important. We’ve got to get it over the finish line. Can I get your commitment to work with me and the others in this committee on that project?”
“Senator Sullivan, one of the most strategic issues that confronts the United States of America today is our status as an Arctic…nation,” said Mr. Telle. “This is an area of the world that the Chinese Communist Party is very interested in. The Russians are very active. Your state is front and center to the United States of America’s being an Arctic nation. We must be. It seems to me that, if we’re going to be an Arctic nation, that Alaska ought to be one of the key launching points of that force projection and power projection and economic projection. I look forward to working with you to help make the case for the strategic nature of Alaska and the Port of Nome as it relates to the United States asserting itself as an Arctic nation.”
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In his questioning during the EPW hearing, Sen. Sullivan also highlighted President Donald Trump’s executive order, “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential,” which directs the Corps to “review, revise or rescind any agency action that may in any way hinder, slow, or otherwise delay any critical project in the State of Alaska.” Mr. Telle reiterated his understanding of and support for carrying out the President’s Alaska order in relation to critical projects, including the Port of Nome.
Below is a transcript of Sen. Sullivan’s exchange with Mr. Telle on the Port of Nome and the Alaska EO.
SEN. SULLIVAN: I appreciated our meetings, Mr. Telle and Mr. McMaster. It’s hard to build anything in Alaska. Right? You want to build a road, a sidewalk, you usually get 12 radical far-left environmental groups that sue to stop it. We have the King Cove Road. We’ve only been trying to get that done for 40 years. A nine-mile, single-lane gravel road that every Democrat in the country—including, God rest his soul, Jimmy Carter, writes op-eds [saying] you can’t build a road in Alaska. Then it went so bad, we had the Biden administration’s Last Frontier Lock Up. My great state suffered through 70 executive orders and executive actions from the Biden administration singularly focused on Alaska. I like ripping this up because that’s not the issue anymore. We now have President Trump who issued his day-one executive order called, “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential.” Mr. Telle, as you and I discussed, there’s a lot of great provisions in here. This is all about getting things done in Alaska, not crushing us as the radical left wants to do. There’s a really good provision about the Corps of Engineers. I’m going to read it to you: “The assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works”—that’s you—”shall immediately review, revise or rescind any agency action that may in any way hinder, slow, or otherwise delay any critical project in the state of Alaska.” That’s from the President. Will you commit to abide by that very expansive provision to get things done in my great state after four years of being crushed by the previous administration?
MR. TELLE: Senator Sullivan, absolutely. When I visited your office, I tattooed the executive order that the President issued on Alaska on my heart.
SULLIVAN: By the way, that’s a great answer.
TELLE: I will go ahead and read the second paragraph to you from memory, which essentially says that I shall, if confirmed, coordinate as closely with the Governor of Alaska as a human could possibly coordinate.
SULLIVAN: Good. And the Senator from Alaska.
TELLE: Of course.
…..
SULLIVAN: The Port of Nome has bipartisan support. We don’t have an Arctic port anywhere to push back on the Russian and Chinese aggression in my part of the [country]. That project, it’s really important. We’ve got to get it over the finish line. Can I get your commitment to work with me and the others in this committee on that project? That’s an interesting project. I mentioned, you had your SASC hearing yesterday. That’s EPW, and that’s very much DoD, to be able to have Navy ships, icebreakers, be able to pull up to the port of Nome. We don’t have a port in the Arctic right now that can handle Navy ships and icebreakers.
TELLE: Senator Sullivan, one of the most strategic issues that confronts the United States of America today is our status as an Arctic and Antarctic nation. This is an area of the world that the Chinese Communist Party is very interested in. The Russians are very active. Your state is front and center to the United States of America’s being an Arctic nation. We must be. It seems to me that, if we’re going to be an Arctic nation, that Alaska ought to be one of the key launching points of that force projection and power projection and economic projection. I look forward to working with you to help make the case for the strategic nature of Alaska and the Port of Nome as it relates to the United States asserting itself as an Arctic nation.
Below is a timeline on the Port of Nome expansion project:
Water resource projects developed by the Corps undergo a multi-stage process. Standard Corps project delivery consists of the Corps leading the study, design, and construction of authorized projects. However, each stage of that process must qualify for an existing authorization or receive a separate authorization from Congress, as well as receive congressional appropriation at each stage to proceed. Congress authorizes the Corps’ actions through periodic Water Resource Development Acts in the Senate EPW Committee and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
In 2012, the Corps launched the Alaska Deep Draft Arctic Port System Study to evaluate potential locations on the northern and western coasts of Alaska, and to determine the feasibility of constructing navigation improvements as part of a larger system of port facilities in the Arctic and sub-Arctic region. Following the selection of Nome as the location for an Arctic port, the Corps began a feasibility study, assessing the costs of the port versus the benefits. The Corps paused the feasibility study following the departure of Shell Oil Company from the Arctic, which significantly tipped the cost-benefit ratio against the port project.
In the 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, Sen. Sullivan and the late Representative Don Young (R-Alaska) included two provisions to justify a potential Arctic port based on its value to surrounding communities and its importance to national security.
In 2017, following enactment of the WIIN Act, senior Corps leaders committed to Sullivan and Young to utilize the new authority to restart the feasibility study for the port.
On February 2, 2018, the City of Nome and the Corps initiated a cost-sharing agreement.
On October 23, 2018, President Trump signed America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA), which included Sullivan-Young language to expedite completion of a Corps feasibility study for the Nome port.
On May 29, 2020, the Corps announced the completion of the chief’s report for the Port of Nome Modification Feasibility Study, making the project eligible for congressional authorization and funding.
In December 2020, President Trump signed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020, which included language, championed by Sullivan and Young, authorizing $379 million for the federal share of the Nome Deep Draft Port Project.
On November 15, 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was signed into law. The bill provided $250 million over five years for the construction of remote and subsistence harbor projects. These projects are in locations that are not connected to a road system, and for ports are vital to the long-term viability of the community.
On January 19, 2022, the Corps announced that the entire $250 million from the IIJA for remote and subsistence harbor projects will be directed to the Port of Nome.
On July 28, 2022, the Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022. The legislation included key victories for Alaska infrastructure, including increasing the federal cost-share for the Nome Deep Draft Port Project.
On December 15, 2022, the Senate passed WRDA 2022 as part of the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.
On October 31, 2023, Senators Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced an$11.2 million grant for the construction of water and wastewater, fuel, power, and communications infrastructure to expand and deepen the Port of Nome. The grant was made possible by the IIJA.
On January 25, 2024, the Corps announced a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) for the Port of Nome expansion project, which includes the construction of a new deep-water basin. The PPA, which legally binds the government and the State of Alaska to execute the project, was marked by a signing ceremony held in Nome.
On February 12, 2025, several Arctic policy experts testified at a Senate Commerce Science & Transportation Committee hearing in support of increasing infrastructure investments in Alaska, including the Port of Nome expansion.
Source: The White House
President Donald J. Trump’s first official trip was a huge success, locking in over $2 trillion in great deals—including a $600 billion investment commitment from Saudi Arabia, a $1.2 trillion economic exchange agreement with Qatar, $243.5 billion in U.S.-Qatar commercial and defense deals, and $200 billion in U.S.-United Arab Emirates commercial deals.
President Trump’s historic collaboration with these Middle Eastern nations not only strengthens America’s economy but also fosters greater safety and stability in the region, paving the way for a more prosperous and secure future.
The companies securing these landmark deals are grateful for the Trump Administration’s leadership and the economic climate President Trump has fostered to make these agreements possible:
U.S.-Saudi Arabia Deals
Alphabet and Google President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat: “We acknowledge and are grateful for the engagement and policies of the Trump Administration and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who are enabling strong execution to accelerate AI innovation in both countries. We are proud of the partnership with PIF for a global AI hub that will deliver innovation, economic growth and societal benefits not only to Saudi Arabia, but also to American and global companies doing business in the region. Together, we will create highly-skilled jobs and deliver AI training programs to open new, rewarding career pathways.”
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy: “We appreciate President Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman convening business leaders in Saudi Arabia to strengthen economic ties and drive innovation between our two countries. Amazon is excited to partner with HUMAIN, Saudi Arabia’s newly created AI innovation company, to collectively invest more than $5 billion to build a groundbreaking ‘AI Zone’ there, which will bring multiple innovative AWS AI capabilities to Saudi Arabia along with skills training for 100,000 citizens from the Kingdom.”
DataVolt CEO Rajit Nanda: “This partnership was made possible in large part due to the enabling technology and trade frameworks advanced during the Trump Administration—policies that championed high-tech exports, strengthened U.S.-Saudi strategic ties, which have empowered entrepreneurial collaboration in the digital era.”
