Federal Executive Branch
Here's a look at documents from the U.S. Executive Branch
Featured Stories
DCMA celebrates teams with 250 years of multi-functional excellence
WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The Defense Contract Management Agency issued the following news:
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DCMA celebrates teams with 250 years of multi-functional excellence
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LOS ANGELES -Leading up to our nation's semiquincentennial, the Defense Contract Management Agency launched a campaign to highlight its team members' dedication and expertise. Today's team of multi-functional experts represents DCMA Southern California:
* David Witkowski, quality director, 35 years, quality assurance and leadership experience
* John Mia, contracts supervisor, 18 years of contracting and leadership experience
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... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The Defense Contract Management Agency issued the following news:
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DCMA celebrates teams with 250 years of multi-functional excellence
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LOS ANGELES -Leading up to our nation's semiquincentennial, the Defense Contract Management Agency launched a campaign to highlight its team members' dedication and expertise. Today's team of multi-functional experts represents DCMA Southern California:
* David Witkowski, quality director, 35 years, quality assurance and leadership experience
* John Mia, contracts supervisor, 18 years of contracting and leadership experience
*Harriett Smith, procurement technician, 42 years of contracting experience
* Sung Kim, contracts supervisor, 20 years of contracting and leadership experience
* Janinne Gregg, contracts director, 23 years of contracting and leadership experience
* Susanna Deyo, procurement technician, 40 years of contracting experience
* Jeffrey Watts, administrative contracting officer, 21 years of contracting experience
* Randy Feit, deputy director, 39 years of engineering and leadership experience
* Joseph Gregg, quality director, 14 years of quality assurance and leadership experience
With a combined 252 years of experience DCMA SoCal professionals are trained and focused on agency and Department of War mission priorities. The SoCal office is a regional powerhouse that supports the mapping and illumination of the complex supply chain supporting America's defense industrial base.
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Original text here: https://www.dcma.mil/News/Article-View/Article/4472999/dcma-celebrates-teams-with-250-years-of-multi-functional-excellence/
CFTC Staff Issues Supplemental Letter Regarding No-Action Position on Reporting, Recordkeeping Requirements
WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued the following news release:
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CFTC Staff Issues Supplemental Letter Regarding No-Action Position on Reporting, Recordkeeping Requirements
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WASHINGTON -The Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Division of Market Oversight and Division of Clearing and Risk today announced they have taken a no-action position regarding swap data reporting and recordkeeping regulations.
The divisions will not recommend the Commission initiate an enforcement action against Railbird Exchange, LLC, a designated contract market, and Bitnomial
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued the following news release:
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CFTC Staff Issues Supplemental Letter Regarding No-Action Position on Reporting, Recordkeeping Requirements
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WASHINGTON -The Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Division of Market Oversight and Division of Clearing and Risk today announced they have taken a no-action position regarding swap data reporting and recordkeeping regulations.
The divisions will not recommend the Commission initiate an enforcement action against Railbird Exchange, LLC, a designated contract market, and BitnomialClearinghouse, LLC, a derivatives clearing organization, or their participants for failure to comply with certain swap-related recordkeeping requirements and for failure to report to swap data repositories data associated with fully collateralized event contract transactions executed on or subject to the rules of Railbird and cleared through Bitnomial.
Additionally, the supplemental letter removes the condition in CFTC Letter No. 25-26 that prohibited Railbird's participants from clearing contracts through a third-party clearing member. This no-action position is subject to the terms of the no-action letter issued today.
This position is in response to a request from Railbird and Bitnomial, to modify CFTC Letter No. 25-26 to cover transactions cleared through Bitnomial and remove the condition prohibiting third-party clearing by participants.
-CFTC-
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Original text here: https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9226-26
BLM seeks initial input for December 2026 sale of oil and gas leases in Nevada
WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management issued the following news release:
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BLM seeks initial input for December 2026 sale of oil and gas leases in Nevada
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RENO, Nev. - The Bureau of Land Management today opened a 30-day public scoping period to receive public input on three oil and gas parcels totaling 2,642 acres that may be included in a December 2026 lease sale in Nevada. The scoping period ends June 3, 2026.
Leasing is the first step in the process to develop federal oil and gas resources. Before development operations can begin, an operator
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management issued the following news release:
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BLM seeks initial input for December 2026 sale of oil and gas leases in Nevada
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RENO, Nev. - The Bureau of Land Management today opened a 30-day public scoping period to receive public input on three oil and gas parcels totaling 2,642 acres that may be included in a December 2026 lease sale in Nevada. The scoping period ends June 3, 2026.
