Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Featured Stories
Smithsonian Libraries and Archives Announces 2026 Programming
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Smithsonian Institution Libraries and Archives issued the following news release:
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Smithsonian Libraries and Archives Announces 2026 Programming
Scholarly Panel, Book Talks and Two New Exhibits Opening Throughout the Year
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Smithsonian Libraries and Archives will launch a dynamic lineup of exhibitions and public programming starting in May as part of the Smithsonian's Our Shared Future: 250 celebrations. Drawing from its extensive collection of rare books, archives and artworks, Libraries and Archives will present a new display in the Smithsonian's National Museum
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WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Smithsonian Institution Libraries and Archives issued the following news release:
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Smithsonian Libraries and Archives Announces 2026 Programming
Scholarly Panel, Book Talks and Two New Exhibits Opening Throughout the Year
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Smithsonian Libraries and Archives will launch a dynamic lineup of exhibitions and public programming starting in May as part of the Smithsonian's Our Shared Future: 250 celebrations. Drawing from its extensive collection of rare books, archives and artworks, Libraries and Archives will present a new display in the Smithsonian's National Museumof Natural History, a new exhibition in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History and a range of interactive events. Audiences will have opportunities to connect more deeply with American history, art and science during this milestone year for the nation. All offerings are free, but some events require registration.
Spring and Summer
City of Knowledge: Science, Place, Power
Thursday, May 14, noon-1 p.m.
Benjamin Franklin Hall, Philadelphia
The City of Knowledge, a four-part, cross-institutional program series that contemplates urban centers as sites of scientific power, has examined Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia to answer two key questions: how has science shared a history with urban places, and why should the place of science matter when writing about the history of science? The final event of the series will be hosted at the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia with scholars Susan Brandt and Domenic Vitiello. The interactive panel will encourage dialogue between panelists and the audience about Philadelphia's contributions to scientific advancements in early America during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The event is free, but registration is required.
"Imagining Bison"
Thursday, May 21, 2026-summer 2027
National Museum of Natural History, ground floor
A display of objects drawn primarily from Smithsonian Libraries and Archives' rich collections honoring the American bison, the nation's mammal, will open at the end of May on the ground floor of the National Museum of Natural History. Curated by Kirk Johnson, the museum's Sant Director, the exhibition traces representations of bison from Indigenous drawings and early scientific illustrations to photographs and publications documenting the Smithsonian's pivotal role in early bison conservation efforts. Highlights include a hand-colored book illustration of an American bison pre-dating the Declaration of Independence, an original $10 "buffalo" bill from 1901 and a powerful 1888 bison portrait created to combat the species' near-extinction. More information about the exhibit is online.
From Seeds to Stories: A Conversation with Christopher DeMario
Friday, June 12, 4-6 p.m.
Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. N.W.
From horticultural innovations in flower hybrids to inspiring the war and victory gardens of the 20th century, the Burpee company is a staple of American agriculture, and, even 150 years after its founding, Burpee continues to be the world's largest home garden and seed company. Christopher DeMario, author of The Burpee Seed Company: Planting U.S. History since the Nineteenth Century published by Smithsonian Scholarly Press, will discuss the history of the Burpee family enterprise and the 200 boxes of archival business records donated to the Smithsonian that detail this family legacy. After the conversation, attendees can join a garden party-style reception in the atrium.
Fall
Feathers, Forensics, and the Smithsonian: A Conversation with Chris Sweeney
Thursday, Sept. 17
Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. N.W.
Award-winning journalist and author Chris Sweeney joins Smithsonian Libraries and Archives for a conversation about his new book The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne. The world's first forensic ornithologist, Roxie Laybourne pioneered the techniques for bird identification--solving aviation incidents, tracking poachers and shaping modern science--while at the National Museum of Natural History. Sweeney will give a behind-the-scenes look at how he used Libraries and Archives' materials and archives to uncover Laybourne's remarkable life story.
"American Stories: Artists' Books from the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives"
Opening October 2026
Smithsonian Libraries Gallery, National Museum of American History, First Floor, West
Works of art inspired by books delve into personal, collective and national histories in Smithsonian Library and Archives' new exhibition, "American Stories," featuring more than 40 artists' books from its collection. The exhibition explores American identity and experience through this versatile and inventive medium, and includes a commemoration of Hawaii's native culture, a Louisiana community's rituals as a hurricane rolls in and an artist's celebration of her heritage through African and American fabrics. A variety of artists' books will be on view, including one-of-a-kind works, examples from famed American artists including Sol LeWitt and Ed Ruscha, and recent acquisitions from contemporary artists. Accompanying workshops and public programs will be announced later this year.
