Federal Executive Branch
Here's a look at documents from the U.S. Executive Branch
Featured Stories
DHS Slams Fairfax County District Attorney's Office for Offering Insane 5-Year Plea Deal to Two Illegal Alien Murderers
WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued the following news release:
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DHS Slams Fairfax County District Attorney's Office for Offering Insane 5-Year Plea Deal to Two Illegal Alien Murderers
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Today, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) condemned the Fairfax County District Attorney's Office for offering two convicted illegal alien murderers, Maldin Anibal Guzman-Videz and Luis Alonzo Sort-Portillo, an insane plea deal after the two stabbed a man to death in Fairfax County in 2024. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requested
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued the following news release:
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DHS Slams Fairfax County District Attorney's Office for Offering Insane 5-Year Plea Deal to Two Illegal Alien Murderers
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Today, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) condemned the Fairfax County District Attorney's Office for offering two convicted illegal alien murderers, Maldin Anibal Guzman-Videz and Luis Alonzo Sort-Portillo, an insane plea deal after the two stabbed a man to death in Fairfax County in 2024. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requestedFairfax not release these two monsters from jail back onto American streets.
According to local reporting, Portillo and Guzman killed a man at a popular park and walking trail in Oakton, Virginia in July 2024. A community member found the victim's bloodied body in the wooded area, and called the local police.
In 2019, a judge issued Guzman a final order of removal against the Honduran illegal alien, but he remained in the country. He went on to allegedly commit a series of crimes including four arrests for assault, malicious wounding, failure to appear, larceny, and obstruction of justice. According to local reports, Guzman previously robbed a local Greek family restaurant, and was charged with malicious wounding after he assaulted someone with a knife.
ICE asked Fairfax sanctuary politicians to not release the criminal illegal alien from jail multiple times, but they refused to cooperate with ICE and released this criminal back in the community to perpetrate more crimes.Maudin Anibal Guzman-Videz
The second murderer, Portillo, is from El Salvador. He entered the country illegally at an unknown date and time.Luis Alonzo Sort-Portillo
"This 5-year sweetheart plea deal for murder is insane. This is yet another example of Fairfax sanctuary politicians siding with criminal illegal aliens over U.S. citizens," said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. "We are calling on Fairfax Country sanctuary politicians and Governor Abigail Spanberger to commit to not releasing these murderers from jail back into our communities. How many more times must they release criminals into our neighborhoods to create more innocent victims?"
Fairfax County's sanctuary policies have made it a hot bed for illegal alien criminals.
So far in 2026, illegal aliens have allegedly committed 75% of all murders in the far-left county. Last week, ICE announced that it had lodged a detainer against Misael Lopez Gomez from Guatemala who allegedly bludgeoned his three-month old daughter to death. Lopez Gomez's arrest comes just one day after another illegal alien from Guatemala, Anibal Armando Chavarria Muy, was arrested for fatally stabbing a man in his home.
Earlier this year, an illegal alien from Sierra Leone, Abdul Jalloh, was arrested for fatally stabbing Stephanie Minter at a bus stop in Fredericksburg. Jalloh had more than 30 arrests prior to killing the American mother. ICE has lodged detainers for all three heinous criminal illegal aliens.
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Original text here: https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/04/06/dhs-slams-fairfax-county-district-attorneys-office-offering-insane-5-year-plea-deal
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Recovery Team Conducts Recovery Operations in Laos
WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency issued the following news release:
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Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Recovery Team Conducts Recovery Operations in Laos
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PAKSE, Laos -
Recovery Team 3, part of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency's Joint Feld Activity 26-3LA, conducted recovery operations in Laos from March 6 to 30, 2026.
During the activity, the 13 joint service member team uncovered multiple pieces of evidence, including aircraft wreckage, life support equipment and possible remains.
"Despite facing extreme weather and logistical challenges, all 13
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency issued the following news release:
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Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Recovery Team Conducts Recovery Operations in Laos
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PAKSE, Laos -
Recovery Team 3, part of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency's Joint Feld Activity 26-3LA, conducted recovery operations in Laos from March 6 to 30, 2026.
During the activity, the 13 joint service member team uncovered multiple pieces of evidence, including aircraft wreckage, life support equipment and possible remains.