Leasing is the first step in the process to develop federal oil and gas resources. Before development operations can begin, an operatormust submit an application for permit to drill detailing development plans. The BLM reviews applications for permits to drill, posts them for public review, conducts an environmental analysis and coordinates with state partners and stakeholders.
All parcels that are included in a federal oil and gas lease sale include appropriate stipulations to protect important natural resources. Information on current and upcoming BLM leases is available through the National Fluid Lease Sale System. BLM lease sales are held online through Efficient Markets.
The parcels BLM is analyzing, as well as maps and instructions on how to comment, are available on the BLM's ePlanning website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=C99B5ACC-F547-F111-88B4-001DD800B811.
The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America's public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
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Original text here: https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-seeks-initial-input-december-2026-sale-oil-and-gas-leases-nevada
Air Force greenlights T-7A Red Hawk for production following Milestone C
WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news:
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Air Force greenlights T-7A Red Hawk for production following Milestone C
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WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) - The T-7A Red Hawk has officially been cleared for production. Following Milestone C approval on April 23, the Air Force is moving forward with a $219 million contract for the first 14 advanced trainer aircraft along with associated spares, support equipment, and training from Boeing Defense, Space & Security.
This achievement marks a pivotal moment for the T-7 Advanced Pilot Training Program. It
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news:
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Air Force greenlights T-7A Red Hawk for production following Milestone C
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WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) - The T-7A Red Hawk has officially been cleared for production. Following Milestone C approval on April 23, the Air Force is moving forward with a $219 million contract for the first 14 advanced trainer aircraft along with associated spares, support equipment, and training from Boeing Defense, Space & Security.
This achievement marks a pivotal moment for the T-7 Advanced Pilot Training Program. Itfollows a year of focused progress under an "active management" strategy, a collaborative effort between the Air Force, Air Education and Training Command, and Boeing.
This approach, aligned with the Department of the Air Force's acquisition transformation directives, is designed to optimize both programmatic and operational risk to deliver capabilities to the warfighter as quickly and safely as possible.
"Reaching Milestone C is a testament to the dedicated government and industry teams who have worked diligently to overcome complex technical hurdles," stated William Bailey, Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. "The T-7A is a pivotal program for the future of our combat air forces, and entering production brings us one step closer to putting this essential capability into the hands of our instructor pilots and students."
The T-7A Red Hawk is the first Air Force aircraft to be designed and built using all-digital methods, a process intended to streamline development, production and sustainment. The platform's advanced systems will equip student pilots with the skills necessary to transition to 4th, 5th, and 6th generation fighters and bombers.
This Milestone C decision is the first of several in an innovative, phased approach. The directorate's T-7A Program Office will seek approval for each of the first three low-rate initial production lots individually. This allows the team to manage concurrency risk by incorporating insights from ongoing developmental testing and other program progress before committing to subsequent production lots.
"Receiving Milestone C approval is monumental," said Rodney Stevens, Program Executive Officer for Training and Director of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Training Directorate. "It signifies our confidence in the aircraft's design and our readiness to begin producing this game-changing capability at rate with Air Education and Training Command. While there is still work to do, we have a strong partnership and a clear path forward to deliver the world's most advanced pilot training system."
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
The broader program of record includes the delivery of 351 T-7A aircraft and 46 ground-based training simulators to five AETC bases over the next decade.
"Our mission is to train the next generation of combat aviators, and the T-7A Red Hawk is the tool we need to do it," said Brig. Gen. Matthew Leard, Director of Plans, Programs, Requirements, and International Affairs at AETC. "Replacing our 60-plus-year-old T-38s is a top priority. The T-7A's advanced systems will give our students a far more realistic training environment, ensuring they are prepared for the cockpits of the future."
With the goal of achieving Initial Operational Capability for the T-7A by 2027, the program office will remain focused on completing the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase, while supporting the initial cadre of instructors and maintainers as they build the foundation for the next generation of Air Force Pilot Training.
***
Original text here: https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4477064/air-force-greenlights-t-7a-red-hawk-for-production-following-milestone-c/
Air Force greenlights T-7A Red Hawk for production following Milestone C
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio, May 4 -- The U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center issued the following news:
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Air Force greenlights T-7A Red Hawk for production following Milestone C
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The T-7A Red Hawk has officially been cleared for production. Following Milestone C approval on April 23, the Air Force is moving forward with a $219 million contract for the first 14 advanced trainer aircraft along with associated spares, support equipment, and training from Boeing Defense, Space & Security.
