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National Museum of the American Indian Presents the 2026 Native Cinema Showcase
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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National Museum of the American Indian Presents the 2026 Native Cinema Showcase
Films Will Be Available To Stream On Demand for Two Weeks
November 9, 2026
The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian returns with the online Native Cinema Showcase, celebrating Indigenous filmmakers of the Western Hemisphere. All films are available on demand beginning Friday, Nov. 13, 5 p.m. ET, through Friday, Nov. 27, 5 p.m. ET. With the exception of Remaining Native, all films are available to view worldwide.
An ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release: * * * National Museum of the American Indian Presents the 2026 Native Cinema Showcase Films Will Be Available To Stream On Demand for Two Weeks November 9, 2026 The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian returns with the online Native Cinema Showcase, celebrating Indigenous filmmakers of the Western Hemisphere. All films are available on demand beginning Friday, Nov. 13, 5 p.m. ET, through Friday, Nov. 27, 5 p.m. ET. With the exception of Remaining Native, all films are available to view worldwide. Anannual celebration of the best of Indigenous film, the Native Cinema Showcase includes documentaries, features, animations and short-format films by Indigenous filmmakers from across the Western Hemisphere and Arctic. This year's showcase includes four feature films and 10 short films. Represented in the lineup are five countries (Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, Uruguay and the U.S.) and six languages (Chatino, Chuukese, Dene, Inuktitut, K'iche' and Numu).
Native Cinema Showcase received support from The Walt Disney Company.
Feature Films
La Raya
(Mexico, 2024, 80 min.)
Director: Yolanda Cruz (Chatino)
Spanish and Chatino with English subtitles
La Raya is a coming-of-age story set in a secluded Oaxacan mountain village, where the sudden, magical arrival of a refrigerator upends the life of a clever young girl named Sotera. Spotting an opportunity, Sotera tries to sell the anomaly, only for the fridge to begin revealing unearthly apparitions to the community. Against the backdrop of these local wonders, Sotera confronts a deeply personal dilemma: her impending journey to join her mother in the United States. Ultimately, she must decide if her heart belongs in the American dream or the mystical roots of her hometown.
Medicine Ball
(USA, 2026, 80 min.)
Director: Leya Hale (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota/Dine)
Medicine Ball follows Native college athletes Lexus Redthunder and Leroy Staples Fairbanks IV as they navigate college life and basketball at the University of Minnesota Morris, located on the site of a former Native boarding school. Their journey reveals how basketball became a powerful symbol of resilience, hope and cultural pride in Native communities.
Remaining Native
(USA, 2025, 87 min.)
Director: Paige Bethmann (Haudenosaunee)
Ku Stevens is a remarkably talented high school runner torn between two worlds: One involves the demands of an elite, individualistic sport and the other the deeply rooted communal values of his Nevada Paiute Reservation. Without a coach, team or scouts, his dream of earning a running scholarship feels out of reach. But when the tragic discovery of thousands of undocumented graves of Native American children makes global headlines, Ku's personal history takes center stage. His great-grandfather had escaped an Indian boarding school at just 8 years old, surviving by running away on foot. In a powerful act of remembrance, Ku decides to retrace that grueling 50-mile escape route. His journey concludes at the former boarding school's cemetery, where he brings people together to honor and mourn the young lives lost there.
Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband)
(Canada, 2025, 100 min.)
Director: Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk)
Inuktitut with English subtitles
Content advisory: contains scenes of physical violence
In 2000 BCE Igloolik, Nunavut, the lives of star-crossed teenage lovers Kaujak and Sapa are irrevocably changed. Promised to each other since birth, their bond is shattered when Kaujak's father dies and her mother marries a man from a distant camp. The promise of a better future turns into a desperate struggle as Kaujak is besieged by aggressive suitors backed by a powerful, evil shaman. Despite the pressure, Kaujak holds fast to her heart, resisting all attempts to claim her and clinging to the hope that Sapa will return to make good on their childhood pledge.
Short Films
Becoming Buffalo
(USA, 2025, 25 min.)
Director: Montana Cypress (Miccosukee)
This film profiles Miccosukee tribal leader Buffalo Tiger who led an 11-member Miccosukee delegation to Cuba amid Cold War tensions.
Deneege Lel Ghu Kk'ots'eedeneeyh Te Hel Hoozoonh Ts'e Denots'edeneeyh/We Get Better When We Tan Moose Hides
(USA, 2026, 5 min.)
Director: Brittany Woods-Orrison (Koyukon Dene)
Dene with English subtitles
Content advisory: contains scenes of hunting, trapping, and preparing of animals
The tradition of tanning hides with brains was once practiced by every Dene person in Alaska. An art that was nearly lost by assimilation, Kathleen Hildebrand works with a group of Dene women at her urban backyard hide camp in the heart of Chen'o (Fairbanks) to revive this tradition.
Do You Speak Paiute?
(USA, 2025, 4 min.)
Director: Taylor Uchytil (Agai Dicutta Walker River Paiute)
Numu and English with English subtitles
The filmmaker explores how her family and community preserve cultural knowledge amid the challenges of language revitalization.
Iikaiksimatsa'pao'p: Grateful To Be on the Land
(Canada, 2025, 13 min.)
Director: Trevor Solway (Blackfoot)
This film follows Cassie Ayoungman, founder of Soul of Miistaki and member of the Siksika Nation, on her journey to bring the healing power of the mountains to those within her community. Determined to break down barriers to climbing, she integrates Indigenous teachings and land-based learning into climbing clinics. In the process, she raises questions about representation, builds community and redefines what it means to be on the land.
Legend of Fry-Roti: Rise of the Dough
(USA, 2025, 9 min.)
Director: Sabrina Saleha (Navajo/Bengali)
When her Navajo and Bengali aunties clash in an epic culinary feud, one niece must blend her dual heritages to cook up her own sense of identity.
Redbird
(USA, 2024, 13 min.)
Director: Emma Barrow (Cherokee Nation)
English and Cherokee with English subtitles
A Cherokee woman fights to protect her niece from adoption by her white grandparents as she reckons with feeling distant from her own culture.
Saq Nikte y El Espiritu de la Mascara/Saq Nikte and the Spirit of the Mask
(Guatemala/Uruguay, 2025, 5 min.)
Director: Ester Weiner (Mayan)
K'iche' with English subtitles
In a forgotten community, an artisan girl puts an old K'iche' invocation to the test and summons a curious spirit into the world.
The Arrangements
(USA, 2025, 15 min.)
Director: Sonny Ganaden
English and Chuukese with English subtitles
In Hawaii, three Micronesian boys have just one day to prepare for a friend's funeral--and find the secret treasure he left behind.
Tule
(USA, 2024, 4 min.)
Director: Jocelyn Garcia (Pomo/Chicana)
Through poetic reflections on conversations with her elders, a modern Pomo girl finds her voice and a sense of purpose in advocating for Clear Lake's endangered tule plant.
Twisted Braid
(USA, 2025, 5 min.)
Director: Ricky-Thomas Serikawa (Native Hawaiian)
Named for the Hawaiian word meaning "to braid," Hilo is more than a place on Hawaii Island--it is a community tightly woven together and deeply rooted in the earth. Through poetry, this work explores how a shared devotion to culture, creativity and collective care can kindle light in a world that grows increasingly vast and distant.
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About the Museum
In partnership with Native peoples and their allies, the National Museum of the American Indian fosters a richer shared human experience through a more informed understanding of Native peoples. For additional information, including hours and directions, visit AmericanIndian.si.edu. Follow the museum via social media @SmithsonianNMAI.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/national-museum-american-indian-presents-2026-native-cinema-showcase
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National Museum of the American Indian Presents the 2026 Native Cinema Showcase
Films Will Be Available To Stream On Demand for Two Weeks
November 9, 2026
The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian returns with the online Native Cinema Showcase, celebrating Indigenous filmmakers of the Western Hemisphere. All films are available on demand beginning Friday, Nov. 13, 5 p.m. ET, through Friday, Nov. 27, 5 p.m. ET. With the exception of Remaining Native, all films are available to view worldwide.
An ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release: * * * National Museum of the American Indian Presents the 2026 Native Cinema Showcase Films Will Be Available To Stream On Demand for Two Weeks November 9, 2026 The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian returns with the online Native Cinema Showcase, celebrating Indigenous filmmakers of the Western Hemisphere. All films are available on demand beginning Friday, Nov. 13, 5 p.m. ET, through Friday, Nov. 27, 5 p.m. ET. With the exception of Remaining Native, all films are available to view worldwide. Anannual celebration of the best of Indigenous film, the Native Cinema Showcase includes documentaries, features, animations and short-format films by Indigenous filmmakers from across the Western Hemisphere and Arctic. This year's showcase includes four feature films and 10 short films. Represented in the lineup are five countries (Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, Uruguay and the U.S.) and six languages (Chatino, Chuukese, Dene, Inuktitut, K'iche' and Numu).
Native Cinema Showcase received support from The Walt Disney Company.
Feature Films
La Raya
(Mexico, 2024, 80 min.)
Director: Yolanda Cruz (Chatino)
Spanish and Chatino with English subtitles
La Raya is a coming-of-age story set in a secluded Oaxacan mountain village, where the sudden, magical arrival of a refrigerator upends the life of a clever young girl named Sotera. Spotting an opportunity, Sotera tries to sell the anomaly, only for the fridge to begin revealing unearthly apparitions to the community. Against the backdrop of these local wonders, Sotera confronts a deeply personal dilemma: her impending journey to join her mother in the United States. Ultimately, she must decide if her heart belongs in the American dream or the mystical roots of her hometown.
Medicine Ball
(USA, 2026, 80 min.)
Director: Leya Hale (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota/Dine)
Medicine Ball follows Native college athletes Lexus Redthunder and Leroy Staples Fairbanks IV as they navigate college life and basketball at the University of Minnesota Morris, located on the site of a former Native boarding school. Their journey reveals how basketball became a powerful symbol of resilience, hope and cultural pride in Native communities.
Remaining Native
(USA, 2025, 87 min.)
Director: Paige Bethmann (Haudenosaunee)
Ku Stevens is a remarkably talented high school runner torn between two worlds: One involves the demands of an elite, individualistic sport and the other the deeply rooted communal values of his Nevada Paiute Reservation. Without a coach, team or scouts, his dream of earning a running scholarship feels out of reach. But when the tragic discovery of thousands of undocumented graves of Native American children makes global headlines, Ku's personal history takes center stage. His great-grandfather had escaped an Indian boarding school at just 8 years old, surviving by running away on foot. In a powerful act of remembrance, Ku decides to retrace that grueling 50-mile escape route. His journey concludes at the former boarding school's cemetery, where he brings people together to honor and mourn the young lives lost there.
Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband)
(Canada, 2025, 100 min.)
Director: Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk)
Inuktitut with English subtitles
Content advisory: contains scenes of physical violence
In 2000 BCE Igloolik, Nunavut, the lives of star-crossed teenage lovers Kaujak and Sapa are irrevocably changed. Promised to each other since birth, their bond is shattered when Kaujak's father dies and her mother marries a man from a distant camp. The promise of a better future turns into a desperate struggle as Kaujak is besieged by aggressive suitors backed by a powerful, evil shaman. Despite the pressure, Kaujak holds fast to her heart, resisting all attempts to claim her and clinging to the hope that Sapa will return to make good on their childhood pledge.
Short Films
Becoming Buffalo
(USA, 2025, 25 min.)
Director: Montana Cypress (Miccosukee)
This film profiles Miccosukee tribal leader Buffalo Tiger who led an 11-member Miccosukee delegation to Cuba amid Cold War tensions.
Deneege Lel Ghu Kk'ots'eedeneeyh Te Hel Hoozoonh Ts'e Denots'edeneeyh/We Get Better When We Tan Moose Hides
(USA, 2026, 5 min.)
Director: Brittany Woods-Orrison (Koyukon Dene)
Dene with English subtitles
Content advisory: contains scenes of hunting, trapping, and preparing of animals
The tradition of tanning hides with brains was once practiced by every Dene person in Alaska. An art that was nearly lost by assimilation, Kathleen Hildebrand works with a group of Dene women at her urban backyard hide camp in the heart of Chen'o (Fairbanks) to revive this tradition.
Do You Speak Paiute?
(USA, 2025, 4 min.)
Director: Taylor Uchytil (Agai Dicutta Walker River Paiute)
Numu and English with English subtitles
The filmmaker explores how her family and community preserve cultural knowledge amid the challenges of language revitalization.
Iikaiksimatsa'pao'p: Grateful To Be on the Land
(Canada, 2025, 13 min.)
Director: Trevor Solway (Blackfoot)
This film follows Cassie Ayoungman, founder of Soul of Miistaki and member of the Siksika Nation, on her journey to bring the healing power of the mountains to those within her community. Determined to break down barriers to climbing, she integrates Indigenous teachings and land-based learning into climbing clinics. In the process, she raises questions about representation, builds community and redefines what it means to be on the land.
Legend of Fry-Roti: Rise of the Dough
(USA, 2025, 9 min.)
Director: Sabrina Saleha (Navajo/Bengali)
When her Navajo and Bengali aunties clash in an epic culinary feud, one niece must blend her dual heritages to cook up her own sense of identity.
Redbird
(USA, 2024, 13 min.)
Director: Emma Barrow (Cherokee Nation)
English and Cherokee with English subtitles
A Cherokee woman fights to protect her niece from adoption by her white grandparents as she reckons with feeling distant from her own culture.
Saq Nikte y El Espiritu de la Mascara/Saq Nikte and the Spirit of the Mask
(Guatemala/Uruguay, 2025, 5 min.)
Director: Ester Weiner (Mayan)
K'iche' with English subtitles
In a forgotten community, an artisan girl puts an old K'iche' invocation to the test and summons a curious spirit into the world.
The Arrangements
(USA, 2025, 15 min.)
Director: Sonny Ganaden
English and Chuukese with English subtitles
In Hawaii, three Micronesian boys have just one day to prepare for a friend's funeral--and find the secret treasure he left behind.
Tule
(USA, 2024, 4 min.)
Director: Jocelyn Garcia (Pomo/Chicana)
Through poetic reflections on conversations with her elders, a modern Pomo girl finds her voice and a sense of purpose in advocating for Clear Lake's endangered tule plant.
Twisted Braid
(USA, 2025, 5 min.)
Director: Ricky-Thomas Serikawa (Native Hawaiian)
Named for the Hawaiian word meaning "to braid," Hilo is more than a place on Hawaii Island--it is a community tightly woven together and deeply rooted in the earth. Through poetry, this work explores how a shared devotion to culture, creativity and collective care can kindle light in a world that grows increasingly vast and distant.
* * *
About the Museum
In partnership with Native peoples and their allies, the National Museum of the American Indian fosters a richer shared human experience through a more informed understanding of Native peoples. For additional information, including hours and directions, visit AmericanIndian.si.edu. Follow the museum via social media @SmithsonianNMAI.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/national-museum-american-indian-presents-2026-native-cinema-showcase
National Air and Space Museum's 2027 Michael Collins Trophy Awarded to Charles Duke and the Artemis II Mission Team
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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National Air and Space Museum's 2027 Michael Collins Trophy Awarded to Charles Duke and the Artemis II Mission Team
November 10, 2026
The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum will award its 2027 Michael Collins Trophy to Charles Duke for Lifetime Achievement, and the Artemis II Mission Team will receive it for Current Achievement. These annual awards will be presented to the 2027 recipients at a ceremony Thursday, March 25, 2027, at the museum's building in Washington, D.C.
