Category: USA

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Makes Our National Parks Great Again

    Source: US Whitehouse

    PUTTING AMERICANS FIRST: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order investing in our national treasures by increasing fees for foreign tourists visiting our national parks to improve services, access, and affordability for Americans.

    • The Order directs the Secretary of the Interior to increase fees only for foreign visitors, while making national parks more affordable and enjoyable for American families.  
    • The Order increases national park access to American families by directing the National Park Service to ensure that U.S. residents receive priority access in any permitting or reservation systems.

    MAKING OUR NATIONAL PARKS BEAUTIFUL AGAIN: The increased fee revenue from foreign tourists will raise hundreds of millions for conservation projects that improve our national parks.

    • Charging higher entrance fees to foreign tourists is a common policy at national parks throughout the world that supports both conservation and affordable access for residents.
    • Increasing entry fees at national parks for foreign visitors will fuel investment in our national parks, reduce the maintenance backlog, construct critical infrastructure improvements, and support conservation projects that improve our majestic national parks.
    • Increasing fees for foreign visitors will also ensure fairness. American citizens fund national parks and public lands with their tax dollars, yet they are currently charged the same rate as foreign visitors who do not pay taxes, meaning that American citizens pay more to see their own national treasures than foreign visitors do. President Trump is ending this unfair situation and putting Americans first.
    • When President Trump signed into law the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020, the National Park Service’s maintenance backlog was $14.9 billion. Under the Biden Administration’s mismanagement, the maintenance backlog grew to over $22.9 billion. This Order will improve our national parks and reduce the maintenance backlog.

    HONORING OUR CONSERVATION LEGACY: Since the days of Republican President Teddy Roosevelt, America has led the world in conservation policy. This Order builds on America’s conservative, conservationist history and reinvests in our natural treasures while putting Americans first.

    • During President Trump’s first term, he signed the Great American Outdoors Act—the single largest investment in America’s national parks and public lands in history and the most significant conservation achievement since Teddy Roosevelt’s presidency.
    • This Order builds on President Trump’s legacy as a conservation President and fulfills his promise to put Americans first.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Establishes Make America Beautiful Again Commission

    Source: US Whitehouse

    MAKING AMERICA BEAUTIFUL AGAIN: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the Make America Beautiful Again (MABA) Commission to conserve America’s lands and waters, cut red tape, and drive conservation and economic growth.

    • The MABA Commission will be chaired by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and comprised of members of President Trump’s Administration.
    • Guided by our Nation’s rich history, the MABA Commission will work to expand access to recreation for outdoorsmen, hunters, anglers, hikers, bikers, climbers, skiers, runners, and all Americans seeking to spend time in nature.
    • The MABA Commission is tasked with expanding access to public lands and waters for recreation and incentivizing voluntary conservation efforts.
    • Using gold-standard science, the MABA Commission will promote active forest management and responsible stewardship of our public lands, while reducing bureaucratic delays that hinder effective environmental management and put our forests and rural communities at risk.

    EXPANDING ACCESS TO PUBLIC LANDS: President Trump wants to preserve America’s natural beauty and expand outdoor recreation for future generations.

    • As the Roosevelt Arch at Yellowstone National Park states, America’s public lands are “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” Therefore, the MABA Commission will work to expand access to America’s natural wonders for the enjoyment of the American people.
    • The outdoor recreation economy creates $1.2 trillion in economic output and supports 5 million jobs.
    • The Biden Administration unnecessarily restricted outdoorsmen’s access to public lands and deprived them of the ability to responsibly hunt and fish in certain areas.
    • Years of mismanagement have unnecessarily reduced public access to and enjoyment of outdoor recreational areas

    CONSERVING AMERICAN TREASURES: The MABA Commission will build on the legacy of conservative conservationists like President Teddy Roosevelt and protect our Nation’s natural treasures.

    • During President Trump’s first term in office, his Administration recovered more endangered or threatened species than any other administration in its first term.
    • President Trump signed the Great American Outdoors Act during his first term—the largest investment in America’s national parks and public lands in history and the most significant development in conservation policy since Teddy Roosevelt.
    • During President Trump’s first term, his Administration designated 1.3 million new acres of wilderness, added 1,645 miles of new trails to the National Recreational Trails System, and expanded hunting and fishing opportunities across more than 2.3 million acres of land.
    • President Trump has worked to protect American industries while maintaining standards that allow Americans to have among the cleanest air and water in the world.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Making America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks

    Source: US Whitehouse

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

    Section 1.  Policy.  From the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon to the tranquility of the Great Smoky Mountains, America’s national parks have provided generations of American families with unforgettable memories.  It is the policy of my Administration to preserve these opportunities for American families in future generations by increasing entry fees for foreign tourists, improving affordability for United States residents, and expanding opportunities to enjoy America’s splendid national treasures.

    Sec. 2.  Making America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks.  (a)  The Secretary of the Interior shall develop a strategy to increase revenue and improve the recreational experience at national parks by appropriately increasing entrance fees and recreation pass fees for nonresidents in areas of the National Park System that charge entrance fees or recreation pass fees as defined in 16 U.S.C. 6801.  Additionally, to the extent consistent with applicable law, the Secretary of the Interior, working with the Secretary of Agriculture as appropriate, shall take steps to increase the prices at which the America the Beautiful Pass — the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass — and any site-specific agency or regional multi-entity passes are sold to nonresidents.

    (b)  The Secretary of the Interior shall use any increased fee revenue generated pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to improve the infrastructure of, or otherwise enhance enjoyment of or access to, America’s Federal recreational areas, consistent with 16 U.S.C. 6807.

    (c)  The Secretary of the Interior, working with the Secretary of Agriculture as appropriate, shall take steps to improve services and affordability for United States residents visiting national parks, as consistent with applicable law.

    (d)  The Secretary of the Interior, working with the Secretary of State, shall work to encourage international tourism to America’s national parks and outdoor recreation areas, and especially wider utilization of America’s many such areas that may be underutilized.

    (e)  The Secretary of the Interior shall review the maintenance backlog within the National Park Service and take all appropriate action to fully implement the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund established in the Great American Outdoors Act (Public Law 116-152), invest in the infrastructure of national parks, and increase visitor capacity to allow more Americans to visit national parks.

    (f)  The Secretary of the Interior shall review all of the Department of the Interiors rules and policies related to public use of national parks and take actions consistent with applicable law to ensure that the National Park Service manages national parks consistent with the policy of this order.  The Secretary of the Interior shall review all of the Department’s recreational access rules and take steps to rescind any that unnecessarily restrict recreation in national parks.  In conducting this review, the Secretary of the Interior shall especially scrutinize all recreational access rules or other restrictions promulgated or enacted during the prior administration.  The Secretary of the Interior shall take appropriate actions to grant American residents preferential treatment with respect to any remaining recreational access rules, including permitting or lottery rules, consistent with applicable law.

    Sec. 3.  Revocation.  The Presidential Memorandum of January 12, 2017 (Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Our National Parks, National Forests, and Other Public Lands and Waters), is hereby revoked.

    Sec. 4.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:  

    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or 

    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.  

    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.  

    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.  

    (d)  The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of the Interior.

                                 DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,

        July 3, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Establishing the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission

    Source: US Whitehouse

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

     Section 1.  Purpose.  The United States is blessed with vast beautiful landscapes, abundant natural resources, and a rich heritage of discovery by travelers and outdoorsmen.  America’s national parks, forests, waterways, and public lands have inspired generations and kindled our Nation’s spirit of exploration.  To ensure that the next generation of Americans inherits this same sense of duty and adventure, my Administration will prioritize conserving our great American national parks and outdoor recreation areas.

    Years of mismanagement, regulatory overreach, and neglect of routine maintenance require action.  Land-use restrictions have stripped hunters, fishers, hikers, and outdoorsmen of access to public lands that belong to them.  These bureaucratic restrictions have undermined outdoor traditions and threatened conservation funding.  The National Park Service and the United States Forest Service face more than $23 billion and $10.8 billion in deferred maintenance, respectively, leaving roads, trails, and historic landmarks in disrepair.  Despite these challenges, our Nation has proven that conservation and economic growth go hand in hand.  Since the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act (Public Law 116-152), the outdoor recreation economy has grown to $1.2 trillion in economic output, and, in 2023, comprised 3.1 percent of employees in the United States and supported 5 million jobs.

    Through both innovation and commonsense policies, America can preserve its natural beauty and expand outdoor recreation opportunities for future generations.  It is the policy of my Administration to prioritize responsible conservation, restore our lands and waters, and protect our Nation’s outdoor heritage for the enjoyment of the American people.

    Sec2.  General Policies. All Federal land management agencies, as defined by 16 U.S.C. 6801(3), shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that their policies:

    (a)  promote responsible stewardship of natural resources while driving economic growth;

    (b)  expand access to public lands and waters for recreation, hunting, and fishing;

    (c)  encourage responsible, voluntary conservation efforts;

    (d)  cut bureaucratic delays that hinder effective environmental management; and

    (e)  recover America’s fish and wildlife populations through proactive, voluntary, on-the-ground collaborative conservation efforts.

    Sec3.  Establishment and Composition of the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission. (a)  There is hereby established the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission (Commission), which shall be chaired by the Secretary of the Interior (Chair), with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy serving as Executive Director (Executive Director).

    (b)  In addition to the Chair and the Executive Director, the Commission shall include the following officials or their designees:

    (i)     the Secretary of Defense;

    (ii)    the Secretary of Agriculture;

    (iii)   the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;

    (iv)    the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;

    (v)     the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers;

    (vi)    the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff;

    (vii)   the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy;

    (viii)  the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality; and

    (ix)    other members of my Administration invited to participate, at the discretion of the Chair and the Executive Director.

    Sec4.  Conserving Our National Treasures. The Commission shall advise and assist the President regarding how best to responsibly conserve America’s national treasures and natural resources, including by:

    (a)  monitoring the implementation of this order and facilitating interagency coordination on conservation efforts;

    (b)  providing to the President actionable recommendations for improving conservation efforts;

    (c)  developing policies to recover fish and wildlife populations through collaboration rather than regulation, including policies involving coordination with State wildlife agencies;

    (d)  recommending to the President solutions to expand access to clean drinking water and restore aquatic ecosystems to improve water quality and availability; and

    (e)  developing policies to expand access to public lands, national parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges while promoting a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities like hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, boating, off-roading, and wildlife viewing.

    Sec5.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

    (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    (d)  The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of the Interior.

                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,

        July 3, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Presidential Message on the 162nd Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg

    Source: US Whitehouse

    Today, our Nation solemnly commemorates the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg—the single deadliest battle of the Civil War and a defining milestone in America’s epic struggle to preserve our Union and secure the sacred blessings of freedom and democracy. 

    In the spring of 1863, the Civil War had been raging for over 2 years, and the future of the United States hung in the balance.  Emboldened by a string of recent Confederate victories, General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia launched an invasion of the North with a set of clear goals: push the fighting from war-torn Virginia past the Mason-Dixon line, defeat the Union troops on their own soil, and force President Abraham Lincoln into peace negotiations.

    With the very fate of the Republic at stake, the Union forces remained steadfast in their resolve to defend the freedom of their fellow countrymen as their last full measure of devotion.  The Union Army of the Potomac—led first by General Joseph Hooker and then by General George Meade—marched north to pursue the Confederate forces.  Divisions of the two forces met near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on July 1, 1863.

    What began as an unplanned encounter quickly erupted into an epochal struggle with the entire war and the very fate of our Nation at stake.  As Union defensive lines, known as the famed “fishhook,” came under attack by Confederate forces from three directions, brother met brother amid fierce clashes in places whose names have been indelibly marked in the chapters of American history: Little Round Top, Devil’s Den, and the Peach Orchard, to name but a few.  With the failure of Pickett’s Charge on Cemetery Ridge on July 3, the battle was won, the high-water mark of the Confederacy had been reached, and the course of the remaining years of the Civil War was set.  The Confederacy would never recover from their loss at Gettysburg—paving the way to the ultimate surrender of Lee’s Army at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, and the end of the Confederacy itself.

    From July 1-3, 1863, of the estimated 51,000 casualties on both side, 7,058 souls were lost—3,155 Union and 3,903 Confederate were, making the Battle of Gettysburg the bloodiest battle to ever take place on American soil.  Just months later, in November of 1863, President Lincoln would stand on these hallowed grounds and immortalize these heroic sacrifices in his historic Gettysburg Address, proclaiming that “we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

    These words continue to inspire citizens all across our land.  In the darkest days of our Nation’s history, thousands of courageous men left behind their homes and families for the noble causes of duty, honor, and country.  On the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, we pay tribute to the patriots who valiantly shed their blood to cast out slavery and preserve our glorious Union.  Their unwavering courage, selfless sacrifice, and unfailing devotion to our founding principles define the eternal triumph of the American spirit. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: HISTORY MADE: The One Big Beautiful Bill Is on Its Way to President Trump’s Desk

    Source: US Whitehouse

    class=”has-text-align-center”>“President Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill delivers on the commonsense agenda that nearly 80 million Americans voted for – the largest middle-class tax cut in history, permanent border security, massive military funding, and restoring fiscal sanity. The pro-growth policies within this historic legislation are going to fuel an economic boom like we’ve never seen before. President Trump looks forward to signing the One Big, Beautiful Bill into law to officially usher in the Golden Age of America.” — Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

    The House of Representatives just officially PASSED the One Big Beautiful Bill, giving final approval to President Donald J. Trump’s landmark legislation in what is being called the “biggest legislative win of President Trump’s two terms.”

    Now, the largest middle-class tax cut in American history — and so much more — is on its way to President Trump’s desk.

    Again and again, Democrats tried to block historic tax relief, increased border security, higher wages, an expanded Child Tax Credit, No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, No Tax on Social Security, savings accounts for newborns, and so much more — but again and again, President Trump and Republicans fought and won for the American people.

    “This could not be a bigger deal for President Trump and his administration,” said CNN. “Because they believe this bill really encapsulates everything President Trump wants to do with his agenda.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: 160th Anniversary of the United States Secret Service, 2025

    Source: US Whitehouse

    class=”has-text-align-center”>By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation authorizing the creation of the United States Secret Service, the very same day an assassin’s bullet tragically took his life.  Ironically, the agency he established likely could not have saved him.  Its original purpose was not protection, but preservation, tasked with ending the widespread counterfeiting that threatened to destabilize the post-Civil War economy.  Less than 3 months later, on July 5, 1865, the Secret Service officially began operations within the Department of the Treasury. 

    Over time, the agency’s mission began to expand.  Following the assassination attempt of William McKinley in 1901, the Congress entrusted the Secret Service with the solemn duty of protecting the President of the United States.  What began as an effort to defend America’s currency became a lasting commitment to defend its highest office.  Today, the Secret Service stands among the Nation’s most elite and storied law enforcement agencies, defined by honor, vigilance, and its enduring motto:  “Worthy of Trust and Confidence.”

    More than 8,000 men and women serve in the Secret Service, united by a mission that demands excellence, resilience, and steadfast loyalty.  They protect the President and Vice President, their families, former presidents, major presidential candidates, and visiting foreign dignitaries.  Their watch extends to the White House, the Vice President’s residence, National Special Security Events, and critical sites around the world.  Agents undergo intense and rigorous training to earn their post, ensuring that only the most disciplined and determined are entrusted with this sacred duty.  Even in moments of grave danger, these warriors stand firm, confronting threats with unshakable resolve, unmatched skill, and the quiet strength that defines the very best of American law enforcement.  

