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Rockefeller Foundation Research Finds 'Food is Medicine' Could Unlock $45 Billion for States
NEW YORK, March 12 (TNSrpt) -- The Rockefeller Foundation posted the following news release:* * *
New Rockefeller Foundation Research Finds 'Food is Medicine' Could Unlock $45 Billion for States
Food is Medicine (FIM) programs, which provide produce prescriptions and medically tailored meals and groceries to people with diet-related conditions, could generate more than $45 billion in state economic activity, create 316,000 jobs nationwide, and generate $5.6 billion for America's small and mid-sized farms if scaled to reach the 43 million Americans who need them most, according to new research ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, March 12 (TNSrpt) -- The Rockefeller Foundation posted the following news release: * * * New Rockefeller Foundation Research Finds 'Food is Medicine' Could Unlock $45 Billion for States Food is Medicine (FIM) programs, which provide produce prescriptions and medically tailored meals and groceries to people with diet-related conditions, could generate more than $45 billion in state economic activity, create 316,000 jobs nationwide, and generate $5.6 billion for America's small and mid-sized farms if scaled to reach the 43 million Americans who need them most, according to new researchreleased today by The Rockefeller Foundation. The report, "From Farm to FIM: The Economic Impact of Local Food is Medicine," reveals that when states design FIM programs to prioritize local farms and food businesses, they can transform healthcare spending into a powerful driver of rural development and economic growth for all 50 U.S. states.
"Food is Medicine programs are already improving the health of communities around America. Now, we are starting to understand how nutritious, locally sourced food can also drive economic growth," said Rajiv Shah, President at The Rockefeller Foundation. "At a time when too many Americans are struggling with poor health and rising costs, this report shows that Americans can eat better and save lives, money, and farms."
"NASDA sees tremendous momentum and opportunity in the 'Food is Medicine' movement to bridge the gap between farmers, regional food systems and innovative nutrition programs," said Ted McKinney, CEO, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. "Connecting local farmers with institutions like hospitals, schools and food banks can help expand access to a variety of nutrient-dense foods while supporting new economic and domestic market opportunities for farmers and producers. We commend The Rockefeller Foundation for their thought leadership on this report and recognize the opportunity to build stronger communities, advance food security, and make the clear link between what's on our plates and long-term public health outcomes."
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 129 million Americans suffer from a chronic disease, 75 million have two or more, and 90% of U.S. healthcare spending goes towards managing and treating chronic conditions. FIM interventions have demonstrated significant healthcare cost savings, with medically tailored meals alone projected to save $23.7 billion annually while avoiding 2.6 million hospitalizations if scaled to all eligible patients. At the same time, American agriculture -- especially small and mid-sized farms, which represent over 90% of U.S. farms -- faces increasing financial strain, with more than 20,000 farms disappearing annually in recent years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of agricultural workers will decline by 3% from 2024 to 2034. This new analysis shows that, in addition to already proven health benefits, states can maximize economic returns by investing in local Food is Medicine programs.
America's Small Farms Stand to Benefit
From Farm to FIM: The Economic Impact of Local Food is Medicine finds that small and mid-sized family farms across the United States could capture at least $5.6 billion in new revenue from Food is Medicine programs. Additionally, a stable FIM market can give these family farms the predictability and confidence to invest in their businesses, expand their production of healthy foods, and revitalize agriculture by transitioning to more regenerative growing practices that create soil health and environmental benefits.
The economic benefits also come from local, trusted providers delivering food and nutrition programming. When FIM dollars remain in-state, they circulate through local businesses providing food aggregation, processing, storage, transportation, meal preparation, and delivery services. The analysis estimates these activities could support 316,000 new jobs in related sectors across rural, urban, and suburban regions.
"This research makes clear that Food is Medicine isn't just a health intervention -- it's an economic opportunity for farmers, rural communities, and local food systems across the country," said Jenny Lester Moffitt, Vice President of Farmland Protection and Strategic Priorities at American Farmland Trust and former Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at USDA. "Programs that intentionally connect healthcare spending with local agriculture, create market opportunities that help farmers stay on their land while strengthening the health, resilience, and prosperity of our communities. By building stronger connections between healthcare and agriculture, we can ensure that farmland stays in production and farmers have viable markets for the healthy foods they grow."
All 50 U.S. states stand to benefit if healthcare dollars are spent on FIM programs. The state-by-state economic projections for potential farmer revenue and new jobs created are:
* Alabama: $47,415,000 in potential farmer revenue; 6,380 jobs
* Alaska: $4,537,000 in potential farmer revenue; 610 jobs
* Arizona: $64,854,000 in potential farmer revenue; 6,130 jobs
* Arkansas: $32,138,000 in potential farmer revenue; 4,320 jobs
* California: $511,926,000 in potential farmer revenue; 32,050 jobs
* Colorado: $39,852,000 in potential farmer revenue; 3,770 jobs
* Connecticut: $16,160,000 in potential farmer revenue; 2,170 jobs
* Delaware: $11,222,000 in potential farmer revenue; 840 jobs
* Florida : $208,040,000 in potential farmer revenue; 19,670 jobs
* Georgia: $115,872,000 in potential farmer revenue; 10,960 jobs
* Hawaii: $12,334,000 in potential farmer revenue; 920 jobs
* Idaho: $29,853,000 in potential farmer revenue; 1,870 jobs
* Illinois $96,205,000 in potential farmer revenue; 9,100 jobs
* Indiana: $100,961,000 in potential farmer revenue; 7,530 jobs
* Iowa: $40,168,000 in potential farmer revenue; 3,000 jobs
* Kansas: $21,190,000 in potential farmer revenue; 2,850 jobs
* Kentucky: $52,628,000 in potential farmer revenue; 7,080 jobs
* Louisiana: $50,433,000 in potential farmer revenue; 6,780 jobs
* Maine: $22,055,000 in potential farmer revenue; 1,650 jobs
* Maryland: $27,850,000 in potential farmer revenue; 3,750 jobs
* Massachusetts: $30,167,000 in potential farmer revenue; 4,060 jobs
* Michigan: $212,908,000 in potential farmer revenue; 13,330 jobs
* Minnesota: $72,996,000 in potential farmer revenue; 4,570 jobs
* Mississippi: $29,516,000 in potential farmer revenue; 3,970 jobs
* Missouri: $68,809,000 in potential farmer revenue; 6,510 jobs
* Montana: $16,532,000 in potential farmer revenue; 1,230 jobs
* Nebraska: $10,285,000 in potential farmer revenue; 1,380 jobs
* Nevada: $23,999,000 in potential farmer revenue; 3,230 jobs
* New Hampshire: $15,541,000 in potential farmer revenue; 1,160 jobs
