Federal Independent Agencies
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Smithsonian Acquires Exceptionally Complete Skull of Iconic Dome-Headed Dinosaur
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History issued the following news release:
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Smithsonian Acquires Exceptionally Complete Skull of Iconic Dome-Headed Dinosaur
The Rare Pachycephalosaurus Fossil Will Be Temporarily Displayed at the National Museum of Natural History During the Holiday Season
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The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History has acquired a remarkably complete skull of Pachycephalosaurus, a dinosaur famed for its domed head that lived alongside species like Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops at the end of the Cretaceous Period
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History issued the following news release:
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Smithsonian Acquires Exceptionally Complete Skull of Iconic Dome-Headed Dinosaur
The Rare Pachycephalosaurus Fossil Will Be Temporarily Displayed at the National Museum of Natural History During the Holiday Season
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The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History has acquired a remarkably complete skull of Pachycephalosaurus, a dinosaur famed for its domed head that lived alongside species like Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops at the end of the Cretaceous Periodaround 67 million years ago. The rare fossil was purchased and donated to the museum by Eric and Wendy Schmidt.
Visitors will have a chance to see the new Pachycephalosaurus skull up close starting Dec. 22, when it will be on temporary display in the museum's FossiLab, a working fossil preparation laboratory in "David H. Koch Hall of Fossils--Deep Time." The skull will remain on display through Dec. 28 (the museum is closed for the holiday Dec. 25), and it will become part of the permanent exhibition in the coming years.
Pachycephalosaurus, whose scientific name means "thick-headed lizard," is a popular staple of dinosaur books and documentaries. Paleoartists often depict the bipedal herbivores ramming into their rivals headfirst like modern bighorn sheep. But according to paleontologist Matthew Carrano, the museum's curator of Dinosauria, Pachycephalosaurus and its relatives remain poorly understood due to their fragmentary fossil record. Most specimens consist primarily of the dinosaurs' dense head domes.
"This skull is by far the most spectacular specimen of this type of dinosaur that we have at the museum," Carrano said. "We almost never get to see the animal's face or the teeth or other parts of the head because they usually have broken away."
The remarkable skull was unearthed in South Dakota in 2024 and purchased at the Sotheby's Natural History auction earlier this year by the Schmidts, who then gifted the specimen to the Smithsonian in conjunction with an additional donation to support digitization efforts of the National Fossil Collection.
"Thanks to an incredible and generous gift, this scientifically invaluable Pachycephalosaurus skull will remain in the national collection forever enabling researchers to better understand this elusive creature," said Kirk Johnson, the Sant Director of the museum. "We are excited to display this fossil and introduce this iconic dome-headed dinosaur to museum visitors."
"When we see an ancient fossil like this one, we are confronted with the story of our planet's past and can consider how humans fit into Earth's geologic history in a profoundly different way," said Wendy Schmidt. "Eric and I hope the digitization project and this rare Pachycephalosaurus skull will provide access to these fossils to anyone, anywhere in the world, and will offer insights into our brief role in our planet's story of life."
The fossil was found in rocks of the Hell Creek Formation, a geologic layer that records the 1.5 million years leading up to the asteroid strike that wiped out non-avian dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Over the decades, the Hell Creek Formation has yielded many sensational specimens, including the Nation's T. rex skeleton that now resides in the museum's Deep Time Fossil Hall.
Among Hell Creek's diverse assemblage of dinosaur fossils, Pachycephalosaurus specimens are particularly rare. Its bones account for less than 1% of fossils found in the formation. This may be because Pachycephalosaurus, while capable of reaching 15 feet long, was significantly smaller than multi-ton herbivores like Triceratops and the duck-billed dinosaur Edmontosaurus--but it also may have been less abundant in the local ecosystem.
The new specimen contains nearly the entire skull of the dinosaur, including 32 different cranial bones, several of which had fused together to create the animal's signature dome. The fossil also contains many of the dinosaur's teeth, including a set of replacement teeth still growing in its jaws. The fossilized dentition will help paleontologists identify isolated Pachycephalosaurus teeth from the Hell Creek Formation.
Carrano notes that the new skull is one of very few known Pachycephalosaurus skulls that are nearly complete. The rarity of fossil skulls has caused confusion among paleontologists over whether other proposed species of pachycephalosaurs with variations in the knobby horns around their domes are actually juvenile examples of Pachycephalosaurus.
