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First Exhibition to Explore Photography's Relationship With Resource Extraction Opening at the National Gallery of Art
WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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First Exhibition to Explore Photography's Relationship with Resource Extraction Opening at the National Gallery of Art
Beneath the Surface to feature some 150 photographs by 100 artists spanning 185 years of society and industry in the United States
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The National Gallery of Art presents Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography, the first exhibition to exclusively examine the relationship between resource extraction and American photography throughout its history. Spanning nearly 200 years,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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First Exhibition to Explore Photography's Relationship with Resource Extraction Opening at the National Gallery of Art
Beneath the Surface to feature some 150 photographs by 100 artists spanning 185 years of society and industry in the United States
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The National Gallery of Art presents Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography, the first exhibition to exclusively examine the relationship between resource extraction and American photography throughout its history. Spanning nearly 200 years,the exhibition examines how photographers have approached the challenge of capturing the significant but often hidden processes and impacts of the extraction of minerals, coal, and fossil fuels and its associated industries.
Featuring 150 photographs by more than 100 artists, including Richard Avedon, Walker Evans, Lewis Hine, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Dorothea Lange, David Maisel, Gordon Parks, Mitch Epstein, Carleton Watkins, Will Wilson, and more, Beneath the Surface reveals how generations of photographers have utilized evolving technologies and distinctive visual strategies to document the industries that power and shape modern life. Beneath the Surface will be on view at the National Gallery of Art from May 23 to August 23, 2026, before traveling to the Milwaukee Art Museum in Wisconsin and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas.
"As a defining visual medium of our modern age, photography is an essential tool to capture and communicate our shared history," said Kaywin Feldman, director of the National Gallery of Art. "Beneath the Surface bring together a dynamic range of works to shed light on the medium's intersections with a shaping force in American history and industry."
The featured works, many of which are drawn from the National Gallery's significant photography collection, span early daguerreotypes from the time of the California Gold Rush in the mid-1800s to pictures of rapid industrialization in the 20th century and contemporary photographs produced at an immense scale. This expansive selection traces the layered history of extraction and how artists have used photography as a lens through which to communicate the industry's relationship with society and the natural world.
"Photography itself is dependent on precious metals for its very existence, from the light sensitivity of silver in early processes to the copper of contemporary digital-camera batteries. At the same time, it has been the principal visual medium employed to depict extractive industries, evolving alongside the expansion of mining on an industrial scale since the 19th century," said Diane Waggoner, co-curator of the exhibition and curator of photographs at the National Gallery of Art. "Beneath the Surface unites photographs made for a variety of purposes, from explicitly promotional and commercial uses to documentation efforts and socially engaged activism, shedding light on both the rewards and costs of resource extraction."
The exhibition orients visitors with an introductory gallery displaying contemporary work, foregrounding themes relevant to the current moment and providing a critical framework for understanding the six broad, chronological sections that follow. Viewers will encounter works not only by historical photographers recognized for their work in capturing mining, drilling, and industrial subjects, such as Carleton Watkins, Margaret Bourke-White, Marion Post Wolcott, and Bernd and Hilla Becher, but also by less expected practitioners Florence Kemmler, Alma Lavenson, and Mary Morris. The exhibition includes works by contemporary photographers Edward Burtynsky, Binh Danh, Terry Evans, Victoria Sambunaris, and Cara Romero, among others.
"For almost two centuries photographers have played a central role in public understanding of resource extraction, drawing on a succession of technologies and strategies to capture activities that enable modern life but resist portrayal," said Kristen Gaylord, co-curator of the exhibition and Herzfeld Curator of Photography and Media Arts at Milwaukee Art Museum. "This exhibition demonstrates how, time and again, photographers have creatively pushed against the medium's boundaries in a quest to impart the enormity of the country's extractive activities and their effects."
