Federal Executive Branch
Here's a look at documents from the U.S. Executive Branch
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State Dept.: Meetings Between the Governments of the U.S., Lebanon, and Israel
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following statement on May 15, 2026, by Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:
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Meetings Between the Governments of the United States, Lebanon, and Israel
On May 14 and 15, the United States facilitated two days of constructive talks between the State of Israel and the Republic of Lebanon at the Department of State. The two countries agreed upon a framework for negotiations to advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security
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WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following statement on May 15, 2026, by Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:
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Meetings Between the Governments of the United States, Lebanon, and Israel
On May 14 and 15, the United States facilitated two days of constructive talks between the State of Israel and the Republic of Lebanon at the Department of State. The two countries agreed upon a framework for negotiations to advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine securityalong their shared border.
Over the two days, significant progress was made on the political track which will reconvene on June 2 and June 3 to continue those political conversations.
The security track will be launched at the Pentagon on May 29, with military delegations from both countries. To that end, the parties have agreed to a 45-day extension of the April 16 cessation of hostilities agreement to allow the security track to meaningfully improve the communication and coordination between Israel and Lebanon, facilitated by the United States.
The United States remains cognizant of the challenges posed by Hizballah's continued attacks on Israel, without the consent or approval of the Government of Lebanon, undertaken in order to derail this process. The United States welcomes the commitment of both governments to finding a long-term solution despite these ongoing challenges. The United States will continue to support both countries as they move forward on these two tracks.
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Original text here: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/05/second-meeting-between-the-governments-of-the-united-states-lebanon-and-israel/
Space Force Expands Protected Tactical Satellite Communications Through New Prototype Contract
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The U.S. Space Systems Command issued the following news release:
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Space Force expands Protected Tactical Satellite Communications through new prototype contract
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Space Force Acting Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Satellite Communications and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing awarded a firm-fixed-price contract valued at $398 million to Northrop Grumman to develop and build the Enhanced Protected Tactical Satellite Communications - Prototype, or Enhanced PTS-P. The prototype is projected for launch no earlier than fiscal year 2030.
Enhanced
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WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The U.S. Space Systems Command issued the following news release:
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Space Force expands Protected Tactical Satellite Communications through new prototype contract
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Space Force Acting Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Satellite Communications and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing awarded a firm-fixed-price contract valued at $398 million to Northrop Grumman to develop and build the Enhanced Protected Tactical Satellite Communications - Prototype, or Enhanced PTS-P. The prototype is projected for launch no earlier than fiscal year 2030.
EnhancedPTS-P is part of the Space Force's Force Design and is intended to expand protected satellite communications to support warfighters operating in highly contested environments. The program is under the purview of the Acting PAE and is managed by Space Systems Command's System Delta 88, led by U.S. Space Force Col. A.J. Ashby.
The prototype is designed to improve satellite communications performance in the presence of jamming through advanced antennas and space-based processing of the Protected Tactical Waveform, or PTW.
"Enhanced PTS-P represents another important step in delivering more resilient, protected communications capabilities to the joint force," said Erin Carper, acting Space Force portfolio acquisition executive for Satellite Communications and Positioning, Navigation and Timing. "This capability will help ensure tactical users can operate with greater confidence in contested environments."
As part of the Enhanced PTS-P acquisition strategy, this contract exemplifies multiple Department of War Acquisition Transformation principles by emphasizing contractor accountability and affordability.
The strategy also improves contracting processes by leveraging follow-on Other Transaction authorities, which is a flexible pathway for the government to develop and prototype new capabilities faster. Northrop Grumman was previously awarded prototype contracts and completed critical design reviews in 2021.
Most importantly, Enhanced PTS-P accelerates capability to the warfighter by utilizing an additional middle-tier acquisition period to iteratively deliver improved PTW satellite communications for earlier operational use on the path to full requirement satisfaction.
"Enhanced PTS-P pairs innovative technology with an acquisition approach designed to move faster and deliver protected SATCOM capabilities where they are needed most," said Mozhdeh Najafabadi, PTS-P/R system program manager. "That combination is essential as we acquire and employ more resilient space capabilities."
Enhanced PTS-P is expected to inform future Protected Tactical Satellite Communications capability development and demonstrate how the Space Force can deliver more responsive, resilient communications options to support the joint force.
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About Space Systems Command
Space Systems Command is the U.S. Space Force field command responsible for acquiring, developing, and delivering resilient capabilities to outpace emerging threats and protect our Nation's strategic advantage in, from, and to space. SSC manages a $15.6 billion annual space acquisition budget for the Department of War, working with joint forces, industry partners, government agencies, academia, and allied nations. For more information, visit ssc.spaceforce.mil and follow @USSF-SSC on LinkedIn.