The new skull will be a crucial data point in this ongoing debate. According to Carrano, the specimen probably represents an individual that was not quite fully grown when it died. Examining this skull and comparing it to other pachycephalosaur skulls will provide insights into how these dinosaurs changed as they grew.
The nearly complete skull will join other scientifically significant Pachycephalosaurus specimens in the museum's collection. These include the fossilized dome that served as the holotype, or name-bearing, specimen when the dinosaur was first scientifically described in 1931.
Carrano plans to CT-scan the new specimen as part of its study. This will allow access to internal structures like the animal's brain cavity that are hidden deep inside the dinosaur's thick skull.
"We can understand the shape and size of the brain and the position of each individual bone, which is really difficult to do when the outside looks basically like a bowling ball," he said.
The Pachycephalosaurus skull will also be surface scanned to create a digital copy of the specimen, which will allow researchers to study the fossil in detail from anywhere in the world. This is part of a larger five-year effort to digitize a thousand of the museum's most notable fossils, making a cross-section of the Smithsonian's world class paleontology collection easily accessible online. The Schmidts' gift has also enabled this important digitization project.
Carrano looks forward to uncovering the scientific insights preserved inside the Pachycephalosaurus skull.
"This is definitely the best part of being a curator--getting to study a new specimen and knowing that it is going to live here in the national collection forever."
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About the National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History is connecting people everywhere with Earth's unfolding story. It is one of the most visited natural history museums in the world. Opened in 1910, the museum is dedicated to maintaining and preserving the world's most extensive collection of natural history specimens and human artifacts. The museum is open daily, except Dec. 25, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit the museum on its website, blog, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-acquires-exceptionally-complete-skull-iconic-dome-headed-dinosaur
National Museum of Asian Art Returns Three Sculptures to the Kingdom of Cambodia
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Asian Art issued the following news release on Dec. 11, 2025:
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National Museum of Asian Art Returns Three Sculptures to the Kingdom of Cambodia
A Result of the Museum's Proactive Provenance Research, in Collaboration With the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Return Marks the Museum's First Repatriation Under the Smithsonian's Shared Stewardship and Ethical Returns Policy
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The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art announced today the return of three Cambodian sculptures to the Kingdom of Cambodia. The ethical return, which
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Asian Art issued the following news release on Dec. 11, 2025:
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National Museum of Asian Art Returns Three Sculptures to the Kingdom of Cambodia
A Result of the Museum's Proactive Provenance Research, in Collaboration With the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Return Marks the Museum's First Repatriation Under the Smithsonian's Shared Stewardship and Ethical Returns Policy
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The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art announced today the return of three Cambodian sculptures to the Kingdom of Cambodia. The ethical return, whichwas initiated by the museum, follows an extensive internal assessment conducted since August 2022. The assessment consisted of several years of dedicated research carried out by the museum's provenance researchers and curators and efforts undertaken in close collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of the Kingdom of Cambodia, which determined that the objects were removed from Cambodia during a period of widespread looting amid civil conflict (1967-1975) before entering the U.S. art market. This repatriation is the museum's first under the Smithsonian's Shared Stewardship and Ethical Returns policy, adopted in April 2022.
The three sculptures--"Head of Harihara" (mid-10th century), "The Goddess Uma" (10th century) and "Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom)" (c. 1200)--were donated to the museum and entered the collection without documentation of export from Cambodia. Each object is associated with art dealers suspected of trafficking looted antiquities from Southeast Asia. Based on their close association with specific extant temples and the date of appearance of these objects on the international art market, the museum identified ethical concerns significant enough to warrant a voluntary return.
The Smithsonian's Shared Stewardship and Ethical Returns policy--created to guide voluntary, good-faith returns based on ethical considerations--enabled the museum to undertake this repatriation through a framework that is unique among U.S. museums. Under this policy, the museum was able to proceed with a voluntary return without requiring a formal restitution claim from Cambodia. The museum has completed the deaccession process for the sculptures and will continue to collaborate with Cambodian partners through ongoing joint provenance research to deepen understanding of their histories.