"Despite facing extreme weather and logistical challenges, all 13team members, hailing from every branch of service, came together and worked extremely hard to make our recovery operation a success," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Divid Huddleston, Team Sergeant for RT3 and a Short Term Individual Augmentee to DPAA from the 25th Air Support Operations Squadron. "Over the course of a month spent working and living side-by-side, those shared hardships forged a lasting bond of fellowship that's in keeping with the vey sprit of the DPAA mission to provide the fullest possible accounting of America's missing to their families and the nation."
The remains and evidence will be transported the laboratory at the Daniel K. Inouye DPAA Center of Excellence for further analysis and potential identification of a missing U.S. service member missing from the Vietnam War and ultimately providing answers to a family who are missing a loved one. "I think this is a beautiful mission we do out here, and we're coming out here to look for our own," said Ally Campo, the Scientific Recovery Expert for RT3, while reflecting with the team on the importance of the DPAA mission and what they had accomplished during the joint field activity.
Campo, who is part of the DPAA Scientific Analysis Directorate, remarked on the significance of how the U.S. fought in the South-East Asia region during the Vietnam War and that the individual the team was looking for "gave the ultimate sacrifice," but that time has changed and former enemies have joined hands in this humanitarian mission. "Now we can come out here and actually work alongside the locals to bring our own home," said Campo.
While the team faced challenges due to unseasonable weather, they continued to work despite rough conditions and were aided by local workers from a village near the recovery site, who shared the work and also their culture. "One of my roles as a DPAA linguist is helping bridge cultural gaps, but I can't do that alone," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Saowalak Wester, linguist for RT3 and part of the DPAA Indo-Pacific Directorate. "It's always great to see our team members connecting with the local workers-they're a huge part of what makes everything work at the site. Without their effort and support, moving large amounts of soil would be much harder and take a lot more time."
At the end of the mission, both members of RT3 and Recovery Team 4, who shared the same basecamp, donated supplies that included cooking, cleaning, and toiletry items to the local village who assisted RT3 in its operation at its recovery site. Anthony Sepongviwat, a DPAA contractor with Shoulder 2 Shoulder, and team member with RT4, personally reached out and brought a large number of donated items for the villagers provided by War Thai of Hawaii, a Buddhist temple located in Pearl City, Hawaii.
"At the end of the mission, we like to give back with small gifts, food, candy, and essential items for the workers who've been out there with us for the past 30 days, rain or shine," explained Wester. "It's a simple way to show appreciation, but it also helps build strong relationships and sets the next team up for success."
The team's daily drive to the recovery site was always highlighted by the local village children's warm embrace and when the opportunity presented itself the team was also able to engage with the local children and show America's good will to the village with positive relations and candy, much like the historic candy drops of the Berlin Airlift.
"At the end of the day, these interactions show that we're not just here for the mission-we care about the people too," Wester noted. "It reflects our commitment to honoring both the fallen and local communities and really highlights the humanitarian side of what we do."
RT3 ensured that the potential remains that were recovered and departed Laos to the United States received appropriate military honors through a Remembrance Ceremony in Pakse prior to the team's departure from the country.
"Recovery missions in Laos are never easy, and this one was no exception," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Alex Avalos, Team Leader for RT3 and part of the DPAA Indo-Pacific Directorate. "Circumstances in the field prevented us from holding an official repatriation ceremony for the remains we recovered. Still, we upheld the enduring commitment to bring our POWs and MIAs from the Vietnam War home with honor. Though they may be gone, they are never forgotten."
Before the team left their recovery site on the final workday, Campo shared with them a poem that she was inspired to write during the mission: "Winding roads, green rice paddies in the distance. A hand reaches out the truck, stretching to touch the long grass. Little kids excitedly wave as we drive by. The smell of nature in the cool breeze on my face. Whether rain, or blue skies above us, there's a purpose within us: To bring our own home. This is Laos as we know it."
