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White House: President Trump Was Right - America Controls the Strait of Hormuz
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The White House issued the following news:
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President Trump Was Right: America Controls the Strait of Hormuz
U.S. Central Command confirms what Democrats and the Fake News have spent months denying: the United States -- not the Islamic Republic of Iran -- controls the Strait of Hormuz. American forces are keeping energy moving to the world while denying Tehran the revenue it needs to threaten global commerce.
Here are the facts:
* Iranian mines have been cleared from the Strait's international shipping lanes.
* Nearly 1,500 commercial vessels have moved through
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The White House issued the following news:
* * *
President Trump Was Right: America Controls the Strait of Hormuz
U.S. Central Command confirms what Democrats and the Fake News have spent months denying: the United States -- not the Islamic Republic of Iran -- controls the Strait of Hormuz. American forces are keeping energy moving to the world while denying Tehran the revenue it needs to threaten global commerce.
Here are the facts:
* Iranian mines have been cleared from the Strait's international shipping lanes.
* Nearly 1,500 commercial vessels have moved throughunder U.S. protection, carrying 750 million barrels of crude to the world.
* Iran has exported zero oil from its shores since the blockade resumed in July.
* 75 vessels that tried to break the blockade were turned around.
* Gulf oil exports have recovered to two-thirds of pre-operation levels -- and continue to rise.
President Trump was right -- again:
* August 10: "The only one that has control of the Strait of Hormuz right now is the United States Navy. We have a blockade that's been infallible. It's a steel wall... We control the Strait, 100%."
* August 11: "We totally control the Strait of Hormuz. We have control over it. Nobody else -- only us."
* August 14: "In the true sense, we own the Hormuz Strait, and we only allow boats to come in if we want them to come in."
* August 17: "We have total control over the Strait... The Strait is open."
* August 19: "Right now, the Strait is open. A lot of boats are coming through. People aren't reporting that... The naval blockade has been extremely effective."
* August 21: "We have total control of that entire region having to do with the Strait of Hormuz."
* August 26: "The Strait is open. We take a lot of ships through the Strait now... It's a very functioning Strait. A lot of oil is pouring out."
* August 27: "The Strait of Hormuz is open. We have control, and we have the blockade. Iran is not getting anything; nothing is going through."
Here's what they're saying:
* Former Deputy National Security Advisor KT McFarland: "Iran overplayed its hand by closing Strait. Countries developed work-arounds w/ pipelines, US exports, and then reopened Strait. For 50 yrs Iran blackmailed world. No longer. That card is dead."
* West Point Chair of Urban Warfare Studies John Spencer: "Despite all the rhetoric coming out of Tehran, the reality is clear: the U.S. blockade of Iran is effective. Iran's claims that it has closed the Strait of Hormuz are false. It has neither closed the strait nor effectively stopped maritime traffic."
* United Against Nuclear Iran Policy Director Jason Brodsky: "Tehran can hoot, holler, and threaten, but its hold over the Strait of Hormuz is being eroded, while its economy is deteriorating and its revenue streams are drying up."
* Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Rebeccah Heinrichs: "There is a demoralization campaign to make people think we've lost this war. But the evidence just doesn't support that. USF have been clearing the Strait and are successfully getting oil through while degrading the IRGC's weapons and cutting off its resources."
* Institute for National Security Studies Iran and Shiite Axis Program Director Raz Zimmt: "Significant statements from Tehran today point to a growing recognition among the Iranian leadership of the severity of the economic situation and the erosion of Iran's ability to use the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in light of U.S. military gains in opening a corridor through the strait."
* Former Deputy National Security Advisor Victoria Coates: "By far Trump's most devastating tool was the imposition of the U.S. blockade on Iranian exports through the Strait of Hormuz last April. Iran is now losing an additional $13 billion a month and is also cut off from critical imports. ... The sanctions Bessent announced Monday are going to accelerate economic decline into a collapse."
* Analyst Adolfo Franco: "Six months into the conflict between the United States and Iran, the situation is not the humiliating quagmire that critics of the Trump administration insist upon. Instead, President Trump has charted a new and far more patient strategy that is making steady progress towards his objectives. The quick victory that some initially envisioned by destroying the regime's military power has given way to a slow and consistent tightening of the noose aimed at denying the Iranian regime the economic oxygen it needs to survive. Although the conflict is far from over, the evidence is that this new focus is working and will continue. The reflexive opposition of critics at home and abroad has not dissuaded the Trump administration. Instead, what we are witnessing is a grinding contest of attrition in which the pressure is compounding over time, steadily narrowing the Iranian regime's resources and options."
