LND topic: veterans-affairs-committee page 1

veterans affairs committee

Shutting Down Science’s Council: A New Trend

April 26, 2026

In a surprising move, President Trump ended the tenure of several scientists on the National Science Board (NSB), the independent group that helps steer the nation’s $9 billion basic science agency. The dismissal came via a terse email from the White House, thanking them for service and ending their

opinion

Public Lands in Peril: A New Budget Threatens Jobs, History and Nature

April 26, 2026

The Interior Department’s latest budget plan targets many public‑land agencies. It would cut almost 3, 000 National Park Service jobs and remove thousands more from the Land Management, Geological Survey, Wildlife Service and Indian Affairs. Last year Congress stopped similar cuts, but the adm

politics

Russia’s Strain: War, Sanctions, and a Workforce on the Edge

April 26, 2026

Russia’s economy is showing clear signs of trouble as the war in Ukraine drags on. Policymakers in Moscow recently met to discuss shrinking capital markets and rising costs, with warnings that labor shortages could get worse. Inflation is climbing, production is slowing, and experts say the country’

politics

Fed Renovation Saga Turns into Political Showdown

April 25, 2026

When the Federal Reserve decided to refurbish two historic buildings on the National Mall, the project’s high cost and fancy features sparked a firestorm. A New York Post piece highlighted the nearly $2. 5 billion price tag and luxury touches, pushing President Trump to criticize the Fed for not cut

politics

Lancet Says No to Senate Testimony on COVID Origins

April 25, 2026

The top medical journal decided it would not give evidence to a U. S. Senate probe about where the COVID‑19 outbreak began. The editor, Richard Horton, told a news event in Barcelona that the journal would not participate in what he called an “administration that has attacked some of the foremost sc

science

Ibogaine: Hope or Hype in Mental Health?

April 25, 2026

The U. S. government is pushing ibogaine, a plant‑derived drug, as a potential cure for depression and PTSD. A health official praised it as the best treatment ever seen, but scientists warn that this claim is exaggerated. Research on ibogaine is still in its early stages. Most studies are small,

politics

House Shake‑Ups Show Ethics Can Be Enforced Fast

April 25, 2026

Congress has shown it can act quickly when members misbehave, as three lawmakers recently stepped down after serious accusations. The newest resignation came from Florida’s Sheila Cherfilus‑McCormick, a Democrat who quit just before her ethics committee vote. The panel had already found her guilty o

health

How expert advice helps speed up safe drug trials for muscle diseases

April 25, 2026

Back in 2009, a small group of experts started giving free, no-nonsense feedback to anyone trying to turn a muscle-disease idea into a real treatment. Their main job was to stop bad drugs from reaching patients too early, and to make sure good drugs had a fair shot at proving they worked. Over 15 ye

environment

A Small Whale vs Big Energy: The Fight Over the Gulf

April 25, 2026

Scientists say there are only about 50 Rice’s Whales left in the world, making them one of the most endangered marine mammals. Yet some politicians are pushing back against their protected status, claiming the whale isn’t actually endangered. A recent study suggested the Rice’s Whale might just be a

technology

Bitcoin’s Role in Cybersecurity: A Military Perspective

April 25, 2026

In 2026, a top U. S. Navy officer argued that Bitcoin’s technology could be more than just digital money—it might help protect the country. Admiral Paparo told a Senate committee that Bitcoin’s proof-of-work system, which makes transactions secure by requiring heavy computer work, could also block c