Beneath the Surface centers on the challenges artists face in capturing the colossal scale of extraction and its far-reaching impacts on communities and the environment. It also reveals the inventive strategies they have employed to depict this subject. The works on view reflect the full breadth of the medium, spanning landscapes, portraits of workers and panoramas of affected communities, photobooks, aerial imagery, analog and digital collage, camera-less photography, historical processes, narrative and performance work, and pictures that otherwise harness photography to communicate the scope of these industries.
Exhibition Tour
National Gallery of Art, Washington, May 23-August 23, 2026
Milwaukee Art Museum, October 23, 2026-January 18, 2027
Amon Carter Museum of American Art, February 14-May 9, 2027
Exhibition Organization and Support
The exhibition is organized by the National Gallery of Art in collaboration with the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art.
Major support for the exhibition has been provided by the Center for Contemporary Documentation.
The exhibition is also made possible through the leadership support of the Trellis Charitable Fund.
Additional support for this exhibition was provided by Nion McEvoy and Leslie Berriman and the Edwin L. Cox Exhibition Fund.
Exhibition Curators
This exhibition is curated by Diane Waggoner, acting head and curator of photographs, National Gallery of Art, and Kristen Gaylord, Herzfeld Curator of Photography and Media Arts, Milwaukee Art Museum.
In the Library: Photobooks and American Energy
In conjunction with Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography, the National Gallery of Art Library presents an installation of 25 books and 2 zines examining how photographers use photobooks to document the impact of energy extraction, production, and circulation on the American landscape and its communities.
The books and zines on view illustrate complex narratives about how America is powered today, revealing the visual strategies and design decisions contemporary photographers use to contextualize and share their work. In the library reading room adjacent to the exhibition area, additional photobooks are available for visitors to browse.
Curated by Yuri Long, special collections librarian at the National Gallery, this installation is on view from May 25 through August 21, 2026, in the East Building Library Atrium from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
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About the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through its doors each year--with even more online--making it one of the most visited art museums in the world. The National Gallery's renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography
National Gallery of Art, Washington, May 23-August 23, 2026
Milwaukee Art Museum, October 23, 2026-January 17, 2027
Amon Carter Museum of American Art, February 14-May 9, 2027
Dependent on precious metals from its inception, photography has always been intertwined with the natural resources that are fundamental to modern industrialized life. Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography is the first exhibition to exclusively examine how photographers from the mid-19th century to today have powerfully captured the effects of resource extraction on the land and communities of the United States. Featuring some 150 photographs that span 185 years, this exhibition focuses especially on the subterranean removal of the minerals and fossil fuels that power this country's economy and industry. Together, these works demonstrate how photographers have drawn on changing technology and unique visual strategies to rise to the challenge of picturing these colossal industries.
Made for a variety of purposes, ranging from commercial boosterism and celebration of technical advancement to social documentation and community activism, the pictures in the exhibition shed light on how photography has revealed the costs of extraction and who benefits from its success. Divided into six broad, chronological sections that contextualize the complex history of photography and extraction, from daguerreotypes of the Gold Rush to large-scale, immersive photographs made in the last decade, Beneath the Surface highlights how artists have used photography to explore the relationship between extraction, society, and the environment.
This exhibition is curated by Diane Waggoner, curator of photographs, National Gallery of Art, and Kristen Gaylord, Herzfeld Curator of Photography and Media Arts, Milwaukee Art Museum.
The exhibition is organized by the National Gallery of Art, in collaboration with the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art.
Major support for the exhibition has been provided by the Center for Contemporary Documentation.
The exhibition is also made possible through the leadership support of the Trellis Charitable Fund.
Additional support for this exhibition was provided by Nion McEvoy and Leslie Berriman.