* Qatar University Director of the Gulf Studies Center Dr. Mahjoob Zweiri: "Economic pressure is testing Iran where it is weakest and sharpening divisions within its leadership."
* FDD CEO Mark Dubowitz: "Those of us who stood firmly against the regime in Iran did so because we had supreme confidence in @CENTCOM leadership--and in the extraordinary courage, skill, and professionalism of the remarkable men and women of the U.S. military. That confidence has been more than justified. Profound gratitude to everyone who is making it possible."
* FDD Senior Advisor Richard Goldberg: "The blockade is working. Project Freedom is still going. We are getting 5mpbd out even with IRGC threats. Alternatives are accelerating. IRGC knows its financial sector is a house of cards."
* Commentator Scott Jennings: "Iran has exported no oil since resumption of US blockade in July. The US Navy has helped move 750 million barrels of oil out of the Gulf. Incredible."
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The economic pressure on the Iranian regime is only tightening. Operation Economic Outcast is now cutting off every remaining lifeline to the regime as a domestic fuel crisis, collapsing currency, and crushing inflation starves the regime of its ability to project power.
President Trump has been clear: he will keep the pressure on the Islamic Republic until it can no longer threaten the world.
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Original text here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/08/president-trump-was-right-america-controls-the-strait-of-hormuz/
Trump's Transportation Department Moves to Reverse Illegal Obama-Era Rule Unfairly Restricting American Engine Manufacturing
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued the following news release on Aug. 28, 2026:
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Trump's Transportation Department Moves to Reverse Illegal Obama-Era Rule Unfairly Restricting American Engine Manufacturing
Action will unleash innovators so they can design the engines of the future
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The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today moved to reverse an Obama-era rule regulating standalone medium- and heavy-duty truck engines. The rule - which went far beyond
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued the following news release on Aug. 28, 2026:
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Trump's Transportation Department Moves to Reverse Illegal Obama-Era Rule Unfairly Restricting American Engine Manufacturing
Action will unleash innovators so they can design the engines of the future
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The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today moved to reverse an Obama-era rule regulating standalone medium- and heavy-duty truck engines. The rule - which went far beyondCongress' intent - restricted manufacturers' ability to design innovative approaches to meet commercial truck fuel efficiency standards. Under the Trump Administration, NHTSA is returning that authority to vehicle manufacturers who can best decide how to improve fuel efficiency.
Federal statute and court decisions make it clear that NHTSA's authority is limited to regulating the fuel efficiency of vehicles, not standalone engines or vehicle subcomponents. Today's interpretive rule aligns the agency's regulatory footprint with law.
"American innovators - not Big Government - know how best to design vehicle engines. The Trump Administration is getting out of the way so manufacturers can decide how they want to meet fuel efficiency requirements," said NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison. "Ensuring the commercial truck fuel efficiency program complies with Federal law will also lower commercial truck prices and allow American manufacturers - and the thousands of hardworking people they employ - to thrive."
Highlights of the Rule
* Focus on Vehicles: The Energy Independence and Security Act explicitly directs NHTSA to establish a fuel efficiency program for commercial vehicles. Unlike the Clean Air Act - which gives the Environmental Protection Agency explicit authority to set emissions standards for engines - EISA contains no statutory authority for NHTSA to regulate engines or components like transmissions or tires.
* Alignment with Judicial Precedent: The interpretation applies the best reading of the law in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo decision, as well as a recent decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that found the agency has no authority to regulate the fuel efficiency of non-vehicle components.
* Support for Market Flexibility: Regulating complete vehicles gives manufacturers greater flexibility to innovate and tailor designs to the real-world operational demands of commercial customers that could include improvements to the engine as well as other parts of the vehicle such as transmissions, cab design, and tires.
Next Steps and Enforcement
The interpretive rule does not itself change existing standards. It establishes the legal foundation for a forthcoming notice-and-comment rulemaking to officially reset the MDHD program.
Pending that rulemaking process, NHTSA will exercise its enforcement authority in alignment with this interpretation.
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Original text here: https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/truck-engine-fuel-efficiency-rule-reversed
State Department Issues Public Schedule for Aug. 28, 2026
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the daily public schedule for Aug. 28, 2026:
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SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO
Secretary Rubio attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State and the White House.
DEPUTY SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER LANDAU
11:30 a.m. Deputy Secretary Landau meets with Ugandan Foreign Minister Adonia Ayebare at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)
DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES MICHAEL J. RIGAS
Deputy Secretary Rigas is on travel to Egypt from August 25-29, 2026.
UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS ALLISON M. HOOKER
Under
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the daily public schedule for Aug. 28, 2026:
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SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO
Secretary Rubio attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State and the White House.