    The United States Secret Service has stood as an unflinching shield against violence and mayhem, answering the call whenever danger arises to protect our national leadership.  Agents have placed themselves in harm’s way to protect against the attempted assassinations of President-elect Franklin Roosevelt in 1933, President Harry Truman in 1950, President Gerald Ford in 1975, President Ronald Reagan in 1981, and two attempts against my own life in 2024.  In each of these moments, they acted with split-second courage and absolute devotion to duty.  I witnessed their bravery firsthand — calm under pressure, fearless in the face of danger, and wholly committed to the mission.  Behind these historical incidents stand countless additional threats, lives protected without fanfare, and sacrifices made without recognition.  To risk laying down one’s life for another is the most selfless act of patriotism and humanity, and I am forever indebted to the agents who risk everything to guard me from harm.

    As we commemorate the 160th anniversary of the United States Secret Service, our Nation proudly honors the heroism, discipline, and unwavering commitment of every agent who have placed their lives in the line of fire so that our Republic, our freedom, and our glorious constitutional order may endure.  Their bravery stands as a powerful testament to the spirit of America, undaunted in the face of danger and resolute in the defense of liberty.

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 5, 2025, as the 160th Anniversary of the United States Secret Service.  I call upon all Americans to offer our unending gratitude and respect to the 8,000 employees of the United States Secret Service in more than 150 offices across the country and abroad that serve on the edge of danger to defend the safety and security of our communities and uphold the sovereignty and strength of our Republic.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: 160th Anniversary of the United States Secret Service, 2025

    Source: US Whitehouse

    class=”has-text-align-center”>By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation authorizing the creation of the United States Secret Service, the very same day an assassin’s bullet tragically took his life.  Ironically, the agency he established likely could not have saved him.  Its original purpose was not protection, but preservation, tasked with ending the widespread counterfeiting that threatened to destabilize the post-Civil War economy.  Less than 3 months later, on July 5, 1865, the Secret Service officially began operations within the Department of the Treasury. 

    Over time, the agency’s mission began to expand.  Following the assassination attempt of William McKinley in 1901, the Congress entrusted the Secret Service with the solemn duty of protecting the President of the United States.  What began as an effort to defend America’s currency became a lasting commitment to defend its highest office.  Today, the Secret Service stands among the Nation’s most elite and storied law enforcement agencies, defined by honor, vigilance, and its enduring motto:  “Worthy of Trust and Confidence.”

    More than 8,000 men and women serve in the Secret Service, united by a mission that demands excellence, resilience, and steadfast loyalty.  They protect the President and Vice President, their families, former presidents, major presidential candidates, and visiting foreign dignitaries.  Their watch extends to the White House, the Vice President’s residence, National Special Security Events, and critical sites around the world.  Agents undergo intense and rigorous training to earn their post, ensuring that only the most disciplined and determined are entrusted with this sacred duty.  Even in moments of grave danger, these warriors stand firm, confronting threats with unshakable resolve, unmatched skill, and the quiet strength that defines the very best of American law enforcement.  

    The United States Secret Service has stood as an unflinching shield against violence and mayhem, answering the call whenever danger arises to protect our national leadership.  Agents have placed themselves in harm’s way to protect against the attempted assassinations of President-elect Franklin Roosevelt in 1933, President Harry Truman in 1950, President Gerald Ford in 1975, President Ronald Reagan in 1981, and two attempts against my own life in 2024.  In each of these moments, they acted with split-second courage and absolute devotion to duty.  I witnessed their bravery firsthand — calm under pressure, fearless in the face of danger, and wholly committed to the mission.  Behind these historical incidents stand countless additional threats, lives protected without fanfare, and sacrifices made without recognition.  To risk laying down one’s life for another is the most selfless act of patriotism and humanity, and I am forever indebted to the agents who risk everything to guard me from harm.

    As we commemorate the 160th anniversary of the United States Secret Service, our Nation proudly honors the heroism, discipline, and unwavering commitment of every agent who have placed their lives in the line of fire so that our Republic, our freedom, and our glorious constitutional order may endure.  Their bravery stands as a powerful testament to the spirit of America, undaunted in the face of danger and resolute in the defense of liberty.

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 5, 2025, as the 160th Anniversary of the United States Secret Service.  I call upon all Americans to offer our unending gratitude and respect to the 8,000 employees of the United States Secret Service in more than 150 offices across the country and abroad that serve on the edge of danger to defend the safety and security of our communities and uphold the sovereignty and strength of our Republic.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Senate Approves Landmark One Big Beautiful Bill

    Source: US Whitehouse

    The Senate delivered a resounding victory for American workers, farmers, and small businesses by passing President Donald J. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill — a transformative legislative package that locks in historic tax relief, delivers border security, reforms welfare, funds critical infrastructure, and more.

    Industry leaders and stakeholders nationwide hailed the Senate’s vote and called on the House to swiftly send the bill to President Trump’s desk:

    Airlines for America: “We are grateful that the Senate understands the urgent need to overhaul our nation’s air traffic control (ATC) system and included $12.5 billion in their reconciliation package for that cause. This is an important first step as Secretary Duffy works to implement President Trump’s vision of a brand new, state-of-the-art system. We especially appreciate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz for his long-time dedication to the safety and efficiency of our nation’s airspace. We urge the House of Representatives to quickly pass this legislation so President Trump can sign the One Big Beautiful Bill into law, begin the work of upgrading our ATC system and revitalize our airspace.”

    America’s Credit Unions President and CEO Jim Nussle: “We thank the U.S. Senate for securing the credit union not-for-profit tax status and not adding a new tax on 142 million credit union members as part of H.R. 1. Hard working Americans and their communities rely on the competitive rates and personally tailored services offered by credit unions to achieve their American Dream. By preserving the credit union tax status, it provides consumers across the country with more opportunities to achieve financial freedom.”

    American Airlines: “American Airlines strongly supports the much-needed funding to bolster and modernize our air traffic control system in the Senate reconciliation bill. In addition to staffing challenges, the U.S. air traffic control system’s technology and infrastructure have fallen behind much of the world. As President Trump and Secretary Duffy urgently work to build a state-of-the-art air traffic control system, this down payment is an essential first step in making aviation even safer and more efficient. The reconciliation bill also extends other key pro-growth tax policies that provide businesses with the necessary certainty to continue driving the economy. We urge the House to move swiftly and pass the bill.”

    American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “Farm Bureau applauds the U.S. Senate for passing the reconciliation package. Farmers and ranchers are the foundation of America’s food supply chain, and they need the certainty that this legislation will provide. Improvements to farm safety net programs that reflect today’s agricultural economy and maintaining important tax provisions will directly benefit farm and ranch families … Important tax provisions will also help farmers save money that can be used to pay bills, invest in new technologies, and pass the family farm to the next generation. We now urge the House to pass the bill and get it to the president’s desk for his signature to ensure America’s farmers and ranchers can continue putting food on the table for America’s families.”

    American Federation for Children CEO Tommy Schultz: “The mission is clear: deliver school choice to every state in America. Today’s vote marks a monumental step toward that goal for the first time in history … We are eager to see President Trump sign school choice into law!”

    American Hotel & Lodging Association President and CEO Rosanna Maietta: “AHLA applauds the Senate’s swift action today to prevent major tax increases on both hotel employees and businesses. The tax provisions included in the Senate bill provide small business hotel owners with the level of certainty they need to effectively operate amidst tremendous uncertainty resulting from years of inflation, trade impacts, and a softening of demand within the broader travel sector. We commend Majority Leader Thune, Senator Crapo, and other Senate champions for securing passage. We urge Congress to swiftly get this package to the President’s desk for his signature to help put businesses back on a pro-growth footing.” 

    American Iron and Steel Institute President and CEO Kevin Dempsey: “Capital investment is crucial for economic growth and job creation in the American steel industry and the manufacturing sector as a whole. Many of the key capital cost recovery provisions of the 2017 tax law have expired or are being phased out. Restoring these provisions is essential to ensuring that many companies will be able to make new investments in steel-intensive facilities and machinery. We applaud Senate passage of this legislation which will permanently restore key provisions that have a proven record of fueling innovation and economic growth, including 100 percent bonus depreciation for business investment, immediate expensing for domestic research and development expenses and the EBITDA-based limitation on business net interest deductions. We urge the House to pass this bill and send it to President Trump this week so that he can sign it into law as soon as possible.”

    American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Mike Sommers: “We applaud the Senate for passing the One Big Beautiful Bill to bolster America’s energy advantage and support economic growth. This historic legislation will help usher in a new era of energy dominance by unlocking opportunities for investment, opening lease sales and expanding access to oil and natural gas development. We will continue to work with policymakers to get this final package to President Trump’s desk.”

    American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland: “ASA applauds the Senate for its support of agriculture and the farm economy in this legislation. Soybean growers have long championed comprehensive revisions to the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, an improved safety net for agriculture, and increased support for research and market expansion. The modified biofuel tax credits, enhancements to crop insurance and support for MAP and FMD, among other agriculture provisions included in this legislation will support U.S. farmers and expand market opportunities domestically. ASA urges the House to maintain these key agricultural provisions that support our rural economies as they consider this legislation.”

    American Trucking Association SVP of Legislative Affairs Henry Hanscom: “The American Trucking Associations is grateful to Senate Republicans for their hard work to craft a package that will guarantee tax certainty for our nation’s trucking companies. Trucking is the backbone of our economy, employing over 8.5 million Americans in companies that range in size from one-truck operators and small family businesses to enterprise carriers.  Enacting pro-business, pro-growth tax policies will ensure that all of those companies are able to better plan for the future, invest in their workforce and equipment, and move freight safely and efficiently.  As the industry that moves 72% of America’s freight by tonnage, and that is the sole source of freight services for more than 80% of American communities, ATA looks forward to President Trump signing this measure into law as soon as possible.”

    Americans for Prosperity Chief Government Affairs Officer Brent Gardner: “We are so close to delivering a generational win to Americans by making pro-growth tax policy permanent. When we pass this bill, job creators and families will have the certainty they need to invest in their businesses and futures, reigniting the American Dream. We are encouraged by the thoughtful and productive discussions that have brought this legislation back to the House and urge members to pass it expeditiously to ensure that Americans start reaping the benefits of this transformative legislation as soon as possible … It’s time to get this bill to the Oval Office for President Trump’s signature. We’re at the goal line, it’s time to punch it in. Let’s fulfill all those campaign promises and secure this victory for hardworking American taxpayers.”

    Associated Builders and Contractors VP of Government Affairs Kristen Swearingen: “Tax certainty and pro-growth policies are not abstract policy goals for construction businesses—they are the foundation that allows ABC members to invest, grow and keep America building. We thank the Senate for passing this important legislation and urge the U.S. House of Representative to take swift action to send it to the president’s desk.”

    Associated Equipment Distributors President and CEO Brian P. McGuire: “By permanently extending and restoring pro-growth, capital investment incentivizing tax policies, the Senate is ensuring long-term tax code certainty that will benefit the equipment sector and the broader economy. AED applauds Senate Majority Leader John Thune and his team for heeding our call for tax permanence, and we urge the House to pass this legislation and send it to the president’s desk expeditiously.”

    Association of Equipment Manufacturers SVP of Government and Industry Relations Kip Eideberg: “The Association of Equipment Manufacturers applauds the U.S. Senate’s passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act — a historic bill that will strengthen U.S. manufacturing, providing the certainty in the tax code necessary for equipment manufacturers to innovate, invest, and create more family-sustaining jobs right here in America. By extending and expanding the tax reforms from 2017, the OBBB will help equipment manufacturers build more in America, while also bolstering our global competitiveness. We commend Leader Thune for his leadership and commitment to ensuring the permanence of President Trump’s pro-growth tax reforms, and applaud the lawmakers involved in driving this effort forward. We urge the U.S. House of Representatives to act swiftly and send the bill to President Trump’s desk.”

    Business Roundtable CEO Joshua Bolten: “Today’s vote puts us on the cusp of extending and strengthening tax reform. Business Roundtable applauds the Senate for passing the One Big Beautiful Bill … The House now has the opportunity to send a swift, decisive signal that America will remain a premier destination for business to invest, hire, and grow. We urge the House to act without delay and send the bill to President Trump’s desk by the Fourth of July.”

    Center for Transportation Policy Executive Director Jackson Shedelbower: “… it’s clear that lawmakers are united in an effort to modernize the country’s aging air traffic control systems. The $12.5 billion that is appropriated in both versions of the package will be a strong down payment towards ensuring that the U.S. maintains its reputation as a global leader in air travel. Lawmakers need to work out the remainder of their differences so the legislation can be swiftly pushed over the finish line.”

    CTIA—The Wireless Association President and CEO Ajit Pai: “CTIA applauds the Senate for passing the One Big Beautiful Bill, which includes a solid spectrum pipeline and smart tax provisions to support wireless investment. Along with restoring FCC auction authority, establishing a robust 800-megahertz pipeline of mid-band spectrum with a specific timeframe for action is critical to meeting growing consumer demand, securing U.S. leadership in 5G, and strengthening national and economic security.  The bill’s targeted tax incentives will accelerate private investment in next-generation networks and support infrastructure deployment, job creation, and economic growth across the country. We thank Senate leadership, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, and Senator Marsha Blackburn for their commitment to securing America’s wireless future, and we urge swift action to pass this legislation so President Trump can sign it into law.”

    Concerned Veterans for America Executive Director John Vick: “This legislation represents a win for American families, small businesses, and veterans across the country―groups that form the backbone of a thriving and resilient nation. This is a monumental moment for Americans who believe in hard work, opportunity, and service. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act sets the stage for lasting prosperity and a stronger future for those who have sacrificed the most.”

    Global Business Alliance President and CEO Jonathan Samford: “I applaud Chairman Mike Crapo, Leader John Thune and their Senate colleagues for advancing international tax policies that keep the U.S. the top destination for global investment. These provisions will help sustain American jobs, drive innovation, and reinforce a stable tax environment that attracts cross-border capital and world-class know-how. I urge swift House action and final passage of this One Big Beautiful Bill Act in order to secure America’s competitive edge.”

    Iowa Biodiesel Board Executive Director Grant Kimberley: “These improvements to the biomass-based diesel tax incentive come at a pivotal moment for the industry, which has seen months of uncertainty, stalled production and investment hesitation. Together with EPA’s proposed increase in Renewable Fuel Standard volumes—projecting more than 2 billion additional gallons of biomass-based diesel in 2026—the tax developments point to a significant resurgence in clean fuel demand. This gives us much-needed certainty for the near future.”

    Information Technology Industry Council President and CEO Jason Oxman: “The One Big Beautiful Bill will advance President Trump’s vision of ensuring America outpaces global competitors and remains the world’s leader in technology. We’re pleased to see the Senate pass the reconciliation text with strong innovation-focused language that will empower companies to invest in America by restoring critical research and development expensing and stimulate economic growth and high-skilled job creation. We urge the House of Representatives to send this critical package to President Trump as quickly as possible.”

    Job Creators Network CEO Alfredo Ortiz: “By passing this tax cut bill, Republican Senators show once again that they are the party of Main Street. By expanding and making permanent the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including restoring full, immediate expensing, the Senate has delivered historic, pro-growth reform that can last for generations. These tax cuts empower small business owners to invest, hire, raise wages, and reinvest in their communities, ushering in America’s next Golden Age. On behalf of Main Street, JCN calls on the House to quickly pass this legislation and get it to President Trump’s desk by July 4, giving America the best birthday present it could ask for.”

