news report
2026 U.S. Open Field Includes Sabalenka, Alcaraz, Sinner and Pegula
The tournament's initial player announcement names leading men's and women's entrants ahead of qualifying Aug. 24-27 and the singles main draw starting Aug. 30.
locations
United States
news report
Most 401(k)s Do Not Require Spousal Consent for Withdrawals
GAO found about one in 10 married households with a 401(k)-type account removed funds in 2021, while broader consent rules could add cost and delay.
news report
Aggravated Identity-Theft Cases Fell 8% Over Four Years
Sentencing Commission data show 561 federal cases in fiscal 2025 involved the mandatory consecutive identity-theft statute, with an average sentence of 54 months.
analysis
White House expands AI data-center ratepayer pledge, but enforcement remains the central question
The administration says more than 200 organizations now participate in a voluntary framework intended to keep data-center infrastructure costs off ordinary electric bills.
news report
Air Force Women Win First Armed Forces Flag Football Title, 13–8
A three-week camp produced the inaugural champion after Army won two earlier meetings; the four-service tournament used the five-on-five international format.
news report
A 19-Protein Blood Panel Narrowed the Timing of ALS Symptoms
The model estimated symptom onset with a 1.62-year average error in a high-risk research cohort. It is not a clinical test, and its UK Biobank replication relied on approximated dates.
news report
ALS Blood Protein Panel Predicted Symptom Onset Within About 18 Months
A longitudinal study of people at elevated genetic risk found a 19-protein panel could estimate when clinical ALS would emerge, but broader validation remains necessary.
news report
Circular-RNA Blood Model Nearly Tripled Alzheimer’s Symptom-Risk Estimate
An NIH-funded study of more than 1,200 people found 34 circular RNAs predicted progression better than a leading protein marker, but no clinical assay is yet available.
news report
Arkansas Wins Federal Waiver to Consolidate $8.8 Million in Education Funds
The Education Department also approved Ed-Flex authority and accountability changes covering advanced assessments and temporary alternative-learning placements.
news report
Chicago Belt Railway Seeks Approval for PTC Maintenance
FRA is taking comments through Sept. 1 on four planned network-work windows; the railroad says it will not disable I-ETMS but brief communication losses could occur.
news report
Biomedical Science Joins Patent-Bar Degree List
USPTO moved the exact Biomedical Science degree title into Category A, simplifying the technical-training showing for some patent-registration exam applicants.
news report
Reported Violent-Offense Rate Fell to 370.8 per 100,000 in 2024
BJS and FBI estimates show lower violent- and property-offense rates than in 2023, while the report remains limited to incidents reported to law enforcement.
news report
U.S. Job Openings Hold at 7.4 Million as Hiring Stays Flat
June’s JOLTS report shows little movement in openings, hires, quits or layoffs, with gains and losses concentrated in a handful of industries.
news report
Brain Immune Cells Shift Sharply From Midlife, Human Study Finds
A 40-person postmortem study found resident microglia declining from roughly ages 50 to 75, alongside stronger inflammatory signatures—but not proof of dementia causation.
news report
CBO Says the 2026 Defense Request Reached $961 Billion
The request included $113 billion from the 2025 reconciliation law, and CBO says the funding mix makes enduring costs harder to project.
news report
CBO’s Two Cost Methods Differ by $67.2 Billion for 2027 Federal Credit
The budget method projects $15.3 billion in lifetime savings, while a fair-value method that accounts for market risk projects a $51.9 billion cost.
news report
Federal Deficit Reached $1.4 Trillion Through June, CBO Estimates
Revenues rose 4% in the first nine months of fiscal 2026, but a 3% increase in outlays left the cumulative deficit $35 billion above the prior-year period.
news report
CBO Finds 2027 Budget Shifts Trillions From Nondefense to Defense
Over 2027 through 2036, the request would add $2.4 trillion in defense discretionary outlays and cut $2.6 trillion in nondefense discretionary spending.
news report
CBO Doubts a One-Time Wealth Tax Could Secure Social Security for 75 Years
The agency compared a $30.3 trillion projected OASI shortfall with $55 trillion in top-1% wealth, warning that design and behavior would sharply reduce collections.
news report
CBO Projects U.S. Population Will Reach 364 Million in 2056 as the Country Ages
The office expects the ratio of people ages 25–64 to those 65 and older to fall from 2.7 to 2.2 over three decades.
news report
Back to School 2026: Census Counts 54.4 Million Students and 5.9 Million Teachers
The national snapshot also places elementary and secondary school employment above 10 million, showing the workforce behind the fall return.
news report
County Uninsured Rates Rose in 427 Places and Fell in Just 65, Census Says
New small-area estimates show the median county rate increased to 9.8% in 2024 and fewer counties stayed below the 10% threshold.
news report
Census Releases New Household Tables From a 136,000-Home Survey
The experimental March 2026 release covers jobs, energy costs, well-being, prices and other fast-moving household conditions.
news report
CFTC Renews Technology Panel for AI, Crypto and Cyber Advice
The 40-to-45-member advisory committee will continue examining technology in derivatives markets; the agency estimates $83,581.88 in annual support costs and does not pay outside members.
news report
CMS Proposes RAPID Medicare Device Path
The voluntary proposal would coordinate Medicare coverage reviews with FDA authorization for selected breakthrough devices, with final coverage goals of 60 or 90 days.
news report
Coast Guard Reported $448 Million in Cleanup Liabilities, GAO Says
Auditors said the service has not told Congress about potential additional costs, including PFAS exposure that could add hundreds of millions of dollars.
news report
Congressional Community Projects Had 61% of $39 Billion Obligated
GAO says more than 20,000 congressionally directed projects were funded in fiscal years 2022–2024, while recipients and agencies reported implementation challenges.
news report
CPSC Blocks 355,683 Counterfeit Squishy Toys at U.S. Ports
The agency says 55 shipments violated federal safety rules, with hazards ranging from water beads and small parts to lead, phthalates and burn risks.
news report
CPSC Import eFiling Rule Is Now in Effect
Importers of most regulated consumer products must transmit certificate data electronically before goods enter U.S. commerce.
news report
OCC, FDIC Propose New CRA Bank Size Thresholds
The plan would classify most supervised banks as small while leaving institutions holding most assets in the large-bank category.
news report
Craig Tiley Begins USTA CEO Tenure After 21 Years at Tennis Australia
The former Australian Open tournament director takes over as the U.S. association targets 35 million players by 2035 and prepares for the 2026 U.S. Open.
news report
Federal Courts Sentenced 718 Financial-Instrument Fraud Cases in 2025
Sentencing Commission data puts the median loss at $152,596 and the average prison term at 28 months.
explainer
DEA Could Put Concentrated 7-OH in Schedule I Within Days. Here’s What the Record Shows
The action is not yet in force and does not formally cover ordinary kratom leaf below the proposed threshold. The evidence shows real opioid risks, major data gaps and a narrow public process that closed after July 31.
news report
Defense Materials Waivers Tighten in 2027
A July executive order says most waivers under a defense sourcing law must stop in 2027 unless contractors submit an accepted mitigation plan.
news report
DHS Acquisition Portfolio Tops $55 Billion as Oversight Shifts
GAO found $11.4 billion in baseline cost growth, major staffing losses at eight programs and an oversight office dissolved before part of it returned.
news report
DOE Opens $65.5 Million Oil and Gas Technology Funding Through Sept. 22
The cost-shared program targets stranded resources, infrastructure reliability and digital systems for upstream and midstream operations.
