Federal Executive Branch
Here's a look at documents from the U.S. Executive Branch
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CBP launches MPC at 3 predeparture airport locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release:
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CBP launches MPC at 3 predeparture airport locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced today the expansion of Mobile Passport Control to three additional Predeparture airport locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands: Cyril E. King Airport / STT; Cyril E. King - St. Thomas General Aviation / TIST; and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, St. Croix / STX.
"The launch of MPC at the three predeparture locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands
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WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release:
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CBP launches MPC at 3 predeparture airport locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced today the expansion of Mobile Passport Control to three additional Predeparture airport locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands: Cyril E. King Airport / STT; Cyril E. King - St. Thomas General Aviation / TIST; and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, St. Croix / STX.
"The launch of MPC at the three predeparture locations in the U.S. Virgin Islandsis a major advancement in our efforts to modernize and secure the traveler experience," said Executive Director Matthew S. Davies, Admissibility and Passenger Programs, Office of Field Operations. "This initiative will utilize cutting-edge technology to facilitate entry for eligible travelers, enhancing both efficiency and security at these airports. Our focus remains on deploying innovative solutions that ensure a safe, seamless, and exceptional process for travelers entering the United States."
The MPC mobile app is available to U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Canadian citizens, B1/B2 visitors, and returning Visa Waiver Program travelers with an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization. Travelers can use their mobile devices to submit passport and travel information in advance, expediting processing upon arrival.
The MPC app is free to download from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Users can create a profile with their passport information at any time prior to arriving at a CBP facility. Up to 12 profiles can be submitted in a single MPC transaction. Upon arrival at participating locations, travelers take a selfie for each member of their group and submit their information to CBP through the app. At the CBP clearance area, travelers should look for designated MPC lanes and present their passports or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident cards to the CBP officer for processing.
With this expansion, MPC is now available at 63 locations, including 38 U.S. international airports, 14 Preclearance airport locations, three predeparture locations, four seaports of entry, and four land border pedestrian crossings. For more information on MPC, including user eligibility and participating locations, visit the MPC website.
Predeparture processing, as applied in the U.S. Virgin Islands, refers to CBP procedures conducted before travelers depart for the U.S. mainland. Since the U.S. Virgin Islands are a U.S. territory, predeparture processing involves the movement of passengers to the U.S. mainland by ensuring compliance with applicable entry requirements.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 69,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We enforce safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.
Topics
* Travel
* Trusted Traveler Programs
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Original text here: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-launches-mpc-3-predeparture-airport-locations-us-virgin-islands
Campaign Legal Center v. FEC (26-1559) seeks to vacate Advisory Opinion 2024-01
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following news:
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Campaign Legal Center v. FEC (26-1559) seeks to vacate Advisory Opinion 2024-01
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On May 6, 2026, the Campaign Legal Center (plaintiff) filed suit against the Commission in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Plaintiff alleges that Advisory Opinion (AO) 2024-01 unlawfully permits federal candidates to outsource and conceal campaign spending through coordinated canvassing financed by outside groups.
Plaintiff seeks a declaration that the Commission's approval of AO 2024-01 is contrary to
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WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following news:
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Campaign Legal Center v. FEC (26-1559) seeks to vacate Advisory Opinion 2024-01
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On May 6, 2026, the Campaign Legal Center (plaintiff) filed suit against the Commission in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Plaintiff alleges that Advisory Opinion (AO) 2024-01 unlawfully permits federal candidates to outsource and conceal campaign spending through coordinated canvassing financed by outside groups.
Plaintiff seeks a declaration that the Commission's approval of AO 2024-01 is contrary tolaw and arbitrary and capricious, and violates the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act) and the Administrative Procedure Act.
Plaintiff also asks the court to vacate and set aside AO 2024-01.