    National Association of Home Builders Chairman Buddy Hughes: “NAHB commends the Senate for passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This legislation will help spur economic growth and allow our members to invest more resources in multifamily rental construction, land development to build more single-family homes, and new equipment to expand their businesses. In turn, this will create a better business climate that allows builders to increase the nation’s housing supply, which is crucial to help ease America’s housing affordability crisis. We urge the House to move quickly to pass this bill.”

    National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons: “The Senate just pushed the ball deep into the red zone. Now it’s the House’s turn to finish the drive and deliver a big win for manufacturers in America. The Senate advanced a tax package that will strengthen small businesses, family-owned operations and manufacturing workers across the country. It drives manufacturers closer to the goal line—growing businesses, creating jobs and powering stronger communities. After months of driving, months of endurance and effort, months of playing audacious offense and tenacious defense, months of partnership between manufacturers of every industry and our leaders in Congress and the administration, the House now can finish the job. We call on our partners in the House to send this bill to the president’s desk—the strongest tax bill for manufacturers we have seen in a generation. Because when Congress champions the 13 million people who make things in America, manufacturing wins—and when manufacturing wins, America wins.”

    National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen: “We thank the Senate for recognizing with this initial funding that a safe and efficient national airspace requires a robust, resilient ATC system that bolsters our nation’s global aviation leadership. As leading economists have found, immediate expensing helps companies and entrepreneurs relying on business aviation have access to a critical competitive asset, while strengthening America’s manufacturing base. These provisions represent an important investment in an essential American industry, and the citizens, companies and communities that depend on it. NBAA looks forward to their continued progress.”

    National Cattlemen’s Beef Association SVP of Government Affairs Ethan Lane: “The Senate version of the One Big Beautiful Bill protects family farmers and ranchers across the country from a massive tax hike at the end of the year, increases the Death Tax exemption, makes the Section 199A tax deduction permanent, increases the Section 179 tax deduction, funds foreign animal disease prevention programs, and delivers so many more wins for cattle producers … It’s time for the House to pass this bill and send it to President Trump’s desk so he can sign it into law.”

    National Corn Growers Association President Kenneth Hartman, Jr.: “NCGA has worked closely with members of Congress as they drafted and voted on this legislation. We are particularly pleased to see the permanent extension of certain tax provisions, which will provide more certainty to corn farmers around the country as they plan for the future of their businesses.”

    National Cotton Council Chairman Patrick Johnson: “The NCC appreciates the momentous effort that has gone into crafting and passing the One Big Beautiful Bill. We are grateful for the Senate’s commitment to delivering meaningful enhancements to the cotton safety net, which is absolutely critical for the stability and future of our industry.”

    National Council of Farmer Cooperatives President and CEO Chuck Conner: “We commend the Senate for advancing permanent tax relief through the extension of Section 199A, a key priority for farmer co-ops that ensures they are not penalized for doing business together. Equally important are the provisions extending Section 179 expensing and the clean fuel production credit under Section 45Z, which provide producers and co-ops with the incentives and tools they need to innovate, invest, and lead the transition to a more sustainable agricultural future. We also appreciate the Senate’s attention to the needs of production agriculture by updating reference prices and commodity title support to reflect today’s economic realities. Combined with a significant increase in funding for market development programs, these provisions will help producers reach new markets and stay competitive amid global uncertainty. Now, it’s time for the House of Representatives to act. We urge lawmakers to take up the Senate package without delay and send it to the president’s desk before the July 4th recess. America’s farmers can’t afford to wait.”

    National Council of Textile Organizations President and CEO Kim Glas: “On behalf of the U.S. textile industry, I would like to commend Senate leaders for including an important provision in the broader budget reconciliation bill that would permanently end de minimis for commercial shipments from all countries, effective July 2027. The Senate language mirrors a provision included in the House reconciliation package passed earlier in May … We are also grateful that the Trump administration has already used executive authorities to end de minimis access for Chinese goods—which represent approximately two-thirds of all de minimis shipments—while also laying the groundwork to close de minimis to commercial shipments from all countries.”

    National Foreign Trade Council VP for International Tax Policy Anne Gordon: “We welcome Senate passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill … We welcome the Senate’s decision to retain core international and business provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in its version of the bill, as well as including permanent immediate expensing of research and development and reinstating depreciation and amortization in the interest deduction limitation. We are also pleased to see the Senate make permanent the look-through for controlled foreign corporations and provide other long-needed international tax fixes for U.S. corporations. As the House considers the revised bill, we encourage swift consideration and passage of tax legislation that incentivizes investment, innovation, and global opportunity for America’s job creators.”

    National Milk Producers Federation President Gregg Doud: “Dairy farmers are grateful for legislation that will create several key opportunities for dairy. Following last month’s successful vote in the House, we are excited that the Senate’s legislation also positions these investments to benefit dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own. We hope they are enacted into law as swiftly as possible.”

    National Mining Association President and CEO Rich Nolan: “We urge the House to quickly pass this bill, which increases the competitiveness of the American mining industry and provides vital incentives, including funding to counter China’s mineral dominance. The bill also makes improperly withdrawn lands available for energy production, which is key to supplying a reliable electric grid capable of powering our nation’s future. Through these measures, the bill will directly support U.S. economic growth and security. Mining feeds and fuels virtually every American supply chain; a strong mining industry creates an equally strong foundation for every industry that depends on the products and energy we provide. More can be done, and the NMA will continue to advocate with Congress and the administration on ways to support additional domestic mining, and mineral production and processing.”

    National Pork Producers Council President Duane Stateler: “We appreciate the efforts of Agriculture Chair John Boozman and other Senate leadership to ensure key animal health provisions were included in the bill, along with tax and other measures important to agriculture. Foreign animal diseases (FADs) threaten not only the livelihoods of pork producers but also our food supply chain at large. We thank our congressional leaders for these important steps to help keep our pork supplies safe, secure, and affordable for American families.”

    National Restaurant Association EVP for Public Affairs Sean Kennedy: “This bill includes the most important pro-growth tax policies restaurant operators need to continue to power the national economy. The inclusion of permanent policies for 199A qualified business income deduction, full expensing of capital investments, and the return of depreciation and amortization in the calculation of business interest expense will give restaurant operators working capital to invest in their businesses and employees. We are also pleased to see the inclusion of policies like No Tax on Tips and Overtime that will benefit our workforce. We appreciate the work that has gone into getting this bill through the Senate and encourage the House to quickly pass it, sending it to the President for signature.”

    National Roofing Contractors Association CEO McKay Daniels: “This legislation is critical to providing certainty for all businesses to continue to invest in their employees and grow their companies. In particular, the bill is a huge win for ‘main street,’ family-owned and pass-through entities that represent 95% of all U.S. businesses and employ the majority of private-sector workers. Without passage of this legislation, our industry will face rising tax burdens and diminished global competitiveness. Congress must act now to secure a stable future for America’s job creators.”

    National Small Business Association President and CEO Todd McCracken: “NSBA applauds the Senate for passing H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act which includes NSBA’s #1 priority, permanency for the small-business tax rate cut in the form of the 199A Qualified Business Income deduction. Enacting this provision and several others—including reversing a very problematic change to the R&D tax deduction—is a major win for small business. As our nation celebrates Independence Day, I urge the House to pass the language approved in the Senate and give America’s small businesses the freedom and independence they need and deserve to keep their businesses thriving.”

    National Sorghum Producers Chair Amy France: “These are critical improvements that will help sorghum producers manage risk, plan for the future, and stay competitive. We’re grateful to Chairman Boozman and other leaders in the Senate Ag Committee who ensured these priorities were part of the final bill.”

    Nuclear Energy Institute President and CEO Maria Korsnick: “We applaud the U.S. Senate for advancing policies that recognize the important role of nuclear energy to achieve a reliable, affordable and increasingly clean energy system. The Senate version of the budget reconciliation bill restores the nuclear power production tax credit through 2032, and the tax credits for new nuclear generation through 2033, with transferability retained for both. The Senate version also preserves the viability of the Loan Program Office by extending the program’s authority and funding from 2026 to 2028, although the appropriation of $1B is less than available under current law. Maintaining the tax provisions in the Senate bill will continue to address economic hurdles and provide confidence to invest in today’s nuclear plants, while securing long-term, well-paying jobs. Further the bill allows us to continue down the path to achieve the Administration’s ambitious goals for deploying new, cutting-edge nuclear technologies that will meet the growing demand for more reliable energy.”

    Philanthropy Roundtable COO Elizabeth McGuigan: “Now more than ever, we need a strong, vibrant civil society. Government spending is shrinking – which is a good thing – and generous Americans are ready and willing to support causes and communities around the country. We’re especially grateful for the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, whose pro-growth, pro-America agenda continues to inspire strong economic stewardship. We encourage the House to pass the Senate bill quickly and without changes.”

    RATE Coalition Executive Director Dan Combs: “Today’s vote is a major win for workers, businesses, and the American economy as a whole. By preserving the 21 percent corporate tax rate, the Senate has reaffirmed its commitment to a competitive tax code that drives investment, fuels job growth, and ensures the U.S. remains the best country in the world to start and grow a business.  We applaud this strong, pro-growth action and urge lawmakers to expeditiously finalize the legislation and send it to President Trump’s desk without delay.”

    Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council President and CEO Karen Kerrigan: “We commend Republican Senate leaders for their tireless work in getting the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ to this critical stage for America’s small business owners and entrepreneurs. Their commitment to advancing this powerful package shows incredible dedication to the success of Main Street businesses across the country and to the future of U.S. entrepreneurship. Now, House members must focus on the widespread gains in the legislation for the U.S. economy, workers, families, and small business owners. We urge the House to promptly pass the bill so it can be signed by President Trump.”

    Steel Manufacturers Association: “Congratulations to the @SenateGOP for passing H.R. 1! The bill will make historic investments in Americans, our workers, our communities and our economy will all benefit.”

    The LIBRE Initiative President Daniel Garza: “We commend the Senate for passing H.R. 1 to make the Trump tax cuts permanent—measures that have proven to deliver real benefits to hardworking families, job creators, and entrepreneurs across the country. For Latinos—who are starting businesses at a notable rate and powering local economies—this bill is not just good policy, it’s essential.  By making the low tax rates and small business provisions permanent, this legislation helps ensure that Latino workers, small business owners, and families can thrive with greater certainty, flexibility, and opportunity. Tax relief allows families to keep more of what they earn, invest in their future, and weather economic uncertainty with confidence. We applaud the Senate for sending a clear message that the American Dream remains alive and within reach for all—especially those working hard to build a better life.”

    U.S. Chamber of Commerce EVP and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley: “With today’s vote, the Senate has taken decisive action to deliver the kind of permanent tax relief the American business community has been calling for. The tax provisions included in this bill will not only drive economic growth and sharpen America’s competitive edge but also put more money in workers’ pockets, increasing prosperity in communities across the country. The Chamber thanks Leader Thune, Chairman Crapo, and all who are working to make the pro-growth reforms of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent, including the deduction for domestic R&D expenditures, 100% bonus depreciation for certain business investments, and an expanded business interest limitation. The Chamber applauds the Senate for voting to make these provisions permanent features of the tax code. We urge lawmakers to swiftly pass the OBBBA and deliver it to President Trump to be signed into law.”

    USA Rice Farmers Chair LG Raun: “USA Rice applauds the Senate for passing the OBBB Act including a historic and critical investment in the farm safety net. We urge the House of Representatives to take up and pass this bill with the key ag investments before the 4th of July.”

    Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America President and CEO Francis Creighton: “On behalf of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, I want to thank the United States Senate for passing President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act under Section 198A. This critical legislation empowers America’s family-owned wholesalers to reinvest, compete, and thrive. We urge the U.S. House to act swiftly and send this bill to the President’s desk without delay.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Senate Democrats Just Voted Against Lower Taxes, Higher Pay, National Security, and More

    Source: US Whitehouse

    The One Big Beautiful Bill just PASSED the U.S. Senate, moving the landmark legislation one step closer to President Donald J. Trump’s desk — and once again, it was done without the support of a single Democrat.

    This is what Democrats just unanimously opposed:

    • Lower taxes and bigger paychecks. This means bigger paychecks with the largest tax cut in history for middle- and working-class Americans — plus No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, No Tax on Social Security, an expanded child tax credit, and a tax break on car loans for American-made vehicles.
    • Strong border security. This fortifies President Trump’s unprecedented border enforcement action — which includes funding to deport one million illegal immigrants per year, finish the border wall, and hire 10,000 new ICE officers, 5,000 new Customs officers, and 3,000 new Border Patrol agents.
    • Protecting Medicaid for American citizens who need it. This strengthens Medicaid for Americans who rely on it — like pregnant women, children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families — while eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.
    • Modernizing air traffic control. This allows President Trump to completely overhaul and improve the systems that keep Americans flying safely and efficiently.
    • Revolutionizing the nation’s defense. This funds President Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense shield, restocks America’s arsenal, delivers the largest Coast Guard upgrade since WWII, and improves our military readiness.
    • Protecting family farmers. The bill prevents punitive double taxation from hitting two million family farms.
    • Unleashing American energy dominance. This finally ends Biden’s war on American energy and drives down energy costs — making America less dependent on foreign adversaries.
    • Reversing runaway spending. This slashes deficits by over $2 trillion and rescinds billions of dollars in wasteful funding for Biden’s Green New Scam.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: No Tax on Social Security is a Reality in the One Big Beautiful Bill

    Source: US Whitehouse

    Under the One Big Beautiful Bill, the vast majority of senior citizens — 88% of all seniors who receive Social Security — will pay NO TAX on their Social Security benefits, according to a brand new analysis from the Council of Economic Advisers.

    • A senior who files as a single taxpayer and receives the current average retirement benefit (approx. $24,000) will see deductions that exceed their taxable Social Security income.
    • Married seniors who both receive the average $24,000 Social Security income — a total of $48,000 in annual income — will also see deductions that exceed their taxable Social Security income.

    This amounts to the largest tax break in history for America’s seniors — and makes sure that after years of earning their Social Security, seniors can save more of their money.

    Promises made, promises kept.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Trump Is Delivering Historic Permitting Wins Across the Federal Government

    Source: US Whitehouse

    ACCOMPLISHING PERMITTING REFORM IN RECORD TIME:  Today, President Donald J. Trump delivered on his promise to fix a broken permitting system, ensuring that burdensome Federal environmental reviews cannot be weaponized to stall the growth of the American economy or halt energy infrastructure construction.

    • The White House, through the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), coordinated a historic effort to dramatically reduce the burdens of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance across the Federal government so that America can get back to building again.
    • In consultation with CEQ, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce (including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the Department of the Interior, the Department of Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers updated their respective NEPA implementing procedures to  simplify this overly burdensome process and ensure efficient and timely environmental reviews.
    • These historic reforms:
      • Implement deadlines and page limits on environmental reviews required under recent amendments to NEPA, in order to expedite infrastructure development and reduce costs.
      • Provide clarification that NEPA does not apply to every action that a Federal agency takes, but only to Federal actions where the agency has sufficient control and discretion to take environmental effects into account.
      • Ensure simple and expeditious processes to create categorical exclusions (CEs), adopt other agencies’ CEs to minimize repetitive NEPA analyses, and focus their attention on actions with truly significant environmental effects.

    CUTTING UNNECESSARY RED TAPE: All three branches of the Federal government have recently directed reforms to the NEPA process: President Trump, in his Unleashing American Energy Executive Order; the United States Congress, in its BUILDER Act amendments as part of the 2023 Fiscal Responsibility Act; and the United States Supreme Court in its recent landmark decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County.

