President Donald J. Trump praises Artemis 2 crew after far-side lunar mission On a call with the Artemis 2 crew, President Donald J. Trump hailed their mission as historic, named the four crew members, thanked NASA leadership including Jared Isaacman, and said he looked forward to seeing them in the Oval Office.

President Trump hailed the Artemis 2 crew as heroes, celebrating their historic lunar mission and expressing pride in their groundbreaking achievements.

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#US #CitizenPortal #SpaceExploration #HistoricMilestones #PublicAcknowledgment

Questioner at House Judiciary hearing says influx of migrants strains public schools and raises tuition-discrepancy claim At a House Committee on the Judiciary hearing a questioner said recent arrivals burden state public schools by increasing demand for English-language and special services and asserted that federal rules require some temporary immigrants to pay tuition while undocumented children do not; the transcript provides no supporting citations.

A House Judiciary hearing raises alarms about the strain on public schools from a surge of undocumented migrants, highlighting a controversial tuition disparity that some say is "tremendously unfair."

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#US #ImmigrationPolicy #CitizenPortal #ResourceAllocation #EducationEquity

ATH defiende cambios en reclutamiento y presenta presupuesto de $11.84 millones para 2026–2027 La Oficina de Administración y Transformación de Recursos Humanos (ATH) presentó su presupuesto propuesto de 11,841,000 USD y destacó avances en plataformas de adquisición y gestión de talento, con métricas sobre integración de agencias y cumplimiento de solicitudes.

La Oficina de Administración y Transformación de Recursos Humanos presentó un ambicioso presupuesto de $11.84 millones, destacando avances clave en la modernización del sistema de personal del gobierno.

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#US #CitizenPortal #HumanResourcesReform #TalentManagement

Trabajo presenta presupuesto de $397.3 millones y anuncia plataforma digital de desempleo para el 1 de julio La secretaria del Trabajo presentó ante la Comisión de Hacienda un presupuesto consolidado propuesto de 397,314,000 USD para 2026–2027, explicó ajustes en partidas, detalló proyectos de modernización tecnológica y admitió limitaciones actuales para verificar la búsqueda activa de beneficiarios de desempleo.

La secretaria del Trabajo reveló un presupuesto de $397.3 millones para el próximo año fiscal y anunció una nueva plataforma digital de desempleo que promete modernizar el sistema.

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#US #DigitalModernization #CitizenPortal #UnemploymentBenefits #EconomicTransparency

Scholar: universities altered by foreign pressure and risk to international students Sarah McLaughlin told the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe podcast that foreign governments sometimes pressure U.S. universities to disinvite critics, and that administrators' attempts to identify anonymous student critics can expose those students to severe reprisals in their home countries.

Universities are facing a troubling dilemma: as foreign funding influences campus decisions, students' safety and free expression hang in the balance.

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#US #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #InternationalStudentRights #WashingtonDCUniversities #FreeSpeechIssues

Sarah McLaughlin: U.S., Europe differ on limits to hateful speech and U.S. faces rising domestic threats On the Transatlantic podcast produced by the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission), Sarah McLaughlin of FIRE said European laws that criminalize some hateful speech diverge from U.S. First Amendment protections, and warned of growing U.S. threats to free expression in higher education and online.

Sarah McLaughlin reveals that the U.S. and Europe have starkly different views on free speech, raising concerns about how these differences impact online discourse and democratic values.

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#US #USAFreeSpeech #CivicDebate #CitizenPortal #HateSpeechPolicy #FirstAmendmentRights

UN preliminary findings point to Israeli tank fire and a likely Hezbollah-placed IED in deaths of three peacekeepers in Lebanon A United Nations agency official said preliminary UNIFIL analysis attributes a March 29 projectile that killed a peacekeeper to a 122 mm round fired from an Israeli Merkava tank and assessed a March 30 explosion was caused by a tripwire IED likely placed by Hezbollah; UN boards of inquiry will continue the investigations.

Preliminary findings reveal that Israeli tank fire and a Hezbollah-placed IED may be responsible for the tragic deaths of three UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.