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Original text here: https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article/4493753/space-force-expands-protected-tactical-satellite-communications-through-new-pro
SEC Obtains Final Judgment as to New Jersey Man for Alleged Investor Fraud and Misappropriation
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 1-21-cv-12880; D.N.J. filed June 23, 2021) involving a New Jersey man for alleged investor fraud and misappropriation:
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On May 8, 2026, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey entered a final judgment as to Joseph Geromini of Somers Point, New Jersey, in the SEC's civil enforcement action against him.
The SEC's complaint alleged that between August 2018 and May 2019, Geromini, who at the time was the Chief Operating Officer of an early-stage medical devices company
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WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 1-21-cv-12880; D.N.J. filed June 23, 2021) involving a New Jersey man for alleged investor fraud and misappropriation:
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On May 8, 2026, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey entered a final judgment as to Joseph Geromini of Somers Point, New Jersey, in the SEC's civil enforcement action against him.
The SEC's complaint alleged that between August 2018 and May 2019, Geromini, who at the time was the Chief Operating Officer of an early-stage medical devices companybased in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, lied to and stole more than $200,000 from investors and used the funds for personal expenses. According to the complaint, Geromini disseminated false and misleading offering documents and financial models to investors that failed to account for his ongoing theft of investor proceeds. In addition, Geromini allegedly made materially false and misleading statements to investors about the company's cash burn rate and use of proceeds.
Previously, without admitting or denying the allegations in the SEC's complaint, Geromini consented to a judgment, entered by the Court on July 1, 2021, which permanently enjoined him from violating the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and prohibited him from acting as an officer or director of a publicly-traded company. The final judgment includes the previously-ordered injunctive relief and orders Geromini liable for disgorgement of $98,083, payment of which is deemed satisfied by the order of restitution entered against him in the parallel criminal case, United States v. Geromini, No. 1:21-cr-0048 (D.N.J.).
Geromini pled guilty in the parallel criminal case, and, on June 10, 2025, was sentenced to six months in prison, six months of home confinement and 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $98,083 in restitution.
The SEC's litigation in this matter has concluded. The SEC's investigation was conducted by Brian R. Higgins and Oreste P. McClung and was supervised by Brendan McGlynn, Scott A. Thompson in the SEC's Philadelphia Regional Office. The litigation was led by Kara F. Sweet and supervised by Gregory R. Bockin.
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Resources
* Final Judgment (https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/litreleases/2026/judg26555.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26555
OCC Issues Two Final Rules on Preemption of State Interest-On-Escrow Laws
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued the following news release on May 15, 2026:
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OCC Issues Two Final Rules on Preemption of State Interest-on-Escrow Laws
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today issued two final rules on national banks' and federal savings associations' real estate lending powers related to the payment of interest on funds held in escrow accounts.
The OCC's actions emphasize federal preemption as a critical tool for reducing unnecessary burden, enabling local and national prosperity,
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WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued the following news release on May 15, 2026:
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OCC Issues Two Final Rules on Preemption of State Interest-on-Escrow Laws
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today issued two final rules on national banks' and federal savings associations' real estate lending powers related to the payment of interest on funds held in escrow accounts.
The OCC's actions emphasize federal preemption as a critical tool for reducing unnecessary burden, enabling local and national prosperity,and unleashing economic growth.
The OCC is codifying longstanding powers of national banks and federal savings associations to establish or maintain real estate lending escrow accounts and to exercise flexibility in making business judgments as to the terms and conditions of such accounts, including whether and to what extent to offer any compensation paid to customers or to assess any related fees. Codifying these longstanding powers provides clarity and reduces uncertainty with regards to bank escrow practices and may thereby incentivize increased bank real estate lending. This final rule is being adopted without changes to the proposed regulatory text.
Second, the OCC is issuing a preemption determination concluding that federal law preempts state laws that restrict national banks' and federal savings associations' flexibility to decide whether and to what extent to (1) pay interest or other compensation on funds placed in real estate escrow accounts; or (2) assess fees in connection with such accounts. Specifically, the preemption determination concludes that federal law preempts a New York interest-on-escrow law; 13 other states and territories have laws with substantively equivalent terms; and these substantively equivalent laws are also preempted. The final preemption determination added the interest-on-escrow laws of two U.S. territories--Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands--but contains no other material changes.
The OCC also commends the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit for its recent decision concluding that federal law preempts New York's interest-on-escrow law. This Second Circuit decision cited to the proposed version of the rules the OCC is finalizing today and, together, they provide important clarity on federal preemption. This clarity will help ensure that national banks and federal savings associations continue to play an essential role in the nation's economy.