    • NEPA directs all agencies to maintain their own, agency-level NEPA implementing procedures.
    • Most of those procedures had not been modernized to reflect any of the recent reforms. Some agencies were still using outdated NEPA regulations from the 1980s.
    • Under President Trump’s leadership, the endless cycle of regulatory back-and-forth and excessive environmental reviews that produced little benefit for the American people has come to a halt.
    • Federal agencies are cutting unnecessary layers of bureaucracy in record time by implementing the unmistakable direction from all three branches of the Federal government. 

    BUILDING ON PAST SUCCESS: The Trump Administration has taken decisive action to reform, modernize, and expedite the Federal environmental review, eliminating unnecessary delays that are holding back the growth of secure and reliable infrastructure projects across the Nation.

    • On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed the Executive Order, Unleashing American Energy, which called for unleashing American energy dominance through efficient permitting.
      • The E.O. directed CEQ to provide guidance on implementing NEPA to expedite and simplify the permitting process – and propose rescinding CEQ’s regulations.
      • CEQ responded to President Trump’s direction by rescinding its NEPA regulations, creating a clear path for agencies to expeditiously reform their own NEPA procedures and allow America to build again.
      • President Trump’s action to restore CEQ to its core statutory mission of coordinating and consulting, providing guidance to Federal agencies as they revise their NEPA procedures, will ensure timely reviews and consistency across agencies and enable CEQ to coordinate this monumental deregulatory effort.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Ensures Efficient Funding Processes and Decisions for Energy and Critical Mineral Projects

    Source: US Whitehouse

    STREAMLINING FUNDING APPLICATIONS AND ENSURING EFFICIENT USE OF TAXPAYER FUNDS FOR ENERGY AND CRITICAL MINERAL PROJECTS: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum that fosters interagency coordination when funding energy and critical mineral projects to better prioritize the use of taxpayer funds and end wasteful duplicative processes.

    • The Memorandum encourages agencies to share information with the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC) regarding both pending applications for funding and existing funding commitments for energy, critical mineral, or critical material-related projects.
      • This gives the NEDC insight as to whether funds across the Federal government are utilized appropriately and where they are most needed, without redundancies, and the ability to communicate suggestions on fund deployment to agencies.
      • This also enables the NEDC to serve a coordinating function between agencies that are evaluating potential funding recipients, eliminating the need for duplicative diligence workstreams across agencies.
    • The Memorandum further directs the development of a common application for Federal funding opportunities in the energy and critical mineral space to allow for applicants to apply simultaneously to multiple funding programs using one streamlined application.

    CUTTING BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE: This Memorandum fulfills President Trump’s broader commitment to make government more efficient and support our domestic energy industries.

    • Agencies currently engage in duplicative diligence processes when reviewing funding applications for energy infrastructure and critical mineral and critical material projects.
    • Applicants are burdened with requirements to complete multiple, complex, and substantially similar applications. Agencies conduct substantially the same diligence redundantly in order to make funding decisions.
    • Streamlining this application process and increasing information-sharing across agencies will enable the Federal government to make faster, better funding decisions.

    UNLEASHING AMERICAN ENERGY: President Trump is cutting red tape to unleash American energy.

    • On Day One, President Trump declared a National Energy Emergency to eliminate bureaucratic barriers, unleash innovation, and restore America’s position as the world’s leading energy producer.
    • He established the NEDC to advise on strategies for improving the processes for permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, and transportation across all forms of American energy.
    • His Administration has cut down significant regulatory barriers in the energy space already by reforming NEPA, deregulating under the Endangered Species Act, granting regulatory relief under the Clean Air Act, and more.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Presidential Permit Authorizing Steel Reef US Pipelines LLC To Operate and Maintain Pipeline Facilities at Burke County, North Dakota, at the International Boundary Between the United States and Canada

    Source: US Whitehouse

    class=”has-text-align-left”>By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States of America (the “President”), I hereby grant this Presidential permit, subject to the conditions herein set forth, to Steel Reef US Pipelines LLC (the “permittee”).  The permittee is a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and owned by affiliates of Steel Reef Infrastructure Corp., a Canadian privately held corporation organized under the laws of Canada.  Permission is hereby granted to the permittee to operate and maintain existing pipeline Border facilities, as described herein, at the international border of the United States and Canada at Burke County, North Dakota, for the export from the United States into Canada of natural gas liquids, but not including natural gas subject to section 3 of the Natural Gas Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 717b).

    This permit does not affect the applicability of any otherwise-relevant laws and regulations.  As confirmed in Article 2 of this permit, the Border facilities shall remain subject to all such laws and regulations.

    The term “Facilities” as used in this permit means the portion in the United States of the international pipeline project associated with the permittee’s February 23, 2022, application for an amendment to its existing permit, and any land, structures, installations, or equipment appurtenant thereto.

    The term “Border facilities” as used in this permit means those parts of the Facilities consisting of an 8.625-inch diameter pipeline in existence at the time of this permit’s issuance extending from the international border between the United States and Canada at Burke County, North Dakota, to and including the first mainline shut-off valve or pumping station in the United States, and any land, structures, installations, or equipment appurtenant thereto.

    This permit is subject to the following conditions:

    Article 1.  The Border facilities herein described, and all aspects of their operation, shall be subject to all the conditions, provisions, and requirements of this permit and any subsequent Presidential amendment to it.  The permittee shall make no substantial change in the Border facilities, in the location of the Border facilities, or in the operation authorized by this permit unless the President has approved the change in an amendment to this permit or in a new permit.  Such substantial changes do not include, and the permittee may make, changes to the average daily throughput capacity of the Border facilities to any volume of products that is achievable through the Border facilities, and to the directional flow of any such products.

    Article 2.  The standards for, and the manner of, operation and maintenance of the Border facilities shall be subject to inspection by the representatives of appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies.  Officers and employees of such agencies who are duly authorized and performing their official duties shall be granted free and unrestricted access to the Border facilities by the permittee.  The Border facilities, including the operation and maintenance of the Border facilities, shall be subject to all applicable laws and regulations, including pipeline safety laws and regulations issued or administered by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation.  The permittee shall obtain requisite permits from relevant State and local governmental entities, and relevant Federal agencies.

    Article 3.  Upon the termination, revocation, or surrender of this permit, unless otherwise decided by the President, the permittee, at its own expense, shall remove the Border facilities within such time as the President may specify.  If the permittee fails to comply with an order to remove, or to take such other appropriate action with respect to, the Border facilities, the President may direct an appropriate official or agency to take possession of the Border facilities — or to remove the Border facilities or take other action — at the expense of the permittee.  The permittee shall have no claim for damages caused by any such possession, removal, or other action.

    Article 4.  When, in the judgment of the President, ensuring the national security of the United States requires entering upon and taking possession of any of the Border facilities or parts thereof, and retaining possession, management, or control thereof for such a length of time as the President may deem necessary, the United States shall have the right to do so, provided that the President or his designee has given due notice to the permittee.  The United States shall also have the right thereafter to restore possession and control to the permittee.  In the event that the United States exercises the rights described in this article, it shall pay to the permittee just and fair compensation for the use of such Border facilities, upon the basis of a reasonable profit in normal conditions, and shall bear the cost of restoring the Border facilities to their previous condition, less the reasonable value of any improvements that may have been made by the United States.

    Article 5.  Any transfer of ownership or control of the Border facilities, or any part thereof, or any changes to the name of the permittee, shall be immediately communicated in writing to the President or his designee, and shall include information identifying any transferee.  Notwithstanding any such transfers or changes, this permit shall remain in force subject to all of its conditions, permissions, and requirements, and any amendments thereto.

    Article 6.  (1)  The permittee is responsible for acquiring any right-of-way grants or easements, permits, and other authorizations as may become necessary or appropriate.

    (2)  The permittee shall hold harmless and indemnify the United States from any claimed or adjudged liability arising out of construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of the Border facilities, including environmental contamination from the release, threatened release, or discharge of hazardous substances or hazardous waste.

    (3)  To ensure the safe operation of the Border facilities, the permittee shall maintain them and every part of them in a condition of good repair and in compliance with applicable law.

    Article 7.  The permittee shall file with the President or his designee, and with appropriate agencies, such sworn statements or reports with respect to the Border facilities, or the permittee’s activities and operations in connection therewith, as are now, or may hereafter, be required under any law or regulation of the United States Government or its agencies.  These reporting obligations do not alter the intent that this permit be operative as a directive issued by the President alone.

    Article 8.  Upon request, the permittee shall provide appropriate information to the President or his designee with regard to the Border facilities.  Such requests could include information concerning current conditions or anticipated changes in ownership or control, construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of the Border facilities.

    Article 9.  This permit is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

    DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Presidential Permit Authorizing South Bow (USA) LP to Operate and Maintain Pipeline Facilities at Cavalier County, North Dakota, at the International Boundary Between the United States and Canada

    Source: US Whitehouse

    class=”has-text-align-left”>Dear Mr. Speaker:   (Dear Mr. President:)

    On the night of June 21, 2025, at my direction, United States forces conducted a precision strike against three nuclear facilities in Iran used by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its nuclear weapons development program.  The strike was taken to advance vital United States national interests, and in collective self-defense of our ally, Israel, by eliminating Iran’s nuclear program.

    The strike was limited in scope and purpose.  The United States discretely targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities.  Iranian troops and other military facilities were not targeted.  No United States ground forces were used in the strike, and the mission was planned and executed in a manner designed to minimize casualties, deter future attacks, and limit the risk of escalation.

    I directed this military action consistent with my responsibility to protect United States citizens both at home and abroad as well as in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests.  I acted pursuant to my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive and pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct United States foreign relations.  The United States took this necessary and proportionate action consistent with international law, and the United States stands ready to take further action, as necessary and appropriate, to address further threats or attacks.

    I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148).  I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.

                      Sincerely,

                                 DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Providing for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions

    Source: US Whitehouse

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) (NEA), the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-175) (Syria Accountability Act), the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-182, title III) (CBW Act), the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019, as amended (22 U.S.C. 8791 note) (Caesar Act), the Illicit Captagon Trafficking Suppression Act of 2023 (Public Law 118-50, div. P), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is hereby ordered:

    Section 1.  Background.  The United States is committed to supporting a Syria that is stable, unified, and at peace with itself and its neighbors.  A united Syria that does not offer a safe haven for terrorist organizations and ensures the security of its religious and ethnic minorities will support regional security and prosperity.  The Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury have taken initial steps towards this goal through the issuance on May 23, 2025, of General License 25 and a waiver of sanctions under the Caesar Act. 

    Sec2.  Policy.  It is the policy of the United States to recognize that circumstances that gave rise to the actions taken in the Executive Orders described in section 3(a) of this order, related to the policies and actions of the former regime of Bashar al-Assad, have been transformed by developments over the past 6 months, including the positive actions taken by the new Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.  This order supports United States national security and foreign policy goals by directing additional actions, including the removal of sanctions on Syria, the issuance of waivers that permit the relaxation of export controls and other restrictions on Syria, and other actions to be taken by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Commerce, as well as by other executive departments and agencies (agencies) of the United States, without providing relief to ISIS or other terrorist organizations, human rights abusers, those linked to chemical weapons or proliferation-related activities, or other persons that threaten the peace, security, or stability of the United States, Syria, and its neighbors. 

    Sec3.  Revocation of Syria Sanctions.  (a)  Effective July 1, 2025, I hereby terminate the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13338 of May 11, 2004 (Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Export of Certain Goods to Syria), and revoke that order, as well as Executive Order 13399 of April 25, 2006 (Blocking Property of Additional Persons in Connection With the National Emergency With Respect to Syria), Executive Order 13460 of February 13, 2008 (Blocking Property of Additional Persons in Connection With the National Emergency With Respect to Syria), Executive Order 13572 of April 29, 2011 (Blocking Property of Certain Persons with Respect to Human Rights Abuses in Syria), Executive Order 13573 of May 18, 2011 (Blocking Property of Senior Officials of the Government of Syria), and Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011 (Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and Prohibiting Certain Transactions with Respect to Syria).
         (b)  Pursuant to section 202(a) of the NEA (50 U.S.C. 1622(a)), termination of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13338, as modified in scope and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13399, Executive Order 13460, Executive Order 13572, Executive Order 13573, and Executive Order 13582 shall not affect any action taken or pending proceeding not finally concluded or determined as of July 1, 2025, any action or proceeding based on any act committed prior to July 1, 2025, or any rights or duties that matured or penalties that were incurred prior to July 1, 2025.

    Sec4.  Accountability for the Former Regime of Bashar al‑Assad.  I find that additional steps must be taken to ensure meaningful accountability for perpetrators of war crimes, human rights violations and abuses, and the proliferation of narcotics trafficking networks in and in relation to Syria during the former regime of Bashar al-Assad and by those associated with it.  Perpetrators of such actions threaten to undermine peace, security, and stability in the region, and thereby constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.
         (a)  I hereby expand the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13894 of October 14, 2019 (Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Syria), as amended in and relied on for additional steps taken in Executive Order 14142 of January 15, 2025 (Taking Additional Steps With Respect to the Situation in Syria), to deal with that threat, and accordingly further amend Executive Order 13894 by:
            (i)   striking section 1(a) and inserting, in lieu thereof, the following:
         “Section 1.  (a)  All property and interests in property that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any United States person of the following persons are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in: 
            (i)  any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State:
              (A)  to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have directly or indirectly engaged in, or attempted to engage in, any of the following in or in relation to Syria:
                 (1)  actions or policies that further threaten the peace, security, stability, or territorial integrity of Syria; or
                 (2)  the commission of serious human rights abuse;
              (B)  to be a former government official of the former regime of Bashar al-Assad or a person who acted for or on behalf of such an official;
              (C)  to have engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the illicit production and international illicit proliferation of captagon;
              (D)  to be responsible for or complicit in, to have directly or indirectly engaged in, or to be responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, instances in which a United States national ((i) as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22) or 8 U.S.C. 1408, or (ii) a lawful permanent resident with significant ties to the United States) went missing in Syria during the former regime of Bashar al-Assad; 
              (E)  to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of: 
                 (1)  the former regime of Bashar al-Assad; 
                 (2)  any activity described in subsections (a)(i)(A)–(a)(i)(D) of this section; or 
                 (3)  any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; 
              (F)  to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; or
              (G)  to be an adult family member of a person designated under subsections (a)(i)(A)–(a)(i)(D) of this section.”; and
            (ii)  striking section 2(a) and inserting, in lieu thereof, the following:  
         “Sec. 2.  (a)  The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and other officials of the United States Government as appropriate, is hereby authorized to impose on a foreign person any of the sanctions described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, upon determining that the person, on or after the date of this order: 
            (i)    is responsible for or complicit in, has directly or indirectly engaged in, or attempted to engage in, or financed the obstruction, disruption, or prevention of efforts to promote a Syria that is stable, unified, and at peace with itself and its neighbors, including:
              (A)  the convening and conduct of a credible and inclusive Syrian-led constitutional process;
              (B)  the preparation for and conduct of supervised elections, pursuant to the new constitution, that are free and fair and to the highest international standards of transparency and accountability; or
              (C)  the development of a Syrian government that is representative and reflects the will of the Syrian people;
            (ii)   is an adult family member of a person designated under subsection (a)(i) of this section; or
            (iii)  is responsible for or complicit in, or has directly or indirectly engaged in, or attempted to engage in, the expropriation of property, including real property, for personal gain or political purposes in Syria.”
         (b)  I additionally amend Executive Order 13606 of April 22, 2012 (Blocking the Property and Suspending Entry into the United States of Certain Persons With Respect to Grave Human Rights Abuses by the Governments of Iran and Syria Via Information Technology), by removing the following text from the preamble:  “Executive Order 13338 of May 11, 2004, as modified in scope and relied upon for additional steps in subsequent Executive Orders” and replacing it with:  “Executive Order 13894 of October 14, 2019, and relied upon for additional steps and further amended in subsequent Executive Orders.”

