Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC — President Donald Trump has warned Iran that the United States is prepared to launch additional military strikes, as the latest round of fighting between Washington and Tehran threatens to widen into a broader regional conflict.

Trump’s warning came after U.S. forces conducted a major wave of strikes against Iranian targets, which the U.S. military said included air-defense systems, radar installations, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications facilities.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump said the United States had hit Iran “very hard” and was prepared to carry out another attack whenever he believed it was necessary. The warning came as Iran continued its retaliation against U.S. positions and regional countries hosting American forces.

Iran launches missiles and drones toward Kuwait

The conflict took another dangerous turn Thursday when Kuwait said its air-defense systems confronted incoming Iranian missiles and drones. Kuwait hosts several U.S. military facilities and has become increasingly exposed to the consequences of the widening U.S.–Iran confrontation. The Kuwaiti military said the attacks were hostile missile and drone strikes originating from Iran, although it did not immediately report casualties.

The latest attack follows Iranian strikes and attempted strikes against locations associated with U.S. forces across the Gulf and surrounding region. The developments have raised fears that the conflict could increasingly involve U.S. allies and partners, turning the confrontation between Washington and Tehran into a wider regional crisis.

U.S. strikes target Iranian military infrastructure

The Pentagon’s Central Command said the latest U.S. operation targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities and military infrastructure. Among the targets were air-defense sites, radar systems, maritime equipment, communications facilities and capabilities that the United States says could threaten shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

The waterway is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, carrying a significant portion of global oil shipments. The renewed fighting has already disrupted commercial shipping through the area. Reuters reported Thursday that only six vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, compared with a normal daily average of about 13.

Civilian casualties increase pressure on Washington

The latest U.S. strikes have also generated concern over civilian casualties. Iranian officials reported that a strike in southern Iran hit a wedding gathering, with civilians among those killed and wounded. U.S. Central Command said the American military does not target civilians and said it was reviewing the reports.

Reuters reported Thursday that Iranian officials had reported 18 civilian deaths and more than 100 people wounded in the latest U.S. strikes. The competing claims have become another source of tension as the two sides present sharply different accounts of the conflict.

The United States maintains that its operations are directed against Iranian military capabilities, while Iranian officials accuse Washington of attacking civilian infrastructure and violating international law.

Iran reports military casualties

Iran has also suffered significant military losses during the latest American strikes. According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, at least 13 Iranian military personnel have been killed in U.S. strikes this week. The reported dead include members of Iran’s regular military, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its paramilitary forces.

The casualties come after a month-long lull in major direct hostilities. The latest fighting began again over the weekend, with the United States saying it had attacked Iranian launchers preparing to fire rockets into the Strait of Hormuz. Iran then retaliated against U.S.-linked targets in the region.

Gulf states caught between Washington and Tehran

The widening conflict is placing America’s Gulf partners in an increasingly difficult position. Countries including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates host important U.S. military facilities while maintaining their own relationships with the United States and other international powers.

Iran’s attacks or attempted attacks against locations in these countries raise the possibility that regional governments could become directly involved in the conflict even if they do not seek confrontation with Tehran.

Kuwait’s latest experience illustrates the problem. Although Kuwait is not a direct party to the U.S.–Iran war, its territory and military infrastructure are exposed because of the presence of American forces. Analysts have warned that Gulf states could face increasing pressure if Washington and Tehran continue exchanging attacks.

Strait of Hormuz becomes critical flashpoint

The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as one of the most important flashpoints in the conflict. The narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and is critical to international energy markets. Any prolonged disruption could affect oil supplies, shipping costs and fuel prices around the world.

Oil markets reacted sharply to the latest escalation. Reuters reported Thursday that Brent crude rose to around $96 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude approached $92 a barrel, putting both benchmarks near six-week highs. Higher energy prices could eventually increase transportation and consumer costs and add to inflationary pressures in the United States and other economies.

Pentagon prepares for a prolonged conflict

The military situation also suggests that Washington is preparing for the possibility that the conflict could last longer than initially expected.The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has extended Middle East deployments into 2027. Approximately 50,000 U.S. troops remain in the region, supported by warships, air-defense systems, fighter aircraft and other military assets.