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About the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives
The Smithsonian Libraries and Archives is an international system of research libraries and an institutional archive. With 44,000 cubic feet of archival materials and a comprehensive collection of print and electronic materials covering art and design, history and science, the Libraries and Archives serve as a resource for the Smithsonian Institution, the global research community and the public. Locations are in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, New York City and the Republic of Panama.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-libraries-and-archives-announces-2026-programming
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine: Gulf Research Program Awards Over $1.4 Million to Build Resilience in Gulf Coast Communities
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release on May 8, 2026:
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Gulf Research Program Awards Over $1.4 Million to Build Resilience in Gulf Coast Communities
The Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine today announced an award of more than $1.43 million to support 15 collaborations from Houston, Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama, in the planning of science-based and community-driven projects that advance disaster adaptation at the local level.
These
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WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release on May 8, 2026:
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Gulf Research Program Awards Over $1.4 Million to Build Resilience in Gulf Coast Communities
The Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine today announced an award of more than $1.43 million to support 15 collaborations from Houston, Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama, in the planning of science-based and community-driven projects that advance disaster adaptation at the local level.
Theseawards are issued through the Adaptive Capacities for Transformation (ACT) Initiative, which leverages sciences, collaborations, and investments to promote health, resilience, and disaster adaptation. In its initial phase, the ACT initiative brought together representatives from different community sectors -- local nonprofits, foundations, academia, and government -- to collaborate on advancing shared disaster-related priorities that affect the health and resilience of their communities. With these awards, cross-sectoral working groups will be supported in strengthening relationships and developing innovative approaches for future project implementation.
"Integrated challenges need integrated solutions, and that requires collaboration," said Francisca Flores, program officer and ACT lead. "The project ideas supported through these awards will provide groups, organizations, and institutions from across community sectors the opportunity to find common ground, pool assets, and act collectively in adapting to disasters."
The awarded collaborations (by location) are as follows:
Houston
From Silos to Community-Centered Systems: Transforming Disaster Data and Communications Regionwide
Project Director: Brooke Campbell, United Way of Greater Houston
Award Amount: $100,000
Project Team:
- Air Alliance Houston
- American Red Cross
- City of Houston Office of Emergency Management
- Connective
- East End Communities
- Greater Houston Community Foundation
- Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- Houston Public Media, University of Houston
- Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University
- Texas A&M University
- Texas Gulf Coast Regional Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)
- United Way of Greater Houston
- UTHealth School of Public Health
Resource Access Planning in Disaster (RAPID)
Project Director: Lharissa Jacobs, Fit Houston Inc.
Award Amount: $100,000
Project Team:
- Fit Houston Inc.
- Friends of Columbia Tap
- Houston Tool Bank
- McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
- Spring Branch Family Development Center
Weathering the Storm Together: A Community-Based Planning Initiative to Develop Mental Health Resources for Houston
Project Director: Robert Bullard, Texas Southern University
Award Amount: $99,999
Project Team:
- Achieving Community Tasks Successfully (ACTS)
- Environmental Defense Fund
- Northeast Houston Redevelopment Council (NEHRC)
- Texas Southern University
- University of Houston
Strengthening Community Disaster Planning Capacity in Harris County*
Project Director: Rahbe Simmons, Harris County Public Health|
Award Amount: $71,500
Project Team:
- Air Alliance Houston
- East End Communities
- Harris County Public Health
- University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
*Pending final approval of the Harris County Commissioners Court
Closing the Data-to-Action Gap: Turning Survivor Reports into Coordinated Recovery with the Connective Survey*
Project Director: Elaine Morales, Connective
Award Amount: $98,952
Partnering Organizations:
- American Red Cross
- City of Houston, Office of Emergency Management
- Connective
- Harris Center for Mental Health & IDD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities)
- Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University
- Mi Familia en Accion
- Texas Gulf Coast Regional Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)
- United Way of Greater Houston/Greater Houston Disaster Alliance
*Pending final agreements
New Orleans
17th Ward Resiliency Plan: Community-Driven Design to Improve the Health and Wealth of OUR Neighborhood (OURWARD)
Project Director: Raymond Sweet, Hollygrove-Dixon Neighborhood Association
Award Amount: $100,000
Project Team:
- City of New Orleans Office of Resilience and Sustainability
- Hollygrove Neighbors Association
- Hollygrove-Dixon Neighborhood Association
- Teddleton Consulting
- Together Gert Town
- .Xavier University of Louisiana
Planning Local Actions for Networked Solutions in Greater New Orleans (PLANS GNO)
Project Director: Regardt Ferreira, Tulane University - Consortium for Emergent Disaster Resilience
Award Amount: $99,938
Project Team:
- Bayou Community Foundation
- Common Ground Relief
- Grace at the Green Light
- Innovative Approaches Counseling Center
- Louisiana Just Recovery Network
- lowernine.org
- Tulane University - Consortium for Emergent Disaster Resilience
- Ubuntu Village NOLA
Catalyzing Green Infrastructure Implementation Through the Southeast Louisiana Adaptation Forum
Project Director: Joshua Lewis, Tulane University
Award Amount: $98,973
Project Team:
- City of New Orleans
- Greater New Orleans Foundation
- Louisiana Greencorps
- Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development
- Tulane University
- Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans
A Hurricanes Learning Ecosystem: Scaling Education for Collective Resilience
Project Director: Claire Anderson, Ripple Effect Water Literacy Project
Award Amount: $99,935
Project Team:
- Coalition for Compassionate Schools
- Greater New Orleans Foundation
- Ripple Effect Water Literacy Project
- Tulane University
- Urban Conservancy
Creating the Next Generation of Disaster Data Tools to Support Nonprofits, Foundations, and Government Agencies
Project Director: Andrew Holbein, VIA LINK Inc.