    Sec5.  Caesar Act.  The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall examine whether the criteria set forth in section 7431(a) of the Caesar Act have been met, and on the basis of that examination may, pursuant to the Presidential Memorandum of March 31, 2020 (Delegation of Certain Functions and Authorities Under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020), suspend in whole or in part the imposition of sanctions otherwise required under the Caesar Act.  If the Secretary of State determines to suspend in whole or in part the imposition of such sanctions, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall provide the briefing to the appropriate congressional committees required by section 7431(b) of the Caesar Act within 30 days of such determination.  Further, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall continue to review the situation in Syria, and if the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, determines that the criteria set forth in section 7431(a) are no longer met, the Secretary of State shall reimpose sanctions. 

    Sec6.  Syria Accountability Act.  I hereby determine pursuant to section 5(b) of the Syria Accountability Act that it is in the national security interest of the United States to waive the application of subsection (a)(1), with respect to items on the Commerce Control List (supp. No. 1 to 15 C.F.R. part 774) only, and subsection (a)(2)(A) of the Syria Accountability Act only.  The Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees the report required under section 5(b) of that Act.

    Sec7.  CBW Act.  (a)  Pursuant to section 307(d)(1)(B) of the CBW Act, I hereby determine and certify that there has been a fundamental change in the leadership and policies of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic.  Accordingly, I hereby waive the following sanctions imposed on Syria for the prior use of chemical weapons under the former regime of Bashar al-Assad:
            (i) the restriction on foreign assistance under section 307(a)(1) of the CBW Act;
            (ii)   the restriction on United States Government credit, credit guarantees, or other financial assistance under section 307(a)(4) of the CBW Act;
            (iii)  the restrictions on the export of national security-sensitive goods and technology under section 307(a)(5) of the CBW Act and on all other goods and technology under section 307(b)(2)(C) of the CBW Act; and
            (iv)   the restriction on United States banks from making any loan or providing any credit to the Government of Syria under section 307(b)(2)(B) of the CBW Act.
         (b)  The Secretary of State shall transmit this waiver determination and report as required by sections 307(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the CBW Act to the appropriate congressional committees.  This waiver shall be effective 20 days after it has been so transmitted.

    Sec8.  Counterterrorism Designations.  (a)  The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General, shall take all appropriate action with respect to the designation of al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and other aliases, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under 8 U.S.C. 1189 and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under 50 U.S.C. 1702 and Executive Order 13224, as well as the designation of Abu Muhammad al Jawlani, commonly known as Ahmed al-Sharaa, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
         (b)  The Secretary of State shall take all appropriate action to review the designation of Syria as a State Sponsor of Terrorism consistent with section 1754(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115-232; 50 U.S.C. 4813(c)), section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act (Public Law 90-629, as amended; 22 U.S.C. 2780), and section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (Public Law 87-195, as amended; 22 U.S.C. 2371).

    Sec9.  United Nations.  The Secretary of State shall take appropriate steps to advance United States policy objectives at the United Nations to support a Syria that is stable and at peace and to support Syrian efforts to counter terrorism and comply with its responsibilities and obligations concerning weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and biological weapons.  The Secretary of State is further directed to explore avenues at the United Nations to provide sanctions relief in support of these objectives.

    Sec10.  Implementation.  The Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, are hereby authorized to take such actions, including adopting rules and regulations, as may be necessary to implement this order.  The Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Commerce may, consistent with applicable law, redelegate any of these functions within their respective agencies.  The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Transportation, as appropriate, is authorized to exercise the functions and authorities conferred upon the President in section 5 of the Syria Accountability Act and to redelegate these functions and authorities consistent with applicable law.  All agencies of the United States shall take all appropriate measures within their authority to implement this order, consistent with applicable law.

    Sec11.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
            (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
            (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
         (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
         (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
         (d)  The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of State.

                            DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,
    June 30, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: National Security Presidential Memorandum/NSPM-5

    Source: US Whitehouse

    MEMORANDUM FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT

    THE SECRETARY OF STATE

    THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY

    THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

    THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

    THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR

    THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

    THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE

    THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

    THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

    THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY

    THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

    THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE

        AGENCY

    THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

    THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OF

       STAFF

    THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND

       BUDGET

    THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL

       SECURITY AFFAIRS

    THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND HOMELAND

        SECURITY ADVISOR

    THE COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT

    THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR ECONOMIC

        POLICY

    THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

    THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND

       TECHNOLOGY POLICY

    THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED STATES OF

       AMERICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

    THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS

       ADMINISTRATION

    THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR

       INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

    THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL

       MANAGEMENT

    SUBJECT:       Reissuance of and Amendments to National Security Presidential Memorandum 5 on Strengthening the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba

    Section 1.  Purpose.  The United States recognizes the need for more freedom and democracy, improved respect for human rights, and increased free enterprise in Cuba.  The Cuban people have long suffered under a Communist regime that suppresses their legitimate aspirations for freedom and prosperity and fails to respect their essential human dignity.

    My Administration’s policy will be guided by the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States, as well as solidarity with the Cuban people.  I will seek to promote a stable, prosperous, and free country for the Cuban people.  To that end, we must channel funds toward the Cuban people and away from a regime that has failed to meet the most basic requirements of a free and just society.

    In Cuba, dissidents and peaceful protesters are arbitrarily detained and held in terrible prison conditions.  Violence and intimidation against dissidents occur with impunity.  Families of political prisoners are retaliated against for peacefully protesting the improper confinement of their loved ones.  Worshippers are harassed, and free association by civil society organizations is blocked.  The right to speak freely, including through access to the internet, is denied, and there is no free press.  The United States condemns these abuses.

    The initial actions set forth in this memorandum, including restricting certain financial transactions and travel, encourage the Cuban government to address these abuses.  My Administration will continue to evaluate its policies so as to improve human rights, encourage the rule of law, foster free markets and free enterprise, and promote democracy in Cuba.

    Sec. 2.  Policy.  It shall be the policy of the executive branch to:

    (a)  End economic practices that disproportionately benefit the Cuban government or its military, intelligence, or security agencies or personnel at the expense of the Cuban people.

    (b)  Ensure adherence to the statutory ban on tourism to Cuba.

    (c)  Support the economic embargo of Cuba described in section 4(7) of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (the embargo), including by opposing measures that call for an end to the embargo at the United Nations and other international forums and through regular reporting on whether the conditions of a transition government exist in Cuba.

    (d)  Amplify efforts to support the Cuban people through the expansion of internet services, free press, free enterprise, free association, and lawful travel.

    (e)  Not reinstate the “Wet Foot, Dry Foot” policy, which encouraged untold thousands of Cuban nationals to risk their lives to travel unlawfully to the United States.

    (f)  Ensure that engagement between the United States and Cuba advances the interests of the United States and the Cuban people.  These interests include:  advancing Cuban human rights; encouraging the growth of a Cuban private sector independent of government control; enforcing final orders of removal against Cuban nationals in the United States; protecting the national security and public health and safety of the United States, including through proper engagement on criminal cases and working to ensure the return of fugitives from American justice living in Cuba or being harbored by the Cuban government; supporting United States agriculture and protecting plant and animal health; advancing the understanding of the United States regarding scientific and environmental challenges; and facilitating safe civil aviation.

    Sec. 3.  Implementation.  The heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall begin to implement the policy set forth in section 2 of this memorandum as follows:

    (a)  Within 30 days of the date of this memorandum, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate and in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Transportation, shall initiate a process to adjust current regulations regarding transactions with Cuba.

    (i)    As part of the regulatory changes described in this subsection, the Secretary of State shall identify any entities or subentities, as appropriate, that are under the control of, or act for or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, the Cuban military, intelligence, or security services or personnel (such as Grupo de Administracion Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), its affiliates, subsidiaries, and successors), and publish a list of those identified entities and subentities with which direct or indirect financial transactions would disproportionately benefit such services or personnel at the expense of the Cuban people or private enterprise in Cuba.

    (ii)   Except as provided in subsection (a)(iii) of this section, the regulatory changes described in this subsection shall prohibit direct or indirect financial transactions with those entities or subentities on the list published pursuant to subsection (a)(i) of this section.

    (iii)  The regulatory changes described in this subsection shall not prohibit transactions that the Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of State, determines are consistent with the policy set forth in section 2 of this memorandum and:

    (A)  concern Federal Government operations, including Naval Station Guantanamo Bay and the United States mission in Havana;

    (B)  support programs to build democracy in Cuba;

    (C)  concern air and sea operations that support permissible travel, cargo, or trade;

    (D)  support the acquisition of visas for permissible travel;

    (E)  support the expansion of direct telecommunications and internet access for the Cuban people;

    (F)  support the sale of agricultural commodities, medicines, and medical devices sold to Cuba consistent with the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) and the Cuban Democracy Act of 2002 (22 U.S.C. 6001 et seq.);

    (G)  relate to sending, processing, or receiving authorized remittances;

    (H)  otherwise further the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States; or

    (I)  are required by law.

    (b)  Within 30 days of the date of this memorandum, the Secretary of the Treasury, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall initiate a process to adjust current regulations to ensure adherence to the statutory ban on tourism to Cuba.

    (i)    The amended regulations shall require that educational travel be for legitimate educational purposes.  Except for educational travel that was permitted by regulation in effect on January 27, 2011, all educational travel shall be under the auspices of an organization subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and all such travelers must be accompanied by a representative of the sponsoring organization.

    (ii)   The regulations shall further require that those traveling for the permissible purposes of non academic education or to provide support for the Cuban people:

    (A)  engage in a full-time schedule of activities that enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities; and

    (B)  meaningfully interact with individuals in Cuba.

    (iii)  The regulations shall continue to provide that every person engaging in travel to Cuba shall keep full and accurate records of all transactions related to authorized travel, regardless of whether they were effected pursuant to license or otherwise, and such records shall be available for examination by the Department of the Treasury for at least 5 years after the date they occur.

    (iv)   The Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Transportation shall review their respective agencies’ enforcement of all categories of permissible travel within 90 days of the date the regulations described in this subsection are finalized to ensure such enforcement accords with the policies outlined in section 2 of this memorandum.

    (c)  The Secretary of the Treasury shall regularly audit travel to Cuba to ensure that travelers are complying with relevant statutes and regulations.  The Secretary of the Treasury shall request that the Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury inspect the actions taken by the Department of the Treasury to implement this audit requirement.  The Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury shall provide a report to the President, through the Secretary of the Treasury, summarizing the results of that inspection within 180 days of the adjustment of current regulations described in subsection (b) of this section and annually thereafter.

    (d)  The Secretary of the Treasury shall adjust the Department of the Treasury’s current regulation defining the term “prohibited officials of the Government of Cuba” so that, for purposes of title 31, part 515 of the Code of Federal Regulations, it includes Ministers and Vice-Ministers; members of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers; members and employees of the National Assembly of People’s Power; members of any provincial assembly; local sector chiefs of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution; Director Generals and sub-Director Generals and higher of all Cuban ministries and state agencies; employees of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT); employees of the Ministry of Defense (MINFAR); secretaries and first secretaries of the Confederation of Labor of Cuba (CTC) and its component unions; chief editors, editors, and deputy editors of Cuban state-run media organizations and programs, including newspapers, television, and radio; and members and employees of the Supreme Court (Tribuno Supremo Nacional).

    (e)  The Secretary of State and the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations shall oppose efforts at the United Nations or (with respect to the Secretary of State) any other international forum to lift the embargo until a transition government in Cuba, as described in section 205 of the LIBERTAD Act, exists.

    (f)  The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Attorney General, shall provide a report to the President assessing whether and to what degree the Cuban government has satisfied the requirements of a transition government as described in section 205(a) of the LIBERTAD Act, taking into account the additional factors listed in section 205(b) of that Act.  This report shall include a review of human rights abuses committed against the Cuban people, such as unlawful detentions, arbitrary arrests, and inhumane treatment.

    (g)  The Attorney General shall, within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, issue a report to the President on issues related to fugitives from American justice living in Cuba or being harbored by the Cuban government.

    (h)  The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall review all democracy development programs of the Federal Government in Cuba to ensure that they align with the criteria set forth in section 109(a) of the LIBERTAD Act.

    (i)  The Secretary of State shall convene a task force, composed of relevant agencies, including the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, and appropriate non-governmental organizations and private-sector entities, to examine the technological challenges and opportunities for expanding internet access in Cuba, including through Federal Government support of programs and activities that encourage freedom of expression through independent media and internet freedom so that the Cuban people can enjoy the free and unregulated flow of information.

    (j)  The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall continue to discourage dangerous, unlawful migration that puts Cuban and American lives at risk.  The Secretary of Defense shall continue to provide support, as necessary, to the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security in carrying out duties regarding interdiction of migrants.

    (k)  The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall annually report to the President regarding the engagement of the United States with Cuba to ensure that engagement is advancing the interests of the United States.

    (l)  All activities conducted pursuant to subsections (a) through (k) of this section shall be carried out in a manner that furthers the interests of the United States, including by appropriately protecting sensitive sources, methods, and operations of the Federal Government.

    Sec. 4.  Earlier Presidential Actions.  (a)  This memorandum amends sections 1 and 3 of National Security Presidential Memorandum 5 of June 16, 2017 (Strengthening the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba) (NSPM-5), and reissues NSPM-5 in its entirety.  It does not otherwise amend the text or timelines reflected in the original NSPM-5 and is not intended to direct agencies to repeat actions already implemented under that NSPM.

    (b)  This memorandum supersedes and replaces both National Security Presidential Directive 52 of June 28, 2007 (U.S. Policy toward Cuba), and Presidential Policy Directive 43 of October 14, 2016 (United States-Cuba Normalization).

    (c)  This memorandum does not affect either Executive Order 12807 of May 24, 1992 (Interdiction of Illegal Aliens), or Executive Order 13276 of November 15, 2002 (Delegation of Responsibilities Concerning Undocumented Aliens Interdicted or Intercepted in the Caribbean Region).

    Sec. 5.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

    (i)  the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

    (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b)  This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

    (c)  This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

    (d)  The Secretary of State is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

    DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Provides for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions

    Source: US Whitehouse

    TERMINATING SANCTIONS ON SYRIA: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a historic Executive Order terminating the Syria sanctions program to support the country’s path to stability and peace.

    • The Order removes sanctions on Syria while maintaining sanctions on Bashar al-Assad, his associates, human rights abusers, drug traffickers, persons linked to chemical weapons activities, ISIS or its affiliates, and Iranian proxies.
    • The Order directs the Secretary of State to evaluate suspending sanctions, either in whole or in part if specific criteria are met, under the Caesar Act, a law that sanctions the Assad regime for atrocities.
    • The Order permits the relaxation of export controls on certain goods and waives restrictions on certain foreign assistance to Syria.
    • The Order directs the Secretary of State to review Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
    • The Order directs the Secretary of State to review HTS and Ahmed al-Sharaa’s designations as Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
    • The Order directs the Secretary of State to review Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.
    • The Order directs the Secretary of State to explore avenues for sanctions relief at the United Nations to support stability in Syria.

