Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Featured Stories
William Kirk Sworn in as Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Small Business Administration posted the following news release on Jan. 6, 2026:
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William Kirk Sworn in as Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration
Today, following his confirmation by the U.S. Senate on December 19, 2025, William "Bill" Kirk was sworn in as Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration at the SBA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
"I am pleased to welcome Inspector General Bill Kirk to the SBA as a key ally in the agency's fight to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse," said Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "After four
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Small Business Administration posted the following news release on Jan. 6, 2026:
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William Kirk Sworn in as Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration
Today, following his confirmation by the U.S. Senate on December 19, 2025, William "Bill" Kirk was sworn in as Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration at the SBA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
"I am pleased to welcome Inspector General Bill Kirk to the SBA as a key ally in the agency's fight to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse," said Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "After fouryears of near total inaction by the last Administration, the Trump SBA is committed to holding bad actors accountable for defrauding the government - working with our law enforcement partners to put criminals in jail and claw back funds on behalf of taxpayers and small business owners. From pandemic-era abuse to the misuse of federal contracting programs, we will expose and end the fraud - to ensure our programs only benefit legitimate, eligible job creators."
"It is a privilege to be nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate to serve in this vital position," said Inspector General Kirk. "I look forward to working with Administrator Kelly Loeffler and the professionals in the Office of Inspector General to conduct independent and objective oversight that combats fraud, waste, and abuse while promoting the efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity of SBA programs supporting America's small businesses."
Kirk brings over 30 years' experience that will further SBA's mission of empowering America's small businesses, eliminating fraud, and restoring the agency as an America First engine of free enterprise. He previously served as Deputy Counsel and Acting Counsel to the Inspector General at the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General. His career also includes service at the U.S. Department of Education and numerous roles in higher education administration.
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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://www.sba.gov/article/2026/01/06/william-kirk-sworn-inspector-general-us-small-business-administration
Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Welcomes Two Sloth Bear Cubs
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Smithsonian Institution National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute issued the following news release on Jan. 6, 2026:
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Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Welcomes Two Sloth Bear Cubs
Bears Are Currently Off-Exhibit, Will Debut Spring 2026
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For the first time since 2013, keepers at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) have welcomed two sloth bear cubs. The cubs were born Dec. 7 at approximately 2:30 and 4:30 a.m., respectively, in an off-exhibit den in the Zoo's Asia Trail exhibit.
The sex
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Smithsonian Institution National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute issued the following news release on Jan. 6, 2026:
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Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Welcomes Two Sloth Bear Cubs
Bears Are Currently Off-Exhibit, Will Debut Spring 2026
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For the first time since 2013, keepers at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) have welcomed two sloth bear cubs. The cubs were born Dec. 7 at approximately 2:30 and 4:30 a.m., respectively, in an off-exhibit den in the Zoo's Asia Trail exhibit.
The sexof each cub has not been determined, and the cubs have not yet been named.
NZCBI is one of only 15 Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited zoos that house sloth bears, which are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. With just 42 sloth bears in the AZA population, the births represent a milestone for the long-term sustainability of this rare species.
"The birth of two sloth bear cubs at Smithsonian's National Zoo is a significant achievement for the AZA's Species Survival Plan," said Asia Trail curator Michael Brown-Palsgrove. "These cubs strengthen the genetic diversity and sustainability of the managed population while also supporting global conservation efforts for this vulnerable species through research, education and public engagement."
The cubs and their mother appear to be healthy and thriving. Molly is caring for her newborns around the clock, keeping them warm and secure in a darkened indoor den. Animal care staff are monitoring the family remotely via cameras and ensuring Molly has access to food and nesting materials, including fresh hay.
The cubs are not on public view. They will remain in their den until spring 2026, at which point they are expected to begin exploring the outdoor Asia Trail exhibit with their mother.
Molly's pregnancy resulted from a breeding recommendation through the Species Survival Plan, which coordinates the genetic management of sloth bears among partner zoos. Molly arrived at NZCBI in April 2025 from Sunset Zoo in Manhattan, Kansas. Following successful introductions, keepers observed breeding behaviors between Molly and both of the Zoo's male bears, Niko, age 11, and Deemak, age 7, in July. It is not yet known which male is the sire; it is possible each male fathered one cub. Parentage will be confirmed later through DNA testing conducted by NZCBI's onsite genomics lab.
Sloth bears are distinctive members of the bear family. Native to the Indian subcontinent, these bears are typically found in lowland forests and grasslands, often in territories that overlap with tigers and Asian elephants. Sloth bears are recognizable by their shaggy coats, sickle-shaped claws, flexible snouts and distinctive ear tufts. Though omnivorous, these bears are specially adapted to eat insects, using their claws to break open termite mounds and inhaling prey with their powerful lungs.