This achievement marks a pivotal moment for the T-7 Advanced Pilot Training Program. It follows
... Show Full Article
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio, May 4 -- The U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center issued the following news:
* * *
Air Force greenlights T-7A Red Hawk for production following Milestone C
*
The T-7A Red Hawk has officially been cleared for production. Following Milestone C approval on April 23, the Air Force is moving forward with a $219 million contract for the first 14 advanced trainer aircraft along with associated spares, support equipment, and training from Boeing Defense, Space & Security.
This achievement marks a pivotal moment for the T-7 Advanced Pilot Training Program. It followsa year of focused progress under an "active management" strategy, a collaborative effort between the Air Force, Air Education and Training Command, and Boeing.
This approach, aligned with the Department of the Air Force's acquisition transformation directives, is designed to optimize both programmatic and operational risk to deliver capabilities to the warfighter as quickly and safely as possible.
"Reaching Milestone C is a testament to the dedicated government and industry teams who have worked diligently to overcome complex technical hurdles," stated William Bailey, Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. "The T-7A is a pivotal program for the future of our combat air forces, and entering production brings us one step closer to putting this essential capability into the hands of our instructor pilots and students."
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
The T-7A Red Hawk is the first Air Force aircraft to be designed and built using all-digital methods, a process intended to streamline development, production and sustainment. The platform's advanced systems will equip student pilots with the skills necessary to transition to 4th, 5th, and 6th generation fighters and bombers.
This Milestone C decision is the first of several in an innovative, phased approach. The directorate's T-7A Program Office will seek approval for each of the first three low-rate initial production lots individually. This allows the team to manage concurrency risk by incorporating insights from ongoing developmental testing and other program progress before committing to subsequent production lots.
"Receiving Milestone C approval is monumental," said Rodney Stevens, Program Executive Officer for Training and Director of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Training Directorate. "It signifies our confidence in the aircraft's design and our readiness to begin producing this game-changing capability at rate with Air Education and Training Command. While there is still work to do, we have a strong partnership and a clear path forward to deliver the world's most advanced pilot training system."
The broader program of record includes the delivery of 351 T-7A aircraft and 46 ground-based training simulators to five AETC bases over the next decade.
"Our mission is to train the next generation of combat aviators, and the T-7A Red Hawk is the tool we need to do it," said Brig. Gen. Matthew Leard, Director of Plans, Programs, Requirements, and International Affairs at AETC. "Replacing our 60-plus-year-old T-38s is a top priority. The T-7A's advanced systems will give our students a far more realistic training environment, ensuring they are prepared for the cockpits of the future."
With the goal of achieving Initial Operational Capability for the T-7A by 2027, the program office will remain focused on completing the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase, while supporting the initial cadre of instructors and maintainers as they build the foundation for the next generation of Air Force Pilot Training.
***
Original text here: https://www.aflcmc.af.mil/NEWS/Article/4477275/air-force-greenlights-t-7a-red-hawk-for-production-following-milestone-c/
AI model delivers river temperature insights, strengthening US energy security
OAK RIDGE, Tennessee, May 4 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory issued the following news release:
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AI model delivers river temperature insights, strengthening US energy security
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Hydrology experts at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) used artificial intelligence and a physics-based understanding of streamflow to create a model that provides highly accurate predictions of river temperatures, even in waterways that lack sensors.
The method is important to hydropower utilities and dam operators for avoiding non-compliance
... Show Full Article
OAK RIDGE, Tennessee, May 4 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory issued the following news release:
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AI model delivers river temperature insights, strengthening US energy security
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Hydrology experts at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) used artificial intelligence and a physics-based understanding of streamflow to create a model that provides highly accurate predictions of river temperatures, even in waterways that lack sensors.
The method is important to hydropower utilities and dam operators for avoiding non-compliancerisks, mitigating damage to aquatic ecosystems, and understanding impacts to downstream water users. The predictions have broad potential to support nuclear and other power plant operations, strengthening the nation's energy and economic security.
More than 70% of the nation's electricity is generated by thermoelectric power plants that use water for cooling, such as nuclear, natural gas, and coal-fired facilities. Information about the availability and temperature of nearby water resources is crucial for reliable and efficient power generation, in addition to agriculture, data center siting, managing fish populations, and overall ecosystem health. Yet, most U.S. waterways do not contain gauges or sensors that monitor temperature.
To construct a model to accurately predict river temperatures, ORNL scientists used an AI/machine learning approach called a Long Short-Term Memory network that's well suited to analyzing patterns over time. The model learned how weather and landscape conditions influence river temperatures over days, seasons and years.
