U.S. Department of Energy · Original source
The U.S. Department of Energy awarded contracts for an exchange of more than 40 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, completing its commitment to release 172 million barrels as part of a coordinated 400-million-barrel International Energy Agency action. DOE said more than 216 million barrels will be returned to the reserve from early next year. The oil will come from the Big Hill and Bryan Mound sites.
Office of Governor Kathy Hochul · Original source
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced construction is complete on Edwards Vacuum's $319 million dry pump manufacturing facility at the STAMP site in the town of Alabama, Genesee County. The 240,000-square-foot plant can produce 10,000 semiconductor dry pumps a year. Empire State Development awarded up to $21 million in tax credits tied to creating up to 600 jobs, and the New York Power Authority is supplying low-cost hydropower.
U.S. Department of State · Original source
The U.S. Department of State said it has taken steps in the past week to impose visa restrictions on more than 15 individuals involved in organizing, facilitating or promoting recent migrant caravans travelling through Central America and Mexico toward the U.S. southern border. The action applies an existing policy restricting visas for people believed to knowingly facilitate illegal immigration. The department said others involved will be considered for similar restrictions.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Original source
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs plans to hire more than 2,000 employees in fiscal year 2027 to process a record number of expected benefits claims. VA received more than 3.15 million claims submissions in fiscal 2026, up 80% from fiscal 2022, and processed a record 3.1 million compensation and pension claims. The department already has more than 13,000 claims staff and is recruiting veterans and transitioning service members.
Office of Governor Greg Abbott · Original source
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission plans to award $87 million in Rural Texas Strong grants to 129 rural healthcare providers. The funding comes from a $281 million first-year award under the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Rural Health Transformation Program. The state expects an estimated $1.4 billion in federal rural health funding over five years, with further awards announced weekly.
Office of Governor Gavin Newsom · Original source
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that authorities have seized or destroyed more than 139,000 pounds of illicit cannabis worth over $230 million so far in 2026. Third-quarter operations by the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force removed more than $91 million in cannabis, eradicated 108,226 plants and led to 14 arrests across nine counties. Since the task force began in 2022, seizures have exceeded $1.47 billion.
U.S. Department of Justice · Original source
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the first charges from Operation Ghostbusters, a nationwide investigation into fraudulent federal student aid applications filed for so-called ghost students using stolen identities. Five defendants were charged in New Jersey, Virginia and Nebraska, and more than $750,000 in cryptocurrency linked to a Kenyan network was seized. Officials estimate the fraud, ongoing since at least 2021, exceeds $200 million, with more than 40 open cases.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Original source
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security suspended visa-free travel for Chinese nationals to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program, citing birth tourism and national security concerns. The program had allowed stays of up to 14 days without a visa. Chinese visitors must now obtain B-1 or B-2 visas, and existing travel authorizations will be canceled while DHS, State and Interior review the program.
