Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Featured Stories
NTSB Member Michael Graham Named Vice Chairman
WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The National Transportation Safety Board issued the following news release:
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NTSB Member Michael Graham Named Vice Chairman
Michael Graham, the 45th member of the National Transportation Safety Board, was designated by President Trump to serve as NTSB vice chairman for a three-year term.
Graham, who was also appointed as board member by President Trump, took the oath of office on Jan. 3, 2020. Before joining the Board, he served as director of flight operations safety, security and standardization at Textron Aviation, where he oversaw the company's safety management
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WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The National Transportation Safety Board issued the following news release:
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NTSB Member Michael Graham Named Vice Chairman
Michael Graham, the 45th member of the National Transportation Safety Board, was designated by President Trump to serve as NTSB vice chairman for a three-year term.
Graham, who was also appointed as board member by President Trump, took the oath of office on Jan. 3, 2020. Before joining the Board, he served as director of flight operations safety, security and standardization at Textron Aviation, where he oversaw the company's safety managementsystem, emergency response planning, air safety investigations and airport operations.
"I want to thank the President for this designation, as well as my fellow Board Members and NTSB staff who have supported me throughout my time at the Board," said Vice Chairman Graham. "I look forward to continuing to serve in this new role and fulfilling the NTSB's mission of improving safety across all modes of transportation."
During his tenure on the Board, Graham served as the member on scene for several major accident investigations, including the May 2025 accident involving a Mexican naval vessel striking the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City; the February 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio; the November 2022 Wings Over Dallas midair collision; and the October 2021 MD-87 runway excursion in Brookshire, Texas. Graham also has been a dedicated advocate for advancing connected vehicle technology and reducing distracted driving on our nation's roads. A pilot by background, he has also played a key role in supporting the NTSB's efforts to implement flight data monitoring recommendations and to promote the broader adoption of safety management systems (SMS) across all modes of transportation.
Prior to his NTSB service, Graham also served as chairman of the Air Charter Safety Foundation and contributed to safety working groups within the National Business Aviation Association. He received the Flight Safety Foundation's 2019 Business Aviation Meritorious Service Award.
Graham holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico and is a certified airline transport pilot with more than 10,000 flight hours.
See Graham's full biography (https://www.ntsb.gov/about/board/Pages/Michael-Graham.aspx) for more information.
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To report an incident/accident or if you are a public safety agency, please call 1-844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290 to speak to a Watch Officer at the NTSB Response Operations Center (ROC) in Washington, DC (24/7)
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Original text here: https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20260403.aspx
FHLBank Chicago Delivers $43 Million in Down Payment Assistance as Affordability Pressures Persist
CHICAGO, Illinois, April 4 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news:
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FHLBank Chicago Delivers $43 Million in Down Payment Assistance as Affordability Pressures Persist
As higher home prices and upfront costs continue to sideline many first-time buyers, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) provided $43 million in down payment assistance in 2025, helping more than 4,500 households across Illinois and Wisconsin purchase homes through its Downpayment Plus(R) (DPP(R)) programs.
The grant funding,
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CHICAGO, Illinois, April 4 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news:
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FHLBank Chicago Delivers $43 Million in Down Payment Assistance as Affordability Pressures Persist
As higher home prices and upfront costs continue to sideline many first-time buyers, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) provided $43 million in down payment assistance in 2025, helping more than 4,500 households across Illinois and Wisconsin purchase homes through its Downpayment Plus(R) (DPP(R)) programs.
The grant funding,delivered through FHLBank Chicago member institutions, helped income-eligible homebuyers cover down payment and closing costs--often cited as one of the biggest barriers to homeownership, particularly for first-time and moderate-income households.
"Demand for down payment assistance continues to grow as affordability tightens," said Katie Naftzger, SVP and Community Investment Officer at FHLBank Chicago. "By partnering with our members, we are helping households who are ready to buy to bridge that gap."
Through DPP and Downpayment Plus Advantage(R) (DPP Advantage(R)), eligible households can receive up to $10,000 in forgivable grant assistance, applied at closing. The DPP Advantage program extends the funding to homebuyers participating in nonprofit-led mortgage programs, with nonprofits partnering with an FHLBank Chicago member to secure funding.
Local Impact Across Illinois and Wisconsin
Novus Home Mortgage, a division of Ixonia Bank, based in Brookfield, Wis., helped over 160 households purchase homes in 2025 disbursing nearly $1.1 million in DPP grants, with 95 percent of recipients purchasing their first home. Since joining the program in 2015, Ixonia Bank has delivered more than $2.8 million in down payment assistance to over 400 households.