Sloth bear cubs are helpless at birth. Weighing around one pound, cubs are born blind and spend most of their time sleeping, nursing and staying close to their mother. Their eyes open at about one month, they begin walking at around 45 days, and by two months, cubs begin riding on their mother's back for transportation and protection. Cubs nurse for about a year, gradually incorporating solid foods, like honey and fruit, into their diet. Mothers are fiercely protective and raise their cubs without help from males.
The species faces threats in the wild, including habitat loss and deadly conflict with humans. NZCBI contributes to sloth bear conservation in Asia through the AZA's SAFE Sloth Bear program, participating in wildlife surveys and monitoring efforts across the species' range.
About the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) leads the Smithsonian's global effort to save species, better understand ecosystems and train future generations of conservationists. Its two campuses are home to some of the world's most critically endangered species. Always free of charge, the Zoo's 163-acre park in the heart of Washington, D.C., features 2,200 animals representing 400 species and is a popular destination for children and families. At the Conservation Biology Institute's 3,200-acre campus in Virginia, breeding and veterinary research on more than 250 animals representing 20 species provide critical data for the management of animals in human care and valuable insights for conservation of wild populations. NZCBI's more than 300 staff and scientists work in Washington, D.C., Virginia and with partners at field sites across the United States and in more than 30 countries to save wildlife, collaborate with communities and conserve native habitats. NZCBI is a long-standing accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
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Correction (Jan. 6, 2026): The Zoo's previous sloth bear cub was born Dec. 29, 2013. The news release previously stated that these were the first cubs since 2014.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonians-national-zoo-and-conservation-biology-institute-welcomes-two-sloth
Scientists Use JWST to Examine Ancient Monster Stars That May Reveal the Birth of Black Holes
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Jan. 7 (TNSrpt) -- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics issued the following news release:
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Scientists Use JWST to Examine Ancient Monster Stars That May Reveal the Birth of Black Holes
A new study shows that mysterious "Little Red Dots" seen by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope are likely supermassive stars, shedding light on the earliest days of our universe
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Phoenix, AZ (January 6, 2026)-- Using data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers from the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) have revealed the universe's most
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CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Jan. 7 (TNSrpt) -- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics issued the following news release:
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Scientists Use JWST to Examine Ancient Monster Stars That May Reveal the Birth of Black Holes
A new study shows that mysterious "Little Red Dots" seen by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope are likely supermassive stars, shedding light on the earliest days of our universe
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Phoenix, AZ (January 6, 2026)-- Using data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers from the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) have revealed the universe's mostmysterious distant objects, known as little red dots, may actually be gigantic, short-lived stars.
The findings offer a direct glimpse into how the universe's first supermassive black holes may have formed, marking a breakthrough in scientists' understanding of the early cosmos.
The study was presented today at a press conference during the 247th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Phoenix, Arizona.
As the universe expands, light from very distant objects stretches to redder colors. Early space-based telescopes like Hubble were built to detect shorter wavelengths of light, and while they saw interesting targets that later turned out to be little red dots, scientists couldn't tell exactly what they were.
In 2022 the first deep images from Webb, a telescope designed to see longer wavelengths of light, revealed little red dots in the distant universe. The new results gave scientists more context into what these mysterious, compact, and very old objects could be.
Past theories explaining little red dots required complicated explanations involving black holes, accretion disks and dust clouds, but the new model shows that a single massive star can also naturally produce all of the key signatures in little red dots: extreme brightness, a distinctive V-shaped spectrum, and the rare combination of one bright hydrogen emission.
Now, for the first time, astronomers have created a detailed physical model of a rare, metal-free, rapidly growing supermassive star about a million times the mass of the Sun, and showed that its unique features are a perfect match for little red dots.
"Little red dots have been a point of contention since their discovery," said Devesh Nandal, an astronomer at the CfA and the lead author of the new study. "But now, with new modeling, we know what's lurking in the center of these massive objects, and it's a single gigantic star in a wispy envelope. And importantly, these findings explain everything that Webb has been seeing."
While stars across a wide range of masses align with both the spectral measurements for little red dots, only the most massive have the right luminosity. Nandal and his colleagues believe that if they can find additional little red dots that are less luminous and massive than those in the study, they will be able to uncover the truth about why and how this happens.
The new results are helping scientists come one step closer to understanding little red dots, providing direct evidence of the final, brilliant moments that occur just before a giant star collapses into a black hole.