* New Jersey: $49,151,000 in potential farmer revenue; 4,650 jobs
* New Mexico: $32,531,000 in potential farmer revenue; 2,430 jobs
* New York: $292,065,000 in potential farmer revenue; 18,290 jobs
* North Carolina: $114,123,000 in potential farmer revenue; 10,790 jobs
* North Dakota: $7,868,000 in potential farmer revenue; 740 jobs
* Ohio: $257,449,000 in potential farmer revenue; 16,120 jobs
* Oklahoma: $37,481,000 in potential farmer revenue; 5,040 jobs
* Oregon: $78,626,000 in potential farmer revenue; 4,920 jobs
* Pennsylvania: $173,023,000 in potential farmer revenue; 10,830 jobs
* Rhode Island: $6,144,000 in potential farmer revenue; 830 jobs
* South Carolina: $37,938,000 in potential farmer revenue; 5,100 jobs
* South Dakota: $5,417,000 in potential farmer revenue; 730 jobs
* Tennessee: $61,492,000 in potential farmer revenue; 8,270 jobs
* Texas: $315,096,000 in potential farmer revenue; 29,800 jobs
* Utah: $17,587,000 in potential farmer revenue; 2,370 jobs
* Vermont: $8,776,000 in potential farmer revenue; 660 jobs
* Virginia: $125,790,000 in potential farmer revenue; 7,880 jobs
* Washington: $110,806,000 in potential farmer revenue; 6,940 jobs
* West Virginia: $21,160,000 in potential farmer revenue; 2,850 jobs
* Wisconsin: $89,694,000 in potential farmer revenue; 5,620 jobs
* Wyoming: $8,443,000 in potential farmer revenue; 630 jobs
Design Will Determine Impact
The report emphasizes that states' economic benefits depend on intentional policy choices and highlights best practices for FIM program design. States that embed local sourcing preferences into Medicaid contracts, use multi-year purchasing commitments, and invest in food system infrastructure can multiply the impact of FIM spending. Without explicit local sourcing requirements, healthcare dollars are likely to flow to large national distributors instead of strengthening local economies.
From Farm to FIM: The Economic Impact of Local Food is Medicine also includes analyses for policymakers at different stages of Food is Medicine implementation. Case studies from Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and California demonstrate how organizations are already operationalizing and benefiting from local procurement within FIM delivery models.
The Rockefeller Foundation commissioned Dalberg Advisors to provide the economic analysis in From Farm to FIM: The Economic Impact of Local Food is Medicine, guided by a team of advisors. The analysis was conducted between September 2025 and January 2026 with support from a core advisory committee and other experts, including agricultural economists, farmer organizations, food aggregators and distributors, FIM providers, health and agriculture policy experts, and others.
From Farm to FIM: The Economic Impact of Local Food is Medicine is part of The Rockefeller Foundation's more than $220 million "Big Bet" on nutrition initiatives benefiting people, the planet, markets, jobs, and beyond. This includes a $100 million commitment to expand Americans' access to FIM programs, including supporting vital research and improved policy implementation and communications. Since 2019, The Rockefeller Foundation has supported FIM programs and invested in research to improve their effectiveness and understand their benefits and costs.
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About The Rockefeller Foundation
Investing $30 billion over the last 113 years to promote the well-being of humanity, The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on unlikely partnerships and innovative solutions that deliver measurable results for people in the United States and around the world. We leverage scientific breakthroughs, artificial intelligence, and new technologies to make big bets across energy, food, health, and finance, including with our public charity, RF Catalytic Capital (RFCC). For more information, sign up for our newsletter at www.rockefellerfoundation.org/subscribe and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn, Instagram @rockefellerfdn, and LinkedIn @the-rockefeller-foundation.
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About Dalberg Advisors
Dalberg Advisors is a strategic advisory firm that combines the best of private-sector strategy skills and rigorous analytical capabilities with deep knowledge and networks. The firm works collaboratively with partners across the public, private, and philanthropic sectors to promote inclusive growth and help clients achieve their goals. Dalberg Advisors puts impact at the center of decision-making. Founded in 2001, Dalberg Advisors now has over 450+ full-time staff spread across 29 global locations, bringing global perspectives to local solutions for over 1600 clients.
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REPORT: https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/From-Farm-to-FIM-The-Economic-Impact-of-Local-Food-is-Medicine-Report-Final.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/news/new-rockefeller-foundation-research-finds-food-is-medicine-could-unlock-45-billion-for-states/
Foundation for Economic Education Posts Commentary: Bulgaria Joins the Eurozone
DETROIT, Michigan, March 12 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary on March 11, 2026, by political theorist Jake Scott:* * *
Bulgaria Joins the Eurozone
Can the single currency keep expanding?
*
At the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2026, the facade of the Bulgarian National Bank in Sofia was lit up with the display of a golden Euro coin. Crowds gathered in sub-zero temperatures to watch the Bulgarian lev--meaning "lion," the state currency since 1880--relegated to history. By morning, Bulgaria had become the Eurozone's 21st member state: a decision which, ... Show Full Article DETROIT, Michigan, March 12 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary on March 11, 2026, by political theorist Jake Scott: * * * Bulgaria Joins the Eurozone Can the single currency keep expanding? * At the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2026, the facade of the Bulgarian National Bank in Sofia was lit up with the display of a golden Euro coin. Crowds gathered in sub-zero temperatures to watch the Bulgarian lev--meaning "lion," the state currency since 1880--relegated to history. By morning, Bulgaria had become the Eurozone's 21st member state: a decision which,at first glance, appears nothing more than a technical monetary change. But any change as momentous as this is loaded with deep historical symbolism, economic consequences, and political tensions within the European Union (EU). As a result, whether this change is also a wise one is a live debate.
To understand the significance of Bulgaria becoming the latest economy to join the euro--marking a continual expansion of the eurozone into the post-Soviet sphere--it is important to recount some of the euro's history. Introduced in 1999 and entering physical circulation in 2002, the euro is the shared currency of the EU, and intentionally designed to achieve the apotheosis of the original aim of the European Coal and Steel Community (1952), which was to bind European economies together so tightly that the wars of the 19th and 20th centuries would become structurally impossible.
Consequently, joining the euro is not simply swapping one currency for another. It means surrendering monetary policy and submitting to the European Central Bank (ECB)--but getting, in return, access to the full machinery of European financial integration, which include lower borrowing costs, frictionless trade, and a chance to contribute to decisions over the economic future of the continent.
