Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
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Joint MDBs Statement on Critical Minerals to Manufacturing Value Chains
WASHINGTON, April 18 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following joint statement on April 17, 2026:
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Joint MDBs Statement on Critical Minerals to Manufacturing Value Chains
We, the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), recognize the importance of working together to help build diversified, resilient, and responsible critical minerals to manufacturing value chains, in order to scale up support for clean, affordable, and reliable energy access, as well as the digital and economic transformation of our client countries. We will work with governments, the private sector, workers,
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WASHINGTON, April 18 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following joint statement on April 17, 2026:
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Joint MDBs Statement on Critical Minerals to Manufacturing Value Chains
We, the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), recognize the importance of working together to help build diversified, resilient, and responsible critical minerals to manufacturing value chains, in order to scale up support for clean, affordable, and reliable energy access, as well as the digital and economic transformation of our client countries. We will work with governments, the private sector, workers,and communities to foster transparent, standards based markets, to add value beyond extraction, and to mobilize capital at scale for projects that meet our respective development goals and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. Each party plays distinct roles: client countries provide mineral scale and value-add ambition; global partners bring demand, technology, and capital; and MDBs bridge the two through policy and regulatory support, catalyzing private investment, promotion of regional cooperation, and infrastructure financing.
We will further strengthen our cooperation through a Joint Collaboration Framework that leverages each institution's comparative advantages to deliver more coordinated, timely, scalable, and impactful support to resilient critical minerals to manufacturing value chains across developing countries, while acknowledging our respective institutional mandates, and critical minerals strategies and frameworks. In this context, we will seek to identify opportunities for joint operations -- including through co financing and shared diagnostics, where relevant -- and we will report on progress achieved.
Strengthened and more coordinated support to our client countries will be pursued in the following areas:
1. Policy and Governance Strengthening
* Policy, legal, fiscal, trade, and permitting frameworks, with a view to enabling responsible investment and improving predictability for investors.
* International best environmental and social standards, as well as international best practices in governance, transparency, and accountability.
2. Integrated Infrastructure, Corridor-based Approaches, and Value Chain Expansion
* Quality enabling infrastructure -- including power, transport, logistics, digital connectivity, and water -- that supports critical minerals value chains, fosters innovation, and enables circular economy solutions.
* Projects that maximize local economic benefits, including skilled jobs, SME participation, inclusion of women and vulnerable groups, and community engagement.
* Corridors that link mining activities with processing hubs, create market access for other economic sectors such as agriculture, strengthen regional trade, attract private investment, and promote regional integration -- contributing to broader economic transformation in client countries.
* Value chain expansion and diversification by moving beyond extraction and into processing, manufacturing, and circular value chains in order to drive economic transformations that deepen domestic value addition.
3. Capital Mobilization, Private Sector Investment, and Market Development
* Capital mobilization at scale and acceleration of private sector investments by strengthening project preparation, structuring, and derisking, and by coordinating public and private finance to close viability gaps and deliver bankable, high standard investments.
* Market development by helping our clients enhance market transparency, efficiency, and resilience, including through improved data availability and management.
Our Call to Action
We are committed to urgent and results focused engagement with client countries and global partners to rapidly scale diversified, resilient, and responsible critical minerals to manufacturing value chains. These would be aligned with clients' national priorities, delivering tangible outcomes, including job creation and inclusive economic development that positively impact people for generations to come. We invite all stakeholders to partner with us.
This statement was produced by the following MDBs who were part of the G7 Outreach session in Washington, DC on 17 April 2026: African Development Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, Inter-American Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/joint-mdbs-statement-critical-minerals-manufacturing-value-chains
SBA Relief Still Available to Idaho Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
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SBA Relief Still Available to Idaho Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought
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WASHINGTON -The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Idaho of the May 18 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought beginning July 22, 2025.
The disaster declaration covers the Idaho counties of Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham,
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WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
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SBA Relief Still Available to Idaho Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought
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WASHINGTON -The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Idaho of the May 18 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought beginning July 22, 2025.
The disaster declaration covers the Idaho counties of Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham,Bonneville, Caribou, and Franklin, as well as the Wyoming county of Lincoln.
Under this declaration, SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs - including faith-based organizations - impacted by financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills which could not be paid due to the disaster.
"Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover," said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. "We're pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters."
The loan amount can be up to $2 million, with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.625% for PNPs, with terms of up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant's financial condition.