"If our interpretation is right, we're not just guessing that heavy black hole seeds must have existed. Instead, we're watching some of them be born in real time," said Nandal. "That gives us a much stronger handle on how the universe's supermassive black holes and galaxies grew."
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Resource
Nandal, D et al. Supermassive Stars Match the Spectral Signatures of JWST's Little Red Dots, The Astrophysical Journal, accepted. Draft: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2507.12618
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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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REPORT: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2507.12618
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Original text here: https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/scientists-use-jwst-examine-ancient-monster-stars-may-reveal-birth-black-holes
SBA Relief Still Available to Pennsylvania Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by the Drought
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
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SBA Relief Still Available to Pennsylvania Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by the Drought
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WASHINGTON - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Pennsylvania of the Feb. 2 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the drought occurring on March 15, 2025.
The disaster declaration covers the counties of Berks, Bucks,
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
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SBA Relief Still Available to Pennsylvania Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by the Drought
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WASHINGTON - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Pennsylvania of the Feb. 2 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the drought occurring on March 15, 2025.
The disaster declaration covers the counties of Berks, Bucks,Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery and Philadelphia.
Under this declaration, the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
"Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover," said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. "We're pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters."
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.625% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant's financial condition.
To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 2, 2026. However, after the deadline has passed, there is a 60-day grace period in which SBA will accept applications.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, 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://www.sba.gov/article/2026/01/05/sba-relief-still-available-pennsylvania-small-businesses-private-nonprofits-affected-drought
Inter-American Development Bank: 'School Transportation and Its Impacts on Caregivers in The Bahamas'
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on in December 2025 entitled "School Transportation and Its Impacts on Caregivers in The Bahamas."
Here are excerpts:
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1. Introduction
Research on children's mobility, including school transportation, gained popularity in the 1990s (Thomsen, 2004) after the seminal work of Hillman et al. (1990) on independent mobility (Hillman et al., 1990). Since then, school transportation has evolved into an active research field that has developed primarily at the intersection of health and traffic
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on in December 2025 entitled "School Transportation and Its Impacts on Caregivers in The Bahamas."
Here are excerpts:
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1. Introduction
Research on children's mobility, including school transportation, gained popularity in the 1990s (Thomsen, 2004) after the seminal work of Hillman et al. (1990) on independent mobility (Hillman et al., 1990). Since then, school transportation has evolved into an active research field that has developed primarily at the intersection of health and trafficsafety.
Interest in school transportation research has grown alongside the attention policymakers worldwide have placed on developing interventions that facilitate children's access to primary and secondary education amidst the challenges of ensuring safe and enjoyable mobility in increasingly motorized cities. Such challenges sit at the intersection of urban transport configurations and the vulnerability of children and adolescents navigating the streets. On the one hand, car-oriented urban development and the design of infrastructure underpinned by principles that prioritize car speed have led to growing risks of traffic collisions, particularly in cities of the global south (Oviedo & Nieto-Combariza, 2021). Children often also bear significant disadvantages and risks due to lower access to appropriate transport infrastructure and services, contributing to high rates of road injuries, as well as lower rates of active transport, and adverse health outcomes among children. This, in turn, adversely affects their development and their ability to escape poverty as adults (Aranda-Balboa et al., 2021; Herrador-Colmenero et al., 2022).
Beyond concerns about traffic safety and social mobility, another factor explaining the rising focus on school transportation in research and practice is the strategic need to target children in efforts towards decarbonization and de-motorization of cities in response to the ongoing climate emergency. The hypothesis is that early exposure to walking and cycling might delay or reduce car dependency during adulthood. Scholars have established that children engaging in active mobility for school trips experience multiple benefits compared to their peers who travel by car. For example, regular walking or cycling is associated with obesity reductions and improved mental and physical health, as well as better focus and academic performance (Aranda-Balboa et al., 2020, 2021; Ikeda et al., 2020).
Although there is a nascent body of literature on safe transport and access to school for children (Aranda-Balboa et al., 2020; Lutfur Rahman et al., 2022; Pfledderer et al., 2021), there is limited research focusing on cities in the Latin American and Caribbean LAC region.
There is also a lack of research that examines specific issues that children and their caretakers face in accessing school transport in the contexts of poverty, the prevalence of high crime rates and insecurity, and low-quality pedestrian infrastructure. Exposure to climate change impacts is under-researched. Moreover, long travel times to reach schools, associated with sprawling urban development, along with inadequate or unaffordable school transport systems can compound women's time poverty due to the amount of time and economic resources needed to accompany children to and from school or other activities; however, no research to-date has measured the impacts on parents.