    GIVING SYRIA A CHANCE TO SUCCEED: President Trump is committed to supporting a Syria that is stable, unified, and at peace with itself and its neighbors.

    • President Trump wants Syria to succeed—but not at the expense of U.S. interests. While seeking to reengage constructively, this Administration will continue to guard against all threats and monitor progress on key priorities: taking concrete steps toward normalizing ties with Israel, addressing foreign terrorists, deporting Palestinian terrorists and banning Palestinian terrorist groups, helping the United States prevent a resurgence of ISIS, and assuming responsibility for ISIS detention centers in northeast Syria.
    • U.S. sanctions were imposed in response to the Assad regime’s brutal actions against the Syrian people and their direct support for terrorism in the region.
    • Recent positive changes and actions taken by the Government of Syria, after the fall of the brutal Assad Regime, demonstrate promise for a stable and peaceful future.
    • Removing sanctions will support Syria’s efforts to rebuild and counter terrorism without empowering harmful actors.
    • A unified Syria that protects its people and rejects extremism strengthens security and prosperity in the Middle East.
    • This policy aligns with U.S. goals to promote peace and stability in the region while holding accountable those responsible for past atrocities or terrorism.

    PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT: President Trump is delivering on his commitment to give Syria a chance to rebuild and thrive by lifting sanctions and ensuring accountability for harmful actors.

    • On May 13, President Trump announced he would be lifting sanctions on Syria to “give them a chance at greatness.”
      • President Trump: “The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important — really an important function — nevertheless, at the time. But now it’s their time to shine … So, I say, ‘Good luck, Syria.’ Show us something very special.”
    • The Treasury Department quickly took the first step in lifting sanctions on Syria by issuing a general license, known as GL25, to authorize transactions involving the interim Syrian government, its central bank, and state-owned enterprises. Simultaneously, the State Department issued a 180-day waiver of sanctions under the Caesar Act. 
    • President Trump is now fully delivering on that promise by taking bold action to implement the termination of the Syria sanctions program.
    • The world should take notice—if you want to take meaningful steps towards peace and stability, then the United States is willing to move rapidly to support you. 
    • President Trump hopes that Syria’s new government “will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country in keeping peace.”
    • President Trump believes “there is great potential in working with Syria to stop Radicalism, improve Relations, and secure Peace in the Middle East.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Strengthens the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba

    Source: US Whitehouse

    STRENGTHENING THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES TOWARD CUBA: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) to strengthen the policy of the United States toward Cuba.

    • This NSPM restores and strengthens the robust Cuba policy from the President’s first term, reversing the Biden Administration’s revocation that eased pressure on the Cuban regime.
    • The NSPM ends economic practices that disproportionately benefit the Cuban government, military, intelligence, or security agencies at the expense of the Cuban people.
      • Direct or indirect financial transactions with entities controlled by the Cuban military, such as Grupo de Administracion Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), and its affiliates are prohibited, with exceptions for transactions that advance U.S. policy goals or support the Cuban people.
    • It enforces the statutory ban on U.S. tourism to Cuba and ensures compliance through regular audits and mandatory record-keeping of all travel-related transactions for at least five years.
    • The NSPM supports the economic embargo of Cuba and opposes calls in the United Nations and other international forums for its termination.
    • The NSPM amplifies efforts to support the Cuban people through the expansion of internet services, free press, free enterprise, free association, and lawful travel.
    • It ensures the “Wet Foot, Dry Foot” policy remains terminated to discourage dangerous, unlawful migration.
    • The NSPM ensures that engagement between the United States and Cuba advances the interests of the United States and the Cuban people, including through promoting human rights, fostering a private sector independent of government control, and enhancing national security.
    • The NSPM mandates a review of human rights abuses in Cuba, including unlawful detentions and inhumane treatment, and requires a report on fugitives from American justice living in Cuba or being harbored by the Cuban government.

    PROMOTING A STABLE, PROSPEROUS, AND FREE CUBA: President Trump is committed to fostering a free and democratic Cuba, addressing the Cuban people’s long-standing suffering under a Communist regime.

    • The Cuban people have long suffered under a Communist regime that suppresses their legitimate aspirations for freedom and prosperity, arbitrarily detains dissidents, and holds political prisoners in inhumane conditions.
    • Violence and intimidation against dissidents occur with impunity, while families of political prisoners face retaliation for their advocacy.
    • The regime harasses worshippers, blocks free association by civil society organizations, and denies free speech, including through limited internet access and the absence of a free press.
    • The Cuban government harbors fugitives of American justice and fails to meet the basic requirements of a free and just society.

    HOLDING THE CUBAN REGIME ACCOUNTABLE: President Trump is continuing efforts from his first term to stand with the Cuban people and hold the regime accountable.

    • In his first term, President Trump implemented a robust policy towards Cuba, reversing the Obama Administration’s one-sided deal that eased restrictions without securing meaningful reforms for the Cuban people.
    • Now, President Trump is once again implementing a firm policy stance.
      • President Trump is fulfilling his campaign promise: “As president, I will again stand with the people of Cuba in their long quest for justice, liberty and freedom.”
    • President Trump also recently implemented a new travel ban that applies to Cuba.
      • It lists Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism and cites its failure to cooperate or share sufficient law enforcement information with the United States, its historical refusal to accept back its removable nationals, and its high visa overstay rate.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Presidential Permit: Authorizing Junction Pipeline Company, LLC to Construct, Connect, Operate, and Maintain Pipeline Facilities at Toole County, Montana, at the International Boundary Between the United States and Canada

    Source: US Whitehouse

    class=”has-text-align-left”>By virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States of America (the “President”), I hereby grant this Presidential permit, subject to the conditions herein set forth, to Junction Pipeline Company, LLC (the “permittee”).  The permittee is a limited liability company, organized under the laws of the State of Texas.  Permission is hereby granted to the permittee to construct, connect, operate, and maintain pipeline Border facilities, as described herein, at the international border of the United States and Canada at Toole County, Montana, for the import from Canada into the United States of crude oil and petroleum products of every description, refined or unrefined (inclusive of, but not limited to, naphtha, liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas liquids, jet fuel, gasoline, kerosene, and diesel), but not including natural gas subject to section 3 of the Natural Gas Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 717b).

    This permit does not affect the applicability of any otherwise-relevant laws and regulations.  As confirmed in Article 2 of this permit, the Border facilities shall remain subject to all such laws and regulations.

    The term “Facilities” as used in this permit means the portion in the United States of the international pipeline project associated with the permittee’s April 8, 2021, application for an amendment to its existing permit, and any land, structures, installations, or equipment appurtenant thereto.

    The term “Border facilities” as used in this permit means those parts of the Facilities consisting of a 30-inch diameter pipeline extending from the international border between the United States and Canada at Toole County, Montana, to and including the first mainline shut-off valve or pumping station in the United States located approximately one quarter of a mile from the international border, and any land, structures, installations, or equipment appurtenant thereto.

    This permit is subject to the following conditions:

    Article 1.  The Border facilities herein described, and all aspects of their operation, shall be subject to all the conditions, provisions, and requirements of this permit and any subsequent Presidential amendment to it.  The permittee shall make no substantial change in the Border facilities, in the location of the Border facilities, or in the operation authorized by this permit unless the President has approved the change in an amendment to this permit or in a new permit.  Such substantial changes do not include, and the permittee may make, changes to the average daily throughput capacity of the Border facilities to any volume of products that is achievable through the Border facilities, and to the directional flow of any such products.

    Article 2.  The standards for, and the manner of, construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of the Border facilities shall be subject to inspection by the representatives of appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies.  Officers and employees of such agencies who are duly authorized and performing their official duties shall be granted free and unrestricted access to the Border facilities by the permittee.  The Border facilities, including the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of the Border facilities, shall be subject to all applicable laws and regulations, including pipeline safety laws and regulations issued or administered by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation.  The permittee shall obtain requisite permits from relevant State and local governmental entities, and relevant Federal agencies.

    Article 3.  Upon the termination, revocation, or surrender of this permit, unless otherwise decided by the President, the permittee, at its own expense, shall remove the Border facilities within such time as the President may specify.  If the permittee fails to comply with an order to remove, or to take such other appropriate action with respect to, the Border facilities, the President may direct an appropriate official or agency to take possession of the Border facilities — or to remove the Border facilities or take other action — at the expense of the permittee.  The permittee shall have no claim for damages caused by any such possession, removal, or other action.

    Article 4.  When, in the judgment of the President, ensuring the national security of the United States requires entering upon and taking possession of any of the Border facilities or parts thereof, and retaining possession, management, or control thereof for such a length of time as the President may deem necessary, the United States shall have the right to do so, provided that the President or his designee has given due notice to the permittee.  The United States shall also have the right thereafter to restore possession and control to the permittee.  In the event that the United States exercises the rights described in this article, it shall pay to the permittee just and fair compensation for the use of such Border facilities, upon the basis of a reasonable profit in normal conditions, and shall bear the cost of restoring the Border facilities to their previous condition, less the reasonable value of any improvements that may have been made by the United States.

    Article 5.  Any transfer of ownership or control of the Border facilities, or any part thereof, or any changes to the name of the permittee, shall be immediately communicated in writing to the President or his designee, and shall include information identifying any transferee.  Notwithstanding any such transfers or changes, this permit shall remain in force subject to all of its conditions, permissions, and requirements, and any amendments thereto.

    Article 6.  (1)  The permittee is responsible for acquiring any right-of-way grants or easements, permits, and other authorizations as may become necessary or appropriate.

    (2)  The permittee shall hold harmless and indemnify the United States from any claimed or adjudged liability arising out of construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of the Border facilities, including environmental contamination from the release, threatened release, or discharge of hazardous substances or hazardous waste.

    (3)  To ensure the safe operation of the Border facilities, the permittee shall maintain them and every part of them in a condition of good repair and in compliance with applicable law.

    Article 7.  The permittee shall file with the President or his designee, and with appropriate agencies, such sworn statements or reports with respect to the Border facilities, or the permittee’s activities and operations in connection therewith, as are now, or may hereafter, be required under any law or regulation of the United States Government or its agencies.  These reporting obligations do not alter the intent that this permit be operative as a directive issued by the President alone.

    Article 8.  Upon request, the permittee shall provide appropriate information to the President or his designee with regard to the Border facilities.  Such requests could include information concerning current conditions or anticipated changes in ownership or control, construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of the Border facilities.

    Article 9.  This permit is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                                  DONALD J. TRUMP

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: The One Big Beautiful Bill Slashes Deficits, National Debt While Unleashing Economic Growth

    Source: US Whitehouse

    President Trump’s bold economic agenda, anchored by the historic pro-growth policies in the One Big Beautiful Bill, will unleash robust, real economic growth and restore fiscal sanity in America.

    Analysis by the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) confirms that President Trump’s pro-growth economic policies and reining in wasteful spending are key to improving the fiscal outlook.  President Trump’s proven economic formula — historic tax relief, rapid deregulation, balanced trade, and reining in wasteful spending — will slash our debt down to just 94% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    Let’s be clear: A vote against the One Big Beautiful Bill is a vote for the largest tax INCREASE — $4 trillion — our nation has ever faced, which would make our national debt explode to 117% of GDP by 2034.

    Key findings from the CEA:

    • Debt-to-GDP falls to 94% by 2034 under the Trump plan — compared to 117% under Biden’s failed path.
    • Total deficit in 2034 is cut nearly in half — 3.2% of GDP under Trump vs. 6.2% under current law—saving the country $1.1 trillion in that year alone.
    • Primary deficits flip to surpluses by 2034 under President Trump’s economic agenda with the OBBB.
    • An accurate budget score for the OBBB, inclusive of economic growth unleashed by President Trump’s policies, is deficit reduction of $755 billion relative to the CBO’s tax hike baseline and deficit reduction of $4.5 trillion relative to the current policy baseline.

    President Trump’s plan doesn’t just grow the economy, it actually reduces the debt burden on future generations — something the D.C. establishment hasn’t done in decades.

    While Joe Biden supersized the national debt, President Trump is supersizing hardworking Americans’ pay checks and restoring fiscal sanity, helping solve our debt crisis for the long run. To accomplish the President’s historic economic agenda, we cannot let the Trump tax cuts expire and we must build on their success with the One Big Beautiful Bill.

    Read the full CEA Analysis HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: 60+ Organizations Sign White House Pledge to Support America’s Youth and Invest in AI Education

    Source: US Whitehouse

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, over 60 organizations are the first signers of the White House’s Pledge to America’s Youth: Investing in AI Education, which promises to support the goals and mission of President Trump’s executive order Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for America’s Youth.

    The organizations “pledge to make available resources for youth and teachers through funding and grants, educational materials and curricula, technology and tools, teacher professional development programs, workforce development resources, and/or technical expertise and mentorship” over the next four years, working alongside the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education. Together, the Pledge will help make AI education accessible to K-12 students across the country, sparking curiosity in the technology and preparing the next-generation for an AI-enabled economy.

    “Fostering young people’s interest and expertise in artificial intelligence is crucial to maintaining American technological dominance. These initial pledges from American organizations will help create new educational and workforce development opportunities for our students. We invite other organizations to join the pledge as we look forward to furthering these partnerships to introduce more of America’s youth to AI,” said Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Chair of the White House Task Force on AI Education.

    “We are thrilled that so many organizations have signed the Pledge to America’s Youth. It is clear there is a lot of energy about AI and how it can be used responsibly in education. The resources and tools that have been pledged through this initiative will help our teachers and learners leverage AI in classrooms and communities across America,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

    “AI is reshaping our economy and the way we live and work, and we must ensure the next generation of American workers is equipped with the skills they need to lead in this new era,” said Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “By uniting behind this pledge to provide critical resources for students and educators, I’m encouraged to see these organizations are committed to helping young Americans build the skills they need in AI literacy to drive innovation and become empowered leaders of tomorrow.”

    “To secure America’s future, the United States must win the AI race,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “That’s why President Trump is investing in the next generation of American innovators and providing students and teachers the tools to lead in this emerging industry. With this President’s bold leadership and the future leaders of America dialed in, America stands to dominate.”

    “The U. S. National Science Foundation is proud to support the White House’s Pledge to America’s Youth: Investing in AI Education. Equipping young people with the tools to understand and shape artificial intelligence is not only a matter of national competitiveness—it is an investment in a more innovative, prosperous and informed future,” said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. “NSF has long recognized the importance of nurturing early interest in science and technology. Through our ongoing efforts to fund cutting-edge research, support teacher development, and expand access to STEM education in every corner of the country, we are committed to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to engage with and contribute to the future of AI. We applaud the organizations that have joined this pledge and look forward to collaborating with our partners to deliver the contributed resources to America’s youth and inspire the next generation of AI innovators, researchers, and technology leaders.”

    “President Trump is bringing America into a new Golden Age by harnessing the best tools and innovations America has to offer. At USDA, we are working to give students the opportunities and mentorship they need to continue the legacy of American ingenuity. Our efforts involve leveraging specific training and grant opportunities for students and teachers that encourage the use and development of artificial intelligence in agriculture. Under President Trump’s leadership, this task force is empowering teachers to integrate artificial intelligence into their curriculum as they prepare their students for the future,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins.

