NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville, Scott Urge Leadership to Support DOGE, Cut Waste When Funding Government

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and other congressional colleagues in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson (R-LA-4) urging them to oppose any Democrat demands that would undermine President Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) efforts to reduce wasteful federal spending. President Trump is making good on his promise to change the broken status quo in Washington that led the nation to a $36 trillion debt crisis and Republicans must work together to ensure the President can continue to deliver on his mandate and Make America Great Again.

    “We stand ready to work with you to ensure that the government remains open in a way that preserves President Trump’s options to root out wasteful government spending and fully continues DOGE’s important work. However, we will not support a government funding package that would be weaponized against President Trump at the very moment he is seeking to make good on the promises he made to the American people. Any attempt to use government funding legislation to dilute the President’s constitutional authority to save taxpayer dollars must be rejected outright,” said the members of Congress.

    Senators Tuberville and Scott were joined by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) in sending the letter.

    U.S. Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD-01) led the effort in the House of Representatives.

    Read full text of the letter here. 

    “Dear Majority Leader Thune and Speaker Johnson:

    President Trump campaigned on a promise to the American people to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, and his resounding victory last November confirms he has been given a mandate by our constituents to make good on that promise. His clear message that taxpayers deserve to know not only how their money is being spent, but also that it is being spent responsibly, resonated with voters. The President has wasted no time in delivering on that promise, working through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to identify and freeze wasteful government spending that is contrary to the best interests of the American people. As Republicans, the task before us is to work with the White House to protect and advance this important work.

    With the March 14th government funding deadline rapidly approaching, we are deeply concerned about recent reports of Democrats’ demands for a government funding agreement that would perpetuate the unsustainable status quo of wasteful spending. Rather than negotiating in good faith to find a solution that keeps the government open, we understand that Democrats are insisting that any government funding deal include policy provisions that would tie the hands of the President and prohibit DOGE from continuing their efforts to promote transparency and accountability in government spending. It has become clear that many Congressional Democrats would prefer a government shutdown rather than even attempt to rein in bloated federal bureaucracies. 

    We stand ready to work with you to ensure that the government remains open in a way that preserves President Trump’s options to root out wasteful government spending and fully continues DOGE’s important work. However, we will not support a government funding package that would be weaponized against President Trump at the very moment he is seeking to make good on the promises he made to the American people. Any attempt to use government funding legislation to dilute the President’s constitutional authority to save taxpayer dollars must be rejected outright.

    A bloated federal bureaucracy and unsupervised, unaccountable federal spending have contributed to the existential fiscal threat our country faces, with a $36 trillion national debt growing because of perennial budget deficits. Our country cannot afford to allow Democrats to frustrate President Trump’s work to rein in government spending and bring needed and long-overdue accountability to Washington. We look forward to working with you to resist these attempts, and ensure that the President can continue to deliver on his mandate.

    Sincerely,”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Speaks with Nominee for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to speak with President Donald J. Trump’s nominee for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Elbridge Colby. During the hearing, Senator Tuberville and Mr. Colby discussed the Trump administration’s plan to counter our foreign adversaries and the importance of selecting locations of military installations based on merit and not politics.

    Read the transcript below or watch the full interaction on YouTube or Rumble.

    ON COUNTERING CHINESE AGGRESSION IN PANAMA CANAL:

    TUBERVILLE: “Good to see you and your family and thank you for wanting to take on this job. It’s going to be very difficult, but we think you can handle it. Mr. Colby, you advocate for a strategy of denial in military and geopolitical context. How does this concept translate to Central and South American places like Panama and the troubling amount of influence that China is starting to have and has had in that area? And by the way, they just announced that one of our major corporations is purchasing both ports at the Panama Canal, which is very good news.”

    MR. COLBY: “Well, thanks very much, Senator. And I think the President’s early initiatives on our hemisphere in places like Panama are very encouraging. I think this is part of an overall strategy, both to secure our own interests directly, secure the territorial integrity of our homeland from unchecked migration and lethal fentanyl flows that are killing hundreds of thousands of Americans. But also, as you said, Senator, to ensure that China does not gain a foothold or beyond a dominant position in critical areas of Latin America, which I think was happening. I think that’s a big part of the strategy now. I think part of that is up to the military, but a lot of it’s part of the other agencies of government, the State Department. I know former ambassador in Mexico, Chris Landau, Ambassador Chris Landau, is going through his hearing downstairs. I believe he’s up for the Deputy Secretary of State. You know, I think that’s a kind of relationship between DOD and State Department where you have a clear picture that we’ve got to have a handle on our hemisphere. We’re pursuing our own strategies and we’re also empowering countries in the hemisphere and in the region to contribute more, you know, through development, through better governance themselves, through alignment with the kind of common-sense approaches that I think that we’re following here. That can result in better outcomes for all of us.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Yeah, I think you’ll find the new administration in Panama is very receptive […] once you get in your position, you’ll find that out. Been down there several times, and they need help as we need more access to the canal. So, thank you for that.”

    ON IMPORTANCE OF BRINGING SPACECOM TO BEST LOCATION:

    TUBERVILLE: “In 2023, President Biden overrode President Trump, the Department of Air Force, and the findings of multiple studies, including an inspector general review and directed that the headquarters of Space Command remain in Colorado instead of moving to its selected location at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. My State. Mr. Colby, if confirmed, you will be the senior DOD official in charge of space policy, […] as well as strategy plans and capabilities for the entire department. Do you agree with me that, as a matter of policy, it is in our nation’s best interest to make basing decisions on merit and not on political agendas?”

    MR. COLBY: “I do, Senator.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Mr. Colby, much of your work is about prioritizing our defense policy towards deterring aggression with China our pacing challenge. What do you make of the progress made over past few years by our adversaries toward integrating with their militaries. I’m talking about since Ukraine, Russia have had their conflict, all the people in the east basically that are running to China. What’s your thought on that?”

    MR. COLBY: “Well, I think it’s really, really disturbing Senator. I think there has been this kind of, think of it as like a counter coalition. China, Russia, Iran, North Korea. China’s kind of the cornerstone of that coalition. It’s by far the largest economy. Their support has made the Russian war effort in Ukraine sustainable. They’re helping the Iranians. The Iranians are helping them. The Russians are helping the North Koreans. So, I think there’s a couple of things to be done about that.

    On the defense side, I think it’s important for us to work with our allies to kind of plug the gaps in our perimeter. A lot of that is getting our forces in a better state of readiness, putting them in the right place, getting our defense industrial base back in a good shape, robust defense funding, and then getting our allies to step up. I think a big part of this is we have some allies—Israel, I’ve mentioned, India, South Korea, Poland— they’re really pulling their weight. You could add Finland up there, is doing a pretty good job. But a lot of the biggest economies in our alliance network really aren’t pulling their weight. They’re starting now. So, I think there’s a real opportunity to capitalize on that because together, we are much wealthier than this counter coalition, but we’ve got to turn that into real military capability.”

    ON BRICS:

    TUBERVILLE: “Your quick thoughts on BRICS.”

    MR. COLBY: “I think, you know, BRICS are sort of a representation of the changing world dynamic. I think Secretary Rubio put it very well. We’re no longer in Charles Krauthammer’s unipolar world. We’re in a world—United States is still, I think, the strongest country out there, but China is the biggest, most powerful rival we face in probably a hundred and fifty years, and other countries are making their decisions. Obviously, the Indians who I think our relationship there is golden going forward, and we should really deepen that. And if confirmed, I would make a big priority of that. They’re part of it, so it’s complicated. But people are going to be moving around talking to, you know, the Saudis are talking to Russians and they’re talking to us. That’s very common. That’s how the world’s going to be. That’s the reality of the world system as it is now, I think.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Tuberville in Newsweek: America is Back. President’s Joint Address Will Celebrate It

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) penned an op-ed in Newsweek previewing President Donald J. Trump’s Joint Address to Congress tonight. In the piece, Sen. Tuberville celebrates the Trump administration’s accomplishments since returning to the White House, including securing the border, negotiating America First trade deals, cutting wasteful government spending, and facilitating peace around the world.

    Read excerpts from the piece below or here.

    “Tonight, President Donald Trump will give his first joint address to Congress since his triumphant return to the White House. For the past four years, Americans endured a national nightmare under the Biden administration. Democrats opened our borders—allowing criminals, terrorists, drug dealers, and murderers to flood into our country unchecked. They canceled American energy production and forced us to rely on our foreign adversaries for energy. They wrote a blank check to Ukraine—while doing nothing to actually stop the bloodshed. They even went as far as to support men competing in women’s sports. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris brought this country to the brink of destruction.

    The last four years were a dumpster fire—a total disaster. ‘Sleepy Joe’ was worn slap out as soon as he got up in the morning. Thinking back on it now, I really don’t know how our country survived. It’s a miracle that we made it through those dark days. One thing is for sure: President Trump’s address will be nothing like the clown show we endured the last four years.

    But today, America is ready to usher in its golden age under President Donald J. Trump. We’re only a month and a half in, and President Trump is well on his way to renewing the American dream by reversing some of the Democrats’ most destructive policies. Most importantly, President Trump is keeping his promises to the 77 million Americans who voted for him and his ‘America First’ agenda. A recent poll showed 70 percent of Americans believe President Trump is doing what he said he would do.

    We’ve already seen a whole lot of winning. Illegal border crossings have plummeted under the Trump administration, reaching their lowest levels in decades. Democrats’ ‘catch and release’ program has been replaced with detaining and deporting illegal immigrants. Since master-dealmaker President Trump first threatened tariffs, Canada and Mexico have been pulling their weight to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and deadly fentanyl into the U.S. It’s about time they pony up and contribute to this so-called ‘alliance.’

    Two weeks ago, the administration officially designated eight different cartel groups as foreign terrorist organizations. Did Border Czar Kamala Harris recommend any of these policies? I don’t think so. She was too busy trying to keep the Left’s radical agenda alive. Border security is national security, and President Trump is making the safety of U.S. citizens his top priority.

    President Trump is also hard at work restoring common-sense policies. For example, his administration announced that schools that still enforce COVID vaccine mandates will no longer receive federal funding. President Trump also signed an executive order defining gender as male and female, along with one banning men from competing in women’s sports.

    […]

    I was particularly thrilled when President Trump signed an executive order to protect Title IX and keep men out of women’s sports. But unfortunately, executive orders can be reversed. My bill, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, finally got a vote last night in the Senate. Every Democrat voted against it. Last week, my wife Suzanne and I welcomed our first granddaughter, Rosie Grace. Now that I’m a grandfather, I’m more motivated than ever to continue fighting to permanently keep men out of women’s sports.

    President Trump is doing something rare in D.C.: delivering on his campaign promises. From cutting wasteful spending with DOGE to renaming the beautiful Gulf of America, President Trump is renewing the American dream. And he’s not slowing down. Trump has brought unbelievable energy to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He won’t rest until American families, businesses, farmers, and manufacturers are winning again.

    We have a long way to go if we’re going to get our country back on track and truly make America great again. But we’re well on our way. I look forward to hearing his address tonight and am committed to helping advance his agenda from the Senate.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville: “Every Republican Voted to Protect Women, Every Democrat Voted Against It”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    “My Democrat colleagues either hate Donald Trump so bad or they just think that they know better than everybody else.”

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined Senate Republican Leadership’s weekly press conference to discuss last night’s vote on his bill, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. During his remarks, Sen. Tuberville called out Democrats for failing to vote to protect women and girls.

    Read excerpts from Senator Tuberville’s remarks below or watch here.

    “I sat up last night trying to think of a word to describe what happened yesterday to girls and women across this country. I still haven’t come up with it. It’s amazing to me that anybody would be against [protecting] girls’ and women’s sports—but that’s what happened yesterday for the third time since I’ve been here for going on five years.

    I spent all my life in coaching and the best thing that’s ever happened to women and women’s sports is Title IX. Folks, it’s being attacked, and attacked daily by the Democrats. There’s no reason why that should not have been a 100-0 vote. It makes no sense. It really doesn’t. And I want you to look at this. Women’s sports [are] being attacked. Men in women’s sports—the Democrats say ‘There’s only a few.’ But it doesn’t take but one to injure somebody. Again, I’ve spent my entire life watching competition. And this is a no-nonsense vote of voting for girls and women. […]

    So, let’s go ahead and run women’s sports into the ground and do away with it. Let’s go ahead and cancel it right now because that’s what they’re saying.

    Here’s another deal—NIL money going to athletes, which I’m fine with because athletes work hard—but the problem is none of the money is going to women’s sports. So, what’s going to happen is we’re going to have transgenders in women’s sports. And now we’re taking all of the women’s sports and saying ‘We do not have funding for you because the money has to go to NIL.’

    Folks, we are ruining women’s athletics. It will be over with in a very short period of time. Only because my Democrat colleagues either hate Donald Trump so bad or they just think that they know better than everybody else and they want to change to one gender or 60 genders. It makes no sense to me.

    So, today I’m challenging my Democrat colleagues: think about it, sleep on it, understand it. Because you’re going to have to own every bit of this because every Republican voted for it, every Democrat voted against it. It will come [up] again in the next few years and we’re going to try to get it passed. Thanks to President Trump for doing an Executive Order, but as we all know that doesn’t last. We’re going to get this done one way or another. And I think the American people will speak next time when they see in their state what Senator voted against women’s sports—and they should. And they should be run out of town. Because it is absolutely not political, it’s common sense.”