"Programs like DPP help bridge the gap for homebuyers who are financially prepared to purchase a home but need help covering upfront costs," said Eric Egenhoefer, President and CEO at Novus Home Mortgage. "Through our partnership with FHLBank Chicago, this support makes the difference between postponing a purchase and becoming a homeowner."
Citizens Equity First Credit Union (CEFCU), based in Peoria, Ill., disbursed $1 million in DPP grants in 2025, assisting more than 100 households, many of them first-time homebuyers. CEFCU has participated in the program since 2000 and has delivered more than $7.3 million in down payment assistance to more than 1,100 households.
"At CEFCU, helping members achieve homeownership is central to our mission," said Stacy Leavitt, Vice President of Mortgage Lending at CEFCU. "DPP allows us to provide meaningful support to first-time buyers and families working to build long-term financial stability."
Long-Term Program Reach
Since launching the DPP programs in 1994 through year-end 2025, FHLBank Chicago has allocated more than $330 million, to support more than 51,000 households across its district. A significant share of recipients have been first-time homebuyers.
With $31 million available in 2026, FHLBank Chicago encourages its member institutions and nonprofit partners to leverage the DPP programs to support eligible homebuyers in their communities.
To learn more about the DPP programs, visit fhlbc.com/DPP.
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About Novus Home Mortgage
Established in 2019 Novus Home Mortgage is a division of Ixonia Bank. Headquartered in the Greater Milwaukee area and originating in all 50 states, Novus is committed to creating a simpler, more efficient, and more transparent mortgage process. It leverages the industry's most innovative technology to provide 24/7 transparency, streamline the entire process, and minimize effort for all parties. Novus delivers exceptional customer service, along with an extensive offering of loan products ranging from FHA, VA, and conventional loans to niche products. For more information, visit www.novushomemortgage.com. NMLS # 423065. Equal Housing Lender.
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About Citizens Equity First Credit Union
With assets totaling more than $8.4 billion, CEFCU serves over 420,000 members through 26 Member Centers in Illinois, 7 California Member Centers, the CEFCU Financial Center, the CEFCU ATM Network, CEFCU's website -- cefcu.com, the surcharge-free Co-op ATM Network, and the CU Service Center Shared Branch Network.
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Original text here: https://www.fhlbc.com/news/news-detail/2026/04/02/fhlbank-chicago-delivers--43-million-in-down-payment-assistance-as-affordability-pressures-persist
Dear America Draws From the National Gallery of Art's Collection to Highlight Artists' Interpretations of the American Experience
WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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Dear America Draws From the National Gallery of Art's Collection to Highlight Artists' Interpretations of the American Experience
Exhibition presents works by Ansel Adams, Ruth Asawa, Thomas Moran, Gordon Parks, Paul Revere, Carrie Mae Weems, and more as part of America's 250th anniversary commemoration
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As part of its yearlong commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, the National Gallery of Art presents Dear America: Artists Explore the American Experience, an exhibition
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WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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Dear America Draws From the National Gallery of Art's Collection to Highlight Artists' Interpretations of the American Experience
Exhibition presents works by Ansel Adams, Ruth Asawa, Thomas Moran, Gordon Parks, Paul Revere, Carrie Mae Weems, and more as part of America's 250th anniversary commemoration
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As part of its yearlong commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, the National Gallery of Art presents Dear America: Artists Explore the American Experience, an exhibitionexamining how artists have portrayed and interpreted key aspects of American culture over the last 250 years. Comprising approximately 120 works from the late 18th century to the present--including many recent acquisitions and works that have never been on view at the National Gallery before--the exhibition highlights artists' wide-ranging depictions of American experience across time and place and is framed by the themes of land, community, and freedom. Dear America: Artists Explore the American Experience will be on view in the West Building from April 11 to September 20, 2026.
Drawn primarily from the National Gallery's leading collection of American art, Dear America brings together works on paper by 95 artists. Among the objects on view are photographs by Ansel Adams, Richard Avedon, Margaret Bourke-White, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Tom Jones (Ho-Chunk Nation), Sally Mann, Timothy H. O'Sullivan, Gordon Parks, Alfred Stieglitz, James Van Der Zee, Carleton E. Watkins, and Carrie Mae Weems; drawings by Thomas Moran, Tonita Pena, Eunice Pinney, and John Wilson; artists' books by Dindga McCannon and Kara Walker; and prints by Emma Amos, Ruth Asawa, Charles Gaines, Jane Hammond, Roy Lichtenstein, Marisol, Robert Rauschenberg, Ed Ruscha, Fritz Scholder, and Juan Sanchez.