The deployment decisions indicate that, despite Trump’s public suggestion that the renewed campaign would not continue indefinitely, the Pentagon is maintaining a substantial military presence in the region.

That creates a complicated policy situation for the Trump administration. On one hand, the president has signaled that he wants to maintain pressure on Iran and has repeatedly warned Tehran against attacking American forces. On the other, prolonged military operations carry significant costs and risks, particularly if American forces become increasingly exposed to Iranian retaliation.

Political pressure grows ahead of midterm elections

The conflict is also unfolding against the backdrop of the November 2026 midterm elections. Reuters has reported that some Trump administration officials want to avoid allowing the war to dominate the political environment before voters go to the polls, while internal discussions have continued over whether the military campaign should be expanded or brought toward an end.

That creates a difficult political calculation for the White House. A continued military campaign could increase pressure over casualties, military spending and civilian deaths.But stepping back without achieving the administration’s stated objectives could create its own political challenges.

Trump has attempted to maintain flexibility, suggesting that the United States can strike again if necessary while also indicating that the renewed campaign will not necessarily continue indefinitely.

No clear diplomatic breakthrough

Despite occasional references to diplomacy, there is currently no clear indication of a comprehensive agreement between Washington and Tehran that would bring the conflict to an end. Instead, the latest developments point toward continued military pressure and retaliation.

The danger is that an attack initially directed at U.S. or Iranian military targets could trigger a chain reaction involving Gulf states, commercial shipping or other regional actors. The reported Iranian attack on Kuwait demonstrates how quickly the geographic scope of the conflict can expand.

A conflict with global consequences

The U.S.–Iran confrontation is no longer simply a bilateral military dispute. It has become a major international security and economic issue. The conflict is affecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing oil prices higher and forcing Gulf governments to strengthen their defenses. It is also placing thousands of American service members across the Middle East in an increasingly dangerous environment.

For Iran, continued U.S. strikes threaten military infrastructure and economic interests while creating pressure on Tehran to demonstrate that it can retaliate. For Washington, the central challenge is balancing military pressure against the risk of a wider war.

Trump’s latest warning that the United States can launch another strike whenever it chooses underscores the uncertainty. Whether that warning becomes another military operation or part of a broader effort to force Iran back toward negotiations could determine the next phase of the conflict.

For now, however, the message from Washington is clear the United States has not ruled out further strikes, while Iran continues to retaliate. And with Gulf states increasingly exposed and the Strait of Hormuz under growing pressure, the consequences of the next move could extend far beyond the battlefield.

Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC — President Donald Trump has signed a short-term government funding bill designed to keep the U.S. federal government operating through December 11, averting the threat of another government shutdown just weeks before the November midterm elections.

Trump signed the legislation Wednesday, September 2, after the U.S. House of Representatives approved the measure by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 370–48. The Senate had already approved the legislation in August.

The measure, known as a continuing resolution, extends federal funding beyond the beginning of the new fiscal year on October 1. It largely maintains existing funding levels while giving Congress additional time to negotiate and approve the full set of spending bills needed to finance the federal government through fiscal year 2027.

Shutdown threat pushed beyond midterm elections

Without congressional action, federal funding was scheduled to expire at the end of September. That would have raised the possibility of a government shutdown during the final weeks of the midterm-election campaign. Instead, lawmakers have moved the deadline to December 11.

The timing is politically significant. Americans will vote in the November 3 midterm elections, and both Republicans and Democrats had strong incentives to prevent another prolonged disruption of federal services during the campaign season. The legislation gives Congress roughly two additional months to negotiate a longer-term agreement.

However, the agreement does not resolve the underlying budget dispute. Congress still has to complete the regular appropriations process covering major areas of federal spending, including defense, housing, energy and homeland security.