    BACKGROUND:

    Under Joe Biden, more than 900 women lost medals to men competing in women’s sports. The issue of men in girls’ and women’s sports proved to be one of the top concerns of voters during the 2024 Presidential Election. A recent New York Times (NYT) poll found 79% of respondents said men should not be allowed to participate in women’s sports. This number is a 10% increase from a 2023 survey where 69% of respondents agreed that men do not belong in women’s sports. This is a bipartisan issue—the same recent NYT poll found that 67% of Democrats agree that male athletes shouldn’t be allowed in women’s sports.

    In February, President Trump signed a historic Executive Order banning men from competing in women’s sports. President Trump has spoken about the need to keep men out of women’s sports on multiple occasions.

    Unfortunately, Executive Orders can be reversed. That’s why last night the Senate voted on Senator Tuberville’s bill, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would make President Trump’s Executive Order permanent. 45 Democrats voted to block the bill from proceeding. 

    Earlier this year, Senator Tuberville also introduced a bill to ban men from competing in women’s U.S. Olympic sports, following USA Boxing’s announcement that it would allow men to box against women.

    IN THE NEWS:

    Not One Democrat Senator Voted to Protect Women’s Sports From Males

    White House Backs Tuberville’s Women’s Sports Legislation Ahead Of Senate Vote

    After This Vote, the Dems Show They Really Haven’t Learned Anything From Their 2024 Loss

    Democrats Stall Senate Bill To Protect Women’s Sports

    Bill to Ban Biological Males From Women’s Sports Blocked by Democrats

    Senate Dems face backlash after bill to prevent boys from playing girls’ sports fails to break filibuster

    Senate Dems Kill Legislative Effort to Protect Women’s Sports

    Senate Democrats block GOP bill to keep male-born athletes out of female sports

    Senate bid to prevent boys from playing girls’ sports get stuck on filibuster

    Fight To Protect Women’s Sports Could Stall In Senate

    Will Democrats stand up for women or let men destroy girls’ sports?

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Watercare activates drought plan, stresses water restrictions unlikely

    Source: Auckland Council

    Ongoing dry weather has tipped Auckland’s total dam storage level just below the ‘preparing for a drought’ level in Watercare’s Drought Management Plan.

    Auckland’s total dam storage today is 66.5 per cent, compared to the historical average of 78.4 per cent for this time of year.

    Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says: “Watercare has notified my office and Auckland councillors that the total storage in Auckland’s drinking water supply dams has just dropped into the ‘preparing for a drought’ zone in its Drought Management Plan.

    “Watercare is responsible for ensuring the situation is managed. In line with the plan, they’ve provided an update on what they’re doing and how they’re dealing with the situation. I’m satisfied Watercare has it under control and is taking any appropriate action.”

    Over summer the Hūnua dam catchments, which traditionally supply up to two thirds of Auckland’s water, received 27 per cent less rainfall than normal. The Waitākere catchments, where Watercare’s smaller dams are located, received less than half the normal rain.

    Watercare chief operations officer Mark Bourne says Aucklanders do not need to be alarmed.

    “We’ve been keeping a close eye on dam levels, Auckland’s water demand and the weather and have been actively managing our supply network to put us in the best position to face an extended dry spell.

    “While our total dam storage has dropped below where we’d normally like it to be at this time of year, it’s still looking highly unlikely that we’d need to look at mandatory water restrictions in the next few months.

    “The most recent weather forecast we’ve received signals March could be fairly dry, but rainfall is likely to return to normal for the rest of autumn. Winter has the potential to be wetter than normal.

    “That said, we’re encouraging Aucklanders to continue to be mindful of their water use. They’ve been doing a fantastic job over summer, so we’re really just asking everyone to keep up the great work.

    “If you need to water your garden, use a trigger nozzle on your hose to prevent any wastage.

    “Another really easy way to keep your water usage down is to take short showers – four minutes or less is ideal. And if you need to take two on these scorching days, challenge yourself to make them two minutes each.

    “If we all do something small to keep our water use down, we can further reduce the likelihood of needing water restrictions if the weather turns out to be drier than forecast.”

    Auckland’s water consumption crept up last week, with the seven-day average rolling demand at 496 million litres per day today.

    “To put that in perspective, when we were in the middle of drought in late summer 2020, water consumption peaked at 549 million litres per day,” Bourne says. “It’s great to see we’re still a long way off that, which to me shows many Aucklanders have maintained those basic water-saving habits we adopted back then.”

    What does ‘preparing for a drought’ mean?

    Bourne says a cross-functional team has been formed at Watercare to manage the three main “levers” of drought management: Increasing supply, reducing demand and optimising the water network.

    “We’re continuing to produce more water at our Waikato water treatment plants, which treat water from the Waikato River. This slows the rate of decline of our dams.

    “And right across Tāmaki Makaurau, our maintenance crews are doing a fantastic job at staying on top of leaks. Since the start of summer, 16,208 have been reported and 16,112 have been fixed, leaving a to-do list of just 96.

    “As well as fixing reported leaks, we also run proactive leak detection in targeted areas around the city, which helps us to find leaks that may not be visible on the surface.

    Anyone can see Auckland’s dam levels live on the Watercare website.

    Top tips for going easy with your water use: 

    • Cool off the kids with water pistols, reusable water balloons or even a small paddling pool, instead of under the sprinkler.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin: January 6 Insurrectionists Should Have Never Been Pardoned By President Trump

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    March 04, 2025
    In a Senate floor speech, Durbin denounced President Trump’s pardon of January 6 insurrectionists and provides update on continued criminal misconduct of pardoned Capitol rioters
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor, providing another update on the criminal misconduct of January 6th insurrectionists since President Trump’s reckless decision to pardon them for their crimes committed during the storming of the U.S. Capitol.  The events of that day resulted in the death of five law enforcement officers and the injury of more than 140 others.
    Durbin began his remarks by recalling his experience on January 6, 2021, as insurrectionists entered the building, interrupting the constitutional proceeding of certifying the 2020 election results.
    “The Senate chamber was filled with members who were witnessing a meeting required by our Constitution where the Vice President presided over the Senate… We gathered here and counted the electoral votes to determine who was the President as a result of the 2020 election.  It’s a fairly routine undertaking, but there is some solemnity to it because the Constitution requires it… It was the same day that President Trump, leaving the office because he lost that election in 2020, had called a rally down at the end of the [National] Mall.  Thousands of people had showed up, and they decided to march on the Capitol at the President’s urging and invitation,” Durbin began.
    “That’s a day I’ll never forget.  I’ve been coming into this building since I was a college student at Georgetown years ago.  This is a special place to me.  It is not my office building.  It is the United States Capitol.  It carries with it, not only history, but a significance as a symbol.  It means something to have a mob take over the Capitol as happened that day, pushing members of the House and Senate to hide in broom closets and to leave the building for their own personal safety.  I never dreamed that would happen in the United States of America, but I lived it, it happened, and the American people know it happened because the videos are quite graphic.  They tell the story of what was going on that day,” Durbin continued.
    Following the January 6 insurrection, the Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecuted more than 1,500 individuals for their involvement in the riot.  However, on his first day in office, President Trump granted pardons and commutations for those who participated in the insurrection despite the horrific violence they inflicted upon law enforcement officers. 
    “So what happened when this new President came to office?  He [President Trump] decided that isn’t what happened at all on January 6…  He ignored the fact that 140 law enforcement officials were injured on that day protecting this building and the people in it…  He decided the people who needed our sympathy were the rioters and not the police, and so the President, as one of his first acts in office, President Trump signed the pardon of some 1,600 individuals,” Durbin said.
    Durbin continued his speech, describing the heinous acts committed by the insurrectionists since President Trump pardoned them.
    “Last week, body camera video was released depicting a traffic-related felony arrest during which a sheriff’s deputy fatally shot former January 6 defendant Matthew Huttle… The video footage confirmed that there was a struggle during the incident, during which Huttle, a January 6 defendant, raised an object that the sheriff deputy believed to be a firearm.  At the beginning of the traffic stop, Huttle can be seen on video stating, ‘I just want to let you know that I’m a January 6 defendant,’ and ‘I stormed the Capitol. I’m waiting on my pardon.’  Investigators later recovered a loaded 9 mm handgun and ammunition in Huttle’s vehicle.  Huttle was among the 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot, pardoned by President Trump.  Huttle had pleaded guilty to one count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds for his role in the insurrection and was sentenced to six months in prison,” Durbin said.
    “Peter Schwartz, sentenced to 14 years in prison on charges that included four counts of assaulting police officers during the January 6 attack on the Capitol.  Schwartz was seen on body camera footage spraying officers with pepper spray, wielding a baton, and prosecutors alleged that he threw the first chair at officers, creating an opening that enabled hundreds of rioters to push back the police lines,” Durbin said.  “Prior to January 6, Schwartz had amassed criminal convictions in more than four different states for crimes including domestic violence, threatening his girlfriend, and assaulting security officers.  One of Schwartz’s former girlfriends, Shantelle Holeton, a 43-year old factory worker who has voted for President Trump three times… recently told CBS News that she fears for her safety now that Schwartz has been pardoned and released.”
    Holeton reported that Schwartz persistently beat her during their months-long relationship until she called the police in July 2019, alleging that Schwartz was threatening to kill her and her son.  In reacting to Schwartz’s involvement in the insurrection, Holeton stated, “He found an opportunity to go and be violent. That man thrives on violence. He thrives on people fearing him.”
    Durbin then shared an update on Jeremy Brown, one of the last January 6 defendants remaining behind bars since President Trump’s blanket pardon.
    “Jeremy Brown… was released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Atlanta on Wednesday.  Brown had not yet been released because prosecutors did not consider one of his two criminal cases to be related to January 6 and thus covered by President Trump’s pardon; however, the Justice Department has since reversed course.  In April of 2023, Brown was convicted in Tampa, Florida, of possessing a short-barrel rifle, a shotgun, and explosive grenades, and willful retention of a national defense document, all resulting from a January 6-related law enforcement search of his residence in September 2021.  He was sentenced to 87 months in prison for those charges and released by the pardon of President Trump,” Durbin said.
    Durbin concluded his remarks by firmly denouncing President Trump’s pardons.
    “This is a horrible situation, and sadly, tragically, these are people who never should have been pardoned by the President.  They attacked the police here in this building.  They desecrated this Capitol.  They were not the victims.  They victimized innocent people who were doing their job under the Constitution,” Durbin concluded.
    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here.
    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here.
    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is available here for TV Stations.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Senate Judiciary Democrats File Misconduct Complaint Against Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove With New York State Bar

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    March 04, 2025
    Requesting a disciplinary investigation into Bove, SJC Dems cite inappropriate conduct by Bove involving the dismissal of charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Senate Judiciary Democrats in filing a professional misconduct complaint against Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove with the New York State Bar.
    In a letter to the Attorney Grievance Committee of the First Judicial Department in New York, which handles complaints against lawyers whose offices are in Manhattan or the Bronx, the Senators cite reported inappropriate conduct by Bove involving the dismissal of charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
    The Senators begin by expressing grave concern about actions taken by Bove and request a disciplinary investigation, writing: “We write to express our grave concern about actions taken by Emil Joseph Bove, III that may constitute serious professional misconduct under the New York State Unified Court System Rules of Professional Conduct. Since becoming Acting Deputy Attorney General forthe U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Mr. Bove has abused his position in numerous ways, including using the prosecutorial power of the federal government to coerce an elected state municipal officer to pursue policies to the political benefit of President Donald J. Trump. Rather than carry out an unethical order from Mr. Bove, then-Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) Danielle Sassoon, a SDNY assistant U.S. attorney, and at least five career prosecutors in DOJ’s Criminal Division, including the then-acting chief of the Public Integrity Section and a deputy assistant attorney general, resigned.  Due to the serious nature of Mr. Bove’s misconduct, we request that the Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the First Judicial Department open an investigation to determine whether Mr. Bove, who is a member of the New York State Bar, violated applicable New York State Unified Court System Rules of Professional Conduct and should be subject to disciplinary action.”
    The Senators then explain the coercive and political nature of Bove’s role in the dismissal of United States v. Adams, before outlining specific episodes that appear to violate at least four categories of prohibited misconduct by the New York State Unified Court System, writing: “As detailed in official Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the SDNY memoranda and subsequent public reporting, Mr. Bove has explicitly premised the dismissal of charges against Mayor Eric L. Adams upon the extraction of a political favor from Mayor Adams to benefit President Trump. Notably, the dismissal is inherently coercive, because it was without prejudice, therefore allowing Mr. Bove to use the threat of again charging Mayor Adams to ensure the political favor is fulfilled. There is substantial documentary proof of this misconduct, and reportedly dozens of witnesses to verify public reporting of Mr. Bove’s misconduct in this matter[.]”
    The Senators conclude with a request for a professional misconduct investigation into Bove, writing: “Mr. Bove’s conduct not only speaks to his fitness as a lawyer; his activities are part of a broader course of conduct by President Trump and his allies to undermine the traditional independence of Department of Justice’s investigations and prosecutions and the rule of law.  When a government lawyer, particularly one entrusted with a leadership role in the nation’s foremost law enforcement agency, commits serious violations of professional conduct, such actions undermine the integrity of our justice system and erode public confidence in it. Public confidence is further eroded when such serious misconduct is met with no consequences. Therefore, we submit this letter of complaint to respectfully request that the Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the First Department initiate an investigation and take appropriate disciplinary proceedings pursuant to N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 22 § 1240.7.”
    In addition to Durbin, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Adam Schiff (D-CA).
    For a PDF copy of the complaint against Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, click here.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Asia’s Next Growth Frontier

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    Opening Remarks by the IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva
    At a conference on Asia and the IMF: Resilience through Cooperation, Tokyo, Japan, March 5, 9AM JST

    March 4, 2025

    (As Prepared for Delivery)

    I would like to thank Finance Minister Kato for welcoming us today and want to express my gratitude to Governor Ueda for joining. I’m very sorry I can’t be with you in person. But thankfully technology allows me to join you virtually.