    Stay tuned as the Trump Administration works with these and other organizations to announce specific new grants, programs, and technologies towards the Pledge throughout the year ahead. Visit our website for more information on joining the Pledge to America’s Youth, and stay up to date with the latest pledge signers and initiatives.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: SUNDAY SHOWS: Send the One Big Beautiful Bill to President Trump’s Desk

    Source: US Whitehouse

    This morning, Members of Congress joined President Donald J. Trump on the Sunday shows to discuss the overwhelmingly positive impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill — which will deliver unprecedented tax relief, generational welfare reform, and historic spending cuts for the American people.

    Here’s what you missed:

    President Trump on Sunday Morning Futures

    • “We’re cutting $1.7 trillion … We’re going to have growth like we’ve never seen before.” (Watch)
    • “It takes care of the border. There’s also No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Social Security, No Tax on Overtime.” (Watch)

    Senator Markwayne Mullin on Meet the Press

    • “This cuts spending. It’s the largest deficit cut by any Congress ever in history. It makes tax cuts permanent — which, instead of taxes going up January 1 by $4 trillion, it actually restores the tax cuts and the average household of four is going to bring home pay over $10,000 more a year.” (Watch)
    • “What we’re doing is cutting the waste, fraud, and abuse out of the Medicaid system and make sure it’s for the people that it was originally intended for.” (Watch)

    Senator Jim Banks on Fox News Sunday

    • “This is the biggest spending cut in American history — a $1.6 trillion spending cut, getting rid of the Green New Deal scams from the Biden Administration, and it’s the biggest tax cut in American history for working class families.” (Watch)
    • “Everyone in my family is blue collar, working class. They’re all going to get socked by another $2,000, on average, every year. They already tell me they can’t keep up right now, and the Democrats want them to pay more in taxes? … Democrats are focused on screwing the working class with higher taxes … President Trump and Republicans are serious about cutting taxes on the people who need it the most.” (Watch)

    Senator Katie Britt on State of the Union

    • “We’re going to make sure that hardworking people can keep more of their money. We’re going to make sure that we have secure borders — not just now, but for generations to come. We’re going to make sure that we have a strong national defense so that our warfighter is the best trained, equipped, and ready across the planet. We’re going to unleash American energy … We want to make sure that these programs are available for the people who need them and we want to make sure that people who are working know that we see them and that they have a great opportunity to achieve the American Dream — and that’s what this bill does.” (Watch)
    • “The reforms in this bill are necessary and we’re going to deliver actual solutions to the American people … This bill does No Tax on Tips, it does No Tax on Overtime. Real, hardworking Americans are going to see results from this.” (Watch)

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-Evening Report: Eugene Doyle: Why Asia-Pacific should be cheering for Iran and not US bomb-based statecraft

    ANALYSIS: By Eugene Doyle

    Setting aside any thoughts I may have about theocratic rulers (whether they be in Tel Aviv or Tehran), I am personally glad that Iran was able to hold out against the US-Israeli attacks this month.

    The ceasefire, however, will only be a pause in the long-running campaign to destabilise, weaken and isolate Iran. Regime change or pariah status are both acceptable outcomes for the US-Israeli dyad.

    The good news for my region is that Iran’s resilience pushes back what could be a looming calamity: the US pivot to Asia and a heightened risk of a war on China.

    There are three major pillars to the Eurasian order that is going through a slow, painful and violent birth.  Iran is the weakest.  If Iran falls, war in our region — intended or unintended – becomes vastly more likely.

    Mainstream New Zealanders and Australians suffer from an understandable complacency: war is what happens to other, mainly darker people or Slavs.

    “Tomorrow”, people in this part of the world naively think, “will always be like yesterday”.

    That could change, particularly for the Australians, in the kind of unfamiliar flash-boom Israelis experienced this month following their attack on Iran. And here’s why.

    US chooses war to re-shape Middle East
    Back in 2001, as many will recall, retired General Wesley Clark, former Supreme Commander of NATO forces in Europe, was visiting buddies in the Pentagon. He learnt something he wasn’t supposed to: the Bush administration had made plans in the febrile post 9/11 environment to attack seven Muslim countries.

    In the firing line were: Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, the Assad regime in Syria, Hezbollah-dominated Lebanon, Gaddafi’s Libya, Somalia, Sudan and the biggest prize of all — the Islamic Republic of Iran.

    One would have to say that the project, pursued by successive presidents, both Democrat and Republican, has been a great success — if you discount the fact that a couple of million human beings, most of them civilians, many of them women and children, nearly all of them innocents, were slaughtered, starved to death or otherwise disposed of.

    With the exception of Iran, those countries have endured chaos and civil strife for long painful years.  A triumph of American bomb-based statecraft.

    Now — with Muammar Gaddafi raped and murdered (“We came, we saw, he died”, Hillary Clinton chuckled on camera the same day), Saddam Hussein hanged, Hezbollah decapitated, Assad in Moscow, the genocide in full swing in Palestine — the US and Israel were finally able to turn their guns — or, rather, bombs — on the great prize: Iran.

    Iran’s missiles have checked US-Israel for time being
    Things did not go to plan. Former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chas Freeman pointed out this week that for the first time Israel got a taste of the medicine it likes to dispense to its neighbours.

    Iran’s missiles successfully turned the much-vaunted Iron Dome into an Iron Sieve and, perhaps momentarily, has achieved deterrence. If Iran falls, the US will be able to do what Barack Obama and Joe Biden only salivated over — a serious pivot to Asia.

    Could great power rivalry turn Asia-Pacific into powderkeg?
    For us in Asia-Pacific a major US pivot to Asia will mean soaring defence budgets to support militarisation, aggressive containment of China, provocative naval deployments, more sanctions, muscling smaller states, increased numbers of bases, new missile systems, info wars, threats and the ratcheting up rhetoric — all of which will bring us ever-closer to the powderkeg.

    Sounds utterly mad? Sounds devoid of rationality? Lacking commonsense? Welcome to our world — bellum Americanum — as we gormlessly march flame in hand towards the tinderbox. War is not written in the stars, we can change tack and rediscover diplomacy, restraint, and peaceful coexistence. Or is that too much to ask?

    Back in the days of George W Bush, radical American thinkers like Robert Kagan, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld created the Project for a New American Century and developed the policy, adopted by succeeding presidents, that promotes “the belief that America should seek to preserve and extend its position of global leadership by maintaining the preeminence of US military forces”.

    It reconfirmed the neoconservative American dogma that no power should be allowed to rise in any region to become a regional hegemon; anything and everything necessary should be done to ensure continued American primacy, including the resort to war.

    What has changed since those days are two crucial, epoch-making events: the re-emergence of Russia as a great power, albeit the weakest of the three, and the emergence of China as a genuine peer competitor to the USA. Professor  John Mearsheimer’s insights are well worth studying on this topic.

    The three pillars of multipolarity
    A new world order really is being born. As geopolitical thinkers like Professor Glenn Diesen point out, it will, if it is not killed in the cradle, replace the US unipolar world order that has existed since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

    Many countries are involved in its birthing, including major players like India and Brazil and all the countries that are part of BRICS.  Three countries, however, are central to the project: Iran, Russia and, most importantly, China.  All three are in the crosshairs of the Western empire.

    If Iran, Russia and China survive as independent entities, they will partially fulfill Halford MacKinder’s early 20th century heartland theory that whoever dominates Eurasia will rule the world. I don’t think MacKinder, however, foresaw cooperative multipolarity on the Eurasian landmass — which is one of the goals of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) – as an option.

    That, increasingly, appears to be the most likely trajectory with multiple powerful states that will not accept domination, be that from China or the US.  That alone should give us cause for hope.

    Drunk on power since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US has launched war after war and brought us to the current abandonment of economic sanity (the sanctions-and-tariff global pandemic) and diplomatic normalcy (kill any peace negotiators you see) — and an anything-goes foreign policy (including massive crimes against humanity).

    We have also reached — thanks in large part to these same policies — what a former US national security advisor warned must be avoided at all costs. Back in the 1990s, Zbigniew Brzezinski said, “The most dangerous scenario would be a grand coalition of China, Russia, and perhaps Iran.”

    Belligerent and devoid of sound strategy, the Biden and Trump administrations have achieved just that.

    Can Asia-Pacific avoid being dragged into an American war on China?
    Turning to our region, New Zealand and Australia’s governments cleave to yesterday: a white-dominated world led by the USA.  We have shown ourselves indifferent to massacres, ethnic cleansing and wars of aggression launched by our team.

    To avoid war — or a permanent fear of looming war — in our own backyards, we need to encourage sanity and diplomacy; we need to stay close to the US but step away from the military alliances they are forming, such as AUKUS which is aimed squarely at China.

    Above all, our defence and foreign affairs elites need to grow new neural pathways and start to think with vision and not place ourselves on the losing side of history. Independent foreign policy settings based around peace, defence not aggression, diplomacy not militarisation, would take us in the right direction.

    Personally I look forward to the day the US and its increasingly belligerent vassals are pushed back into the ranks of ordinary humanity. I fear the US far more than I do China.

    Despite the reflexive adherence to the US that our leaders are stuck on, we should not, if we value our lives and our cultures, allow ourselves to be part of this mad, doomed project.

    The US empire is heading into a blood-drenched sunset; their project will fail and the 500-year empire of the White West will end — starting and finishing with genocide.

    Every day I atheistically pray that leaders or a movement will emerge to guide our antipodean countries out of the clutches of a violent and increasingly incoherent USA.

    America is not our friend. China is not our enemy. Tomorrow gives birth to a world that we should look forward to and do the little we can to help shape.

    Eugene Doyle is a writer based in Wellington. He has written extensively on the Middle East, as well as peace and security issues in the Asia Pacific region. He contributes to Asia Pacific Report and Café Pacific, and hosts the public policy platform solidarity.co.nz

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: Caitlin Johnstone: The fictional mental illness that only affects enemies of the Western empire

    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific.

    COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone

    Within the storytelling of Western politics and punditry there exists a fictional type of mental illness which only affects people the US empire doesn’t like.

    If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, its crazy lunatic government will flip out and nuke us all.

    Watch out for Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, those guys are a bunch of maniacal antisemites who want to attack Israelis just because they’re Jewish.

    “The stories of the Western empire ask us to believe that everyone who finds themselves in the imperial crosshairs is an irrational actor whose loony behavior can only be attributed to some uncontrollable defect within their own minds, or who will soon snap and do something nutty if they are not contained by force.”

    Oh no, Putin is invading Ukraine completely unprovoked because he’s a madman who hates freedom and won’t stop until he’s conquered all of Europe.

    China is building up its military because the megalomaniacal Xi Jinping wants to take over the world; all those US military bases surrounding China are just a defensive measure to contain Beijing’s insanity.

    Assad just went nuts one day and started slaughtering his own people out of nowhere.

    Gaddafi is a sexual sadist who’s giving Viagra to his troops to help them commit mass rapes in Libya.


    The fictional mental illness that only affects enemies of the Western empire    Video: Caitlin Johnstone

    So crazy
    Saddam Hussein is so crazy and evil he’s trying to obtain weapons of mass destruction to give Americans another 9/11.

    The North Koreans used to be far too insane to be allowed to have nuclear weapons because they’d nuke San Francisco immediately, but after they obtained nuclear weapons they were miraculously cured of this rare psychological disorder.

    The stories of the Western empire ask us to believe that everyone who finds themselves in the imperial crosshairs is an irrational actor whose loony behavior can only be attributed to some uncontrollable defect within their own minds, or who will soon snap and do something nutty if they are not contained by force.

    One antagonist who never appears in these fairy tales of the Western empire is the Western empire itself. In the storytelling of the empire, there is no globe-spanning power structure which is constantly inflicting violence and destruction upon populations around the world while seeking to crush any nation who disobeys its dictates.

    It’s just a bunch of irrational psychos, seeking nuclear weapons and becoming aggressively militaristic for no other reason than because they are crazy, while the totally normal alliance led by a totally normal country in North America innocently responds to their crazy behavior.

    That’s the story. In real life, the most aggressive and unreasonable actor on the world stage by far is the empire-like power structure that is loosely centralised around Washington DC. Nobody else is constantly waging wars of aggression around the world. Nobody else is circling the planet with hundreds of military bases for the purpose of global domination. Nobody else has spent the 21st century killing millions of people and deliberately targeting civilians with starvation sanctions in countries on the other side of the planet.

    Only the US-centralised empire has been doing these things.

    Vicious imperial power
    But we are asked to believe that this vicious imperial power structure is the only rational actor on earth, and that those who resist its aggressions are the crazy ones.

    And you are told that if you can’t see this, then you’re crazy too. You’re a crackpot. A conspiracy theorist. A paranoid nutball whose voice should be marginalised and whose ideas should be dismissed with a scoff.

    You are crazy if you don’t believe what the world’s craziest power structure says about its enemies being crazy.

    It is gaslighting on a global scale. It is madness, and that is why this civilisation has gone mad.

    Let’s hope someone finds a way to protect the world from the insanity of the Western empire.

    Caitlin Johnstone is an Australian independent journalist and poet. Her articles include The UN Torture Report On Assange Is An Indictment Of Our Entire Society. She publishes a website and Caitlin’s Newsletter. This article is republished with permission.

    This article was first published on Café Pacific.

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: Caitlin Johnstone: The fictional mental illness that only affects enemies of the Western empire

    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific.

    COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone

    Within the storytelling of Western politics and punditry there exists a fictional type of mental illness which only affects people the US empire doesn’t like.

    If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, its crazy lunatic government will flip out and nuke us all.

    Watch out for Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, those guys are a bunch of maniacal antisemites who want to attack Israelis just because they’re Jewish.

    “The stories of the Western empire ask us to believe that everyone who finds themselves in the imperial crosshairs is an irrational actor whose loony behavior can only be attributed to some uncontrollable defect within their own minds, or who will soon snap and do something nutty if they are not contained by force.”

    Oh no, Putin is invading Ukraine completely unprovoked because he’s a madman who hates freedom and won’t stop until he’s conquered all of Europe.

    China is building up its military because the megalomaniacal Xi Jinping wants to take over the world; all those US military bases surrounding China are just a defensive measure to contain Beijing’s insanity.

    Assad just went nuts one day and started slaughtering his own people out of nowhere.

    Gaddafi is a sexual sadist who’s giving Viagra to his troops to help them commit mass rapes in Libya.


    The fictional mental illness that only affects enemies of the Western empire    Video: Caitlin Johnstone

    So crazy
    Saddam Hussein is so crazy and evil he’s trying to obtain weapons of mass destruction to give Americans another 9/11.

    The North Koreans used to be far too insane to be allowed to have nuclear weapons because they’d nuke San Francisco immediately, but after they obtained nuclear weapons they were miraculously cured of this rare psychological disorder.

    The stories of the Western empire ask us to believe that everyone who finds themselves in the imperial crosshairs is an irrational actor whose loony behavior can only be attributed to some uncontrollable defect within their own minds, or who will soon snap and do something nutty if they are not contained by force.

    One antagonist who never appears in these fairy tales of the Western empire is the Western empire itself. In the storytelling of the empire, there is no globe-spanning power structure which is constantly inflicting violence and destruction upon populations around the world while seeking to crush any nation who disobeys its dictates.

    It’s just a bunch of irrational psychos, seeking nuclear weapons and becoming aggressively militaristic for no other reason than because they are crazy, while the totally normal alliance led by a totally normal country in North America innocently responds to their crazy behavior.