"The model can improve our understanding of both existing nuclear power plant operation and siting suitability for the nation's nuclear expansion," said Sean Turner, senior engineer in the Water Resources Science and Engineering Group at ORNL.
The model achieved an average absolute error of only 1.1 degrees Celsius between predicted and actual values. The error rate was comparable to conventional, data-intensive models that take more time and resources to build and maintain, as detailed in the Journal of Hydrology. The framework:
* Consistently produced seasonal warming and cooling patterns across diverse waterways.
* Maintained accuracy during very hot weather events, times that are critical for grid reliability and regulatory compliance for water withdrawal and release.
* Made better predictions as scientists focused on nearby, relevant upstream areas that resulted in cleaner signals for downstream temperature predictions, especially in large rivers.
* Was trained using inputs that are available for all 2.7 million river reaches across the continental United States, meaning the model can generate daily in-stream temperature estimates anywhere-even in completely ungauged watersheds.
"These deep-learning foundation models, trained on vast amounts of data to recognize and predict long-term patterns, are producing better and more transferable results than the models that people have been building and tinkering with for the last 50 years," Turner said.
The team used publicly available data sources including nine years of daily observations from some 300 selected U.S. Geological Survey river gauges; ORNL-developed waterway data reflecting precipitation, air temperature, solar radiation, humidity, snowpack and other phenomena; ORNL-simulated daily streamflow statistics; and federal data on watershed characteristics.
More information on the model, River Temperature Time Series for Hydrothermal Modeling and Analysis (RiTHyMs), is available on the DOE HydroSource platform maintained by ORNL.
"We wanted a system that could be applied anywhere in the nation, and that means we needed to train it with data that's available for every waterway," Turner said. "That's where ORNL and the datasets we've generated for HydroSource came in."
Researchers are now applying the model to the managed river systems and utility operations of the Tennessee Valley Authority. They are also refining the model to enhance predictions in mountainous regions, targeting western watersheds influenced by glacial runoff, where other utilities have shown interest in water temperature projections.
RiTHyMs leveraged ORNL's high-performance computing resources to rapidly train the continental-scale model on large datasets across hundreds of river basins. The resources are part of the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility, a DOE Office of Science user facility at ORNL.
Other ORNL researchers on the project included model development lead Md Abu Bakar Siddik, as well as Shih-Chieh Kao, Ahad Tanim, and Jesus Gomez-Velez, formerly of ORNL and now at the University of Iowa.
The project was funded by the DOE Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation's Hydropower and Hydrokinetic Office.
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for DOE's Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit energy.gov/science. -Stephanie Seay
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Original text here: https://www.ornl.gov/news/ai-model-delivers-river-temperature-insights-strengthening-us-energy-security
395th Ordnance Company delivers critical ammunition support during African Lion 26
FORT BRAGG, North Carolina, May 4 -- The U.S. Army Reserve Command issued the following news:
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395th Ordnance Company delivers critical ammunition support during African Lion 26
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TAN-TAN, Morocco -U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers with the 395th Ordnance Company, 646th Regional Support Group, 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, played a critical role in supporting African Lion 26 by providing ammunition storage and distribution through the Army ammunition supply point April 23 2026.
The ASP served as a centralized location for the receipt, storage, accountability and distribution of ammunition,
... Show Full Article
FORT BRAGG, North Carolina, May 4 -- The U.S. Army Reserve Command issued the following news:
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395th Ordnance Company delivers critical ammunition support during African Lion 26
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TAN-TAN, Morocco -U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers with the 395th Ordnance Company, 646th Regional Support Group, 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, played a critical role in supporting African Lion 26 by providing ammunition storage and distribution through the Army ammunition supply point April 23 2026.
The ASP served as a centralized location for the receipt, storage, accountability and distribution of ammunition,essential to ensuring units have safe and reliable access to munitions during training and combat operations, while maintaining strict safety and accountability standards.
During African Lion 26, the 395th Ordnance Company executed full-scale ammunition operations, receiving munitions from overseas and distributing them to participating units across the training area.
"We receive the ammunition from Germany, bring it down to the operational ASP near the training site and then we issue it to the participating units," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Theodore Alecos, ammunition warrant officer for the 395th Ordnance Company. "After they're done with the training, we take in any live ammo as receipts and all their dunnage, repackage that, and then move it to the port so it can all return to Germany."