    Those who have been to Tokyo’s Skytree know that it has the best views of the city. And like so much in Japan, it’s an engineering masterpiece. Gazing across Tokyo’s skyline, it’s hard to imagine just how much the city—and the country—has changed in the 80 years since the Bretton Woods Institutions were established.

    After World War II, Japan invested heavily in infrastructure and manufacturing and introduced sweeping reforms. These set the country on a path to becoming an economic powerhouse.

    Inspired by Japan’s success, other countries in Asia followed suit. Today, the region contributes over 60 percent of global growth, and is home to some of the world’s largest, most innovative companies.

    Of course, Asia is a very diverse continent, with a mix of advanced economies, emerging and frontier markets, and small island states. Demographics and income levels vary too.

    But across the region, openness and deepening economic ties have been crucial to countries’ success.

    The world is changing, however. Many countries face weaker growth prospects and are saddled with high public debt. The COVID-19 pandemic and recent geopolitical developments have brought into focus the importance of security of supplies. Trade is no longer the engine of global growth it used to be. And we are in the midst of massive transformations, from rapid advances in AI to changing patterns of capital flows and trade. 

    Against this background, governments worldwide are shifting their priorities. The new US administration is rapidly reshaping its policies on trade, taxation, public spending, deregulation, and digital assets. And other governments are also recalibrating their approaches and adjusting their policies.

    The future of growth

    How should countries in Asia adapt? Let me highlight three opportunities.

    First, the shift toward services-led growth. While trade in goods has flattened, service flows are surging. In fact, services have already drawn about half of the region’s workers, up from just 22 percent in 1990.

    Economists have traditionally thought of services as less productive than manufacturing. Our research suggests otherwise. Asia’s labor productivity in financial services is four times higher than in manufacturing, and twice as high in business services.

    Second, digitalization and AI. The demand for digital products and services in the region has accelerated quickly and is on track to continue growing faster than the region’s GDP. Japan’s Rakuten, China’s Alibaba Group, and Indonesia’s GoTo Group now rival e-commerce giants Amazon and Walmart.

    In AI development, Japan and China are racing ahead, followed closely by South Korea and Singapore. This could be an important boost for productivity. In Singapore, for example, an estimated 40 percent of jobs could be made more productive by AI. The country has several digital economy agreements now in place, enabling digital companies in the region to connect and share data more easily.

    That brings me to my third point: greaterregional cooperation andtrade. On the surface, it might look as if the world is retreating from integration. But regionally, countries are leaning in.

    Over the past four decades, intra-regional trade in Asia has increased by 43 percent. Today, more than half of Asian trade is regional.

    The trend is the same for foreign direct investment. FDI from Asian countries to Japan, for example has nearly doubled over the past decade, as market opportunities in Japan’s technology sector grow.

    Together, the shift toward services, digitalization and AI, and greater regional integration can lift growth. But to harness these opportunities, the region will need to carefully navigate domestic developments and global changes.

    The IMF’s role

    That is where the IMF comes in. We strive to be trusted partners to our member countries, provide country-specific advice and safeguard the stability of the global economy. Our work spans economic analysis, policy advice, financing and capacity development.

    And as the world economy has changed, we too have evolved. From managing fixed exchange rates in the 1970s, to active surveillance of countries’ economic and financial policies and more systematic coverage of spillovers.

    More recently, our thinking on capital flow management and foreign exchange interventions has changed, and we’ve upgraded our lending toolkit to include more flexible instruments tailored to emerging market economies.

    Thanks in large part to Japan’s support, we are also offering more support to low-income countries, especially in capacity development, and a stronger presence around the world through our regional technical assistance centers.

    We are grateful to Japan for the deep engagement in thinking about the future of the Fund. Today’s discussions are an important part of that. 

    My colleagues and I are keenly interested in ideas and reflections on:

    • how we can best support our members, especially the most vulnerable among them, to grow and build economic resilience;
    • how to tailor more of our advice to support countries’ efforts to deepen regional collaboration, by thinking through our strategic engagement with groups like the ASEAN, the Pacific Island countries, as well as medium sized and larger economies; and
    • how to strengthen the global financial safety net. We’re assessing how IMF facilities can be further improved to support resilience in our member countries. And we are working closely with regional arrangements to enhance crisis prevention and response capabilities.

    We know from experience that reforms are hard, but we also know they can steer countries towards stronger and durable growth and can achieve a more stable and prosperous global economy.

    You can count on the IMF in this journey.

    Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke and the rest of our team are excited to be part of today’s productive discussion. I look forward to the outcome.

    Thank you.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER:

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/03/05/sp030525-md-asias-next-growth-frontier

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Good Riddance: Prebble Resigns from Waitangi Tribunal

    Source: Te Pati Maori

    Te Pāti Māori welcomes the resignation of Richard Prebble from the Waitangi Tribunal. His appointment in October 2024 was a disgrace- another example of this government undermining Te Tiriti o Waitangi by appointing a former ACT leader who has spent his career attacking Māori rights.

    “Regardless of the reason for his exit, Prebble was never fit to sit on the Waitangi Tribunal. His record speaks for itself- decades of bigotry and opposition to Māori self-determination,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Rawiri Waititi.

    “Prebble thinks that Hobson’s pledge has more mana than the Māori text of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, he apparently did not read any tribunal reports until after he was appointed, and he was surprised to find out that Māori did not cede sovereignty.

    “His resignation was inevitable- he was always going to leave because he lacked the values and commitment necessary to serve effectively in this position.”

    “This was clearly a political stunt, driven by the ACT Party, so they can tell all their followers that the Waitangi Tribunal has gone ‘woke’,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.

    “The Waitangi Tribunal was created to investigate breaches of Te Tiriti and uphold Māori justice. Yet this government installed someone who was a key architect of Rogernomics—the policies that sold off our whenua, slashed Māori jobs, and entrenched poverty in our communities. His appointment was an insult, and his departure is overdue.

    “His resignation presents an opportunity. The Crown must do the right thing and appoint more Māori to the Tribunal. This is not a space for stale old politicians who have worked against Māori—it is for those steeped in tikanga, whakapapa, and a lifelong commitment to Te Tiriti justice,” said Ngarewa-Packer.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Arab leaders adopt Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction plan

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Karam Haloub’s kids are seen near their damaged house in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, on March 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Arab leaders approved on Tuesday an Egyptian reconstruction plan for Gaza, which is estimated to cost 53 billion U.S. dollars and aims to avoid displacing Palestinians from the enclave.

    The plan was accepted at the closing of the emergency Arab summit held in Cairo with full support from participating Arab leaders.

    The summit also agreed to form a non-factional technocratic committee to administer Gaza for at least six months under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority.

    Following the summit, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told a press conference that Egypt will begin to promote its reconstruction plan internationally.

    He detailed that the plan includes the establishment of a seaport and an airport in the Gaza Strip and the recycling of the rubble left by the destruction in Gaza.

    According to the summit’s final statement, the Arab leaders issued a warning that any attempts to displace the Palestinian people or to annex any part of the occupied Palestinian territory would lead the region into a new phase of conflict, undermine opportunities for stability, and expand the conflict to other countries in the region.

    The Arab leaders pledged to provide all types of financial, material, and political support for the implementation of the reconstruction plan, urging the international community and financing institutions to promptly provide the necessary support for the plan, according to the statement.

    The Arab leaders also emphasized the urgency of implementing the second and third phases of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, stressing the importance of each party’s commitment to its obligations, particularly the Israeli side, to achieve a permanent cessation of “aggression” against Gaza.

    They demanded that Israel should completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip, including the Philadelphi Corridor between Gaza and Egypt, and ensure safe, adequate, and immediate access to humanitarian, shelter, and medical aid without obstacles.

    Participants pose for a group photo before attending the Extraordinary Arab Summit-Summit for Palestine in New Administrative Capital, Egypt, on March 4, 2025. [Photo/Egyptian Presidency handout via Xinhua]

    The Arab leaders vowed to work on establishing a trust fund to receive financial pledges from all donor countries and financing institutions to implement recovery and reconstruction projects.

    The plan counters a previous proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump, which suggests redeveloping Gaza and relocating Gazans to neighboring countries, including Egypt and Jordan.

    Oren Marmorstein, spokesperson for Israel’s foreign ministry, rejected the plan on X, reiterating Israel’s support for Trump’s plan.

    For his part, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the UN’s readiness to back the Egypt-drafted plan, stressing that Gaza should remain as part of the State of Palestine.

    Describing the situation in Gaza as “horrific,” Guterres called for allowing humanitarian aid into the enclave.

    Hamas welcomed the summit’s outcomes, saying that they reflect significant political support for the Palestinian cause, particularly amid the escalation of “Israeli aggression.”

    In a press statement, Hamas praised the positions of Arab leaders during the summit, highlighting their rejection of attempts to displace Palestinians or undermine their cause.

    Hamas stressed that the unified Arab stance sends a clear message that the Palestinian “Nakba,” the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, will not be repeated.

    The group also commended the summit’s adoption of the Gaza reconstruction plan, calling for all necessary resources to ensure its success.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Economic green shoots start on the dairy farm

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Increased production and higher export prices mean that New Zealand dairy farmers will play a big role in New Zealand’s economic recovery Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said in a speech at an Environmental Diary Leaders conference in Wellington today.

    “Dairy exports are forecast to grow by around $4.5 billion this year meaning more money in the pockets of Kiwi farmers and more jobs in rural New Zealand,” Mr McClay says. 

    “The strong performance of our dairy farmers is welcome news for the economy as the government continues to lower inflation through careful spending meaning reducing interest rates and by delivering fewer and less costly regulations.

    Milk production for the last season was up 4 per cent on the previous year, marking the highest level in a decade. December alone saw the strongest output in four years, meaning consumers around the world can enjoy more of the world’s highest quality and safest environmentally friendly grass fed dairy. 

    “Agriculture remains the backbone of our economy with food and fibre exports bringing in over $10,600 for every Kiwi, with dairy exports alone contributed $4,700 per person. The dairy industry also employs over 54,000 people,” Mr McClay says.

    “The Government is committed to meeting our environmental and climate change obligations, but we will do this without closing down farms or sending jobs and production overseas.

    “The primary sector is fundamental to achieving our ambitious goal of doubling exports by value in ten years and the coalition government is backing farmers to be world best. 

    “With strong production already in the vat, feed crops coming in, and consumers eager for our products, the sector is well positioned to turbo charge the economy and deliver for every New Zealander,” Mr McClay says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: AI deepfakes threaten democracy and people’s identities. ‘Personality rights’ could help

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wellett Potter, Lecturer in Law, University of New England

    Ray Bond/Shutterstock

    How much is your voice worth?

    It could be as little as roughly A$100. That was how much ABC News Verify recently spent to clone federal senator Jacqui Lambie’s voice – with her permission – using an easily accessible online platform.

    This example highlights how artificial intelligence (AI) apps which create a synthetic replica of a person’s image and/or voice in the form of deepfakes or voice cloning are becoming cheaper and easier to use.

    This poses a serious threat not only to the functioning of democracy (especially around elections), but also to a person’s identity.

    Current copyright laws in Australia are inadequate when it comes to protecting people if their image or voice is digitally cloned without their permission. Establishing “personality rights” could help.

    Detecting what’s fake is difficult

    Deepfake technology is able to produce content which seems increasingly real. This makes it harder to detect what is fake and what is not. Indeed, several people for whom the ABC played the voice clone of Senator Lambie did not initially realise it was fake.

    This shows how unauthorised deepfakes and voice cloning can be easily used to generate misinformation. They can also be extremely damaging to individuals.

    This was highlighted back in 2020, when one of Australia’s first political deepfake videos was released. It featured the then Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk claiming the state was “cooked” and in “massive debt”.

    The video received around 1 million views on social media.

    What laws cover this?

    In Australia, defamation, privacy, image-based abuse laws, passing off and consumer protection laws might be applicable to situations involving deepfake video or audio clips. You may also be able to lodge a complaint with the eSafety commissioner.

    In theory copyright law can also protect a person’s image and voice. However, its application is more nuanced.