Oracle CEO Safra Catz: “Thanks to the decisive actions and strong leadership of President Trump and his administration, Oracle is providing the world’s most advanced cloud and AI technology to Saudi Arabia. Our expanded partnership with the Kingdom will create new opportunities for its economy, deliver better health outcomes for its people, and fortify its alliance with the United States, which will create a ripple effect of peace and prosperity across the Middle East and around the world.”
GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik: “As the world’s energy equipment manufacturer, GE Vernova is proud to deploy world class technology to help deepen the longstanding relationship between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, advance energy security, and strengthen the economic prosperity and competitiveness of both nations. We are thankful for the leadership of both governments for putting energy manufacturing, innovation, and technology front and center, setting the strongest possible precedent for the role of equipment to unlock more solutions globally. We are committed to continuing our work to grow capacity and jobs in the U.S. and beyond to meet these critical needs.”
Shamekh IV Solutions, LLC Chairman and Founder Stephen Shaya, M.D.: “We extend our profound gratitude to President Trump, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the Administrations of the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and our future partner Alturki Holding for their unwavering support and shared vision in making this endeavor possible. The Trump Administration’s policies and engagements have shown leadership and laid the groundwork for international partnerships and investment opportunities. As we embark on this transformative journey, we are committed to generating employment, stimulating industrial growth, and contributing to the development of a robust pharmaceutical industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States. Together with our esteemed partners, we are fortifying global competitiveness and positioning ourselves as leaders in the healthcare sector. This venture represents a monumental leap forward in our mission to deliver innovative healthcare solutions. By leveraging advanced technologies and fostering international collaborations, we aim to set new standards in biopharmaceutical manufacturing and research, ultimately improving patient outcomes worldwide.”
Saudi Excellence Co. Chairman Sheikh Abdullah Zaid Al-Meleihi on the Energy Investment Fund: “This vehicle represents more than capital—it is a bridge of trust and ambition between two great nations. We are proud to recognize the legacy of President Trump, which positioned the United States as a magnet for innovation and opportunity and elevated the conditions necessary for meaningful bilateral engagement.”
New Era Fund and New Vista Capital General Partners Adam Kaplan and Kirsten Bartok Touw, along with Saudi Excellence Co. Chairman Sheikh Abdullah Zaid Al-Meleihi: “We extend our gratitude to President Donald J. Trump and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud for their exceptional leadership and support in making this initiative possible. The launch of the New Era Fund reflects a shared vision of investing in industrial capability and innovation to build a stronger and more resilient future together.”
Palantir Co-Founder and CEO Alex Karp: “This historic visit builds on decades of strategic cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Palantir is proud to play a role in forging the next generation of that alliance by enhancing U.S.-Saudi cooperation on AI and defense.”
Lockheed Martin Chairman, President, and CEO Jim Taiclet: “At Lockheed Martin, we build the world’s best air defense systems, powerful radars, and most lethal fighter aircraft and we thank President Trump for including us in this groundbreaking defense partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We look forward to working with his administration to support a pathway to fifth generation air dominance capabilities while further strengthening the Kingdom’s defenses against air and missile threats.”
L3Harris Chair and CEO Christopher E. Kubasik: “L3Harris was proud to enter a defense-focused joint venture with Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) in 2019 under the first Trump administration, and today’s agreement represents another significant step forward in our collaboration in the Kingdom. We look forward to expanding our partnership in communications; datalinks; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to protect the joint security interests of the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.”
Jacobs Chair and CEO Bob Pragada: “Jacobs is honored to have participated in the Saudi–U.S. Investment Forum, held this week, which reinforces the strength of the commercial partnership between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The signing of our Memorandum of Understanding with Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) reflects Jacobs’ continued commitment to delivering sustainable infrastructure that supports Vision 2030 and contributes to long term prosperity and job creation in the Kingdom.”
Bechtel Chairman and CEO Brendan Bechtel: “Bechtel’s announcement to deliver three new terminals at King Salman International Airport marks a significant new chapter in our more than 80-year partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This project reflects our shared commitment to advancing world-class infrastructure that fuels long-term economic growth and underscores the enduring strength of U.S.-Saudi economic and development ties. We appreciate the leadership of President Trump and the vision of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made together—including more than 300 projects across Saudi Arabia, such as the recently opened Riyadh Metro—and we’re energized by the opportunities ahead.”
Franklin Templeton CEO and President Jenny Johnson: “President Trump is visiting the Middle East to build on historic progress made in his first term to bring peace and stability to the region by brokering the Abraham accords. His focus on enhanced economic and military cooperation advances the interests of the US, our partners in the region, and all who rely on the benefits of a more stable region and safe passage of critical resources and services. The United States is home to the leading global asset managers. For over 75 years, Franklin Templeton has been one of the largest, most innovative, and truly global firms; having maintained a physical presence in the Gulf region more than 25 years, we are renowned for our pioneering approach to emerging market investments, as we were one of the first global asset managers to invest in the Saudi capital market and now we offer a suite of investment and research services from our Riyadh location, in addition to our leadership in global Sukuk and Sharia-compliant investing. Our USA-based teams manage many of our global portfolios in close collaboration with our local teams on the ground in Saudi Arabia and around the world. The Trump Administration’s policies, including those designed to open foreign markets to US-based global leaders like us – have already helped Franklin Templeton to export more of our world-class services. And the Administration’s bilateral approach to trade in both goods and services is a welcome, direct approach that allows for quick and meaningful successes like those we have announced this week with our Saudi partners.”
Edrevel Founder and CEO Anita Selwyn: “President Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia and the announcement of more than $600 billion in U.S.–Saudi investment agreements mark a major step forward in global economic partnership. Edrevel thanks the U.S. Department of Commerce for bringing together innovative startups and enterprises to power the dialogue at the forum, and set the stage for long term investments in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. The investments in both countries generate a surging demand for talent, requiring fast, scalable upskilling. AI-powered learning delivers speed, precision, and measurable ROI. Edrevel is proud to advance workforce development through strategic partnerships with the Saudi Entertainment Academy, Alfaisal Center for Research and Consultancy Studies, and Aosha Training and Consulting in Saudi Arabia. We look forward to expanding Edrevel’s role in building capacity, driving innovation, and unlocking opportunity across both nations.”
Mitchell Rubber Arabia Founder, Chairman, and CEO Stephen J. Lautenschlager: “President Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia represents a historic affirmation of the enduring strength and strategic importance of the U.S.–Saudi relationship. Mitchell Rubber exemplifies the kind of industrial collaboration that advances Vision 2030 while delivering real economic value back to the United States—through expanded trade, advanced technology integration, and the growth of U.S.-based engineering and services exports. This partnership is made possible by forward-looking policies from both governments and the coordinated support of the Ministry of Investment, the Royal Commission for Yanbu, the U.S. Embassy, and the U.S.–Saudi Business Council—all of whom have played a vital role in enabling this cross-border investment and industrial localization initiative.”
I Squared Capital Chairman and Managing Partner Sadek Wahba: “Today’s forum represents the best of U.S.-Saudi cooperation—built on a long-standing partnership and poised for future growth. The MoU I Squared Capital signed with the Public Investment Fund highlights the vital role of private capital, particularly in infrastructure, and reflects what’s possible when two nations share a commitment to innovation, investment, and economic progress. We are especially grateful to the U.S. and Saudi leadership for their vision and collaboration in setting the stage for high-impact partnerships like ours. As part of our commitment to the Kingdom, I Squared Capital hopes to invest roughly $1 billion in Saudi Arabia over the coming years, supporting the ambitions of Vision 2030 and contributing to a more connected, sustainable, and prosperous future.”
Armada CEO Dan Wright: “We’re grateful for President Trump’s focus on American leadership in enhancing global economic prosperity and look forward to continuing to strengthen key international partnerships through collaboration, technology, and innovation. This visit marks a significant moment in the historic partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Aligned with this milestone, we are proud to announce that Armada is partnering with Alturki Holding to bring real-world AI and edge infrastructure to the region and help advance Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. This $30 million investment will accelerate American and Saudi innovators, create highly-skilled jobs, and expand opportunities for collaboration between our nations.”
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon: “This marks a pivotal time for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as it makes significant strides in becoming a global hub for digital and AI innovation. As a long-standing American innovator and semiconductor company, we are proud to work with HUMAIN, Aramco and ALAT to deploy our leading technologies in 5G, AI and next generation edge and cloud computing. The Saudi-US Investment Forum showcased the importance of collaboration between leading enterprises of two great nations, and we applaud President Trump and Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman for their leadership.”
Doroni Aerospace CEO and Founder Doron Merdinger: “It was an honor to represent Doroni Aerospace at the U.S.–Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh — a historic moment where American innovation met global collaboration. This partnership, to develop and manufacture the H1-X, next generation personal eVTOL, will directly support U.S. job creation, help alleviate traffic through advanced personal air mobility, and unlock new economic opportunities by reimagining how we move. This milestone would not have been possible without President Trump’s leadership, fostering a business environment that welcomes international investment and accelerates next-generation technologies.”