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#US #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #LebanonPeacekeepers #InternationalLaw

UN briefs on mounting humanitarian needs across Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, DRC, Ukraine and the Mediterranean A United Nations official outlined urgent humanitarian needs: attacks on health facilities and tens of thousands of health consultations in Gaza and Lebanon; suspension of WHO medevac from Gaza after a contracted worker was killed; displacement in Sudan and Haiti; and rising Mediterranean shipwreck deaths, with calls for expanded access and supplies.

Urgent humanitarian crises are escalating across Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, and beyond, with alarming reports of attacks on health facilities and rising casualties among civilians.

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#US #CitizenPortal #GazaHealth #CrisisResponse #HumanitarianAccess #HealthCareViolence

UN urges restraint, dialogue after extreme presidential rhetoric and calls for freedom of navigation in Strait of Hormuz During a press exchange, a United Nations official urged sober dialogue in response to extreme rhetoric attributed to a U.S. president, declined to speculate on leaders' intentions, and described a UNOPS-led effort to enable exports and humanitarian shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to ease regional tensions.

The UN is calling for calm and diplomatic dialogue as tensions rise in the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing the crucial need for humanitarian aid and global cooperation amidst extreme rhetoric from world leaders.

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#US #StraitOfHormuzDialogue #TradeTensions #CitizenPortal

Survivors at UN commemoration ask that suspects be pursued and ICTR archives be returned Two survivors told the General Assembly about personal loss and long-term trauma, urged the UN and states to pursue genocide suspects, and called for the transfer and preservation of ICTR archives to Rwanda to safeguard truth and dignity for victims and survivors.

Two courageous survivors spoke at the UN General Assembly, urging global action for justice and the preservation of crucial historical records from the 1994 genocide.

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#US #RwandaSurvivors #CitizenPortal #MentalHealthSupport #HistoricalPreservation

UN leaders warn digital hate and inaction risk repeating Rwanda’s 1994 tragedy At a General Assembly commemoration, United Nations and African Union representatives recalled the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, warned that hate speech amplified by digital platforms and AI can precede mass atrocities, and urged states to ratify and implement the Genocide Convention and strengthen prevention mechanisms.

UN leaders stress that unchecked digital hate speech could lead to devastating atrocities, urging immediate action to prevent history from repeating itself.

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#US #HateSpeechPrevention #CitizenPortal #GenocideConvention #RwandaCommemoration #DigitalResponsibility

Lawmaker urges 'yes' on funding bill, criticizes sanctuary jurisdictions and Democrats over border policy A lawmaker told the panel the border has been 'wide open' for years, claimed 8–10 million unauthorized entries and said jurisdictions refused federal detainers 17,864 times last year; he urged a yes vote on an unspecified funding bill that he said excludes ICE.

A lawmaker claims the border crisis is by design, citing millions of unauthorized entries and urging support for a funding bill that excludes ICE.

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#US #CivicAccountability #ImmigrationPolicy #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #DistrictOfColumbiaSanctuaryJurisdictions

OPM's new online retirement application is revolutionizing the process, slashing claim processing times from over 90 days to just 30-40 days while also ensuring retirees receive interim pay in just seven days!

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#US #RetirementProcessing #CitizenPortal #FraudDetection

OPM details sweeping HR modernization plan and aims to centralize federal personnel systems OPM Director Scott Cooper told the House Appropriations Subcommittee that the agency is consolidating federal HR systems into a single 'core HCM,' launching TechForce to recruit ~1,000 early-career technologists, and pursuing a 10‑year contract model for the unified system while promising fiscal transparency to appropriators.

The OPM is revolutionizing federal HR with a bold plan to consolidate systems, speed up retirement processing, and bring in fresh tech talent for the future of government efficiency!

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#US #CitizenPortal #FederalHumanResources #FiscalTransparency #GovernmentModernization

Committee tussles over workforce reductions, appeals consolidation and whistleblower protections Ranking members pressed OPM Director Scott Cooper on the loss of roughly 300,000 federal employees, effects on morale and recruitment, the reclassification known as the 'policy career' rule, and a proposal to shift certain appeal processes into OPM rather than the Merit Systems Protection Board.

A fierce debate erupts as lawmakers question OPM’s role in the dramatic loss of 300,000 federal employees and the future of whistleblower protections.