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Original text here: https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Our-Stories/Article/4452665/defense-powmia-accounting-agency-recovery-team-conducts-recovery-operations-in/
Coast Guard Cutter Waesche Seizes over $65,000 in unreported pollock roe in Dutch Harbor
WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Coast Guard issued the following news release:
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Coast Guard Cutter Waesche Seizes over $65,000 in unreported pollock roe in Dutch Harbor
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JUNEAU, Alaska - The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesch e (WMSL 751) seized approximately 5.4 metric tons of unreported pollock roe, valued at over $65,000, after uncovering significant violations of federal fishing regulations aboard the catcher-processor vessel Northern Eagle.
The boarding occurred approximately 15 nautical miles north of Dutch Harbor on March 26. It was initiated
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Coast Guard issued the following news release:
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Coast Guard Cutter Waesche Seizes over $65,000 in unreported pollock roe in Dutch Harbor
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JUNEAU, Alaska - The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesch e (WMSL 751) seized approximately 5.4 metric tons of unreported pollock roe, valued at over $65,000, after uncovering significant violations of federal fishing regulations aboard the catcher-processor vessel Northern Eagle.
The boarding occurred approximately 15 nautical miles north of Dutch Harbor on March 26. It was initiatedbased on reasonable suspicion of a significant Living Marine Resources (LMR) violation, following a pre-boarding audit by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), which revealed major discrepancies between the vessel's production reports and electronic logbook.
During the boarding, the Waesche's team obtained the vessel's logs. After further analysis, NOAA Fisheries OLE confirmed that the vessel recorded less catch in its logbook than the vessel's reported production weight. The production weight exceeded its reported catch weight by 1,223 metric tons.
"The integrity of fisheries data is paramount for the sustainability of our nation's living marine resources," said Capt. Tyson Scofield, commanding officer of the Waesche. "This seizure highlights the Coast Guard's commitment to enforcing federal law with our partner agencies to ensure a level playing field for all fishermen who follow the rules. I am extremely proud of the Waesche crew's dedication and perseverance to complete this multi-day operation."
The investigation also uncovered evidence from a previous voyage indicating the underreporting and offload of approximately 12.4 metric tons of pollock roe, valued at an estimated $150,000.
"As a cooperative enforcement partner, we collaborate closely with the Coast Guard to identify and address suspected and known violations at sea," said Benjamin Cheeseman, assistant director of NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement, Alaska Division. "The Coast Guard's support was key to uncovering these violations on the water where they occurred, and our partnership remains essential to protecting our nation from those who break the law."
At the request of NOAA Fisheries OLE, Waesche 's boarding team remained with the Northern Eagle as it transited to Dutch Harbor. They observed the offload and documented 11,524 boxes of pollock roe, which was 241 boxes more than the 11,283 declared in the vessel's production report.
Following the discovery, Rear Adm. Bob Little, the Coast Guard Arctic District commander, authorized the seizure of the unreported product. The seized pollock roe has been secured in a cold storage facility in Dutch Harbor.
The Coast Guard will work with NOAA Fisheries OLE for further investigation and potential prosecution.
-USCG-
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Original text here: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4452547/coast-guard-cutter-waesche-seizes-over-65000-in-unreported-pollock-roe-in-dutch/
CMS Finalizes 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Payment Policies that Strengthen Accountability and Long-Term Sustainability
BALTIMORE, Maryland, April 6 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the following news release:
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CMS Finalizes 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Payment Policies that Strengthen Accountability and Long-Term Sustainability
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D Rate Announcement today to improve payment accuracy across both programs. The finalized policies also advance CMS' vision of a sustainable and stable MA program that offers choice to Medicare
... Show Full Article
BALTIMORE, Maryland, April 6 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the following news release:
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CMS Finalizes 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Payment Policies that Strengthen Accountability and Long-Term Sustainability
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D Rate Announcement today to improve payment accuracy across both programs. The finalized policies also advance CMS' vision of a sustainable and stable MA program that offers choice to Medicarebeneficiaries and is a responsible steward to taxpayers.
The policies in this Rate Announcement are projected to result in a net average increase of 2.48%, or over $13 billion in additional MA payments to plans in CY 2027. This expected increase includes consideration of the various elements that impact MA payments, such as growth rates of underlying costs, 2026 Star Ratings for 2027 quality bonus payments, and risk adjustment updates.