"Artists have long helped us see America not just as a place, but as a living idea shaped by many voices," said Kaywin Feldman, director of the National Gallery of Art. "Through these remarkable works from the National Gallery's collection, visitors to the nation's art museum can witness the power of art to illuminate our shared past, illustrate the experiences of our lives, and inspire our collective future."
"Showcasing exemplary prints, drawings, and photographs made in the last 250 years, this exhibition is a testament to collaboration across curatorial disciplines as well as the strength of our permanent collection," said E. Carmen Ramos, the National Gallery's chief curatorial and conservation officer. "Dear America reveals the wide range of subjects, approaches, and techniques through which America's artists have sought to interpret their own and others' experiences."
About the Exhibition
Comprising works that span the breadth of US history and geography, from the nation's founding through the present, Dear America seeks to explore how artists have considered the question of what is, has been, and could be the nature of the American experience. The exhibition is organized in three thematic sections: Land, Community, and Freedom, each highlighting artists' expansive interpretations of American culture and iconography.
The first section, Land, explores our collective understanding of America as a place and as a site of wonder and belonging, survival and memory. Works from the 19th century by Thomas Moran, Frances Flora Bond Palmer, William H. Rau, and Carleton E. Watkins capture the variety of natural geographies across the North American continent and the early stages of the expansion of railways and settlements from east to west. Examples by 20th- and 21st-century artists, such as Bernarda Bryson, Leo Limon, Richard Misrach, and Margaret Bourke-White, address the impact of the growing populace, human-built environments, and major cities that comprise America today. This section shows how artists have drawn inspiration from the grandeur of the country's mountain ranges and canyons, as well as from roadside gas stations, hydroelectric dams, and skyscrapers.
The second section, Community, begins with four large multipart works that fill an entire gallery. Dear America (2002), composed of 16 photographs by contemporary artist Tom Jones (Ho-Chunk Nation), was the inspiration for the title of the exhibition. In this suite, Jones combined scans of historical postcards with lyrics from the song "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" to incorporate Native American experiences into narratives of American history. Also featured is a set of life-size figure drawings for John Wilson's unrealized mural Young Americans (1973-1975). These drawings depict the artist's teenage children and their friends, who hung out at the Wilson home in the 1970s. Their youthful potential represented a hopeful vision of the future to the artist. Nearby is a group of some 30 portraits from a suite of 101 offset lithographs by Sedrick E. Huckaby that are based on sketches he created while he interviewed people living and working in his community. The largest multipart work in this section is Richard Avedon's The Family (1976), a series of 69 photographs. Made during the Bicentennial, they depict America's power elite--politicians, media moguls, financiers, and activists. These works and others by artists such as Charles Milton Bell, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Michael Jang, Cesar A. Martinez, and Cara Romero highlight artists' portrayals of the many types of communities that have shaped the American experience, from politicians and prominent public servants, to friends and family members, neighborhoods, and religious and cultural gatherings.
The exhibition concludes with the section Freedom, weaving histories of revolution and liberation with deeply personal snapshots of American life. The works included here serve as both witnesses to the moments they portray and catalysts to connect us to our own sense of freedom. This section explores artists' considerations of the freedoms envisioned by the founders of the United States as well as by later generations who have continually sought to protect fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution and promote greater freedom for all people. Featured are scenes from the American Revolution and Civil War, including Paul Revere's famous print depicting the Boston Massacre of 1770, an event that was prompted by escalating tensions between the American colonists and Great Britain. Also on view are historical portraits of figures like Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and George Washington, all of whom advocated for freedom, while portraits of soldiers by artists such as Maya Freelon and James Van Der Zee remind us of the cost of defending that freedom. Other photographs by Lewis Wickes Hine and Alfred Stieglitz capture the early 20th-century mass movement of people who were fleeing oppression and seeking new opportunities. And Faith Ringgold's screenprints of events from the civil rights movement that accompany Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "Letter from Birmingham City Jail" and Robert Indiana's boldly colored screenprint Liberty '76 (1974-1975), made for the occasion of the country's 200th anniversary, document and celebrate the continual pursuit of freedom that is fundamental to our democracy.