To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than May 18. However, after the deadline has passed, there is a 60-day grace period in which SBA will accept applications.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2026/04/17/sba-relief-still-available-idaho-small-businesses-private-nonprofits-affected-drought
SBA Extends Zero-Interest Relief for Tropical Storm Helene Businesses in North Carolina
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
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SBA Extends Zero-Interest Relief for Tropical Storm Helene Businesses in North Carolina
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WASHINGTON -The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today businesses and nonprofit organizations recovering from Tropical Storm Helene in North Carolina will now have more time to rebuild before interest begins to accrue on their SBA disaster loans. This provides additional financial relief. The SBA is extending the interest-free period from 12 months to 18 months
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WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
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SBA Extends Zero-Interest Relief for Tropical Storm Helene Businesses in North Carolina
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WASHINGTON -The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today businesses and nonprofit organizations recovering from Tropical Storm Helene in North Carolina will now have more time to rebuild before interest begins to accrue on their SBA disaster loans. This provides additional financial relief. The SBA is extending the interest-free period from 12 months to 18 monthsfollowing the initial loan disbursement date.
The extended zero-interest period applies to:
* Business Physical Disaster Loans
* Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
* Loans issued to private nonprofit organizations
This ensures survivors have additional time to stabilize operations, rebuild and recover without the immediate burden of accruing interest.
"SBA is committed to supporting disaster survivors as they rebuild and recover," said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience "By providing an additional six months of zero interest, we are helping businesses and nonprofits focus on recovery and long-term resilience."
The 18-month interest- free period begins on the date of the initial loan disbursement for eligible disaster loans associated with declarations NC-20007 and NC-20009. After this period ends, interest will begin to accrue in accordance with the terms of each loan agreement.
Borrowers are expected to begin regular scheduled payments 12 months following the initial disbursement. Interest will begin to accrue after 18 months, enabling any payments made during the preceding period to be applied directly to the principal.
To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2026/04/17/sba-extends-zero-interest-relief-tropical-storm-helene-businesses-north-carolina
NAS President Marcia McNutt to Deliver Annual State of the Science Address on June 2
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release on April 16, 2026:
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NAS President Marcia McNutt to Deliver Annual State of the Science Address on June 2
National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt will discuss the status of the United States' research enterprise, global leadership in science, and implications for economic competitiveness in the third State of the Science address, to be delivered on June 2 in Washington, D.C.
"Science is our best hope for creating a future we all want -- one in which our economy
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WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release on April 16, 2026:
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NAS President Marcia McNutt to Deliver Annual State of the Science Address on June 2
National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt will discuss the status of the United States' research enterprise, global leadership in science, and implications for economic competitiveness in the third State of the Science address, to be delivered on June 2 in Washington, D.C.
"Science is our best hope for creating a future we all want -- one in which our economythrives, our country is safe and secure, and every American can enjoy a good quality of life," said McNutt. "For decades, science has been the bedrock of U.S. economic growth and national prosperity. In my address, I will explore reforms that could make the research enterprise more resilient so that science can continue to produce the foundational advances we depend on to drive progress and ensure U.S. leadership."
Since McNutt delivered her 2025 address, federal funding for science has held steady, but significant cuts are still being considered. Meanwhile, the race for global dominance in science and technology continues to accelerate -- especially in artificial intelligence and quantum computing. AI in particular is not only reshaping how science is done but also impacting the U.S. economy, with employers, educational institutions, and decision-makers at the federal, state, and local levels striving to implement AI in ways that take advantage of its capabilities while minimizing potential harms.
The address -- McNutt's last before she steps down as NAS president on June 30 -- will present data and evidence on the state of the research enterprise, trends in education and employment, and strategic and funding priorities.
The address will be followed by a panel discussion with other research leaders. Policymakers and leaders in academia, government, the private sector, and philanthropy are invited to discuss how the U.S. research enterprise can meet current challenges and persevere in making essential contributions to the nation in the years ahead.
Details:
The 2026 State of the Science address will take place on Tuesday, June 2, beginning at 3 p.m. EDT at the National Academy of Sciences building in Washington, D.C. A reception will follow. Click here for more information or to register to attend.
Follow the discussion at #StateOfTheScience
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Original text here: https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/nas-president-marcia-mcnutt-to-deliver-annual-state-of-the-science-address-on-june-2
MDB Common Approach to Measuring Jobs Outcomes
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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MDB Common Approach to Measuring Jobs Outcomes
The following Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) have agreed to closer collaboration on a common approach to measuring the impact of our operations on creating more and better jobs. To achieve this, we will deepen coordination and partnership across countries, MDBs, the private sector, and other stakeholders.