"Medicare Advantage and Part D should work for the people who rely on them," said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. "These updates keep coverage affordable and ensure patients get real value from their plans."
CMS is committed to ensuring Medicare beneficiaries are free to choose the health coverage that best meets their needs, and that such coverage maximizes value. Establishing accurate payments in MA and Part D is foundational to this objective and will enable the agency to maintain affordable Medicare coverage while acting as good stewards of a more sustainable and credible program over the long term.
"CMS' vision for Medicare Advantage and Part D is clear: a great choice for seniors and a smart deal for taxpayers," said Chris Klomp, Director of Medicare and Chief Counselor of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "The Rate Announcement improves payment accuracy and strengthens competition based on quality-not on coding practices-helping put the program on a more sustainable path for the long term."
The policies in the Rate Announcement address coding differentials between MA and Original Medicare for CY 2027. CMS is working towards a MA risk adjustment system guided by three principles: (1) simplicity to reduce day-to-day administrative burden for both plans and providers; (2) competition for all plans irrespective of size or resources, creating greater value for patients; and (3) achieving payments that accurately reflect beneficiary health risk and facilitate the efficient use of healthcare resources, enhanced program integrity, and greater accountability. Working towards a risk adjustment system guided by these principles will promote a more stable and sustainable MA program in the long run by giving beneficiaries and taxpayers confidence that CMS is mitigating unnecessary cost growth from coding practices that do not lead to better quality coverage.
In consideration of the impact that the 2024 MA risk adjustment model had between CY 2024 and CY 2026, CMS will continue using the 2024 MA risk adjustment model for CY 2027. The agency will evaluate the public feedback received as it considers future updates to the MA risk adjustment model.
CMS is excluding diagnosis information from unlinked chart review records, which is diagnosis information not associated with a specific beneficiary encounter, from risk score calculation starting in CY 2027, with an exception for beneficiaries who switch from one MA organization to another. As a result, aside from the exception, diagnoses that are not associated with a service will not be considered for risk adjustment. CMS expects the payment impact to be greater for MA organizations that heavily rely on unlinked chart review records to report risk-adjustment eligible diagnoses for their enrollee population.
CMS is finalizing updates to the Part D risk adjustment model that include accounting for Inflation Reduction Act changes to the Part D benefit for CY 2027, reflecting more current costs, and separately accounting for MA prescription drug plan and standalone prescription drug plan costs in order to improve the accuracy of Part D payments for these two segments of the Part D market. Additionally, CMS is aligning sources of diagnoses for use in risk adjustment to be consistent with similar policies finalized for MA (e.g., excluding diagnoses from unlinked chart review records, with an exception for beneficiaries who switch from one MA organization to another). These updates will bring additional stability to prescription drug benefits for all Medicare beneficiaries.
The CY 2027 MA and Part D Rate Announcement may be viewed at: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/2027-announcement.pdf.
A fact sheet discussing the provisions of the CY 2027 MA and Part D Rate Announcement can be viewed at: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2027-medicare-advantage-part-d-rate-announcement.
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Original text here: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-finalizes-2027-medicare-advantage-part-d-payment-policies-strengthen-accountability-long-term
DLA Energy's Supply Chain Fuels Artemis II Mission
WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The U.S. Department of War issued the following news:
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DLA Energy's Supply Chain Fuels Artemis II Mission
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When NASA's Artemis II mission launched April 1, its success relied on a complex and critical supply chain managed by the Defense Logistics Agency Energy.
DLA Energy provided more than 21,000 pounds of highly specialized propellants essential for the Orion spacecraft's historic flight, sending humans on a journey around the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. The achievement was the result of a multilayered logistical operation that demanded a
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The U.S. Department of War issued the following news:
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DLA Energy's Supply Chain Fuels Artemis II Mission
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When NASA's Artemis II mission launched April 1, its success relied on a complex and critical supply chain managed by the Defense Logistics Agency Energy.
DLA Energy provided more than 21,000 pounds of highly specialized propellants essential for the Orion spacecraft's historic flight, sending humans on a journey around the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. The achievement was the result of a multilayered logistical operation that demanded ahigh degree of precision to ensure the safety of the four-person crew.