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Original text here: https://www.nga.gov/press/first-exhibition-explore-photographys-relationship-resource-extraction-opening-national-gallery-art
Dear America Draws From the National Gallery of Art's Collection to Highlight Artists' Interpretations of the American Experience
WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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Dear America Draws From the National Gallery of Art's Collection to Highlight Artists' Interpretations of the American Experience
Exhibition presents works by Ansel Adams, Ruth Asawa, Thomas Moran, Gordon Parks, Paul Revere, Carrie Mae Weems, and more as part of America's 250th anniversary commemoration
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As part of its yearlong commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, the National Gallery of Art presents Dear America: Artists Explore the American Experience, an exhibition
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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Dear America Draws From the National Gallery of Art's Collection to Highlight Artists' Interpretations of the American Experience
Exhibition presents works by Ansel Adams, Ruth Asawa, Thomas Moran, Gordon Parks, Paul Revere, Carrie Mae Weems, and more as part of America's 250th anniversary commemoration
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As part of its yearlong commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, the National Gallery of Art presents Dear America: Artists Explore the American Experience, an exhibitionexamining how artists have portrayed and interpreted key aspects of American culture over the last 250 years. Comprising approximately 115 works from the late 18th century to the present--including many recent acquisitions and works that have never been on view at the National Gallery before--the exhibition highlights artists' wide-ranging depictions of American experience across time and place and is framed by the themes of land, community, and freedom. Dear America: Artists Explore the American Experience will be on view in the West Building from April 11 to September 20, 2026.
Drawn primarily from the National Gallery's leading collection of American art, Dear America brings together works on paper by more than 95 artists. Among the objects on view are photographs by Ansel Adams, Richard Avedon, Margaret Bourke-White, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Tom Jones (Ho-Chunk Nation), Sally Mann, Timothy H. O'Sullivan, Gordon Parks, Alfred Stieglitz, James Van Der Zee, Carleton E. Watkins, and Carrie Mae Weems; drawings by Thomas Moran, Tonita Pena, Eunice Pinney, and John Wilson; artists' books by Dindga McCannon and Kara Walker; and prints by Emma Amos, Ruth Asawa, Charles Gaines, Jane Hammond, Roy Lichtenstein, Marisol, Robert Rauschenberg, Ed Ruscha, Fritz Scholder, and Juan Sanchez.
"Artists have long helped us see America not just as a place, but as a living idea shaped by many voices," said Kaywin Feldman, director of the National Gallery of Art. "Through these remarkable works from the National Gallery's collection, visitors to the nation's art museum can witness the power of art to illuminate our shared past, illustrate the experiences of our lives, and inspire our collective future."
"Showcasing exemplary prints, drawings, and photographs made in the last 250 years, this exhibition is a testament to collaboration across curatorial disciplines as well as the strength of our permanent collection," said E. Carmen Ramos, the National Gallery's chief curatorial and conservation officer. "Dear America reveals the wide range of subjects, approaches, and techniques through which America's artists have sought to interpret their own and others' experiences."
About the Exhibition
Comprising works that span the breadth of US history and geography, from the nation's founding through the present, Dear America seeks to explore how artists have considered the question of what is, has been, and could be the nature of the American experience. The exhibition is organized in three thematic sections: Land, Community, and Freedom, each highlighting artists' expansive interpretations of American culture and iconography.
The first section, Land, explores our collective understanding of America as a place and as a site of wonder and belonging, survival and memory. Works from the 19th century by Thomas Moran, Frances Flora Bond Palmer, William H. Rau, and Carleton E. Watkins capture the variety of natural geographies across the North American continent and the early stages of the expansion of railways and settlements from east to west. Examples by 20th- and 21st-century artists, such as Bernarda Bryson, Leo Limon, Richard Misrach, and Margaret Bourke-White, address the impact of the growing populace, human-built environments, and major cities that comprise America today. This section shows how artists have drawn inspiration from the grandeur of the country's mountain ranges and canyons, as well as from roadside gas stations, hydroelectric dams, and skyscrapers.