news report
DOE Draft Finds Grid Congestion Concentrated in 5% of Hours
The national transmission study points to rising electricity demand and several high-value regional links, while stopping short of choosing specific grid projects.
news report
DOE Cleanup Task Orders Added More Than $500 Million in Costs, GAO Says
Auditors found inconsistent end-state definitions, weak headquarters oversight and post-award changes across the Energy Department's nuclear cleanup contracting model.
news report
Justice Department Inventory Identifies 62 Criminal Regulatory Offenses
The department also set out four factors prosecutors should generally weigh when regulatory violations can carry criminal penalties.
investigation
DOJ task-force officers could serve warrants before federal training, GAO finds
ATF permitted up to two years, DEA expected training within one year and the FBI allowed six months after deputized state and local officers began operations. All four reviewed agencies also lacked uniform rules for handling misconduct allegations.
news report
Labor Department Defines When Hybrid-Work Travel Is Paid
Voluntary mid-day travel may remain an unpaid commute, while required client-scheduling work can start the paid workday and change the status of later driving.
executive action
DOT AI Infrastructure Plan Targets Predictive Maintenance and Faster Construction
The federal effort is intended to use artificial intelligence in transportation design, maintenance and network operations, but the announcement sets goals rather than project budgets.
news report
Drought Covered 48.54% of the Lower 48 in Early August
The Aug. 4 Drought Monitor showed another weekly increase as conditions worsened in the Northern and Southern Plains and the Northwest.
news report
Education Department Has 10 Priority GAO Items Open
Federal auditors elevated student-aid modernization, sensitive-data protection and charter-school management financial risk after only one earlier priority item was completed.
news report
Education Department Finalizes Earnings Test for Federal Student Loans
College programs that miss a new earnings benchmark in two of three award years can lose access to Direct Loans, with broader Title IV consequences possible after sustained failure.
news report
Education Department Removes Title VI Disparate-Impact Rules
The department says its civil-rights office will focus Title VI enforcement on intentional discrimination while retaining a complaint process.
news report
EIA Forecasts Record Natural-Gas Demand From Power Plants in 2027
Data centers, manufacturing and electrification lift the outlook even as renewables take a larger share of U.S. summer generation.
data report
Employer compensation rose 3.4% as benefit costs outpaced wages
The latest Employment Cost Index showed private wages falling after inflation even as benefit and health-plan costs continued to climb.
news report
EPA Drafts New Risk Findings for Two Dichlorobenzene Chemicals
The preliminary evaluations identify inhalation as the main exposure route across certain industrial and consumer uses, but no risk-management rule has been issued.
news report
EPA Proposes State Control of Public Comment for Minor Air Permits
The plan would remove the federal minimum process for public participation while leaving emissions limits and other air-quality requirements in place.
news report
EPA Says One-Third of the Water Workforce Is Nearing Retirement
A federal roundtable focused on recruiting and retaining utility workers as systems add cybersecurity and other technical responsibilities.
news report
FAA Directs $1.776 Billion to Airport Projects in 46 States
The grants cover runway rehabilitation, taxiways, lighting and rescue facilities, including $88.8 million for Denver and $74 million for Boise.
news report
FAA Proposes Faster Boeing 787 Corrosion Inspections
The proposal covers 116 U.S.-registered 787s after more severe corrosion reports and concerns that optional sealants may not allow enough installation time.
news report
FAA Proposes Medical-Certificate Change for Military Pilot Trainees
Qualifying U.S. and military-sponsored foreign trainees could use a current military flight medical exam instead of obtaining a separate FAA third-class certificate.
news report
FCC Samples 2,000 Urban Tracts to Set 2027 Broadband Benchmarks
Selected fixed-service providers have until August 14 to report rates that will shape the federal reasonable-comparability test for supported broadband service.
news report
FDA Reopens BHT Food-Additive Comment Period Through Aug. 31
The agency is seeking additional information for its post-market reassessment and says it has not reached a new safety conclusion about the preservative.
news report
FDA Proposes Class II Path for 3D Breast Scans
The agency would move digital breast tomosynthesis systems from premarket approval to special controls and 510(k) review, while keeping dedicated breast CT in Class III.
news report
FDA Licenses First U.S. Freeze-Dried Plasma Product
Ezplaz can be stored at room temperature and rapidly reconstituted for adult transfusion when other plasma products are unavailable.
news report
FDA Updates Fresh-Cut Produce Safety Guide
The final nonbinding guide adds antimicrobial, supply-chain and time-temperature examples while clarifying which ready-to-eat produce it covers.
news report
FDA Approves First Oral PCSK9 Drug After 56%–59% LDL Cuts vs. Placebo
Lipfendra adds a once-daily tablet to a cholesterol-lowering drug class previously available only by injection; the pivotal endpoint was LDL change at 24 weeks.
news report
FDA Proposes Mandatory GRAS Notices
The proposal would replace a voluntary notification system for many generally recognized as safe uses; comments are due Dec. 9, and the rule is not yet final.
news report
FDA Revokes Orange B Rule, Proposes Ending Citrus Red No. 2
Orange B’s revocation is final, while the Citrus Red No. 2 action remains a proposal open for comment through August 24.
news report
FDA Approves First Orexin-Targeting Drug for Narcolepsy Type 1
Orzeyful, or oveporexton, is the first approved medicine designed to restore the missing wakefulness signal behind the disorder’s full symptom pattern.
news report
FDA Picks Dexcom for First TEMPO Digital Health Pilot
The glucose program will generate real-world evidence inside Medicare’s ACCESS model as FDA plans up to about 10 participants in each of four clinical-use areas.
news report
FDA Approves First Regulatory T-Cell Therapy for Stem-Cell Transplants
Tregzi improved one-year chronic GVHD-free survival to 78% in a randomized trial of 187 adults, compared with 38.4% after a standard transplant.
news report
Banks Tightened Credit-Card Standards as Mortgage and Auto Demand Weakened
The Federal Reserve’s July survey found stable business-loan standards but tighter consumer credit and historically restrictive conditions across most household categories.
news report
Federal Criminal-Defendant Filings Rose 13% as Bankruptcy Petitions Climbed 11%
The Judiciary’s fiscal 2025 report also records more appeals and civil cases, while the post-conviction supervision population declined.
news report
Federal Cyber Rotation Program Drew 634 Applicants—and Approved Eight
GAO says the Office of Personnel Management effectively suspended the cross-agency program after limited participation and no new postings in 2025.
news report
Federal Deficit Reached $1.8 Trillion Through July, CBO Estimates
The shortfall for the first 10 months of fiscal 2026 was $169 billion larger than a year earlier as outlays grew faster than revenues.
news report
Federal Escape Cases Fell to 253 in 2025
Nearly two-thirds involved non-secure community custody, while 2% involved force or a threat of force, Sentencing Commission data show.
news report
Federal Excise Taxes Raised $106 Billion, Mostly From Four Sources
CBO says highway, aviation, tobacco and alcohol, and stock-buyback taxes produced 88% of 2025 receipts.
news report
Federal Health Insurance Subsidies Projected at $33.6 Trillion
CBO expects annual support to reach 8.4% of GDP by 2036 while the uninsured population rises from 30 million to 37 million.
news report
BJS Counts 133,798 Federal Law Enforcement Officers Across 88 Agencies
The 2023 census found nearly half worked in Homeland Security and seven in ten had criminal investigation as their primary function.
news report
Federal Agencies Employed 133,798 Law Enforcement Officers in 2023
BJS counted officers across 88 agencies; Homeland Security employed nearly half, while women made up 15% of the workforce.