Details About the Objects and Their Histories
* "Head of Harihara" represents a composite deity combining Shiva and Vishnu. Only half of Shiva's third eye is visible, confirming the dual identity, while the elaborate three-tiered headdress--carved with floral designs matching those found at the temple of Pre Rup--resembles Cambodian temple towers that evoke Mount Meru, the mythic center of the universe. The sculpture was likely acquired by William H. Wolff Inc. before 1968, passed to Dr. Arthur M. Sackler and gifted to the museum in 1987. It was on long-term view in "Sculpture of South Asia and the Himalayas" from 1988 to 2017.
* "The Goddess Uma" stands in an elegant, front-facing pose with a columnar base formed by her pleated skirt and delicately modeled torso emphasizing femininity and fertility. Intricate floral patterns on her headdress and belt reflect carvings at the hilltop temple Phnom Bakheng, and visual parallels with reliefs at Phnom Bakheng further associate the sculpture with this temple. Also thought to have been acquired from William H. Wolff Inc. in 1972, the sculpture entered Sackler's collection and was donated to the museum in 1987. It was previously exhibited in "Sculpture of South Asia and the Himalayas" (1988-2017) and later in "Power in Southeast Asia" (2017-2020).
* "Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom)" presents the goddess of transcendental wisdom in her esoteric Cambodian form. This complex bronze figure, dating to the Bayon period under Jayavarman VII, reflects the rise of state-sponsored esoteric Buddhism and the ritual need for portable devotional icons. Originally part of Christian Humann's Pan-Asian Collection, it passed through Robert H. Ellsworth and was sold at Sotheby's in 1990 and donated to the museum in 2015. It was shown in "Art of the Gift" (2015), "Encountering the Buddha" (2017-2022) and is currently on view in "The Art of Knowing" (since 2023).
"This return marks an important step in the museum's commitment to ethical stewardship, reflecting both the strength of our provenance research program and the values that shape our work today," said Chase F. Robinson, director of the National Museum of Asian Art. "As the museum's first return under the Smithsonian's Shared Stewardship and Ethical Returns policy, this is more than an institutional action. Rather, it's the product of a collaborative and sustained process with our Cambodian partners, combining research from both Cambodian authorities and our own team toward building a trusted and complete picture of each object's history."
Planning of an official repatriation ceremony is underway to mark this ethical return. During the event, representatives from the National Museum of Asian Art will officially return all three sculptures to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The ministry has also agreed in principle on a path toward the long-term loan of the objects, allowing the museum to continue to share Cambodia's great artistic achievements and provenance histories with visitors while demonstrating the mutual benefits of collaboration in the protection of cultural heritage.
About the Museum's Long-standing Partnership With Cambodia
This repatriation is the latest milestone in the National Museum of Asian Art's decades-long partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of the Kingdom of Cambodia. For more than three years, the museum has worked closely on the review that led to this ethical return with the ministry and its legal representative, Edenbridge Asia. In 2023, the museum and the ministry signed a formal memorandum of understanding to deepen collaboration across all areas of museum practice, including staff exchanges, joint research, conservation, exhibition planning and cultural heritage preservation.
That same year, the museum hosted a public forum, "Reclaiming Cambodia's Cultural Heritage: Provenance Research in Action," spotlighting efforts to identify and return Cambodian heritage. With support from the Henry Luce Foundation, the museum also launched a multiyear initiative with the Cambodian government in April 2025, focused on the reintegration and presentation of repatriated objects, particularly those from Koh Ker, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This initiative includes curatorial planning for a major international exhibition focused on Koh Ker debuting in Cambodia in 2030, followed by a Washington, D.C., presentation in 2031.
About Provenance Research and Object Histories at the National Museum of Asian Art
The National Museum of Asian Art has prioritized and led the field of Asian art provenance research since the early 2000s, refining methodologies, advancing scholarship, building global partnerships and networks and making research findings publicly accessible through its Provenance Program.
In 2011, the museum began publishing provenance information on object web pages and in its galleries. Since 2020, it has collaborated with the Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz (SPK, Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation) to co-host six webinars attended by over 2,500 specialists from around the world, fostering knowledge exchange and advancing standardized approaches to provenance research. In 2023, in partnership with SPK, the museum organized the largest open symposium on the provenance of Asian art, bringing together experts to discuss best practices and emerging research. Most recently, in April 2025, it appointed Nancy Karrels, who holds a doctorate in art history and a J.D., as the associate director of provenance research and object histories. This appointment reinforces the museum's commitment to ethical stewardship and leadership in provenance research and expands its provenance team to four full-time members, which include a curator of provenance research and object histories and two provenance research technicians. In 2026, the museum will co-host a second international provenance symposium with SPK in Berlin.