The second section, Community, begins with four large multipart works that fill an entire gallery. Dear America (2002), composed of 16 photographs by contemporary artist Tom Jones (Ho-Chunk Nation), was the inspiration for the title of the exhibition. In this suite, Jones combined scans of historical postcards with lyrics from the song "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" to incorporate Native American experiences into narratives of American history. Also featured is a set of life-size figure drawings for John Wilson's unrealized mural Young Americans (1973-1975). These drawings depict the artist's teenage children and their friends, who hung out at the Wilson home in the 1970s. Their youthful potential represented a hopeful vision of the future to the artist. Nearby is a group of some 30 portraits from a suite of 101 offset lithographs by Sedrick E. Huckaby that are based on sketches he created while he interviewed people living and working in his community. The largest multipart work in this section is Richard Avedon's The Family (1976), a series of 69 photographs. Made during the Bicentennial, they depict America's power elite--politicians, media moguls, financiers, and activists. These works and others by artists such as Charles Milton Bell, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Michael Jang, Cesar A. Martinez, and Cara Romero highlight artists' portrayals of the many types of communities that have shaped the American experience, from politicians and prominent public servants, to friends and family members, neighborhoods, and religious and cultural gatherings.
The exhibition concludes with the section Freedom, weaving histories of revolution and liberation with deeply personal snapshots of American life. The works included here serve as both witnesses to the moments they portray and catalysts to connect us to our own sense of freedom. This section explores artists' considerations of the freedoms envisioned by the founders of the United States as well as by later generations who have continually sought to protect fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution and promote greater freedom for all people. Featured are scenes from the American Revolution and Civil War, including Paul Revere's famous print depicting the Boston Massacre of 1770, an event that was prompted by escalating tensions between the American colonists and Great Britain. Also on view are historical portraits of figures like Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and George Washington, all of whom advocated for freedom, while portraits of soldiers by artists such as Maya Freelon and James Van Der Zee remind us of the cost of defending that freedom. Other photographs by Lewis Wickes Hine and Alfred Stieglitz capture the early 20th-century mass movement of people who were fleeing oppression and seeking new opportunities. And Faith Ringgold's screenprints of events from the civil rights movement that accompany Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "Letter from Birmingham City Jail" and Robert Indiana's boldly colored screenprint Liberty '76 (1974-1975), made for the occasion of the country's 200th anniversary, document and celebrate the continual pursuit of freedom that is fundamental to our democracy.
Exhibition Organization and Support
The exhibition is organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Leadership support for the exhibition has been generously provided by the Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw Charitable Trust.
The exhibition is made possible through support from Daniel W. Hamilton and the Edwin L. Cox Exhibition Fund.
Exhibition Curators
The exhibition is curated by Angelica Becerra, Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow; Sarah Greenough, senior curator and head of the department of photographs (retired); Rena Hoisington, curator and head of Old Master prints; and Shelley Langdale, curator and head of modern prints and drawings, all at the National Gallery of Art.
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About the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through its doors each year--with even more online--making it one of the most visited art museums in the world. The National Gallery's renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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Original text here: https://www.nga.gov/press/dear-america-draws-national-gallery-arts-collection-highlight-artists-interpretations-american
Trump Administration Announces Latest Action to Address Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) System Complaints, Saves American Farmers and Truckers Over $13 Billion Annually
WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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Trump Administration Announces Latest Action to Address Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) System Complaints, Saves American Farmers and Truckers Over $13 Billion Annually
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EPA Removes DEF Sensor Requirements Saving Americans Billions Annually and Countless Hours of Lost Time and Productivity
WASHINGTON - Today, at the White House Great American Agriculture Celebration, President Trump announced another decisive action U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin has taken
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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Trump Administration Announces Latest Action to Address Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) System Complaints, Saves American Farmers and Truckers Over $13 Billion Annually
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EPA Removes DEF Sensor Requirements Saving Americans Billions Annually and Countless Hours of Lost Time and Productivity
WASHINGTON - Today, at the White House Great American Agriculture Celebration, President Trump announced another decisive action U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin has takent o address nationwide concerns from farmers, truckers, motor coach operators, and other diesel equipment operators regarding Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system failures by removing the DEF sensor requirement for all diesel equipment. EPA understands that sudden speed losses and shutdowns caused by DEF system failures that compromise safety and productivity are unacceptable and problematic. While EPA continues to pursue all legal avenues to address Americans' complaints, today the agency is implementing another part of Administrator Zeldin's plan to help keep American operators from losing days in the field or on the road because of faulty DEF systems. EPA's new guidance, which removes DEF sensors, will provide immediate relief and save billions of dollars in repairs and lost productivity. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), this guidance w ill save farmers $4.4 billion a year and this action will provide $13.79 billion a year of savings to Americans.