Bipartisan House vote

The House vote demonstrated unusually broad support for the temporary measure. The bill passed 370–48, reflecting support from members of both parties. Its passage followed the Senate’s earlier approval in August, allowing the legislation to reach Trump’s desk before the September 30 funding deadline. The overwhelming vote also underscored the political desire in Washington to avoid another shutdown. The United States experienced major funding disruptions during Trump’s second presidency, making another shutdown particularly politically risky as voters prepare to go to the polls.

What happens next?

The immediate crisis has been postponed, but the budget battle is far from over. Congress must now return to the more difficult task of reaching agreement on full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2027. The December 11 deadline will give lawmakers another opportunity to negotiate, but it also creates a new potential funding showdown later this year.

The outcome of the November elections could significantly influence those negotiations. If control of either chamber changes, the political balance surrounding federal spending, taxation, immigration, defense and domestic programs could shift substantially. For now, however, federal agencies have greater certainty that funding will continue beyond October 1.

A temporary solution, not a permanent budget

The legislation should therefore be viewed as a temporary political compromise rather than a final budget agreement. A continuing resolution allows the government to operate while Congress works toward completing its annual appropriations bills. It prevents the immediate disruption associated with a funding lapse but leaves many of the major disagreements unresolved.

The temporary agreement also means that the next major budget confrontation is likely to occur after the midterm elections, when lawmakers return to Washington with a new political landscape.

For federal employees, contractors and millions of Americans who depend on government services, the immediate message is straightforward: there will be no federal government shutdown at the beginning of October because of the current funding deadline.

But Washington’s budget battle has only been delayed. The next deadline — December 11, 2026 — could once again put Congress and the White House under pressure to reach a deal. With the midterm elections approaching and major disagreements over federal spending still unresolved, the temporary peace in Washington may prove to be just that — temporary.

Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald J. Trump will mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the Pentagon on September 11, while Vice President JD Vance is expected to represent the Trump administration at the annual memorial ceremony in New York City. The developments come as the White House prepares for a separate September 8 commemoration featuring a massive piece of World Trade Center steel at the White House.

On September 8, Trump is expected to host 9/11 first responders and other officials as the “Steel Across America” tour arrives in Washington. A 21-foot-long, 16,900-pound steel beam recovered from the South Tower of the World Trade Center will be displayed on the White House Ellipse. Trump and Tunnel to Towers Foundation CEO Frank Siller are expected to speak at the event.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation launched the nationwide Steel Across America campaign to carry the historic World Trade Center beam through communities across the country ahead of the 25th anniversary of the attacks. The tour is intended to connect Americans with the history of September 11 and honor the victims, first responders and military veterans whose lives were changed by the attacks and their aftermath.

Trump to observe 9/11 at Pentagon

On September 11, Trump will attend the official 9/11 observance at the Pentagon rather than the annual ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in Lower Manhattan. Trump confirmed that he would commemorate the anniversary at the Pentagon, one of the three locations directly targeted on September 11, 2001. The president also marked the anniversary at the Pentagon last year.

Vice President JD Vance is expected to attend the memorial ceremony at the World Trade Center site in New York City. The New York ceremony traditionally focuses on the victims and their families and does not feature political speeches. Family members read the names of those killed in the attacks, while moments of silence mark the timeline of the attacks and their aftermath.

The 2026 observance will carry particular significance as the United States marks 25 years since the September 11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people and reshaped U.S. national security and foreign policy for decades.

Trump’s decision to attend the Pentagon rather than the New York ceremony has drawn attention because he is a native New Yorker and had previously been expected to participate in the Ground Zero commemoration. Trump has rejected reports that his decision was related to restrictions on political speeches at the New York memorial.

The three major sites of the September 11 attacks — New York, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania — will all be represented in the nation’s 25th-anniversary commemorations, with administration officials expected to participate in ceremonies across the three locations.

For the Trump administration, the September 8 White House event and the September 11 Pentagon ceremony will provide two separate opportunities to honor the victims, first responders and military personnel connected to the attacks and the wars that followed.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington, D.C.: The United States House of Representatives has taken a major step to avert a potential government shutdown, overwhelmingly passing a short-term federal funding bill on Tuesday.