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Original text here: https://www.fec.gov/updates/campaign-legal-center-v-fec-26-1559-seeks-to-vacate-advisory-opinion-2024-01/
Borealis Carries More Than 416,000 at Second Anniversary
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
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Borealis Carries More Than 416,000 at Second Anniversary
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Total Amtrak Twin Cities - Chicago ridership up 27 percent in two years
ST. PAUL, Minn., and CHICAGO - Borealis SM train service between the Twin Cities and Chicago continues to exceed expectations as it celebrates its second birthday. The partnership between three states and Amtrak began in May of 2024 and more than 416,000 passengers have enjoyed the comfortable and reliable service, demonstrating the need for safe and accessible transportation
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WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
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Borealis Carries More Than 416,000 at Second Anniversary
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Total Amtrak Twin Cities - Chicago ridership up 27 percent in two years
ST. PAUL, Minn., and CHICAGO - Borealis SM train service between the Twin Cities and Chicago continues to exceed expectations as it celebrates its second birthday. The partnership between three states and Amtrak began in May of 2024 and more than 416,000 passengers have enjoyed the comfortable and reliable service, demonstrating the need for safe and accessible transportationoptions in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois.
Borealis trains originate from St. Paul at midday and Chicago in the late morning with cafe service featuring regional items and views of the Mississippi River between St. Paul and La Crosse, Wisc. These trains are operated by Amtrak under contracts with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), with support from Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grants.
"The Borealis line is a testament to what happens when we prioritize the American traveler," said Federal Railroad Administrator David Fink. "FRA is working with Amtrak and our state partners to usher in the Golden Age of Rail with world-class connectivity and economic growth."
"Students, business workers and families choose passenger rail because it's safe, efficient and reliable," said Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Kristina Boardman. "We are thrilled that the Borealis continues to be successful and offer affordable train travel to great destinations. WisDOT looks forward to the continued growth of this service and passenger rail options throughout Wisconsin."
"We are so pleased the Borealis continues to operate at capacity, signaling the continued need for reliable, safe transportation options," said MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. "We look forward to continuing the positive partnerships with WisDOT, IDOT and Amtrak, to potentially grow and expand on this much-needed service."
"As the country's rail hub, Illinois is proud to play a unique role in connecting states and communities across the Midwest," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi. ""The success of the Borealis is a testament to the strong partnership with our neighbors in Wisconsin and Minnesota, as well as the public's desire for travel options they can count on and afford."
The Borealis and the Amtrak Empire Builder trains between St. Paul and Chicago together provide passengers with two daily departures eastbound and westbound. Adding the state-sponsored Hiawatha Service trains between Milwaukee and Chicago, the result is a total corridor ridership of nearly 1.8 million passengers, an increase of 27 percent in two years.
"The strong response to the Borealis service is indicative of what we see across our network," said Amtrak Executive Vice President Jennifer Mitchell. "People want another choice besides driving and offering service multiple times daily supercharges the number of customers who choose Amtrak because our schedules fit their needs.
"We look forward to adding more seating capacity and more service in this corridor in the months and years to come."
Amtrak has everyday discounts for children ages 2-12, students, seniors, veterans, military personnel and families, groups, and others. Details and schedules are on Amtrak.com.
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Original text here: https://media.amtrak.com/2026/05/borealis-carries-more-than-416000-at-second-anniversary/
Billing support portal available for customers
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency issued the following news:
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Billing support portal available for customers
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QUANTICO, Va. - DCSA's Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) has officially deployed the Billing Support Portal, a new streamlined interface hosted on the secure DCSA Government Service Portal that enables DCSA's working capital fund (WCF) customers to review their key funding and billing details.
In March 2026, DCSA began deploying registration details to initial customers and is continuing to onboard customers for more seamless
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WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency issued the following news:
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Billing support portal available for customers
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QUANTICO, Va. - DCSA's Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) has officially deployed the Billing Support Portal, a new streamlined interface hosted on the secure DCSA Government Service Portal that enables DCSA's working capital fund (WCF) customers to review their key funding and billing details.
In March 2026, DCSA began deploying registration details to initial customers and is continuing to onboard customers for more seamlessadoption.
Once customers are registered, the Billing Support Portal consolidates each customer's billing information and provides a comprehensive overview of funding details, including the total amount billed, current available funding, and remaining funding. The Portal also displays current funding agreements and open billing-related cases, offering customers a one-stop shop to submit invoice disputes and initiate general inquiries to the DCSA Billing Support Team. For the first time, customers now have access to an intuitive hub that enhances transparency, enabling real-time billing details.