DEPUTY SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER LANDAU
11:30 a.m. Deputy Secretary Landau meets with Ugandan Foreign Minister Adonia Ayebare at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)
DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES MICHAEL J. RIGAS
Deputy Secretary Rigas is on travel to Egypt from August 25-29, 2026.
UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS ALLISON M. HOOKER
UnderSecretary Hooker attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
UNDER SECRETARY FOR ARMS CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY THOMAS G. DINANNO
7:00 a.m. Under Secretary DiNanno meets with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Funakoshi Takehiro in Washington, DC.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)
ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS CATE DILLON
Assistant Secretary Dillon is on travel to Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam from August 25-September 9, 2026.
BRIEFING SCHEDULE
No Department Press Briefing.
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Original text here: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/08/public-schedule-august-28-2026/
President Trump Issues Proclamation on Establishing U.S. Space Academy
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- President Trump issued the following proclamation on Aug. 28, 2026:
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Establishing the United States Space Academy
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose and Policy. Space is a critical domain for American national security, economic growth, scientific discovery, and technological innovation. American superiority in space depends on the strength, skill, and character of those who explore, secure, and build the industries critical to it. To continue to lead
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- President Trump issued the following proclamation on Aug. 28, 2026:
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Establishing the United States Space Academy
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose and Policy. Space is a critical domain for American national security, economic growth, scientific discovery, and technological innovation. American superiority in space depends on the strength, skill, and character of those who explore, secure, and build the industries critical to it. To continue to leadthe world in space exploration and technology, while securing and defending our national interests in space, the Nation must prepare the next generation of astronauts, scientists, engineers, operators, entrepreneurs, civil servants, and warfighters and ensure that they are capable of advancing American interests in space. Achieving this goal requires us to recruit, train, and retain America's best and brightest from across the Nation.
Therefore, it is my Administration's policy to strengthen the Nation's space workforce by expanding opportunities to educate and develop the next generation of leaders across the space domain.
Sec. 2. Establishment and Composition of the Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy. (a) There is hereby established the Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy (Commission). The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shall serve as Chair of the Commission. The Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (APST) and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy (APEP) shall serve as Vice Chairs of the Commission. The Deputy Administrator of NASA shall serve as Executive Director.
(b) In addition to the Chair, Vice Chairs, and Executive Director, the Commission shall include the following officials or their designees:
(i) the Secretary of War;
(ii) the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff;
(iii) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;
(iv) the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs;
(v) the Secretary of the Air Force; and
(vi) other full-time or permanent part-time employees of the Federal Government invited to join the Commission, at the discretion of the Chair, in consultation with the Vice Chairs.
Sec. 3. Duties. (a) The Commission shall advise and assist the President regarding proposals to establish the United States Space Academy (Space Academy), a proposed NASA-led Federal academy dedicated to combining rigorous technical education with leadership development, discipline, and a durable commitment to public service. The Space Academy will develop a professional corps of civically grounded leaders prepared to advance American interests within the space domain.
(b) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Commission shall submit to the President through the APST and the APEP a report proposing key details for the establishment of the Space Academy. The report shall include recommendations regarding:
(i) a governance framework for the Space Academy, including the appropriate organizational structure, authorities, accreditations, and relationships among relevant executive departments and agencies (agencies). Among the frameworks considered, the Commission shall evaluate the option of establishing the Space Academy within NASA, including actions necessary to implement such a structure;
(ii) an academic and leadership curriculum, including recommendations for degree programs, experiential training, and development programs;
(iii) service obligations for graduates, including service in the Armed Forces and civilian Federal service and the conditions under which such obligations should be fulfilled;
(iv) prerequisites for applicants, including citizenship status, security clearances, and government employment or military status;
(v) the process for selection of the permanent physical location of the Space Academy appropriate for the chosen governance framework;
(vi) administrative actions that may be taken under existing legal authorities to advance the objectives of establishing a Space Academy, including opportunities for pilot programs, partnerships, and other preparatory initiatives;
(vii) legislative actions necessary to implement the Commission's recommendations;
(viii) coordination with existing Federal education programs, partnerships, and agreements; and
(ix) an implementation strategy for the establishment of the Space Academy, including timelines, sequencing of administrative and legislative actions, and opportunities to use existing Federal authorities and programs.
(c) The Chair may establish working groups composed of representatives from agencies, as necessary to support the Commission. Such working groups may consult with experts from academia and industry, and with other stakeholders, as necessary to support the work of the Commission. Any such working groups shall report directly to the Commission, and the Commission shall deliberate on any working-group recommendations before it may adopt them.