Parsons Corporation Chair, President, and Chief Executive Officer Carey Smith: “Parsons is proud to be a part of President Trump’s initiatives to strengthen strategic relations in Saudi Arabia. As a global infrastructure leader with a presence in the Kingdom spanning more than six decades, Parsons has leveraged our global experience to build trusted partnerships and deliver critical infrastructure, supported by over 3,000 employees across the country with 50 active projects in the Kingdom, including mega and giga projects. We are working on some of the Kingdom’s premiere projects including the world’s largest urban park; King Salman Park, NEOM’s THE LINE and Oxagon projects, Soudah Peaks and Riyadh Metro, the largest driverless metro system in the world. Our unwavering focus on the country’s future is underlined by a combination of a dedicated team of experts and our understanding of the local environment and vision, reinforcing our commitment to building this nation and supporting its transformation.”
Hill International Global CEO Raouf Ghali: “We extend our profound gratitude to President Trump, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the Administrations of the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and our future partner National Water Company and Lucid Motor for their unwavering support and shared vision in making this endeavor possible. The Trump Administration’s policies and engagements have shown leadership and laid the groundwork for international partnerships and investment opportunities. As we embark on this transformative journey, we are committed to generating employment, stimulating industrial growth, and contributing to the development of a robust infrastructure industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States. Together with our esteemed partners, we are fortifying global competitiveness and positioning ourselves as leaders in the infrastructure sector. This represents a monumental leap forward in our mission to deliver infrastructure top notch services.”
Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill: “Woodside was pleased to sign a collaboration agreement with Aramco today as part of the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, which is focused on building economic ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia as part of the President’s goal to build a long-term economic partnership between the two countries. Under the collaboration agreement, Woodside and Aramco will explore global opportunities, including Aramco’s potential acquisition of an equity interest in and LNG offtake from the Louisiana LNG project as well as exploring opportunities for a potential collaboration in lower-carbon ammonia.”
Global AI Director and CEO Sami Issa: “The Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum has exceeded our expectations. We are deeply grateful to President Trump for his remarkable efforts to strengthen cooperation with our close ally, Saudi Arabia, and to promote mutual investment in AI between our two nations. We would be honored to invite President Trump and Secretary Lutnick to tour our state-of-the-art, water-cooled data center located in his home state of New York.”
Intelligent Security Systems Chairman Richard Burns: “We were delighted to close our deal at the Summit. No question at all that President Trump’s visit was the major accelerant. Our deal is proof that you don’t need to be Fortune 500 to do well in Saudi if you have the right products and services.”
Phosphorus Cybersecurity CEO and Founder Chris Rouland: “President Trump’s historic visit to Saudi Arabia marks a significant milestone in the enduring partnership between our countries. We are proud to support this shared commitment to economic growth and innovation by providing advanced cybersecurity technologies that empower the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 while also driving technological leadership here in the United States. We thank the Trump administration for its policies that promote global collaboration and open new opportunities for American technology companies to contribute to critical digital infrastructure projects around the world.”
Hydrotech CEO Tarek Khouri: “President Donald Trump’s historic visit to Saudi Arabia marks a significant milestone in the enduring partnership between the United States and the Kingdom. At HydroTech Environmental Engineering and Geology DPC, we take immense pride in contributing to this collaboration by delivering innovative environmental and infrastructure solutions that drive economic growth and sustainability. We sincerely appreciate President Trump’s leadership and his administration’s commitment to fostering international cooperation, foreign investment, and technological advancement. These policies have paved the way for strengthened economic ties and new opportunities that benefit industries across both nations. We remain dedicated to leveraging our US and international expertise to support this evolving partnership and to create lasting positive impacts for a sustainable future. Thank you, President Trump, for upholding your commitment to Make America Great Again and for implementing policies that have reinforced America’s global leadership toward a new golden age.”
Science Technology Co CEO Eng. Idris Al-Zakari: “The unprecedented opportunity provided by President Trump’s historic visit to the Kingdom underscores and surpasses the evolutionary relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States of America. The spectacular investment package negotiated between the two allies is the most significant step forward for the two nations since the meeting between Franklin Roosevelt and King Abdualaziz aboard the USS Quincy during WW-II.”
Cimcor, Inc. President and CEO Robert E. Johnson, III: “This moment marks more than a business milestone—it’s a symbol of what’s possible when American innovation aligns with visionary leadership in the Gulf. Through this partnership, we are helping to build a digital future that’s more secure, more resilient, and deeply connected across borders. We’re proud to contribute to Vision 2030 and thank the Administration for fostering global cooperation that drives real progress.”
Enfield Investment Partners Chairman and Co-Founder Jake Silverstein: “It is an extraordinary honor to be part of President Trump’s historic visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and to witness the collaboration between President Trump and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Enfield Investment Partners is built on the belief that sports is a universal language. Enfield invests in sports teams, leagues, and sports-focused real estate that drive economic value, uplift communities, and bring people together around the shared experience of sports. The sports ecosystem in the United States is the strongest and best in the world because core to our national identity are the traits that make sports so compelling: competition, meritocracy, and constantly seeking the leading edge of excellence. A portion of our Fund is directed to developing the Saudi Arabian sports ecosystem. I would like to thank President Trump for leading a transformation and ushering in a new Golden Age and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a once-in-history visionary leader whose bravery and determination has rapidly propelled the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our two countries have been friends for eighty years, but this visit marks the start of a new chapter, built on mutual trust, shared vision, and an exciting new path.”
Tricion Defense Group President and CEO Eng. Nasr al-Ghrairi: “We extend our sincere congratulations to President Trump on his historic visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a moment that marks a renewed and elevated chapter in U.S.–Saudi relations. We deeply appreciate the Administration’s vision and policies that continue to foster bilateral engagement, unlock economic opportunity, and reinforce America’s global industrial leadership. Tricion Defense Group is proud to stand at the forefront of this strategic transformation. As one of the largest private U.S. direct investment in Saudi Arabia’s defense sector, we are not only enabling the Kingdom to localize critical capabilities in electronic warfare, air defense, and C4I—but we are also contributing to U.S. economic growth by injecting capital into innovation, technology development, and advanced manufacturing across both nations. This SR4 billion ($1.06 billion) commitment—announced in partnership with NESMA Information and Technologies (NIT)—represents more than an MOU; it is a declaration of our belief that Saudi Arabia must lead from the front—not follow. It is also a bold affirmation of our support for the American innovation engine, which remains the most valuable strategic asset of the United States. President Trump’s visit has reignited a new era of industrial alignment between our two nations. Through this investment, we are laying the foundation for a next-generation model of defense collaboration: faster, bolder, and unapologetically strategic. We thank the leadership of both nations, especially Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, for enabling a partnership of this scale and consequence.”
U.S.-Qatar Deals
Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg: “We are grateful for the trust Qatar Airways has placed in us with this historic order, the largest-ever for Boeing’s widebody planes, including the largest-ever purchase of 787 Dreamliners and more 777X jets. Thank you to President Trump for supporting the agreement, which grows our longstanding partnership with the airline. As one of America’s top exporters, Boeing is proud that our aircraft sales to global customers strengthen U.S. manufacturing and sustain jobs in our factories and at suppliers across the United States.”
GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO H. Lawrence Culp, Jr.: “We are extremely honored to deepen our relationship with Qatar Airways and grateful to them for placing their trust in us with our largest ever widebody engine deal. Our widebody engines – the GE9X and GEnx – are marvels of modern engineering, with the durability and reliability to power flight across the longest distances. We appreciate President Trump’s support for this historic agreement.”
Northrop Grumman Spokesperson: “Northrop Grumman has a long history of delivering advanced defense technologies to Qatar. Thanks to the President’s leadership, we have a historic opportunity to accelerate security cooperation and defense technology sales that will greatly expand U.S. jobs and economic strength.”
Quantinuum President and CEO Dr. Rajeeb Hazra: “Quantinuum is deeply committed to advancing quantum capabilities with partners like Qatar to further solidify U.S. innovation and global leadership in a technology critical to our collective future. We are honored to be highlighted as part of this historic visit by the President of the United States to Qatar and look forward to helping create the future of our industry.”
Lockheed Martin Chairman, President and CEO Jim Taiclet: “At Lockheed Martin, supporting American armed forces and our international defense partners drives everything we do. We build the most advanced integrated air and missile defense systems with cutting-edge radars. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we will help accelerate Qatar’s next-generation air and missile defense capabilities, enabling a more secure and stable region, sustaining American manufacturing jobs, and reinforcing our defense industrial base.”