In a coordinated effort leading up to the Portal's deployment, DCSA's OCFO launched the Billing and Collections Capability (BACC), an application within the Enterprise Service Desk (ESD) ServiceNow Platform to aggregate operational transaction data. If the Billing Support Portal is the customer's aerial view, BACC is its scaffolding to ensure data provided to partners is accurate and reliable.
BACC leverages automated processes for validation and bi-directional data uploading to and from the Defense Agencies Initiative (DAI) financial system, transforming DCSA's manual revenue recognition and revenue accrual processes. This proactive and unified funds management solution protects customers from risks of unprocessed fund backlogs, billing delays, and duplicated or outdated inputs from disparate financial dashboards and systems.
Releasing the first BACC rendition in November 2022, DCSA followed a steady, iterative release schedule to integrate more products, services, and populations. By May 2025, DCSA completed the BACC's full transition to ServiceNow by incorporating all Background Investigation data, joining the existing invoice data the OCFO team previously integrated for Continuous Vetting, Expedited Screening Protocol, and Investigative Service Provider services.
"BACC enables DCSA to automate several customer account management functions and leverages standardized and repeatable system-initiated communications that will include monthly account fund status notifications, burn-down rates, and customer notifications when funding concerns or delinquencies exist," said Adam Watson, chief of the Customer Accounts Management Branch within OCFO.
While BACC provides the foundational system that strengthens DCSA's WCF funding data integrity, the Portal's primary role is to offer customers a clear and navigable window into billing information organized by product and service. John Dingman, co-lead for the Billing Support Portal adds, "The Billing Support Portal empowers our partners with direct access to centralized billing information and heightened transparency for a straightforward, on-demand experience."
Once registered, customers can log in the DCSA Government Service Portal, select the Billing Support Portal from the "Services" drop-down menu, and begin exploring. For virtual tours of the available features, customers can select "Tours" from the menu.
The Billing Support Portal is one facet of a larger financial management modernization initiative to sustain DCSA's WCF mission area operations and equip customers with greater clarity and control over their financial landscape.
Moving forward, DCSA will continue to refine its billing processes. By maintaining ongoing partner engagement for regular feedback and continuous process re-engineering to ensure alignment to success factors, the Agency is committed to billing operations efficacy and customer satisfaction.
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Original text here: https://www.dcsa.mil/About-Us/News/Article/Article/4494547/billing-support-portal-available-for-customers/
Beef and Conservation: It's What's for Dinner!
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service issued the following news:
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Beef and Conservation: It's What's for Dinner!
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RALEIGH N.C. - National Beef Month is observed throughout May 2026, serving as a dedicated time to celebrate the cattle industry, ranchers, and the nutritional value of beef. It is estimated that the U.S. consumes roughly 78 million pounds of beef daily. This contributes to an annual per capita consumption of roughly 55 to 60 pounds.
Agriculture is a vital industry to the state of North Carolina, known for its sweet
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WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service issued the following news:
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Beef and Conservation: It's What's for Dinner!
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RALEIGH N.C. - National Beef Month is observed throughout May 2026, serving as a dedicated time to celebrate the cattle industry, ranchers, and the nutritional value of beef. It is estimated that the U.S. consumes roughly 78 million pounds of beef daily. This contributes to an annual per capita consumption of roughly 55 to 60 pounds.
Agriculture is a vital industry to the state of North Carolina, known for its sweetpotatoes, chickens, hogs, and tobacco. However, there is also a robust cattle industry in the state as well. The state is home to 690,000 cattle, including calves according to the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS). With so many animals in one state, it is vital that the land that is used is managed properly.
The untold story is the serious care that these cattlemen and women do when it comes to preserving their natural resources. For years they have worked together with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) here in the state and across the nation. In just the last five years, these producers have invested over $20 million dollars in conservation practices in North Carolina.
Some of the more common practices producers have used to accomplish these conservation goals were fencing, heavy use area protection, wells, and grazing management. Fencing is applied to any area where livestock and/or wildlife control is needed, or where access to people is to be regulated. A wide variety of fences exist, however, fencing material and construction quality are always designed and installed to ensure the fence will meet the intended purpose. Producers in the state have applied over 1 million feet of this practice in the past five years alone.