That last one was the most salient for the ECB itself, with President Christine Lagarde saying Bulgaria will now have "a view, a voice, a vote." Bulgaria's National Bank governor will be entitled to a full seat at the ECB's governing council, which determines the interest rates for the entire eurozone. For a nation of just over 6 million citizens, and an economy that sends nearly two-thirds (64%) of its exports to the rest of the continent, this is a qualitative leap in institutional power.
Moreover, choosing to join the eurozone is not simply economic, but political. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rossen Zhelyakov said it himself when he declared in November that joining the euro is "not just a currency but a strategic choice." This strategic dimension is central to understanding Bulgaria's modern identity, as both a post-imperial nation during the decline of the Ottoman Empire, and a post-communist nation.
Bulgaria emerged from the post-Soviet bloc in 1989 following Mikhail Gorbachev's abandonment of the Brezhnev Doctrine, which had kept communist governments propped up by Moscow's willingness to intervene. Not only this, but as a member of the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, Bulgaria's economy was almost fully integrated into the Soviet system.
The divorce from the Soviet Union was not, therefore, a clean one, but a prolonged and painful transition--but it did eventually lead to free-market capitalism. During the 1990s, Bulgaria experienced hyperinflation, banking collapse, and political instability. But in 1997, after a devastating financial crisis saw inflation soar into quadruple digits, and was "so deep that [it] quickly crippled the real sector and finally culminated in a political crisis," the lev was stabilized by a currency board system that pegged it to the Deutsche Mark and, eventually, the euro itself. Bulgaria's journey to alignment with the West had begun.
This decision to tie the lev to the Deutsch Mark and later the euro means that, in practical terms, Bulgaria has been operating under euro-monetary policy for nearly three decades, only without any capacity to shape the decision-making that accession to the euro now confers. Moreover, this journey continued with Bulgaria's accession to the EU itself in 2007, along with full membership of the Schengen Area in 2025, the zone that allows the free movement of labor and goods.
Retiring the lev voluntarily is, to reaffirm the point here, a political choice--and a statement. Since its introduction in 1880, the lev has outlasted two empires and a communist government, both of which were imposed on Bulgaria from outside and without any popular support. To choose to surrender currency autonomy willingly is, seemingly paradoxically, an act of national determination. But since it is in many ways codifying the economic reality of the last 30 years, it is a move that enhances the political sovereignty of the nation: it is not for nothing that Dimitar Radev, head of the Bulgarian National Bank, referred to it as a "sign of belonging: that [Bulgaria's] place is not on the periphery, but in a space of common rules, trust, and responsibility."
At least, so go the arguments in favor. The celebrations in Sofia were nearly overshadowed by something the official imagery and government statements preferred not to dwell on: deep and persistent--and entirely legitimate--public opposition, and the lack of any obvious mandate for the shift.
Bulgaria's own Ministry of Finance commissioned a survey, published in June 2025, that showed the Bulgarian public almost perfectly divided: 46.8% opposed the euro, while 46.5% were in favor. Likewise, in November 2025, a Eurobarometer poll showed that 49% of Bulgarians opposed the euro, with 42% in favor. There are real anxieties at play in the country that are not fringe worries here.
Chief among anxieties are inflation and the political divisions that come with European integration. Food prices in Bulgaria rose by 5% year-on-year in November 2025--more than double the eurozone average. Small business owners in cities like Haskovo warned that while economic indicators might improve, the population would become poorer while larger enterprises prospered. EU investment since 2007 has totaled Euros16.3 billion, but much of it flowed to Sofia and Plovdiv; rural Bulgaria has felt the benefit far less clearly.
These concerns were compounded by a profound sense of democratic grievance. President Rumen Radev repeatedly called for a referendum before adoption, which the parliament dismissed. But civic engagement in Bulgaria is remarkably high: in December 2025, anti-corruption protests brought down the conservative government entirely, sending the country toward its eighth parliamentary election in five years even as euro coins were being loaded into ATMs.
Joining the euro is both a genuine milestone for Bulgaria--and a genuine wound at once. The economic case is strong: lower transaction costs, greater investment stability, improved credit ratings, and (most significantly) a formal voice in monetary policy. The symbolism matters. But durable European integration has never been built on elite consensus alone--just look at Brexit. The protests, the polls, the fallen government are all obstacles, and not ones easily managed. Bulgaria must tread lightly here, and the citizens must feel a genuine sense of improvement in their lives if economic integration is to be successful.
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Dr Jake Scott is a political theorist specialising in populism and its relationship to political constitutionality. He has taught at multiple British universities and produced research reports for several think tanks.
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Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/bulgaria-joins-the-eurozone/
FFRF's 'Secular Spotlight' Details Removal of Pa. Religious Character Coach
MADISON, Wisconsin, March 12 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:* * *
FFRF's 'Secular Spotlight' details removal of Pa. religious character coach
Freedom From Religion Foundation Staff Attorney Chris Line and FFRF Multimedia Producer Leo Costello on this week's episode of "Secular Spotlight" detail FFRF's work that removed a religious representative from a Pennsylvania public school football team.
FFRF challenged Conemaugh Township Area High School for allowing a "character coach" affiliated with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) to lead Christian ... Show Full Article MADISON, Wisconsin, March 12 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release: * * * FFRF's 'Secular Spotlight' details removal of Pa. religious character coach Freedom From Religion Foundation Staff Attorney Chris Line and FFRF Multimedia Producer Leo Costello on this week's episode of "Secular Spotlight" detail FFRF's work that removed a religious representative from a Pennsylvania public school football team. FFRF challenged Conemaugh Township Area High School for allowing a "character coach" affiliated with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) to lead Christiandevotionals and prayers with the football team. After a letter from FFRF, the Conemaugh Township Area School District investigated the matter and removed the outside adult from the program, clarifying that only truly student-led religious activities are permitted. The outcome reinforces the constitutional line between students' religious freedom and adult-led proselytizing in public schools.
"We let the district know you can't let outside adult organizations in to lead, organize or regularly participate in any sort of student religious club," Line says. "That's how the FCA gets away with this. FCA is a student club, which makes it legal. And as long as it's actually a student club, a bunch of students getting together and saying, 'We're all Christians, we just want to get together as a student club, you love student clubs. We want to do this,' that's totally fine. The problem is the FCA intentionally will just have adults lead these."
You can catch the latest episode of "Secular Spotlight" on FFRF's YouTube channel, as well as by watching on your smart TV after downloading FFRF's free app, Freethought TV, which also highlights FFRF's other video programming. Previous episodes include a deep dive into the 2026 National Prayer Breakfast, and a conversation with Bishop Joseph Tolton about the global rise of authoritarianism and its connection to fundamentalist ideology. See our full playlist for more videos!