Provenance research involves close examination of an object's physical characteristics alongside documentary evidence that together inform an understanding of an object's ownership and movement over time. Researchers identify and inspect information from sources as varied as export licenses, dealer records, inventories, curatorial files, ship manifests, genealogical records, historical photographs, correspondence and many more to construct as robust an ownership history as possible. This research aims to uncover and tell the complex histories of individual objects and the networks of people who have interacted with them over time.
Learn more about the National Museum of Asian Art's Provenance Program and the provenance of objects in the museum's collections online.
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About the Smithsonian's Shared Stewardship and Ethical Returns Policy
In April 2022, the Smithsonian adopted a Shared Stewardship and Ethical Returns Policy. The policy acknowledges that ethical norms and professional best practices in collecting have changed. The Smithsonian has objects that it would not have acquired under present-day standards. Although the Smithsonian has legal title or custody of its collections, continued retention or sole stewardship may cause harm to descendants or communities and be fundamentally inconsistent with the Smithsonian's ethical standards and values. In these circumstances, shared stewardship or ethical return may be appropriate.
The Smithsonian recognizes the value of community representation in its collections. Preserving and making available to the public--with honor and respect--a diverse range of collections, stories and histories is essential to carrying out the Smithsonian's role as collaborative custodian of cultural and historical legacies. Therefore, the Smithsonian is committed to working transparently and in consultation with individuals, descendent communities and other stakeholders to consider matters of shared stewardship and the potential return of collections based on ethical considerations.
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About the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art
The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art is committed to preserving, exhibiting, researching and interpreting art in ways that deepen the public and scholarly understandings of Asia and the world. The museum opened in 1923 as America's first national art museum and the first Asian art museum in the United States. It now stewards one of the world's most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present. The museum also stewards an important collection of 19th- and early 20th-century American art.
Today, the National Museum of Asian Art is emerging as a leading national and global resource for understanding the arts, cultures and societies of Asia, especially at their intersection with America. Guided by the belief that the future of art museums lies in collaboration, increased access and transparency, the museum is fostering new ways to engage with its audiences while enhancing its commitment to excellence.
Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the museum is free and open 364 days a year (closed Dec. 25). The Smithsonian is the world's largest museum, education and research complex and welcomes 20-30 million visitors yearly. For more information about the National Museum of Asian Art, visit asia.si.edu.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/national-museum-asian-art-returns-three-sculptures-kingdom-cambodia-0
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics: Astronomers Create First Map of the Sun's Outer Boundary
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Dec. 12 (TNSjou) -- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics issued the following news release:
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Astronomers Create First Map of the Sun's Outer Boundary
Using NASA's Parker Solar Probe and other near-Earth spacecraft, scientists from the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian have made and validated the first 2D maps of the Sun's outer surface, leading to unprecedented insight into how and where the Sun "loses its grip" on its outer atmosphere.
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Astronomers have produced the first continuous, two-dimensional maps of the outer edge of the Sun's
... Show Full Article
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Dec. 12 (TNSjou) -- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics issued the following news release:
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Astronomers Create First Map of the Sun's Outer Boundary
Using NASA's Parker Solar Probe and other near-Earth spacecraft, scientists from the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian have made and validated the first 2D maps of the Sun's outer surface, leading to unprecedented insight into how and where the Sun "loses its grip" on its outer atmosphere.
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Astronomers have produced the first continuous, two-dimensional maps of the outer edge of the Sun'satmosphere, a shifting, frothy boundary that marks where solar winds escape the Sun's magnetic grasp. By combining the maps and close-up measurements, scientists from the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) showed that the boundary grows larger, rougher and spikier as the Sun becomes more active. The findings could help scientists improve models showing how the Sun affects Earth, and better predict atmospheric complexity for other stars.
"Parker Solar Probe data from deep below the Alfven surface could help answer big questions about the Sun's corona, like why it's so hot. But to answer those questions, we first need to know exactly where the boundary is," said Sam Badman, an astrophysicist at the CfA, and the lead author of the paper.