    First, a person whose likeness has been cloned by an AI platform often does not own the source material. This material could be an image, video or voice recording which has been copied and uploaded. Even if your image and voice is depicted, if you are not the owner of the source material, you cannot sue for infringement.

    Using Senator Lambie as an example, the ABC only needed 90 seconds of original voice recording to create the AI clone. Senator Lambie’s voice itself is not able to be copyright-protected. That’s because copyright can only attach to a tangible expression, say in written or recorded form. It cannot attach to speech or unexpressed ideas.

    As the ABC arranged, recorded and produced the original 90-second recording, the broadcaster could hold copyright in it as a sound recording. It is a fixed, tangible expression of Senator Lambie’s voice. However, unless the senator and the ABC made an agreement, Senator Lambie would have no economic rights, such as the right to reproduction, to the original voice recording. Nor would she have any rights to the clone of her voice.

    In fact, the AI-generated clone itself is unlikely to be protected by copyright, as it is considered authorless under Australian copyright law. Many AI-generated creations are currently unable to be protected under Australian copyright, due to a lack of original, identifiable human authorship.

    Moral rights – including the right of attribution (to be credited as the performer), the right against false attribution and the right of integrity – are also limited in scope. They could apply to the original audio clip, but not to a deepfake.

    What are ‘personality rights’?

    In most jurisdictions in the United States, there exist what are commonly known as “personality rights”. These rights include the right of publicity, which acknowledges that an individual’s name, likeness, voice and other attributes are commercially valuable.

    Celebrities such as Bette Midler and Johnny Carson have successfully exercised this right to prevent companies using elements of their identity for commercial purposes without permission.

    However, personality rights might not always apply to AI voice clones, with some lawyers arguing that only actual recorded voices are protectable, not clones of voices. This has led to states such as Tennessee introducing legislation to specifically address AI-generated content. The Ensuring Likeness, Voice, and Image Security Act, introduced in 2024, addresses the misappropriation of an individual’s voice through generative AI use.

    Urgent steps are needed

    There has been longstanding scholarly debate about whether Australia should introduce statutory publicity rights.

    One of the challenges is overlap with pre-existing laws, such as Australian consumer law and tort law. Policymakers might be hesitant to introduce a new right, as these other areas of the law may provide partial protection. Another challenge is how to enforce these rights if an AI-generated deepfake is created overseas.

    Australia could also consider introducing a similar law to the “No Fakes Bill” currently being debated in the US. If passed, this bill would allow people to protect their image and voice through intellectual property rights. This should be given serious consideration in Australia too.

    Deepfakes are becoming more and more common, and are now widespread during elections. Because of this, it’s important that Australians remain vigilant to them in the lead up to this year’s federal election.

    And let’s hope that whoever wins that election takes urgent steps to better protect everyone’s image and voice.

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

    – ref. AI deepfakes threaten democracy and people’s identities. ‘Personality rights’ could help – https://theconversation.com/ai-deepfakes-threaten-democracy-and-peoples-identities-personality-rights-could-help-251267

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaine Demands Answers on Mass Layoffs of Veterans from Federal Workforce

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), joined 11 of his Senate colleagues in a letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Charles Ezell to express their serious concern over the significant number of U.S. veterans being fired from the federal workforce as part of the Trump Administration’s mass layoff initiative. To highlight his concern for the illegal and unjustified firing of thousands of veterans, Kaine will be joined by Jason King, a disabled veteran from Fairfax who was fired from his position in the Federal Aviation Administration’s safety division as a result of the Trump Administration’s attacks on the federal workforce, at Trump’s joint address tonight.
    “United States veterans are dedicated to public service, so it should be no surprise that veterans make up a significant portion of the federal workforce. According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), veterans make up 30 percent of the federal workforce compared to only six percent of the civilian workforce,” wrote the senators. “More than 640,000 veterans were part of the federal workforce before Elon Musk and President Trump’s haphazard layoffs began, many of whom are losing their livelihoods after these layoffs and a legally questionable deferred resignation program.”
    The senators continued, “The administration’s additional planned federal layoffs will impact a wide swath of veterans, hurting them and their families while also undermining government services. According to analysis compiled from open-source data, as of February 23, 2025, Elon Musk and President Trump have already fired nearly 6,000 veterans across the federal government.”
    In the letter, the senators demanded Acting Director Ezell and the OPM provide a clear explanation of the assessment OPM conducted on the impact the deferred resignation letter and mass layoff initiative will have on federal agencies’ ability to meet their missions efficiently and effectively and whether proper assessments were conducted prior to workforce reductions taking place.
    “All federal employees deserve fair treatment and recognition for their service to the American people. Veterans bring great value and skillsets earned through their military service to the federal government. To lay them off with no forethought is disrespectful to their service and damaging to our federal government,” the senators concluded.
    The letter was led by U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and cosigned by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Michael Bennet (D-CO).  
    A copy of the letter is available here and below.
    Acting Director Ezell:
    We write to express great concern about how many U.S. military veterans are being fired from the federal workforce as part of Elon Musk and President Trump’s mass layoffs. This is upending the lives of veterans and their families who have already given so much in service to our country.
    The federal government has long recognized the value and importance of veterans in the federal workforce. In honor of their service to the country, veterans receive preference when applying to positions in the civil service. United States veterans are dedicated to public service, so it should be no surprise that veterans make up a significant portion of the federal workforce. According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), veterans make up 30 percent of the federal workforce compared to only six percent of the civilian workforce. More than 640,000 veterans were part of the federal workforce before Elon Musk and President Trump’s haphazard layoffs began, many of whom are losing their livelihoods after these layoffs and a legally questionable deferred resignation program. The administration’s additional planned federal layoffs will impact a wide swath of veterans, hurting them and their families while also undermining government services. According to analysis compiled from open-source data, as of February 23, 2025, Elon Musk and President Trump have already fired nearly 6,000 veterans across the federal government.
    We are alarmed because it does not appear OPM conducted any meaningful assessment of how layoffs and the legally questionable “Fork in the Road” deferred resignation offer would impact veterans. We request information on what, if any, assessment OPM conducted on the impact the deferred resignation offer and mass layoffs will have on federal agencies’ ability to meet their missions and Congressional mandate, or the impact to the federal workforce, particularly on U.S. veterans. To understand how the administration’s plans will impact federal workers and veterans working in executive agencies, including those with service-connected disabilities, we request responses to the following questions be provided no later than March 11, 2025:
    Provide a list of every offer that the administration has made to federal employees since January 20, 2025, to resign. Include any other such offers the administration plans to make at any time during 2025.
    How many federal workers have been terminated or laid off as part of the administration’s workforce reduction efforts since January 20, 2025?
    Provide a detailed account of the number of employees by federal agency, department or unit, location, and veteran status.
    How many of those federal workers are veterans? How many are veterans with a service-connected disability?

    How many federal workers accepted the “Fork in the Road” deferred resignation offer?
    How many of those federal workers are veterans? How many are veterans with a service-connected disability?
    How many of those federal workers were told they were ineligible for the deferred resignation offer after replying with the intent to accept the offer (i.e., replied “resign.”)?
    How many federal workers received the deferred resignation offer despite being ineligible from the start?
    Provide a detailed account of the number of employees by federal agency, department or unit, location, and veteran status. 4. How did OPM evaluate compliance of the “Fork in the Road” deferred resignation program with existing collective bargaining agreements?

    How did OPM evaluate compliance of any layoff decisions with existing collective bargaining agreements?
    Provide a detailed explanation for what assessment, if any, OPM conducted prior to terminating or laying off federal workers as part of the administration’s workforce reduction efforts.
    What job placement services did OPM, the Veterans Administration, or the administration offer to veterans subjected to these mass layoffs?
    Provide a copy of each and every OPM memorandum sent to any federal agency at any time from January 20, 2025, onward, relating to any of the following:
    Planning or implementing a Reduction in Force;
    Implementation of President Trump’s executive order 14210, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative” or related executive order 14170;
    President Trump’s executive order 14171, “Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce”;
    President Trump’s executive order 14217, “Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy”; or
    Guidance regarding the treatment of veterans or military spouses in the federal workforce.

    All federal employees deserve fair treatment and recognition for their service to the American people. Veterans bring great value and skillsets earned through their military service to the federal government. To lay them off with no forethought is disrespectful to their service and damaging to our federal government.
    We ask for your clarification on how these workforce reductions have been targeted, what assessment OPM and the impacted agencies have conducted, and what considerations the administration made in making these decisions that will impact hundreds of thousands of dedicated veterans and their families.
    We look forward to your prompt response and attention to this critical matter.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Republican Senators Reintroduce Bill to Increase Accountability at Federal Prisons

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), alongside Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and James Lankford (R-OK) announced the introduction of the Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2025. This bill would bring greater accountability to our nation’s federal prisons by requiring the Director of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
    Currently, the BOP Director is not subject to Senate confirmation despite having significant authority over taxpayer dollars and federal personnel. Unlike most U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) administrators and directors, the BOP Director is appointed by the U.S. Attorney General – not the President – without Senate consideration.
    The Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2025 would require the President to appoint the BOP Director with the advice and consent of the Senate. The legislation would also delineate any newly confirmed BOP Director’s tenure to a single, 10-year term at the head of the Bureau.
    “The Senate plays a vital role in staffing the federal government, evaluating the qualifications of more than a thousand presidential nominees to ensure transparency and accountability. The Director of the Bureau of Prisons oversees thousands of employees and a multi-billion dollar budget, and should be subject to Senate review and confirmation as well,” said Senator McConnell. “Our bill would extend the Senate’s advice and consent role to the Bureau of Prisons Director and expand supervision over this federal agency. The thousands of Americans – and hundreds of Kentuckians – employed by the Bureau of Prisons deserve Senate oversight and an added layer of protection from harm.”
    “No agency as large as the Bureau of Prisons should have so little accountability. Our bill ensures the concerns of those who work in prisons are heard and acted upon and will provide much needed Senate oversight of a taxpayer funded system,” said Dr. Paul.
    “The Director of the Bureau of Prisons oversees a massive budget and thousands of employees, including many Iowans. It’s a significant responsibility that requires serious oversight to protect inmates and employees from mismanagement or abuse. Requiring the BOP Director to face Senate confirmation would bring much needed transparency and accountability to the federal prison system,” Senator Grassley said.
    “Any government agency that has over 30,000 employees, manages a multi-billion dollar budget, and directly impacts thousands of lives should not be exempt from Senate oversight,” said Senator Blackburn. “This bipartisan bill extends the Senate’s duty of advice and consent to the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, fostering greater transparency for employees and further protecting taxpayer dollars in the federal prison system.”
    “The Senate confirmation process ensures that Oklahoman voices are heard. Requiring Senate confirmation will improve transparency and give taxpayers the accountability they deserve,” said Senator Lankford.
    The BOP Director supervises the federal prison employees who serve in over 120 facilities across the country working under hazardous conditions to protect the public from harm. The legislation announced today would subject the Director to the same congressional scrutiny as other top law enforcement agency chiefs within the DOJ, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Directors and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator. By extending Senate consideration to the BOP Director, this legislation would encourage the Bureau to provide greater responsiveness to the safety needs of its dedicated federal corrections workers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren Statement on General Services Administration (GSA) Plan to Sell 400+ Federal Buildings

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    March 04, 2025
    Washington, D.C. – Following news that the General Service Administration (GSA) plans to sell over 400 federal buildings, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) released the following statement:
    “This plan raises serious concerns. Which Trump-friendly billionaires could profit from the sale of these federal assets while working people spend more time and money to access critical services no longer in their communities? As Donald Trump and Elon Musk dismantle our government, piece by piece, and sell it for parts, it’s the seniors relying on Social Security, the veterans looking for health care, and entrepreneurs applying for small business loans that are paying the price.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren Slams Trump’s “Sandstorm of Chaos” Meant to Distract from His Billionaire Tax Giveaways