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#US #CivicAccountability #FederalWorkforce #CitizenPortal #WorkforceReduction #EmployeeProtections

House lawmakers press for Chip Security Act after committee members cite about $2.5 billion in alleged chip smuggling Members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs urged passage of the Chip Security Act, citing recent public disclosures and DOJ charges they say show roughly $2.5 billion in illicit exports of advanced AI chips to China and arguing the bill would tighten export safeguards without mandating specific technical solutions.

House lawmakers are pushing for the Chip Security Act, highlighting a startling $2.5 billion in alleged AI chip smuggling to China that could jeopardize national security.

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#US #TechInnovation #NationalSecurity #CitizenPortal #AIExportControls

House lawmaker urges passage of Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act amid DHS shutdown On the House floor a lawmaker urged members to approve the Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, citing 41 days of a partial shutdown, missed paychecks for more than 100,000 workers and strains on TSA and FEMA.

A House lawmaker is demanding action on the "Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act" to end the 41-day DHS shutdown, restore critical funding, and ensure that over 100,000 workers receive their paychecks.

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#US #ArizonaHomelandSecurity #CitizenPortal #NationalSecurity #GovernmentFunding

Rep. Roger Williams says House will back giving Trump latitude on conflicts, defends DHS funding and doubts Tallarico's prospects In an on-air interview, Texas Rep. Roger Williams said he expects the House to "vote to give president Trump the latitude he needs to run this conflict," defended passing a DHS funding bill and argued Democratic nominee James Tallarico has little chance in Texas' general election.

Texas Rep. Roger Williams is gearing up for a House vote that could give President Trump more power to address global conflicts, while confidently dismissing the Democratic nominee's chances in Texas.

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#US #CitizenPortal #TexasPolitics #ElectionProspects #MilitaryOperations

Chair presses witnesses on tech and policy to stop scams that drain seniors' accounts At a Joint Economic Committee hearing, the chair pressed witnesses on technological and policy solutions to prevent scammers from moving money out of older Americans' accounts, focusing on blocking scam communications, stopping suspicious payments at the rails, industry cooperation, and family-account safeguards.

How can we protect older Americans from scams that drain their hard-earned savings?

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#US #FraudPrevention #CitizenPortal #FinancialSafety #JointEconomicCommitteeSeniors #ConsumerEducation

Committee member urges Jared Kushner and Steve Whitkoff to testify about foreign negotiations A committee member pressed Jared Kushner and Steve Whitkoff to appear before Congress to explain their roles in talks with Russia, Venezuela and Iran, saying the public deserves transparency about how taxpayer dollars are used and warning of subpoenas if the administration resists.

Calls for Jared Kushner and Steve Whitkoff to testify in Congress are growing louder as concerns about transparency in foreign negotiations heat up.

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#US #CivicAccountability #PublicOversight #CitizenPortal #TaxpayerRights #CongressTransparency

Senator Announces Bill With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Pause New AI Data Centers Until Federal Safeguards Are Set A senator and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unveiled legislation to impose a moratorium on new AI data centers until national safeguards, premarket review of AI products and protections for workers and communities are in place; the proposal would also bar chip exports to countries without such protections, including China.

A senator warns that we're on the brink of a technological revolution with AI, pushing for a moratorium on new data centers to protect workers and communities.

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#US #TechEthics #CitizenPortal #WorkerProtection #WashingtonDCAI #EconomicSafeguards

Rep. Brian Mast says Trump acted under Article II authority, calls boots on the ground in Iran unlikely Rep. Brian Mast, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, defended President Trump’s strikes as an exercise of Article II war powers and said he did not view them as violating his 'America First' principles; he added that U.S. ground troops in Iran are 'highly unlikely' except in narrow scenarios.

Rep. Brian Mast defends President Trump's military actions in Iran as a legitimate use of Article II powers, insisting that U.S. boots on the ground are "highly unlikely."

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#US #NationalSecurity #CitizenPortal #MilitaryStrategy #ForeignPolicy

Lawmaker urges $1.5 trillion prefunded investment fund to shore up Social Security A lawmaker told the Senate committee that Social Security faces a long-term shortfall and proposed a separate, $1.5 trillion prefunded investment vehicle held in escrow for 75 years as a bipartisan way to reduce future benefit cuts.