Exhibition Organization and Support
The exhibition is organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Leadership support for the exhibition has been generously provided by the Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw Charitable Trust.
The exhibition is made possible through support from Daniel W. Hamilton and the Edwin L. Cox Exhibition Fund.
Exhibition Curators
The exhibition is curated by Angelica Becerra, Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow; Sarah Greenough, senior curator and head of the department of photographs (retired); Rena Hoisington, curator and head of Old Master prints; and Shelley Langdale, curator and head of modern prints and drawings, all at the National Gallery of Art.
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About the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through its doors each year--with even more online--making it one of the most visited art museums in the world. The National Gallery's renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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Original text here: https://www.nga.gov/press/dear-america-draws-national-gallery-arts-collection-highlight-artists-interpretations-american
Smithsonian Continues 250th Celebration of the Nation With a Focus on New Approaches to Civics Teaching Through Its Education Summit
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Smithsonian Continues 250th Celebration of the Nation With a Focus on New Approaches to Civics Teaching Through Its Education Summit
Free Three-Day Summit Features More Than 40 Sessions With Connections to Art, Culture, History and Science Through Virtual and In-Person Programs July 14-16
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Educators are invited to join the Smithsonian for its annual National Education Summit, a free, three day professional learning experience taking place Tuesday, July 14, through Thursday, July 16,
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WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release on April 2, 2026:
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Smithsonian Continues 250th Celebration of the Nation With a Focus on New Approaches to Civics Teaching Through Its Education Summit
Free Three-Day Summit Features More Than 40 Sessions With Connections to Art, Culture, History and Science Through Virtual and In-Person Programs July 14-16
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Educators are invited to join the Smithsonian for its annual National Education Summit, a free, three day professional learning experience taking place Tuesday, July 14, through Thursday, July 16,in Washington, D.C., and online. As the nation continues its 250th anniversary commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this year's summit explores bold, cross disciplinary approaches for engaging students in civic inquiry through the theme Together We Thrive: Towards a More Perfect Union.
This year, 2026 marks a once in a generation opportunity for reflection on the nation's founding ideals, not just a historical milestone but as an invitation to examine how those ideals have evolved and the roles young people will play in shaping the next 250 years of the nation. The summit offers participating educators Smithsonian education resources and tools, actionable teaching and learning strategies, and a unique opportunity to network with educators across a wide range of learning environments. Now in its sixth year, the summit brings together thousands of educators from across the country.
"By framing the summit around the theme, Together We Thrive, we're emphasizing the importance of connection--to each other, to our communities and to the shared work of supporting every learner," said Monique M. Chism, the Smithsonian's Under Secretary for Education.
This year's keynote speakers bring fresh perspectives and insights about how students engage, create, imagine and participate in civic life:
* Mac Barnett, the 2025-2026 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, a best-selling author whose playful, inventive storytelling inspires curiosity, joy and civic imagination in young readers
* Hahrie Han, 2025 MacArthur Fellow and director of the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University whose research as a leading political scientist on civic engagement and democracy offers powerful insights for educators and connected community partners
* Top educators from across the country, including teacher leaders from the Council of Chief State School Officers' National Teachers of the Year Program and Smithsonian museum experts, sharing their most innovative practices
On Tuesday, July 14 (online), and Wednesday, July 15 (hybrid), participants will explore curated session tracks that connect civics to art, culture, history and science, offering multiple entry points for participants across grade levels and subject areas. This year's summit introduces four signature tracks:
* Cultivating the Power of Dialogue
* Leveraging the Arts as Civic Voice
* Designing STEAM Solutions for Civic Challenges
* Placing History in Context
On Thursday, July 16, in person attendees can join exclusive workshops and tours, including a special behind the scenes session of "American Aspirations." Curated by Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the exhibition offers a special look at how the Smithsonian is celebrating, contemplating and commemorating this historic milestone.
Thanks to the Horace Mann Educators Foundation, the summit will honor the first ever recipient of the Smithsonian Educator Excellence Award, celebrating an educator who exemplifies creativity, leadership and community impact. An evening reception at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery will feature the presentation of the award.
The summit is free and open to all educators:
* Tuesday, July 14: Virtual only sessions
* Wednesday, July 15: Hybrid programming at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library with livestreamed keynotes
* Thursday, July 16: Smithsonian behind-the-scenes and workshop experiences (limited capacity)
All virtual sessions will be livestreamed and archived for replay. American Sign Language interpretation and live closed captioning will be available.