Award Amount: $62,348
Project Team:
- American Red Cross
- Benevolent Rural Alliance for Cultural and Environment Strategies
- Florida Parishes Regional Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)
- Greater New Orleans Foundation
- Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
- NECHAMA-Jewish Response for Disaster
- New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
- Ochsner Health/Louisiana Emergency Professionals Association
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana
- Together Louisiana
- University of New Orleans
- VIA LINK Inc.
Mobile
Mobile County Disaster Health and Resilience Taskforce (DHRT)
Project Director: Ashley Williams, University of South Alabama
Award Amount: $99,949
Project Team:
- Bay Area Women's Coalition
- Gulf States Health Policy Center
- Lifelines Counseling Services
- Mobile County Emergency Management Agency
- Mobile County Health Department
- Rising Phoenix Community Development Corporation
- University of South Alabama Health Trauma Division
- USA Health
Building a Community Resilience Network for Disaster Preparedness in Mobile County (M-CORE)
Project Director: Chandra Brown, Lifelines Counseling Services
Award Amount: $100,000
Project Team:
- Activate-Build-Connect Inc.
- Bay Area Women's Coalition
- Gulf Coast Creation Care
- Gulf States Health Policy Center
- Lifelines Counseling Services
- Mobile County Health Department
- Rebuilding Together of South Alabama
- Rising Phoenix Community Development Corp.
- RUNWAY
- University of South Alabama
Community Health Workers for Broader, Resilient, and Improved Communities
Project Director: Tokie Dunn, Mobile County Health Department
Award Amount: $100,000
Project Team:
- Bay Area Women's Coalition
- Gulf States Health Policy Center
- Mobile County Health Care Coalition
- Mobile County Health Department
- Rising Phoenix Community Development Corp.
- USA Health - Center for Healthy Communities
Safer Places Working Group
Project Director: David Gilkeson, Community Foundation of South Alabama
Award Amount: $99,308
Project Team:
- City of Mobile
- Community Foundation of South Alabama
- Mobile County Emergency Management Agency
- The Nature Conservancy
- University of South Alabama
A Collaborative Working Group Using Asset, Hazard, and Vulnerability Mapping to Advance Shared Resilience Strategies
Project Director: Mike Evans, Mobile County Emergency Management Agency
Award Amount: $100,000
Project Team:
- Bay Area Women's Coalition
- City of Chickasaw Fire Department
- Mobile County Emergency Management Agency
- R. Cyril Services LLC
- Rebuilding Together of South Alabama
- Town of Dauphin Island
- University of South Alabama
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The National Academies' Gulf Research Program is an independent, science-based program founded in 2013 as part of legal settlements with the companies involved in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. The GRP's mission is to develop, translate, and apply science to enhance the safety of offshore energy, the environment, and the well-being of the people of the Gulf region for generations to come. It supports innovative science, guides data design and monitoring, and builds and sustains networks to generate long-term benefits for the Gulf region and the nation.
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The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine. The National Academies operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/gulf-research-program-awards-over-1-4-million-to-build-resilience-in-gulf-coast-communities
NCPC Provides Comments on the Eisenhower Executive Office Building Exterior Beautification Project
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The National Capital Planning Commission issued the following news release on May 8, 2026:
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NCPC Provides Comments on the Eisenhower Executive Office Building Exterior Beautification Project
Approves Pentagon Commercial Vehicle Inspection Facility Plans
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At its Thursday, May 7 meeting the National Capital Planning Commission provided comments on concept plans for the Eisenhower Executive Office Building Exterior Beautification Project to the project applicant. The Commission will consider preliminary and final approval of the project in the future.
