Targeted News Service

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The White House issued the following fact sheet on May 18, 2026:

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President Donald J. Trump Announces Expansion of TrumpRx.gov to Bring Americans Transparency and Choice on Everyday Medicines

HISTORIC LAUNCH TO LOWER DRUG PRICES FOR AMERICAN PATIENTS: Today, President Donald J. Trump announced an expansion of TrumpRx.gov to provide unprecedented price transparency and choice on generic medications that millions of Americans use every day.

* Beginning today, TrumpRx.gov will feature more than 600 generic medications.

* Americans will be able to clearly and transparently ... Show Full Article

State Dept.: Marking 31 Years Since the Panchen Lama's Disappearance

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following statement on May 18, 2026, by Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

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Marking 31 Years Since the Panchen Lama's Disappearance

Yesterday was the 31st anniversary of the disappearance of the Tibetan religious leader known as the Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima.

Days after the Dalai Lama recognized this child as an important future Tibetan Buddhist leader, Chinese authorities disappeared him and his family. He was six years old.

Chinese authorities should immediately release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family ... Show Full Article

SBA Doubles Cumulative 7(a) and 504 Loan Limit to $10 Million

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on May 18, 2026:

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SBA Doubles Cumulative 7(a) and 504 Loan Limit to $10 Million

Effective July 4, eligible borrowers can access record levels of SBA-backed funding

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Today, Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), announced a new rule that will allow eligible borrowers to combine their 7(a) and 504 loans for up to $10 million in SBA-backed financing, increasing the cumulative loan limit from its current $5 million and expanding the capital available to small ... Show Full Article

OCC Advances Priority of Reducing Regulatory Burden for Community Banks

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued the following news release:

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OCC Advances Priority of Reducing Regulatory Burden for Community Banks

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) continues to prioritize supervisory and regulatory reforms to reduce burden for community banks and support their role as drivers of economic growth.

Most community banks are well capitalized and well managed, conduct business in a safe and sound manner, and engage in low-risk activities. The OCC has taken actions to reaffirm its ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued the following news release: * * * OCC Advances Priority of Reducing Regulatory Burden for Community Banks The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) continues to prioritize supervisory and regulatory reforms to reduce burden for community banks and support their role as drivers of economic growth. Most community banks are well capitalized and well managed, conduct business in a safe and sound manner, and engage in low-risk activities. The OCC has taken actions to reaffirm itscommitment to risk-based supervision and tailor its supervisory activities for community banks.

"Community banks are anchors of local economies, providing essential banking services and small business lending that helps power job creation," said Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould. "The OCC has taken a range of actions to better tailor its supervision and provide meaningful reforms to community banks so they can continue to drive economic development in their local communities and the broader national economy."

For community banks, the OCC issued guidance in October that removed requirements for examination activities set by OCC policy--e.g., examination activities concerning Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) performance, fair lending, end-user derivatives, and trading. Instead, the guidance provided that the OCC will tailor its examination of a community bank's specific activities in light of the bank's size, complexity, and risk profile with heightened focus on material financial risks. This approach reduces supervisory burden, maintains the value of the federal charter, and preserves banks' safety and soundness while ensuring regulatory oversight does not distract banks from serving their communities. This guidance was effective January 1, 2026.

To implement the guidance, the OCC updated its policies and processes for CRA examination scheduling to provide discretion with respect to the examination frequency. Going forward, the OCC will schedule a community bank's CRA examination by considering the bank's size, risk profile, and complexity. For all other examination activities previously required by mere policy, the OCC is updating its examiner guidance to fully reflect its risk-based supervision principles and provide examiners with direction to guide the scope of examination activities.

To provide community banks with greater flexibility to use a simpler measure of capital adequacy and reduce regulatory burden, the OCC finalized a rule modifying the community bank leverage ratio (CBLR) framework. The framework simplifies capital calculations, shortens reporting schedules, and provides material regulatory relief while maintaining safety and soundness in the banking system. The vast majority of OCC supervised banks with assets under $10 billion qualify to elect the CBLR framework, making regulatory relief available to a meaningful number of banks.

As the OCC stated it planned to do in its October news release on community bank initiatives, the agency took the next step in refining model risk management guidance for all of the OCC's regulated institutions by updating the model risk management guidance for OCC-supervised institutions to clarify that model risk management practices should be risk-based, tailored, and commensurate with a banking organization's size, complexity, and extent of model use. The guidance does not set forth enforceable standards or prescriptive requirements. Models used by community banks are generally excluded from this guidance, as they are typically subject to internal risk management and governance practices appropriate for their size and risk profile, which makes excluding them consistent with a tailored supervisory approach.

To further reduce burden for community banks, the OCC requires its bank examiners to use a newly updated resource to narrow the scope and simplify bank information technology (BIT) and cybersecurity examinations in community banks. The OCC's approach to assess and improve cybersecurity preparedness reinforces a risk-based approach to supervision and improves the effectiveness and efficiency of BIT and cybersecurity examinations.

The OCC will continue to prioritize reforms to reduce regulatory burden on community banks and eliminate supervisory overreach, so community banks may better serve their customers and communities.

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Original text here: https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-38.html

Justice Department Announces Anti-Weaponization Fund

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on May 18, 2026:

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Justice Department Announces Anti-Weaponization Fund

Part of settlement agreement in President Donald J. Trump v. Internal Revenue Service

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The U.S. Department of Justice today announced that as a part of the settlement agreement in President Donald J. Trump v. Internal Revenue Service, the Attorney General established "The Anti-Weaponization Fund" to provide a systematic process to hear and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare.