"This is a momentous day for our nation," said Douglas G. Smith, DLA Energy's director of aerospace energy supplier operations, on launch day. "Providing the essential propellants that will power the Orion spacecraft, and its crew, is a profound responsibility and a source of immense pride for our entire team."
The agency's contribution was the culmination of a process managing volatile, toxic and highly pure fuels where there was no margin for error. The specific propellants included monomethyl hydrazine, dinitrogen tetroxide and high-purity hydrazine.
"The phrase 'hand in glove' is the perfect description," said Shonda Rizo, DLA Energy's acting director of aerospace energy customer operations. "The coordination with NASA is constant, detailed and operates at multiple levels."
Rizo described the propellant's journey as an unbroken chain of custody that began with highly detailed technical requirements from NASA. DLA Energy's aerospace energy team then engaged a niche industrial base and oversaw production, with quality assurance specialists on-site.
"When human lives are at stake, the standard is absolute perfection," Rizo said. "Our quality assurance protocols are multilayered and exhaustive."
The aerospace energy team, in partnership with the Air Force and NASA labs, used techniques such as gas chromatography to search for impurities down to the parts-per-million level. They conducted independent verification and stability testing to ensure the fuel was as pure as possible.
This complex process proved its resilience when initial launch preparations were delayed by fuel leaks and technical issues, forcing the rocket back to the vehicle assembly building in February. Smith explained that the DLA Energy team's response to these issues demonstrated that its supply chain is a dynamic capability that can absorb shocks and adapt to the fluid nature of space launch.
This adaptability is crucial, Smith noted, as it reinforces DLA Energy's role as a cornerstone of whole-of-government operations.
Looking ahead, he confirmed DLA Energy is already planning for the long-term logistical needs of a sustained human presence on the moon.
For the DLA Energy aerospace energy workforce, the Artemis II mission's success is deeply personal.
"We all know the names of the astronauts -Reid, Victor, Christina and Jeremy -and we feel a personal responsibility for their safety," Rizo said. "It's a powerful reminder that our work here on the ground can have an impact that is truly out of this world."
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Original text here: https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4452141/dla-energys-supply-chain-fuels-artemis-ii-mission/
APHIS Establishes Mexican Fruit Fly Quarantine Area in Texas
WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued the following program update:
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APHIS Establishes a Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine Area in Texas
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Subject:
To: State, Tribal, and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials
On March 19, 2026, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) established a Mexican fruit fly ( Anastrepha ludens ; Mexfly) quarantine, in Zapata, Zapata County, Texas, designated the Zapata quarantine.
APHIS and TDA established
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued the following program update:
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APHIS Establishes a Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine Area in Texas
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Subject:
To: State, Tribal, and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials
On March 19, 2026, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) established a Mexican fruit fly ( Anastrepha ludens ; Mexfly) quarantine, in Zapata, Zapata County, Texas, designated the Zapata quarantine.
APHIS and TDA establishedthe Zapata quarantine in response to the detection on March 11 of a wild mated female Mexfly from a trap in a sweet orange tree on a residential property in Zapata. The quarantine encompasses approximately 55 square miles and contains no commercial agriculture.
APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread of Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States, as well as to prevent the entry of these fruit flies into foreign trade. APHIS is working with TDA to eradicate the transient Mexfly populations following program guidelines for survey, treatment, and regulatory actions.
The APHIS Exotic Fruit Flies website contains descriptions and maps of all current Federal fruit fly quarantine areas. APHIS will publish a notice of this change in the Federal Register.
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Original text here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/program-update/aphis-establishes-mexican-fruit-fly-anastrepha-ludens-quarantine-area-texas-1
Air University advances counter-UAS efforts through Alpha Blue
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, April 6 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland issued the following news:
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Air University advances counter-UAS efforts through Alpha Blue
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MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Alabama -
Air University students are working through one of the more persistent challenges facing the Joint Force: how to counter small, widely available drones that don't fit neatly into existing defense systems. As the character of warfare continues to shift, the university is connecting education more directly to real-world application.
That effort is centered in
... Show Full Article
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, April 6 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland issued the following news:
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Air University advances counter-UAS efforts through Alpha Blue
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MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Alabama -
Air University students are working through one of the more persistent challenges facing the Joint Force: how to counter small, widely available drones that don't fit neatly into existing defense systems. As the character of warfare continues to shift, the university is connecting education more directly to real-world application.