Established in 1985, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release: * * * National Air and Space Museum's 2027 Michael Collins Trophy Awarded to Charles Duke and the Artemis II Mission Team November 10, 2026 The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum will award its 2027 Michael Collins Trophy to Charles Duke for Lifetime Achievement, and the Artemis II Mission Team will receive it for Current Achievement. These annual awards will be presented to the 2027 recipients at a ceremony Thursday, March 25, 2027, at the museum's building in Washington, D.C. Established in 1985,the Michael Collins Trophy recognizes outstanding achievements in the fields of aerospace science and technology and their history. The winners receive a miniature version of "The Web of Space," a sculpture by artist John Safer. The trophy is named for Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins in recognition of his contributions to aerospace and his service to the museum as director during a critical time in its evolution.
"We are thrilled to announce the 2027 recipients of the Michael Collins Trophy," said Chris Browne, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the museum. "Gen. Duke and the Artemis II team exemplify the best of the American space program. Duke's work helped advance not only lunar science, but also operational techniques for crewed planetary exploration, field geology and astronaut training that continue to influence NASA's return to the moon under Artemis. Artemis II continues the important work of returning humans to the moon and inspired the nation this year with their mission that took humans further than we've gone before."
Lifetime Achievement Recipient--Charles M. "Charlie" Duke
Gen. Charles M. "Charlie" Duke is one of the most accomplished astronauts of the Apollo era and continues to be a powerful advocate for human space exploration and scientific discovery. Before joining NASA, Duke distinguished himself as an exceptional U.S. Air Force officer, pilot and aerospace engineer. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Duke served as a fighter pilot and later as an instructor at the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School, where he taught control systems and flew high-performance aircraft including the F-101, F-104 and T-33. After NASA selected Duke as an astronaut, he quickly became involved in the Apollo program.
In April 1972, as the lunar module pilot for Apollo 16, Duke became the 10th and youngest person ever to walk on the moon. During the mission, he and commander John Young explored the Descartes Highlands, the only Apollo landing site located in the lunar highlands terrain, which is an important analog for future Artemis missions to the moon's south polar region. Duke spent more than 71 hours on the lunar surface and conducted over 20 hours of extravehicular activity while helping collect approximately 213 pounds of lunar samples and performing extensive geologic investigations. Beyond Apollo 16, Duke played critical roles throughout the Apollo program, including serving as CAPCOM (capsule communicator) during the Apollo 11 moon landing. Following his NASA career, Duke continued contributing to aerospace education, public engagement and the preservation of Apollo's scientific and historical legacy. In recent years, he has also become an advocate for applying Apollo-era lessons to Artemis astronaut training and lunar exploration planning.
Current Achievement Recipient--Artemis II Mission Team
The Artemis II mission team completed the first crewed mission into deep space in over 50 years in April. The mission took the crew, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, around the moon and further than humans have ever traveled from Earth. During the mission, the crew observed and documented geologic features from orbit and tested a variety of technologies that will enable further space exploration. Artemis II laid the groundwork for more deep space exploration, including a planned landing on the moon on Artemis IV, the establishment of an extended human presence on the lunar surface and, eventually, the potential human exploration of Mars. The mission also marked a number of firsts for human exploration of space: Glover was the first African American on a lunar mission; Koch was the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit and around the moon; and Hansen was the first Canadian to travel to deep space. The Artemis astronauts and those supporting them on the ground embody expertise, curiosity and national pride while piloting a new way of conducting a moon mission--a new model of collaboration with an international group, rather than a space race like the previous Apollo missions.
More information about the Michael Collins Trophy and a complete list of past winners are available (https://airandspace.si.edu/michael-collins-trophy).
The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., is located at 650 Jefferson Drive S.W. and is open every day except Dec. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, but timed-entry passes are required to visit. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly, Virginia, near Washington Dulles International Airport and is open every day except Dec. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, timed-entry passes are not required, and parking is $15.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/national-air-and-space-museums-2027-michael-collins-trophy-awarded-charles-duke
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National Air and Space Museum's 2027 Michael Collins Trophy Awarded to Charles Duke and the Artemis II Mission Team
November 10, 2026
The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum will award its 2027 Michael Collins Trophy to Charles Duke for Lifetime Achievement, and the Artemis II Mission Team will receive it for Current Achievement. These annual awards will be presented to the 2027 recipients at a ceremony Thursday, March 25, 2027, at the museum's building in Washington, D.C.
Established in 1985, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release: * * * National Air and Space Museum's 2027 Michael Collins Trophy Awarded to Charles Duke and the Artemis II Mission Team November 10, 2026 The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum will award its 2027 Michael Collins Trophy to Charles Duke for Lifetime Achievement, and the Artemis II Mission Team will receive it for Current Achievement. These annual awards will be presented to the 2027 recipients at a ceremony Thursday, March 25, 2027, at the museum's building in Washington, D.C. Established in 1985,the Michael Collins Trophy recognizes outstanding achievements in the fields of aerospace science and technology and their history. The winners receive a miniature version of "The Web of Space," a sculpture by artist John Safer. The trophy is named for Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins in recognition of his contributions to aerospace and his service to the museum as director during a critical time in its evolution.
"We are thrilled to announce the 2027 recipients of the Michael Collins Trophy," said Chris Browne, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the museum. "Gen. Duke and the Artemis II team exemplify the best of the American space program. Duke's work helped advance not only lunar science, but also operational techniques for crewed planetary exploration, field geology and astronaut training that continue to influence NASA's return to the moon under Artemis. Artemis II continues the important work of returning humans to the moon and inspired the nation this year with their mission that took humans further than we've gone before."
Lifetime Achievement Recipient--Charles M. "Charlie" Duke
Gen. Charles M. "Charlie" Duke is one of the most accomplished astronauts of the Apollo era and continues to be a powerful advocate for human space exploration and scientific discovery. Before joining NASA, Duke distinguished himself as an exceptional U.S. Air Force officer, pilot and aerospace engineer. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Duke served as a fighter pilot and later as an instructor at the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School, where he taught control systems and flew high-performance aircraft including the F-101, F-104 and T-33. After NASA selected Duke as an astronaut, he quickly became involved in the Apollo program.
In April 1972, as the lunar module pilot for Apollo 16, Duke became the 10th and youngest person ever to walk on the moon. During the mission, he and commander John Young explored the Descartes Highlands, the only Apollo landing site located in the lunar highlands terrain, which is an important analog for future Artemis missions to the moon's south polar region. Duke spent more than 71 hours on the lunar surface and conducted over 20 hours of extravehicular activity while helping collect approximately 213 pounds of lunar samples and performing extensive geologic investigations. Beyond Apollo 16, Duke played critical roles throughout the Apollo program, including serving as CAPCOM (capsule communicator) during the Apollo 11 moon landing. Following his NASA career, Duke continued contributing to aerospace education, public engagement and the preservation of Apollo's scientific and historical legacy. In recent years, he has also become an advocate for applying Apollo-era lessons to Artemis astronaut training and lunar exploration planning.
Current Achievement Recipient--Artemis II Mission Team
The Artemis II mission team completed the first crewed mission into deep space in over 50 years in April. The mission took the crew, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, around the moon and further than humans have ever traveled from Earth. During the mission, the crew observed and documented geologic features from orbit and tested a variety of technologies that will enable further space exploration. Artemis II laid the groundwork for more deep space exploration, including a planned landing on the moon on Artemis IV, the establishment of an extended human presence on the lunar surface and, eventually, the potential human exploration of Mars. The mission also marked a number of firsts for human exploration of space: Glover was the first African American on a lunar mission; Koch was the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit and around the moon; and Hansen was the first Canadian to travel to deep space. The Artemis astronauts and those supporting them on the ground embody expertise, curiosity and national pride while piloting a new way of conducting a moon mission--a new model of collaboration with an international group, rather than a space race like the previous Apollo missions.
More information about the Michael Collins Trophy and a complete list of past winners are available (https://airandspace.si.edu/michael-collins-trophy).