Parsons Corporation Chair, President, and CEO Carey Smith: “I’m proud to be here on behalf of Parsons, and to be a part of President Trump’s initiatives to strengthen strategic relations in Qatar. As a global infrastructure leader with over six decades of experience in the region, including two-plus decades in Qatar, Parsons has partnered with organizations across the country to deliver on many of its premier infrastructure projects in Doha, Lusail, and beyond.”
McDermott International President and CEO Michael McKelvy: “The partnership between McDermott, Qatar Energy and The State of Qatar has been developed over decades. We remain committed to bringing McDermott’s +100 years of experience to support Qatar’s energy development plans for decades to come and were honored to be part of this historic visit by the President.”
U.S.-United Arab Emirates Deals
Saildrone CEO Richard Jenkins: “This groundbreaking deal unites the best of American innovation with a partner committed to regional security and stability. We are proud to play our part in President Trump’s vision, for regional maritime superiority, to enable the safe passage of trade and the interception of illegal or destabilizing activity, throughout the Middle East region.”
Occidental President and CEO Vicki Hollub: “We are proud to participate in President Trump’s visit to the UAE, where we signed a strategic energy enhancing agreement with our longstanding partner ADNOC, whose investment company XRG will consider making a $500 million investment in the United States, alongside a grant award from the U.S. DOE, to advance Occidental’s South Texas Direct Air Capture Hub, Development of DAC is essential for ensuring our country’s long-term energy security. We also signed an agreement with ADNOC to examine the expansion of production at our successful joint venture energy development project in the UAE’s Shah Gas field, using U.S. technologies.”
Oracle CEO Safra Catz: “In support of President Trump’s vision and commitment to peace through prosperity and the Abraham Accords, the greatest diplomatic accomplishment in modern history, we are pleased to continue to invest in and deliver cloud and AI technology to power the UAE’s most important systems. Our Oracle Cloud Infrastructure footprint, Oracle Alloy sovereign cloud partnerships, and groundbreaking work in healthcare will help accelerate the UAE’s technology modernization efforts and advance patient health outcomes. Together, the UAE and U.S. will redefine what is possible in technology, business, and healthcare.”
Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg: “As one of the launch customers for the 777X, Etihad is a valued customer, and we are grateful for the airline’s continued confidence in Boeing. We appreciate the support of the President and his administration as we partner with Etihad to enable their growth while sustaining highly skilled U.S. manufacturing jobs.”
Northrop Grumman Spokesperson: “Just as we have invested in the UAE, such as Northrop Grumman’s grant to the American Community School in Abu Dhabi, we welcome increased partnership and investment by the UAE in our world-class defense sector. This historic trip will increase U.S. jobs and economic strength.”
Lockheed Martin Chairman, President, and CEO Jim Taiclet: “Through President Trump’s leadership, Lockheed Martin and the United Arab Emirates are building on 50 years of partnership to strengthen regional defense with advanced airpower, integrated air and missile defense, precision radars, and next-generation command and control. Our high-tech innovation benefits both nations by sustaining American manufacturing jobs and driving industrial growth.”
Parsons Chair, President, and CEO Carey Smith: “Parsons is proud to be a part of President Trump’s initiatives to strengthen strategic relations in the UAE. As a global infrastructure leader with a presence in the Emirates spanning nearly five decades, Parsons has leveraged our global experience to build trusted partnerships and deliver critical infrastructure, supported by 2,700 employees across the country and have successfully completed more than 3,000 projects. We have worked on some of the UAE’s premiere projects including the region’s first metro line in Dubai, the iconic Infinity Bridge, Dubai Municipality’s Strategic Sewerage Tunnel project, the Sharjah and Abu Dhabi International Airports and Etihad Rail, the region’s first high speed rail network. Our unwavering focus on the country’s future is underlined by a combination of a dedicated team of experts and our understanding of the local environment and vision, reinforcing our commitment to building this nation and supporting its transformation.”
Baker Hughes CEO Lorenzo Simonelli: “We congratulate President Trump on his historic visit to the United Arab Emirates — A key moment that underscores the enduring partnership between two nations committed to innovation, progress, and shared prosperity. As we look to the future, energy will remain central to economic growth and broader cooperation that supports stability and opportunity for both countries, and Baker Hughes remains steadfast in our dedication to help both nations meet their goals.”
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
SANAA/JERUSALEM, May 16 (Xinhua) — The Israeli military launched retaliatory air strikes on Yemen’s Red Sea ports of Hodeida and As-Salif on Friday, the Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV channel reported.
There are no reports of casualties yet.
The Xinhua source said the new strikes came as the Houthis were preparing ports to receive fuel shipments. Houthi-controlled areas, including the capital Sanaa, have been suffering from fuel shortages since a previous round of Israeli airstrikes on May 6. The shortage has worsened since then.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed in a joint statement that the Israeli Air Force attacked and “severely damaged” the Red Sea ports of Hodeida and Salif in an effort to disrupt Houthi operations in those harbors.
The current Israeli airstrikes on Houthi targets in northern Yemen are the eighth since the rebel movement began firing drones and rockets into Israel in November 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The Houthis also regularly target Israeli-linked commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
On May 6, the Jewish state shelled Sana’a International Airport, causing significant damage: the runway, a passenger plane, and critical infrastructure were destroyed, rendering the airport inoperable. According to Houthi-controlled health authorities, three people were killed and at least 39 were injured in the strikes on the Yemeni capital and the nearby province of Amran.
Today’s airstrikes came after the Houthis reached a ceasefire with the United States, brokered by Oman. Under the agreement, the Houthis agreed to suspend attacks on American shipping in the Red Sea in exchange for an end to U.S. airstrikes against their positions. –0–
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)
Newly Released Army Corps Work Plans Show Trump Abandoning Blue State Infrastructure Projects
Washington, DC — This week, the Trump Administration released its Army Corpswork plans that show President Trump is politicizing critical infrastructure investments.
House Appropriations Committee analysis shows that the Trump administration shifted more than $250 Million away from critical infrastructure construction projects in Democratic-led states, particularly Washington and California, to Republican-led states. This includes the complete elimination of Army Corps construction funding for states like California. This move risks delaying critical safety projects across the country.
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), and House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) condemned this corrupt move.
“President Trump is blatantly playing politics with critical Army Corps construction investments and punishing the American people for the way their states have voted,” said Representatives Kaptur and DeLauro. “Rushing water from collapsed dams and floods caused by failed infrastructure do not know state borders, nor do they have political leanings. The damage, lives lost, and economic outcomes impact all Americans, which is why the federal government makes these investments in the first place. The Trump administration should follow Congress’s intent to guide its investments. Instead, President Trump has unilaterally chosen to punish the people living in certain states — a historic and clear abuse of taxpayer dollars. This is the exact scenario we feared when House Republicans introduced their slush fund 2025 funding bill, which failed to reflect both Republican and Democratic priorities. It does not matter who is in the White House, people across the country are harmed when all the power Congress holds to represent the people in their states and districts is handed to the President.”
TheRepublican fiscal year 2025 full-year continuing resolution cut Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works Construction by $1.4 Billion or 44 percent, and it also gave all discretion to the Trump administration to prioritize projects among over 1,000 throughout the country that should be directed by Congress. Army Corps of Engineers projects keep commerce safely flowing on our waterways, manage flood risk, and restore ecosystems. The Army Corps’ work plan can be foundhere.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
MINSK, May 16 (Xinhua) — Russia and Belarus are obliged to strengthen their common defense space as quickly as possible in the current very difficult international situation, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said at a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on Friday. The corresponding information was published by the press service of the Belarusian head of state on the same day.
“I would like to note that Russia and Belarus are not just allies. We have a common defense space, which we are strengthening due to the very difficult international situation. We are obliged to strengthen it as quickly as possible,” A. Belousov emphasized.
He also noted that the two countries are working together in a number of key areas to strengthen the defense space. Among them are improving the coordination of troops and the work of headquarters. The key event in this area of cooperation is the joint exercise “Zapad-2025”. It is scheduled for early autumn this year and will be held simultaneously at training grounds in Russia and Belarus. Belarusian military personnel are also being trained in higher educational institutions in Russia. Currently, more than 300 people from Belarus are studying in specialized Russian universities, A. Belousov said.
Another area includes military-technical cooperation between the two countries. The military departments of Belarus and Russia intend to hold talks on this topic during the current working visit of the Russian Defense Minister to Minsk. –0–
Türkiye is a candidate country and a longstanding partner in the Common Security and Defence Policy . Respect of rule of law and progressive alignment with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy are integral parts of the EU-Türkiye relationship.
The EU recognises the contribution of all non-EU allies, including Türkiye, to the European and Transatlantic security. The EU is engaging with Türkiye on a phased, proportionate and reversible manner in line with the November 2023 recommendations of the ‘Joint Communication on the state of play of the EU-Türkiye political, economic and trade relations’[1] and the Conclusions of the European Council of April 2024[2].