That effort is centered inAlpha Blue, part of the Air University Innovation Accelerator. Students are given real problems from the field and expected to produce ideas that can be tested quickly. It's less about getting it perfect and more about finding out what works.
During a recent Alpha Blue engagement, students from the Air War College and Air Command and Staff College focused on countering small unmanned aerial systems. The issue continues to show up across operating environments, from overseas locations to installations at home, and it's growing faster than many current systems were designed to handle.
"Recent conflicts from across the Middle East and throughout Ukraine have signaled a dramatic change to the character of warfare with the increased use of unmanned aerial systems," said Lt. Col. Shain Bestick, Air War College student. "Governments are scrambling to counter this threat."
Small, commercially available drones are now widely accessible and increasingly capable. Many are inexpensive, easy to modify and difficult to track once airborne.
"It's not just conventional militaries," said U.S. Army Col. Ron Stewart, Air War College student. "Everything from terrorist organizations to lone actors are able to get their hands on this technology and create serious threats."
To better understand the issue, the team worked with operators, program offices, academic partners and industry. Those conversations helped narrow the focus and highlight where current approaches fall short.
"We knew that engaging stakeholders early and often would help us shape our understanding of the problem set," Stewart said. "There's a lot happening in this space, but the threat is exceeding the pace we can keep up with."
Several challenges came up consistently. Systems are expensive, don't scale well and don't always connect with each other. There is also a gap between military capabilities and what is allowed in civil airspace.
"Military and civil organizations don't have an integrated way to detect, locate, discriminate and defeat these threats at scale," Stewart said.
From there, the team explored a different approach. Instead of relying on large, centralized systems, they looked at what could be done with smaller, distributed tools already in use. Their concept uses commercial devices and multiple sensing methods to detect and track drones, with processing done locally instead of relying on a constant network connection.
"We are changing the game from centralized systems to distributed networks," Bestick said. "Our architecture uses a mesh of commercial devices and processes data locally, reducing cost and increasing resilience."
To test the concept, the team partnered with Auburn University at Montgomery and Troy University and focused on rapid prototyping. The goal was to see if the idea worked, not to build a finished system.
"In less than 24 hours, a student team demonstrated a software solution that could differentiate between multiple classes of drones," said Lt. Col. Gene Carder, Air War College student. "Our focus was on learning over perfection and validating key assumptions."
Students built additional prototypes using commercial hardware and artificial intelligence tools while keeping costs low. Some of those systems are now moving toward flight testing, which will provide a better sense of how they perform outside a controlled environment.
Legal and policy considerations remain part of the equation, particularly for operations within the United States.
"We had to ensure the system was legally permissible, especially when operating in the national airspace and accounting for privacy protections," said Maj. Allison Johnson, Air Command and Staff College student. "The goal is to augment human decision-making while maintaining accountability and minimizing data exposure."
The team also pointed to broader challenges, including fragmented approaches across the services and the lack of a shared data environment to support artificial intelligence development.
"There's a lot of reinventing the wheel," Johnson said. "A shared data repository would significantly accelerate progress across the Department of War."
Efforts like Alpha Blue are not meant to replace existing programs. They help frame problems earlier, test ideas faster and give leaders a clearer understanding of what might work before larger decisions are made.
At its core, that is where Air University fits. It develops joint warfighters who can work through complex problems and contribute right away while also producing ideas that help the force adjust as challenges evolve.
"This prototype is just the beginning," Bestick said. "We're proud of what we've accomplished and look forward to the next iteration." Air University continues to connect education, innovation and operational problem-solving in a way that stays grounded in the mission.
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Original text here: https://www.jbsa.mil/News/News/Article/4452082/air-university-advances-counter-uas-efforts-through-alpha-blue/
2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Rate Announcement
BALTIMORE, Maryland, April 6 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the following news release:
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2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Rate Announcement
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Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Announcement of Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (the CY 2027 Rate Announcement).
In the CY 2027 MA and Part D Advance Notice, CMS proposed updates to payment factors for CY 2027 and received a wide variety of comments on the proposals.