The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., is located at 650 Jefferson Drive S.W. and is open every day except Dec. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, but timed-entry passes are required to visit. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly, Virginia, near Washington Dulles International Airport and is open every day except Dec. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, timed-entry passes are not required, and parking is $15.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/national-air-and-space-museums-2027-michael-collins-trophy-awarded-charles-duke
U.S. Postal Service reports fiscal year 2026 results
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The U.S. Postal Service posted the following news release:
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U.S. Postal Service reports fiscal year 2026 results
*
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Postal Service today announced its financial results for the 2026 fiscal year ended September 30. Net loss for the year under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) totaled $6.5 billion, compared to $9.0 billion for the prior year.
This $2.5 billion decrease in net loss is attributed to a $2.4 billion increase in operating revenue, along with a $2.4 billion decrease in workers' compensation expense and a $277 million ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The U.S. Postal Service posted the following news release: * * * U.S. Postal Service reports fiscal year 2026 results * WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Postal Service today announced its financial results for the 2026 fiscal year ended September 30. Net loss for the year under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) totaled $6.5 billion, compared to $9.0 billion for the prior year. This $2.5 billion decrease in net loss is attributed to a $2.4 billion increase in operating revenue, along with a $2.4 billion decrease in workers' compensation expense and a $277 milliondecrease in retirement expenses. These improvements were partially offset by increases in other operating expenses of $894 million, retiree health benefits of $726 million, compensation and benefits of $456 million, transportation expense of $225 million, along with the net decrease in interest income (expense) of $252 million, and a decrease in other revenue of $106 million.
Controllable loss, which excludes certain expenses that are not controllable by management, was $2.4 billion for the year, compared to controllable loss of $2.7 billion for the prior year.
"While the Postal Service continues to face systemic challenges associated with the business model and regulatory framework established by Congress, the results we are reporting for the year demonstrate solid improvements in revenue generation, cost control and service performance," said Postmaster General David Steiner. "Because of our ongoing financial crisis, we are continuing to balance the needs of our daily business operations with our need to conserve cash. We are also seeking legislative actions to establish a better and more durable business model for the Postal Service and for the benefit of the American public we serve."
Total operating revenue was $82.9 billion for the year, an increase of $2.4 billion, or 3.0 percent, compared to the prior year. The improvement continues to be driven by expansion and positive response to our USPS Ground Advantage Shipping and Packages subcategory and strength in our Marketing Mail category. This was supplemented by price increases in our First-Class Mail and Marketing Mail categories and a transportation-related, time-limited price increase for certain offerings in the Shipping and Packages category. These increases were partially offset by declining volumes in the First-Class Mail and Shipping and Packages categories.
Shipping and Packages revenue increased $1.7 billion, or 5.1 percent, on a volume decline of 359 million pieces, or 5.3 percent, compared to the prior year. Marketing Mail revenue increased $843 million, or 5.3 percent, on a volume decline of 640 million pieces, or 1.1 percent, compared to the prior year. First-Class Mail revenue increased $311 million, or 1.2 percent, on a volume decline of 2.2 billion pieces, or 5.1 percent, compared to the prior year.
Total operating expenses were $89.4 billion for the year, a decrease of $404 million, or 0.4 percent, compared to the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to the impact of actuarial revaluation of existing workers' compensation cases and discount rates on workers' compensation costs, as well as a decrease in retirement expenses. These impacts were partially offset by higher other operating expenses, accrued retiree health benefits top-up expenses, higher compensation and benefits expenses, and the impacts of rising fuel costs that led to higher transportation expenses.
In 2026, the Postal Service continued efforts to address its financial challenges, which included lowering costs by streamlining networks and optimizing air and surface options; reducing 19 million work hours; and implementing other cash conservation efforts. The organization also increased prices on many products and services. Price increases have been and will continue to be part of the Postal Service's strategy in achieving long-term financial sustainability. These changes also provide better alignment between the Postal Service and its competitors within the shipping industry.
Despite aggressively pursuing self-help avenues within the mandated business model, the organization's financial position remains precarious and urgently needs the following administrative and legislative reforms:
Additionally, the Postal Service continues to request that Congress eliminate certain uneconomical aspects of our legislative business model or help fund them through modest appropriations.
In April 2026, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) provided some relief in the form of a Temporary Conditional Waiver of required payments towards the annual pension amortization obligations. In addition, the organization elected to suspend payments for the bi-weekly normal cost contributions for employees covered under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) and deferred approximately $2.6 billion this year. Pension obligations will have to be eventually satisfied, therefore these measures do not represent long-term solutions for the Postal Service.
The Postal Service continues to urge the PRC to provide needed flexibility to its regulations in order to help enable long-term financial sustainability and continue providing the nation with reliable, affordable, universal mail service.
"Our financial results for the year reflect improvement compared to the prior year, as we continue to grow revenue and manage the costs under our control, transportation network consolidation, and reduction of work hours," said Chief Financial Officer Luke Grossmann. "However, our actions alone cannot resolve the challenges brought on by an outdated business model. We will continue to do our part but we need meaningful legislative, regulatory, and administrative reforms to propel the Postal Service toward long-term financial sustainability."
Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Revenue and Volume by Service Category Compared to Prior Year
Selected Fiscal Year 2026 Results of Operations and Non-GAAP Measures
This news release includes controllable loss which is not calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. This non-GAAP measure is calculated as net loss adjusted for costs outside of management's control, including the accrued retiree health benefits top-up expense, workers' compensation (benefit) expense caused by actuarial revaluation and discount rate changes, and the amortization of the CSRS and FERS unfunded liabilities. These latter costs not only are largely outside of management's control but also can fluctuate significantly based on actuarial assumptions and interest rates.
This non-GAAP measure provides meaningful information to assist users of the Postal Service's financial statements to more fully understand the financial results and assess the Postal Service's ongoing performance because it excludes items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, underlying operations.
Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Postal Service's reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. This adjusted financial information does not represent a comprehensive basis of accounting.
The following table reconciles GAAP net loss to the presented non-GAAP financial measure for the years ended September 30, 2026 and 2025:
1 Expense for the accrual for the annual Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund (PSRHBF) top-up payment due to OPM by September 30 of the respective fiscal year. The annual top-up payment is based on the difference between PSRHBF annuitant premiums and net claims costs, but only in the event premium payments exceed the claims costs.
2 Represents workers' compensation non-cash (benefit) expense resulting from fluctuations in discount rates, changes in assumptions, valuation of new claims, revaluation of existing claims, and the administrative fee paid to the U.S. Department of Labor, less current year claim payments.
3 Expense for the annual payments due September 30 of the respective year, calculated by OPM, to amortize the unfunded CSRS retirement obligation. Payments are to be made through 2043 based on OPM invoices.
4 Expense for the annual payments due September 30 of the respective year, calculated by OPM, to amortize the unfunded FERS retirement obligation. Payments are to be made over a 30-year rolling period based on OPM invoices.
Financial results in the Form 10-K are available at http://about.usps.com/what/financials/.
Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements contained in this release represent the Postal Service's best estimates of known and anticipated trends believed relevant to future operations. However, actual results may differ significantly from current estimates. Certain forward-looking statements included in this release use such words as "may," "will," "could," "expect," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "project," or other similar terminology. These forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties, reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance as of the date of this report. The Postal Service has no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
***
Original text here: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2026/1110-usps-reports-fiscal-year-2026-results.htm (TNSmrp)
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U.S. Postal Service reports fiscal year 2026 results
*
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Postal Service today announced its financial results for the 2026 fiscal year ended September 30. Net loss for the year under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) totaled $6.5 billion, compared to $9.0 billion for the prior year.