The Council has reiterated the EU’s full commitment to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, within the United Nations agreed framework, in accordance with all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. It remains crucial that Türkiye commits and actively contributes to such a peaceful settlement[3].
The existing European defence initiatives, such as the European Defence Fund[4] or Act in Support of Ammunition Production[5] specify that eligible entities should be established and have their executive management structures in the EU or in an associated country. In case such entity is controlled by a non-associated third country or a non-associated third-country entity, additional guarantees need to be made available to the Commission. These guarantees should provide assurance that the involvement of such entity does not contravene the security interests of the EU and its Member States.
The proposed Regulation on Security Action for Europe[6] is under discussion in the Council and the conditions for cooperation with partners will be settled in this regulation, once adopted.
A surgical unit at Pavlusenko Hospital in Zhytomyr has been rebuilt to serve nearly two million residents in the oblast.
It is now equipped with modern medical systems and upgraded infrastructure, doubling the hospital’s capacity to treat patients.
The project to rebuild the surgical unit was implemented under the EIB’s Ukraine Recovery Programme, which supports local communities across the country by helping to restore essential social infrastructure.
A surgical unit at V.P. Pavlusenko Hospital No.2 in Zhytomyr opened today following a comprehensive reconstruction project supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB). As an important healthcare provider in the region, the hospital plays a vital role in delivering specialised surgical care to residents of Zhytomyr and to internally displaced people now living in the oblast. Thanks to EU support, over 6 000 patients will now benefit from timely, high-quality treatment every year in an improved and more efficient setting.
The reconstruction project involved upgrading the surgical unit’s internal infrastructure, creating a safer and more functional space for surgical care. The work covered essential systems, such as heating, ventilation and cooling systems, internal water supply and wastewater systems, electrical equipment and lighting, medical gas supply, the fire alarm and wired internet network – all critical for the smooth operation of a medical facility. The surgical unit also received essential medical support systems, including a vacuum station, a compressor unit and a modular chiller, along with new hospital furniture to equip the facility for daily use.
The total investment of €511 000 was provided under the Ukraine Recovery Programme – a joint initiative of the European Union and its bank, the EIB, implemented in partnership with Ukraine’s Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories, the Ministry of Finance and the local authorities of Zhytomyr Oblast and the city of Zhytomyr. Technical assistance for the programme was provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine.
In total, 13 projects under EIB-financed recovery programmes – with a total value of nearly €20 million – have either been completed or are in progress in Zhytomyr Oblast. These include projects to rehabilitate healthcare and education facilities and an administrative building, as well as key water and sanitation infrastructure – all essential to maintain public services and improve living conditions amid the ongoing war.
EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska, who is responsible for the Bank’s operations in Ukraine, said: “I am pleased to see another reconstructed facility delivered quickly and according to the highest standards – this time, the surgical unit at Zhytomyr Hospital. Through our recovery programmes, the EIB is helping to rebuild vital social infrastructure across Ukraine – hospitals, schools, kindergartens, social housing and water facilities – ensuring that all communities have access to quality services and dignified living conditions.”
Rémi Duflot, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, said: “In the face of ongoing destruction and daily attacks by Russia, the European Union stands steadfast in its commitment to help Ukraine rebuild itself. Each completed project – such as this surgical unit at Zhytomyr Hospital No. 2 – is a powerful symbol of solidarity and cooperation. These efforts are not only about restoring what has been lost, but also about rebuilding a stronger, better future for Ukraine. We are proud to be working alongside the European Investment Bank, the local community, and UNDP to help enhance healthcare services for all.
Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine – Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine Oleksii Kuleba said: “The restoration of access to social and healthcare services remains a strategic priority for the Ministry. These efforts are fundamental to the sustainable recovery of communities and to the support of internally displaced persons. We deeply thank the European Union and the European Investment Bank for their continued support in restoring critical social infrastructure, particularly in the healthcare sector. Your contribution plays an essential role in enhancing Ukraine’s resilience in the face of ongoing challenges.”
Minister of Finance of Ukraine Sergii Marchenko said: “The EU’s support for Ukraine is not only about emergency aid, it’s about investing in the infrastructure that keeps society functioning and enables economic recovery. Rebuilding facilities like this surgical unit in Zhytomyr helps restore essential services, strengthen resilience, and lay the groundwork for sustainable growth.”
Head of the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration Vitalii Bunechko said: “The upgraded surgical unit strengthens our region’s healthcare system, bringing modern, high-quality care closer to thousands of residents. Despite the war, the hospital team and local contractors worked tirelessly to finish the project on time. Their dedication shows how committed Ukrainians are to moving forward, even under fire. It’s one of 13 projects supported by the EIB in Zhytomyr Oblast, and we are sincerely grateful to the European Union for its support.”
First Deputy Mayor of Zhytomyr Svitlana Olshanska said: “The major reconstruction of the surgical unit at V.P. Pavlusenko Hospital No.2 was urgently needed, it has turned it into a modern, fully equipped space where patients can receive high-quality care in safe and comfortable conditions. This is a vital improvement for our city, and we are continuing this progress with the ongoing capital repairs of the hospital’s emergency department, also supported by the EIB.”
UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine Jaco Cilliers said: “UNDP is proud to support Ukrainian communities on the ground by helping turn recovery plans into reality. Thanks to EIB financing and national leadership, we are ensuring that EU-backed projects like this surgical unit in Zhytomyr deliver real impact where it’s needed most.”
Background information
The EIB in Ukraine
The EIB Group has supported Ukraine’s resilience, economy and recovery efforts since the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, with €2.2 billion already disbursed since 2022. The EIB continues to focus on securing Ukraine’s energy supply, restoring damaged infrastructure and maintaining essential public services across the country. Under a guarantee agreement signed with the European Commission, the EIB is set to invest at least €2 billion more in urgent recovery and reconstruction. This funding is part of the European Union’s €50 billion Ukraine Facility for 2024-2027 and is fully aligned with the priorities of the Ukrainian government.
EIB recovery programmes in Ukraine
The war has inflicted severe damage on Ukraine’s healthcare system. According to the Fourth Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA4), the health sector has suffered substantial losses since February 2022. Direct damage to healthcare facilities is a major concern, with RDNA4 finding that 1 603 facilities (16.2%) have been destroyed or damaged. The war has also disrupted access to care and strained resources, putting immense pressure on medical personnel. The reconstruction of the surgical unit in Zhytomyr is a critical part of the effort to rebuild and strengthen healthcare infrastructure, ensuring that residents can receive necessary medical care amidst these challenges.
The reconstruction of the surgical unit at V.P. Pavlusenko Hospital No. 2 in Zhytomyr was carried out under the Ukraine Recovery Programme, one of three recovery programmes supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB). As of May 2025, the EIB has provided €740 million across these programmes to support Ukraine’s recovery. The funding helps the government to restore essential services in communities across the country – including schools, kindergartens, hospitals, housing, heating and water systems. These EIB-backed programmes are further supported by €15 million in EU grants to facilitate implementation. The Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, coordinates and oversees programme implementation, while local authorities and self-governments are responsible for managing recovery sub-projects. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine provides technical assistance to local communities, supporting project implementation and ensuring independent monitoring for transparency and accountability. More information about the programmes is available here.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Congressmembers Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), Blake Moore (R-UT-01), and Michael Cloud (R-TX-27) introduced theDepot Investment Reform Act to help military depots across the United States respond to rapidly changing national security needs around the world by making federal investments more responsive.
“America’s military needs to be ready and prepared for whatever comes our way,” said Congressman Chris Deluzio. “This is a top priority in my work on the House Armed Services Committee, and I am proud to join my House colleagues and Senators to help improve our military depots and boost our military readiness.”
“I am immensely proud to represent the hardworking civilian engineers and technicians of the Ogden Air Logistics Complex at Hill Air Force Base in Congress. Known as the nation’s fighter depot center of excellence, the outstanding work happening at HAFB to maintain fourth and fifth generation air power generates deterrence against U.S. adversaries, such as China and Russia. I led this bill with Congressman Deluzio, Congressman Cloud, Senator Fetterman, and Senator Cotton to address longstanding investment shortfalls in our nation’s depots, which are required to operate during times when it is not profitable for private industry to do so. This bill ensures that annual DoD investments into our depots are more closely tied to future workload and readiness needs and will help our depots better plan, staff, and manage during emergency situations.” – Congressman Blake Moore.
“TheDepot Investment Reform Actis a key step toward advancing America’s military readiness—not just here at home, but around the world. Reforming the investment formula ensures timely support for the men and women who keep our forces sharp, ready, and dominant on the world stage.” – Congressman Michael Cloud.