    That’s the story. In real life, the most aggressive and unreasonable actor on the world stage by far is the empire-like power structure that is loosely centralised around Washington DC. Nobody else is constantly waging wars of aggression around the world. Nobody else is circling the planet with hundreds of military bases for the purpose of global domination. Nobody else has spent the 21st century killing millions of people and deliberately targeting civilians with starvation sanctions in countries on the other side of the planet.

    Only the US-centralised empire has been doing these things.

    Vicious imperial power
    But we are asked to believe that this vicious imperial power structure is the only rational actor on earth, and that those who resist its aggressions are the crazy ones.

    And you are told that if you can’t see this, then you’re crazy too. You’re a crackpot. A conspiracy theorist. A paranoid nutball whose voice should be marginalised and whose ideas should be dismissed with a scoff.

    You are crazy if you don’t believe what the world’s craziest power structure says about its enemies being crazy.

    It is gaslighting on a global scale. It is madness, and that is why this civilisation has gone mad.

    Let’s hope someone finds a way to protect the world from the insanity of the Western empire.

    Caitlin Johnstone is an Australian independent journalist and poet. Her articles include The UN Torture Report On Assange Is An Indictment Of Our Entire Society. She publishes a website and Caitlin’s Newsletter. This article is republished with permission.

    This article was first published on Café Pacific.

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Experts Agree: Iran’s Nuclear Facilities Have Been Obliterated

    Source: US Whitehouse

    From nuclear regulators to foreign policy experts to members of the intelligence community, every knowledgeable person is in agreement that President Donald J. Trump obliterated Iran’s nuclear facilities.

    International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi: “Given the power of these devices and the technical characteristics of a centrifuge, we already know that these centrifuges are no longer operational, because they are fairly precise machines: there are rotors, and the vibrations [from the bombs] have completely destroyed them.”

    CIA Director John Ratcliffe: “CIA can confirm that a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran’s Nuclear Program has been severely damaged by the recent, targeted strikes. This includes new intelligence from a historically reliable and accurate source/method that several key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and would have to be rebuilt over the course of years.”

    Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard: “New intelligence confirms what @POTUS has stated numerous times: Iran’s nuclear facilities have been destroyed. If the Iranians chose to rebuild, they would have to rebuild all three facilities (Natanz, Fordow, Esfahan) entirely, which would likely take years to do. The propaganda media has deployed their usual tactic: selectively release portions of illegally leaked classified intelligence assessments (intentionally leaving out the fact that the assessment was written with “low confidence”) to try to undermine President Trump’s decisive leadership and the brave servicemen and women who flawlessly executed a truly historic mission to keep the American people safe and secure.”

    Former ODNI National Intelligence Manager for Iran Norman Roule: “I am confident that Iran has suffered a catastrophic — catastrophic — blow … and that this has set them back for a very, very long time.”

    Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen. Philip Breedlove (Ret.): “It went off magnificently … They did it perfectly, so we should have … an expectation that there was significant damage.”

    Institute for Science and International Security President David Albright: “Iran can’t make centrifuges and can’t produce, in a sense, the equivalent of the gas … so their program is severely damaged.”

    President Trump: “Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term! The white structure shown is deeply imbedded into the rock, with even its roof well below ground level, and completely shielded from flame. The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!”

    Israel Atomic Energy Commission: “The devastating US strike on Fordo destroyed the site’s critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility inoperable. We assess that the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other elements of Iran’s military nuclear program, has set back Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years. The achievement can continue indefinitely if Iran does not get access to nuclear material.”

    IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir: “I can say here that the assessment is that we significantly damaged the nuclear program, and I can also say that we set it back by years, I repeat, years.”

    Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei: “Our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that’s for sure.”

    Vice President JD Vance: “I can say to the American people with great confidence that they are much further away from a nuclear program today than they were 24 hours ago. That was the objective of the mission, to destroy that Fordow nuclear site, and of course, do some damage to the other sites as well, but we feel very confident that the Fordow nuclear site was substantially set back, and that was our goal.”

    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth: “Based on everything we have seen — and I’ve seen it all — our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons. Our massive bombs hit exactly the right spot at each target and worked perfectly. The impact of those bombs is buried under a mountain of rubble in Iran; so anyone who says the bombs were not devastating is just trying to undermine the President and the successful mission.”

    Secretary Hegseth: “Given the 30,000 pounds of explosions and the capability of those munitions, it was DEVASTATION underneath Fordow … Any assessment that tells you otherwise is speculating with other motives.”

    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan “Razin” Caine: “Initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction. More than 125 US aircraft participated in this mission, including B2 stealth bombers, multiple flights of fourth and fifth generation fighters, dozens and dozens of air refueling tankers, a guided missile submarine, and a full array of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft, as well as hundreds of maintenance and operational professionals.”

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “The Iranian program — the nuclear program — today looks nothing like it did just a week ago … That story is a false story and it’s one that really shouldn’t be re-reported because it doesn’t accurately reflect what’s happening.”

    Secretary Rubio: “Everything underneath that mountain is in bad shape … There’s no way Iran comes to the table if somehow nothing had happened. This was complete and total obliteration. They are in bad shape. They are way behind today compared to where they were just seven days ago because of what President Trump did.”

    Special Envoy Steve Witkoff: “We put 12 bunker buster bombs on Fordow. There’s no doubt that it breached the canopy, there’s no doubt that it was well within reach of the depth that these bunker buster bombs go to, and there’s no doubt that it was obliterated — so the reporting out there that in some way suggests that we did not achieve the objective is just completely preposterous.”

    Director Gabbard: “The operation was a resounding success. Our missiles were delivered precisely and accurately, obliterating key Iranian capabilities needed to quickly assemble a nuclear weapon.”

    Director General Grossi: “Given the explosive payload utilized, and the extreme vibration-sensitive nature of centrifuges, very significant damage is expected to have occurred. At the Esfahan nuclear site, additional buildings were hit, with the US confirming their use of cruise missiles. Affected buildings include some related to the uranium conversion process. Also at this site, entrances to tunnels used for the storage of enriched material appear to have been hit. At the Natanz enrichment site, the Fuel Enrichment Plant was hit, with the US confirming that it used ground-penetrating munitions.”

    Mr. Albright: “Overall, Israel’s and U.S. attacks have effectively destroyed Iran’s centrifuge enrichment program. It will be a long time before Iran comes anywhere near the capability it had before the attack.”

    Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program Deputy Director Andrea Stricker: “I think that because of the massive damage and the shock wave that would have been sent by 12 Massive Ordnance Penetrators at the Fordow site, that it likely would render its centrifuges damaged or inoperable.”

    American Enterprise Institute Middle East Portfolio Manager Brian Carter: “There is no question that the bombing campaign ‘badly, badly damaged’ the three sites.”

    Institute for Science and International Security Senior Research Fellow Spencer Faragasso: “Overall, it may possibly take years for Iran to reconstitute the capabilities it lost at these facilities.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Analysis: One Big Beautiful Bill Will Boost Wages, Lower Deficits

    Source: US Whitehouse

    President Donald J. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill will boost real wages, reduce the deficit, produce meaningful economic growth, and bring stability to the national debt, according to a new analysis by the Council of Economic Advisers.

    Here are the topline findings:

    • Real wages for workers will increase by as much as $7,200 per year.
    • After-tax take-home pay for a typical family with two kids will increase by as much as $10,900 per year.
    • Real investment will increase by as much as 10%.
    • At least 1.1 percentage points added to annual real GDP growth.
    • 7 million jobs will be protected and created.

    Moreover, as a result of President Trump’s economic agenda:

    • The deficits will be reduced by as much as $11.1 trillion — including as much as $5.2 trillion from economic growth, $1.6 trillion from discretionary spending cuts, $2.8 trillion from tariff revenue, and as much as $1.5 trillion from interest savings.
    • The debt-to-GDP will fall to between 88% and 99% — versus rising to 117% if the Trump Tax Cuts aren’t extended in the One Big Beautiful Bill.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Iran’s Nuclear Facilities Have Been Obliterated — and Suggestions Otherwise are Fake News

    Source: US Whitehouse

    The world is far safer after President Donald J. Trump’s highly successful, decisive precision strikes against the Iranian regime’s key nuclear facilities.

    Take it from those who actually know:

    President Trump: “Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term! The white structure shown is deeply imbedded into the rock, with even its roof well below ground level, and completely shielded from flame. The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!”

    Israel Atomic Energy Commission: “The devastating US strike on Fordo destroyed the site’s critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility inoperable. We assess that the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other elements of Iran’s military nuclear program, has set back Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years. The achievement can continue indefinitely if Iran does not get access to nuclear material.”

    IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir: “I can say here that the assessment is that we significantly damaged the nuclear program, and I can also say that we set it back by years, I repeat, years.”

    Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei: “Our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that’s for sure.”

    Vice President JD Vance: “I can say to the American people with great confidence that they are much further away from a nuclear program today than they were 24 hours ago. That was the objective of the mission, to destroy that Fordow nuclear site, and of course, do some damage to the other sites as well, but we feel very confident that the Fordow nuclear site was substantially set back, and that was our goal.”

    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth: “Based on everything we have seen — and I’ve seen it all — our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons. Our massive bombs hit exactly the right spot at each target and worked perfectly. The impact of those bombs is buried under a mountain of rubble in Iran; so anyone who says the bombs were not devastating is just trying to undermine the President and the successful mission.”

    Secretary Hegseth: “Given the 30,000 pounds of explosions and the capability of those munitions, it was DEVASTATION underneath Fordow … Any assessment that tells you otherwise is speculating with other motives.”

    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan “Razin” Caine: “Initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction. More than 125 US aircraft participated in this mission, including B2 stealth bombers, multiple flights of fourth and fifth generation fighters, dozens and dozens of air refueling tankers, a guided missile submarine, and a full array of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft, as well as hundreds of maintenance and operational professionals.”

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “The Iranian program — the nuclear program — today looks nothing like it did just a week ago … That story is a false story and it’s one that really shouldn’t be re-reported because it doesn’t accurately reflect what’s happening.”

    Secretary Rubio: “Everything underneath that mountain is in bad shape … There’s no way Iran comes to the table if somehow nothing had happened. This was complete and total obliteration. They are in bad shape. They are way behind today compared to where they were just seven days ago because of what President Trump did.”

    Special Envoy Steve Witkoff: “We put 12 bunker buster bombs on Fordow. There’s no doubt that it breached the canopy, there’s no doubt that it was well within reach of the depth that these bunker buster bombs go to, and there’s no doubt that it was obliterated — so the reporting out there that in some way suggests that we did not achieve the objective is just completely preposterous.”

    Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard: “The operation was a resounding success. Our missiles were delivered precisely and accurately, obliterating key Iranian capabilities needed to quickly assemble a nuclear weapon.”

    International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi: “Given the explosive payload utilized, and the extreme vibration-sensitive nature of centrifuges, very significant damage is expected to have occurred. At the Esfahan nuclear site, additional buildings were hit, with the US confirming their use of cruise missiles. Affected buildings include some related to the uranium conversion process. Also at this site, entrances to tunnels used for the storage of enriched material appear to have been hit. At the Natanz enrichment site, the Fuel Enrichment Plant was hit, with the US confirming that it used ground-penetrating munitions.”

    Institute for Science and International Security President David Albright: “Overall, Israel’s and U.S. attacks have effectively destroyed Iran’s centrifuge enrichment program.  It will be a long time before Iran comes anywhere near the capability it had before the attack.”

    Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program Deputy Director Andrea Stricker: “I think that because of the massive damage and the shock wave that would have been sent by 12 Massive Ordnance Penetrators at the Fordow site, that it likely would render its centrifuges damaged or inoperable.” 

    American Enterprise Institute Middle East Portfolio Manager Brian Carter: “There is no question that the bombing campaign ‘badly, badly damaged’ the three sites.”

    Institute for Science and International Security Senior Research Fellow Spencer Faragasso: “Overall, it may possibly take years for Iran to reconstitute the capabilities it lost at these facilities.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: One Big Beautiful Bill Will Protect American Jobs, Unleash Economic Growth

    Source: US Whitehouse

    President Donald J. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill is a generational opportunity to restore America’s economic strength and reward our hardworking citizens. With provisions designed to support the backbone of our nation — families, farmers, job creators, and law enforcement — the One Big Beautiful Bill will deliver meaningful results for Americans across the country.

    Everyday Americans joined top lawmakers to detail how the One Big Beautiful Bill will affect their livelihoods:

    • Toni McAllister, executive director of the Louisiana Loggers Association, says the One Big Beautiful Bill will give small logging businesses a chance to thrive: “It will finally give small businesses like ours a better opportunity to not just survive, but to grow and succeed … This legislation will lower the effective tax rate for producing in America, increase and make permanent the small business deduction, double immediate small business expensing, and reduce reporting burdens for small businesses.”
    • Paul Danos, CEO of his family-owned offshore energy service company, says the One Big Beautiful Bill is key for American energy dominance: “This bill is a lifeline for American energy and restores the kind of predictably that businesses like ours need to invest and grow.”
    • Sam Palmeter, an executive at one of the last remaining laser technology companies fully owned and operated in America, says the tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill will give them a chance to expand: “This will immediately allow us to double our manufacturing space … This bill incentivizes us to create new jobs in the U.S. and we are incentivized to manufacture in the USA.”
    • Sheriff (Ret.) James Stuart, CEO of the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association, says the One Big Beautiful Bill will deliver needed support for law enforcement: “No Tax on Overtime pay would benefit our protectors all across the country in tremendous ways. The increase in take home pay for these deputies and officers rewards the extra hours and the extra efforts that they devote to protecting their communities, impacting their own lives in significant ways. That is more money in their pockets to save, to invest, and to grow.”

    Agricultural leaders outlined how the One Big Beautiful Bill will deliver for America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers.

    • Michael Hunt, fifth-generation Wisconsin farmer: “The single biggest threat to family farm operations in the United States right now is the Estate Tax limitations. There’s no possible way, with the rising real estate values that are occurring in rural America, for production agriculture to shoulder the cost burden of estate tax when the first generation passes on.”
    • Ethan Lane of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association: “That big chunk of the farm bill that’s in this reconciliation bill, including those animal health provisions that we have worked on for so long in the cattle industry, that is a huge win for cattle producers.”
    • National Pork Producers Council: “These investments and policy extensions offer critical support to agriculture, ensuring stability and long-term growth for farmers, ranchers, and the rural economy.”

    The National Association of Manufacturers launched a new ad campaign to highlight what’s at stake if the Trump Tax Cuts aren’t extended in the One Big Beautiful Bill: “If Congress doesn’t act, manufacturers will be hit with the largest tax increase in U.S. history. Six million jobs could be lost — that’s our neighbors, our communities, our futures.”


    Secretary of Energy Chris Wright discussed how the One Big Beautiful Bill ENDS the Biden-era Green New Scam: “It’s going to get rid of these subsidies and distortions that have hurt not just our electricity market, but our broader energy markets … The One Big Beautiful Bill — it is big. There are a lot of things in it, but a lot of them are just cleaning out underbrush and nonsense so it’s easier to build things in our country again, remove the distortions from the energy markets, unleash American businesses to build energy productions of all different kinds — but kinds that work, without subsidies.”


    Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America, says extending the Trump Tax Cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill is a top priority for preventing American jobs from being exported to foreign countries: “These tax rates were meant to get the U.S. competitive on taxes on corporations … Remember back to people were exporting business outside the United States for lower tax rate reasons … All that’s been gone for the last seven or eight years, and so we need to make sure these extend or that will start up again.”

    MIL OSI USA News