news report
Federal Mileage Rate Rises to 76 Cents
GSA's midyear adjustment applies to authorized federal travel from July 1 through Dec. 31; it is not a general tax-deduction rate.
news report
Federal Courts Sentenced 110 Organizations; Environmental Crimes Led the List
U.S. Sentencing Commission data show environmental offenses at 37% of cases, while the median fine reached $500,000 and effective compliance programs were rare.
news report
Federal Prison Population Fell 1% to 154,093 at End of 2024
The latest First Step Act statistical report also counted 8,202 veterans and 21,948 non-U.S. citizens in federal facilities.
news report
Federal Prison Population Reached 154,932; 61% Had Mandatory-Minimum Offenses
Sentencing Commission data show most people in federal custody were sentenced within the past decade, with an average imposed term of 153 months.
news report
U.S. Consumer Credit Grew at a 3.3% Annual Rate in June
Federal Reserve data show revolving credit rebounded after a May decline, while total seasonally adjusted balances reached $5.17 trillion.
news report
Federal Robbery Sentences Averaged 108 Months in Fiscal 2025
The Sentencing Commission counted 1,233 robbery cases; sentences averaged 160 months with a Section 924(c) conviction and 72 months without one.
news report
Federal Courts Sentenced 7,245 People Under Section 922(g) in 2025
The Sentencing Commission says 89% of the cases involved a prior felony conviction and the average sentence was 63 months.
news report
59% of Federal Sentences Were Within Guideline Ranges Through March
Preliminary Sentencing Commission data counted 19,136 within-range cases among 32,390 cases eligible for the comparison.
news report
Immigration Cases Were 40.9% of Federal Sentences Through March
The Sentencing Commission’s preliminary report counted 32,586 cases, with the Fifth Circuit alone accounting for about one-third of the total.
news report
Federal Student-Loan Autopay Discount Rises to 1 Percentage Point
Eligible Direct Loan borrowers must enroll by Sept. 30 and remain in automatic payments to receive the temporary reduction through June 2028.
news report
Federal Supervised-Release Rate Fell to 82% in Fiscal 2025
The Sentencing Commission counted 50,688 prison sentences followed by supervision, down five percentage points from fiscal 2021.
news report
Federal Tax-Fraud Median Loss Hit $546,562 in 2025
The Sentencing Commission counted 324 tax-fraud cases; 68% resulted in prison and the average sentence was 17 months.
news report
Federal Zero-Point Sentencing Adjustment Reached 17,341 Cases
The Sentencing Commission says 72% of people with zero criminal-history points received the two-level adjustment in fiscal 2025, with immigration cases dominating.
news report
Field of Dreams Returns Aug. 13 With Twins-Phillies Game
The third MLB game in Dyersville follows an Aug. 11 Triple-A matchup and will be the event's first edition available globally on Netflix.
news report
FIFA World Cup 2026 Stats: Spain Led Clean Sheets, Passes and Expected Goals
FIFA’s final data also put Kylian Mbappé atop the scoring table with 10 goals, Michael Olise first in assists and Rodri first in passes.
news report
FMCSA Proposes English-Proficiency Out-of-Service Rule
The proposal would codify a two-step roadside assessment and align federal regulations with current commercial-vehicle inspection criteria.
news report
Four Advanced Reactors Went Critical. None of the Tests Was a Power Plant
Mark-0, Ward 250, Unity and Aalo-X sustained fission chain reactions between June 4 and July 4. The zero-power demonstrations validate physics—not commercial electricity delivery.
news report
We Tried to Collect Every 2026 Primary Result. Here Is Why That Is So Hard
America's decentralized election system produces many official records—but no single official national results feed.
news report
Smithsonian's ‘From These Lands’ Opens With 600 Objects
The 5,000-square-foot Natural History Museum show represents every state, D.C. and five inhabited U.S. territories through December 2029.
news report
FTA Opened a $610 Million Bus-Grant Round
About $589 million is reserved for low- and no-emission buses and supporting facilities. Applications close Sept. 21.
news report
Imposter Scams Cost Consumers a Reported $3.5 Billion in 2025, FTC Says
Nearly one in three fraud reports involved an imposter, with bank and government impersonation among the costliest schemes.
news report
RentGrow to Pay $2.25 Million to Settle FTC Tenant-Screening Allegations
The proposed order targets duplicate criminal or eviction records, incomplete source disclosures and failures in the consumer-dispute process.
news report
FTC Sends 9,419 Trend Deploy Refund Checks Totaling More Than $672,000
Recipients who bought masks and other protective equipment should cash the checks within 90 days and never pay a fee to receive an FTC refund.
news report
GAO Counts 277 Open Recommendations for Congress
Fifty-three open matters could produce financial benefits, GAO says, including 13 with at least $1 billion in potential savings each.
news report
Four Agencies Lack Required Lessons-Learned Systems for AI Purchases, GAO Says
GAO reviewed 13 acquisitions and found that Defense, DHS, GSA and Veterans Affairs did not systematically collect lessons that could improve future contract terms, testing and pricing.
news report
AI Medical Notes and Coding Are Spreading Faster Than Independent Accuracy Evidence
GAO says clinician use climbed from 21% to 28% in two years, while privacy, billing and health-spending effects remain unsettled.
news report
GAO Says AI-Written Tax Comments Could Overwhelm Treasury Review
The audit covers 467 proposed and final regulations and finds no policy for mass AI-assisted submissions, limited virtual hearings and gaps in documenting public input.
news report
GAO Says Bank Regulators Cannot Show Their Decennial Rule Reviews Work
The Federal Reserve, FDIC and OCC lack documented procedures and cannot clearly connect long-cycle paperwork reviews to later regulatory changes, the watchdog found.
news report
Battery Recycling Could Cut Critical-Mineral Import Reliance in 2–3 Years
GAO sees a near-term opening for copper, cobalt, lithium and nickel recovery, while semiconductor substitutes and e-waste processing remain years behind.
news report
DOE Lacks a Systematic Plan for Critical Isotope Shortages
GAO says the federal isotope program made 7,700 shipments but still relies on manual market tracking and lacks timely risk-mitigation plans.
news report
GAO Says DOE Nuclear Cleanup Plans Often Pick a Solution Too Early
A review of 21 large-project mission statements found the majority named a preferred approach before a full comparison of alternatives.
news report
GAO’s Education Priority List Grew From 8 to 10
The federal watchdog added three priority items after the department implemented one, sharpening its focus on student aid, data privacy and charter-school financial risk.
news report
GAO Finds 3 of 15 Family-Support Programs Lack Full Performance Systems
The watchdog says three programs at USDA, HHS and Veterans Affairs lacked at least one core process needed to assess results and improve delivery.
news report
GAO Says 100-Program Broadband Push Still Lacks a National Strategy
The watchdog says coordination and National Broadband Map data-quality recommendations also remain incomplete as agencies steer tens of billions of dollars.
news report
GAO Finds Open Federal Efficiency Actions Could Save $100 Billion
The watchdog’s 16-year scorecard credits past congressional and agency action with $774.3 billion in benefits while tracking 610 unfinished items.
news report
GAO Says Federal Open-Access Publishing Costs Could Triple
Seven of nine agencies updated public-access plans, but the watchdog found only NIH had planned for the added publishing expense.
news report
GAO Sets a Three-Step Test for Whether Federal Programs Work
The watchdog says agencies need measurable goals, relevant data and routine use of results to judge programs that collectively spend trillions of dollars each year.