TheDepot Investment Reform Act would improve military depot responsiveness by updating the formula used to determine federal investments in these depots. Currently, funding levels are determined based on the average workload of the previous three fiscal years. The Depot Investment Reform Act would change this formula to consider the workload average of the previous fiscal year, current fiscal year, and estimate for the next fiscal year to determine investments. By allowing future estimates to be included in investment calculations, this change would help military depots respond to rapidly changing needs. During periods of increased revenue, the investment formula set by the Depot Investment Reform Act would likely generate a higher minimum investment than the current formula, allowing the depots to receive adequate funding to meet demand. By considering both past and future workloads, this method may create a more stable investment amount in both times of increasing and decreasing revenue, allowing depots across the nation to plan for the future with confidence.
Military depots are essential to maintaining military readiness by ensuring critical weapons systems are being repaired and returned for use in training and operations. Tobyhanna Army Depot and Letterkenny Army Depot, both located in Pennsylvania, have played essential roles in arming U.S. servicemembers with reliable weapons, technology, and platforms throughout U.S. military history.
Last week, Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced a companion bill in theSenate.
The full bill text of the House version isavailable here.
Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced 39 appointments and reappointments to various state boards, authorities and commissions.
Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
Donald Dowless currently serves as President of Shorter University in Rome, Georgia, a role he has held for over a decade. He holds a Ph.D. in religion from Baylor University, a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition to his presidency, Dowless teaches Christian studies and has instructed more than 10 different courses. His academic experience includes teaching at North Carolina State University, Campbell University, Southeastern Seminary, and Emmanuel University of Oradea. He has also completed missionary work in Romania and West Virginia. Dowless and his wife are active members of Pleasant Valley South Baptist Church in Silver Creek, Georgia.
Georgia Board of Athletic Trainers
Yusuf Jamal Ali was reappointed.
Jeffrey Hopp serves as Director of Sports Medicine at Marietta City Schools and has led the Blue Devils’ athletic training program for over 20 years. He oversees student athletic trainers and has organized international trips for them to countries including Costa Rica, Ireland, and France. Prior to this, Hopp provided athletic training to Cobb and Cherokee County schools through Resurgens Orthopedics and was head athletic trainer for the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe. He has worked with the Minnesota Vikings, the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, and the 2007 U.S. National Paralympic Track and Field Championships. He was a founding member and chairman of the Georgia Concussion Coalition, contributing to the passage of the GA Return to Play Act. Hopp holds a B.S. in athletic training from Minnesota State University and resides in Dallas, Georgia, with his wife, Julie.
Georgia Board of Landscape Architects
Chad Baker, Jon Calabria, and Rebecca Kirk were reappointed.
Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council
Stan Stalnaker is a member of the Tift County Board of Commissioners, currently serving his third term. He is a certified county commissioner through the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government and holds a specialty track certification in public safety. Stalnaker is a 29-year veteran of the Georgia State Patrol, holds the rank of Captain, and currently serves as the Director of GSP’s Aviation Division. He holds a master’s in public administration from Columbus State University, is a graduate of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College, and a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session #261, in Quantico, Virginia. Stalnaker and his wife Keisha reside in Tifton, where they attend Liberty Baptist Church. They have one son who attends Georgia Southern University.
Georgia State Board of Architects and Interior Designers
Melissa Cantrell and Anne K. Smith were reappointed.
Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council
Mary McCartin Wearn is the President of Georgia Humanities. She formerly served as founding dean of the School of Arts and Letters at Middle Georgia State University, where she led regional partnerships and public-facing arts and culture programs. She holds a Ph.D. in english from UGA, a B.A. in english from the University of Maryland Global Campus, and a B.S. in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University.
Georgia Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Ibrahim Dabo, Paula Harmon, Anne McQuade, and Allison Morrison were reappointed.
State Board of Workers Compensation
Benjamin Vinson was reappointed as Chairman.
Frank McKay was reappointed.
State Charter School Commission
Scott Sweeney is a Senior Business Advisor at InPrime Legal, a business law firm recognized as a 2019 Small Business ROCK STAR by the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Economic Developers Association. He has served on numerous national, state, and local boards, including as past president of the Georgia Education Committee, a legislative affairs committee member for the Georgia School Boards Association, and a member of both the CTAE Business & Advisory Committee and the Cobb Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee. Sweeney spent eight years on the Cobb County Board of Education, holding leadership roles including chair, vice-chair, budget liaison, and Facilities and Technology Committee liaison. He later served on the Georgia State Board of Education from 2019 to 2025, representing the 6th and later the 11th Congressional Districts. During his tenure, he served as chairman and chaired the District Flexibility and Charter Schools Committee. Sweeney holds a B.A. in economics from UCLA and resides in East Cobb with his wife, Sandy, and their two sons.
State Board of Certification of Librarians
Kathryn R. Epps was reappointed.
Catherine M. Lewis serves as Associate Vice Provost of Museums, Archives, and Rare Books at the University Libraries and as Professor of History at Kennesaw State University. She manages a multimillion-dollar budget and leads a staff of nearly 100 professionals. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Arts in english and history from Emory University, as well as a Master of Arts and Ph.D. in american studies from the University of Iowa. She has curated more than 40 exhibits for institutions across the country, including the Atlanta History Center, the Brennan Museum, Delta Airlines, Augusta National Golf Club, and United Way. She has co-authored and co-edited over 15 books, regularly presents at national and international conferences, and has helped secure major grants for Kennesaw State from organizations such as the U.S. State Department, the American Association of Museums, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Bona Fide Coin Operated Amusement Machine Operator Advisory Board
Shawn Fellows, Mills Flemming, Natalie Jones and Chandra B. Yadav were reappointed.
Georgia Child Support Commission
Chuck Efstration, Houston Gaines, Emanuel Jones and Brian Strickland were reappointed.
Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board
Marlon L. Day is a Senior Director at Quest Valuation & Advisors, where he performs appraisals across a wide range of property types and markets. He is an accomplished research and financial analyst and a certified general appraiser with more than 22 years of experience in preparing and presenting valuation analyses. His project experience includes multi-family residential, office, retail, warehouse, industrial, mixed-use, infrastructure, special-use properties, expert witness testimony, and diminution in value. His practical business expertise is supported by a Master of Business Administration in finance. Day and his wife have three children.
Board of Natural Resources
Steven Hufstetler and Brent Layton were reappointed.
State Board of Registration for Foresters
James Harley Langdale was reappointed.
Georgia Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Advisory Board
Robert Balkcom serves as the South Adjutant of the Georgia State Patrol, overseeing the operations of Troops F, G, H, I, J, and K, as well as the South Nighthawks DUI Task Force, the Recruiting Unit, the Implied Consent Unit (ICU), the Criminal Interdiction Unit (CIU), the Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT), the State of Georgia SWAT Team, and four Communication Centers. Prior to assuming this role in 2020, Balkcom served as Troop F Commander. He began his law enforcement career as a police officer with the Savannah Police Department in 1992 and joined the Georgia State Patrol as a Trooper Cadet at Post 42 – Savannah in 1994. After graduating from the 71st Georgia State Patrol Trooper School in 1995, he was assigned to Post 42 – Savannah. Balkcom was promoted to Corporal at Post 45 – Statesboro in 2006. In 2009, he was selected as Commander of the newly formed Nighthawks South DUI Task Force and promoted to Sergeant in 2011. He advanced to Sergeant First Class at Post 11 – Hinesville in 2013, Lieutenant in Troop I in 2018, and Captain in Troop F in March 2020. Balkcom graduated from Reidsville High School in 1987 and earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Georgia Southern University in 1991. He is also a graduate of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College and holds a master’s degree in public safety administration from Columbus State University. He and his wife, Nicole, have lived in Reidsville for the past 40 years.
North Georgia Mountains Authority
Jeff Andrews currently serves as the Fourth Congressional District Representative on the Board of Natural Resources. He began his career in the long-term care industry in 1981 as marketing director for a continuing care retirement community in Birmingham, Alabama. He was later promoted to executive director and then southeast regional vice president. In 1988, Andrews became senior vice president of corporate development, where he led the addition of 17 properties to the management portfolio, helping establish the company as the largest for-profit, third-party manager of retirement housing in the United States. By 1990, Andrews co-founded Retirement Management Corporation and served as its president until its acquisition by Sun Healthcare in 1998. In 1999, he founded Wellington HealthCare Services, LLC, which grew to 11 owned facilities before being sold in 2007. He retained a significant ownership stake and helped the company meet key operational goals. He continues to lead Wellington, which currently manages 17 facilities.
North Georgia Mountains Authority- Chair
Patrick Denney is a graduate of West Georgia College with a BBA in marketing and a lifelong resident of Carroll County. He owns and operates SLM Recycling, SLM Steel and Fabrication, and Heavy Equipment Repair. An avid outdoorsman, Denney manages farm, timber, and hunting land in both Carroll and Heard Counties. He was appointed to the Board of Natural Resources in 2020 and has served on the North Georgia Mountains Authority since 2021. He and his wife, Lynne, have four children and reside in Bowdon.
