Topic: congressional action
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NASA's Science Budget Avoids Drastic Cuts
Congress approved a final NASA science budget for FY 2026 with only a 1% cut, rejecting a proposed 50% reduction and safeguarding core missions. The $7.25 billion allocation followed intense advocacy and is considered a major victory, though it does not reverse earlier workforce reductions. The o...
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Neutron's Pad Opens, SpaceX's Falcon 9 Cleared for Launch
Congress opposes the Trump administration's plan to retire the Space Launch System rocket after Artemis III, signaling a potential conflict over NASA's deep space exploration future. Israel successfully launched the Ofek 19 satellite, an advanced synthetic aperture radar observation satellite, us...
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Texas App Store Age Verification Law Blocked by Judge
A federal judge has blocked a Texas law requiring app stores to verify user ages, issuing a preliminary injunction and indicating the law likely violates First Amendment free speech protections. The law, part of a novel state legislative model, would have made app stores like Apple's and Google's...
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U.S. Solar System Leadership at a Critical Turning Point
Federal funding for 19 active NASA missions is at risk due to impending budget cuts, threatening studies of Earth's climate, solar system exploration, and cosmic research. The White House has proposed a 25% cut to NASA's overall budget, with nearly 50% reductions to the Science Mission Directorat...
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Trump's AI Order: 'One Rulebook' or Startup Limbo?
A new executive order aims to establish a single national AI regulatory framework by challenging state laws, but critics warn it creates prolonged legal uncertainty for startups instead. The order directs federal agencies to contest state rules and explore federal standards, but it does not itsel...
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Budget Cuts Threaten Future Drug Development, Study Finds
Proposed federal budget cuts of 40% to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) would eliminate research grants historically responsible for nearly half of all new medicines, undermining future drug development. A retrospective analysis found that approximately half of newly approved drugs relied ...
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Data Center Construction Moratorium Gains Momentum
Over 230 environmental and public interest groups are demanding a nationwide moratorium on new data center construction, citing unregulated growth driven by AI and cryptocurrency that threatens economic stability and water security. The coalition argues the industry's rapid expansion strains loca...
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House Advances New KOSA Bill to Protect Kids Online
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has introduced a package of 19 bills aimed at enhancing child safety online, potentially creating the most significant internet regulations in years and reigniting debates over online speech and platform responsibility. A revised Kids Online Safety Act (KOS...
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NASA Science Mission Spared in Budget Cuts, Others Remain at Risk
NASA's OSIRIS-APEX asteroid mission has been reinstated after facing budget cuts, securing its future to study asteroid Apophis during its close Earth flyby in 2029. The mission repurposes the healthy OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to observe Apophis, a sizable near-Earth object that poses no immediate th...
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FAA Flight Reduction Plan May Not Be as Bad as Feared
The FAA plans to reduce flights by 10% at 40 of the busiest U.S. airports due to air traffic controller shortages and security delays caused by the ongoing government shutdown, which has left federal employees unpaid for 35 days. Flight cancellations will be data-driven to alleviate pressure whil...
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Tesla's Cybercab May Feature a Steering Wheel
Tesla's Cybercab may retain a steering wheel and pedals to comply with federal safety standards and avoid regulatory delays, despite being designed as a fully autonomous vehicle. Regulatory challenges, including a potential production cap of 2,500 vehicles annually without an exemption, could hin...
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