(d) Following approval by the President, and any necessary legislative action, the Administrator of NASA shall, in coordination with the heads of relevant agencies, implement the approved recommendations of the Commission, consistent with applicable law and available fiscal resources.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
DONALD J. TRUMP
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Original text here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/establishing-the-united-states-space-academy/
Justice Department Files a Statement of Interest in Support of the Primary Aluminum Smelter Project in Inola, Oklahoma
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Aug. 28, 2026:
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Justice Department Files a Statement of Interest in Support of the Primary Aluminum Smelter Project in Inola, Oklahoma
Yesterday, the Justice Department's Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) filed a statement of interest in a lawsuit brought by the Oklahoma Attorney General, expressing support for the construction of a primary aluminum smelter in Inola, Oklahoma.
ENRD's filing concerns a case where the Oklahoma Attorney General has sued Century Aluminum Company and Aluminum
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Aug. 28, 2026:
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Justice Department Files a Statement of Interest in Support of the Primary Aluminum Smelter Project in Inola, Oklahoma
Yesterday, the Justice Department's Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) filed a statement of interest in a lawsuit brought by the Oklahoma Attorney General, expressing support for the construction of a primary aluminum smelter in Inola, Oklahoma.
ENRD's filing concerns a case where the Oklahoma Attorney General has sued Century Aluminum Company and AluminumOklahoma, alleging environmental violations under state nuisance laws. Plaintiff's allegations concern the federal Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, which require environmental permits for the construction and operation of the primary aluminum smelter. Instead of allowing review of these environmental permits in the first instances, the Oklahoma Attorney General seeks to enjoin construction through this premature lawsuit, threatening vital materials critical to our nation's defense.
"This project advances national and economic security by reducing the country's reliance on foreign sources of materials critical to the national defense," said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of ENRD. "The Department of Justice is committed to supporting military readiness and opposing litigation that subverts environmental regulatory processes established by Congress."
President Donald J. Trump's recently issued executive order Further Strengthening Actions Taken to Adjust Imports of Aluminum into the United States, recognizing that the quantities of aluminum imported into the United States threaten to impair our national security. Domestic production and supply of primary aluminum is imperative in producing an irreplaceable strategic material that is indispensable to our modern defense manufacturing. The Department of War requires primary aluminum for aerospace and air dominance, ground combat vehicles, naval systems, missiles, and space programs. However, the United States now represents less than 1 percent of the global primary aluminum production. As a result, China, the leading global producer of primary aluminum, has sought to leverage its position in primary aluminum production to gain advantage over the United States.
As outlined in ENRD's statement of interest, the primary aluminum smelter in Inola is the nearest-term solution in combating this national security risk. Once completed, the smelter would be the first constructed in the United States in over 40 years and would rank as the largest primary aluminum production facility in the United States, more than doubling the nation's output. The Department of Energy recently awarded $500 million in support of this project, recognizing its importance in increasing domestic production of primary aluminum while avoiding an estimated 75 percent of emissions from a traditional smelter. A delay in construction would place the United States at risk of foreign reliance and severely limits our ability to produce the armor, aircraft, and munitions required for national defense.
The Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act provide the appropriate mechanism to address environmental concerns raised by the Oklahoma Attorney General. In its filing, ENRD asked the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma to dismiss the lawsuit, which would otherwise stop construction of the primary aluminum smelter and threaten America's security by denying access to this critical material necessary for military readiness.
Attorneys with ENRD's Environmental Defense Section are handling this matter.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-files-statement-interest-support-primary-aluminum-smelter-project-inola
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Releases Comprehensive Museum Guide
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Releases Comprehensive Museum Guide
Richly Illustrated, "Hirshhorn Museum: The Art Handbook" Is a Portable Introduction to Modern and Contemporary Art Through Key Works in the National Collection
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The Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden has published Hirshhorn Museum: The Art Handbook, a vividly illustrated portable paperback guide to the permanent collection of the Hirshhorn, the national museum of modern and contemporary art.
"We are delighted
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Releases Comprehensive Museum Guide
Richly Illustrated, "Hirshhorn Museum: The Art Handbook" Is a Portable Introduction to Modern and Contemporary Art Through Key Works in the National Collection
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The Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden has published Hirshhorn Museum: The Art Handbook, a vividly illustrated portable paperback guide to the permanent collection of the Hirshhorn, the national museum of modern and contemporary art.
"We are delightedto publish this welcoming book for both fans of modern art and readers new to it," said Melissa Chiu, director of the Hirshhorn. "The book builds on research we undertook during the pandemic, which resulted in both our scholarly collection book, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden: The Collection, and this portable handbook."