The measure passed by a vote of 370–48 and would keep the federal government funded through December 11, 2026. The bill has now been sent to President Donald Trump for his signature. The Senate had already approved the measure on August 8.

The vote came as Congress has yet to complete the full set of spending legislation needed to fund the federal government for fiscal year 2027. The new fiscal year begins on October 1. With lawmakers unable to complete the 12 regular appropriations bills, Congress turned to a temporary funding measure to prevent federal agencies from running out of money at the start of the new fiscal year.

The House vote received strong bipartisan support. According to the official House Clerk’s voting record, 193 Republicans, 176 Democrats and one Independent voted in favor of the measure. Nineteen Republicans and 29 Democrats voted against it, while 14 members did not vote.

The legislation, H.R. 6500, is a continuing appropriations measure designed to maintain federal government funding on a temporary basis. By extending current funding through December 11, it removes the immediate threat of a shutdown that otherwise could have begun when existing funding expires on October 1.

The Senate passed the measure on August 8. Following Tuesday’s House approval, the legislation was sent to President Trump. Once signed, it will become law and provide temporary funding for federal operations through December 11.

However, Tuesday’s vote does not resolve the broader budget dispute facing Washington. Instead, it postpones the most difficult funding decisions until later in the year. Congress will still need to negotiate and approve the full set of appropriations measures for fiscal year 2027 before the December 11 deadline.

The timing of the agreement also carries significant political implications. The United States is scheduled to hold its midterm elections on November 3, and lawmakers from both parties have a strong incentive to avoid a government shutdown during the final weeks of the campaign. A shutdown could disrupt federal services, affect government workers and create additional political pressure ahead of the elections.

The temporary funding agreement therefore allows Congress to move the broader budget confrontation beyond the November elections. Lawmakers will have additional time to negotiate the government’s full-year spending plans after the election.

The bill also contains funding provisions for specific areas. Among them is $1.2 billion in additional funding related to the continued construction of Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines, according to information released by congressional lawmakers.

Despite the overwhelming bipartisan vote, disagreements between Republicans and Democrats over federal spending and policy priorities remain unresolved. Some Republicans opposed the measure over policy concerns, while Democrats have also criticized aspects of the administration’s spending and policy agenda.

Nevertheless, Tuesday’s vote represents a significant bipartisan effort to keep the federal government operating and prevent an immediate shutdown.

For now, Washington has avoided another shutdown crisis. But the underlying budget battle has not gone away. As the December 11 deadline approaches, Congress will once again face the question of whether it can reach agreement on the full fiscal year 2027 spending bills—or whether the United States will once again face the threat of a government shutdown.

Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC — The United States is preparing to intensify economic pressure on Iran with a new campaign of weekly secondary sanctions, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday, as military tensions between Washington and Tehran sharply escalated.

Bessent told Reuters that the U.S. Treasury Department is expected to announce new secondary sanctions every week, beginning with measures targeting banks and financial institutions that help Iran maintain access to international markets.

The planned measures are designed to further restrict Iran’s access to the global financial system and increase pressure on institutions and countries that continue doing business with Tehran. The announcement comes as the United States and Iran have entered their most serious period of renewed hostilities in weeks.

U.S. forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island on Sunday after American forces identified what U.S. officials said were preparations by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran responded by launching missiles toward U.S. military bases in Jordan, according to U.S. and Iranian officials. The attacks marked the first direct exchange of fire between the two sides in about a month. President Donald Trump on Monday warned that the United States would respond forcefully to Iran’s attacks. The latest escalation has raised concerns about a wider regional conflict, particularly because of the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments.

Financial Pressure on Iran

The planned sanctions would expand the use of so-called secondary sanctions, which can penalize foreign companies, banks and other institutions that conduct certain business with Iran even when those entities are not based in the United States.

Bessent said the campaign would initially focus on banks and could increasingly target institutions that help Iran move money through the international financial system. The Treasury secretary’s announcement represents a further expansion of the administration’s economic campaign against Tehran.

The United States has already broadened the range of Iranian economic activities that could expose foreign businesses to secondary sanctions, including sectors such as digital assets, gold, technology, aviation and shipping.