While parents and caregivers are central actors in facilitating children's journeys to school, often bearing the material, logistical, and emotional costs of the commute, their own experiences remain largely peripheral in both research and policy concerning school transportation. Existing studies frequently focus on barriers and enablers from the child's perspective (Aranda-Balboa et al., 2020) or examine parental decisions regarding children's independent mobility (He, 2013; Sener et al., 2019; Yarlagadda & Srinivasan, 2008).
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View full text here: https://publications.iadb.org/publications/english/document/School-Transportation-and-Its-Impacts-on-Caregivers-in-The-Bahamas.pdf
[Category: IADB]
GSA Rideshare Program Saves Taxpayers Money; Adds Complimentary Uber One Memberships for Participating Federal Employees
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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GSA Rideshare Program Saves Taxpayers Money; Adds Complimentary Uber One Memberships for Participating Federal Employees
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Registered federal employees can use their Uber One membership for all rides within the U.S., including personal rides, through November 30, 2027.
WASHINGTON The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) made mission critical government travel more cost-effective, simpler, and more flexible for federal employees through its enhanced OneGov rideshare partnership with Uber.
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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GSA Rideshare Program Saves Taxpayers Money; Adds Complimentary Uber One Memberships for Participating Federal Employees
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Registered federal employees can use their Uber One membership for all rides within the U.S., including personal rides, through November 30, 2027.
WASHINGTON The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) made mission critical government travel more cost-effective, simpler, and more flexible for federal employees through its enhanced OneGov rideshare partnership with Uber.Now, Uber is offering complimentary Uber One memberships for all participating federal employees as a way to realize additional savings and strengthen the program within agencies nationwide.
Since GSA launched the Uber partnership last July, agencies have reported over 50% savings compared to other ground transportation options and more than 80% savings by replacing costly shuttle contracts with on-demand transportation. GSA alone saved taxpayers nearly $1 million last year by removing over 170 underutilized fleet vehicles, thanks to employees using the rideshare program.
"GSA is committed to executing President Trump's vision to save taxpayers money," said GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst. "This rideshare partnership is a prime example of GSA's OneGov initiatives that put cost savings and efficiency first."
Federal employees with Uber One will now earn credits on eligible rides during official travel, increasing potential savings. Increased program usage translates to greater taxpayer benefits. If all taxi and unmanaged rideshare expenses shifted to GSA's Uber partnership, the federal government could save over $46 million annually.
"GSA's OneGov Uber for Government agreement is delivering savings for taxpayers and reduced travel and logistic costs for federal agencies," said FAS Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum. "This approach helps to modernize government travel, increase efficiencies, and support critical U.S. federal government operations across the globe."
By using Uber for Government, agencies benefit from upfront discounts, tax-exempt pricing, and controls that limit premium vehicle use, all of which help cut travel expenses while improving mobility for employees.
Federal employees using the rideshare program can request timely transportation in minutes, eliminating wait times, navigating shuttle schedules, and the need to track down fleet vehicles. The program offers consistent service in cities across the world, giving travelers confidence that they can get to meetings, site visits, and events on time in support of their agency's missions.
"GSA is leading the way in providing a faster, more reliable mobility experience for federal employees, government-wide, through the OneGov-Uber for Government partnership," said Josh Butler, General Manager and Global Head of Sales, Uber for Business. "Together, we are reducing costs across travel, transportation, and fleet management and helping agencies plan budgets more strategically. We look forward to continued collaboration alongside GSA to deliver even greater savings and flexibility."
The GSA rideshare program with Uber is designed for traveler needs, offering faster pickups, predictable pricing, automated receipts, and streamlined expense reconciliation. As the program expands and more federal employees enroll, it delivers modern, cost-effective travel solutions. This partnership drives greater convenience, stronger mission support, and increased savings for taxpayers, setting a new standard for leveraging industry partnerships to reduce expenses and improve service and efficiency nationwide.
Registered federal employees can use their Uber One membership for all orders within the U.S., including personal rides, through November 30, 2027.
About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government. GSA manages a nationwide real estate portfolio of over 360 million rentable square feet, oversees more than $110 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivers 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-rideshare-program-saves-taxpayers-money-01052026
EXIM Delivers for America in 2025
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release:
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EXIM Delivers for America in 2025
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The Export-Import Bank of the United States is once again a frontline economic tool advancing President Trump's agenda for U.S. economic security and revitalization. Since Chairman Jovanovic's confirmation in September 2025, EXIM ended distractions and refocused on its core mission: supporting American jobs, securing critical supply chains, and ensuring U.S. energy and technology lead globally.