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    March 04, 2025
    Senator Warren joined Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Massachusetts Congressional Delegation ahead of President Trump’s joint address to Congress
    Warren: “The whole Republican plan fits on a bumper sticker: Billionaires win; families lose.” 
    Washington, D.C. – At a press conference today, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) joined Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation in delivering remarks on Trump’s agenda to benefit billionaires while hurting working people ahead of Trump’s Joint Address to Congress.
    Senator Warren called the first six weeks of the new administration a “sandstorm of chaos” meant to distract from President Trump’s goal of jamming through trillions in tax cuts to billionaires at the expense of health care, Social Security, and programs that benefit working people.  
    Senator Warren was joined by her guest Doug Kowalewski, a former National Science Foundation employee from Wellesley who, after six years of service, was fired unexpectedly in Elon Musk’s and the Department of Government Efficiency’s gutting of the federal workforce. Doug shared his story at Senator Warren’s recent town hall in Framingham, Massachusetts.
    Transcript: Press Conference with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Massachusetts Congressional DelegationU.S. SenateMarch 4, 2025
    Senator Elizabeth Warren: We are all here today as the federal representatives of the seven million people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And we stand proudly with the Mayor of Boston, who has been “invited” – I think that’s still a word – she has been invited by the Republicans to come and defend Boston and to defend the values that we fight for every day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. So we want to be here, in part, to talk about what this fight is about.   
    Over the last six weeks, Donald Trump has created a sandstorm of chaos to try to distract us from his real agenda: Tax cuts for billionaires, paid for by cuts to health care and Social Security. These are programs that mommas and daddies and babies and seniors rely on every single day.
    Trump and his unelected co-president Elon Musk are dismantling our government, piece by piece, so that it works better for those same billionaires and worse for everyone else. The whole Republican plan fits on a bumper sticker: Billionaires win; families lose. 
    Trump promised, you may remember, to lower costs “on day one.” Instead, he and co-President Musk have tried to fire the financial cops that keep Americans from getting cheated. They have slashed funding that supports research for cures for cancer and Alzheimer’s. And they have fired thousands of hardworking public servants, including the people who keep us safe when we fly on airplanes, the people who make sure that nuclear materials are safely stored, and people who inspect our food.
    One of those hardworking public servants is Doug. Up until two weeks ago, Doug worked at the National Science Foundation — until out of nowhere, he was fired along with over one hundred of his colleagues. And I’ve invited Doug here to share his story. Doug, come on over. 
    Doug Kowalewski, Senator Warren’s Guest for Trump’s Joint Address to Congress: So, after six years of service at the National Science Foundation, I was fired two weeks ago from today. And me, along with 167 of my colleagues were called into a Zoom meeting to get a mass termination firing with no cause. And this doesn’t just impact me — this impacts all of Massachusetts. A limited workforce at NSF or NST or NIH jeopardizes the billions of federal investments that directly fund our top-notch research and researchers in Massachusetts and powers our local economy.
    So, I’m scared for our country. Millions of Americans who have dedicated their lives and dedicated their careers to this country are suffering because of unelected billionaires. I’m here with Senator Warren to fight back against these illegal terminations and to stand up for hardworking civil servants. Thank you. 
    Senator Warren: Thank you very much, Doug. And I appreciate Doug being here. I just want to say, this is what happens when you go to town halls. I had a town hall in Framingham a week ago and Doug stood up and told his story, as have lots of other people in Massachusetts. 
    I would say the biggest question at that town hall is: What can we do? And Doug is living proof of what we can do. We can tell our stories because they matter. We build a grassroots movement across this story by not using big words and abstract terms, but by telling the story person by person by person about what kind of work you do and what it means when you just get called in and told, “You’re fired,” because it fits in someone else’s political agendas, so thank you for being here, Doug. I appreciate it.   
    Alright, I just want to say: Doug is standing up, he’s pushing back and that’s what we’ve all got to do. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australia’s newest city starting to take shape

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 5 March 2025

    Released by: The Premier, Deputy Premier, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces

    The Western Sydney Aerotropolis is set to take-off, with the official opening of the first building at Bradfield City Centre and the release of the Minns Labor Government’s infrastructure delivery plan which will drive further investment into the region.

    The Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility (AMRF) – is the first step in delivering the new city of Bradfield at the heart of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis and the start of an innovation ecosystem that will boost the NSW manufacturing industry.

    A landmark partnership agreement between the AMRF and 11 NSW and ACT universities will see this ecosystem rapidly evolve with the world class research capabilities of the universities combined with the AMRF’s industrial expertise and infrastructure.

    Under the agreement, the parties will work together to translate research into production and develop the next generation of advanced manufacturing experts through a paid internship program.

    Critical to facilitating further growth in the precinct, the NSW Government has released the Aerotropolis Sector Plan, which sets out how essential government infrastructure will be delivered quickly and efficiently to service the development of thousands of hectares of employment land.

    The Sector Plan, developed by Infrastructure NSW, provides certainty to industry, the community, and all levels of government around how infrastructure will be sequenced and prioritised in the Aerotropolis.

    This will enhance the State’s competitiveness and boost the supply of serviced land to combat the critical shortage across NSW. It will also assist planning assessment authorities to align development with infrastructure capacity in the region.

    This is the first time the Aerotropolis has had a concrete road map that brings together planning and infrastructure coordination.

    With the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport due to open by the end of 2026, investment in Bradfield City Centre and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis capitalises on the opportunity to deliver more than 120,000 high-quality jobs and new industries that will see the Western Sydney economy boom.

    This work builds on the Minns Labor Government’s historic investment in Western Sydney to deliver more homes, jobs and investment to the region.     

    To find out more about Bradfield City Centre, First Building and AMRF collaboration with NSW VCC visit: Bradfield Development Authority | NSW Government

    To find out more and read the Aerotropolis Sector Plan, visit: Aerotropolis Sector Plan  | NSW Government

    Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

    “The Aerotropolis is almost 40 times the size of Sydney CBD and provides an unprecedented economic opportunity for Western Sydney.

    “We’re backing the region with over $25 billion of infrastructure investment that is going to ensure the critical roads and services are delivered as quickly as possible to give industry certainty and confidence to invest in the area.

    “We asked Infrastructure NSW to develop the Aerotropolis Sector Plan to identify how and when we will do this. Today’s announcement demonstrates the value in utilising whole-of-government coordination to deliver on our commitments.

    “With Bradfield and the Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility (AMRF), we’re showcasing the NSW Government’s commitment to rebuilding the state’s critical manufacturing capability and delivering economic growth in the region.”

    Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:

    “Western Sydney is a rich and diverse region set to boom with the opening of the new Airport. We’re building better communities by investing in the region.

    “With Bradfield and the Aerotropolis, we’re giving kids in Western Sydney the opportunity to dream about a future with high quality jobs close to home.”

    Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

    “The First Building opening is another example of the genuine momentum building around Australia’s first new city in over 100 years.

    “This is just the beginning of Bradfield’s future growth as it evolves into a world class city with 10,000 homes, 20,000 high quality jobs, and critical green open spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trump Tells Farmers ‘Have Fun’ As He Kicks Off Pointless Trade Wars. Cantwell Tells the Truth: ‘It’s Not Going to Be Fun, It’s Going to Be A Nightmare’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    03.04.25
    Trump Tells Farmers ‘Have Fun’ As He Kicks Off Pointless Trade Wars. Cantwell Tells the Truth: ‘It’s Not Going to Be Fun, It’s Going to Be A Nightmare’
    Ahead of Presidential address, Cantwell calls on Congress to reclaim its Constitutional authority over tariffs; Cantwell also calls out arbitrary and wasteful layoffs at NOAA, NIH, NSF, USDA: “These kinds of ideas sound great, but they’re not well thought out. It’s literally throwing tax dollars away.”
    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, delivered a Senate floor speech raising concerns about the economic fallout of Trump’s newly announced tariffs, hours before the President is set to deliver remarks before a Joint Session of Congress.
     “Trump said to our farmers yesterday on Truth Social, quote, ‘tariffs will go on external products on April 2. Have fun.’ End quote,” Sen. Cantwell said. “’Have fun?’ ‘Have fun?’ When retaliatory tariffs strike our farmers — just as they did in the first Trump administration — it’s not going to be fun, it’s going to be a nightmare for our farmers. And many of the farmers in my state worry [whether] they will be able to farm at all.”
    “I hope my colleagues will slow down on this tariff tirade. Under Article One, Section Eight of the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the power to set duties and regulate foreign commerce. However, Congress has spent the last 80 years delegating its tariff authority to presidents,” she continued. “This president, I believe, is abusing this authority. He calls it an emergency. He’s using the trade wars to supposedly force countries to do things like changing their border policies. I believe it’s time for Congress to start taking back some of that power and considering how we’re going to protect the family farm.”
    Over the past 24 hours, as President Trump’s long-promised 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada and 10% tariff increase on goods from China took effect, stock prices in the United States have plummeted. The Dow fell more than 700 points this morning. Today, the Wall Street Journal’s editorial board criticized his decision: “Trump takes the dumbest tariff plunge.”.
    Sen. Cantwell also showed the following graph with the alarming new forecast by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, which recently began predicting negative real GDP growth for the first quarter of 2025, a rapid reversal of its prior forecast for growth.  “Just last week, when people want to talk about GDP and where this is going, it’s amazing that the Atlanta Fed was forecasting GDP growth over two percent for the first quarter of 2025…. but we can see when we got to February, we fell off a cliff… this drop is the representation of a cliff that President Trump is pushing the American economy over.”

    “We know this — that in my state, families are paying more for groceries. They’re paying more at the gas pump. They’re paying more at electricity bills. And they are seeing the stock market plummet because as businesses grapple with Trump’s unnecessary trade war, businesses are concerned about the long-term impacts of the supply chain and the cost of those tariffs,” Sen. Cantwell said.
    In Washington state, two out of every five jobs are tied to trade and trade-related industries. More information on how President Trump’s tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China will affect consumers and businesses in the State of Washington can be found HERE. Nationwide:
    A 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico would add an estimated $144 billion a year to the cost of manufacturing in the United States.
    Tariffs on Canada and Mexico could increase U.S. car prices by as much as $12,000.
    According to the Yale Budget Lab, Trump’s proposed tariffs would result in the highest U.S. effective tariff rate in more than 80 years, and depending on the level of retaliation by other trading partners, will result in increased costs of between $1,600 and $2,000 per household. According to their analysis, electronics, clothing, cars, and food will all see above-average price increases.
    Sen. Cantwell has remained a steadfast supporter of free trade to grow the economy in the State of Washington and nationwide. Sen. Cantwell was the leading voice in negotiations to end India’s 20% retaliatory tariff on American apples, which was imposed in response to tariffs on steel and aluminum and devastated Washington state’s apple exports. India had once been the second-largest export market for American apples, but after President Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum in his first term, India imposed retaliatory tariffs in response and U.S. apple exports plummeted. The impact on Washington apple growers was severe: Apple exports from the state dropped from $120 million in 2017 to less than $1 million by 2023.  In September 2023, following several years of Sen. Cantwell’s advocacy, India ended its retaliatory tariffs on apples and pulse crops which was welcome news to the state’s more than 1,400 apple growers and the 68,000-plus workers they support.
    In her speech today, Sen. Cantwell also railed against the Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) push to indiscriminately slash federal workers from the payroll, compromising the vital ongoing work at federal agencies.
    “The cuts that these agencies have been facing are really the cuts to some of the most technical jobs the United States government has. Whether you’re talking about NOAA, or the National Weather Service, or the National Institutes of Health, or the National Science Foundation, or the US Department of Agriculture — they’ve all been targeted for reductions. These agencies are critical to our economic growth and to our security. And at a time when we are seeing more extreme weather events, or more floods or more wildfires, why shouldn’t we be investing more in weather forecasting, not less? 
    “And when you look at NOAA workers who support our commercial, and recreation, and tribal fisheries, they employ 1.7 million people, including thousands in the State of Washington. Why would you cut specialized workforce that are helping support the growth of GDP?” Sen. Cantwell said.
    “DOGE wants to cap the overhead expenses of research. University of Washington medicine tells me that this would leave them with shortfalls and that they might have to stop clinical trials that are underway. You can’t just stop medical research like it’s a faucet! Once halted, the research, the data, the clinical trials, the patients, the laboratories, the equipment — all that led to innovation will be lost. You think you just turn that back on? You know, these kinds of ideas sound great, but they’re not well thought out. It’s literally throwing tax dollars away.”
    Since DOGE announced its intent to hack away at federal agencies and programs, Sen. Cantwell has been sounding the alarm and coming to the defense of workers at NOAA, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the National Park Service, and more.
    A video of her speech on the Senate floor today can be viewed HERE; audio is HERE; and a transcript is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New vehicle will support fire service in Champagne

    As part of the Government of Yukon’s work to strengthen volunteer fire services in unincorporated communities, the Yukon Fire Marshal’s Office recently delivered a new pickup truck to Champagne’s Scene Safety Response Unit (SSRU).

    The new truck is a 2024 Ford Super Duty F-350 XL pickup, equipped with radios, a 300GMP Honda pump and a 300-gallon tank.

    The 10 volunteers in Champagne’s SSRU have been training for the past year with the Yukon Fire Marshal’s Office and neighbouring fire departments to support fire safety in their community.

    The Government of Yukon and the Yukon Fire Marshal’s Office will continue encouraging community-based, community-driven and community-supported volunteer fire services by providing appropriate equipment, training and administrative support across the territory. 

    A second SSRU truck is in Whitehorse being fitted with radio and water tank before heading to another volunteer fire service in the next month. Additionally, work is underway for the Yukon government to procure a new fire rescue truck in 2025.

    To learn more about volunteering for their local fire service, people can contact the Fire Marshal’s Office by emailing cs.fmo@yukon.ca or phoning 867-456-6517.
     

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Funding and investment for Yukon RCMP in Budget 2025–26

    Funding and investment for Yukon RCMP in Budget 2025–26
    zaburke

    The Government of Yukon is committed to building safer communities by strengthening RCMP capacity and ensuring RCMP officers have the resources they need to respond effectively across the territory. In Budget 2025-26, the Yukon government is increasing RCMP funding by $5.2 million – subject to legislative approval – bringing the total investment in the RCMP for the upcoming fiscal year to $47 million.

    Through Budget 2025–26, the Department of Justice is seeking approval from the Legislative Assembly to invest strategically in ways that enable relationship building with partners to foster safer communities, to support culturally relevant services and to encourage innovation. 

    If approved, new funding in 2025-26 will be used to build police capacity, support RCMP members, modernize equipment and upgrade detachments.