Heavy Use Area Protection is a way to stabilize a ground surface that is frequently and intensively used by people, animals, or vehicles. This practice is often used to provide surface stability in areas where concentration of livestock is causing a resource concern, like watering facilities and other areas. Provision must be made for the collection, storage, utilization, and treatment of manure and contaminated runoff.
Another practice that is heavily utilized is wells, which can provide an adequate water supply quality and quantity. Producers have also enrolled in grazing management. This practice is defined as managing vegetation with grazing and browsing animals to achieve specific ecological, economic, and management objectives like managing erosion or improving riparian dynamics.
"The installation of fencing practices for example, allows producers to control animal movements. Along with the installation of water systems to distribute watering locations over the farm, grazing management is improved by allowing forages to have longer rest periods and controlling minimum grazing heights to avoid overgrazing. These practices together improve animal health and forage productivity," said Bill Moss, N.C. NRCS State Grazing Specialist.
A literature review conducted by North Carolina State University explored the effects of grazing practices throughout the state. The effects of grazing and implementing conservation practices produced positive results. For example, a North Carolina demonstration farm implemented rotational grazing on formerly continuously grazed land. Within two years, ground cover increased from 70% to over 90%, and visible signs of soil erosion (such as rills and gullies) were nearly eliminated. A study cited in the review compared two watersheds: one with continuous grazing and one with rotational grazing plus stream exclusion. The rotationally grazed watershed had 40% lower nitrate concentrations, and 60% lower sediment loads in runoff after heavy rains.
These results can be visibly seen in a relatively short amount of time. Producers like Justin Halama have implemented practices on their pastures, and even though the practices are still ongoing, the effects are fully visible. Fields are no longer overgrazed and heavily eroded banks are now starting to stabilize.
"The practices have had tremendous improvements on our farm and the ability to conserve some of our resources", said Justin Halama when asked about the efficiency of NRCS conservation practices.
For the cattlemen and women of the state, conservation isn't just a buzzword. It is the everyday work of the people who care about their land and want to leave it better for the next generation. In partnership with NRCS and the science-backed conservation practices, this humble dream is achievable.
For 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender
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Original text here: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/north-carolina/news/beef-and-conservation-its-whats-for-dinner
At Fort Campbell, Hegseth Underscores Significance of Purple Hearts, Enlistments
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The U.S. Department of War issued the following news:
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At Fort Campbell, Hegseth Underscores Significance of Purple Hearts, Enlistments
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During a visit today with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, as part of its "Week of the Eagles" celebration, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth administered the oath of enlistment to a handful of screaming eagle soldiers and pinned Purple Heart medals to the chests of nine others.
While addressing the soldiers, the secretary laid out a "back to basics" message, focusing on the priorities he foot-stomped at the
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WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The U.S. Department of War issued the following news:
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At Fort Campbell, Hegseth Underscores Significance of Purple Hearts, Enlistments
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During a visit today with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, as part of its "Week of the Eagles" celebration, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth administered the oath of enlistment to a handful of screaming eagle soldiers and pinned Purple Heart medals to the chests of nine others.
While addressing the soldiers, the secretary laid out a "back to basics" message, focusing on the priorities he foot-stomped at thestart of his term in January 2025 -meritocracy, lethality, accountability, readiness and standards -all things he said he sees within the 101st.
"Being a soldier is a difficult thing; what you sacrifice, what you're willing to do, most Americans can't understand," Hegseth said. "Who you are when every other person on planet Earth would duck and shrink is what sets you apart.... You're trained to be prepared to fight, and that means from Day 1 at basic training, all the way through right here inside your formations, you're training, you're ready, you're disciplined, you're holding people to clear standards, you're holding people accountable, you're raising in rank based on merit, not other characteristics."
The secretary said the War Department's focus on standards, merit and job performance is meant to crystallize their mission, making it easier to know what right looks like.
"Your job as a soldier is to be in the profession of arms... as good as humanly possible at your assigned task or leadership position," he said. "The men and women you lead expect that, and that only; and so, we tried to clear away the debris, get back to the basics of what you do, and you do so well."