A lawmaker warns of a staggering $25 trillion Social Security funding shortfall and proposes a bold $1.5 trillion investment fund to protect future benefits!

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#US #CitizenPortal #GovernmentTransparency #WashingtonSocialSecurity #PensionReform #FiscalResponsibility

House Budget Committee hearing debates 3% deficit-to-GDP target as a bipartisan 'North Star' Lawmakers and witnesses at a House Budget Committee hearing debated adopting a 3% deficit-to-GDP target to stabilize public debt, with witnesses urging careful design and members arguing over enforcement, revenue options and recent tax and war spending that ballooned deficits.

The House Budget Committee is exploring a bold 3% deficit-to-GDP target that could unite lawmakers across the aisle—will it be the fiscal guide we've been waiting for?

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#US #CitizenPortal #BipartisanPolicy #DebtManagement

House Budget Committee chair Jody Arrington urges 3% deficit-to-GDP target, cites cuts and reconciliation to meet goal Rep. Jody Arrington, chair of the House Committee on the Budget, outlined a plan to reduce annual deficits from roughly 6% of GDP to 3% within ten years, citing spending restraint, targeting improper payments and use of reconciliation; he said a House vote could come quickly but would require a rules waiver.

House Budget Committee chair Jody Arrington proposes a bold plan to slash the federal deficit from 6% to 3% of GDP in just a decade, emphasizing spending cuts and reforms over tax hikes.

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#US #CitizenPortal #DeficitReduction #WashingtonDCBudget #GovernmentReform

Public commenter: 'There is no humane way to detain a child' During public comment, a speaker said there is no humane way to detain or deport children and described alleged incidents—including a six-month-old who stopped breathing after being tear-gassed and a Detroit student racially profiled and deported—urging officials to stop such practices.

A powerful public commenter revealed harrowing stories of children harmed by harsh immigration enforcement, calling for an end to these inhumane practices.

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#US #RacialProfiling #ImmigrationReform #CitizenPortal #ChildProtection #DetroitChildren

Proposal for tourism-and-hospitality charter school wins broad support; senators press timeline and funding questions Bill 256‑38 would raise the charter cap to allow a tourism and hospitality‑focused charter intended to train students for Guam’s visitor economy; proponents said internships, AI literacy and industry certifications will supply local labor, while senators asked about facilities, procurement constraints, enrollment and budget tradeoffs.

A new charter school focused on tourism and hospitality could be the game-changer Guam needs to prepare students for thriving careers in the visitor economy.

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#US #CitizenPortal #TourismEducation #GuamCharterSchools #WorkforceDevelopment

Senators hear plan to allow GCC to open career-and-technical charter school by raising charter cap A proposed amendment would raise Guam’s charter-school cap from seven to eight to allow Guam Community College to create a CTE-focused charter offering dual credit, industry credentials and a direct pipeline into local jobs; proponents argued it would leverage GCC facilities and existing programs, while senators pressed for details about statutory language, selection and funding.

A new bill could pave the way for Guam Community College to launch an innovative career-and-technical charter school, creating a direct pathway for students into the workforce!

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#US #CitizenPortal #EducationAccess #CareerEducation #GuamCharterSchools #WorkforceDevelopment

DOE-linked Synapse I project uses AI to deliver near–real-time imaging at national light sources Scientists described Synapse I, a foundation model in the DOE Genesis program that combines x-ray and neutron beamline data to invert detector images into object images in near real time, using large-scale GPU training and demonstrations at several DOE light-source facilities.

The groundbreaking Synapse I project is set to revolutionize scientific experiments by delivering real-time imaging and analysis, transforming the way researchers work with advanced materials.

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#US #RealTimeImaging #CitizenPortal #LawrenceBerkeley #AIInnovation #AdvancedMaterials

House receives Senate message disagreeing with House amendment to HR 71 47 A House staff member read a Senate message informing the House that the Senate "has disagreed to the house amendment to the senate amendment to the bill HR 71 47," a consolidation appropriations measure for fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2026; no further action was recorded.

In a surprising turn of events, the Senate has officially disagreed with the House amendment to bill HR 71 47, leaving the future of consolidated appropriations in limbo.

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#US #InterchamberDisagreement #CitizenPortal #FiscalPolicy #LegislativeProcess