This $2.5 billion decrease in net loss is attributed to a $2.4 billion increase in operating revenue, along with a $2.4 billion decrease in workers' compensation expense and a $277 million ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The U.S. Postal Service posted the following news release: * * * U.S. Postal Service reports fiscal year 2026 results * WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Postal Service today announced its financial results for the 2026 fiscal year ended September 30. Net loss for the year under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) totaled $6.5 billion, compared to $9.0 billion for the prior year. This $2.5 billion decrease in net loss is attributed to a $2.4 billion increase in operating revenue, along with a $2.4 billion decrease in workers' compensation expense and a $277 milliondecrease in retirement expenses. These improvements were partially offset by increases in other operating expenses of $894 million, retiree health benefits of $726 million, compensation and benefits of $456 million, transportation expense of $225 million, along with the net decrease in interest income (expense) of $252 million, and a decrease in other revenue of $106 million.
Controllable loss, which excludes certain expenses that are not controllable by management, was $2.4 billion for the year, compared to controllable loss of $2.7 billion for the prior year.
"While the Postal Service continues to face systemic challenges associated with the business model and regulatory framework established by Congress, the results we are reporting for the year demonstrate solid improvements in revenue generation, cost control and service performance," said Postmaster General David Steiner. "Because of our ongoing financial crisis, we are continuing to balance the needs of our daily business operations with our need to conserve cash. We are also seeking legislative actions to establish a better and more durable business model for the Postal Service and for the benefit of the American public we serve."
Total operating revenue was $82.9 billion for the year, an increase of $2.4 billion, or 3.0 percent, compared to the prior year. The improvement continues to be driven by expansion and positive response to our USPS Ground Advantage Shipping and Packages subcategory and strength in our Marketing Mail category. This was supplemented by price increases in our First-Class Mail and Marketing Mail categories and a transportation-related, time-limited price increase for certain offerings in the Shipping and Packages category. These increases were partially offset by declining volumes in the First-Class Mail and Shipping and Packages categories.
Shipping and Packages revenue increased $1.7 billion, or 5.1 percent, on a volume decline of 359 million pieces, or 5.3 percent, compared to the prior year. Marketing Mail revenue increased $843 million, or 5.3 percent, on a volume decline of 640 million pieces, or 1.1 percent, compared to the prior year. First-Class Mail revenue increased $311 million, or 1.2 percent, on a volume decline of 2.2 billion pieces, or 5.1 percent, compared to the prior year.
Total operating expenses were $89.4 billion for the year, a decrease of $404 million, or 0.4 percent, compared to the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to the impact of actuarial revaluation of existing workers' compensation cases and discount rates on workers' compensation costs, as well as a decrease in retirement expenses. These impacts were partially offset by higher other operating expenses, accrued retiree health benefits top-up expenses, higher compensation and benefits expenses, and the impacts of rising fuel costs that led to higher transportation expenses.
In 2026, the Postal Service continued efforts to address its financial challenges, which included lowering costs by streamlining networks and optimizing air and surface options; reducing 19 million work hours; and implementing other cash conservation efforts. The organization also increased prices on many products and services. Price increases have been and will continue to be part of the Postal Service's strategy in achieving long-term financial sustainability. These changes also provide better alignment between the Postal Service and its competitors within the shipping industry.
Despite aggressively pursuing self-help avenues within the mandated business model, the organization's financial position remains precarious and urgently needs the following administrative and legislative reforms:
Additionally, the Postal Service continues to request that Congress eliminate certain uneconomical aspects of our legislative business model or help fund them through modest appropriations.
In April 2026, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) provided some relief in the form of a Temporary Conditional Waiver of required payments towards the annual pension amortization obligations. In addition, the organization elected to suspend payments for the bi-weekly normal cost contributions for employees covered under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) and deferred approximately $2.6 billion this year. Pension obligations will have to be eventually satisfied, therefore these measures do not represent long-term solutions for the Postal Service.
The Postal Service continues to urge the PRC to provide needed flexibility to its regulations in order to help enable long-term financial sustainability and continue providing the nation with reliable, affordable, universal mail service.
"Our financial results for the year reflect improvement compared to the prior year, as we continue to grow revenue and manage the costs under our control, transportation network consolidation, and reduction of work hours," said Chief Financial Officer Luke Grossmann. "However, our actions alone cannot resolve the challenges brought on by an outdated business model. We will continue to do our part but we need meaningful legislative, regulatory, and administrative reforms to propel the Postal Service toward long-term financial sustainability."
Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Revenue and Volume by Service Category Compared to Prior Year
Selected Fiscal Year 2026 Results of Operations and Non-GAAP Measures
This news release includes controllable loss which is not calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. This non-GAAP measure is calculated as net loss adjusted for costs outside of management's control, including the accrued retiree health benefits top-up expense, workers' compensation (benefit) expense caused by actuarial revaluation and discount rate changes, and the amortization of the CSRS and FERS unfunded liabilities. These latter costs not only are largely outside of management's control but also can fluctuate significantly based on actuarial assumptions and interest rates.
This non-GAAP measure provides meaningful information to assist users of the Postal Service's financial statements to more fully understand the financial results and assess the Postal Service's ongoing performance because it excludes items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, underlying operations.
Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Postal Service's reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. This adjusted financial information does not represent a comprehensive basis of accounting.
The following table reconciles GAAP net loss to the presented non-GAAP financial measure for the years ended September 30, 2026 and 2025:
1 Expense for the accrual for the annual Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund (PSRHBF) top-up payment due to OPM by September 30 of the respective fiscal year. The annual top-up payment is based on the difference between PSRHBF annuitant premiums and net claims costs, but only in the event premium payments exceed the claims costs.
2 Represents workers' compensation non-cash (benefit) expense resulting from fluctuations in discount rates, changes in assumptions, valuation of new claims, revaluation of existing claims, and the administrative fee paid to the U.S. Department of Labor, less current year claim payments.
3 Expense for the annual payments due September 30 of the respective year, calculated by OPM, to amortize the unfunded CSRS retirement obligation. Payments are to be made through 2043 based on OPM invoices.
4 Expense for the annual payments due September 30 of the respective year, calculated by OPM, to amortize the unfunded FERS retirement obligation. Payments are to be made over a 30-year rolling period based on OPM invoices.
Financial results in the Form 10-K are available at http://about.usps.com/what/financials/.
Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements contained in this release represent the Postal Service's best estimates of known and anticipated trends believed relevant to future operations. However, actual results may differ significantly from current estimates. Certain forward-looking statements included in this release use such words as "may," "will," "could," "expect," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "project," or other similar terminology. These forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties, reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance as of the date of this report. The Postal Service has no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
***
Original text here: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2026/1110-usps-reports-fiscal-year-2026-results.htm (TNSmrp)
SBA Establishes New 7(a) Equity Flexibility for Veterans' Small Business Acquisitions
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release:
* * *
SBA Establishes New 7(a) Equity Flexibility for Veterans' Small Business Acquisitions
Flexible Financing Option Eliminates Personal Equity Requirement
November 9, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Today, on the first day of National Veterans Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a major policy reform designed to make it easier for military veterans to buy a small business. Beginning this Veterans Day, the SBA is implementing new flexibility for veteran entrepreneurs who ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release: * * * SBA Establishes New 7(a) Equity Flexibility for Veterans' Small Business Acquisitions Flexible Financing Option Eliminates Personal Equity Requirement November 9, 2026 WASHINGTON -- Today, on the first day of National Veterans Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a major policy reform designed to make it easier for military veterans to buy a small business. Beginning this Veterans Day, the SBA is implementing new flexibility for veteran entrepreneurs whoare acquiring existing small businesses through the 7(a) Loan Program, allowing them to raise their required 10% down payment from permitted outside sources. The reform recognizes veterans' service to the country and will remain in place through Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27). It will give veteran entrepreneurs greater flexibility to secure financing and an easier onramp to entrepreneurship.
"As we worked to modernize our lending programs, we saw a clear opportunity to both empower veteran entrepreneurs and to address the Silver Tsunami," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "With today's policy update, the SBA is empowering veterans to acquire an existing business by modifying the requirements of the 7(a) Loan Program. By providing veteran buyers greater flexibility to meet the equity requirements, we are opening up more pathways to entrepreneurship for proven leaders and problem solvers - and our next generation of Main Street job creators."