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With about 42,000 members, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrfs-secular-spotlight-details-removal-of-pa-religious-character-coach/
[Category: Religion]
Space Foundation Inducts Microgravity Treadmill and Neurala Brain Into 2026 Space Technology Hall of Fame
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, March 11 -- Space Foundation issued the following news release on March 10, 2026:* * *
Space Foundation Inducts Microgravity Treadmill and Neurala Brain Into 2026 Space Technology Hall of Fame
Space Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 to advance the global space community, today announced that two leading-edge technologies developed for space will be inducted into the 2026 Space Technology Hall of Fame(R). The induction ceremony will take place during the annual Space Symposium, April 13-16, 2026, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.
The 2026 inductees ... Show Full Article COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, March 11 -- Space Foundation issued the following news release on March 10, 2026: * * * Space Foundation Inducts Microgravity Treadmill and Neurala Brain Into 2026 Space Technology Hall of Fame Space Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 to advance the global space community, today announced that two leading-edge technologies developed for space will be inducted into the 2026 Space Technology Hall of Fame(R). The induction ceremony will take place during the annual Space Symposium, April 13-16, 2026, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. The 2026 inducteesare:
* Microgravity Treadmill
* Neurala Brain
Founded in 1988 in partnership with NASA, the Space Technology Hall of Fame recognizes life-changing technologies emerging from global space programs; honors the scientists, engineers and innovators responsible for them; and communicates the importance of these innovations as a return on investment in space exploration.
Commenting on the newest inductees, Space Foundation CEO Heather Pringle said, "The induction of Microgravity Treadmill and Neurala Brain into the Space Technology Hall of Fame reflects the power of space innovation to drive meaningful progress on Earth. These breakthroughs began as solutions for astronauts and autonomous exploration, and today, they are improving lives worldwide. This is exactly what the Hall of Fame represents -- bold ideas from the space community delivering lasting global impact."
2026 Space Technology Hall of Fame Inductees
Microgravity Treadmill
* Individuals: Robert Whalen, Sean Whalen, Tom Allen, Fritz Moore
* Organizations: Boost Treadmills, AlterG, NASA Ames Research Center
Differential air pressure microgravity treadmill technology was developed at NASA Ames Research Center to help astronauts prevent bone loss and muscle atrophy during long space missions. Traditional exercise systems relied on harnesses and elastic cords, which often altered gait, limited exercise intensity and caused discomfort. Dr. Robert Whalen discovered that controlled air pressure around the lower body could simulate gravitational loading. This method applied smooth, evenly distributed vertical forces near the body's center of mass while preserving natural walking and running mechanics. Early prototypes in the late 1980s and early 1990s confirmed the concept's effectiveness, though spaceflight testing was limited by program constraints.
The technology later proved valuable on Earth. By reversing the system, users could partially unweight the lower body, reducing joint stress while maintaining natural movement patterns. Sean Whalen played a central role in the early engineering development and commercialization of the technology through AlterG. He later founded Boost Treadmills with Tom Allen to continue advancing microgravity-based rehabilitation technology and expand the next generation of these systems. Building on his father's foundational research, Sean led engineering and product development that brought the system into clinical and performance environments. Dr. Robert Whalen remains closely involved with Boost, contributing engineering expertise and helping solve technical challenges as the technology continues to evolve.
Fritz Moore, a NASA Ames-affiliated research physiologist and co-founder of AlterG, contributed expertise in exercise physiology and research design. He led studies demonstrating the safety and efficacy of differential air pressure treadmills, helping support regulatory pathways and clinical adoption as the technology entered rehabilitation settings.
The father-son Whalen duo continues to mature the Microgravity Treadmill technology, focusing on improving accessibility, usability, and scalability so weight-supported locomotion can be used more broadly across rehabilitation, performance, and long-term mobility applications.
Today, differential air pressure treadmills support orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation, post-surgical recovery, athletic training, gait analysis, and long-term mobility, enabling clinicians and trainers to use safe, repeatable weight-supported locomotion to support recovery and mobility preservation.
Neurala Brain
* Individuals: Dr. Massimiliano Versace, Dr. Anatoli Gorchet, Dr. Heather Ames, Dr. Mark Motter
* Organizations: Neurala, Inc., NASA Langley Research Center
In collaboration with NASA and Boston University's Neuromorphics Lab, Neurala developed a brain-inspired artificial intelligence technology enabling autonomous, continuous learning on edge devices. The resulting system, the Neurala Brain, allows machines to learn online without cloud connectivity or large datasets. The Neurala Brain has been commercialized across multiple products and is the cornerstone of the VIA software for visual industrial quality control. The work was led by cofounders Dr. Massimiliano Versace, Dr. Anatoli Gorchet, and Dr. Heather Ames, leaders in artificial intelligence and brain-inspired computing.
NASA's Langley Research Center recognized the technology's relevance to autonomous exploration systems. Dr. Mark Motter, an engineer at Langley, identified its potential and served as technical representative for Neurala's Small Business Technology Transfer awards. Phase I demonstrated unsupervised terrain learning in simulation. Phase II transferred trained models to physical robotic platforms, validating real-world performance. NASA support, including enhancement funding, helped move the technology from academic research to commercial readiness.
Neurala retained intellectual property ownership while transitioning the system into commercial products. The technology expanded into robotics, smartphones and industrial inspection. Today, Neurala's AI operates entirely on-device and has been deployed in approximately 80 million systems worldwide.
To view all Space Technology Hall of Fame inducted technologies, please visit www.spacefoundation.org/inducted-technologies/.
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About Space Technology Hall of Fame
Space Technology Hall of Fame, launched in 1988 by Space Foundation in partnership with NASA, honors individuals, organizations and companies that adapt technologies originally developed for space to improve the quality of life on Earth, as well as inspire future space innovators. Honorees are nominated by the space community and global space agency technology transfer offices, reviewed and selected by a space and technology expert panel, and inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame at Space Symposium. Visit Space Technology Hall of Fame to nominate a technology at www.spacetechhalloffame.org.