    • Building police capacity – $1.82 million will fund the creation of nine new positions – eight RCMP officers and one public service worker – which will improve policing capacity across the territory. This includes:
      o    New officers for specialized teams, including the Emergency Response Team, strengthening responses to high-risk incidents.
      o    Permanent funding for two officer positions with Car 867, ensuring a continued mental health-focused response to people in crisis, following the success of the two-year pilot program.
      o    The Yukon has the third highest police per capita ratio in Canada, with a police strength of 325 officers per 100,000 population.
    • An additional $354,000 has been allocated to continue to fund two RCMP resources for the Whitehorse Detachment to support community safety initiatives in the Downtown core. 
    • Supporting RCMP members – $1.51 million is allocated for RCMP pay raises per the second round of RCMP collective bargaining, with an additional $483,000 earmarked for the third round of collective bargaining. The Government of Yukon recognizes the importance of the collective bargaining process and ensuring that the hardworking members of the RCMP receive pay that reflects the increasing demands of their jobs.
    • Modernizing equipment for safer policing and public accountability – $1.39 million is allocated to invest in critical tools such as body armor, boat replacements, and the introduction of new body-worn cameras to improve officer and public safety, while enhancing accountability.
    • Improving RCMP infrastructure – In addition to the operations and maintenance budget, $3.15 million in capital funding is dedicated to upgrading and maintaining detachments across the territory. Planned projects include renovations to the Old Crow detachment, and the assessment of the Haines Junction detachment for potential future upgrades.

    The Government of Yukon will continue to prioritize investments in public safety to protect Yukoners and our economy.
     

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Asia’s Next Growth Frontier

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    Opening Remarks by the IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva
    At a conference on Asia and the IMF: Resilience through Cooperation, Tokyo, Japan, March 5, 9AM JST

    March 4, 2025

    (As Prepared for Delivery)

    I would like to thank Finance Minister Kato for welcoming us today and want to express my gratitude to Governor Ueda for joining. I’m very sorry I can’t be with you in person. But thankfully technology allows me to join you virtually.

    Those who have been to Tokyo’s Skytree know that it has the best views of the city. And like so much in Japan, it’s an engineering masterpiece. Gazing across Tokyo’s skyline, it’s hard to imagine just how much the city—and the country—has changed in the 80 years since the Bretton Woods Institutions were established.

    After World War II, Japan invested heavily in infrastructure and manufacturing and introduced sweeping reforms. These set the country on a path to becoming an economic powerhouse.

    Inspired by Japan’s success, other countries in Asia followed suit. Today, the region contributes over 60 percent of global growth, and is home to some of the world’s largest, most innovative companies.

    Of course, Asia is a very diverse continent, with a mix of advanced economies, emerging and frontier markets, and small island states. Demographics and income levels vary too.

    But across the region, openness and deepening economic ties have been crucial to countries’ success.

    The world is changing, however. Many countries face weaker growth prospects and are saddled with high public debt. The COVID-19 pandemic and recent geopolitical developments have brought into focus the importance of security of supplies. Trade is no longer the engine of global growth it used to be. And we are in the midst of massive transformations, from rapid advances in AI to changing patterns of capital flows and trade. 

    Against this background, governments worldwide are shifting their priorities. The new US administration is rapidly reshaping its policies on trade, taxation, public spending, deregulation, and digital assets. And other governments are also recalibrating their approaches and adjusting their policies.

    The future of growth

    How should countries in Asia adapt? Let me highlight three opportunities.

    First, the shift toward services-led growth. While trade in goods has flattened, service flows are surging. In fact, services have already drawn about half of the region’s workers, up from just 22 percent in 1990.

    Economists have traditionally thought of services as less productive than manufacturing. Our research suggests otherwise. Asia’s labor productivity in financial services is four times higher than in manufacturing, and twice as high in business services.

    Second, digitalization and AI. The demand for digital products and services in the region has accelerated quickly and is on track to continue growing faster than the region’s GDP. Japan’s Rakuten, China’s Alibaba Group, and Indonesia’s GoTo Group now rival e-commerce giants Amazon and Walmart.

    In AI development, Japan and China are racing ahead, followed closely by South Korea and Singapore. This could be an important boost for productivity. In Singapore, for example, an estimated 40 percent of jobs could be made more productive by AI. The country has several digital economy agreements now in place, enabling digital companies in the region to connect and share data more easily.

    That brings me to my third point: greaterregional cooperation andtrade. On the surface, it might look as if the world is retreating from integration. But regionally, countries are leaning in.

    Over the past four decades, intra-regional trade in Asia has increased by 43 percent. Today, more than half of Asian trade is regional.

    The trend is the same for foreign direct investment. FDI from Asian countries to Japan, for example has nearly doubled over the past decade, as market opportunities in Japan’s technology sector grow.

    Together, the shift toward services, digitalization and AI, and greater regional integration can lift growth. But to harness these opportunities, the region will need to carefully navigate domestic developments and global changes.

    The IMF’s role

    That is where the IMF comes in. We strive to be trusted partners to our member countries, provide country-specific advice and safeguard the stability of the global economy. Our work spans economic analysis, policy advice, financing and capacity development.

    And as the world economy has changed, we too have evolved. From managing fixed exchange rates in the 1970s, to active surveillance of countries’ economic and financial policies and more systematic coverage of spillovers.

    More recently, our thinking on capital flow management and foreign exchange interventions has changed, and we’ve upgraded our lending toolkit to include more flexible instruments tailored to emerging market economies.

    Thanks in large part to Japan’s support, we are also offering more support to low-income countries, especially in capacity development, and a stronger presence around the world through our regional technical assistance centers.

    We are grateful to Japan for the deep engagement in thinking about the future of the Fund. Today’s discussions are an important part of that. 

    My colleagues and I are keenly interested in ideas and reflections on:

    • how we can best support our members, especially the most vulnerable among them, to grow and build economic resilience;
    • how to tailor more of our advice to support countries’ efforts to deepen regional collaboration, by thinking through our strategic engagement with groups like the ASEAN, the Pacific Island countries, as well as medium sized and larger economies; and
    • how to strengthen the global financial safety net. We’re assessing how IMF facilities can be further improved to support resilience in our member countries. And we are working closely with regional arrangements to enhance crisis prevention and response capabilities.

    We know from experience that reforms are hard, but we also know they can steer countries towards stronger and durable growth and can achieve a more stable and prosperous global economy.

    You can count on the IMF in this journey.

    Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke and the rest of our team are excited to be part of today’s productive discussion. I look forward to the outcome.

    Thank you.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER:

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Manurewa’s first Pan-Pacific strategy aims to amplify Pasifika voices

    By Mary Afemata, Local Democracy Reporting

    The Manurewa Local Board is developing its first Pan-Pacific strategy in Aotearoa New Zealand to amplify Pasifika voices in local decision-making.

    A recent community workshop brought leaders and residents together to develop a strategy that will help guide how the board engages with Pasifika communities. The plan will then be presented in June.

    Akerei Maresala-Thomson, an Auckland Council partner and facilitator of the workshop at Manurewa Library, described it as a listening session.

    LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTING

    “A lot of work has gone into reaching this stage, with investment from both past and present board members. This will be the first Pasifika strategy for the board-a win for our community.”

    The strategy aims to amplify Pacific voices in local decision-making, promote cultural recognition, improve access to services, and encourage Pasifika participation in governance.

    Maresala-Thomson facilitated a similar workshop in 2019, laying the groundwork for this initiative.

    The strategy, expected to be presented in June, will be informed by feedback from the workshop and an online community survey.

    According to the 2023 Census, Pasifika make up nearly 40 percent of Manurewa’s approximately 39,450 residents. The consultation process involved gathering demographic information and identifying key priorities for the community.

    “There was a diverse mix of expertise and perspectives in the room,” said Maresala-Thomson. “Some smaller Pasifika communities weren’t represented, and our youth were largely absent.

    Notes from the workshop will help shape the final draft of the Pan-Pacific strategy, set for presentation in June. Image: LDR/Mary Afemata

    “However, many contributed via the online survey, which helped guide our discussions.”

    The local board wants a Pan-Pacific approach — not just input from the larger island groups but representation from all the diverse Pacific communities, he said.

    “More often than not, and this is no fault of our own, our Samoan, Cook Island, and Tongan communities naturally make up the larger share of our population.

    “But they wanted to make sure we also reached our smaller community groups, like our Niuean, Tuvaluan, Solomon Islands, and even Rotuman communities.”

    The group received great representation from the Tuvaluan, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, and Niuean communities, in addition to the larger, traditional networks from Samoan and Tongan communities, he said.

    ‘Great networking opportunity’
     One attendee, Kate*, who asked not to be identified, said she joined the workshop to understand how local boards align with Pasifika priorities.

    “It was a great networking opportunity, but ultimately, I wanted to know how I can best support the community,” she said. “The issues raised today aren’t new. We’ve been talking about them for years.”

    Kate believes many Pasifika families struggle to engage with local government because they don’t see the impact of their input.

    “There’s access to these spaces, but people don’t know where to go or why it matters. We need better ways to bring the conversation into people’s homes,” she said.

    Engaging Pasifika youth was another key discussion point.

    “There are youth in different spaces, and we need to find the champions — whether through youth councils, community groups, or other networks-who can help share the message among their peers.”

    Community educator Kathleen Guttenbeil-Vatuvei . . . “When you hear ‘strategy,’ you want to be involved in shaping solutions.” Image: Facebook/TP/LDR

    Kathleen Guttenbeil-Vatuvei, a community educator and financial mentor at Vaiola Pacific Island Budgeting Service Trust, said she attended the event to ensure financial capability was part of the discussion.

    “When you hear ‘strategy,’ you want to be involved in shaping solutions,” she said. “What is the local board going to do about these issues? Are they listening? How do we fit into this strategy, and do we have a voice?”

    She stressed the importance of youth involvement.

    “Youth should be equally represented. But sometimes, they feel intimidated around elders or community leaders. It’s important to create spaces where they feel comfortable contributing.”

    Angela Dalton, Councillor for Manurewa-Papakura and former chair of the local board, received a message from Maresala-Thomson thanking her for initiating the strategy years ago.

    “I always felt we weren’t turning words into tangible outcomes for Pasifika,” Dalton said.

    “I was determined to build strong relationships to ensure we deliver projects that meet the needs of our growing Pasifika population.”

    Auckland Council partner and facilitator Akerei Maresala-Thomson . . . facilitating a discussion on strengthening the relationship between the Manurewa Local Board and Pasifika communities. Image: LDR/Mary Afemata

    Feedback will shape final draft
    Feedback will shape the final draft of the strategy. A subcommittee will refine the document before it is presented to the Manurewa Local Board.

    The goal is to align its implementation with the 2025-2026 Local Board Plan, ensuring Pasifika priorities are embedded in decision-making.

    A steering committee will oversee the project, ensuring it reflects the aspirations of Manurewa’s Pasifika communities and fosters meaningful engagement with local government.

    Maresala-Thomson said: “What we get from today, from your feedback, which has been amazing, this will help to draft the strategic plan specifically for Pacific and Manurewa.”

    Local Democracy Reporting (LDR) is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. Asia Pacific Report is a community member of the LDR project.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 03/4/2025 VIDEO: Blackburn Previews President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following video ahead of President Trump’s joint address to Congress, where she highlighted his successful efforts to restore economic prosperity, secure the border, make the government more efficient, and reassert America on the global stage:
    “One of the things we are looking forward to hearing tonight from President Trump is how he is going to reinvigorate the push for the American dream – not only for today or tomorrow – but for future generations, for our children and our grandchildren so that they learn to dream those big dreams and make those dreams come true. One of the things that he will touch on no doubt is how he has restored common sense to the Oval Office. We’ve seen this take place every day as he makes promises and keeps those promises and delivers for the American people – things like reinvigorating our energy, finding cuts through DOGE, securing our border, carrying out deportations, and, of course, restoring our standing in the world. These are all topics he will touch on tonight. The American people are going to be watching.” – Senator Blackburn

    Click here to download video of Senator Blackburn’s remarks.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Advisory: Schedules for China’s ‘two sessions’ on March 5

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The following are the schedules for the third session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Wednesday.
    At 9 a.m., the third session of the 14th NPC will hold its opening meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
    NPC deputies will hear the government work report to be delivered by Premier Li Qiang.
    NPC deputies will review the report on the implementation of the 2024 plan for national economic and social development and on the 2025 draft plan, and the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2025.
    NPC deputies will review the report on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2024 and on the draft central and local budgets for 2025, and the draft central and local budgets for 2025.
    NPC deputies will hear an explanation on the draft amendment to the Law on Deputies to the National People’s Congress and to the Local People’s Congresses at Various Levels.
    In the afternoon, NPC delegations will hold meetings to deliberate the government work report.
    In the morning, members of the CPPCC National Committee will sit in on the opening meeting of the NPC session as non-voting participants.
    In the afternoon, they will hold group meetings to deliberate the work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and a report on how the proposals from political advisors have been handled. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Agenda for 3rd session of 14th CPPCC National Committee

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The following is the adopted agenda for the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which runs from March 4 to 10.
    — Hear and deliberate a work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee;
    — Hear and deliberate a report on the work of proposals from political advisors since the last session of the CPPCC National Committee in March 2024;
    — Sit in on the third session of the 14th National People’s Congress; hear and discuss reports including a government work report;
    — Review and approve a political resolution on the third session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee;
    — Review and approve a resolution on the work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee;
    — Review and approve a resolution on the work of proposals from political advisors since the last session of the CPPCC National Committee;
    — Review and approve a report on the examination of proposals. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s top political advisor calls for pooling wisdom, strength for Chinese modernization

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

    China’s top political advisor calls for pooling wisdom, strength for Chinese modernization

    BEIJING, March 4 — China’s top political advisor Wang Huning called for more efforts to pool wisdom and strength for Chinese modernization as national political advisors kicked off their annual gathering on Tuesday.