SBA's 7(a) Loan Program requires buyers acquiring an existing business to provide an equity contribution equal to at least 10% of total project costs. Previously, certain outside funding sources--including seller standby notes, investor capital, and external equity contributions--could provide no more than half of that contribution. Under the new policy, eligible veteran buyers can raise the full required amount from permitted outside sources, giving them greater flexibility to finance an acquisition without being solely reliant on personal savings.
The policy adjustment addresses a critical bottleneck in the business transition market. According to SBA's Office of Advocacy, 51% of owners of businesses with employees are age 55 or older, underscoring the importance of preparing the next generation of business owners. SBA's rule change equips veteran buyers to step in and acquire established businesses with greater flexibility to finance the required equity contribution.
Key benefits of the policy update include:
* 100% Capital Structuring Flexibility: Veterans can fulfill the total 10% acquisition equity requirement through permitted outside funding sources.
* Preservation of Personal Wealth: In recognition of their service to our nation, veterans may retain their personal savings and liquidity to support post-acquisition operations rather than locking it into initial transaction equity.
* Accelerated Veteran Business Ownership: The reform allows veteran buyers to leverage the leadership experience gained serving in the military and improves their competitive position to acquire Main Street enterprises.
This reform expands upon the Trump SBA's broader agenda to support veteran-owned businesses, strengthen the defense industrial base, and enhance our core lending programs to meet the needs of modern businesses. For more information on SBA programs and resources for veteran entrepreneurs, visit www.sba.gov/veterans.
* * *
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://legacy.sba.gov/article/2026/11/09/sba-establishes-new-7a-equity-flexibility-veterans-small-business-acquisitions
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SBA Establishes New 7(a) Equity Flexibility for Veterans' Small Business Acquisitions
Flexible Financing Option Eliminates Personal Equity Requirement
November 9, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Today, on the first day of National Veterans Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a major policy reform designed to make it easier for military veterans to buy a small business. Beginning this Veterans Day, the SBA is implementing new flexibility for veteran entrepreneurs who ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release: * * * SBA Establishes New 7(a) Equity Flexibility for Veterans' Small Business Acquisitions Flexible Financing Option Eliminates Personal Equity Requirement November 9, 2026 WASHINGTON -- Today, on the first day of National Veterans Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a major policy reform designed to make it easier for military veterans to buy a small business. Beginning this Veterans Day, the SBA is implementing new flexibility for veteran entrepreneurs whoare acquiring existing small businesses through the 7(a) Loan Program, allowing them to raise their required 10% down payment from permitted outside sources. The reform recognizes veterans' service to the country and will remain in place through Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27). It will give veteran entrepreneurs greater flexibility to secure financing and an easier onramp to entrepreneurship.
"As we worked to modernize our lending programs, we saw a clear opportunity to both empower veteran entrepreneurs and to address the Silver Tsunami," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "With today's policy update, the SBA is empowering veterans to acquire an existing business by modifying the requirements of the 7(a) Loan Program. By providing veteran buyers greater flexibility to meet the equity requirements, we are opening up more pathways to entrepreneurship for proven leaders and problem solvers - and our next generation of Main Street job creators."
SBA's 7(a) Loan Program requires buyers acquiring an existing business to provide an equity contribution equal to at least 10% of total project costs. Previously, certain outside funding sources--including seller standby notes, investor capital, and external equity contributions--could provide no more than half of that contribution. Under the new policy, eligible veteran buyers can raise the full required amount from permitted outside sources, giving them greater flexibility to finance an acquisition without being solely reliant on personal savings.
The policy adjustment addresses a critical bottleneck in the business transition market. According to SBA's Office of Advocacy, 51% of owners of businesses with employees are age 55 or older, underscoring the importance of preparing the next generation of business owners. SBA's rule change equips veteran buyers to step in and acquire established businesses with greater flexibility to finance the required equity contribution.
Key benefits of the policy update include:
* 100% Capital Structuring Flexibility: Veterans can fulfill the total 10% acquisition equity requirement through permitted outside funding sources.
* Preservation of Personal Wealth: In recognition of their service to our nation, veterans may retain their personal savings and liquidity to support post-acquisition operations rather than locking it into initial transaction equity.
* Accelerated Veteran Business Ownership: The reform allows veteran buyers to leverage the leadership experience gained serving in the military and improves their competitive position to acquire Main Street enterprises.
This reform expands upon the Trump SBA's broader agenda to support veteran-owned businesses, strengthen the defense industrial base, and enhance our core lending programs to meet the needs of modern businesses. For more information on SBA programs and resources for veteran entrepreneurs, visit www.sba.gov/veterans.
* * *
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://legacy.sba.gov/article/2026/11/09/sba-establishes-new-7a-equity-flexibility-veterans-small-business-acquisitions
SBA Doubles Federal Contracting Goal to Expand Opportunity for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release:
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SBA Doubles Federal Contracting Goal to Expand Opportunity for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses
10% Contracting Goal Emphasizes Veteran Entrepreneurs
November 9, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Today, on the first day of National Veterans Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced new Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 small business contracting goals to emphasize federal contracting with both veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs). Under the historic ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release: * * * SBA Doubles Federal Contracting Goal to Expand Opportunity for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses 10% Contracting Goal Emphasizes Veteran Entrepreneurs November 9, 2026 WASHINGTON -- Today, on the first day of National Veterans Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced new Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 small business contracting goals to emphasize federal contracting with both veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs). Under the historicguidance, the agency-level goal for veteran prime contracting and subcontracting doubles from 5% to 10%, advancing President Trump's commitment to strengthen America's industrial base, invest in small businesses, and support those who served our nation.
"The Trump SBA is proud to establish historic federal contracting goals - doubling the 5% objective to 10% - for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, who are among the most competent and critical contractors," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "Veteran entrepreneurs deliver unmatched products and services that bolster our Main Streets and our military readiness. Traveling the country, I've had the honor of meeting with many veteran-led businesses. In the defense industry, small businesses make up 70% of the industrial base, and they underpin the Arsenal of Freedom. We are proud to offer our nation's heroes new opportunities to grow their small businesses and create more jobs - and we are grateful for their service to our nation as essential suppliers and innovators."
The new contracting target will encourage more federal investment in America's veteran entrepreneurs - expanding opportunities for them to bring their skills, leadership, and productive power to federal contracting where they often serve as key suppliers to the defense industrial base. The increased goal comes after a strong year of federal contracting for veterans in FY25, when the Trump Administration exceeded the government-wide 5% SDVOSB contracting goal with $32.5 billion in federal prime contracts awarded to SDVOSBs.
The announcement also builds on SBA's efforts to prioritize contracting certifications for SDVOSBs. Last year, the agency cleared a Biden-era backlog of more than 2,700 Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) applications that had accumulated after the prior Administration diverted resources away from VetCert to increase certification approvals for the 8(a) Program. In FY26, the SBA subsequently approved over 18,000 contracting certifications for veteran-owned small businesses.
SBA has set the following prime contracting and subcontracting goals for federal agencies in FY27:
FY27 Final Goals
Category ... Prime ... Subcontracting
Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB) ... 5.00% ... 5.00%
Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) ... 5.00% ... 5.00%
Veteran-Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) ... 10.00% ... 10.00%
HUBZone ... 3.00% ... 3.00%
The Small Business Act requires the federal government to establish annual contracting goals that provide the maximum practicable opportunity for small businesses, including service-disabled veteran-owned, women-owned, small disadvantaged, and HUBZone firms. SBA works with agencies to set prime contracting and subcontracting goals that collectively support government-wide requirements, including the statutory target of awarding at least 23% of federal prime contracting dollars to small businesses - a goal that the federal government has exceeded for eleven consecutive years. SBA measures progress through its annual Small Business Procurement Scorecard, promoting transparency and holding agencies accountable for expanding small business participation in the federal marketplace.