Plans submitted
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WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The National Capital Planning Commission issued the following news release on May 8, 2026:
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NCPC Provides Comments on the Eisenhower Executive Office Building Exterior Beautification Project
Approves Pentagon Commercial Vehicle Inspection Facility Plans
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At its Thursday, May 7 meeting the National Capital Planning Commission provided comments on concept plans for the Eisenhower Executive Office Building Exterior Beautification Project to the project applicant. The Commission will consider preliminary and final approval of the project in the future.
Plans submittedby the Executive Office of the President, Office of Administration call for improvements to the building's exterior that include cleaning and masonry preservation measures such as re-pointing, sealant replacement, and stone restoration, as well as painting the exterior facade, and repainting cast iron elements. The application included two painting options. The first would paint the entire building except for the base. The second would paint the building including the base. The historic building, designed in the French Second Empire Style and located adjacent to the White House at 1650 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, was constructed between 1871 and 1888 and was renamed the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building in 1999.
Commissioners supported the applicant's intent to clean and preserve the building's masonry with re-pointing, sealant replacement, and stone restoration. They requested a summary of other measures considered to meet the project goals, including cleaning the building and/or lighting.
They also requested additional information prior to the next Commission review in order to be able to evaluate the painting options, including information about the proposed paint to be used, details regarding initial application, adhesion, water infiltration, long-term maintenance and upkeep, and ease of removal; along with examples of where paint has been successfully used on exterior granite facades. They requested photo-realistic visualizations of the building for each paint option and existing conditions from pedestrian level locations, including 17th Street, NW, F Street, NW, and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, and a mock-up of the proposed granite painting on-site to reflect the actual site and lighting conditions.
NCPC approved preliminary and final site and building plans submitted by the Washington Headquarters Services for a Commercial Vehicle Inspection Facility and a restroom facility at the 9/11 Memorial on the Pentagon's campus in Arlington, Virginia. These permanent facilities would replace existing temporary ones. Commissioners appreciated that the applicant updated design features based on previous Commission input. They recommended that the future master plan and projects incorporate measures to improve the pedestrian experience between the planned offsite Pentagon 9/11 Memorial Visitor Education Center and the memorial, as well as provide additional wayfinding signage to direct visitors to the memorial's entrance.
Commission actions and related materials are available online.
The Commission approved three items on the Consent Calendar (no presentations were made). Unless otherwise noted, the projects are in Washington, DC.
1. Final master plan amendment for the Southeast Federal Center - Revised Master Plan 4th Amendment, Southeast Federal Center, The Yards. (MP03)
2. Comments to the Mayor of the District of Columbia for the District of Columbia Capital Improvements Plan FY 2027-2032. (0348)
3. Final site and building plans for the James J. Rowley Training Center Defense Training Facility, 9200 Powder Mill Road, Laurel, Maryland. (8635)
The Executive Director approved two items under authority delegated by the Commission. Unless otherwise noted, the projects are in Washington, DC.
1. Preliminary site and building plans for the Building 76 Museum Support Center Renovation, 805 Kidder Breese Street, SE. (8775)
2. Preliminary and final site and building plans for the Joint Base Anacostia Bolling New Equipment Installation, 20 MacDill Boulevard, SE. (8752)
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The National Capital Planning Commission is the federal government's central planning agency in Washington, DC and surrounding counties of Maryland and Virginia. The Commission provides overall guidance for federal land and buildings in the region. It also reviews the design of federal projects and memorials, oversees long-range planning for future development, and monitors capital investment by federal agencies.
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Original text here: https://www.ncpc.gov/participate/releases/2026/NCPC_Provides_Comments_on_the_Eisenhower_Executive_Office_Building_Exterior_Beautification_Project.pdf
Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Announces Retirement of President and Chief Executive Officer
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank System Office of Finance issued the following news release on May 8, 2026:
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Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Announces Retirement of President and Chief Executive Officer
The Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) of Boston announced today that Timothy J. Barrett, President and Chief Executive Officer, has informed the FHLBank's board of directors of his intention to retire on a date to be determined once his successor is in place.
Mr. Barrett has served as the FHLBank's President and Chief Executive Officer since December 2021.
