🧊 8(a) on thin ice

Lawmakers are tightening the screws on Golden Dome, requiring the Pentagon to deliver a full spending plan, system architecture, and regular updates after billions were approved with too few details. With $13.4B on the line for FY26, Congress wants transparency…and details.

The DOD continues operating under frequent continuing resolutions, creating uncertainty, delaying programs, increasing costs, and adding administrative burdens. While the exact impact is hard to quantify, DOD officials consistently report that CRs hinder mission execution and readiness.

Congress voiced support for accelerating DOD acquisitions but emphasized that speed must not compromise cost, performance, or oversight. Lawmakers cautioned that the department should resolve internal delays and improve justification in reprogramming requests before seeking additional budget flexibility or statutory changes.

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The latest DHS spending measure reinforces staffing across CISA, FEMA, and the Secret Service, enabling critical hiring, reversing planned workforce reductions, and supporting major recruiting initiatives. A steady, pragmatic investment to ensure these agencies remain fully equipped for their operational demands.

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NASA has approved three advanced science payloads—EMILIA‑3D, LISTER, and SELINE—for lunar delivery no earlier than 2028, each designed to deepen understanding of the Moon’s terrain, thermal activity, and radiation environment.

Congress has extended two expired cybersecurity laws, including the 2015 Cybersecurity and Information Sharing Act and the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, through FY26 as part of a $1.2T funding deal. The move sustains threat‑sharing and local cyber support, but long‑term reauthorization remains unresolved.

The House approved two final appropriations packages—a broader funding bill and a DHS measure—sending both to the Senate ahead of the Jan. 30 deadline. With last year’s prolonged shutdown still fresh, lawmakers are moving quickly to avoid another lapse in federal operations.

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BigBear.ai’s acquisition of CargoSeer’s AI inspection technology strengthens its support for customs agencies by enhancing non‑intrusive cargo screening, accelerating high‑risk shipment detection, and improving overall inspection efficiency.

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A) The U.S. Virgin Islands — The U.S. purchased the islands from Denmark in 1917 for $25 million in gold, largely for strategic naval reasons during World War I. (Source)