The Art Handbook offers a concise yet deeply informed overview of one of the most significant modern and contemporary art collections in the United States, as well as the artistic movements that have given rise to its compelling treasures. Through hundreds of color and black-and-white images, the handbook traces the evolution of the collection from its Modernist foundations--celebrated at the museum's 1974 opening--to its present-day focus on the most innovative practices of the postwar and contemporary eras. Featured works include sculpture, painting, drawing, performance art, installations and new media art, drawn from traditions ranging from Impressionism to Surrealism and Dada to Abstract Expressionism to Conceptual art, alongside sidebars providing definitions of key artistic schools and ideas from the late 19th century to the present day.
Organized for browsing as well as sustained reading, the handbook features key works by such trailblazing artists as Yayoi Kusama, Henri Matisse, Joan Mitchell, Yoko Ono, Pablo Picasso, Auguste Rodin, Betye Saar, Andy Warhol and many others, alongside later figures such as Mark Bradford, Wangechi Mutu, Doris Salcedo, Hito Steyerl and Henry Taylor. Its clear definitions of major art movements and styles are accompanied by statements from artists about their own work, making the book especially accessible.
More than a collection catalog, Hirshhorn Museum: The Art Handbook functions as an armchair museum that allows readers to engage with the breadth of the Hirshhorn's holdings whether they are preparing for a visit, reflecting afterward or encountering the collection from afar. At 216 pages with nearly 400 illustrations, this compact book is designed for portability and reflects the institution's role as a leading voice in 21st century art and culture.
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About the Hirshhorn
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is the national museum of modern and contemporary art and a leading voice for 21st-century art and culture. Part of the Smithsonian, the Hirshhorn is located prominently on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Its holdings encompass one of the most important collections of postwar American and European art in the world. The Hirshhorn presents diverse exhibitions and offers an array of public programs on the art of our time--free to all. The Hirshhorn Museum is open Mondays noon-5:30 p.m. and Tuesdays-Sundays 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (except Dec. 25). For more information, visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Book Details
Hirshhorn Museum: The Art Handbook
Paperback | 61/2 x 81/4 inches | 216 pages
ISBN 978 1 58834 765 7 | $24.95
Smithsonian Books
For review copies, images or additional information, contact Smithsonian Books.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/hirshhorn-museum-and-sculpture-garden-releases-comprehensive-museum-guide
HUD Increases Flexibility and Lowers Barriers for Public Housing Repositioning
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued the following news release on Aug. 28, 2026:
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HUD Increases Flexibility and Lowers Barriers for Public Housing Repositioning
Updated guidance provides more tools to keep housing safe, modern, and affordable
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HUD today announced updates to its public housing demolition and disposition program to make it easier for public housing authorities (PHAs) to address distressed public housing and maintain affordable housing in their communities through redevelopment.
"Public housing should not be synonymous with
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued the following news release on Aug. 28, 2026:
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HUD Increases Flexibility and Lowers Barriers for Public Housing Repositioning
Updated guidance provides more tools to keep housing safe, modern, and affordable
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HUD today announced updates to its public housing demolition and disposition program to make it easier for public housing authorities (PHAs) to address distressed public housing and maintain affordable housing in their communities through redevelopment.
"Public housing should not be synonymous withblighted or derelict buildings," said Secretary Turner. "With today's announcement, HUD is enhancing local housing authorities' ability to rehabilitate failing projects and breathe new life into their communities. Under President Trump's leadership, HUD is making public housing safe, serviceable, and better positioned to help residents transition to self-sufficiency."
Across the country, PHAs manage public housing properties with an estimated $170 billion capital-needs backlog and physical deficiencies. Families living in these projects are three times more likely to live in higher crime neighborhoods and four times more likely to live in higher concentrations of poverty.
HUD's updated guidance provides PHAs with more tools to keep their buildings safe, modern, and affordable through public-private partnerships that help demolish, sell, or reposition public housing. These tools will reposition public housing to the Section 8 platform where agencies can more readily leverage private capital to achieve affordable housing goals and reduce reliance on federal funds.
The updated guidelines focus on three main areas:
* Expanding the definition of obsolete buildings: Agencies can now redevelop, modernize, demolish, or sell buildings that have outdated design features.
* Fewer barriers for small agencies: PHAs with 75 or fewer units can now reposition all their properties at once and exit the public housing program with far less administrative paperwork and the option to consolidate with larger, nearby housing agencies.
* Relief for financially struggling properties: HUD has expanded which properties qualify for demolition and disposition, giving relief to agencies and owners managing "mixed-finance" properties and expanding the definition of scattered sites.
To learn more about these updates, visit www.hud.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.hud.gov/news/hud-no-26-061