The FHLBank
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WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank System Office of Finance issued the following news release on May 8, 2026:
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Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Announces Retirement of President and Chief Executive Officer
The Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) of Boston announced today that Timothy J. Barrett, President and Chief Executive Officer, has informed the FHLBank's board of directors of his intention to retire on a date to be determined once his successor is in place.
Mr. Barrett has served as the FHLBank's President and Chief Executive Officer since December 2021.
The FHLBankof Boston's board of directors has formed a search committee and retained an executive search firm to identify Mr. Barrett's successor.
For additional information, please see the FHLBank of Boston's Form 8-K filing on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission website, www.sec.gov.
The FHLBanks have delivered innovation and service to the U.S. housing market since 1932, and currently have approximately 6,400 members serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Please contact Tom Heinle at (703) 467-3646 or theinle@fhlb-of.com for additional information.
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Original text here: https://fhlb-of.com/ofweb_userWeb/resources/PR2026-0508-PressRelease1.pdf
Commission on International Religious Freedom: Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria - Fulani Militants
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following fact sheet:
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Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants
In recent years, armed actors from a Fulani ethnic background have perpetrated some of the most visible and deadly attacks on religious communities--often but not exclusively against Christians--in Nigeria. These actors operate in a variety of contexts and with a multiplicity of likely aims and motivations. While many Fulani militant groups wage independent attacks, others periodically coordinate with a wide range
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WASHINGTON, May 9 -- U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following fact sheet:
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Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants
In recent years, armed actors from a Fulani ethnic background have perpetrated some of the most visible and deadly attacks on religious communities--often but not exclusively against Christians--in Nigeria. These actors operate in a variety of contexts and with a multiplicity of likely aims and motivations. While many Fulani militant groups wage independent attacks, others periodically coordinate with a wide rangeof other actors, from conventional bandit gangs seeking financial enrichment to recognized terrorist organizations that espouse a violent interpretation of Islam.
This publication examines Fulani militants' role in deteriorating religious freedom conditions in Nigeria by explaining Muslim and Christian communal dynamics and providing examples of recent and ongoing religious freedom violations by violent Fulani actors. It also describes efforts--and shortcomings--on the part of the Nigerian government and civil society actors to bolster social cohesion, improve security, and reduce patterns of violence.
Fulani Dynamics and Militant Violence
The Fulani people are a Muslim-majority ethnic group largely concentrated in northern Nigeria and other adjacent areas in West Africa. They represent approximately six percent (or 14.5 million) of Nigeria's total population of about 242.4 million. Herding remains an important part of many Fulani people's livelihoods and identities but still faces societal stigma as a traditional way of life. A violent religious ideology, growing resource limitation and competition, population growth, poverty, and other factors have further embroiled the Fulani people in Nigeria's social instability challenges--and its increasingly volatile security landscape. An estimated 30,000 Fulani militants likely operate across the country, traditionally concentrating in the country's northwest, then migrating down through the Middle Belt, and becoming increasingly active in the South. Each group consists of anywhere from 10 to 1,000 members. While these militants do not share a centralized leadership, some collaborate on attacks.
Violence by Fulani militants caused the highest number of deaths among all religious communities in Nigeria over the last year as compared to attacks by organized insurgent groups and criminal gangs. Fulani assailants have not spared Muslims, raiding herders' cattle and violently attacking non-Fulani Muslim communities. Furthermore, many militants have targeted Christian communities in the Middle Belt and, increasingly, the South, burning homes and churches as well as kidnapping, raping, and murdering. Militants often coordinate via radio and utilize motorcycles and automatic weapons, rapidly hitting several targets at once in rural, isolated areas. They often wield machetes and descend on vulnerable communities during the night, eliciting terror as a way to force victims to quickly leave and to achieve greater control of desired land. These Fulani militant attacks, among those of other actors, have forced at least 1.3 million people in the Middle Belt off their land and into overcrowded, unsanitary, and unsafe conditions in displacement camps. Militants vary in their use of deadly force against religious communities, and many carry out sexual assault and abductions in hopes of intimidating them or profiting from ransom payments, respectively. Reportedly, some hostages remain hidden in remote locations such as the Rijana Forest in Kaduna State. Many of these hostages have faced violent sexual assault, causing lifelong trauma. Militant actors have often carried out operations during Christian holidays such as Christmas or Easter to further maximize the psychological impact, terrifying those communities from gathering to celebrate or worship. During attacks, assailants sometimes utter slogans with religious connotations, such as "Allahu Akbar."
