Federal Announcements

The Department of War (DoW) announced today a January 30, 2026, investment of $11.8 million in Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III funds to Umicore Optical Materials USA Inc (UOM). UOM will establish new capability in Quapaw, Oklahoma, for processing materials needed for critical optical applications.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is continuing on the nationwide "Arsenal of Freedom" tour, a call to action to revitalize America's manufacturing might and re-energize the nation's workforce. The tour's message will emphasize that our national security and the peace of the world move at the speed of our Defense Industrial Base (DIB) and rely on the hard work of our American workforce.

The War Department is asking industry experts to help the department better work with the defense industrial base, eliminate bureaucratic bloat in the acquisition process and more quickly field weapons to warfighters. Through collaborations, they are actively accelerating acquisition speed, increasing manufacturing, optimizing production and strengthening supply chain resilience.

The American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States signed a historic trade deal that will drive a massive reshoring of America’s semiconductor sector. This unprecedented commitment will strengthen U.S. economic resilience, create high-paying jobs, and bolster national security.

The Department of War (DoW), working in partnership with L3Harris Technologies, announced the signing of a letter of intent outlining agreed-upon investment terms pivotal to expanding the production capacity of U.S. solid rocket motors. The announcement marks the first direct-to-supplier partnership of this kind, with the DoW committing to a $1 billion convertible preferred equity investment in L3Harris' Missile Solutions business.

STARBASE Arizona, a War Department educational program, celebrated 20 years of STEAM education outreach at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Jan. 7, recognizing two decades of service connecting students with science, technology, engineering, arts and math programs.

The warfare center's Innovation Lab strengthens readiness across the command. Employees can design, build and test ideas sooner, which helps deliver capability to the warfighter faster.

The warfare center operates two innovation labs, one at China Lake, and one at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California. Both sites offer the same equipment and training, and employees can use either location. Shared access reduces wait times and helps teams working across both installations keep projects moving

The flag symbolizing the Army's new U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command was made in two weeks by two embroiderers assigned to Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, just in time for an activation ceremony held Dec. 5 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) announces a joint $700 million conditional loan commitment with Vulcan Elements ("Vulcan") and ReElement Technologies ("ReElement") to increase domestic Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB) magnet production and significantly bolster U.S. critical minerals supply chains.

The Department of War announced today a $29.9 million a Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III award to ElementUS Minerals, LLC (ElementUSA). ElementUSA will use this award to enable the development of a demonstration facility in Gramercy, Louisiana to separate and purify gallium and scandium from existing industrial waste. The company will also conduct initial development work at their Critical Resource Accelerator in Cedar Park, Texas.