The work will be iterative and refined by MDBs based on lessons learned, individual mandates, and latest best practice. This process will
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WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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MDB Common Approach to Measuring Jobs Outcomes
The following Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) have agreed to closer collaboration on a common approach to measuring the impact of our operations on creating more and better jobs. To achieve this, we will deepen coordination and partnership across countries, MDBs, the private sector, and other stakeholders.
The work will be iterative and refined by MDBs based on lessons learned, individual mandates, and latest best practice. This process willalso be informed by dialogue with stakeholders, including the International Labour Organization (ILO), to ensure that discussions reflect the quality of jobs created.
Our goal is to advance our collective understanding of the best pathways for job creation and workers' earnings in each region and context, to help drive growth and improve livelihoods in our countries of operation. Creating more and better jobs lifts households out of poverty, improves social cohesion and reduces vulnerability. The quality of jobs is an essential dimension of this effort. Our collaboration will help support better policy dialogue and stronger project design, to deliver more and better jobs.
AfDB: African Development Bank
ADB: Asian Development Bank
AIIB: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
CDB: Caribbean Development Bank
CEB: Council of Europe Development Bank
EBRD: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
EIB: European Investment Bank
IDB Group: Inter-American Development Bank Group
IsDB: Islamic Development Bank
NDB: New Development Bank
WBG: World Bank Group
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About the IDB Group
The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) is the leading source of financing and knowledge for improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. It comprises the IDB, which works with the region's public sector and enables the private sector; IDB Invest, which directly supports private companies and projects; and IDB Lab, which spurs entrepreneurial innovation.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/mdb-common-approach-measuring-jobs-outcomes
EPA Issues Title V Permitting Guidance to Ensure Certainty for American Businesses and Alleviate Permitting Backlogs
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Issues Title V Permitting Guidance to Ensure Certainty for American Businesses and Alleviate Permitting Backlogs
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WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued guidance to streamline the Clean Air Act (CAA) title V operating permit renewal process, a move which will provide certainty for businesses operating across the country. The guidance reaffirms EPA's long-term position that the agency's state, local, and Tribal air permitting partners do not need to require
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WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Issues Title V Permitting Guidance to Ensure Certainty for American Businesses and Alleviate Permitting Backlogs
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WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued guidance to streamline the Clean Air Act (CAA) title V operating permit renewal process, a move which will provide certainty for businesses operating across the country. The guidance reaffirms EPA's long-term position that the agency's state, local, and Tribal air permitting partners do not need to requireor be provided additional information from the original title V application to meet CAA requirements when an entity is renewing an unchanged permit. Through the cutting of burdensome and unnecessary red tape, EPA's permitting partners will be able to focus time and resources on permits with substantive changes, ultimately alleviating permitting backlogs and creating renewed efficiency.
"This guidance provides clarity that EPA's permitting partners can focus and streamline their review efforts on what matters most, new permits and changing permits. The days of unnecessary red tape slowing down the permitting review process are over," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Aaron Szabo. "EPA is committed to making the permitting process more efficient and prioritizing cooperative federalism, all while maintaining environmental protections and statutory obligations under the Clean Air Act."
Under the CAA, applicable stationary sources are required to obtain operating permits, known as title V permits, from the source's respective air permitting authority. These operating permits must compile all applicable air quality requirements into a single, comprehensive permit and be renewed periodically, even if there are no significant changes to operations or requirements. EPA's guidance clarifies that if a permit's terms are unchanged, then there is minimal information that needs to be submitted under federal law for the permit's renewal. This includes allowing applicants to essentially re-submit prior applications with an updated date, as well as cross-reference or incorporate material from previous applications. Additionally, EPA's guidance encourages permitting authorities to focus the "Statement of Basis"-a requirement for all draft permits-on explaining new permit requirements instead of the legal and technical basis of every permit term. Today's announcement will provide EPA's air permitting partners with flexibility and applicable stationary source owners with more certainty that permit renewal applications should not hold up progress when conditions have not changed. EPA has long supported streamlining title V renewal permit applications, and this guidance reaffirms prior communications on title V renewals.
The flexibilities identified in this guidance do not impact permitting authorities' ability and discretion to request supplemental information necessary to implement and ensure compliance with other applicable requirements, or to determine the applicability of such requirements.
