U.S. Congress

Procurement of the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation T-7 trainer is set to begin in fiscal 2025, but at half the number originally expected.

The service announced last month it would cancel the FARA program after spending $2 billion on development of competitive prototypes from Bell and Sikorsky.

The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps will reduce its buy of Lockheed Martin F-35s in the soon-to-be-released fiscal 2025 budget request.

The USAF may have to convert some F-35s with outdated avionics to combat roles due to the ongoing, “deeply concerning” delays with software certification.

The Pentagon will lift its more than 90-day grounding of the Bell Boeing V-22 tiltrotor fleet, the head of a House committee investigating the aircraft announced March 6.

NASA’s Planetary Science Division is hopeful it can craft a new operating plan for the Mars Sample Return mission by July.

A compromise appropriations bill for fiscal 2024 keeps most funding for NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration initiative intact.

GlobalFoundries (GF) has been awarded $1.5 billion through the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act that will be used to manufacture secure chips.

Washington has recently determined how Russia will attempt to field a new ASAT capability that analysts have been secretly tracking for several years.

Rep. Larsen, ranking member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, expressed optimism that Congress can pass FAA reauthorization legislation.

The U.S. Air Force is planning to use newly provided authority to jump-start two major acquisition programs ahead of budgetary authorization.

Lockheed Martin expects growing international demand to keep its F-35 production line running at pace amid a potential reduction in U.S. buys of the aircraft.

The FAA reauthorization proposal moving through the Senate is on course to set up showdowns with the House on several hot-button issues.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) urged its membership Feb. 7 to press U.S. senators for affordable access to public-use airports.

The U.S. Army is interested in expanding its ability to provide multiyear contracts to industry.

The lack of fiscal 2024 appropriations will have a substantial impact on U.S. Space Force operations unless Congress can approve a new spending bill.

The congressional notification released on Jan. 26 by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency clears Croatia to move forward with the $500 million purchase.

The National Business Aviation Association is encouraging members to contact the Senate leaders to request that they pass the bill.

An unusual level of suspense comes with Lockheed Martin’s first quarterly status update on the F-35 program.

The latest delays in NASA’s Artemis lunar program signal deep-seated cost and technical issues as well as a lack of sufficient oversight that must be addressed.

“I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better,” Austin said in a Jan. 6 statement.

NASA’s ISS oversight has been authorized by Congress through the end of fiscal 2030.

The White House on Dec. 27 announced a final package of $250 million in military aid to Ukraine under current authorities.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) lifted the last of his remaining holds on Pentagon military nominees on Dec. 19.

It is the second three-month extension passed by Congress since Sept. 30 in place of a long-term FAA reauthorization bill.