On February 3, 2026, EPA demanded critical data on DEF system failures from the manufacturers that account for over 80 percent of all products used in DEF systems. This information will arm EPA with what it needs to permanently address DEF system failures. Thus far, the agency has received data from 11 of the 14 manufacturers, and in less than a month, EPA has turned around preliminary findings to issue today's guidance demonstrating Administrator Zeldin's commitment to fixing this issue.
"Failing DEF systems are not an east coast or west coast or heartland issue; it is a nationwide disaster. I have heard from truck drivers, farmers, and many others complaining about DEF and pleading for a fix in all 50 states I visited during my first year as EPA Administrator," said EPA Administrator Zeldin. "Americans are justified in being fed up with failing DEF system issues. EPA understands this is a massive issue and has been doing everything in our statutory power to address this. Today, we take another step in furthering our work by removing DEF sensors. Farmers and truckers should not be losing billions of dollars because of repair costs or days lost on the job."
"Few small businesses have been hit harder by the Green New Scam than those who make up America's great agriculture industry, where massive regulatory burdens have crushed family farms and driven up grocery costs," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "Today, by eliminating DEF mandates, the Trump Administration is taking yet another step to free up hardworking Americans to focus on the vital work of feeding, clothing, building, and fueling our nation. I applaud Administrator Zeldin for his leadership on this issue, and I look forward to our continued collaboration to cut red tape for small businesses across the U.S. food supply chain."
The preliminary review of the warranty data suggests that DEF sensor failures are a significant source of warranty claims and DEF-related inducement. Farmers and truck drivers should not have their vehicles stop working because a sensor isn't working properly. EPA is taking immediate action on this new information. The agency's new guidance makes clear that under existing regulations, manufacturers can stop inaccurate DEF system failures by removing traditional emission sensors, known as Urea Quality Sensors, and switching to nitrous oxide (NO x ) sensors.
EPA also affirms that approved NO x sensor-based software updates can be installed on existing engines without being treated as illegal tampering under the Clean Air Act. This is in line with EPA's February 2026 Right to Repair clarification guidance, which removed a major barrier keeping farmers from fixing their faulty DEF systems in the field. EPA anticipates the switch will greatly curb errors that traditional sensor technologies have been prone to and reduce the issues Americans face with inaccurate DEF failures.
Since the start of the Trump administration, EPA has prioritized the farming community by advancing commonsense policies and issuing clear guidance to improve operational reliability. In August 2025, EPA issued new, clear guidance calling on engine and equipment manufacturers to revise DEF system software in existing vehicles and equipment to massively reverse deratements that harm farmers and truckers. In response to this guidance, manufacturers have started making this new and improved software available to Americans in some existing vehicles and will be extending the improvements to owners of older equipment. In the near future, EPA will also be issuing a new deregulatory proposal that will completely remove all DEF deratements for new vehicles and engines. With these changes, sudden speed losses, which compromise safety and productivity, will be an issue of the past.
Additionally, EPA will continue reviewing data collected from manufacturers and use this information to identify opportunities to improve the emission systems for the American people beyond the actions taken to date. Given the breadth of EPA's data request, some of the largest manufacturers required additional time to compile and submit their data. EPA will give the public a complete assessment of the data collected once all data is received.