Last week, the Treasury Department launched what it described as an unprecedented campaign against Iranian financial networks, targeting channels used by Tehran to generate revenue, evade sanctions and finance activities opposed by Washington.

Military Tensions Add to Economic Pressure

The new sanctions strategy comes as diplomatic and military tensions continue to worsen. The U.S. military said its strike on Larak Island was aimed at preventing Iran from deploying sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has rejected the U.S. justification and warned that it would respond to further attacks.

Following the Iranian missile launches toward U.S. forces in Jordan, Trump said the United States would respond strongly. Reuters reported that the exchange of attacks represents a renewed escalation after a period in which the two sides had avoided direct military confrontation.

The conflict has also affected global energy markets. Brent crude oil futures settled more than 2.5% higher on Monday after the latest U.S.-Iran military exchanges, reflecting renewed concerns over the security of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Pressure on Iran’s Financial Lifelines

The Trump administration has increasingly focused on Iran’s financial networks as part of its broader strategy to weaken Tehran’s ability to fund its government, military and regional activities.

The planned weekly sanctions would represent a significant escalation because foreign financial institutions could face increasing pressure to choose between maintaining business relationships with Iran and retaining access to the U.S.-dominated international financial system.

For Iran, the measures could further complicate access to foreign currency, international banking services and overseas trade. For the United States and its allies, however, the strategy carries its own risks, particularly if increased economic pressure contributes to further military escalation or disruption of global energy supplies.

With the United States preparing additional sanctions and military tensions rising, the coming days could determine whether the latest confrontation remains limited or develops into a broader regional crisis.

Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC — President Donald Trump on Monday announced new agreements with nine pharmaceutical manufacturers aimed at lowering prescription drug prices for Americans, expanding his administration’s effort to tie U.S. drug prices to the lower prices paid in other developed countries.

The White House said the agreements bring the total number of pharmaceutical manufacturers participating in the administration’s Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) drug-pricing program to 26, covering about 89% of the branded-drug market.

The nine companies joining the latest agreements are Alcon, Astellas Pharma, BeOne Medicines, BridgeBio, CSL, Kyowa Kirin, Sun Pharma, Teva Pharmaceuticals and UCB.

Under the agreements, the companies will provide MFN pricing to state Medicaid programs across the United States on eligible medicines. The White House said the deals cover drugs used to treat a range of serious and chronic conditions, including hemophilia, Parkinson’s disease, macular degeneration, glaucoma, liver disease, skin conditions and cancer.

The administration’s MFN strategy seeks to align prices paid in the United States with the lowest prices paid by comparable developed nations.

$19.6 Billion U.S. Manufacturing Investment

The new agreements also include commitments to strengthen pharmaceutical manufacturing in the United States. According to the White House, the nine companies have collectively committed to invest at least $19.6 billion in U.S. manufacturing in the near term.

Several companies have additionally agreed to provide active pharmaceutical ingredients to the federal government’s Strategic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Reserve, which is intended to strengthen domestic pharmaceutical supply chains and reduce dependence on foreign sources.

UCB, for example, will contribute 163 tons of levetiracetam, a drug used to control and prevent seizures. Sun Pharma will contribute supplies of the antibiotics clindamycin and doxycycline, while Teva will provide metronidazole and amlodipine. Astellas will contribute tacrolimus, an immunosuppressant used to help prevent organ rejection following transplants.

Administration Projects Major Savings

The White House says patients have already saved more than $700 million through TrumpRx, the administration’s prescription-drug discount platform, since its launch in February.

The administration also says more than 500,000 seniors have saved a combined $216 million since July through a program offering certain GLP-1 obesity medicines for $50 a month to seniors without coverage for those drugs.

The White House’s Council of Economic Advisers estimates that the administration’s broader MFN agreements could generate approximately $600 billion in savings over the next decade. That figure is an administration estimate rather than an independently verified projection.

Part of Trump’s Broader Drug-Pricing Push

Trump ordered his administration in May 2025 to pursue Most-Favored-Nation pricing for prescription medicines, seeking to bring U.S. prices closer to those paid in other developed countries.