news report
GAO: Federal Programs Often Lack Evidence That They Work
The watchdog says managers too often track spending and service counts without clear goals, outcome data or evaluations that can isolate a program’s effect.
news report
Four Agencies Have Not Fully Met New Strategic-Review Rules, GAO Says
OMB guidance omitted four leadership and stakeholder requirements, and none of the selected agencies had fully implemented the 2024 law.
news report
GAO Updates Federal Training Guide Around a Four-Part Evaluation Cycle
The first overhaul since 2004 adds blended learning, coaching, mentoring and new technology while keeping agency mission outcomes at the center.
news report
GAO Says Disaster Plans Need Infant Supplies and Private Shelter Space
A federal review found that formula, diapers, nursing areas, medical transport and family evacuation plans can fail when emergency logistics treat every survivor’s needs as interchangeable.
news report
GAO Says Financial Regulators Are Still Building Joint Data Standards
The Financial Data Transparency Act could reduce duplicate reporting, but agencies must first finish shared standards, modernize systems and write their own implementation rules.
news report
Can DNA Prove Where Imported Seafood Came From? GAO Says the Tools Have Limits
Digital tracking and laboratory tests can expose origin fraud, but thin reference libraries, processing and cost still restrict enforcement.
news report
GAO Sets Four-Pillar Test for U.S. AI Standing
The method asks analysts to assess science and technology, human capital, governance and the economy before ranking the United States against peers.
news report
GAO Flags 11 Priority Recommendations Still Open at GSA
The watchdog says real-property planning, shared-service data and federal-award oversight could unlock tens of millions in savings and improve controls over hundreds of millions in annual spending.
news report
GAO Says ACA Marketplace Needs Stronger Controls Against Unauthorized Plan Changes
The watchdog found weak consent checks, broad record access and incomplete notices as complaints tied to confirmed unauthorized changes rose more than fourfold.
news report
Nearly One-Third of Immigration Hearings Were Remote in 2025
GAO says video and telephone proceedings reduced time and cost for selected court participants, though judge preferences and interpretation technology remained uneven.
news report
GAO Reports $24.3 Billion in Estimated Improper Payments
VA Community Care and Medicare Advantage reported improper-payment estimates of $608 million and $23.7 billion for fiscal 2025; GAO says both lack comprehensive fraud-risk assessments.
data report
GAO finds 22 legal-fee awards at Labor Department and NLRB, none at EEOC
The two agencies reported nearly $1 million in Equal Access to Justice Act awards from fiscal years 2019 through 2025.
news report
DOE Has Not Fully Used Overseas Nuclear-Cleanup Lessons, GAO Says
Auditors said British and Canadian approaches cut costs or decades from cleanup schedules while U.S. headquarters mostly treated international work as a teaching mission.
news report
Older Workers Found Jobs Less Often After Federal Training Programs, GAO Says
People 55 and older were 22% of participants in six programs, but their post-exit employment rates trailed younger groups.
news report
GAO Leaves OPM With Eight Priority Recommendations for 2026
The watchdog says stronger eligibility checks could prevent up to $1 billion a year in health-benefit improper payments, alongside IT and workforce reforms.
news report
OPM Lost 35% of Its Workforce in 15 Months, GAO Found
More than half of departing employees had at least 11 years of service. The watchdog says missing agency records prevent a complete assessment of the reorganization.
news report
Orion Drives Most of NASA’s $4.7 Billion in Major-Project Cost Growth
GAO’s 36-project assessment finds nearly 14 years of cumulative delay, with the crew capsule responsible for almost three-quarters of cumulative overruns.
news report
GAO Finds Overlapping Reporting Duties in 80 Cybersecurity Regulations
The watchdog identified 117 rules from 37 agencies across nine critical-infrastructure sectors and said roughly 70% shared a reporting type with another rule.
news report
Pentagon’s New 2028 Audit Strategy Leaves Key Risks Unresolved
GAO says centralized testing of material balances may advance a clean opinion, but DOD would defer some internal-control fixes for at least two years.
news report
GAO Projects Public Debt at 123% of GDP by 2036
Debt held by the public reached about $31.3 trillion in April, while net interest exceeded national-defense spending in fiscal 2025.
news report
GAO Finds Revoked TWIC Cards Can Still Create Port-Access Risk
Federal auditors found a gap between card cancellation and frontline verification, alongside 888 deficiencies and 83 violations recorded over six fiscal years.
news report
GAO Finds Covered Telecom Equipment at Two Agencies
Defense reported three connected instances and blocked external access while six agencies used several methods to search their networks and inventories.
document report
GAO Finds Fraud-Risk Assessment Gaps in 15 Major Federal Programs
Only five of 20 large federally funded, state-administered programs had documented evidence consistent with identifying and prioritizing fraud risks, the watchdog said.
news report
State Reported Nearly One-Third of International Commitments Late, GAO Finds
GAO reviewed 311 commitments and found recurring delays, fragmented public access and incomplete procedures under the amended Case-Zablocki Act.
news report
GAO Leaves Treasury With 28 Priority Recommendations for 2026
Treasury closed four priority items since August 2025, but auditors still flag improper payments, cybersecurity and federal financial management.
news report
USAspending Data Gaps Persist Across $7 Trillion in Federal Outlays
GAO says other-transaction agreements are reported inconsistently and subaward records still have completeness and accuracy problems.
news report
GAO Says 15 VA Disability-Program Recommendations Remain Open
VA is exploring AI for claims processing after a long-running system modernization lacked response-time and user-satisfaction goals, the congressional watchdog says.
news report
Pentagon Weapon Programs Now Average More Than 12 Years to Deliver
GAO’s annual review finds that programs on the five-year rapid pathway often begin with immature technology, while major milestones continue to slip.
news report
GAO Flags Missing Goals for $125 Million in Wildlife Resilience Work
The Fish and Wildlife Service has restored thousands of acres, but auditors say it cannot yet measure whether nine projects meet their broader resilience objectives.
news report
Museum DNA Completed a Family Tree for Hawaiʻi’s Native Birds
The analysis connects 17 living honeycreeper species with 18 that vanished after 1778 and two known only from fossils. It also reveals a burst of diversification and genetic mixing.
news report
HHS Withdraws 2008 Foster-Care Data Proposal
The unfinalized proposal covered state reporting on out-of-home care, adoption and guardianship and related penalty rules; its withdrawal takes effect Aug. 12.
news report
Hirshhorn’s “50 for 50” Will Send American Art to 51 Museums
One institution in every state and Puerto Rico will receive free three- to five-year loans selected to connect with its own collection and local audience.
news report
Hopper Agreed to Pay $35 Million in FTC Hidden-Fee Case
The proposed court order would fund consumer redress and require clearer total prices and consent. The complaint also challenges VIP Support and Price Freeze claims.
vote report
House passes Iran war-powers resolution; Senate blocks separate measure hours later
Four Republicans joined every voting Democrat in the House, while the Senate rejected a procedural motion on a separate joint resolution 47-49.
news report
Congressional Turnover Started in the Primaries
Ten House incumbents had already lost by August 11, but the defeats do not add up to one simple anti-establishment wave.
news report
CBO Says H.R. 143 Would Change Budget Rules, Not Spending Immediately
The bill would reduce budget-resolution levels for long-unauthorized programs, but CBO says appropriations decisions still control actual spending.
news report
Neurons Encoded Grammar and Context Before Speech
Recordings from eight epilepsy patients let NIH-funded researchers map language features at single-cell resolution during conversation.