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About Space Foundation
Space Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 as a gateway to advance the global space community. Space Foundation uniquely educates, collaborates and informs the entire space workforce, from early education through post-secondary (college, non-college, vocational), to the start of their careers as new professionals, and ultimately as leaders at the highest levels of government and commercial industry. As a charitable organization, Space Foundation receives support from corporate members, sponsors, individual giving, and grants. Visit Space Foundation at www.SpaceFoundation.org, and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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Original text here: https://www.spacefoundation.org/2026/03/10/space-foundation-inducts-microgravity-treadmill-and-neurala-brain-into-2026-space-technology-hall-of-fame/
J. Paul Getty Trust: Current and Upcoming Exhibitions
LOS ANGELES, California, March 11 -- The J. Paul Getty Trust issued the following news release:* * *
Current and Upcoming Exhibitions
For journalists, a frequently updated list with press contacts for current and upcoming exhibitions at the Getty Center and Getty Villa Museum
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Getty offers changing exhibitions at both locations year-round, complemented by a wide range of public programs.
Editors please note--Information is subject to change. Images and press materials for exhibitions will be linked here as they become available, or may be requested via the press contacts listed for each ... Show Full Article LOS ANGELES, California, March 11 -- The J. Paul Getty Trust issued the following news release: * * * Current and Upcoming Exhibitions For journalists, a frequently updated list with press contacts for current and upcoming exhibitions at the Getty Center and Getty Villa Museum * Getty offers changing exhibitions at both locations year-round, complemented by a wide range of public programs. Editors please note--Information is subject to change. Images and press materials for exhibitions will be linked here as they become available, or may be requested via the press contacts listed for eachexhibition below.
For more press materials, please see For Journalists. For highlights of exhibitions and events, see What's On and subscribe to our e-newsletters.
Current Exhibitions
Sculpted Portraits from Ancient Egypt
January 24, 2024-January 25, 2027
Getty Villa
Egypt's 26th Dynasty (664-526 BCE) was a period of revival and renewal. It marks the last great phase of native pharaonic rule in ancient Egypt and is notable for its exceptional artworks, particularly stone sculpture. The achievements of Egyptian artists of this period are vividly expressed in the sculpted portraits of officials associated with the court and priesthood, which were created to be displayed in tombs and temples.
The works in this exhibition are on special loan from the British Museum, London.
Media Contact
Shannon Iriarte
(310) 440-7303
siriarte@getty.edu
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Charles Ross: Spectrum 14
September 10, 2024 - September 13, 2026
Getty Center
Spectrum 14 is a calibrated array of prisms that cast a dazzling display of luminous color across the Museum's rotunda. Bands of spectral light traverse the space in relation to the sun, which follows a slightly different arc through the sky every day. Over time, Ross's work changes in response to Earth's rotational orbit, connecting us to the premodern experience of astronomical observation and calculation that defined cycles of days, seasons, and rituals.
This project was commissioned for PST ART as part of the exhibition Lumen: The Art & Science of Light. This is the second "Rotunda Commission," a series of art installations inspired by the Getty Museum's collection, architecture, and site.
Media Contact
Cole Calhoun
(310) 440-7186
ccalhoun@getty.edu
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How to Be a Guerrilla Girl
November 18, 2025-April 12,2026
Getty Center
How to Be a Guerrilla Girl presents the inner workings of the anonymous feminist art collective alongside a new commission at the Getty Research Institute. Drawing on the Guerrilla Girls' archive, the exhibition explores the steps the group took to create their eye-catching and humorous public interventions. The exhibition places the Guerrilla Girls' well-known posters in the broader context of their data research, protest actions, culture jamming, and distribution methods. Coinciding with the Guerrilla Girls' 40th anniversary, the exhibition tells the story of their collaborative process and longstanding commitment to call for equity for women and artists of color in the art world.
Media Contact
Valerie Tate
(310) 440-6861
vtate@getty.edu
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Beginnings: The Story of the Creation in the Middle Ages
January 27-April 19, 2026
Getty Center
Creation stories imagine the world's origins, often leading to a shared cultural vision of identity and values. For medieval Christians, the Biblical story of the seven days of Creation was essential to understanding the natural and spiritual realms, as well as humanity's role in bridging the two. This exhibition features manuscripts from Getty's collection alongside select contemporary paintings by LA-based artist Harmonia Rosales to explore how the Creation was visualized, represented, and interpreted both in the Middle Ages and today.
Media Contacts
Sidney Kantono
(310) 440-6613
skantono@getty.edu
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Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955-1985
February 24-June 14, 2026
Getty Center
Amid the turbulent decades of the mid-20th century, African American and Afro-Atlantic diaspora artists sought to celebrate a distinctly Black culture and advance the struggle for civil rights. Photographic images contributed in myriad ways to the lively exchange of pan-African ideas that propelled the Black Arts Movement. See how an incredible range of artists and activists--from studio and street photographers to graphic designers and community organizers--used photography as a tool for social change.
The exhibition is organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Media Contact
Valerie Tate
(310) 440-6861
vtate@getty.edu
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Virtue and Vice: Allegory in European Drawing
March 3-June 7, 2026
Getty Center
This rotation from Getty's collection explores how European artists from the 16th to 19th centuries made drawings to criticize bad behavior as well as praise virtuous deeds. Drawings of proper and improper conduct range from straightforward examples (charity, lust, and greed) to complex allegories (virtue, decadence, and friendship). Whether warning against sinful ways or celebrating how one should behave, drawings visualized moral codes, political ideologies, and social norms.
Media Contacts
Sidney Kantono
(310) 440-6613
skantono@getty.edu
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The Egyptian Book of the Dead
March 4-November 30, 2026
Getty Villa
Among their rigorous preparations for eternity, ancient Egyptians developed an intricate set of religious writings to help the deceased achieve a blessed afterlife in union with the solar god Re and the netherworld god Osiris. Known collectively as the Book of the Dead, these ritual spells were inscribed on funerary objects. This exhibition, previously shown in 2023, features Getty's Book of the Dead manuscripts, illuminating how ancient Egyptians understood the cosmos, the world of the gods, and the nature of existence.
Media Contact
Shannon Iriarte
(310) 440-7303
siriarte@getty.edu
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Upcoming Exhibitions
Lost. Found. Returned.
Jun 23, 2026-Oct 18, 2026
Getty Center
In 1894 the Kupferstich-Kabinett in Dresden acquired a drawing by Otto Greiner (1869-1916), a leading German artist associated with the Symbolist movement. How did that drawing, which the museum marked as "lost" after World War II, end up at the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles? This exhibition narrates the drawing's journey, focusing on its shifting wartime status, the tools that researchers use to track down missing artworks, and the impending return of Greiner's drawing back to Dresden.