The administration subsequently reached agreements with major pharmaceutical manufacturers, including Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Novartis, Sanofi and others.

Trump launched TrumpRx.gov in February 2026 as part of the administration’s effort to make lower-priced medicines available directly to American consumers through participating manufacturers and pharmacies.

Reuters reported Monday that the latest agreements include a mix of international pharmaceutical companies and smaller biotechnology firms, expanding the program beyond the large drugmakers that participated in earlier rounds.

The new agreements come as prescription-drug affordability remains a major issue for American consumers and as the Trump administration prepares for the November midterm elections.

The White House is also calling on Congress to advance what it describes as the “Great Healthcare Plan,” which the administration says would seek to lower drug prices and insurance premiums while increasing price transparency.

For Americans, the practical impact of Monday’s agreements will depend on which medicines receive the new pricing arrangements, when the lower prices take effect and how the discounts are implemented through Medicaid and participating drug programs. The White House announcement marks the latest and one of the largest expansions of Trump’s MFN drug-pricing initiative since it began in 2025.

Shibbir Ahmed, HOUSTON, Texas — President Donald Trump awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the four astronauts of NASA’s Artemis II mission Friday, honoring their historic journey around the Moon and their contribution to the future of human space exploration.

Trump presented the medals to NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, during a ceremony at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. NASA confirmed that the four astronauts received the nation’s highest space honor for their service during the Artemis II mission.

The Artemis II crew made history earlier this year by becoming the first humans in more than five decades to travel around the Moon. During the mission, the astronauts traveled farther from Earth than any humans had previously gone, testing NASA’s Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System ahead of future crewed lunar missions.

The crew consisted of Mission Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen.

During the ceremony, Wiseman emphasized that the achievement belonged not only to the four astronauts but also to their families, NASA teams and the international community that supported the mission.

The Congressional Space Medal of Honor was authorized by Congress in 1969 to recognize astronauts whose exceptional service and achievements have made significant contributions to the welfare of the nation and humanity.

Trump Announces U.S. Space Academy

The medal ceremony was also accompanied by another major announcement about America’s future in space. Trump signed an executive order establishing a commission to develop the nation’s first U.S. Space Academy, according to NASA. The proposed institution is intended to help develop the next generation of space professionals and support the growing needs of NASA, the U.S. Space Force and the civilian space industry.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is set to chair the commission responsible for developing the framework for the new academy. The initiative is part of the administration’s broader effort to strengthen U.S. leadership in space.

The White House described the Artemis II crew as pioneers whose mission demonstrated the United States’ continued commitment to human space exploration. The White House also released video of Trump presenting the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the crew.

The Artemis II mission is expected to serve as a foundation for subsequent Artemis missions aimed at returning astronauts to the lunar surface and establishing a sustained human presence around and on the Moon.

Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald J. Trump has signed an executive order establishing a Presidential Commission to develop plans for a proposed United States Space Academy, a NASA-led federal academy designed to train future leaders in space exploration, national security, science and technology. The order describes space as a critical domain for U.S. national security, economic growth, scientific discovery and technological innovation. It calls for greater opportunities to educate and develop the next generation of astronauts, scientists, engineers, operators, entrepreneurs, civil servants and military personnel.

The executive order does not immediately establish the academy as a fully operational federal institution. Instead, it creates a commission that will develop recommendations for its structure, curriculum, admissions, location and implementation.

NASA Administrator to Chair Commission

Under the order, the NASA Administrator will serve as chair of the Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy. The Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy will serve as vice chairs, while the NASA Deputy Administrator will serve as executive director.

The commission will also include senior officials or their designees from the Department of War, the White House, the Office of Management and Budget, the National Security Council and the Department of the Air Force. The chair may invite additional federal employees to participate in the commission.

Commission Given 120 Days

The commission has been directed to submit a report to the President within 120 days of the executive order. The report will recommend how the proposed academy should be organized and governed, including its legal authority, accreditation and relationship with federal agencies. The commission must specifically evaluate the possibility of establishing the Space Academy within NASA.