Free registration is now open. Registration, more information and the session lineup are available on the summit website (https://www.si.edu/educators/national-education-summit-2026).
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-continues-250th-celebration-nation-focus-new-approaches-civics
SBA Offers Relief to Hawaii Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Downtown Hilo Fire
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
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SBA Offers Relief to Hawaii Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Downtown Hilo Fire
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WASHINGTON -The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced low interest federal disaster loans are now available to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Hawaii who sustained economic losses caused by the Downtown Hilo Fire occurring Nov. 30, 2025. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Green
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WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
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SBA Offers Relief to Hawaii Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Downtown Hilo Fire
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WASHINGTON -The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced low interest federal disaster loans are now available to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Hawaii who sustained economic losses caused by the Downtown Hilo Fire occurring Nov. 30, 2025. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Greenon April 1, 2026.
The disaster declaration covers the Hawaii counties of Hawaii, Honolulu, Kalawao, Kauai and Maui.
Under this declaration, SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs including faith-based organizations 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 for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.
"SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery," said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. "These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster."
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for 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 to the SBA is Jan. 4, 2027.
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/2026/04/03/sba-offers-relief-hawaii-small-businesses-private-nonprofits-affected-downtown-hilo-fire
GSA Issues Statement on Anthropic Preliminary Injunction
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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GSA Issues Statement on Anthropic Preliminary Injunction
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On February 27, 2026, GSA announced that it was removing Anthropic from USAi.gov and our Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) in accordance with President Trump's directive to all federal agencies to stop using Anthropic's technology.
Pursuant to a preliminary injunction from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No. 26-cv-01996-RFL) on March 26, 2026, pausing the government's implementation of the President's
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WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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GSA Issues Statement on Anthropic Preliminary Injunction
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On February 27, 2026, GSA announced that it was removing Anthropic from USAi.gov and our Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) in accordance with President Trump's directive to all federal agencies to stop using Anthropic's technology.
Pursuant to a preliminary injunction from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No. 26-cv-01996-RFL) on March 26, 2026, pausing the government's implementation of the President'sdirective, GSA is withdrawing this announcement and restoring Anthropic technology to the status quo in effect prior to February 27, 2026. GSA will continue allowing system integrations with Anthropic products, and will offer Anthropic models in GSA Chat. Anthropic models will also be made available in external facing services and our Multiple Award Schedule.
Contact
press@gsa.gov
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Original text here: https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/gsa-issues-statement-on-anthropic-preliminary-injunction-04032026
EPA redesignates Detroit area to "attainment" for sulfur dioxide; area now meets national air quality standards
WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA redesignates Detroit area to "attainment" for sulfur dioxide; area now meets national air quality standards
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Cleaner air for Detroit as sulfur dioxide levels drop more than 57% over 15 years
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the redesignation of the Detroit area to "attainment" for sulfur dioxide emissions after air monitoring shows the region meets the national health-based standard.
"Reducing sulfur dioxide emissions protects Michigander families, and redesignating
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WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA redesignates Detroit area to "attainment" for sulfur dioxide; area now meets national air quality standards
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Cleaner air for Detroit as sulfur dioxide levels drop more than 57% over 15 years
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the redesignation of the Detroit area to "attainment" for sulfur dioxide emissions after air monitoring shows the region meets the national health-based standard.
"Reducing sulfur dioxide emissions protects Michigander families, and redesignatingthe area supports economic development," said EPA Regional Administrator Anne Vogel. "Paving the way for a healthy and thriving Detroit would not have been possible without EPA's strong partnership with state and industry leaders."
In 2013, EPA designated the Detroit area as "nonattainment" for the sulfur dioxide standard because readings were above the health-based limit. Since then, Michigan EGLE has worked with sources in the area to reduce levels in the air. Significant emission controls at facilities including U.S. Steel, EES Coke Battery, and Dearborn Industrial Generation resulted in a reduction of more than 57% of airborne sulfur dioxide. As a result, the area now meets EPA's clean air standards.
With this redesignation, air permitting will be faster and more predictable while strong health protections will remain in place. Existing emission controls and monitoring will continue to ensure air quality remains healthy. If monitored levels approach or exceed the health-based standard, Michigan must act quickly to address the situation.
To learn more about sulfur dioxide and the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, visit EPA's website.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-redesignates-detroit-area-attainment-sulfur-dioxide-area-now-meets-national-air