Media Contact
Valerie Tate
(310) 440-6861
vtate@getty.edu
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Stendahl's World: Marketing Ancient Mexico and Modern Art in Los Angeles
Jun 23, 2026-Oct 18, 2026
Getty Center
Around 1940, after decades of selling landscapes and Modern paintings, Earl Stendahl turned to Mexican antiquities, transforming the market for pre-Hispanic art in Los Angeles and beyond. Stendahl Art Galleries promoted the ancient artifacts of Mexico as commodities for both museum and private collections, launching exhibitions across the United States and Europe and building on Hollywood connections for product placement in advertising campaigns. Meanwhile, archaeological sites in Mexico suffered irreparable depredations.
Media Contact
Valerie Tate
(310) 440-6861
vtate@getty.edu
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Odilon Redon: Otherworldly Visions
July 14-October 18, 2026
Getty Center
Odilon Redon (1840-1916) is known for his enigmatic art that celebrated the beauty of nature and mined the dreamlike depths of the imagination. Featuring an exceptional group of charcoal drawings, lithographs, and pastels from Getty's collection, this exhibition presents the French artist's fantastical world of haunting darkness and luminous color. Discover Redon's singular vision and his diverse sources of inspiration, from religion and mythology to literature and modern science.
Media Contact
Sidney Kantono
(310) 440-6613
skantono@getty.edu
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The Making of a Medieval Book
August 4, 2026-May 2, 2027
Getty Center
Books were written, decorated, and bound entirely by hand during the pre-modern era in Europe. This exhibition explores the four stages of making medieval books, from preparing animal skin to make parchment, to the methods and materials used for the subsequent phases of writing, painting, and binding. A selection of manuscripts from the Museum's collection elucidates these steps and the techniques used.
Media Contact
Sidney Kantono
(310) 440-6613
skantono@getty.edu
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Instante/revelacion: Moments in Mexican Photography
September 1, 2026-January 3, 2027
Getty Center
Exploring the rich tapestry of cultural and artistic dialogues that have shaped Mexico's photographic history, this exhibition features works by 13 prominent photographers, including Lola Alvarez Bravo, Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Hector Garcia, Graciela Iturbide, and Pablo Ortiz Monasterio, alongside key related publications. The photographs, donated by Daniel Greenberg and Susan Steinhauser to the Getty Museum over the past 25 years, record the instantes y revelaciones (instants and revelations) of a remarkable century of Mexican creativity.
Media Contact
Valerie Tate
(310) 440-6861
vtate@getty.edu
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"Every minute is history": Five Views of Los Angeles
September 1, 2026-January 3, 2027
Getty Center
Discover the work of five photographers whose distinct approaches to the medium helped expand traditional representations of Chicano/a communities in Los Angeles during the second half of the 20th century. Drawing from a wide range of influences, including social documentary practices, staged scenes, fashion and the popular press, these artists--Laura Aguilar, Reynaldo Rivera, George Rodriguez, Patssi Valdez, and Ricardo Valverde--pushed the medium in new and often provocative directions.
Media Contact
Valerie Tate
(310) 440-6861
vtate@getty.edu
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The Holy Family at Home
September 22, 2026-January 10, 2027
Getty Center
Northern European artists around 1500 adopted a fresh view of the Holy Family, portraying the Virgin Mary, Christ Child, and a devoted St. Joseph as a loving trio in a domestic interior. This exhibition celebrates the treatment of this theme in Getty's recently acquired painting by Gerard David, while showcasing illuminated manuscripts and panel paintings of the period that shaped and reflected his approach. Together, these works highlight the late medieval view of the tender human relationships at the heart of the Christian story.
Media Contacts
Cole Calhoun
(310) 440-7168
ccalhoun@getty.edu
Sidney Kantono
(310) 440-6613
skantono@getty.edu
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Reggie Burrows Hodges: A Theater of Passions
October 20, 2026 - February 28, 2027
Getty Center
A deep admirer of historic European painting, Los Angeles-born artist Reggie Burrows Hodges created a new series of paintings inspired by the art of father-and-daughter painters Orazio and Artemisia Gentileschi in the Getty's collection. Building on the formal and thematic aspects of the 17th-century Italian works while incorporating his own artistic vision, Hodges explores and highlights the underlying components of violence, drama, and theatricality embedded in their biblical and mythological narratives.
Media Contact
Cole Calhoun
(310) 440-7186
ccalhoun@getty.edu
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A Light in the Dark: Joseph Wright of Derby
November 24, 2026-March 14, 2027
Getty Center
The British painter Joseph Wright of Derby is celebrated for his astonishing ability to capture the magic of light piercing the dark. In 1760s London he exhibited a series of remarkable pictures that catapulted the provincial artist to national fame. This exhibition reunites several of these works--including the Getty's recently rediscovered Two Boys with a Bladder--and explores the technical innovations and artistic ambitions behind some of the most enthralling paintings of the 18th century.
Media Contact
Cole Calhoun
(310) 440-7186
ccalhoun@getty.edu
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Original text here: https://www.getty.edu/news/exhibitions-look-ahead-press/
Foundation for Economic Education Issues Commentary: Life of Frederic Bastiat
DETROIT, Michigan, March 11 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary on March 10, 2026, by President Emeritus Lawrence W. Reed:* * *
The Life of Frederic Bastiat
France's great classical liberal.
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Two hundred and fifty years ago this month, the Scottish philosopher and economist Adam Smith's monumental work, An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, was published. Its lasting impact means that it belongs on any list of the 100 most influential books ever written.
Great teachers produce great students. Smith produced too many to count, ... Show Full Article DETROIT, Michigan, March 11 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary on March 10, 2026, by President Emeritus Lawrence W. Reed: * * * The Life of Frederic Bastiat France's great classical liberal. * Two hundred and fifty years ago this month, the Scottish philosopher and economist Adam Smith's monumental work, An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, was published. Its lasting impact means that it belongs on any list of the 100 most influential books ever written. Great teachers produce great students. Smith produced too many to count,but one in particular stands out as extraordinary for his eloquence, his storytelling, and his passion for freedom and free markets. That would be Frederic Bastiat, best known for his last of many books, The Law. It is in that mesmerizing little volume, readable in an evening, that he declared: "No legal plunder! This is the principle of justice, peace, order, stability, harmony, and logic. Until the day of my death, I shall proclaim this principle with all the force of my lungs!"
It was also in The Law that Bastiat enunciated this vital concept: "Life, liberty, and property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty, and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws in the first place."
At the Foundation for Economic Education, we possess a special affinity for Frederic Bastiat. When his work was largely forgotten in France and unknown in America, it was FEE staffer Dean Russell who dusted him off, translated his books, and introduced him to an English-speaking audience a full century after his death in 1850. In addition to The Law and Dean Russell's biography of him (see sources, below), FEE also published Bastiat's Economic Sophisms and Economic Harmonies.