Curriculum and Leadership Training

The proposed academy is envisioned as an institution combining rigorous technical education with leadership development, discipline and public service. The commission will recommend potential degree programs, experiential training and leadership-development programs. According to the order, the goal is to develop a professional corps of leaders capable of advancing U.S. interests across the space domain.

Military and Federal Service Could Be Required

The commission will also examine whether graduates should be subject to service obligations. Those recommendations must address potential service in the U.S. Armed Forces as well as civilian federal service. The order does not establish a specific service requirement. Instead, it directs the commission to determine how such obligations could work and under what conditions they would be fulfilled.

Admission Requirements Under Review

The commission will recommend prerequisites for applicants, including possible requirements involving U.S. citizenship, Security clearances, Government employment and Military status. The final admission requirements have not yet been established.

Location Has Not Been Selected

The permanent location of the proposed Space Academy also remains undecided. The commission will develop a process for selecting a physical location appropriate to the academy’s eventual governance structure. The commission is also directed to identify opportunities for pilot programs, partnerships and other initiatives that could advance the academy’s objectives before its permanent establishment.

Congressional Action May Be Needed

The commission must identify any legislation necessary to implement its recommendations. After the President approves the commission’s recommendations, and after any required legislative action, the NASA Administrator will coordinate with other federal agencies to implement the plan, subject to existing law and available funding.

The executive order therefore represents the beginning of a process to establish the United States Space Academy rather than the immediate creation of a fully operational academy. The administration says the initiative is intended to strengthen the U.S. space workforce and ensure that the country continues to lead in space exploration, technology and national security.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington, D.C.: Nearly two dozen Democratic-led states have filed a new lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to restrict mail-in voting. The lawsuit was filed against the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

The legal action seeks to block the Trump administration’s new rules governing mail-in ballots before the midterm elections scheduled for November. Under the new rules, envelopes containing mail-in ballots must meet specific design and barcode standards, while states would also be required to provide USPS with lists of eligible voters.

The states argue that the new USPS rules interfere with their constitutional authority over elections. They also warn that implementing changes so close to the midterm elections could create significant administrative and logistical challenges for voters and election officials.

In an earlier case involving the same issue, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trump administration. However, the court did not make a final determination on whether Trump’s order itself was lawful. Instead, it lifted a lower-court injunction after finding that the earlier lawsuit had been filed prematurely.

The new lawsuit involves 23 states, the District of Columbia, and the governor of Pennsylvania. The case was filed in a federal court in Massachusetts. The Trump administration, meanwhile, says the new rules are intended to strengthen the security of mail-in voting. The states, however, are concerned that the new requirements could disrupt the mail-voting process during the November elections.

The key issue: With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, a new legal battle has emerged between the Trump administration and Democratic-led states over control of mail-in voting. The dispute could eventually return to the Supreme Court.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington, D.C.: The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has formally submitted a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress for review. However, the Trump administration remains firm that Saudi Arabia must normalize relations with Israel and join the Abraham Accords as part of the broader agreement.

Under the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, the agreement is now subject to congressional review. Congress has 90 days to review and potentially reject the agreement. If Congress does not pass a joint resolution of disapproval during that period, the agreement could take effect.

Last month, U.S. and Saudi energy officials signed the agreement in Washington. Under the deal, U.S. companies would be able to participate in the development of Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear program. The proposed agreement could remain in effect for 30 years.

However, the Trump administration’s condition regarding Israel has created new uncertainty over the future of the agreement. Saudi Arabia has long maintained that it would want to see credible progress toward the establishment of a Palestinian state before normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, has opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The agreement has also raised concerns among some members of Congress and nuclear nonproliferation experts. In particular, there are concerns that allowing Saudi Arabia to pursue uranium enrichment in the future could increase the risk of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

The key issue: The Trump administration wants to advance long-term civilian nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia while linking the agreement to its broader diplomatic goal of normalizing Saudi-Israeli relations. The agreement’s next steps will therefore depend on both Congressional review in Washington and Riyadh’s position on normalization with Israel.