... Show Full Article
BALTIMORE, Maryland, April 6 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the following news release:
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2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Rate Announcement
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Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Announcement of Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (the CY 2027 Rate Announcement).
In the CY 2027 MA and Part D Advance Notice, CMS proposed updates to payment factors for CY 2027 and received a wide variety of comments on the proposals.CMS appreciates the submitted comments. We carefully considered all applicable comments as we finalized the policies contained in the CY 2027 Rate Announcement. The final policies in the CY 2027 Rate Announcement are projected to result in an increase of 2.48% or over $13 billion in payments to MA plans in CY 2027. When accounting for estimated risk score trend in MA due to factors such as population changes and coding practices, this amounts to a 4.98% increase.
This fact sheet discusses the provisions of the Rate Announcement, which can be viewed by going to: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/medicare-advantage-rates-statistics/announcements-and-documents and selecting "2027 Announcement."
Net Impact
The table below provides the expected average impact of the proposals on MA payment components compared to last year.
Impact
Effective Growth Rate
Rebasing/Re-pricing
Change in Star Ratings 2
MA Coding Pattern Adjustment
Risk Model Revision and Normalization 3
Sources of Diagnoses 4
Overall Expected Average Change 5
1 Rebasing/re-pricing impact is dependent on finalization of the average geographic adjustment index, which was not available with the publication of the CY 2027 Advance Notice.
2 Change in Star Ratings reflects the estimated effect of changes in the Quality Bonus Payments for the upcoming payment year.
3 For the Advance Notice, the impact of the update to the normalization factor for MA risk adjustment was not shown in the Fact Sheet separately because of the considerable interaction between the impact of the MA risk adjustment model updates and the normalization factor update. Therefore, the combined impact was shown in the Fact Sheet. Because CMS is not implementing an updated risk adjustment model for CY 2027, the impact shown in the Rate Announcement Fact Sheet is entirely due to the normalization factor update.
4 For the 2027 Advance Notice, this row reflects the average impact of the exclusion of diagnoses from all unlinked chart review records (CRRs) on risk scores under the proposed 2027 MA risk adjustment model. CMS is not implementing the proposed 2027 MA risk adjustment model and is finalizing an exception for unlinked CRRs for beneficiaries who switch from one MA organization to another. Therefore, the impact shown in the Rate Announcement Fact Sheet reflects the impact on risk scores under the 2024 MA risk adjustment model of excluding diagnoses from all unlinked CRRs except those submitted for beneficiaries who switch from one MA organization to another. Without the exception, the impact of excluding unlinked CRRs would be -1.78%. The impact of excluding audio-only services identified using modifiers is 0%, on average.
5 The overall expected average change does not include an adjustment for underlying coding trend in MA. For CY 2027, CMS expects the MA risk scores to increase, on average, by 2.50% due to the underlying coding trend.
Growth Rates
The Effective Growth Rate reflects the current estimate of the growth in MA benchmarks used to determine payment for MA plans. This growth rate is largely driven by the growth in Original Medicare per capita costs, as estimated by the Office of the Actuary. Each year for the Rate Announcement, CMS updates the growth rates to be based on the most current estimate of per capita costs, based on the available historical program experience and projected trend assumptions at that time. The growth rates change between the Advance Notice and the Rate Announcement as CMS incorporates updated data and assumptions. This year, the change in growth rates from the Advance Notice to the Rate Announcement is due primarily to incorporation of additional data, including Original Medicare program experience and incurred dates through fourth quarter 2025.
Part C Risk Adjustment Model
CMS is committed to the sustainability of the MA program. As the agency considers opportunities for improving risk adjustment both in the 2027 Rate Announcement and in the future, CMS is working towards a MA risk adjustment system guided by three principles: (1) simplicity to reduce day-to-day administrative burden for both plans and providers; (2) competition for all plans, irrespective of size or resources, based on creating value for patients; and (3) achieving payments that accurately reflect beneficiary health risk and facilitate the efficient use of healthcare resources, enhanced program integrity, and greater accountability.