explainer
The hurricane cone now shows inland warnings. It still does not show who is safe
The National Hurricane Center’s operational 2026 graphic adds inland tropical-storm and hurricane watches and warnings. The cone itself still represents only the probable track of the storm’s center, not its size or complete hazard footprint.
news report
Hybrid-Electric Saab 340 Flew Above 30,000 Feet
NASA says the megawatt-class system combined electric motors, a gas turbine and energy storage in a regional-aircraft demonstration.
news report
IES Opens Five Education Research Grant Competitions
Applications for training, methods, replication and state longitudinal-data programs are due Oct. 1, with maximum awards ranging from $800,000 to $1.2 million.
news report
$33.6 Billion in Infrastructure Awards Still Await Decisions
GAO says four agencies approved about 9,500 awards after review, canceled roughly 800 worth $17.8 billion and left more than 2,500 pending.
news report
Iowa’s 14-Week EMT Course Became the First Federally Approved Workforce Pell Program
Eligible students at Iowa Central Community College can now use Pell grants for the short program. The approval also tests a new accountability system for eight- to 15-week credentials.
news report
IRS Estimates 30.6 Million Hours for Foreign-Status Tax Forms
The agency is seeking comment on renewing five W-8 certifications used for U.S. withholding decisions, with 3.39 million respondents in its estimate.
news report
June Brought 374 Preliminary Tornado Reports as Western Drought Persisted
Three Midwest states set June report records. National precipitation ran above average, but nearly half the contiguous U.S. remained in drought at month’s end.
news report
Kia Telluride Owners Told to Park Outside—Again—Before a New Seat-Motor Fix
Campaign 26V430 covers 462,869 SUVs already recalled in 2024. Kia’s filing records seven localized fires and 11 melted motors, with no injuries, crashes or deaths.
news report
Koussevitzky Foundation Commissions Six New Works for 2026
The Library of Congress announced projects by Utku Asuroglu, Pascale Criton, Malika Kishino, Reinaldo Moya, Peter S. Shin and Errollyn Wallen.
news report
Four Labor Unions and Benefit Plan Settle PPP Case for $3.85 Million
The civil agreement resolves False Claims Act allegations over $3.32 million in fully forgiven loans, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan.
news report
Library of Congress Trained 90 Educators to Teach With Primary Sources
The three summer institutes selected participants from nearly 200 applicants across 21 states and the District of Columbia.
news report
Library of Congress Honors Accessible Libraries in Georgia and Worcester
The National Library Service recognized statewide service in Atlanta and a Worcester talking-book library for work serving readers with print disabilities.
news report
Library of Congress Opens Gil Evans Archive With 160 Unrecorded Scores
The complete manuscript collection spans four decades of the jazz orchestrator's work and includes hundreds of scores, lead sheets and instrumental parts.
news report
1.77 Million Louisville Attic Ladders Recalled Over Broken Bolts
CPSC says owners should stop using specified gas-strut models and register for a free kit after 11 bolt failures and one reported injury.
news report
251 Main Street Loans Remained Past Maturity
GAO found the Federal Reserve program still held 251 loans beyond their initial maturity dates as of Jan. 5, 2026.
news report
Mandatory Minimums Applied in 15% of Federal Sentences in 2025
The Sentencing Commission counted 13,926 cases carrying a statutory floor; one-third of convicted defendants received relief from that penalty.
news report
Metro Bachelor's-Degree Share Rose to 37.8%
Census estimates show a 3.6-point gain from 2015–2019, with Durham–Chapel Hill and Taos posting some of the largest increases.
data report
Metro unemployment split nearly evenly in June as payroll growth stayed rare
Jobless rates rose from a year earlier in 184 metro areas and fell in 178, while only 15 posted statistically significant payroll gains.
news report
2026 MLB Draft Opened With 135 Picks and 22 Shortstops or Right-Handers
College players accounted for 26 of the first 40 selections, while the first-day group leaned heavily toward shortstops, right-handed pitchers and outfielders.
news report
Moab Uranium Cleanup Cost Is Expected to Reach $1.16 Billion
GAO says the Energy Department has removed more than 16 million tons of waste and plans to finish the Utah project by 2029.
news report
FERC Opens Mountain Valley Pipeline Boost Review to Comment
The proposal would add or upgrade four compressor sites for 600,000 dekatherms a day of service; comments on the environmental assessment are due Sept. 8.
news report
MSPB Narrows Federal Employee Appeal Jurisdiction
Starting Sept. 2, most new probationary-termination, suitability and reduction-in-force appeals move out of the Merit Systems Protection Board, while earlier matters and Foreign Service RIF cases remain.
news report
NASA Adds Eight Providers to Its $476 Million Earth-Data Contract
The on-ramp expands the commercial satellite program to 14 listed awardees while keeping the original contract ceiling and 2028 end date.
news report
NASA Will Chase the Aug. 12 Eclipse With a Jet and 86 Balloons
A WB-57 at 50,000 feet will image the solar corona while student teams in Iceland and Spain measure atmospheric changes before, during and after totality.
news report
NASA Model Tracked Wildfire Brown Carbon Across North America for a Week
The GEOS reconstruction followed smoke from July 14-20 as air quality fell from southern Ontario through parts of the Midwest and Northeast.
news report
NASA’s CAPSTONE 02 Will Test Autonomous Navigation With Two Lunar Spacecraft
The 2027-targeted demonstration pairs identical small spacecraft for rendezvous, proximity operations, cislunar communications and radiation measurements.
news report
NASA Plans for 50,000 Annual Citizen-Science Responses
The agency is seeking comment through Oct. 13 on renewing a framework for public data gathering, image and sound classification, transcription and problem-solving projects.
news report
NASA Opened Its First Major New Wind Tunnel in More Than 40 Years
The 20-foot vertical test chamber at Langley can run at 117 mph and handle free-flying models of aircraft, drones and returning space capsules.
news report
NASA Adds 150-Petabyte Mission Archive to Federal Genesis AI Effort
The agency says the initiative will pair decades of space and Earth data with Department of Energy computing to accelerate engineering and scientific discovery.
news report
NASA IXPE Magnetar Data May Show Vacuum Birefringence for First Time
A 140-hour campaign recorded unusually strong X-ray polarization around 1E 1547-5408, offering the clearest evidence yet for a 90-year-old physics prediction.
news report
Air and Space Museum Opens 5 Galleries for Its 50th Anniversary
The July reopening covers flight science, space technology, military aviation and art; two final renovated galleries are due this fall.
news report
2026 National Book Festival: Authors, Tickets and Schedule
The free Aug. 22 event in Washington features more than 80 authors, expanded film and music programs and a first-time ticket requirement for entry.
news report
The National Book Festival Is Adding Film, Music and a First-Time Ticket Rule
More than 80 authors are due in Washington on Aug. 22. Admission remains free, but visitors now need an entry ticket; only the Main Stage is promised live online.
news report
National Park Week Starts Aug. 22; Resident Fee-Free Day Is Aug. 25
The nine-day observance opens with National Junior Ranger Day. The birthday waiver covers entrance fees for residents, but reservations and other charges can still apply.
news report
National Parks Require Local Approval for E-Scooters
A final rule creates a separate category for powered micromobility devices, with park-by-park designations and wilderness restrictions.
news report
National Recording Registry Adds 25 Works, Reaching 700
The 2026 class spans 70 years and includes first registry selections for Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, but the Library does not hold every listed recording.
news report
NCAA Baseball Proposes Ball-Strike Challenges and Bat Sensors
Division I could adopt optional pitch challenges and in-game bat data while banning electronic offensive signals; oversight votes are scheduled for August.