Bastiat never sat in any of Adam Smith's classrooms. He was born in Bayonne, France, on June 30, 1801, more than a decade after Smith passed away. Bastiat was a student of Smith in the intellectual sense. He identified the Scot as one of the three main influences over his own thinking, along with the French economist Jean-Baptiste Say, the school of Enlightenment thinkers known as the Physiocrats, and the French liberal Charles Dunoyer.
Say is remembered primarily for "Say's Law" (often explained as "supply creates its own demand"). When Bastiat founded a newspaper, Le Libre-Echange (Free Trade) in 1846, he printed a version of Say's Law on the masthead of every edition. The Physiocrats, though they erred in over-emphasizing agriculture, were early proponents of the natural law and market forces that Smith synthesized into his concept of "the invisible hand."
Bastiat's father died when the youngster was only seven. His mother passed away two years later. At the age of nine, he went to live with his paternal grandfather. The family's history of success in the export and banking businesses meant that young Frederic could enroll in good schools, where he learned to speak Spanish, Italian, and English.
When he was 26 (in 1827), he stumbled across a copy of Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack, which he regarded as "a real treasure" because of Franklin's use of humor and brevity to illuminate serious principles.
Bastiat's later writings bear a strong resemblance to Franklin's style. Good examples are The Candlemakers' Petition, That Which Is Seen and That Which Is Not Seen, The Parable of the Broken Window, and his use of Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe character to illustrate an important economic principle.
When Bastiat's grandfather died in 1825, the young man inherited the family estate. For the next twenty years, he lived as a gentleman farmer and part-time scholar. Increasingly over that period, he relied on others to manage the property so that he would have time to pursue his scholarly passions. By the time of the Revolution of 1830, which dethroned Charles X and introduced a constitutional monarchy under Louis Philippe, Bastiat was a principled advocate for laissez-faire--a name often bestowed upon the philosophy of limited government, private property, and individual rights. He was disappointed when the Revolution fell short of producing a truly liberal order along laissez-faire lines.
He tasted public life for the first time when, in 1831, he was elected a justice of the peace in the town of Mugron, in the southwest of France. No doubt he learned some machinations of the law as a kind of insider, and many discussions with friends honed his talents as a debater. It was his ongoing study of political economy, however, that more fully equipped him for the burst of activity that would define the remarkable final years of his short life.
Bastiat's first published article appeared in April 1834. The subject was tariffs, which he regarded as taxes on economic progress that benefited the protected at everyone else's expense. He challenged a group of manufacturers who had called for selective (and self-serving) reductions in tariffs by appealing to principled consistency:
You demand that all protection be abolished on primary materials, such as agricultural products, but that protection must be continued for manufactured articles. I do not defend the protection you attack, but attack the protection you defend. You demand privilege for a few; I demand liberty for all.
Meanwhile, across the English Channel, growing sentiments for tariff reduction were coalescing into a powerful, grassroots movement. In 1839, Richard Cobden and John Bright co-founded the Anti-Corn Law League and turned it into the most effective lobby in Britain since the anti-slavery organizations of Thomas Clarkson and William Wilberforce. Just seven years later, the League triumphed when Parliament repealed Britain's onerous taxes on the importation of grain. Bastiat, by then a personal friend of Cobden's, was inspired to create a French counterpart, the Free Trade Association, to accomplish a similar objective for France. He moved in 1846 to Paris, where he burst onto the political scene as ready as anybody ever was to fight for economic liberty.
What was Bastiat like as a person? In his biography of the Frenchman, Dean Russell offered these observations from a Bastiat contemporary, Louis Reybaud:
He was a typical example of the provincial scholar, simple in his manner and plain in his attire. But under that country costume and good-natured attitude, there was a natural dignity of deportment and flashes of a keen intelligence, and one quickly discovered an honest heart and a generous soul. His eyes, especially, were lighted up with singular brightness and fire. His emaciated features and flushed complexion betrayed already the presence of the disease [tuberculosis] that was destined to kill him in a few years. His voice was hollow and in marked contrast to the vivacity of his ideas and the quickness of his gestures... He never thought of how many days he had to live, but of how he might employ them well.
Revolution came to France once again, in February 1848, two years after Bastiat had moved to Paris. Sadly, this one produced a new regime hostile to free trade. Forced by this turn of events to set his free trade organization aside, Bastiat turned his attention to a new threat gaining ground: socialism. It was, in many ways, the same fight but against a foe more evil than tariffs. Protectionism involved the use of government force to inhibit trade; socialism proposed the use of government force to inhibit almost everything.
After a brief campaign, Bastiat was elected in April 1848 as a deputy to the National Assembly. He would serve in that capacity until his death from tuberculosis on Christmas Eve, 1850. In that last year of his life, he managed to publish the work for which he remains best known, the one that even today transforms the thinking of many first-time readers, The Law.
As a legislator, Bastiat argued furiously against robbing Peter to pay Paul, the erection of barriers to productive enterprise, and the spendthrift habits of his vote-buying colleagues. He won over a few and lost most of his battles but never compromised his honor or his principles. To his last breath, he mustered great eloquence to assault the arrogance of socialism and to defend the virtues of liberty. Here is one of my favorite Bastiat quotes to that effect:
If the natural tendencies of mankind are so bad that it is not safe to permit people to be free, how is it that the tendencies of these organizers are always good? Do not the legislators and their appointed agents also belong to the human race? Or do they believe that they themselves are made of a finer clay than the rest of mankind?
In late 1850, Bastiat's doctors sent him to Italy for treatment of his advanced illness. On his deathbed, he summoned friends to his side and uttered his last words, "Truth, truth." He is buried at the church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome. France has never since produced a man or woman more principled or eloquent on behalf of human freedom and good government.
When Bastiat died in 1850, he knew that the prospects for France to slash its trade barriers were remote, at least in the near term. But Cobden carried on in England, and another close friend of Bastiat's in France, Michel Chevalier, who had converted to the free trade cause due to Bastiat's influence, found himself representing Paris at the bargaining table with Cobden on the other side. Together, they negotiated the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty of 1860, the first modern free trade agreement. It ended the two countries' tariffs on the main items of their trade, from French wine and silk to English coal and iron. Both men cited their friend Frederic Bastiat as a key inspiration.
How should we celebrate the semiquincentennial this month of Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations? Reading that great book is certainly one way. But another, one I think Smith himself would approve of, would be to get better acquainted with one of the Scotsman's greatest students, Frederic Bastiat. Toward that end, I provide links below.