The scientists have directly validated these maps using deep dives into the Sun's atmosphere made by NASA's Parker Solar Probe. The findings are published today in the Astrophysical Journal Letters (ApJL) (https://www.doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ae0e5c),
The boundary in the Sun's atmosphere where the solar wind's outward speed becomes faster than the speed of magnetic waves, known as the Alfven surface, is the "point of no return" for material that escapes the Sun and enters interplanetary space; once material travels beyond this point, it cannot travel back to the Sun. This surface is the effective "edge" of the Sun's atmosphere, and provides scientists with an active laboratory for studying and understanding how solar activity impacts the rest of the solar system, including life and technology on and around Earth.
Using Parker's Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons (SWEAP) instrument, developed by the CfA in conjunction with the University of California, Berkeley, the scientists collected data from deep into the Sun's sub-Alfvenic surface.
"There are still a number of fascinating physics questions about the Sun's corona that we don't fully understand," said Michael Stevens, an astronomer at the CfA and the principal investigator of Parker's SWEAP instrument. "This work shows without a doubt that Parker Solar Probe is diving deep with every orbit into the region where the solar wind is born. We are now headed for an exciting period where it will witness firsthand how those processes change as the Sun goes into the next phase of its activity cycle."
"Before, we could only estimate the Sun's boundary from far away without a way to test if we got the right answer, but now we have an accurate map that we can use to navigate it as we study it," added Badman "And, importantly, we also are able to watch it as it changes and match those changes with close-up data. That gives us a much clearer idea of what's really happening around the Sun."
Scientists previously knew this boundary changes dynamically with solar cycles, moving away from the Sun and becoming larger, more structured, and more complex during solar maximum, and the opposite during solar minimum, but until now didn't have confirmation of what exactly those changes looked like.
Badman added, "As the Sun goes through activity cycles, what we're seeing is that the shape and height of the Alfven surface around the Sun is getting larger and also spikier. That's actually what we predicted in the past, but now we can confirm it directly."
The new maps and corresponding data can help scientists answer important questions about the physics happening deep in the Sun's atmosphere; that knowledge can in turn be used to develop better solar wind and space-weather models, sharpening forecasts of how solar activity moves through and shapes the environment around Earth and other planets in the solar system.
It can also help them to answer longheld questions about the lives of stars elsewhere in the galaxy and the universe, from how they're born to how they behave throughout their lives, including how that behavior influences the habitability of their orbiting planets.
The team's findings offer a new window into the workings of our closest star and lay the foundation for ever deeper discoveries. According to Badman, the coordinated multi-spacecraft approach, which combined the observational powers of close-up probes and distant observing stations including the Solar Orbiter, a project of NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), and NASA's Wind spacecraft, will continue to serve as a model for future breakthrough studies in heliophysics. During the next solar minimum, the team will again dive into the Sun's corona, with an aim to study how it evolves over a complete solar cycle.
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Resource
Badman, S. T. et al, "Multi-spacecraft measurements of the evolving geometry of the Solar Alfven surface over half a solar cycle," Astrophysical Journal Letters, 2025 Dec 11, doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ae0e5c
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About the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian is a collaboration between Harvard and the Smithsonian designed to ask--and ultimately answer--humanity's greatest unresolved questions about the nature of the universe. The Center for Astrophysics is headquartered in Cambridge, MA, with research facilities across the U.S. and around the world.
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Original text here: https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/astronomers-create-first-map-suns-outer-boundary
GSA, Tenable Announce OneGov Agreement to Strengthen Federal Cloud Security
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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GSA, Tenable Announce OneGov Agreement to Strengthen Federal Cloud Security
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The latest OneGov agreement with Tenable achieves 65% savings on FedRAMP -authorized cloud security capabilities, enhancing federal agencies' technology transformation and efficiency
WASHINGTON Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced a new OneGov agreement with Tenable Public Sector LLC, providing federal agencies with discounted access to its FedRAMP-authorized Tenable Cloud Security Enterprise
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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GSA, Tenable Announce OneGov Agreement to Strengthen Federal Cloud Security
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The latest OneGov agreement with Tenable achieves 65% savings on FedRAMP -authorized cloud security capabilities, enhancing federal agencies' technology transformation and efficiency
WASHINGTON Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced a new OneGov agreement with Tenable Public Sector LLC, providing federal agencies with discounted access to its FedRAMP-authorized Tenable Cloud Security Enterprisesolution.