news report
NCAA Division I Age-Based Eligibility Model Starts With Fall 2027 Class
The Cabinet plan replaces sport-specific season limits and most waivers with a five-year period tied to age at first full-time college enrollment.
news report
Division I Teams Can Now Add Commercial Patches to Uniforms
An NCAA rule effective August 1 permits two added logos on uniforms and apparel, one on equipment and another for conference championships outside NCAA postseason play.
news report
NCAA Division I Football Shifts Targeting Penalties to Repeat Offenses
The 2026 trial removes the automatic next-game half suspension after a first ejection but escalates consequences for second and third targeting calls.
news report
NCAA Division III Allows Limited Penalty Reductions for First Betting Violations
The reinstatement amendment requires no game-integrity concern and clinical evaluation or support, while leaving the violation and its consequences in place.
news report
NCAA Hockey Will Require Cut-Resistant Gear in 2027–28
Division I men's and National Collegiate women's players will be required to use protection for vulnerable areas; Division III is still considering the proposal.
news report
NCAA Men’s Basketball Moves Backcourt Call to 19 on Shot Clock
The 2026–27 clarification accounts for tenths of a second; a second approved change prevents consecutive media timeouts without game time.
news report
NCAA Expands Men’s Lacrosse Video Review and Lengthens Overtime
Coaches gain three new grounds to challenge goals, officials receive broader head-contact review authority, and sudden-death periods grow from four minutes to 15.
news report
NCAA Soccer Gives Coaches 2 Video Challenges for 2026–27
Officials retain narrow review authority early and broader authority late only after a team has exhausted its challenges; goalkeeper possession also moves to eight seconds.
news report
Wichita Will Join Dayton for Expanded March Madness Opening Round
Both cities will host Tuesday-Wednesday tripleheaders in 2027 and 2028 after the NCAA enlarged the men's tournament field from 68 to 76 teams.
news report
NCAA Funds Women’s Flag Football Championship Ahead of January Vote
The sport met sponsorship and participation thresholds, but all three divisions still must adopt championship legislation before competition begins.
news report
NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Committees Propose Simpler Penalties
The package would make every yellow card a two-minute non-releasable penalty, add targeting as a red-card foul and broaden video review.
news report
Women's College Cup Moves One Week Later in 2026
The NCAA schedule puts the women's and men's Division I soccer championships on the same December weekend in Cary, North Carolina.
news report
NCI Offers Checkpoint-Resistant Cancer Cell Line for Licensing
The CRISPR-engineered mouse colon-cancer model removes B2m and MHC-I antigen presentation to support preclinical research on resistance to PD-1 and PD-L1 therapies.
news report
U.S. Restricts Imports of Protected Nepalese Cultural Objects
The five-year agreement covers designated archaeological material dating to about 32,000 B.C.E. and specified religious, ceremonial and manuscript material through 1950.
news report
NIH Expands All of Us Research Dataset to 747,000 Participants
The ninth curated release links more than 535,000 whole genomes with nearly 482,000 electronic health records and adds proteomics, RNA and long-read sequencing.
news report
NIH Cancer Model Library Spans 25 Tumor Types and 2,780 Donors
The international HCMI resource links 665 patient-derived laboratory models with molecular and clinical data for precision-oncology research.
news report
NIH Offers Cancer Methylation Classifier for Licensing
The prototype platform uses 16,567 CNS reference profiles across 133 diagnostic classes and includes separate kidney-tumor work; commercialization and regulated deployment remain prospective.
news report
NIH Cancer Library Spans 665 Lab Models Across 25 Tumor Types
The international resource links patient-derived organoids and other models with molecular and clinical data, including rare cancers and donors of non-European ancestry.
news report
NIH Study Maps a Midlife Shift in the Brain's Immune Cells
A molecular atlas of 40 healthy human hippocampi found microglia declined as inflammatory and peripheral-like immune cells became more prominent from about ages 50 to 75.
news report
NIH Opens ORIVA to Scale Human-Based Research and Reduce Animal Use
The new office will coordinate tissue models, computational tools and other New Approach Methodologies across NIH and with regulators.
news report
NIH Consortium Builds First Broad Atlas of Senescent Cells
The SenNet papers introduce 'senotypes' to distinguish rare cells by tissue and condition, a step toward studying harmful and beneficial roles without treating them as one group.
news report
NIST Adds 52,000 Chemical Fingerprints to Its Mass-Spectra Library
The 2026 update expands two reference collections used to identify unknown substances in laboratories, manufacturing and forensic work.
news report
NIST Proof Finds Fixed AI Guardrails Cannot Stop Every Adaptive Prompt
The result supports a continuous cycle of red-teaming, updates and recovery planning instead of treating an AI system’s launch controls as final.
explainer
Five Fabric Squares Are NIST's New Test for Smarter Textile Recycling
RGTM 10279 gives laboratories the same five blind samples to scan, classify and compare—an effort to make AI-assisted textile sorting measurable across facilities.
news report
NIST's Looping Laser Mixed Metals That Usually Separate in 3D Printing
The team rewrote printer controls to stir a tiny molten pool, then used synchrotron X-rays to watch the new alloy solidify in under a second.
news report
NIST Seeks Guardrails for AI in Vulnerability Database
The 60-day inquiry seeks evidence on automation, human review, auditability and safeguards for the federal vulnerability database.
news report
NIST Backs Quantum Manufacturing Center With Initial $20 Million
An agreement with SRI creates a center focused on turning one-off quantum components into scalable systems, supply chains and testable production processes.
news report
NIST Resin Standard Aims to Make 3D-Print Curing Reproducible
Reference Material 8047 gives photopolymer laboratories a shared resin for measuring how light exposure controls cure depth and layer bonding.
news report
NIST Publishes Three Secure Remote-Access Designs for Water Utilities
The final practice guide demonstrates lab-tested architectures for operational technology, but utilities must adapt the examples to their own systems and risks.
news report
NOAA’s “Coral Torpedo” Delivered New Colonies 217 Feet Below the Gulf
A spring mission planted 26 lab-reared corals about 217 feet down, propagated 16 more in the field and mapped more than 14 square nautical miles—while leaving long-term survival as the next test.
news report
NOAA Diving Records Carry 336 Annual Burden Hours
The agency estimates 141 respondents for medical and equipment records supporting more than 300 divers, with comments on the renewal due Oct. 13.
news report
NOAA Forecasts 7,027-Square-Mile Gulf Dead Zone for Summer 2026
The model estimate is above the 39-year measured average despite low May river flow, as nitrate and phosphorus loads moved in opposite directions.
news report
NOAA Tests 150-Band Flights to Improve Great Lakes Ice Tracking
Hyperspectral cameras aboard a Cessna and drones can distinguish spectral fingerprints in rapidly shifting ice that satellites and models may miss.
news report
NOAA Logs 374 Preliminary Tornado Reports in a Stormy June
Illinois, Indiana and Missouri set state June report records while the western United States completed its warmest first half of a year on record.
news report
NOAA Seeks Comment on Right-Whale Vessel Speed Records
The agency proposes no changes to required safety-deviation logs and voluntary operator surveys, estimating 3,624 respondents and 674 annual burden hours.
news report
NOAA Moves Operational Weather Models to Commercial Cloud
Google Cloud will support the agency’s high-performance forecast computing as NOAA seeks a system that is easier to update and scale.