That focus on standards and performance, he said, is not meant to ensure perfection. It's meant to ensure success, the secretary said.
He cited efforts against the Houthis in Yemen to ensure freedom of navigation, strikes against drug boats in the Caribbean, Operation Midnight Hammer in Iran, Operation Absolute Resolve to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the rescue of two downed pilots in Iran. None, he said, were flawless, but they were all successful due to training and skill.
"What [those missions] had [were] men and women who were prepared to adapt because they were so prepared to do the mission that we asked them to undertake," he said.
While at Fort Campbell, the secretary administered the oath of enlistment to several dozen 101st Airborne soldiers, telling those soldiers that he, the War Department and President Donald J. Trump have their backs.
"We have your back; President Trump has your back," he said. "Do the right things for the right reason, and ultimately... you're going to come home, and the enemy is not going to," he said. "That's the point: never put you in a fair fight and then give you everything you need to close with and destroy the enemy, accomplish the mission on behalf of the nation and come home."
The secretary also presented Purple Heart medals to nine service members who earned those medals, in some cases, during actions more than two decades ago. He said it's important that those medals be presented to recipients in person, during a ceremony, where there are witnesses -in this case, hundreds of soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division.
Hegseth said that for many young people today, American culture celebrates a vapid focus on social media popularity and celebrities. But a ceremony to reenlist soldiers, or honor recipients of a Purple Heart, he said, focuses eyes on the value of public service.
"It's why I'm such a believer in civic ritual," he said, adding that in his youth, tiny Memorial Day, Veterans Day or Independence Day parades in his hometown in Minnesota -events his parents attended regularly -demonstrated what was truly valued by the men and women in his town whom he respected.
When a handful of veterans participated in those parades, he said, everybody paid attention and paid respect.
"The whole town stood up and gave a standing ovation and saluted those men in uniform," he said. "Back then, you had maybe a few World War II vets, Korean [War] vets, Vietnam [War] vets, Cold War vets, Gulf War vets... but I remember as a kid looking up at them and [thinking] those men did something special."
Purple Hearts, Hegseth said, should be presented to recipients in public. Americans should witness those events, so they understand that the medal is important and that the actions that led up to the awarding of those medals were important.
"We should be holding ceremonies and holding them up and reading citations and talking about the heroism and the service and the sacrifice of those individuals, so that the other troops see how important that is, and so that the nation sees how important it is, and so that my kids... your kiddos, your grandkids, look up and say, 'Wow, maybe I could be like him. Maybe I could be like her, maybe I can serve my nation someday.'"
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Original text here: https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4495094/at-fort-campbell-hegseth-underscores-significance-of-purple-hearts-enlistments/
Army Advances Barracks Modernization Efforts to Improve Quality of Life
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The U.S. Department of War issued the following news:
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Army Advances Barracks Modernization Efforts to Improve Quality of Life
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Since October 2025, when Secretary of War Pete Hegseth established the Barracks Task Force, the Army has accelerated efforts to improve soldier living conditions, modernize aging facilities and strengthen quality-of-life investments across installations.
The initiative reinforced that barracks are not simply infrastructure; they are a readiness issue directly linked to lethality, retention, recruiting and soldier trust.
Across the Army
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WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The U.S. Department of War issued the following news:
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Army Advances Barracks Modernization Efforts to Improve Quality of Life
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Since October 2025, when Secretary of War Pete Hegseth established the Barracks Task Force, the Army has accelerated efforts to improve soldier living conditions, modernize aging facilities and strengthen quality-of-life investments across installations.
The initiative reinforced that barracks are not simply infrastructure; they are a readiness issue directly linked to lethality, retention, recruiting and soldier trust.
Across the Armyenterprise, efforts are underway to modernize how barracks are planned, funded, maintained and delivered while addressing long-standing infrastructure deficiencies. Recent efforts have included targeted renovations, new construction projects, digital modernization initiatives and accelerated investment strategies to improve day-to-day living conditions for soldiers.
Funding provided through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act enabled the Army to make several key investments, including:
* $20 million for new furniture at 40 installations, impacting more than 106,000 soldiers.