In Plateau and Benue States, Fulani militants have recently perpetrated multiple attacks in which fatalities numbered in the hundreds. One attack in Benue in June 2025 killed at least 200 people, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in a Catholic mission, while a massacre that month in Yelwata, Benue forced over 3,000 people to flee their homes and killed over 200 Christians, mostly sleeping women and children. In May, Fulani militants abducted pastors Adura Kayode and Kingsley Ebing of the City of Grace Prophetic Liberation Church in Kogi State, and another assailant reportedly shot and seriously wounded a Catholic priest in Benue State. In October, militants killed seven Fulani Muslim herders in Kano State and stole 70 head of cattle; those assailants also abducted 10 members of the same herding community, demanding ransom payments.
Such violence continued apace in early 2026. In February, Fulani gunmen reportedly killed 12 in Barkin Ladi and Riyom, Plateau State, including one farmer and two herders. That same month, suspected Fulani militants killed at least 32 in the Borgu area of Niger State and reportedly attacked Holy Trinity Parish in Kafanchan Diocese in Kaduna, killing three people and abducting 11 others, including the parish priest, Father Nathaniel Asuwaye. In March, suspected militants killed 12 people in Benue State despite the recent deployment of over 400 security personnel to the region.
Fulani militants have also joined other armed groups in regularly using kidnapping as a tool of extortion, often targeting religious institutions as a potentially lucrative source of funding or profit. For example, in February 2026, armed men kidnapped an imam and seven worshipers from a mosque in Plateau, a state notorious for Fulani militants' attacks. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of 16 million Nigerian naira ($11,800). Additionally, "bandits"--a common term in local news headlines--have abducted children or teenagers from Christian and public schools as well as worshipers from both churches and mosques. In September 2025 in the northwestern state of Zamfara, for example, armed Fulani actors attacked a mosque during early morning prayers, seizing an unspecified number of Muslim worshipers. In April 2026, assailants abducted more than 150 people, mostly women and children, in Zamfara State. On Palm Sunday, assailants killed at least 28 in a heavily Christian area in Plateau State. One week later on Easter Sunday, Fulani militants reportedly killed five worshippers at two churches in Kaduna State while abducting 31 others, and suspected militants killed 17 people in Benue State. The fates of all these kidnapping victims, like so many others, remain unknown to the public due to the sensitivity of ransom negotiations and, in some cases, possible collusion between perpetrators and some officials from the police and/or army.
Further complicating matters is the fact that both conflicting media narratives and reported government censorship have hindered accurate analysis of the identities and motivations of the alarming number of armed nonstate actors that violate religious freedom in Nigeria. Some observers have argued environmental and economic factors as the driving force behind Fulani militants' acts of violence, while others have suggested that these actors are engaged in a concerted campaign of outright genocide against non-Muslims, especially Christians. In fact, multiple and overlapping factors, including religion in many cases, likely spur Fulani militants to attack communities or individuals. Regardless of these complex motivating factors, the escalation of Fulani-led land invasions and other violent assaults has yielded the same outcomes: severely disrupting the lives, livelihood, and ability to worship of many Christian and Muslim farmers while triggering their mass displacement and depriving them of their lands.
Nigerian Government Responses to Fulani Violence
Criticism of responses to Fulani militant violence from federal and state authorities has often described their responses as unsatisfactory at best and complicit at worst. Victims have long reported that security forces are consistently slow to respond to attacks on their communities. As in prior years, some Christian advocates have continued to suggest that security forces responding to or investigating attacks routinely show favoritism toward Muslim communities. Local governments have similarly failed to communicate or coordinate with victims and targeted religious communities, and some reports suggest that leaders may even exploit interethnic or interreligious tensions to advance their own agendas. Compounding these issues, religious leaders have at times sought to address the reported lack of government intervention by recruiting their own security personnel with poor training and little or no accountability for their actions, including use of force. In one incident, local Christians shifted from self-defense to pursuit of innocent actors, attacking Fulani hunters without provocation. Community representatives have pointed to deficiencies in the weapons and staff available to law enforcement and emphasized communities' corresponding need for self-defense.
In June 2025, in response to a Fulani-led wave of fatal violence in the Middle Belt, governors from 11 states, including Plateau, Benue, Kano, and Zamfara, took the first steps in an initiative to set aside ranch land for herders. Supporters of the program hope that access to ranching will reduce Fulani herders' reliance on an increasingly limited number of open grazing routes, preempting a common source of friction between Fulani Muslim herders and Christian-majority agriculturalists. Given that government sources and some Nigeria observers often point to the issue of land use rights as the primary catalyst of Fulani-led violence against farming communities--thereby dismissing any religious role in such violence--addressing these demands may indeed reveal other motivating factors, including religion, in any subsequent and ongoing violence.