* * *
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
* * *
Original text here: https://legacy.sba.gov/article/2026/11/09/sba-doubles-federal-contracting-goal-expand-opportunity-veteran-owned-small-businesses
* * *
SBA Doubles Federal Contracting Goal to Expand Opportunity for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses
10% Contracting Goal Emphasizes Veteran Entrepreneurs
November 9, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Today, on the first day of National Veterans Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced new Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 small business contracting goals to emphasize federal contracting with both veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs). Under the historic ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release: * * * SBA Doubles Federal Contracting Goal to Expand Opportunity for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses 10% Contracting Goal Emphasizes Veteran Entrepreneurs November 9, 2026 WASHINGTON -- Today, on the first day of National Veterans Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced new Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 small business contracting goals to emphasize federal contracting with both veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs). Under the historicguidance, the agency-level goal for veteran prime contracting and subcontracting doubles from 5% to 10%, advancing President Trump's commitment to strengthen America's industrial base, invest in small businesses, and support those who served our nation.
"The Trump SBA is proud to establish historic federal contracting goals - doubling the 5% objective to 10% - for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, who are among the most competent and critical contractors," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "Veteran entrepreneurs deliver unmatched products and services that bolster our Main Streets and our military readiness. Traveling the country, I've had the honor of meeting with many veteran-led businesses. In the defense industry, small businesses make up 70% of the industrial base, and they underpin the Arsenal of Freedom. We are proud to offer our nation's heroes new opportunities to grow their small businesses and create more jobs - and we are grateful for their service to our nation as essential suppliers and innovators."
The new contracting target will encourage more federal investment in America's veteran entrepreneurs - expanding opportunities for them to bring their skills, leadership, and productive power to federal contracting where they often serve as key suppliers to the defense industrial base. The increased goal comes after a strong year of federal contracting for veterans in FY25, when the Trump Administration exceeded the government-wide 5% SDVOSB contracting goal with $32.5 billion in federal prime contracts awarded to SDVOSBs.
The announcement also builds on SBA's efforts to prioritize contracting certifications for SDVOSBs. Last year, the agency cleared a Biden-era backlog of more than 2,700 Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) applications that had accumulated after the prior Administration diverted resources away from VetCert to increase certification approvals for the 8(a) Program. In FY26, the SBA subsequently approved over 18,000 contracting certifications for veteran-owned small businesses.
SBA has set the following prime contracting and subcontracting goals for federal agencies in FY27:
FY27 Final Goals
Category ... Prime ... Subcontracting
Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB) ... 5.00% ... 5.00%
Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) ... 5.00% ... 5.00%
Veteran-Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) ... 10.00% ... 10.00%
HUBZone ... 3.00% ... 3.00%
The Small Business Act requires the federal government to establish annual contracting goals that provide the maximum practicable opportunity for small businesses, including service-disabled veteran-owned, women-owned, small disadvantaged, and HUBZone firms. SBA works with agencies to set prime contracting and subcontracting goals that collectively support government-wide requirements, including the statutory target of awarding at least 23% of federal prime contracting dollars to small businesses - a goal that the federal government has exceeded for eleven consecutive years. SBA measures progress through its annual Small Business Procurement Scorecard, promoting transparency and holding agencies accountable for expanding small business participation in the federal marketplace.
* * *
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
* * *
Original text here: https://legacy.sba.gov/article/2026/11/09/sba-doubles-federal-contracting-goal-expand-opportunity-veteran-owned-small-businesses
Fannie Mae Announces Winner of Twenty-Ninth Community Impact Pool of Non-Performing Loans
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- Fannie Mae issued the following news release:
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Fannie Mae Announces Winner of Twenty-Ninth Community Impact Pool of Non-Performing Loans
*
Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) today shared the results of its twenty-ninth Community Impact Pool (CIP) of non-performing loans, announced on October 8, 2026. The winning bidder was VRMTG ACQ, LLC. The transaction is expected to close on December 15, 2026. Fannie Mae marketed this sale in collaboration with BofA Securities, Inc.
* The CIP included 27 loans with an aggregate unpaid principal balance (UPB) of $5,725,205; average loan ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- Fannie Mae issued the following news release: * * * Fannie Mae Announces Winner of Twenty-Ninth Community Impact Pool of Non-Performing Loans * Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) today shared the results of its twenty-ninth Community Impact Pool (CIP) of non-performing loans, announced on October 8, 2026. The winning bidder was VRMTG ACQ, LLC. The transaction is expected to close on December 15, 2026. Fannie Mae marketed this sale in collaboration with BofA Securities, Inc. * The CIP included 27 loans with an aggregate unpaid principal balance (UPB) of $5,725,205; average loansize of $212,045; weighted average note rate of 4.82%; and weighted average broker's price opinion (BPO) loan-to-value ratio of 57%.
The cover bid, which is the second highest bid for the pool, was 93.75% of UPB (54.01% of BPO).
All purchasers are required to honor any approved or in-process loss mitigation efforts at the time of sale, including loan modifications. In addition, purchasers must offer delinquent borrowers a waterfall of loss mitigation options, including loan modifications, which may include principal forgiveness, prior to initiating foreclosure on any loan, not secured by property which is vacant or condemned at the time of closing. In the event a foreclosure cannot be prevented, the owner of the loan must market the property to owner-occupants and non-profits first, similar to Fannie Mae's FirstLook(r) program.
Interested bidders can register for ongoing announcements, training, and other information here. Fannie Mae will also post information about specific pools available for purchase on that page.
***
Original text here: https://www.fanniemae.com/newsroom/fannie-mae-news/winner-twenty-ninth-community-impact-pool-non-performing-loans
* * *
Fannie Mae Announces Winner of Twenty-Ninth Community Impact Pool of Non-Performing Loans
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Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) today shared the results of its twenty-ninth Community Impact Pool (CIP) of non-performing loans, announced on October 8, 2026. The winning bidder was VRMTG ACQ, LLC. The transaction is expected to close on December 15, 2026. Fannie Mae marketed this sale in collaboration with BofA Securities, Inc.
* The CIP included 27 loans with an aggregate unpaid principal balance (UPB) of $5,725,205; average loan ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- Fannie Mae issued the following news release: * * * Fannie Mae Announces Winner of Twenty-Ninth Community Impact Pool of Non-Performing Loans * Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) today shared the results of its twenty-ninth Community Impact Pool (CIP) of non-performing loans, announced on October 8, 2026. The winning bidder was VRMTG ACQ, LLC. The transaction is expected to close on December 15, 2026. Fannie Mae marketed this sale in collaboration with BofA Securities, Inc. * The CIP included 27 loans with an aggregate unpaid principal balance (UPB) of $5,725,205; average loansize of $212,045; weighted average note rate of 4.82%; and weighted average broker's price opinion (BPO) loan-to-value ratio of 57%.
The cover bid, which is the second highest bid for the pool, was 93.75% of UPB (54.01% of BPO).
All purchasers are required to honor any approved or in-process loss mitigation efforts at the time of sale, including loan modifications. In addition, purchasers must offer delinquent borrowers a waterfall of loss mitigation options, including loan modifications, which may include principal forgiveness, prior to initiating foreclosure on any loan, not secured by property which is vacant or condemned at the time of closing. In the event a foreclosure cannot be prevented, the owner of the loan must market the property to owner-occupants and non-profits first, similar to Fannie Mae's FirstLook(r) program.
Interested bidders can register for ongoing announcements, training, and other information here. Fannie Mae will also post information about specific pools available for purchase on that page.