CMS proposed to update the Part C risk adjustment model using more recent underlying Original Medicare data (updated from 2018 diagnoses and 2019 expenditures to 2023 diagnoses and 2024 expenditures) to reflect more current costs associated with various diseases, conditions, and demographic characteristics and excluding diagnoses from audio-only encounters. In addition, CMS proposed to exclude diagnosis information from unlinked chart review records (CRRs) - diagnosis information not associated with a specific beneficiary encounter - from risk score calculation starting in CY 2027. CMS noted that MA organizations may continue to submit diagnoses using unlinked CRRs, however, those diagnoses would no longer be used for calculating risk scores.
For CY 2027, CMS will continue to use the 2024 MA risk adjustment model which was calibrated with Original Medicare 2018 diagnoses and 2019 expenditures data and fully implemented in CY 2026, in lieu of the updated risk adjustment model calibrated with Original Medicare 2023 diagnoses and 2024 expenditures data that was proposed in the CY 2027 Advance Notice. Continued use of the 2024 MA risk adjustment model will allow the MA market more time to adjust to the recently completed phase-in of the 2024 MA risk adjustment model. For risk score calculation for CY 2027, CMS is finalizing the exclusion of diagnoses from audio-only encounters and diagnoses from unlinked CRRs, with an exception to include diagnoses from unlinked CRRs for beneficiaries who switch from one MA organization to another.
Part C Risk Adjustment Model for PACE Organizations
As noted in previous Advance Notices and Rate Announcements, CMS intends to transition Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) organizations from submitting risk adjustment data to the legacy Risk Adjustment Processing System (RAPS) to fully submitting risk adjustment data to the encounter data system (EDS) consistent with the rest of the industry, and to align the model used to pay PACE organizations with the model used to pay organizations other than PACE. It is imperative to continue to align with the most current version of the MA model being used for the rest of the industry during the transition. For CY 2027 payments to PACE organizations, CMS is finalizing the accelerated transition to move PACE organizations to the same risk adjustment model as MA. To align with the model that will be used by the rest of industry during the transition, for CY 2027, CMS will calculate risk scores for PACE organizations by blending 50 percent of the risk score calculated using the 2024 MA risk adjustment model and 50 percent of the risk score calculated using the 2017 MA risk adjustment model.
Puerto Rico
CMS is finalizing several policies specific to Puerto Rico, including basing the MA county rates in Puerto Rico on the relatively higher costs of individuals in Original Medicare who have both Medicare Parts A and B and applying an adjustment regarding the proportion of individuals with zero claims.
Part D Risk Adjustment
CMS is finalizing updates to the Part D risk adjustment model to reflect Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) changes to the Part D benefit that will be in effect in CY 2027 - such as an increased manufacturer discount for specified small manufacturers having their discounts phased-in over time - as well as more recent data years (2023 diagnoses and 2024 costs). As proposed, the updated model also excludes diagnoses from audio-only services and from unlinked CRRs. Finally, CMS will improve the model's predictive accuracy for beneficiaries in MA prescription drug (MA-PD) plans and standalone prescription drug plans (PDPs) by finalizing the updated model, which distinguishes the MA-PD and PDP populations, as well as continuing to calculate separate normalization factors for MA-PD plans and PDPs. The updates to the Part D risk adjustment model are essential for plan sponsors to develop accurate bids for CY 2027.
Part C and D Star Ratings
In the Advance Notice, CMS provided information and updates in accordance with the Star Ratings regulations at 42 C.F.R. SSSS 422.164, 422.166, 423.184, and 423.186. We appreciate commenters' suggestions on future measures and concepts as we continue to enhance the Star Ratings over time.
Star Ratings updates in the CY 2027 Rate Announcement include providing the list of eligible disasters for adjustment, non-substantive measure specification updates, and the list of measures included in the Part C and D improvement measures and Categorical Adjustment Index for the 2027 Star Ratings. In the CY 2027 Advance Notice, CMS also solicited initial feedback on substantive measure specification updates, comments on new measure concepts, and potential methodological enhancements. CMS also sought comments on updates to display measures which we publicly report but do not include in Star Ratings. The agency will consider these comments as we contemplate proposing future changes to the measures. All substantive measure specification changes, the addition of new measures, and methodological changes must go through rulemaking.
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Original text here: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2027-medicare-advantage-part-d-rate-announcement