The plaintiffs in the case, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on May 18, 2026: * * * Justice Department Announces Anti-Weaponization Fund Part of settlement agreement in President Donald J. Trump v. Internal Revenue Service * The U.S. Department of Justice today announced that as a part of the settlement agreement in President Donald J. Trump v. Internal Revenue Service, the Attorney General established "The Anti-Weaponization Fund" to provide a systematic process to hear and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare. The plaintiffs in the case,President Donald J. Trump, Donald J. Trump, Jr., Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization, LLC, filed suit against the Treasury and IRS in Southern District of Florida federal court following the leak of their tax returns. Per the settlement, plaintiffs will receive a formal apology but no monetary payment or damages of any kind. They have agreed, in exchange for the creation of this fund, to drop their pending lawsuit with prejudice, and also withdraw two administrative claims including for damages resulting from the unlawful raid of Mar-a-Lago and the Russia-collusion hoax.

"The machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American, and it is this Department's intention to make right the wrongs that were previously done while ensuring this never happens again," said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. "As part of this settlement, we are setting up a lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress."

"The use of government power to target individuals or entities for improper and unlawful political, personal, or ideological reasons should not be tolerated by any Administration," said Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter.

The Fund will have the power to issue formal apologies and monetary relief owed to claimants. Submission of a claim is voluntary. There are no partisan requirements to file a claim. Any money left when the Fund ceases operations will revert to the Federal Government.

The Fund will receive $1.776 billion and will come from the judgment fund, which is a perpetual appropriation allowing DOJ to settle and pay cases. On a quarterly basis, the Fund shall send a report to the Attorney General outlining who has received relief and what form of relief was awarded.

At the Attorney General's direction, the Fund can be audited. The Fund must take steps to protect private information and avoid fraud. The Fund shall cease processing claims no later than December 1, 2028.

There is legal precedent for such a Fund, most notably the "Keepseagle" case where the Obama Administration created a $760 million fund to redress various claims alleging racism against the federal government over a period of decades.

In Keepseagle, hundreds of millions of dollars remaining in the fund were distributed to non-profits and NGOs that never made claims, whereas any money remaining in The Anti-Weaponization Fund will revert to the federal government. The Obama DOJ settled by putting $680 million from the judgment fund into a bank account for a single claims administrator to dole out. In Keepseagle the remaining money--which ended up being over $300 million--was distributed to the entities that had not even submitted claims.

The Fund will consist of five members appointed by the Attorney General. One Member will be chosen in consultation with congressional leadership. The President can remove any member, but a replacement must be chosen the same way as the replaced member was selected.

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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-anti-weaponization-fund

Inter-American Development Bank: Ninth Superheroes of Development Contest Channels a World Cup Spirit

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:

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Ninth Superheroes of Development Contest Channels a World Cup Spirit

The contest is accepting submissions until June 5, 2026

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The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) has kicked off the ninth Superheroes of Development contest in this World Cup year, tapping into the spirit of the world's most popular sport to recognize the teams that, project after project, take to the field to fight for better lives in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This year, Superheroes of Development spotlights ... Show Full Article

Black-Footed Ferret Kits Born at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Smithsonian Institution National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute issued the following news release:

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Black-Footed Ferret Kits Born at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Watch the Kits Via a Live Cam on the Zoo's Website

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Six black-footed ferret kits were born at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute's (NZCBI) research campus in Front Royal, Virginia, as part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) black-footed ferret recovery program. The kits were born Monday, May 11, to Mizuno, a 2-year-old ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Smithsonian Institution National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute issued the following news release: * * * Black-Footed Ferret Kits Born at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Watch the Kits Via a Live Cam on the Zoo's Website * Six black-footed ferret kits were born at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute's (NZCBI) research campus in Front Royal, Virginia, as part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) black-footed ferret recovery program. The kits were born Monday, May 11, to Mizuno, a 2-year-oldfirst-time mother. The new kits are being raised by their mother in a specially designed den box equipped with a soundless, black-and-white camera. Beginning today, the public can watch the family on the Black-footed Ferret Webcam (https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams/black-footed-ferret-cam).

"We're thrilled that kits and mom are healthy," said Adrienne Crosier, curator of carnivores at NZCBI. "Mizuno is a natural mom, and she is doing a great job raising this large litter. We've paired other ferrets this year, too, so we hope to welcome even more healthy kits later in the year."

The kits' sire, 4-year-old Dickory, was born at NZCBI. This is his second litter. Male ferrets do not play a role in rearing their young.

Starting at four days old, the kits receive daily check-ups from keepers to monitor their health, development and weight gain. When the kits are 60 days old, veterinary staff will conduct a full neonatal exam.

The kits will remain with their mother for about three months. By that time, they will be ready to live independently. Afterward, they may remain at NZCBI for future breeding, transfer to other accredited zoos or wildlife centers, or become candidates for USFWS' black-footed ferret reintroduction program. Mizuno and Dickory received a breeding recommendation as part of this cooperative effort.

Black-footed ferrets are North America's only native ferrets. The species was once thought to be extinct; the last colony was found by a rancher in 1981 near Meeteetse, Wyoming. The USFWS and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department later brought 18 ferrets into human care, forming the foundation of today's recovery program. Thanks to collaborative breeding and reintroduction efforts, including NZCBI's, the wild population now numbers around 400 individuals.

Since 1989, more than 1,200 kits have been born at NZCBI, and approximately 800 NZCBI-raised ferrets have joined reintroduction programs for release. Currently, 27 adult black-footed ferrets live at NZCBI's research campus.

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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 250 animals representing 20 species provide critical data for the management of animals in human care and valuable insights for the 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 40 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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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/black-footed-ferret-kits-born-smithsonians-national-zoo-and-conservation-biology

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