* $59 million for lighting, plumbing, mold remediation and door lock work orders.
* $405 million for repair and modernization projects across all components.
The Army has used innovative methods to modernize barracks. At Fort Bliss, Texas, it partnered with industry and government stakeholders to deliver 3D-printed barracks, demonstrating how emerging technologies can reduce construction timelines while improving quality and resiliency.
It also advanced initiatives to improve soldier quality of life, such as pilot programs for free Wi-Fi, increased facility assessments and enhanced coordination across commands and installation management organizations to prioritize repairs and modernization.
Barracks Modernization Supports Broader Installation Transformation
The Barracks Task Force is part of a broader effort to transform Army installations into resilient operational platforms capable of sustaining readiness, supporting soldiers and enabling the Army mission in competition, crisis and conflict.
Jordan Gillis, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment, outlined three core transformation priorities guiding Army installation modernization efforts:
* Leverage outside and alternate financing.
* Make the most of the funds we have.
* Drive Army interest through strategic engagement.
These priorities are helping shape how the Army approaches barracks modernization by accelerating project delivery, improving stewardship of existing resources, strengthening accountability and identifying innovative ways to improve soldier quality of life across the force.
Gillis said installations are operational platforms that directly enable readiness and lethality.
"Improving barracks conditions is about ensuring soldiers live in facilities that reflect the professionalism and standards they deserve," he said.
The effort aims for lasting change in barracks governance, project acceleration, prioritizing high-risk facilities and aligning investments with soldier needs and mission readiness.
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael R. Weimer emphasized that barracks conditions directly impact morale, discipline, readiness and retention.
"Our soldiers live the Army profession every day, and they deserve facilities that support their health, well-being and readiness," Weimer said.
The visits demonstrate the Army's commitment to accountability, soldier quality of life and ensuring modernization efforts deliver measurable improvements at the installation level.
While work remains, the Barracks Task Force shows a long-term commitment to ensuring soldiers live and work in facilities that reflect the professionalism, standards and readiness expectations of the Army.
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Original text here: https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4494938/army-advances-barracks-modernization-efforts-to-improve-quality-of-life/
Accelerating the fight for drone dominance
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news:
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Accelerating the fight for drone dominance
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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AFNS) -
In July 2025, the Secretary of War released a memorandum concerning the urgency of establishing U.S. military drone dominance. In it, Secretary Pete Hegseth described drones as the "biggest battlefield innovation in a generation" and called for the removal of red tape and the allocation of resources to bolster the U.S. military's ability to employ and counter drone technology. As the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have progressed,
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WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news:
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Accelerating the fight for drone dominance
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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AFNS) -
In July 2025, the Secretary of War released a memorandum concerning the urgency of establishing U.S. military drone dominance. In it, Secretary Pete Hegseth described drones as the "biggest battlefield innovation in a generation" and called for the removal of red tape and the allocation of resources to bolster the U.S. military's ability to employ and counter drone technology. As the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have progressed,the development of proper offensive and defensive capabilities has become even more imperative.
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is putting this mission into action with the development of programs and training for both combat scenarios and installation defense. The U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division employs civilian contractors to run JBER's home-station training team tasked with focusing on emerging threats. For a long time, the primary focus of their work had been on improvised explosive devices. In the last few years, the focus has shifted to small unmanned aerial systems, or sUAS.
"Since the Secretary of War's drone-dominance memo, we've seen exponential growth in the interest and enthusiasm for drone training," said Donovan Fredericksen, a training developer and integrator with the U.S. Army Pacific G3 Home Station Training Team supporting the 11th Airborne Division. "Recently, the units on base have really been beating down our doors for this training."
According to Fredericksen, their main effort is teaching counter-sUAS skills to Soldiers that they can use in real-world combat scenarios. The team accomplishes this through a combination of classroom instruction and reaction drills. Drones are equipped with dropping mechanisms which can be loaded with a tennis ball to simulate the use of explosive ordnance.
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"We use commercial off-the-shelf drones against units to get [the Soldiers] used to seeing the platforms and reacting to contact," said Fredericksen. "It can be difficult to hear a drone with live fire and ear protection on, but it's important they understand the consequences of failing to detect a drone."