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Original text here: https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-37.html
FEMA Approves More Than $489.1 Million to Support Recovery in Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release:
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FEMA Approves More Than $489.1 Million to Support Recovery in Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas
FEMA recently approved more than $489.1 million in funding to support recovery in Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas. This includes $467.6 million to reimburse costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and $21.5 million for recovery work related to past natural disasters.
This regional funding is part of FEMA's announcement of $5.6 billion in federal assistance to
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WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release:
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FEMA Approves More Than $489.1 Million to Support Recovery in Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas
FEMA recently approved more than $489.1 million in funding to support recovery in Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas. This includes $467.6 million to reimburse costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and $21.5 million for recovery work related to past natural disasters.
This regional funding is part of FEMA's announcement of $5.6 billion in federal assistance tostates, Tribal Nations and territories for COVID-19 and disaster recovery.
FEMA conducts a review process for all recovery grants that includes verifying compliance with program eligibility rules, ensuring proper documentation of expenses and confirming that claimed activities are consistent with program eligibility criteria to ensure taxpayer dollars are used appropriately.
In alignment with President Trump's executive order establishing the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, FEMA conducted thorough reviews of claimed costs to identify duplication of benefits, specifically with patient care revenue. These actions help ensure that the COVID-19 Public Assistance funds being obligated are consistent with the executive order's focus on preventing fraud, waste and abuse. Based on these reviews, FEMA is confident that the costs being reimbursed are eligible and not fraudulent.
Some FEMA Public Assistance grants recently approved to Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas include:
* More than $148.5 million to the Texas Department of State Health Services for management costs from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
* More than $8.8 million to the Greater Lafourche Port Commission in Lafourche Parish, La., for restoration of Fourchon Beach, which was severely eroded during Hurricane Ida in 2021.
* More than $2.6 million to the city of Roswell, New Mexico, to repair or replace fire department vehicles that were damaged during severe storms and flooding in 2024.
FEMA will continue to review additional projects and obligate funds on a rolling basis as eligibility is confirmed and scopes of work are finalized.
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About FEMA Region 6
The FEMA Region 6 office, located in Denton, Texas, partners with 68 Tribal Nations and the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Follow us at x.com/FEMARegion6 and at linkedin.com/showcase/fema-region-6/ and like us at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/.
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Original text here: https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20260515/fema-approves-more-4891-million-support-recovery-louisiana-new-mexico-and
FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Issues Public Notice Reminding Competitive Local Exchange Carriers to File Revised Tariffs by July 16, 2026
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 26-50):
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By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) reminds competitive local exchange carriers (LECs) benchmarking their tariffed rates to competing incumbent LECs to file interstate tariff revisions, as necessary, by July 16, 2026./1
Competitive LECs are prohibited from filing a tariffed rate for interstate switched exchange access services that is higher than "the benchmark rate"--"the rate charged for similar services by the
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WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 26-50):
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By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) reminds competitive local exchange carriers (LECs) benchmarking their tariffed rates to competing incumbent LECs to file interstate tariff revisions, as necessary, by July 16, 2026./1
Competitive LECs are prohibited from filing a tariffed rate for interstate switched exchange access services that is higher than "the benchmark rate"--"the rate charged for similar services by thecompeting [incumbent LEC]."/2
If an incumbent LEC to which a competitive LEC benchmarks its rates, lowers its rates, the competitive LEC "must revise its rates to the lower level within 15 days of the effective date of the lowered [incumbent LEC] rate."/3 This year, incumbent LEC's rate reductions, which must be filed on 7-days' notice, will be effective on July 1, 2026./4
Accordingly, competitive LECs must file tariff revisions in the Electronic Tariff Filing System (ETFS), as necessary, reducing their applicable benchmarked rates on or before July 16, 2026 by 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time./5
To minimize burdens on filers and to promote administrative efficiency, we encourage competitive LECs benchmarking rates to competing incumbent LECs' rates, to file their tariff revisions after the competing incumbent LECs' benchmarked rates become effective on July 1, 2026.
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Footnotes:
1/ See 47 CFR Sec. 61.26(c) ("If an [incumbent LEC] to which a [competitive LEC] benchmarks its rates . . . lowers the rate to which a [competitive LEC] benchmarks, the [competitive LEC] must revise its rates to the lower level within 15 days of the effective date of the lowered [incumbent LEC] rate.").
2/ Id.
3/ Id.
4/ July 1, 2026 Annual Access Charge Tariff Filings, WC Docket No. 26-50, Order, DA 26-254 (WCB/PPD rel. Mar. 25, 2026) (Procedures Order).