State Properties Commission
Yi Jeng “Jay” Lin was reappointed.
Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists
Gregory Keith Moffatt was reappointed.
State Board of Registration for Professional Geologists
Jack L. Kittle, Jr. is a retired water and environmental resource manager with Aqua Terra Consultants. With over 40 years of experience, Kittle worked with major clients such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Geological Survey. He earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1975. An active member of the Decatur community, Kittle helped charter and establish the Decatur Parks and Recreation Pedestrian Committee in 2013 and served on the committee for over 10 years.
Veterans Service Board
Darius “Pete” Peterson was reappointed.
Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies
Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, joined U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) in introducing the bipartisan Combating PRC Overseas and Unlawful Networked Threats through Enhanced Resilience (COUNTER) Act to combat the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) attempts to strengthen its global reach by expanding its overseas basing efforts.
“China is rapidly expanding its global footprint, and we need to do more to address the threat this poses to our national security and the security of our allies,” said Senator Kaine. “This bipartisan legislation would help ensure that the U.S. government has a comprehensive strategy to counter China’s establishment of new military bases around the world.”
In recent years, the PRC has significantly increased its efforts to establish an overseas network of military and transportation bases, which would allow the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to project and expand its military power. The COUNTER Act would help to mitigate the threat this poses to the United States and our allies by requiring a comprehensive intelligence assessment of the PRC’s global basing activities, as well as a strategy from the State Department and the Department of Defense to address them. The legislation would also create an interagency task force to implement the strategy and identify proactive measures to counteract both current and future Chinese attempts to add military bases in strategic countries.
Specifically, the COUNTER Act would:
Require an assessment from the Director of National Intelligence analyzing the risk of PRC global basing to U.S and allied power projection and freedom of movement.
Require a strategy from the State Department and the Department of Defense identifying current or future PRC basing locations, including:
a comprehensive list of U.S. government activity aimed at addressing PRC global basing in each location;
an identification of resource or personnel constraints limiting the U.S. response; and
an identification of the most effective practices to persuade foreign governments to terminate plans for hosting a PRC base in their territory.
Establish an interagency task force to counter the PRC’s global basing expansion and prevent new locations.
Require a report every four years on updates to PRC basing intentions and subsequent updates to U.S. strategy.
Kaine has long supported efforts to counter aggression by the People’s Republic of China, including through the Australia-U.K.-U.S. (AUKUS) partnership, in which the U.S. will sell Australia Virginia-class submarines, a significant portion of which are built in Hampton Roads. Kaine has previously introduced legislation that aims to expand the U.S.’ toolkit to respond to China’s use of its maritime militia to exert excessive territorial claims, harass U.S. ships and those of our partners in the South China Sea. In April of last year, Kaine helped pass the national security supplemental funding package, which included military assistance funding and resources to replenish stocks given to Taiwan. He has also led the introduction of bipartisan legislation to safeguard internet freedom in Hong Kong from the PRC and to strengthen and modernize the U.S.-Philippines security partnership to counter Chinese military pressure in the South China Sea.
The COUNTER Act is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
A one-pager on the bill is available here.
The bill text is available here.
H.R. 1815 would temporarily increase the amounts authorized for the Grant and Per Diem Program through which The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awards funding to organizations to provide transitional housing for veterans. The bill also would establish a Partial Claim Program through which VA would pay lenders amounts to prevent foreclosure on guaranteed loans that are delinquent or in default.
Estimated Federal Cost
The estimated budgetary effects of H.R. 1815 are shown in Table 1. The bill would decrease net direct spending by $147 million and increase spending subject to appropriation by $146 million over the 2025-2035 period. The costs of the legislation fall within budget function 700 (veterans benefits and services).
Table 1.
Estimated Budgetary Effects of H.R. 1815
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2025-2030
2025-2035
Increases or Decreases (-) in Direct Spending
Estimated Budget Authority
11
-13
-34
-39
-41
-30
0
0
0
0
0
-146
-146
Estimated Outlays
10
-14
-33
-39
-41
-30
0
0
0
0
0
-147
-147
Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation
Authorization
75
73
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
148
148
Estimated Outlays
66
71
8
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
146
146
Basis of Estimate
For this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R. 1815 will be enacted in fiscal year 2025 and that provisions will take effect upon or soon after enactment. CBO also estimates that outlays will follow historical spending patterns for affected programs.
Provisions That Affect Spending Subject to Appropriation and Direct Spending
Section 5 would temporarily increase the amounts authorized for the Grant and Per Diem Program through which VA pays a daily rate to public and nonprofit entities that provide housing and supportive services to homeless veterans.
Current law limits the total amount that VA can award for those grants to $258 million each year; section 5 would raise that limit to $344 million for 2025 and 2026. Using information on past grant payments and historical spending patterns, CBO estimates that the amounts paid for grants would increase by a total of $169 million over the 2025-2035 period.
Some of the homeless veterans who would obtain services under section 5 would be veterans who have been exposed to environmental hazards; thus, CBO expects that some of the costs of implementing the bill would be paid from the Toxic Exposures Fund (TEF) established by Public Law 117-168, the Honoring our PACT Act. The TEF is a mandatory appropriation that VA uses to pay for health care, disability claims processing, medical research, and information technology modernization that benefit veterans who were exposed to environmental hazards. Additional spending from the TEF occurs if legislation increases the costs of similar activities that benefit veterans with such exposure. Thus, in addition to increasing spending subject to appropriation, enacting section 5 would increase amounts paid from the TEF, which are classified as direct spending.
CBO projects that the proportion of costs paid by the TEF will grow over time based on the amount of formerly discretionary appropriations that CBO expects will be provided through the mandatory appropriation as specified in the Honoring our PACT Act.CBO estimates that over the 2025-2035 period, implementing section 5 would increase outlays for spending subject to appropriation by $146 million and direct spending by $23 million.
Direct Spending
The discussion above in “Provisions That Affect Spending Subject to Appropriation and Direct Spending” describes the increased authorizations for the Grant and Per Diem Program that would increase direct spending from the TEF under section 5. Section 3 of the bill would establish a Partial Claim Program described below, which would decrease direct spending. In total, the bill would decrease net direct spending outlays by $147 million over the 2025‑2035 period (see Table 2).
Partial Claim Program.VA provides loan guarantees to lenders that allow eligible borrowers to obtain better loan terms—such as lower interest rates or smaller down payments—to purchase, construct, improve, or refinance a home. VA typically pays lenders up to 25 percent of the outstanding mortgage balance if a borrower’s home is foreclosed upon. Those payments, net of fees paid by borrowers and recoveries by lenders, constitute the subsidy cost for the loan guarantees.
Spending Subject to Appropriation
The discussion above in “Provisions That Affect Spending Subject to Appropriation and Direct Spending” describes the increased authorizations for the Grant and Per Diem Program that would increase spending subject to appropriation under section 5, totaling $146 million over the 2025-2035 period (see Table 3).
Table 3.
Estimated Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation Under H.R. 1815
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2025-2030
2025-2035
Grant & Per Diem
Authorization
75
73
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
148
148
Estimated Outlays
66
71
8
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
146
146
Pay-As-You-Go Considerations
The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 establishes budget-reporting and enforcement procedures for legislation affecting direct spending or revenues. The net changes in outlays that are subject to those pay-as-you-go procedures are shown in Table 2.
Increase in Long-Term Net Direct Spending and Deficits
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1815 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036.
Mandates
H.R. 1815 contains an intergovernmental and private-sector mandate, as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). By not allowing judicial review of the Department of Veterans Affairs decision to obtain secured interest in a veteran’s defaulted home loan, the bill would eliminate an existing right of action for any public or private entity that would otherwise be able to seek judicial review. There is no cost associated with this mandate because judicial review does not result in monetary damages; the cost is therefore well below the thresholds established in UMRA for intergovernmental and private-sector mandates ($103 million and $206 million in 2025, respectively, adjusted annually for inflation).