The agreement delivers a 65% discount off list price and simplifies acquisition through GSA's Multiple Award Schedule - IT Category.
"Robust cybersecurity is essential for implementing AI into federal government workflows while simultaneously protecting American citizens' data and information, a crucial component in supporting the White House's AI Action Plan," said FAS Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum. "This OneGov agreement with Tenable will enable federal agencies to secure their networks and data more easily and cost-effectively."
The offering provides a comprehensive Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) designed to secure sensitive government cloud environments.
"Cybersecurity is increasingly becoming synonymous with national security and is directly impacted by the public sector's move to the cloud," said Tenable Co-CEO Steve Vintz. "With our FedRAMP-authorized cloud security solution, Tenable is proud to help federal agencies stay ahead of evolving threats, strengthen resilience, and secure the cloud-first future of government as part of a holistic approach to exposure management."
Agencies have until March 31, 2027, to take advantage of these discounts. By acting before this deadline, agencies can also exercise option years with favorable escalation rates: 0% in year 1, and 3% in years 2 and 3. This means the discount remains substantial, at 62% in year 2 and 59% in year 3. The offering is available exclusively to federal agencies via GSA's Multiple Award Schedule contract.
GSA's OneGov initiative is the cornerstone of the Trump Administration's drive to consolidate federal procurement for common goods and services and provides critical tools to federal employees at discounted pricing. Tenable is the latest addition to a growing list of companies that have entered into OneGov agreements with GSA.
This agreement is the latest in GSA's OneGov portfolio, which consolidates federal IT demand and promotes direct access to original technology providers. By securing standardized terms and pre-negotiated pricing, OneGov agreements reduce acquisition complexity, improve efficiency, and deliver savings for taxpayers.
For more details and how to access this offer, visit itvmo.gsa.gov/onegov.
This agreement aligns with OneGov's broader shift toward OEM-direct engagement, transparency in pricing, and accelerated digital transformation.
About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of over 360 million rentable square feet, overseeing more than $110 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA's mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.
Contact
press@gsa.gov
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Original text here: https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/gsa-tenable-announce-onegov-agreement-12112025
EPA orders LADWP to Inspect 100 Drinking Water Reservoirs and Tanks To Prevent Contamination Risks
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA orders LADWP to Inspect 100 Drinking Water Reservoirs and Tanks To Prevent Contamination Risks
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Agreement requires comprehensive inspections and cleaning to safeguard water supply for 3.8 million LA residents
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has agreed to comprehensively inspect nearly 100 drinking water reservoirs and storage tanks and clean more than 50 of them as part of a consent order with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This action is being taken
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA orders LADWP to Inspect 100 Drinking Water Reservoirs and Tanks To Prevent Contamination Risks
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Agreement requires comprehensive inspections and cleaning to safeguard water supply for 3.8 million LA residents
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has agreed to comprehensively inspect nearly 100 drinking water reservoirs and storage tanks and clean more than 50 of them as part of a consent order with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This action is being takento address violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). LADWP operates the second largest water system in the country, serving approximately 3.8 million customers in the greater Los Angeles area.
"Public water systems must properly maintain their infrastructure to ensure that the water flowing out of their customers' taps continues to be safe," said EPA Pacific Southwest Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division Director Amy Miller. "EPA's priority is to make sure LADWP promptly addresses these vulnerabilities to protect the millions who depend on this system."
An EPA inspection of LADWP's reservoirs and storage tanks conducted in July 2024 identified maintenance issues, including unprotected openings and inconsistent cleaning and inspection schedules. If left unaddressed these deficiencies could pose a risk for contamination.
Since EPA's 2024 inspection, LADWP has already inspected and cleaned 13 reservoirs and implemented improvements to its reservoir maintenance program. Under the consent order, LADWP must complete comprehensive inspections of nearly 100 reservoirs by December 31, 2031, take corrective action for any deficiencies identified during each inspection, and conduct interior cleaning of over 50 reservoirs where documentation gaps or extended intervals since last cleaning were identified. These measures will improve the system's long-term reliability and enhance safeguards that protect public health.