Chairman Jovanovic organized EXIM around Four Strategic Priorities
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release:
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EXIM Delivers for America in 2025
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The Export-Import Bank of the United States is once again a frontline economic tool advancing President Trump's agenda for U.S. economic security and revitalization. Since Chairman Jovanovic's confirmation in September 2025, EXIM ended distractions and refocused on its core mission: supporting American jobs, securing critical supply chains, and ensuring U.S. energy and technology lead globally.
Chairman Jovanovic organized EXIM around Four Strategic Prioritiesthat directly advance President Trump's economic agenda:
1. American Jobs First - Helping U.S. exporters and manufacturers win abroad
2. American Energy Dominance - Ensuring U.S. energy molecules and technologies reach every corner of the globe
3. Supply Chain Security - Fortifying vital supply chains so American manufactures large and small can rely on them when needed
4. Industries of the Future - Leading in AI, critical minerals, and advanced technologies
"President Trump has put forward a clear vision for revitalizing America's economy, and EXIM is working to deliver on it," said Chairman Jovanovic. "I'm proud of what this team accomplished in 2025. Time is our biggest enemy and every day we come to work with a sense of urgency to support American workers, manufacturers, and our nation's economic security."
While advancing our strategic priorities, EXIM remains a diligent steward of American taxpayer dollars. EXIM conducts rigorous due diligence to ensure when undertaking a project, we are putting American exporters first. Since 1992, EXIM has returned $9.7 billion to the U.S. Department of the Treasury to help pay down the U.S. debt and nearly 90% of EXIM's total transactions directly benefit U.S. small business exporters, ensuring that America's entrepreneurial backbone has access to the financing tools needed to compete and win in global markets.
Some of EXIM's recent key 2025 milestones of putting America First are below: October 20, 2025 EXIM issued seven Letters of Interest (LOIs) totaling more than $2.2 billion to support U.S.-aligned critical minerals projects in Australia, advancing President Trump's America First industrial revitalization.
October 22, 2025 EXIM, coordinating with the Office of Science Technology Policy (OSTP) and the Departments of Commerce and State, supported the American AI Exports Programan initiative under President Trump's leadership to advance U.S. innovation and global competitiveness in trusted, full-stack AI technologies.
November 10, 2025 EXIM and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed a "Buy American, Build the Future" agreement, establishing a framework that expands economic cooperation and advances President Trump's America First Agenda. The agreement positions the U.S. as Uzbekistan's partner of choice in critical sectors and signals Uzbekistan's commitment to adopting American technology that supports jobs, supply chain resilience, and industrial modernization.
November 8, 2025 Chairman Jovanovic joined the U.S. Presidential Delegation at the historic inauguration of Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, reaffirming America's commitment to deepening economic ties. The Chairman emphasized America's readiness to collaborate on strengthening both economies, enhancing energy dominance, supporting good-paying American jobs, and promoting shared regional prosperity.
November 20, 2025 Under the Chairman's first Board action, EXIM approved a direct loan to Pennsylvania-based 6K Additive LLC for an expansion project in Burgettstown, PA, supporting more than 50 American jobs. The $27 million financing funds construction of four new buildings and procurement of advanced equipment to refine titanium, nickel, and alloy powders. This latest approval under EXIM's Make More in America initiative strengthens U.S. manufacturing and secures critical mineral supply chains, marking the first transaction executed in coordination with the Department of War's Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III program.
December 4, 2025 Chairman Jovanovic joined President Trump and senior U.S. officials for the signing of the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Rwandaa significant step toward ending decades of conflict and strengthening economic cooperation across the Great Lakes region.
December 17, 2025 President Trump welcomed Chairman Jovanovic to the Oval Office for his ceremonial swearing-in. Joined by his wife and four children, the Chairman took the oath of office, administered by Vice President JD Vance. The event underscored the administration's commitment to revitalizing America's economy by supporting good-paying American jobs across the United States, particularly for small businesses.
December 18, 2025 EXIM advanced America's critical mineral supply chain security by approving a $670 million Letter of Interest for Graphite One Inc. (G1) to support financing of the Company's Graphite Creek Project near Nome, Alaska, along with a separate $1.4 billion Letter of Interest for G1's planned advanced graphite materials manufacturing facility in northeastern Ohioincreasing production capacity while bringing back skilled manufacturing jobs.
ABOUT EXIM:
As the United States government's official export credit agency, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) supports American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. As an independent agency, EXIM plays a critical role in supporting economic growth, securing critical supply chains, and ensuring American businesses are given a fighting chance. To achieve this mission, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. Learn more at www.exim.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.exim.gov/news/exim-delivers-for-america-2025