Federal Costs: Paul B.A. Holland
Mandates: Grace Watson
Estimate Reviewed By
David Newman Chief, Defense, International Affairs, and Veterans’ Affairs Cost Estimates Unit
Kathleen FitzGerald Chief, Public and Private Mandates Unit
Christina Hawley Anthony Deputy Director of Budget Analysis
1 / 7Show Caption +Hide Caption –Utah National Guard and joint forces arrive in Anzi, Morocco, May 11, 2025, for the humanitarian civic assistance portion of African Lion 2025 (AL25). AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by: Master Sgt. Nicholas Perez) (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Nicholas Perez) VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 7Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Eric Mack, 129th Medical Group (MDG), California Air National Guard, and Staff Sgt. Joel Farmer, 124th MDG, Idaho Air National Guard, conduct a dental exam on a patient at the Humanitarian Civic Assistance event in Anzi, Morocco, during African Lion 2025 (AL25) May 12, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Marie Denson) (Photo Credit: Maj. Marie Denson) VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 7Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Air Force Maj. Kyle Sansom, 151st Medical Group (MDG), Utah Air National Guard, and Tech. Sgt. Fatimata Diop, 932nd Medical Squadron base in Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, perform a tooth extraction on a Moroccan patient at the Humanitarian Civic Assistance event in Anzi, Morocco, during African Lion 2025 (AL25) May 12, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by: Master Sgt. Nicholas Perez) (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Nicholas Perez) VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 7Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Air Force Maj. Kyle Sansom, 151st Medical Group (MDG), Utah Air National Guard, and Staff Sgt. Sophia Hunt, 102nd MDG, Massachusetts Air National Guard, perform a tooth extraction on a Moroccan patient at the Humanitarian Civic Assistance event in Anzi, Morocco, during African Lion 2025 (AL25) May 12, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by: Master Sgt. Nicholas Perez) (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Nicholas Perez) VIEW ORIGINAL5 / 7Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Capt. Benjamin Norton, assigned to the Womack Army Medical Center based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, performs a surgical removal of cancerous tissue on a Moroccan patient at the Humanitarian Civic Assistance event in Anzi, Morocco, during African Lion 2025 (AL25) May 12, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by: Master Sgt. Nicholas Perez) (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Nicholas Perez) VIEW ORIGINAL6 / 7Show Caption +Hide Caption –Members of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces examine an x-ray of a patient’s lungs at the Humanitarian Civic Assistance event in Anzi, Morocco, during African Lion 2025 (AL25) May 12, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by: Master Sgt. Nicholas Perez) (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Nicholas Perez) VIEW ORIGINAL7 / 7Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Shaundra Andress, 151st Wing, Utah Air National Guard, looks after children in the social tent while their parents are being treated at the Humanitarian Civic Assistance event in Anzi, Morocco, during African Lion 2025 (AL25) May 12, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. This photo was altered for patient privacy. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by: Master Sgt. Nicholas Perez) (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Nicholas Perez) VIEW ORIGINAL
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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)
ANZI, Morocco – U.S. and Moroccan military medical teams launched the annual joint humanitarian medical mission in Anzi, Morocco, May 11–23, as part of African Lion 2025 (AL25), marking the beginning of a multi-week effort to deliver essential care to local communities.
The operation is led by the 151st Medical Group (151 MDG), 151st Air Wing, Utah Air National Guard, working in partnership with the Royal Armed Forces of Morocco and supported by local Moroccan healthcare professionals. The mission falls under the framework of humanitarian civic assistance (HCA)—a component of AL25 that emphasizes both medical readiness and multinational cooperation.
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Summer Seibold, assigned to 151st Medical Group, Utah Air National Guard, puts together dental kits to hand out to patients at the Humanitarian Civic Assistance event in Anzi, Morocco, during African Lion 2025 (AL25) May 12, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Marie Denson) (Photo Credit: Maj. Marie Denson) VIEW ORIGINAL
“We came here with a shared purpose and immediately began working as one team,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Lydia Christensen, a 151 MDG medical planner. “From setup to patient care, our coordination with the Royal Armed Forces has been seamless and mission-focused.”
The temporary field hospital is now operational and providing services such as general medicine, dental care, pediatrics, cardiology, radiology and laboratory diagnostics. The facility is staffed by a joint team of American and Moroccan military medical personnel, supported by Moroccan civilian translators and logistical staff.
Commandant Salaheddine Bouabbadi with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces performs an eye exam on a patient at the Humanitarian Civic Assistance event in Anzi, Morocco, during African Lion 2025 (AL25) May 12, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Marie Denson) (Photo Credit: Maj. Marie Denson) VIEW ORIGINAL
“Many of the families we’ve seen have real medical needs,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Micah Smith, 151 MDG commander. “By working together, we are able to reach these individuals and provide immediate, meaningful care.”
The HCA portion of AL25 demonstrates the Utah National Guard and joint force dedication to positively impacting the health and well-being of local Moroccan communities. Operating the HCA Field Hospital strengthens partnerships alongside Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces.
Members of the U.S. Air Force and Royal Moroccan Armed Forces work in the social tent looking after children while their parents are being treated at the Humanitarian Civic Assistance event in Anzi, Morocco, during African Lion 2025 (AL25) May 12, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. This photo was altered for patient privacy. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by: Master Sgt. Nicholas Perez) (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Nicholas Perez) VIEW ORIGINAL
AL25 is U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual military exercise in Africa. It takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia.
Over the span of 18 days, U.S. joint forces, together with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, will treat thousands of local Moroccans, providing healthcare service at no cost to the individual.
“Our mission goes beyond healthcare. We diligently strive to strengthen our relationships with our Moroccan counterparts, build trust and enhance interoperability so that, heaven forbid, there is a disaster or other event, we can work effectively together.” said Smith. “All that we do here reflects what’s possible when our nations work together.”
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Kirk Drennan, 151st Medical Group, Utah Air National Guard, and a translator with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces conduct an eye exam for a patient at the Humanitarian Civic Assistance event in Anzi, Morocco, during African Lion 2025 (AL25) May 12, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Marie Denson) (Photo Credit: Maj. Marie Denson) VIEW ORIGINAL
Morocco is one of the U.S.’s closest and oldest allies, with the partnership dating back to the founding of the U.S. Every day, the depth and strength of that relationship grows.
With patients arriving from across the region, some walking hours to reach the site, the need for organized and efficient care is clear. In the first days of operation, thousands of individuals were seen by the team, and thousands more are expected as the mission continues.
A member of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces hands out medication to local Moroccans at the Humanitarian Civic Assistance event in Anzi, Morocco, during African Lion 2025 (AL25) May 12, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Marie Denson) (Photo Credit: Maj. Marie Denson) VIEW ORIGINAL
“Our logistics teams—both American and Moroccan—have done an excellent job keeping the operation running smoothly,” said Christensen. “Each medical specialty, including the pharmacy and support areas, are operating at full capacity.”
AL25 is set to be the largest annual military exercise in Africa, bringing together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, and about 10,000 troops. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), on behalf of U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM), the exercise will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. AL25 is designed to restore the warrior ethos, sharpen lethality, and strengthen military readiness alongside our African partners and allies This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win.
The Defense Department’s State Partnership Program links a state’s National Guard with a partner nation’s military, security forces, and disaster response organizations in a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationships. Learn more at Building Partnerships Around the Globe.
Jefferson City — Today, during a ceremony at the Missouri State Capitol, Missouri National Guard Adjutant General Charles D. Hausman was promoted to the rank of Major General.
“This promotion is a testament to Major General Hausman’s remarkable leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to our state and nation,” said Governor Kehoe. “In the months since General Hausman assumed command, he has led Missouri’s soldiers and airmen at home and abroad through both day-to-day trainings and missions to their vital assistance with multiple rounds of winter storms and flooding across the state. On behalf of all Missourians, congratulations to General Hausman and the Hausman family on this well-deserved promotion.”
Governor Kehoe selected Major General Hausman as the next Adjutant General of the Missouri National Guard on January 8, 2025, and he took command on February 1. With over 36 years of service in the Missouri National Guard, the General has an extensive military career with a high level of expertise in operational leadership, military strategy, and interagency coordination.
“It is an honor and privilege to be entrusted with this responsibility,” General Hausman said. “Leading the exceptional soldiers and airmen of the Missouri National Guard as we carry out our mission of serving the people of Missouri and this great nation is the honor of a lifetime.”
General Hausman enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1988, joined the Missouri National Guard in 1989, and transferred to Aviation in 1993. He has commanded at every level from company to brigade and held key staff positions such as Executive Officer of the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade, Deputy Director of Manpower and Personnel of Joint Force Headquarters, Deputy Commander of 70th Troop Command, and Director of Aviation and Safety of Joint Force Headquarters.
In addition to his assignments within the United States and Missouri, General Hausman has had several assignments abroad including in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan.
A seasoned aviation officer and combat veteran, he has earned multiple military awards including the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with bronze oak leaf cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with Numeral Two, and the Master Army Aviator Badge. He is qualified in the TH-67, UH-1 Huey, AH-1 Cobra, AH-64D Apache, and is qualified as an instructor pilot in the OH-58A/C and AH-64A Apache.
The General received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Technology from the University of Central Missouri in 1991 and a Master of Science degree in Aviation Safety from the University of Central Missouri in 1993. He completed a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies through the United States Naval War College in 2015.
General Hausman is a native of Saint Joseph, Missouri, and currently resides in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, and has two adult children, Alex and Libby.
Pictures of the promotion ceremony will be available on Governor Kehoe’s Flickr page.