To read EPA's new guidance, please visit: Title V Operating Permit Policy and Guidance Document Index.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-issues-title-v-permitting-guidance-ensure-certainty-american-businesses-and
Administrator Zeldin Announces Selection of Members to the Science Advisory Board
WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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Administrator Zeldin Announces Selection of Members to the Science Advisory Board
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WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin is announcing the selection of new members to the Science Advisory Board (SAB). The well-qualified experts from a broad range of scientific disciplines bring the experience and expertise needed to provide Gold Standard scientific advice to EPA leadership as they advance the agency's core mission of protecting human health
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WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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Administrator Zeldin Announces Selection of Members to the Science Advisory Board
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WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin is announcing the selection of new members to the Science Advisory Board (SAB). The well-qualified experts from a broad range of scientific disciplines bring the experience and expertise needed to provide Gold Standard scientific advice to EPA leadership as they advance the agency's core mission of protecting human healthand the environment.
"The Trump EPA has an unwavering commitment to Gold Standard Science. Reconstituting the Science Advisory Board will provide rigorous, independent, evidence-based, scientific advice consistent with its legal obligations to advance our core mission of protecting human health and the environment," said EPA Administrator Zeldin.
The newly appointed SAB will consist of a chair and 36 members. Of those members, 19 received dual appointments to the SAB and one of its five SAB subcommittees or the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee.
Chair \- Dr. Charles Bott, Hampton Roads Sanitation District
SAB Members
Dr. Henry Anderson, University of Wisconsin
Dr. William (Bill) Becker, Hazen and Sawyer and Columbia University
Dr. David J. Brenner, Columbia University 5
Dr. Louis Anthony (Tony) Cox, Jr., Cox Associates, LLC 6
Dr. Earl Creech, Utah State University 1
Dr. Nicholas M. D'Ambrosio, NOMADICS, LLC
Dr. Nicole Dennis, Independent Consultant
Dr. Kyle Doudrick, University of Notre Dame
Dr. Shawn Gannon, The Chemours Company 2
Dr. Daniel Gerrity, Southern Nevada Water Authority 3
Dr. Andrew Gelman, Columbia University 2
Mr. Joseph Haney, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Mr. Thomas Haren, AGPROfessional 1
Dr. Alex Hollingsworth, The Ohio State University 4
Dr. Brian J. Hughes, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Dr. Michael T. Kleinman, University of California, Irvine
Dr. Catherine L. Kling, Cornell University
Dr. Matthew Kotchen, Yale University 4
Dr. Gabriel Lade, The Ohio State University 4
Dr. Jessica LaRocca, Corteva Agriscience
Dr. Matthew LeBaron, The Dow Chemical Company 2
Dr. Anthony R. Lupo, University of Missouri
Dr. Tami McMullin, Roux Inc. 2
Dr. Kristina Mena, University of Texas, Houston 3
Dr. Gary Minsavage, ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences
Dr. Krishna Pagilla, University of Nevada, Reno
Dr. Brian A. Powell, Clemson University
Dr. Jill Ryer-Powder, Environmental Health Decisions 2
Dr. Dev Shrestha, University of Idaho 1
Dr. Timothy Townsend, University of Florida
Mr. Sean Uhl, The Chemours Company
Dr. Jessica (Jit) Weir, Indiana Department of Environmental Management 3
Dr. Krista Wigginton, University of Michigan 3
Dr. Gayle Woloschak, Northwestern University 5
Dr. Lydia Zablotska, University of California 5
Dr. R. Thomas Zoeller, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Background
The SAB was established in 1978 by the Environmental Research, Development and Demonstration Authorization Act to provide independent advice to the EPA Administrator on scientific and technical matters underlying the agency's major policies and actions.
Similar to the last Administration and in line with typical processes for renewal of Federal Advisory Committees at the agency, the Trump EPA opened the process of soliciting candidate nominations from the public on May 1, 2025, and renewed the charter for the SAB on September 9, 2025.
For further information on the SAB, visit the SAB website.
1 Also appointed to the SAB Agricultural Sciences Committee
2 Also appointed to the SAB Chemical Assessment Advisory Committee
3 Also appointed to the SAB Drinking Water Committee
4 Also appointed to the SAB Economic Analysis Committee
5 Also appointed to the SAB Radiation Advisory Committee
6 Also appointed to the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/administrator-zeldin-announces-selection-members-science-advisory-board