Today's announcement does not weaken or remove emissions standards. Instead, it ensures that those standards are met in a way that actually works in the real world. EPA remains committed to protecting human health and the environment while ensuring that the Americans who feed, clothe, and power our economy are not burdened by unnecessary system failures.
For more information, please see EPA's Diesel Exhaust Fluid.
Background
Since 2010, most on-road diesel trucks and many types of nonroad equipment (such as tractors and construction machinery) have used selective catalytic reduction systems that inject DEF into exhaust streams to reduce NO x emissions.
Prior to EPA's August 2025 guidance, when DEF ran out or there was an unexpected mechanical failure, systems forced a vehicle to drastically reduce speed or become inoperable. In many cases, vehicles were limited to as little as five miles per hour within hours of a DEF-related fault. This caused needless frustration, operational delays, and real economic hardship for operators. Under the Trump EPA's August 2025 guidance, major changes were undertaken. Heavy-duty trucks should now only receive a warning light for 650 miles or 10 hours after a fault is detected. Following that time, the engine will only mildly derate, allowing trucks to operate normally and without speed limits for up to 4,200 miles or two work weeks. Only after about four work weeks does the speed drop to 25 mph until repairs are made. Nonroad equipment has no impact for the first 36 hours before a slight torque reduction then takes effect.
In addition to EPA's August 2025 guidance, EPA announced sweeping changes so that starting with MY 2027, all new diesel on-road trucks must be engineered to avoid sudden and severe power loss after running out of DEF.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/trump-administration-announces-latest-action-address-diesel-exhaust-fluid-def-system
National Portrait Gallery Announces Newly Conserved "Declaration of Independence" Diorama and New Revolutionary War-Era Gallery
WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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National Portrait Gallery Announces Newly Conserved "Declaration of Independence" Diorama and New Revolutionary War-Era Gallery
Installations On View Beginning July 2 as Part of "Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900" Exhibition
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In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the nation, the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery has announced two additions to the museum's "Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900" exhibition: a freshly conserved diorama depicting the signers of the Declaration
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WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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National Portrait Gallery Announces Newly Conserved "Declaration of Independence" Diorama and New Revolutionary War-Era Gallery
Installations On View Beginning July 2 as Part of "Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900" Exhibition
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In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the nation, the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery has announced two additions to the museum's "Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900" exhibition: a freshly conserved diorama depicting the signers of the Declarationof Independence and a new gallery titled "Independence: 1765-1789."
Bartlett Frost Diorama
Commissioned by the Portrait Gallery in 1968 and completed in 1969, a recently conserved large-scale, wax diorama by Bartlett Frost (1913-1997) depicts key members of the Second Continental Congress witnessing the presentation of the Declaration of Independence. Last displayed at the museum during the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976, it is modeled after John Trumbull's iconic painting, "The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776" (1786-1820), which the artist painted at the urging of Thomas Jefferson. The diorama will be introduced by an enlarged detail of Trumbull's work that shows the "Committee of Five," the men responsible for writing the document that proclaimed the 13 colonies sovereign states: John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert R. Livingston, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. As visitors approach the diorama, LED lights will showcase delicately made figures, molded from wax and reinforced by wire. The figures are decorated with fine details, such as wigs created from individual goat hairs, lace and ruffles from intricately cut paper and small imitation pearls for the sitters' eyes.
"The scale and interactive component of Frost's diorama humanize for visitors today a pivotal moment from the 18th century," said Robyn Asleson, curator of prints and drawings for the National Portrait Gallery and lead curator of the exhibition. "The work invites viewers to be part of the scene that set the stage for the liberty of a new nation 250 years ago."
The "Independence: 1765-1789" Gallery
The restored diorama will be adjacent to the new "Independence: 1765-1789" gallery. This space will highlight individuals whose personal stories illuminate key episodes on the path to independence, including the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775, the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Works on view from the permanent collection will include portraits of Thomas Paine, whose pamphlet "Common Sense" catalyzed the independence movement; Revolutionary War financier Robert Morris; and Theodore Sedgwick, the attorney who relied on the concept that "all men are created equal" in a 1781 legal case to successfully secure the freedom of two enslaved individuals in Massachusetts. Also on view will be Paul Revere's engraving "The Bloody Massacre" and a recently acquired double portrait of Haym Salomon and George Washington. A painting of First Lady Abigail Adams, who called for members of the Second Continental Congress to "remember the ladies" as they framed the new U.S. government, will pay tribute to the women of the era.
"Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900" at the National Portrait Gallery is sponsored by Ann S. and Samuel M. Mencoff and the Terra Foundation for American Art.
National Portrait Gallery
The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery tells the multifaceted story of the United States through the individuals who have shaped American culture. Spanning the visual arts, performing arts and new media, the Portrait Gallery portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists whose lives tell the nation's story.
The National Portrait Gallery is located at Eighth and G streets N.W., Washington, D.C. Smithsonian Information: (202) 633-1000. Connect with the museum at npg.si.edu and on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/national-portrait-gallery-announces-newly-conserved-declaration-independence
NASA Unveils Initiatives to Achieve America's National Space Policy
PASADENA, California, March 27 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news on March 26, 2026:
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NASA Unveils Initiatives to Achieve America's National Space Policy
JPL will help support several of the agency's initiatives to advance the nation's leadership in space.
As part of its "Ignition" event on Tuesday, March 24, NASA announced a series of transformative agencywide initiatives designed to achieve President Donald J. Trump's National Space Policy and advance American leadership in space. These actions reflect the urgency of the moment, but also the tremendous
... Show Full Article
PASADENA, California, March 27 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news on March 26, 2026:
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NASA Unveils Initiatives to Achieve America's National Space Policy
JPL will help support several of the agency's initiatives to advance the nation's leadership in space.
As part of its "Ignition" event on Tuesday, March 24, NASA announced a series of transformative agencywide initiatives designed to achieve President Donald J. Trump's National Space Policy and advance American leadership in space. These actions reflect the urgency of the moment, but also the tremendousopportunity ahead for world-changing science and discovery.
In addition to going back to the Moon, the initiatives focus on building a Moon Base, ensuring American presence in low Earth orbit, advancing world-changing discovery with current and developing science missions, and bringing nuclear power and propulsion from the lab to space. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory will play a role supporting several of these initiatives.
Learn more at NASA.gov. (https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-unveils-initiatives-to-achieve-americas-national-space-policy/)
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Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-unveils-initiatives-to-achieve-americas-national-space-policy/
EPA Announces $610 Million Loan to Provide a Reliable Source of Drinking Water to Northeastern Illinois Communities
WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Announces $610 Million Loan to Provide a Reliable Source of Drinking Water to Northeastern Illinois Communities
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WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $610 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the Grand Prairie Water Commission, which serves six communities in northeastern Illinois. This loan will transition almost 300,000 residents to Lake Michigan-a more reliable source of drinking water-from a declining groundwater aquifer.
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WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Announces $610 Million Loan to Provide a Reliable Source of Drinking Water to Northeastern Illinois Communities
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WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $610 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the Grand Prairie Water Commission, which serves six communities in northeastern Illinois. This loan will transition almost 300,000 residents to Lake Michigan-a more reliable source of drinking water-from a declining groundwater aquifer.
"No American should worry about the reliability of their drinking water," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer. "We are pleased that Grand Prairie Water Commission will use this investment to ensure its water customers have a stable and reliable source of drinking water for current and future generations."
The Grand Prairie Water Commission is made up of six member communities including the Cities of Crest Hill and Joliet and the Villages of Channahon, Minooka, Shorewood, and Romeoville. The Water Commission member communities currently rely on a declining groundwater aquifer as their primary source of drinking water. EPA's WIFIA financing will support the Commission's Alternative Water Source Program. With this loan, the commission will construct a 62-mile regional water transmission network and upgrade other water infrastructure and systems. This project will enable these communities to transition from their primary source, a declining groundwater aquifer, to Lake Michigan's reliable, high-quality source water. Establishing this alternative water source will ensure the commission can meet the drinking water needs of current and future customers.