    More than 2,000 political advisors attended the opening meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The agenda for the session was reviewed and approved.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng were seated on the rostrum.

    Wang, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, delivered a report of the top political advisory body’s standing committee.

    Wang said China has accomplished its main economic and social development targets for 2024, applauding the latest achievements made in the country’s modernization drive.

    He summed up the political advisory body’s work over the past year, saying that political advisors offered suggestions on major issues including deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization.

    The year 2025 marks the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), and it is also a pivotal year for the country to further deepen reform comprehensively, Wang said.

    He called on political advisors to pool the wisdom and strength of all Chinese people, both at home and abroad, contribute to the fulfillment of the goals and tasks set in the Plan, and lay a solid foundation for a good start to the country’s next five-year plan.

    “Let us rally the support of the people, build greater consensus, and pool wisdom and strength for advancing Chinese modernization,” he said.

    Jiang Zuojun, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, presented a report on the handling of proposals submitted by political advisors since the last session of the top political advisory body in March 2024.

    The CPPCC National Committee received 6,019 proposals from its members over the past year, of which 5,091 were accepted for processing. The response rate for accepted proposals stood at 99.9 percent.

    A significant number of opinions and suggestions have been turned into policies and measures, driving economic and social progress over the past year, he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with premiers to discuss a Team Canada response to unjustified U.S. tariffs against Canada

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened a virtual meeting with Canada’s premiers to discuss the United States’ unjustified tariffs against Canada. The Prime Minister was joined by the Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman, and Canada’s Fentanyl Czar, Kevin Brosseau.

    The Prime Minister and the premiers denounced the U.S.’ decision to impose unjustified tariffs and committed to stand united against this economic threat. They noted that mutually beneficial trade between Canada and the U.S. has underpinned the world’s closest economic partnership for decades. They underscored that tariffs would weaken both of our countries, put thousands of good paying jobs at risk, and make life less affordable for both Canadians and Americans alike.

    The Prime Minister and the premiers discussed Canada’s robust response to the imposition of tariffs by the U.S., which includes moving forward with 25 per cent tariffs on $155 billion worth of imported goods, beginning immediately with a list of goods worth $30 billion. The scope of the Canadian counter tariffs will be increased to $155 billion if the current U.S. tariffs are maintained, and could also be increased if new tariffs are imposed.

    The Prime Minister emphasized that Canada’s response is designed to minimize negative impacts on Canadians and the economy, while also recognizing that U.S. tariffs will inevitably cause some economic hardship. Minister LeBlanc stated the federal government will soon announce an initial package of supports to mitigate the impact of U.S. tariffs on Canadian workers, families, and businesses. First Ministers also discussed progress to reduce barriers to internal trade and labour mobility within Canada.

    The Prime Minister and the premiers thanked Canadians for their resilience and solidarity in the face of this threat. They noted their response to these challenging times has proven to the world that Canada will always be strong, free, proud, and united. First Ministers agreed to continue working together to defend Canada’s economy and sovereignty in the weeks and months ahead.

    Associated Links

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Let’s Make America Healthy Again

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

    I had the honor of attending the swearing-in ceremony for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after being confirmed Secretary of Health and Human Services.
    The ceremony was held in the Oval Office, a unique honor. 
    I’m looking forward to working with Secretary Kennedy in his commitment to radical transparency and conquering chronic illness. I believe this is a watershed moment for America. 
    The Make American Healthy Again movement held a press conference after RFK Jr’s swearing-in. Watch my remarks here, but the entire MAHA press conference with Del Bigtree is well worth watching. Truth is about to be revealed.

    The Senate DOGE Caucus met with Elon Musk, and I gave him my variance sheet comparing a reasonable pre-pandemic level of spending to this year’s outrageous $7.3 trillion. In 2019, the federal government spent $4.4 trillion. 
    We need to turn Elon’s brilliant DOGE efforts into long-term savings. Here’s the chart I shared with Elon. I’m an accountant and I’ve long been frustrated by how little Washington talks about the actual numbers. Three years ago, I asked my colleagues and the Washington press corps what the federal government spent and no one knew.  

    On February 21, I joined the Clay & Buck Show and the discussion turned to Ukraine. I was at Zelensky’s inauguration and he told me in 2019 he knew war with Putin was unwinnable. This war never should have started and never should have gone on this long. 
    On March 2, I joined The Cats Roundtable with John Catsimatidis to talk about Zelensky’s Oval Office meeting. President Trump is dedicated to peace and ending war with out-of-the-box thinking. 

    The American people deserve a full accounting of Joe Biden’s activities. 
    I sent another letter to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) highlighting multiple requests — some dating back to June 2021 — for records relating to Joe Biden and his family business dealings. For years, NARA failed to provide the requested records to both Sen. Chuck Grassley and myself. 
    Although former President Biden is no longer in office and he pardoned his son Hunter and other family members, we believe it is of importance to review these records so the American people have a full accounting of Joe Biden and his family’s activities while Joe Biden was in government. 
    READ: Fox News — Grassley, Johnson demand NARA turn over Biden records relating to email aliases, family business dealings

    Congratulations to Finn Peterson, a junior at the Prairie School in Racine, for earning a spot in the U.S. Senate Page Program this semester. 
    Pages play an important role in the daily operation of the Senate. They live in Washington, D.C. for the semester and attend Page School while working in the U.S. Senate. Pages deliver correspondence and legislative material within the Capitol and Senate office buildings, prepare the Chamber for Senate sessions, and work on the Senate floor.
    Contact my office and the Senate Page Coordinator for more information on the program for 16 or 17-year-olds in their junior year of high school.

    I had the pleasure of meeting Meredith Clark, a senior at Green Lake High School, and her dad. Clark is a national recipient of the Samsung American Legion Scholarship. She plans to attend Ripon College and then veterinary school at Colorado State University. 
    Samsung funds these scholarships to show appreciation for U.S. veterans who came to Korea’s aid during its struggle against communist forces in the Korean War.

    A group from Wisconsin’s Disabled American Veterans (DAV) was in Washington. The organization has over 14,000 members in Wisconsin and helps provide resources and fulfill promises made to our nation’s Veteran heroes. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray on Yearlong CR, DOGE’s Utter Lack of Transparency, and Elon Musk’s Glaring Conflicts of Interest

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    In floor speech, Murray slams yearlong CR proposal, calls for transparency from DOGE so Congress can do its job, and reiterates call for Musk to come before Congress
    Murray: “No one wants a shutdown—well, no one except Elon Musk, who recently said that ‘sounds great.’”
    Murray: “Elon Musk is, apparently, in charge of his own conflicts of interest—we’re just supposed to trust him. Has he recused himself from a single decision? We haven’t heard a single update about that.”
    ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s floor speech***
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations, took to the Senate floor and delivered the following remarks on government funding talks, House Republican leadership’s yearlong CR plan, DOGE’s utter lack of transparency, and Elon Musk’s glaring conflicts of interest that are going completely unaddressed by the Trump administration:
    [ON GOVERNMENT FUNDING TALKS]
    “No one wants a shutdown. Well, actually, no one except Elon Musk, who recently said that ‘sounds great,’ or Donald Trump or Russ Vought.
    “That’s why I have been at the table this entire time, ready to pass bills that protect key investments and ensure Congress—not Donald Trump or Elon Musk—decides whether or not our public schools or lifesaving cancer research get funded.
    “Unfortunately, Republican leadership told their members last week to walk away from the negotiating table—which raises the risk of a shutdown—in an attempt to pass a clean yearlong continuing resolution that would actually give Trump and Musk exactly what they want: fewer restraints, and more power over federal spending so they can pick winners and losers as they see fit, which would hurt all of our constituents.
    “Nonetheless, I am urging Republican leadership to come back to the table, if they are willing to do that, and work with us on full-year funding bills—the type of work we do together every year—and prevent a shutdown while we do that.
    [ON REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP’S FULL-YEAR CR]
    “We cannot stand by and accept a yearlong power grab CR that would help Elon take a chainsaw to programs that families rely on and agencies that keep our communities safe.
    “We actually have a job to do—Republicans and Democrats—to be a voice for our constituents, to advocate for the funding they need, and to get support back to our communities.
    “I have heard my House Republican colleagues say they will not restrict a Republican President’s powers. I want to be clear: what I am asking for is to work together to make sure that as we write and negotiate these full-year spending bills, our laws get followed. I welcome, and I want everyone to know, I am open to any and all ideas on how we can work together to do that.
    “I am confident we can get this done. I am ready to pass a short-term CR immediately to take down the risk of a shutdown so that we can finish our negotiations and write full-year spending bills.
    [ON UTTER LACK OF TRANSPARENCY FROM TRUMP ADMIN, DOGE]
    “Now, on a topic I believe appropriators on both sides would agree with: we need far more information and transparency and accountability from the Trump administration to write these bills.
    “Because, here’s one big problem—among many: how are we supposed to fund the government when many agencies are not responding to any of our questions, and when we have no clear picture of who is actually in charge of many of our agencies?
    “It’s clear as day there have been a lot of dramatic changes made across the government.
    “Agencies are being illegally shuttered. Workers are being fired by the thousands—again, often in direct violation of laws we have passed. And hundreds of billions of dollars in federal programs and grants have been frozen, unfrozen, and frozen again. We’ve had contracts that have recklessly cancelled, some accidentally and then restarted—not to mention the workers who have fired and rehired.
    “It is incredibly chaotic—and it makes it much harder to write legislation that actually responds to the latest developments, when programs are switching on and off again like a two-year-old is playing with a light switch—and when the number of people and programs illegally terminated remains unclear.
    “It is much more difficult to write funding bills for Department programs when we have no idea what the Department is actually doing, or what the actual plan is for the next year, or if it’s actually them or perhaps DOGE making the plans in the first place.
    “When we are seeing decisions made and reversed, or made and ignored, or made by people who have no authority making them—and yet seemingly being implemented. And it’s not just the whirlwind of decisions that are causing chaos. It is the complete lack of transparency and accountability surrounding these decisions from Trump and Musk that makes it all but impossible to get a straight answer.
    “When we have questions that urgently need answers—like why has this energy program been frozen, or when will the NIH grants start up again, or which VA contracts have actually been scrapped or how many workers are being pushed out—then it helps if we know who is actually in charge.
    “When our constituents have problems that require solutions quickly or they will have to close a business, or lay people off, or lose the family farm—then it matters that we can get the right person on the phone to get things resolved.
    “And yet, when there is information we urgently need so we can write funding bills and avoid a shutdown like agency priorities or unexpected challenges or just the basic nuts and bolts stuff—to say nothing of the information we need to address the very extraordinary circumstances and decisions of the past few weeks—it is totally unclear who we should actually be talking to if we want answers that actually reflect the reality of what is happening.
    “It is totally unclear who is actually making decisions—and who is actually in charge.
    “Appropriators have now sent over thirty letters to agencies since January 20th asking to just understand agency actions—and that’s to say nothing of the efforts from me and my staff to get answers to our emails and our calls. But the answers have been few and very far between.
    “And what’s more, just because we hear something from someone who should know, just because we hear from someone who should be in charge—we have found that does not mean it’s actually true.
    “There is more than one time in the past few weeks, where we’ve been told one thing, only to see the reality is entirely different.
    “Like, for example, when the OMB funding freeze was implemented and we were told it won’t affect Head Start—except that it did affect Head Start. Providers in my state were locked out of the payment system for days—even after the funding freeze itself was rescinded.
    “It seems like the only thing that has been consistent about the last few weeks is that every time there has been chaos, every time I’ve seen actions that fly in the face of laws we have passed—not to mention common sense—or contradict what I’ve heard from agency leaders, DOGE has been at the center of it.
    “We have seen DOGE absolutely trample the authority of Congress, and other federal agencies—including officials Congress confirmed.
    “For example, while Secretary Rubio instituted a recklessly broad and illegal freeze of all foreign assistance funding, he publicly announced exceptions for a limited set of programs—including lifesaving aid—the basic idea being that we probably shouldn’t let HIV spread rampant and we probably shouldn’t let food grown right here in America rot in ports while children starve.
    “Causing mass death through pointless negligence is not really a good strategy for bolstering our global reputation. It is cruel and self-defeating. So, as Secretary of State he made the exception. But DOGE had other plans. Because on the rare occasion that what was left of USAID staff who hadn’t been sidelined, was able to clear these payments through the agency’s interim leadership—surprise! DOGE staffers would veto the payments anyways.
    “Keep in mind: we don’t know about this because DOGE disclosed it or State disclosed it—we know only because of reporting.
    “That should not be how this works. Congress—and the American people—should not be out of the loop.
    “Especially given the serious stakes here—and the serious questions that remain, like: on what authority did they veto these payments? Whose orders did they overrule the Secretary? I would very much like to know.
    “Because while the Secretary is guilty of plenty of the attacks on his workforce and programs, it certainly seems like the Secretary of State got steamrolled on numerous occasions, without even knowing it.
    “And if that’s the case: who are we supposed to talk to with questions about State’s funding needs? The Secretary, or the two DOGE minions who actually have their hands directly on the levers of power here?
    “And let’s not forget about what happened at Treasury. DOGE wanted access to our most secure systems. Agency officials told them no. And then the agency officials were told ‘you’re fired.’
    “That sent a chilling message to our federal workers: you stand up to DOGE at your own peril.
    “And it’s not just Treasury—DOGE has been worming its way into Department after Department, making a beeline for the most sensitive systems, including ones storing my constituents’ sensitive financial data, and bulldozing over anyone who stands in their way, for any reason.
    “We don’t even know who all of these people are or whether they even have security clearances.
    “They even had people fired for denying them access to classified material beyond their security levels. That is how completely unchecked their power has become. And we have incredibly little insight into what they are actually doing with those sensitive systems.
    “We’ve seen DOGE claim they only can view some data—that’s already deeply concerning—but there are also plenty of indications they have been given more power at times.
    “And they are interested in tinkering around with some of these systems too or unaccountably blocking payments like we saw at USAID
    “And let’s talk about the Defense Department, because first Secretary Hegseth was saying he wanted to revive the quote, ‘warrior spirit’ at the Department, but now he’s telling employees to reply to DOGE’s weekly emails. He is firing thousands of defense personnel, and he’s asking every corner of DOD to propose major cuts.
    “So, as an appropriator, trying to write full-year bills that fund our military, which is it? Major increases? Or major cuts?
    “And who do I ask about the Department’s needs? Is this up to the Secretary? Or up to DOGE? And who at DOGE is even steering this ship? 
    “We need to know this kind of thing—and we really needed to know yesterday. Because we have a deadline coming up for funding the military, and we have some serious questions for whoever is in charge about how the administration is approaching things.
    “And when I say whoever is in charge, I don’t mean who is in charge on paper—because it seems like there is a big disconnect.
    “I mean who is actually making the decisions and driving actions at our agencies—and at DOGE for that matter.
    “Because, look: first Elon was running DOGE with Vivek, then it was just Elon, then it supposedly wasn’t Elon at all.
    “But then, Elon kept right on posting about hiring decisions like someone in charge and rehiring an individual who resigned after their blatant racism came to light.
    “And he kept right on doing press availabilities with the President—in the Oval Office—to discuss his work at DOGE, like someone in charge. So it sure looks like Elon is still the head of DOGE.
    “And even after we were all finally told, with great supposed certainty, that DOGE is actually being run by another person no one had even mentioned, we then promptly learned: oh, she’s on vacation. And the very next day we saw Elon briefing the Cabinet on what he is doing at DOGE.
    “If that seems at all confusing, or contradictory, I don’t think it’s an accident, so much as a smokescreen—one that seems designed to hide the obvious fact that Elon Musk is the one calling the shots at DOGE.
    [ON ELON MUSK’S GLARING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST]
    “All of us here in Congress really need to know that—because this is the richest man in the world with billions in government contracts on the line.
    “Elon Musk is, apparently, in charge of his own conflicts of interest. We’re just supposed to trust him. Has he recused himself from a single decision? We haven’t heard a single update about that.
    “As a steward of taxpayer dollars who wants to make sure the bills we write are implemented to help my constituents—not Elon Musk’s bottom line—I would like to know:
    Did the owner of Space X recuse himself from decisions gutting NASA?
    Did the owner of Tesla interfere at all in funding freezes that will hurt his competition in the electric vehicle market?Does the guy who posted criticizing Verizon’s work for FAA and pitching his own company Starlink as an alternative have anything to do with reports the government may reverse course now on the Verizon contract?
    Did the guy selling satellite internet have any role in halting funds that were helping connect my constituents to broadband?
    Or what about all the watchdogs that have been fired? People reviewing Neuralink devices at FDA? People at the agency that reviews the safety of Tesla’s self-driving cars? Or the Inspector General looking into Elon’s connections to foreign governments?
    “Despite what Musk likes to pretend, it is not in the slightest bit transparent for him alone to be deciding what he hides, and what he shares about his role in government.
    “Nor is it transparent when DOGE is posting updates that are often completely inaccurate from getting basic math wrong, to getting wrong basic timelines of what Trump did versus Biden did, to not understanding how contracts work—and counting the same ‘cuts’ over and over and over again.
    “They aren’t being transparent—they are muddying up the waters with falsehoods and disinformation and making it that much harder for us to write meaningful funding bills in the next few days.
    “I mean—if DOGE doesn’t even know what programs they’ve cut and how much they’ve cut—how are we supposed to understand how these decisions could hurt our constituents? How are we supposed to write legislation that rejects the cuts we find harmful or even aligns if there are areas of agreement?
    [ON MUSK NEEDING TO COME BEFORE CONGRESS]
    “We need real answers from DOGE—and we need them as soon as possible. And so, I am once again requesting that Elon Musk come before Congress for a hearing and be held accountable to the American people.
    “Tell us: what exactly are you doing? Why are you firing federal employees whose salaries are covered by fees, not taxpayer dollars? Why are you firing veterans—by the thousands—who are doing work to support our communities? Why are you planning to fire the people who make sure seniors get their Social Security checks? Who are the people who work for you? How were they vetted? What are your long-term plans for the agencies? And based on what authority are you overruling Secretaries, directing federal workers, and ignoring the laws we pass in Congress?
    “America is waiting—but we are losing valuable time. Congress—and the American people—deserve answers. And we need them to do our jobs.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Trump’s Address, Senator Murray, Former SOTU Guest Kayla Smith and Others Harmed by Republican Abortion Bans Speak Out About Trump Administration’s New Attacks on Reproductive Freedom