While confronting sUAS is an important skill, evasion is also an option. These drills give teams the opportunity to practice concealing themselves from aerial cameras.
"Camouflage can be a really effective way to avoid a drone attack," Fredericksen said. "But it's tricky as technology becomes more accessible. There are cheap infrared camera attachments available now, so it's not just about what can be seen with the naked eye."
All of the drones come equipped with cameras and this footage is made available to the units after the training exercises. In addition to refining detection tactics, they can evaluate the effectiveness of their camouflage techniques.
The 11th Airborne Division has also invested in an innovation lab to assist with the drone training program. The lab has the capacity to fabricate drone components using 3D printers, which allows for the creation of purpose-built drones at a fraction of the price of commercial models.
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This affordability opens the door for training beyond C-sUAS techniques. In fact, there are already plans in place to incorporate more offensive tactics. Fredericksen said they are transitioning to teaching Soldiers how to fly first-person view drones which are primarily used for one-way attacks.
Concern for C-sUAS operations is not confined to conflicts overseas; military installations must also safeguard against drones. At JBER, base defense is the responsibility of the 673rd Security Forces Squadron. The 673rd SFS uses a combination of different technologies as well as human sensors to create a layered defense of the installation, but everything begins with training.
"All of our security forces specialists receive C-sUAS training," said Staff Sgt. Taylor Davis, 673rd SFS C-sUAS noncommissioned officer in charge. "In addition to fundamental instruction and using the Dronebuster, some of our specialists also complete a phase two training process to operate our drone sensor system." The installation employs the Air Force's Negation of Improvised Non-State Joint Aerial system, or NINJA. The NINJA system is a detect and defeat system that allows security forces to identify and take control of drones. According to Davis, once they have control of the drone they can land it and trace it back to the operator.
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Unauthorized drones can pose a risk in a number of ways. High quality cameras attached to drones can be used to photograph sensitive areas of the base and models with dropping mechanisms could be used in a direct attack. Even the devices themselves can pose a risk to manned aircraft in the base airspace. However, not all drone usage is necessarily dangerous.
Tech. Sgt. Matthew Burt, noncommissioned officer in charge of sUAS operations for JBER, is in charge of all drone activity on base. He holds a master's degree in sUAS operations and is an adjunct professor of the subject at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida and is optimistic about the future of drones.
"Drones can do a lot of amazing things, but people are either afraid to use them or don't know about the technology that's out there," Burt said.
There are already authorized drones being used by the 673rd SFS and the 673rd Civil Engineering Group for explosive ordnance disposal and rapid airfield assessment, but Burt says he hopes to see more widespread use of the technology in the future.
"We want to ensure that any unit that wants to fly drones on base is following the rules and regulations, but it's tough because the rules are constantly changing," Burt said. "We can help with that. If units have an idea for using drones, but don't know how to get started, they can come see us and we can get them set up.
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Original text here: https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4494899/accelerating-the-fight-for-drone-dominance/
A G Equipment to Pay $4.25 Million to Settle EEOC Discrimination Charges Over COVID Vaccine-Related Mandate
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release:
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A G Equipment to Pay $4.25 Million to Settle EEOC Discrimination Charges Over COVID Vaccine-Related Mandate
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Oklahoma-based manufacturer settles federal suit alleging religious and disability-based discrimination after mass firing of unvaccinated employees
TULSA, Okla. -A G Equipment Company, a Broken Arrow, Oklahoma compressor packaging manufacturer, will pay $4,250,000 to over 40 workers and provide other relief to settle a religious and disability discrimination lawsuit filed by
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release:
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A G Equipment to Pay $4.25 Million to Settle EEOC Discrimination Charges Over COVID Vaccine-Related Mandate
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Oklahoma-based manufacturer settles federal suit alleging religious and disability-based discrimination after mass firing of unvaccinated employees
TULSA, Okla. -A G Equipment Company, a Broken Arrow, Oklahoma compressor packaging manufacturer, will pay $4,250,000 to over 40 workers and provide other relief to settle a religious and disability discrimination lawsuit filed bythe U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
According to the EEOC's suit, in the fall of 2021, A G Equipment mandated that all employees receive a COVID-19 vaccination and told workers no exemptions would be permitted for any reason. Nonetheless, several employees requested exemptions based on their religious beliefs. One worker supplemented their request with a doctor's note requesting an exemption due to a medical condition. The company refused to discuss the employees' requests and fired all individuals who did not provide proof of vaccination, on Oct. 15, 2021, including workers who requested accommodations.