news report
NOAA’s Week-Two Outlook Puts Southern Heat and Southwest Monsoon Rain Side by Side
The Aug. 13–19 outlook carries a moderate extreme-heat risk in the Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley, a heavy-rain signal in the Southwest and rapid-onset drought risk between them.
news report
NRC Rule Changes Comment and Withholding Procedures
The direct final rule revises proprietary-information affidavits, post-promulgation comments, advisory-committee terms and security-eligibility criteria unless adverse comments trigger withdrawal.
news report
NRC Changes Withholding and Comment Procedures
The direct final rule also aligns advisory-committee terminology and codifies security-eligibility criteria; it takes effect Oct. 26 unless significant adverse comments prompt withdrawal.
news report
NSF Commits $47 Million to Four-Year Industry-Integrated PhD Pilot
More than 250 doctoral students at nearly three dozen universities are expected to combine academic research with an industry placement.
news report
NSF Awards $83 Million for AI-Ready Scientific Data Systems
Six named projects will connect repositories, computing and AI resources, while additional planning grants prepare future national infrastructure proposals.
news report
NSF Names 14 Universities in First CyberAICorps Scholarship Awards
The projects join AI and cybersecurity coursework with labs, internships and government-service commitments.
news report
NSF Puts $47 Million Into Four-Year Ph.D. Pilot With Industry Research
More than 250 doctoral students will combine university study with company-site dissertation work under a five-year test beginning in fall 2026.
news report
NSF Offers Up to $40 Million for Secure Open Source
PESOSE proposals are due Sept. 1, with three tracks supporting planning, ecosystem growth and security or privacy work.
news report
NSF Project Triad Aims to Link Three Quantum Systems
The initiative would integrate quantum sensing, networking and computing, with a proof-of-concept system planned through the National Quantum Virtual Laboratory.
news report
NSF Launches $100 Million Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs Program
Up to 10 state or multistate consortia will pool computing resources and train staff and faculty to widen access to AI-enabled research.
news report
NTSB Contract Spending Reached $86 Million as IT Work Expanded
GAO found 84% of fiscal 2020–2024 contract obligations were competitively awarded, while competitive spending nearly doubled to almost $20 million a year.
news report
NWS Proposes Twice-Daily Full-Ocean Sea-State Analyses
The agency would add Atlantic and Pacific basin products at 00 and 12 UTC while discontinuing eight regional wind-and-wave analyses; comments close Aug. 31.
news report
U.S. Tops Oregon 2026 World U20 Table With 12 Golds
The host team finished with 24 medals, ahead of Kenya's 11; Italy ranked third with three golds after five days of competition at Hayward Field.
news report
OSHA Safe + Sound Week Runs Aug. 10–16 With Three-Part Safety Framework
The national workplace-safety week centers on management leadership, worker participation and a systematic process for finding and fixing hazards.
data report
PCE prices fell 0.1% in June as real consumer spending rose 0.4%
BEA reported a monthly decline in its broad inflation gauge while inflation-adjusted spending increased; the estimates remain subject to revision.
news report
Prediabetes Lifestyle Program Cut Risk of Multiple Chronic Conditions
A 1,173-person NIH trial found a 21% lower risk of developing two chronic conditions; metformin did not significantly reduce that outcome.
news report
State and Local Pension Assets Rose 8.46% to $6.49 Trillion
Census data count more than 37 million participants, $315.02 billion in contributions and $418.25 billion in benefits during 2025.
news report
Puerto Rico U.S. Attorney Plans Community Outreach Request Form
Schools, nonprofits, municipalities and community groups could request educational presentations through a voluntary form estimated at 10 minutes per response.
news report
Romorgniz Recalls 10,040 12-Drawer Dressers Sold on Amazon
CPSC says unanchored units violate the mandatory stability standard; buyers with orders placed before April 1 can document disposal for a full refund.
news report
SBA Ends Group-Based 8(a) Presumption
Beginning Sept. 10, pending individually owned applicants must establish social disadvantage without the former rebuttable presumption; already certified participants are not required to requalify.
news report
SEC Approves Temporary Overnight Stock Price Bands
The first phase would apply wide reference-price bands from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. Eastern, with a Dec. 6 start expected after market-system changes.
news report
SEC Proposal Would Make Investor E-Delivery the Default
Regulation E-Delivery would allow electronic delivery without prior affirmative consent while preserving paper on request.
news report
The 2026 Senate Field Is Taking Shape. These Primaries Changed the Map
Open-seat victories in Michigan and Minnesota clarified two major contests, while late primaries and a South Carolina runoff leave part of the field unsettled.
news report
Senate Democrats reintroduce proposal for regular Supreme Court appointments and 18-year active terms
The draft would limit appellate cases to the nine most recently appointed justices while allowing other justices to retain office and perform narrower duties.
news report
FAA Sets Display Rules for Skyryse Fly-by-Wire R66
The final special conditions require clear mode, control-position and system-state information when digital controls replace mechanical feedback in the helicopter.
news report
Sloosh Dive-Stick Recall Expands to 404,000 Units Across 3 Models
CPSC says the hard-plastic toys violate the federal dive-stick ban; owners should discard the sticks and document disposal for replacements.
news report
Smithsonian Extends “American Aspirations” Exhibition Through Aug. 10
The 30-object show at the Castle now runs through the institution’s 180th anniversary, with artifacts spanning the founding era, aviation, space and computing.
news report
Smithsonian STEM Gift Targets 40 Communities and 24 Schools
A $2.3 million Caterpillar Foundation donation will fund teacher training, hands-on resources and an AI learning guide across 21 states over three years.
news report
Smithsonian’s ‘In Pursuit’ Exhibition Spans 250 Objects and Three Floors
The National Museum of American History has turned 250,000 square feet into a yearlong exploration of life, liberty and happiness.
news report
Smithsonian Program Will Mark Princess Grace's Legacy With Four Swan Benches
The Sept. 1 event pairs a cultural-history program with permanent National Mall tributes during anniversaries of her royal marriage and Monaco's U.S. embassy.
news report
Smithsonian Opens Japanese-Language Catalog for 2,200 Rare-Book Volumes
The searchable Pulverer Collection resource removes an English-only barrier for researchers studying more than 900 Japanese illustrated-book titles.
news report
Smithsonian STEM Program Expands to 40 Communities With $2.3 Million Gift
The three-year Caterpillar Foundation grant funds teacher development, classroom resources, an AI guide and sponsored participation for 24 schools.
news report
Smithsonian’s ‘Voices and Votes’ Democracy Exhibit Runs Through Sept. 7
The Arts and Industries Building show brings a traveling civic-history exhibition back to Washington after stops in small communities across 25 states.
news report
The South Was the Only U.S. Region to Grow in Every Age Group
Census estimates show a 6% regional gain from 2020 to 2025, led by outlying metro counties and growth that extended from children to older adults.
news report
More Students With Disabilities Learn in General Classrooms
The national count rose 25% over 11 school years, but GAO found wide state and district differences in how much time students spend with peers without disabilities.
news report
GAO Finds Fraud-Control Gaps Across $1.1 Trillion in State-Run Programs
Only five of 20 large federally funded programs documented the risk identification and prioritization GAO looked for, while 22 related recommendations remain open.
news report
State and Local Agencies Reported 64,200 Sworn-Officer Vacancies
A new Bureau of Justice Statistics report finds separations exceeded hires in 2020 and voluntary resignations accounted for nearly half of departures.
news report
State and Local Pension Assets Reached $6.49 Trillion in 2025
Census Bureau data show an 8.46% increase in assets, more than 37 million participants and $418.25 billion in benefit payments.