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ICYMI:  Senator Murray On Trump’s Joint Congressional Address
    ***VIDEO HERE***
    Washington, D.C. – This morning, ahead of President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, participated in a virtual press conference with women harmed by Republican abortion bans—including Washington state resident Kayla Smith, who Senator Murray brought as her guest to last year’s State of the Union Address. The speakers highlighted how the Trump administration and Republicans’ efforts to restrict access to reproductive health care everywhere and ultimately ban abortion nationwide are putting women’s health and lives at risk. Senator Murray released a statement last night explaining her decision not to attend President Trump’s Joint Address—instead she will be meeting with constituents who have been harmed by this administration’s reckless actions.
    Participating in the virtual press conference with Senator Murray were multiple women: Kayla Smith, Murray’s State of the Union guest last year and a plaintiff in Adkins v. State of Idaho—more on Kayla’s story here; Amanda Zurawski, patient storyteller and lead plaintiff in Zurawski v. State of Texas; Latorya Beasley, IVF patient storyteller from Alabama; Dr. Caitlin Bernard, OB-GYN from Indiana who spoke out publicly about providing abortion care to a 10-year-old victim of rape; and former U.S. Representative Colin Allred (D, TX-32). Kayla, Amanda, Latorya, and Dr. Bernard were all honored guests at last year’s State of the Union.
    “Republicans are doing everything they can to push things from what is already nightmarishly bad to somehow even worse,” Senator Murray said on today’s press call. “They’ve replaced anti-abortion dog whistles with anti-abortion train whistles—sending a clear signal to extreme, and even dangerous, anti-abortion crusaders to go wild… It may be early days of this new administration, but, unfortunately, it is not too early to see that they are hell-bent on ripping away women’s reproductive rights, and that we will need to fight tooth and nail to defend abortion access in this country from a new onslaught of Republican attacks.”
    In his first few weeks in office, President Trump has taken direct aim at reproductive health care access—issuing two executive orders and taking a host of other actions to roll back efforts to protect and advance access to abortion and birth control, and that threaten health care providers across the country.  These actions include:
    Pardoning anti-abortion extremists found guilty of entering clinics by force, barricading clinic entrances with chains and bike locks, harassing patients and providers, and even assaulting and injuring clinic staff—and announcing that his Department of Justice will no longer enforce the FACE Act at all except in “extraordinary cases.”
    Taking down ReproductiveRights.Gov and scrubbing agency websites of vital information about reproductive health care.
    Repealing two Biden-era executive orders that sought to protect and expand access to reproductive health care in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s disastrous Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
    Reinstating the expanded Global Gag Rule that targets reproductive health care around the world.
    Rescinded critical travel and leave benefits for service members and their families seeking abortion care.
    Nominating notorious anti-abortion extremists for critical public health positions and other influential roles in his administration—including Dr. David Weldon for CDC Director, Pam Bondi for U.S. Attorney General, Russell Vought for OMB Director, and Dean John Saurer as Solicitor General, and many others.
    Senator Murray is a longtime leader in the fight to protect and expand access to reproductive health care and abortion rights, and she has led Congressional efforts to fight back after the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
    Murray has introduced more than a dozen pieces of legislation to protect reproductive rights from further attacks, protect providers, and help ensure women get the care they need; Murray has led efforts to push for passage of these bills on the floor multiple times. Last January, on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Murray led her colleagues in hosting a “State of Abortion Rights” briefing with women who have suffered firsthand from Republican abortion bans, and last June, she chaired a HELP Committee hearing titled “The Assault on Women’s Freedoms: How Abortion Bans Have Created a Health Care Nightmare Across America.” Recently, Murray helped lead efforts to force Republicans on the record on votes to protect access to contraception and access to IVF (twice), and she led her colleagues in raising the alarm about the threat a second Trump administration poses to reproductive rights and abortion access in every state, as outlined in Project 2025.
    Senator Murray’s full remarks, as delivered on today’s press call, are below and video is HERE:
    “Thank you all for joining this important conversation. And I have to say it is so great to be reunited with Kayla, who was my guest to last year’s State of the Union, where we joined together to underscore the devastation and cruelty caused by Republicans’ extreme attacks on abortion rights.
    “Unfortunately, it’s painfully clear today we have to continue shining a harsh spotlight on this issue—because while Trump and Republicans would no doubt love for all the chaos they are causing to push these stories out of the public eye, there are even more women suffering now and yes, dying, because of Republicans’ extreme abortion bans.
    “And we will not stop pushing to make their stories heard, and make change happen.
    “This work is far from over but I will never, ever, back down from this fight—especially not now, when Republicans are doing everything they can to push things from what is already nightmarishly bad to somehow even worse.
    “The stories women have shared since abortion rights were stripped away have been horrific: women forced to stay pregnant despite what they wanted, despite what was best for them, even despite medical emergencies.
    “But the data also continues to roll in and give us an even clearer picture of the grim reality for women in this country.
    “At the same time that we are finally making overdue progress nationally to lower maternal death rates, we are seeing maternal death rates surge in Texas and other states after Republicans put in place extreme abortion bans.
    “And what is the Trump Administration doing now? Well, for starters, they’ve locked researchers out of a key maternal health database and fired people working on maternal health research.
    “That’s going to painfully undermine some of our best tools for understanding the damage that Republicans’ extreme abortion bans are doing nationwide—but more than that, they’ve replaced anti-abortion dog whistles with anti-abortion train whistles, sending a clear signal to extreme, and even dangerous, anti-abortion crusaders to go wild.
    “President Trump issued mass pardons of people who broke laws that keep patients receiving reproductive health care safe, and he made clear he won’t punish people who break that law going forward.
    “That is a chilling invitation to lawlessness—people blocking patients, barricading clinic entrances, and making violent threats—all of which we have seen before, and all of which it’s clear Trump wants to make even worse.
    “And Trump is not just emboldening extremists—Trump is seeking to empower them as well.
    “His pick to lead the CDC is the father of the Weldon amendment, which gave the Trump Administration free rein to withhold funds from states that seek to protect abortion access.
    “Dave Weldon is someone who has radical anti-abortion views and a long history of peddling inflammatory and medically debunked anti-abortion rhetoric that put the lives and health of women in danger.
    “Meanwhile, Trump’s HHS Secretary has made clear he is completely open to Republicans’ bogus push to rip away access to medication abortion—something that would upend the most common, and most accessible form of abortion care, which hundreds of millions of women turn to each year, especially since the Dobbs decision.
    “So, it may be early days of this new Administration—but, unfortunately, it is not too early to see that they are hell-bent on ripping away women’s reproductive rights, and that we will need to fight tooth and nail to defend abortion access in this country from a new onslaught of Republican attacks.“But women across the country are fed up with having their rights undermined, having their health jeopardized, and having their most personal decision stripped away from them by Republican politicians.
    “They are going to continue speaking out. Women like Kayla are going to continue having the courage to tell their stories, and I am going to continue doing everything I can to lift them up, to make their stories heard in the halls of power, and to stand my ground in the fight to protect abortion access in America.
    “Thank you, and now I’ll turn it over to Kayla.”

    MIL OSI USA News –