From a U.S. Army Reserve perspective, ordnance units like this company provide critical sustainment capabilities that mirror active-duty operations. These units ensure ammunition accountability, safety, and distribution in both training and deployed environments, often integrating with joint and multinational forces.
Alecos emphasized the importance of the unit's mission in maintaining operational effectiveness and safety.
"We need to maintain accountability of it and explosives can be very dangerous so it's important that we handle it safely and that we ensure that the using units are able to use it, handle it safely, store it and move it," he said.
Participation in AL26 provided valuable training opportunities that enhanced unit readiness by providing Soldiers the opportunity to operate in a realistic, multinational environment while refining technical and leadership skills.
"It's fantastic for our unit readiness in that we have a mixture of experienced Soldiers from previous deployments that can pass on that information to more junior Soldiers," Alecos said.
The hands-on nature of the exercise proved especially beneficial for Soldiers gaining experience with equipment and live munitions.
"A lot of times we don't get to handle live ammunition," Alecos added. "Now they can do that. Having that real hands-on training is valuable."
For U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers, AL26 also provides unique opportunities to connect military training with civilian careers. U.S. Army Sgt. Shawn Cichosz, an ammunition stock control and accounting specialist with the 395th, highlighted how his role directly complements his civilian occupation.
"In my civilian life I work in shipping and receiving," Cichosz said. "This is a really good opportunity for me to work with not only international shipments but also the handling of sensitive or hazardous materials, which is something I'm not exposed to very often on my civilian side. This exercise really helps me get to experience that for three weeks and translates directly into what I do on a day-to-day back home."
Beyond technical skills, this exercise also offered professional and personal growth opportunities.
"I think this exercise has been a really great experience for all of our guys, genuinely," Cichosz said. "I've always wanted to travel more with the military. I get to do that here and I've been enjoying myself."
Overall, AL26 reinforced the 395th Ordnance Company's mission readiness while strengthening its ability to support large-scale operations. For Alecos, the exercise highlighted the unit's broader purpose within the U.S. Army sustainment enterprise.
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Original text here: https://www.usar.army.mil/News/News-Display/Article/4476558/395th-ordnance-company-delivers-critical-ammunition-support-during-african-lion/
2026 DLA Hall of Fame inductee: Lillian Gardner
WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Logistics Agency issued the following news:
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2026 DLA Hall of Fame inductee: Lillian Gardner
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Editor's Note: This is one of five stories featuring 2026 Defense Logistics Agency Hall of Fame inductees. An induction ceremony will be held 1 p.m. May 7 at the McNamara Headquarters Complex auditorium on Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The ceremony is open to all DLA employees; invitations are not needed.
An acquisition professional known as a contracting role model and mentor to hundreds of acquisitions professionals is a 2026 DLA Hall
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 4 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Logistics Agency issued the following news:
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2026 DLA Hall of Fame inductee: Lillian Gardner
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Editor's Note: This is one of five stories featuring 2026 Defense Logistics Agency Hall of Fame inductees. An induction ceremony will be held 1 p.m. May 7 at the McNamara Headquarters Complex auditorium on Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The ceremony is open to all DLA employees; invitations are not needed.
An acquisition professional known as a contracting role model and mentor to hundreds of acquisitions professionals is a 2026 DLA Hallof Fame inductee.
Lillian Gardner's federal government career began in 1983 as an inventory management specialist at DLA Troop Support. She later became the supplier operations chief for the Continental U.S. Subsistence Prime Vendor Program, director of supplier operations for Construction and Equipment, and then the director of the DLA Acquisition Contracting Services Office.
During her 39-year career, Gardner supported the growth of the Unified Tray Program, which provides warfighters with a comprehensive 14-day rotation of meals. In her role within the Construction and Equipment supply chain, she crafted acquisition strategies for items including marine lifesaving and diving equipment, tactical gear and firefighting equipment.
She was appointed director of the DLA Acquisition Contracting Services Office in 2012. Under her guidance, the office saw an increase in obligations, reaching $1.53 billion in fiscal year 2021. She also oversaw the award of the DLA Information Operations Enterprise Technology Services contract, a $6 billion program providing IT services across the agency.
According to her nomination packet, submitted by DLA Acquisition Director Matthew Beebe, Gardner's guidance and oversight were instrumental in modernizing DLA's business transformation.
Beebe said Gardner was a contracting role model throughout her career and she is responsible for mentoring and developing hundreds of DLA acquisitions professionals who are now supporting the DLA mission.
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Original text here: https://www.dla.mil/About-DLA/News/News-Article-View/Article/4474533/2026-dla-hall-of-fame-inductee-lillian-gardner/