At the federal level, U.S. President Donald J. Trump's designation in October 2025 of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for its religious freedom violations has since prompted more urgent action on the part of the Nigerian government. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially designated kidnappers and violent armed groups, such as Fulani militants, as "terrorists" in December, placing them at the same level of priority as armed insurgent groups. In January 2026, police rescued 309 hostages via coordinated security operations in Kogi and Kwara States, apprehending 129 suspected Fulani militants and killing 55 others. Also in January, the army dismantled a suicide bombing network linked to Fulani militants who had carried out a December 2025 attack that killed five people at a mosque in Gamboru.
There has been some evidence of increased government efforts, both before and after the October CPC designation, to address Fulani-led violence through prosecutions and community-level engagement. In September, prosecutors filed initial terrorism charges against nine Fulani herders. All nine defendants, including the alleged organizer of the massacre, Lawal Mohammed Dono Ardo, have reported ties to the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN). The police--which in Nigeria are a federal force with local offices--have also contributed to investigations of kidnappings of religious communities. And in December, the government brought together civil society groups, including religious communities, to reaffirm the government's commitment to conflict prevention via a new initiative, the Capacity Building Engagement for the Multi-Stakeholder Conflict Early Warning Response Group (EWRG). In early 2026, 19 state governments subsequently launched the Northern Nigeria Peace Campaign, which "calls upon on citizens, traditional institutions, and civil society organizations to embrace community service as a vital tool for peacebuilding, social cohesion, and sustainable development across Nigeria."
The Controversial Role of MACBAN
MACBAN promotes agricultural interests across Nigeria and maintains close ties with the Fulani community. The organization has faced longstanding criticism from Christian leaders who claim that it has been ineffective at best in reducing militant violence and Fulani herder incursions onto farmlands--and, at worst, possibly even foments land invasions, according to some. In turn, MACBAN has argued that violent Fulani militants represent only a minority of the greater Fulani population but perpetrate the majority of the violence against all religious communities, including Muslims. In 2025, the organization demanded a presidential directive for security agencies to protect herding communities, citing that they, too, face threats from violent militants and criminal gangs and insisting that they do not "support, condone, harbor, finance, or protect any form of criminality, extremism or violence." MACBAN and government representatives from Agatu, Benue State, have since engaged in more conciliatory negotiations, agreeing to set aside decades-old tensions and direct their joint efforts toward resisting criminal gangs that target both Christians and Muslims.
In February 2026, the U.S. Congress introduced a bill, the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, that included MACBAN as an entity on which the U.S. Departments of State and the Treasury should impose targeted sanctions for its alleged role in perpetrating severe religious freedom violations. The same month, a congressional report to the White House outlined actions that the U.S. and Nigerian governments can take to end the persecution of Christian communities and address persistent security challenges in Nigeria.
Conclusion
Since the United States' CPC designation in October 2025 and attendant bilateral security discussions with Nigeria, armed Fulani actors have continued to carry out largescale incursions onto Christian farmers' agricultural lands, violent raids on Christian and Muslim religious sites, and kidnappings of laity and leaders from both religions. As a result, central Nigeria remains entrenched in an intense, daily, and seemingly perpetual crisis of insecurity--a crisis that is likely to persist until the federal and several state governments create broader underlying conditions that are more conducive to the safe practice of religious freedom.
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Professional Staff
Michael Ardovino, Policy Analyst
Gretchen Birkle, Senior Advisor
Susan Bishai, Supervisory Policy Analyst
Mollie Blum, Policy Analyst
Guillermo Cantor, Director of Research and Policy
Serena Doan, Supervisory Policy Analyst
Kaylee Fisher, Public Affairs Specialist
Andrew Hamm, Victims List Database Specialist
Sema Hasan, Senior Policy Analyst
Thomas Kraemer, Chief Administrative Officer
Kirsten Lavery, Supervisory Policy Analyst and International Legal Specialist
Veronica McCarthy, Government Affairs Specialist
Hilary Miller, Policy Analyst
Nora Morton, Operations Specialist
Molly Naylor-Komyatte, Policy Analyst
Dylan Schexnaydre, Policy Analyst
Katherine Todd, Policy Analyst
Ross Tokola, Policy Analyst
Brett Warner, Administrative Specialist
Scott Weiner, Supervisory Policy Analyst
Kurt Werthmuller, Supervisory Policy Analyst
Nathan Wineinger, Chief of Public Affairs
Jean Wu, Policy Analyst
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief.