"When these workers asked for a simple religious accommodation, the company didn't pause to listen or even consider the impact," said Patrick J. Holman, trial attorney for the EEOC's Oklahoma City Area Office. "It fired every one of them outright -without a conversation and without any real inquiry into whether granting an accommodation would have caused the business any hardship at all. This is unlawful as well as unfair."
EEOC Chair Andrea R. Lucas said, "Where an accommodation can be provided without undue hardship, the law requires it -the pandemic did not exempt employers from their legal obligations under Title VII and the ADA. The EEOC under my leadership will continue to hold employers accountable, deliver meaningful results, and restore dignity to American workers harmed by widespread COVID-19 vaccine-related civil rights violations."
Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibit religious and disability-based discrimination. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC, et al., v. A G Equipment Company, Case No. 24-cv-00403-SEH) in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process.
In addition to providing $4.25 million in monetary relief for 43 workers who were fired because they were unvaccinated, the three-year consent decree resolving the suit enjoins A G Equipment from discriminating based on religion or disability in the future. The decree also requires the company to train managers in compliance with Title VII and the ADA; inform employees regarding their right to reasonable accommodation for religion and disability; and report to the EEOC about handling future accommodation requests.
"The EEOC is committed to ensuring that workers receive the religious and disability accommodations they are entitled to," said David S. Davis, district director of the EEOC's St. Louis District Office. "Our doors are open to serve American workers."
For more information on religious and disability-based discrimination, please visit www.eeoc.gov/religious-discrimination and www.eeoc.gov/eeoc-disability-related-resources.
The EEOC's St. Louis District Office has jurisdiction over Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and a portion of southern Illinois.
The EEOC is the sole federal agency authorized to investigate and litigate against businesses and other private sector employers for violations of federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. For public sector employers, the EEOC shares jurisdiction with the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. The EEOC also is responsible for coordinating the federal government's employment antidiscrimination effort. More information about the EEOC is available at www.eeoc.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/g-equipment-pay-425-million-settle-eeoc-discrimination-charges-over-covid-vaccine-related
CFTC Chairman Selig Announces DJ Hennes as Director of the Market Participants Division
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued the following news release:
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CFTC Chairman Selig Announces DJ Hennes as Director of the Market Participants Division
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Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Michael S. Selig today announced DJ Hennes will serve as director of the Market Participants Division.
"I am pleased to welcome DJ to the CFTC," Chairman Selig said. "He brings a wealth of experience advising clients across the financial services industry, including CFTC intermediaries, on governance, risk, compliance, and enforcement matters. His experience
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued the following news release:
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CFTC Chairman Selig Announces DJ Hennes as Director of the Market Participants Division
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Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Michael S. Selig today announced DJ Hennes will serve as director of the Market Participants Division.
"I am pleased to welcome DJ to the CFTC," Chairman Selig said. "He brings a wealth of experience advising clients across the financial services industry, including CFTC intermediaries, on governance, risk, compliance, and enforcement matters. His experiencewith crypto assets and prediction markets will also be of tremendous value as we seek to future-proof the CFTC's rules and regulations for these innovations."
"I am honored to be joining the Commission. I look forward to working with Chairman Selig, his leadership team, and the dedicated staff as we continue the CFTC's mission of fostering integrity, innovation, and liquidity in our vibrant derivatives markets," Hennes said.
Hennes joins the CFTC from KPMG LLP, where he was a managing director in the firm's Financial Services Risk & Compliance Advisory Practice. Prior to joining KPMG, he spent 15 years at Promontory Financial Group, most recently leading its Capital Markets Practice for the Americas.
Hennes received his B.A. in History and Economics from Vanderbilt University.
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Original text here: https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9232-26