Additional Resources
Reflecting on Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations by Lawrence W. Reed
Adam Smith: Ideas Change the World by Lawrence W. Reed
Frederic Bastiat Deserves a Posthumous Nobel by Lawrence W. Reed
How To Create Like a Bastiat by Dan Sanchez
Advice for Presidential Candidates from Frederic Bastiat by Lawrence W. Reed
Disasters Should Remind Us of Bastiat's Wisdom by Lawrence W. Reed
Richard Cobden: The Humble Farm Boy Who Made Britain Great by Lawrence W. Reed
The Case Against Protectionism by Lawrence W. Reed
The Log Tax is Hurting Both Canadians and Americans by Lawrence W. Reed
It's More Important to BE American Than to BUY American by Lawrence W. Reed
Bastiat's Life by Sheldon Richman
Why Bastiat is as Relevant as Ever by Mark Perry
Walter Williams on Bastiat by Walter Williams
How to See the Unseen Through the Broken Window Parable by Jonathan Newman
Bastiat for the Ages by Jeff Riggenbach
Why Bastiat Deserves to be in the Pantheon of Great Economic Theorists by Donald J. Boudreaux
Frederic Bastiat: Ideas and Influence by Dean Russell
Frederic Bastiat: A Man Alone by George C. Roche
Frederic Bastiat: Ingenious Champion of Liberty and Peace by Jim Powell
The Law by Frederic Bastiat
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Lawrence W. ("Larry") Reed is FEE's President Emeritus, Humphreys Family Senior Fellow, and Ron Manners Global Ambassador for Liberty. He previously served as president of FEE from 2008-2019. He chaired FEE's board of trustees in the 1990s and has been both writing and speaking for FEE since the late 1970s.
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Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/the-life-of-frederic-bastiat/
FFRF Calls on Rep. Ogles to Resign Over Christian Nationalist Attack on Muslims
MADISON, Wisconsin, March 11 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:* * *
FFRF calls on Rep. Ogles to resign over Christian nationalist attack on Muslims
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is calling on Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., to resign following several anti-Muslim statements that are incompatible with the Constitution he has sworn to uphold.
In a letter sent to Ogles, FFRF condemns his March 9 social media post declaring that "Muslims don't belong in American society" and that "pluralism is a lie." FFRF Legal Counsel Christopher Line says such remarks ... Show Full Article MADISON, Wisconsin, March 11 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release: * * * FFRF calls on Rep. Ogles to resign over Christian nationalist attack on Muslims The Freedom From Religion Foundation is calling on Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., to resign following several anti-Muslim statements that are incompatible with the Constitution he has sworn to uphold. In a letter sent to Ogles, FFRF condemns his March 9 social media post declaring that "Muslims don't belong in American society" and that "pluralism is a lie." FFRF Legal Counsel Christopher Line says such remarksare "profoundly bigoted, fundamentally un-American, and incompatible with the oath" of a member of Congress."
"By asserting that Muslims do not belong in American society and dismissing pluralism itself, Rep. Ogles is repudiating the very constitutional framework he is sworn to defend," Line writes in the letter. "If you cannot accept the basic constitutional principle that Americans of all religions -- including Muslims -- and no religion belong fully and equally in this nation, then you cannot faithfully discharge the duties of your office."
FFRF notes that Ogles' March 9 post is part of a broader pattern of rhetoric targeting Muslims. Ogles has recently said he plans to introduce legislation banning immigration from certain Muslim-majority countries. Over the same weekend as his March 9 statement, he also posted that "diversity is our weakness" and called for the deportation of Muslim Americans, including naturalized citizens.
"These statements go far beyond political disagreement and amount to open hostility toward Americans based solely on their religion," FFRF's letter states.
Ogles is a member of the recently formed "Sharia Free America Caucus," a group House Republicans launched in December 2025 that claims Islamic law poses a threat to the United States. The caucus has promoted sweeping and tendentious claims. Ogles himself has previously declared that "Islam is conquering Europe" and has warned against what he calls "radical Islam."
Constitutional experts and lawmakers have pointed out that such claims reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of American law and religious liberty.
At a recent House subcommittee hearing on so-called "Sharia law threats," Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., noted that the U.S. Constitution already prohibits any religious legal system from replacing secular law. The First Amendment's Establishment Clause prevents the government from imposing any religious doctrine -- whether Islamic, Christian, Jewish or otherwise -- while its Free Exercise Clause protects individuals' right to practice their religion without discrimination.
"We live in a country so great that we don't need anti-Sharia legislation," Raskin said. "Our Constitution already forbids theocratic imposition of any kind."
Raskin emphasized that efforts targeting Muslims specifically are themselves unconstitutional, pointing to U.S. Supreme Court precedent holding that laws singling out particular religions violate the Free Exercise Clause. The Constitution also explicitly prohibits religious tests for public office.
"The government cannot endorse Muslim law, Jewish law, Christian law, Methodist law, Baptist law -- none of it," Raskin said. "The First Amendment already takes care of it."
FFRF emphasizes that the Sharia Free America Caucus' rhetoric, echoed in Ogles' statements, fuels religious fearmongering while ignoring the Constitution's clear protections.
"You singled out an entire religious group -- including millions of Muslim Americans who are citizens of this country -- and declared that they do not belong in their own society," Line writes. "That sentiment stands in direct conflict with the First Amendment."
Muslim Americans, FFRF notes, serve in the U.S. military, work as teachers, physicians and first responders and contribute to every aspect of American life.
"Suggesting members of a religious minority do not belong in their own country is not merely offensive; it is an attack on the constitutional principle that all Americans enjoy equal standing under the law," the letter states.
FFRF also stresses that the Establishment Clause was designed to prevent the sectarian conflict and persecution that arise when governments align themselves with particular religions.
"America's strength lies in its secular Constitution," Line writes. "True religious freedom requires that government remain neutral toward religion and free from religious domination."
Because Ogles' statements reject these basic constitutional commitments, FFRF concludes that he is unfit to serve in Congress.
"Members of Congress take an oath not to a religion, ideology, or political movement, but to the Constitution of the United States," the letter states. "If you cannot accept the basic constitutional principle that Americans of all religions -- including Muslims -- and no religion belong fully and equally in this nation, then you cannot faithfully discharge the duties of your office."
For that reason, Ogles should resign.
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation (www.ffrf.org) is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With about 42,000 members and chapters nationwide, including hundreds of members and a chapter in Tennessee, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/uncategorized/ffrf-calls-on-rep-ogles-to-resign-over-christian-nationalist-attack-on-muslims/
[Category: Religion]