Short-Term Funding Measure Would Avert Govt. Shutdown
The White House has asked Congress to pass a short-term funding measure to keep the government operating after the current budget year ends September 30. Seven of 10 voters polled in a Peter G. Peterson Foundation’s survey said they were concerned there will be a shutdown because Congress will be unable to reach an agreement on a new budget. Voters are increasingly concerned about the economic damage created by political brinksmanship and the interruption of government services.
2 Very Different Films on Ukraine
“The Witness,” a Russian-sponsored film about a visiting Belgian musician caught in the February 2022 start of war tells of atrocities committed by Ukrainians. It premiered at home earlier this month. Sean Penn, in 2021, intended to tell how a superstar comedian became the president of Ukraine, but got caught February 2022 by the invasion. It changed the film “Superpower,” which is due to begin streaming in September.
Exercises Prep for Possible Conflict in the Pacific
Several recent US exercises have put the spotlight on a new era of military operations in the Pacific.
Lawmakers Push for UMD-Led Microtech Initiative
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer joined a bipartisan group of more than 20 of his congressional colleagues in writing to US DefSec Lloyd Austin in support of the University of Maryland-led Mid-Atlantic Semiconductor Collaborative proposal to contribute to the Department of Defense’s Microelectronic Commons initiative.
DoD Rescinds COVID Vaccine Mandate
The Pentagon has dropped the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for troops.
Lawmakers Ask for Halt on Nice Bridge Demolition
Three Maryland lawmakers are urging the state Department of Transportation to pause plans to demolish the existing Gov. Harry Nice Memorial Bridge. They want a review conducted to determine the feasibility and cost of repurposing the old bridge for recreational use.
Pilots Take First-Ever Crewed Flight in Military-Worthy Electric Aircraft
US Air Force pilots conducted the first-ever crewed flight of an electric aircraft — an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) — with military airworthiness. This milestone, which took place at BETA Technologies’ Plattsburgh, NY, facility earlier this month was the culmination of a two-year partnership between BETA and the Air Force’s Agility Prime program.
2 Mishaps in January Rough Start for F-35
Two mishaps in January have gotten the F-35 off to a rough start in 2022. There was a landing mishap with an F-35C on the deck of the carrier USS Carl Vinson and a bird strike that caused an F-35A to make a belly landing in South Korea.
Survey: Top Concern of IT Workers Is Hacking
An online survey of IT experts — many working at civilian federal agencies — found that hacking is their biggest concern. DoD employees, however, were more likely to list foreign governments as the top threat.
Undersea Warfare Priority for Navy
The US Navy is renewing its focus on undersea threats and has labeled anti-submarine warfare a priority for all sailors.