Learn about EPA's Pacific Southwest Region Exit EPA's website. Connect with us on Facebook Exit EPA's website, Instagram Exit EPA's website, and X Exit EPA's website.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-orders-ladwp-inspect-100-drinking-water-reservoirs-and-tanks-prevent-contamination
EPA Selects Two Local Governments from Pennsylvania to receive $6 million in Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Funding Grants
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Selects Two Local Governments from Pennsylvania to receive $6 million in Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Funding Grants
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PHILADELPHIA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mid-Atlantic Region announced that it has selected two local governments to receive Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grants totaling $6,664,287. These selections are part of an agency-wide effort that selected 17 local governments to receive a total of $58 million.
"We're pleased to announce
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Selects Two Local Governments from Pennsylvania to receive $6 million in Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Funding Grants
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PHILADELPHIA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mid-Atlantic Region announced that it has selected two local governments to receive Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grants totaling $6,664,287. These selections are part of an agency-wide effort that selected 17 local governments to receive a total of $58 million.
"We're pleased to announcethese selections, which will address pressing environmental challenges and help communities better manage waste across the region," said Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey, EPA Region 3 Administrator. "By investing in improved recycling, EPA is dedicating resources that support and bolster local economies. We look forward to advancing EPA programs that strengthen our nation's recycling infrastructure."
EPA's SWIFR program provides grants to implement the National Recycling Strategy to improve post-consumer materials management and infrastructure; support improvements to local post-consumer materials management and recycling programs; and assist local waste management authorities in making improvements to local waste management systems. This initiative supports economic development in communities across the nation. Selected recipients from the Mid-Atlantic Region include:
* The County of Delaware, Pa., was selected to receive $4,998,070 for their Transfer Stations Reimagined - Composting and Expanded Recycling Services project, which aims to build accessible recycling capacity, reduce pollution, increasing diversion, and improve localized air quality throughout the county's communities.
* The City of Pittsburgh, Pa., was selected to receive $1,666,217 to increase the city's yard waste collection frequency through the purchase of equipment, hiring of personnel, and public outreach.
To learn more about SWIFR grants or view the list of selectees, please visit EPA's webpage: Recycling Grant Selectees and Recipients.
Follow EPA Region 3 on Instagram Exit EPA's website, X Exit EPA's website and Facebook Exit EPA's website. For more information about EPA Region 3, visit our regional website.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-selects-two-local-governments-pennsylvania-receive-6-million-solid-waste
Argentina to Advance Sustainable Urban Development With IDB Support
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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Argentina to Advance Sustainable Urban Development with IDB Support
The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a Conditional Credit Line for Investment Projects for up to $700 million to help Argentina improve the living environment and sustainable development of its cities.
The program will expand access to basic services and promote territorial cohesion in the provinces for more productive, orderly urban development centered on improving living
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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Argentina to Advance Sustainable Urban Development with IDB Support
The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a Conditional Credit Line for Investment Projects for up to $700 million to help Argentina improve the living environment and sustainable development of its cities.
The program will expand access to basic services and promote territorial cohesion in the provinces for more productive, orderly urban development centered on improving livingconditions for the population. The credit line will directly benefit over 100,000 households throughout the country, and indirectly benefit over two million people.
The Board has approved an initial $150 million individual loan under this credit line to support urban development in the Province of Neuquen. Neuquen was chosen for the first operation because of its challenges from rapid population growth, which has deepened gaps in access to basic services for its residents and drives informal urban development.
The first loan will finance works to expand basic services such as water, sewerage, and electricity, as well as urban infrastructure such as roads, public spaces, and community facilities. The program will also bring formal planning to low-income informal neighborhoods and land ownership. Additionally, it will bolster local institutions and governments by training specialized personnel in urban planning, among other measures.
The operation in the Province of Neuquen will contribute directly to the well-being of 23,000 households, while benefiting over 98,000 households indirectly, in both informal, working-class neighborhoods and more established neighborhoods with infrastructure gaps.
This project is part of the Bank's support outlined in the new 2025-2028 Country Strategy for Argentina, whose third pillar seeks to support vulnerable populations in reducing poverty, with an emphasis on improving urban conditions and access to essential services.
The IDB loan has a 25-year repayment term, a 5.5-year grace period, and an interest rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR).
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About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the Bank works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries. Visit our website: https://www.iadb.org/en.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/argentina-advance-sustainable-urban-development-idb-support