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Original text here: https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2026-05/2026%20Nigeria%20-%20Fulani%20Militants%20Report.pdf
FHLBank Chicago and Associated Bank Award $375,000 to Support Emerging Housing Developers
CHICAGO, Illinois, May 8 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news:
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FHLBank Chicago and Associated Bank Award $375,000 to Support Emerging Housing Developers
To help address the growing need for skilled affordable housing developers, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago), in partnership with member Associated Bank, has awarded $375,000 through its Community First(R) Developer Program (Developer Program) to two nonprofit organizations in Illinois and Wisconsin. The awards come as communities
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, May 8 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news:
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FHLBank Chicago and Associated Bank Award $375,000 to Support Emerging Housing Developers
To help address the growing need for skilled affordable housing developers, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago), in partnership with member Associated Bank, has awarded $375,000 through its Community First(R) Developer Program (Developer Program) to two nonprofit organizations in Illinois and Wisconsin. The awards come as communitiesacross the Midwest face increasing demand for affordable housing alongside a shortage of experienced development professionals. The grants will support paid internships and fellowships that prepare the next generation of professionals to advance affordable housing development in their communities.
"Financing alone does not create affordable housing -- people do," said Katie Naftzger, Senior Vice President and Community Investment Officer at FHLBank Chicago. "By investing in developer organizations, and partnering with members like Associated Bank, we are helping build the talent pipeline needed to deliver affordable housing in communities across our district."
Hispanic Housing Development Corporation and Milwaukee Community Land Trust received grants through Associated Bank to support interns and fellows gaining experience across the affordable housing development process, including planning, financing coordination, construction oversight, and project implementation. These roles will contribute to development efforts across Illinois and Wisconsin, helping expand organizational capacity while preparing emerging professionals to advance affordable housing in their communities.
"This investment allows us to continue preparing future affordable housing professionals while advancing development that benefits our communities," said Tony Hernandez, President and CEO of Hispanic Housing Development Corporation.
Associated Bank has accessed many of FHLBank Chicago's Community Investment programs and uses secured loans, known as advances, to provide liquidity for community lending that supports housing and economic development.
"Our partnership with FHLBank Chicago allows us to support initiatives that strengthen communities and expand access to affordable housing," said Lisa Barwinski, Vice President, Community Accountability Program Manager Senior at Associated Bank. "Programs like the Developer Program help build the pipeline of professionals needed to advance housing development across the communities we serve."
Since launching the Developer Program in 2022, FHLBank Chicago has awarded $12 million to strengthen career pathways and support long-term affordable housing development across its district. Introduced at the recommendation of FHLBank Chicago's Community Investment Advisory Council, the Developer Program reflects FHLBank Chicago's ongoing commitment to supporting affordable housing development through partnerships with member institutions.
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Original text here: https://www.fhlbc.com/news/news-detail/2026/05/07/fhlbank-chicago-and-associated-bank-award--375-000-to-support-emerging-housing-developers
EPA Announces $195,000 in Funding for the Pueblo of Laguna
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Announces $195,000 in Funding for the Pueblo of Laguna
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DALLAS, TEXAS (May 8, 2026) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced $195,000 in funding for the Pueblo of Laguna (the Pueblo) to address environmental priorities within their territory. This funding comes from EPA's Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP), which provides federally recognized tribes grant funding for the planning, development, and establishment of environmental protection programs,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Announces $195,000 in Funding for the Pueblo of Laguna
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DALLAS, TEXAS (May 8, 2026) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced $195,000 in funding for the Pueblo of Laguna (the Pueblo) to address environmental priorities within their territory. This funding comes from EPA's Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP), which provides federally recognized tribes grant funding for the planning, development, and establishment of environmental protection programs,as well as the development and implementation of solid and hazardous waste programs on tribal lands.
"GAP continues to be a useful resource that allows Tribes to plan and develop their own environmental programs while addressing specific priorities within their territory," said Regional Administrator Scott Mason. "EPA will ensure Tribes have the necessary tools to address current and future environmental concerns for their land and citizens."
"GAP funding is a foundational investment that enables Tribes like the Pueblo of Laguna to build and sustain environmental programs at the local level. Consistent with EPA's commitment to cooperative federalism, this funding strengthens Tribal capacity to lead on priority environmental challenges and deliver results for their communities," said EPA Assistant Administrator Usha Turner.
The Pueblo of Laguna is in west central New Mexico near Albuquerque and currently has 8,500 enrolled members. The Pueblo will use the grant to build environmental capacity and administrative infrastructure, provide oversight into tribal priority projects, conduct outreach, enforce solid waste codes and regulations, and implement solid and hazardous waste programs.
For more information on GAP, visit our webpage or view the GAP Innovations and Investments Report.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-195000-funding-pueblo-laguna