news report
State’s Overseas Housing Standards Have Not Changed in 35 Years
GAO says the department may be paying for larger homes than necessary because its space limits and measurement method no longer match the Washington-area benchmark.
news report
Federal IT Fund Has Realized $13.5 Million in Savings So Far
GAO says $1.03 billion went to 68 modernization projects, while nearly all projected savings are scheduled for fiscal 2027 or later.
news report
Tribal Agencies Reported 11% Fewer Violent Offenses in 2023
BJS estimates show 3,780 violent offenses and a statistically unchanged overall clearance rate, while homicide and robbery clearance percentages fell.
analysis
Trump's 2026 Endorsement Record Is Powerful—and More Selective Than a Win Rate Shows
The president helped defeat Republican critics, but losses in governor races expose the limits of treating every endorsement as an equal test.
executive action
Trump administration imposes new tariffs on imports from 60 economies
The Section 301 duties took effect July 24, generally at 10% or 12.5%, with product exemptions and special calculations for several major trading partners.
news report
U.S. Bankruptcy Filings Rise 11.9% to 591,850
Personal cases reached 565,890 and business filings 25,960 in the 12 months ending March, extending a quarterly rise that began after a 2022 low.
news report
U.S. Construction Spending Was Flat in June—and 3.2% Below a Year Earlier
The $2.1665 trillion annual rate barely moved from May. Underneath it, manufacturing construction was down 21.4% from June 2025 while office building was up 12.5%.
news report
Court-Authorized Wiretaps Fell 24% to 1,735 in 2025
Federal approvals dropped 32% and state approvals 14%, while six states accounted for 81% of state applications reported to the judiciary.
data report
U.S. crude inventories fell 7.2 million barrels as refineries ran at 97.2% capacity
Commercial crude stocks dropped to 404.5 million barrels, while gasoline inventories were nearly flat and propane stocks remained far above their seasonal average.
data report
U.S. GDP growth slowed to 1.5% as consumer spending rebounded
The advance estimate showed stronger household spending and fixed investment, while government spending fell and price growth accelerated.
data report
U.S. economic growth slowed to 1.5% in the second quarter, advance estimate shows
Consumer spending accelerated and a private-demand gauge rose 3.9%, but weaker government spending and faster import growth held down the headline rate.
news report
U.S. Goods Trade Deficit Narrows to $101.5 Billion in June
Advance Census estimates show imports fell $8.2 billion while exports declined $3.8 billion, producing a $4.4 billion smaller gap.
news report
U.S. Payrolls Fell 23,000 in July as Unemployment Held at 4.1%
The latest BLS report also cut May and June growth by 103,000 jobs, while health care gains partly offset losses in education and retail.
news report
U.S. Mint Sets Trump Dollar Roll and Bag Prices
A 25-coin roll will cost $61 and a 100-coin bag $154.50 starting Aug. 14; the one-ounce gold proof coin remains unpriced and precious-metal pricing can change weekly.
news report
2026 U.S. Open Starts Fan Week Aug. 23 and Main Draw Aug. 30
Qualifying begins Aug. 24, mixed doubles returns Aug. 25–26, and the singles champions are scheduled to be decided Sept. 12–13.
news report
US Open Offers Oura Rings to Main-Draw Players in Five-Year Deal
The USTA's first wearable partnership includes on-site fitting and education, a coaching recovery module and a planned performance-center recovery area.
news report
U.S. Sets December Polysilicon Import Price Floors
A presidential proclamation sets minimum import prices for polysilicon, wafers, solar cells and modules beginning Dec. 4, alongside a generally applicable 15% additional duty.
news report
U.S. Population Growth Slowed to 0.5% as Net Migration Fell 54%
The Census Bureau estimates the country added 1.8 million people to reach 341.8 million, half the prior year's growth rate.
news report
U.S. Probation and Parole Population Falls to 3.68 Million
BJS reports a 0.4% decline during 2024 among comparable agencies and a 24% drop in the community-supervision population over a decade.
news report
U.S. Productivity Rose 1.4% as Labor Share Hit a Series Low
Output increased faster than hours worked in the second quarter, while workers' share of nonfarm business income fell to 52.9%.
news report
U.S. Public School Spending Reached a Record $17,619 Per Pupil in 2024
Census data show a 6.6% increase in current spending per student while federal revenue fell 4.4% from the prior fiscal year.
news report
U.S. Rental Vacancy Rate Holds at 7.3% in Second Quarter
Census estimates put the homeowner vacancy rate at 1.2% and the national homeownership rate at 65.0%, with no statistically significant annual change.
news report
U.S. Traffic Death Rate Fell to 0.99 in Early 2026, NHTSA Estimates
The preliminary first-quarter rate was the second lowest on record as estimated deaths declined 4.3% even while driving increased by 11 billion miles.
news report
USGS Finds 356 Billion Tons of Federal Coal—But 4.2 Billion in Reserves
A new inventory shows why geologic resources cannot be read as an economically recoverable supply forecast.
news report
USGS River DroughtCast Forecasts Low Streamflow Up to 90 Days Ahead
The machine-learning system covers more than 3,000 streamgages and correctly predicts the first week of severe or extreme drought about 75% of the time.
news report
USITC Seeks Comment on Wi-Fi Import Relief
An administrative judge recommended limited exclusion and cease-and-desist orders after an initial patent finding; the commission has not issued a final remedy.
news report
USITC Orders LCD Glass Import Exclusions
The commission found a Section 337 violation involving two Corning patents and issued limited relief covering infringing LCD glass products tied to four remaining respondents.
news report
USSC Counts 517 National-Defense Cases in Fiscal 2025
The category rose 132% from fiscal 2021, but the Sentencing Commission says a 2025 border designation brought some illegal-entry convictions into the count.
news report
DOT Adds $24 Million to Shape Union Station Partnership
The new funding is for a public-private delivery plan, separate from $466 million announced for structural and passenger upgrades.
explainer
What Congress’s Iran war-powers votes can - and cannot - do
The House approved a concurrent resolution and the Senate blocked a separate joint resolution. Neither event alone ends military operations.
explainer
What Section 301 is, and why it matters for the new tariff regime
The 1974 trade law gives USTR a process for investigating foreign practices and imposing a response, but it does not make every tariff immune from scrutiny.
news report
The 2026 Primaries So Far: Who Won, What Changed and What Is Left
Most of the midterm field is set, but late primaries and runoffs will keep shaping the November ballot into September—and Louisiana will wait even longer.
data report
Nearly two-thirds of Americans born 1980–1984 received work training by age 38
BLS longitudinal data show employer and vocational training were the most common forms, with participation varying sharply by education.
news report
World Athletics Ratifies 8 Records From Track to Marathon
The official list includes a 1:59:30 men’s marathon, a 6.31-meter pole vault and a 71.74-meter under-20 women’s javelin throw.
news report
World U20 Athletes Get Career and Media Program at Oregon 26
Athletes Connect adds four workshops and an Aug. 3–10 athlete zone after more than 1,500 visits to the education space at Lima 2024.
news report
The World U20 Championships Open in Oregon With 1,700-Plus Athletes
The five-day meet at Hayward Field starts with the men’s shot put, two 5,000-meter finals and a mixed 4×400. A mixed 4×100 also joins the U20 program.
news report
Three Yoshitomo Nara Sculptures Will Open the Hirshhorn’s New West Lawn Series
The garden is scheduled to reopen Oct. 31 with monumental heads enlarged from hand-shaped clay studies. A different artist will follow each year.