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Original text here: https://www.fanniemae.com/newsroom/fannie-mae-news/winner-twenty-ninth-community-impact-pool-non-performing-loans
EPA Hosts First-Ever Public Demonstration of Emerging Technologies to Identify Lead Service Lines
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Hosts First-Ever Public Demonstration of Emerging Technologies to Identify Lead Service Lines
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Demonstrations at EPA's New Jersey research test bed highlights innovative tools that will help water systems protect children's health and identify lead pipes
Contact Information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)
WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted its first-ever public demonstration of promising, emerging technologies to help combat lead exposure at EPA's ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: * * * EPA Hosts First-Ever Public Demonstration of Emerging Technologies to Identify Lead Service Lines * Demonstrations at EPA's New Jersey research test bed highlights innovative tools that will help water systems protect children's health and identify lead pipes Contact Information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov) WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted its first-ever public demonstration of promising, emerging technologies to help combat lead exposure at EPA'sLead Service Line Identification Test Bed in Edison, New Jersey. The technologies on display have the potential to identify lead service lines faster, cheaper, and with less disturbance than traditional methods.
EPA Region 2 Administrator Michael Martucci and Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions (OASES) Associate Administrator Teresa Booeshaghi witnessed the technology demonstrations from researchers at Dartmouth College and Drexel University. The Trump EPA is committed to harnessing gold standard science and unleashing American innovation to reduce lead exposure, especially for young kids, who are particularly vulnerable to environmental hazards.
"EPA's Lead Service Line Test Bed provides researchers with a dedicated space to evaluate innovative technologies under controlled conditions and assess their potential to address a critical public health challenge," said Teresa Booeshaghi, Associate Administrator of OASES. "By advancing the science behind lead service line identification we can help more reliably address the issue while reducing the need for expensive excavation."
"You can't replace what you can't find. Giving water systems better, less labor-intensive ways to locate lead pipes could make a tremendous difference for communities across the country," said Michael Martucci, EPA Region 2 Administrator. "This is EPA putting gold-standard science to work on a serious, costly problem that cities across America have struggled with for decades."
EPA opened the Lead Service Line Identification Test Bed at the Edison Environmental Center in 2025 to advance the evaluation of accurate, reliable, and minimally invasive methods for locating lead service lines.
Dartmouth University researchers demonstrated their electromagnetic induction (EMI) technology, which uses electromagnetic fields to induce and measure responses from buried metal pipes. Researchers analyze these responses to help distinguish pipe materials, including lead and copper, without exposing the pipes. Drexel's team demonstrated their stress wave technology, which uses mechanical vibrations to help locate lead service lines. The researchers generate the vibrations by striking an extension rod connected to an accessible service line valve. The ground sensors capture signals traveling through the pipe and surrounding soil to help distinguish lead from non-lead service lines.
Service lines are the pipes that carry drinking water from water mains to buildings, including homes, schools, and offices. If a service line is made of lead, it can pose serious health risks, particularly for young children. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, public water systems are required to submit inventories of what their service lines are made of, including lead, as a first step in protecting the people they serve.
The vast majority of water systems--more than 97 percent--have completed these initial inventories. Technologies like those developed by Dartmouth and Drexel are making it easier and more cost-effective for water systems to identify exactly where those lead service lines are located. EPA's Test Bed provides an important platform for researchers and businesses to test their technologies and demonstrate proof of concept.
While not a certification program, the test bed provides a stable location with controlled conditions to evaluate potential technologies. EPA's inclusion of Dartmouth College and Drexel University does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or certification by EPA.
Learn more about EPA's Lead Service Line Identification Test Bed.
Background
Since the 1970s, EPA has worked alongside partners at the federal, state, Tribal, and local levels to protect children's health and make progress in reducing lead exposures and lead-related health risks. Despite improvements over the last 50 years, ongoing exposures to lead where our families live, work, and play present a health risk, especially to children.
To combat this issue, in 2025 the Trump EPA reestablished a committee of senior leaders across the agency's program offices and ten regions to drive success in reducing children's exposure to lead. This renewed agency-wide focus is centered around strengthening cooperative federalism, streamlining actionable risk communications, and unleashing private sector innovation to protect human health and the environment.
Please see epa.gov/lead for additional information.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-hosts-first-ever-public-demonstration-emerging-technologies-identify-lead-service
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EPA Hosts First-Ever Public Demonstration of Emerging Technologies to Identify Lead Service Lines
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Demonstrations at EPA's New Jersey research test bed highlights innovative tools that will help water systems protect children's health and identify lead pipes
Contact Information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)
WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted its first-ever public demonstration of promising, emerging technologies to help combat lead exposure at EPA's ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: * * * EPA Hosts First-Ever Public Demonstration of Emerging Technologies to Identify Lead Service Lines * Demonstrations at EPA's New Jersey research test bed highlights innovative tools that will help water systems protect children's health and identify lead pipes Contact Information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov) WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted its first-ever public demonstration of promising, emerging technologies to help combat lead exposure at EPA'sLead Service Line Identification Test Bed in Edison, New Jersey. The technologies on display have the potential to identify lead service lines faster, cheaper, and with less disturbance than traditional methods.
EPA Region 2 Administrator Michael Martucci and Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions (OASES) Associate Administrator Teresa Booeshaghi witnessed the technology demonstrations from researchers at Dartmouth College and Drexel University. The Trump EPA is committed to harnessing gold standard science and unleashing American innovation to reduce lead exposure, especially for young kids, who are particularly vulnerable to environmental hazards.
"EPA's Lead Service Line Test Bed provides researchers with a dedicated space to evaluate innovative technologies under controlled conditions and assess their potential to address a critical public health challenge," said Teresa Booeshaghi, Associate Administrator of OASES. "By advancing the science behind lead service line identification we can help more reliably address the issue while reducing the need for expensive excavation."
"You can't replace what you can't find. Giving water systems better, less labor-intensive ways to locate lead pipes could make a tremendous difference for communities across the country," said Michael Martucci, EPA Region 2 Administrator. "This is EPA putting gold-standard science to work on a serious, costly problem that cities across America have struggled with for decades."
EPA opened the Lead Service Line Identification Test Bed at the Edison Environmental Center in 2025 to advance the evaluation of accurate, reliable, and minimally invasive methods for locating lead service lines.
Dartmouth University researchers demonstrated their electromagnetic induction (EMI) technology, which uses electromagnetic fields to induce and measure responses from buried metal pipes. Researchers analyze these responses to help distinguish pipe materials, including lead and copper, without exposing the pipes. Drexel's team demonstrated their stress wave technology, which uses mechanical vibrations to help locate lead service lines. The researchers generate the vibrations by striking an extension rod connected to an accessible service line valve. The ground sensors capture signals traveling through the pipe and surrounding soil to help distinguish lead from non-lead service lines.
Service lines are the pipes that carry drinking water from water mains to buildings, including homes, schools, and offices. If a service line is made of lead, it can pose serious health risks, particularly for young children. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, public water systems are required to submit inventories of what their service lines are made of, including lead, as a first step in protecting the people they serve.
The vast majority of water systems--more than 97 percent--have completed these initial inventories. Technologies like those developed by Dartmouth and Drexel are making it easier and more cost-effective for water systems to identify exactly where those lead service lines are located. EPA's Test Bed provides an important platform for researchers and businesses to test their technologies and demonstrate proof of concept.
While not a certification program, the test bed provides a stable location with controlled conditions to evaluate potential technologies. EPA's inclusion of Dartmouth College and Drexel University does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or certification by EPA.
Learn more about EPA's Lead Service Line Identification Test Bed.
Background
Since the 1970s, EPA has worked alongside partners at the federal, state, Tribal, and local levels to protect children's health and make progress in reducing lead exposures and lead-related health risks. Despite improvements over the last 50 years, ongoing exposures to lead where our families live, work, and play present a health risk, especially to children.
To combat this issue, in 2025 the Trump EPA reestablished a committee of senior leaders across the agency's program offices and ten regions to drive success in reducing children's exposure to lead. This renewed agency-wide focus is centered around strengthening cooperative federalism, streamlining actionable risk communications, and unleashing private sector innovation to protect human health and the environment.
Please see epa.gov/lead for additional information.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-hosts-first-ever-public-demonstration-emerging-technologies-identify-lead-service