"We thank the USEPA for making this critical funding assistance available and helping to keep the program affordable for our member communities," said Shorewood Mayor CC DeBold, GPWC Board of Commissioners Chair. "Fueled by this investment, we look forward to continuing our progress toward delivery of a new, reliable water source by 2030."
EPA's WIFIA program will provide the commission flexibility through the ability to customize repayment schedules and defer principal payments for several years after substantial completion of construction, saving the commission nearly $300 million over the life of the loan.
EPA's WIFIA program provides a powerful financial tool that can significantly accelerate investments in water infrastructure to protect human health and the environment while saving communities millions of dollars. Since issuing its first loan in 2018, EPA's WIFIA program has announced $23 billion in financing water infrastructure projects that are strengthening drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure while creating over 168,000 jobs. Through its flexible financing features and competitive interest rates, WIFIA helps communities save money, and accelerate water infrastructure investments.
WIFIA funding is available to support additional water infrastructure projects, including up to $6.5 billion available to water systems and another $550 million available to State infrastructure financing authorities. EPA is currently accepting letters of interest.
Learn more about EPA's WIFIA program and water infrastructure investments, including how to submit a letter of interest.
Background
Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan program administered by EPA. The WIFIA program aims to accelerate investment in the nation's water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects. The WIFIA program has an active pipeline of pending applications for projects that will result in billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-610-million-loan-provide-reliable-source-drinking-water-northeastern
ACUS Announces Report and Database on Fiscal Year 2025 Attorney's Fee Awards Under the Equal Access to Justice Act
WASHINGTON, March 27 (TNSrep) -- The Administrative Conference of the United States issued the following news release:
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ACUS Announces Report and Database on Fiscal Year 2025 Attorney's Fee Awards under the Equal Access to Justice Act
The Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) is pleased to announce the release of a new report (https://www.acus.gov/eaja/reports) and updated online database compiling attorney's fee awards made in fiscal year 2025 under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA).
EAJA requires federal agencies to reimburse private litigants for their attorneys'
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, March 27 (TNSrep) -- The Administrative Conference of the United States issued the following news release:
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ACUS Announces Report and Database on Fiscal Year 2025 Attorney's Fee Awards under the Equal Access to Justice Act
The Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) is pleased to announce the release of a new report (https://www.acus.gov/eaja/reports) and updated online database compiling attorney's fee awards made in fiscal year 2025 under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA).
EAJA requires federal agencies to reimburse private litigants for their attorneys'fees when they prevail against agencies in certain adjudications and federal-court cases. Since March 2019, ACUS has been responsible for reporting the amount of EAJA fees agencies awards to prevailing parties each fiscal year (5 U.S.C. Sec. 504, 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2412).
With the release of the new report and updated online database, ACUS has carried out its statutory responsibilities for the reporting period covering fiscal year 2025. ACUS is pleased to report that 100 percent of federal agencies complied with their reporting obligations under the new law.
Learn more about EAJA and ACUS's statutory responsibilities at www.acus.gov/EAJA.
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About ACUS
The Administrative Conference of the United States is an independent federal agency in the executive branch charged with identifying and promoting improvements in the efficiency, adequacy, and fairness of the procedures by which federal agencies conduct regulatory programs, administer grants and benefits, protect the public interest, and perform other essential governmental functions. Its membership is composed of senior federal officials, academics, and other experts from the private sector.
The Conference is committed to promoting effective public participation and efficiency in the rulemaking process by leveraging interactive technologies and encouraging open communication with the public as well as making improvements to the regulatory process by reducing unnecessary litigation, and improving the use of science and the effectiveness of applicable laws.
Learn more at www.acus.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.acus.gov/article/acus-announces-report-and-database-fiscal-year-2025-attorneys-fee-awards-under-equal-access