5/ See 47 CFR Sec. 61.26(c); Procedures Order at 3, para. 5.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-475A1.pdf
Army, Interagency, Industry and Local Leaders Unite at Inaugural DCI Summit
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The U.S. Army issued the following news release:
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Army, interagency, industry and local leaders unite at inaugural DCI Summit
The U.S. Army announced the secretary of the Army's inaugural Defense Critical Infrastructure Summit, uniting federal, state, local and private-sector leaders to forge a unified "whole-of-nation" approach to defending the infrastructure that powers Army readiness. The XVIII Airborne Corps hosted the summit at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
The summit brought together more than two dozen senior leaders from across the federal interagency -- including
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WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The U.S. Army issued the following news release:
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Army, interagency, industry and local leaders unite at inaugural DCI Summit
The U.S. Army announced the secretary of the Army's inaugural Defense Critical Infrastructure Summit, uniting federal, state, local and private-sector leaders to forge a unified "whole-of-nation" approach to defending the infrastructure that powers Army readiness. The XVIII Airborne Corps hosted the summit at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
The summit brought together more than two dozen senior leaders from across the federal interagency -- includingthe FCC, CISA, the Energy Department, the Justice Department, the Transportation Department and the FAA -- together with industry executives from Duke Energy, Brightspeed, Sandhills Utility Services and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, as well as North Carolina state and local officials and senior Army leaders.
Adversaries have pre-positioned in U.S. critical infrastructure with the intent to disrupt America's ability to mobilize and project force leveraging cyber means, which are in addition to physical and UAS threats faced. Because the Army depends on privately owned utilities serving its installations, the summit emphasized that critical infrastructure protection is a shared responsibility requiring sustained collaboration.
"We went after the physical threats from drones, cyber impacts, force projection dependencies, and information sharing lag, and we worked with these partners to start conversations that we think will have a deep impact on our nation's security. All of this is because of President [Donald] Trump and Secretary of War [Pete] Hegseth's air cover and mandate for the United States Army to innovate and change as quickly as humanly possible, to continue to protect our Soldiers, their families and the civilians and communities where they operate," said Dan Driscoll, secretary of the Army.
"The threat to defense critical infrastructure is real, persistent, and growing. The Army has approximately 288 camps, posts, and stations, and the overwhelming majority of them rely on privately owned utilities -- power, water, natural gas and so on. Disruption of these services can interfere with our ability to move forces and equipment in a time of need. This is a no-fail mission and a national security imperative," said Brandon Pugh, principal cyber advisor to the secretary of the Army.
"We cannot just assume the utilities like gas, water and electric will always be there. A big part of this summit was asking the hard questions to make Fort Bragg more resilient across the board. How do we better secure our infrastructure and build redundancy in case something happens? Whether it is our power grid, water supply or wastewater removal, we must have the right partnerships in place to collaborate and defend our critical infrastructure." said Lt. Gen. Gregory Anderson, commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps.
"This is where this country projects our strength. In a matter of hours, or sometimes less, [we] need to get people loaded up and going anywhere in the world, and so we have to make sure that connectivity continues, the critical infrastructure that feeds into this facility continues," said Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
"What we saw today was really resilience in action -- leaders from across our nation's military, from our government at all levels, and from private-sector partners coming together to solve common challenges before they become crises. Resilience can't be achieved by any one organization acting alone. It requires a sustained partnership from across government and industry working together," said Nick Andersen, acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
"Energy security is national security. Through our new partnership with the Department of War -- Project Armor -- we are rapidly assessing and hardening the critical energy infrastructure essential to both economic strength and national defense. Events like this summit are critical to ensuring we deliver the most affordable, reliable and secure energy system for the American people and our warfighters," said Alex Fitzsimmons, acting under secretary of energy at the Department of Energy.
"At Duke Energy, we understand that energy resilience is essential to mission readiness. We are proud to partner with the U.S. Army to help ensure Fort Bragg has the reliable, resilient power it needs to support national defense. Preparing for and responding to high-stakes events like the issues we discussed today takes trust, coordination, and a shared commitment to getting it right," said Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe, executive vice president and chief executive officer of Duke Energy Carolinas and Natural Gas Business at Duke Energy Corporation.
The lessons learned and relationships built from the summit will be leveraged in two ways: assisting XVIII Airborne Corps to move forward on any identified challenges and continuing partnerships with interagency and industry to scale the DCI initiative across the Army.
The summit will generate the foundation for a DCI playbook to guide ongoing collaboration, identify and remove regulatory and contractual barriers, and build lasting partnerships across the interagency, industry, and state and local governments.
A replay of the Defense Critical Infrastructure Summit media announcement is available on DVIDS. Public remarks begin at the 35:00 mark.
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Original text here: https://www.army.mil/article/292516/army_interagency_industry_and_local_leaders_unite_at_inaugural_dci_summit
