Horizon cutting-room links: Monday, 4 August 2025

"Pentagon Awards $7.8B in Contracts for Hundreds of New Missiles," Air & Space Forces Magazine

The Pentagon has awarded a combined $7.8 billion in contracts for new missiles, including deals with Lockheed Martin and RTX marking a shift toward multiyear procurement of munitions, aimed at enhancing production capacity and ensuring national security.

• The Pentagon's contracts include $4.3 billion for Lockheed Martin's Joint Air-To-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and $3.5 billion for RTX's Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), with production expected to span several years.
• Lockheed’s JASSM contract will supply hundreds of missiles to the US Air Force and Navy, as well as international partners including Poland and Japan, while the AMRAAM contract will support a wide array of allies and enhance air superiority.
• Recent Congressional measures, including a $1.3 billion allocation for LRASMs and a $525 million boost for AMRAAMs, underscore the urgency to replenish missile stockpiles and expand production capacities in response to increasing global threats and diminishing supplies.

"OMB to cut the red tape to make Do Not Pay list more robust," Federal News Network

OMB is enhance the effectiveness of the Do Not Pay database by addressing systemic issues and encouraging better data input from agencies.

• The OMB plans to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles that have hindered the effective use of the Do Not Pay database, which provides critical data to prevent improper payments related to deceased individuals and ineligible entities.
• Senior advisor Stephen Billy emphasized the need for agencies to better connect their programs to the Do Not Pay system and suggested that private sector identity management tools could help target high-risk transactions, moving away from a blanket approach to payment processing.
• OMB is also modernizing financial management systems across agencies, with a focus on reducing the number of core financial systems and eliminating the use of paper checks, which cost the government significantly in inefficiencies.

"Corporation for Public Broadcasting, funder of NPR and PBS, says it will end operations within months after federal budget cuts," CBS News

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced it will begin winding down operations following the elimination of its federal funding, a move prompted by the Trump administration and Congress. This decision has profound implications for public media in the US, particularly for NPR and PBS, which rely heavily on CPB funding.

• The CPB will begin winding down operations after losing federal funding, which has been a critical financial source for public media since its establishment in 1967.
• President Trump's executive order and subsequent congressional actions have resulted in the first elimination of CPB funding in over 50 years, threatening the operational viability of many public radio and television stations.
• NPR's President Katherine Maher emphasized that defunding could jeopardize public safety, as many local stations play vital roles in emergency response and information dissemination during natural disasters.

"After D.C. Plane Crash, Air Traffic Controllers Were Not Tested for Alcohol," New York Times

In the tragic plane crash involving a Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial jet, which resulted in 67 fatalities, serious procedural failures regarding alcohol and drug testing of air traffic controllers have come to light. Investigations reveal that controllers on duty at the time were not tested for alcohol, and drug testing was significantly delayed, raising concerns about the adherence to FAA protocols.

• Air traffic controllers on duty during the deadly crash were never tested for alcohol, contravening FAA rules that require testing within two hours of an incident involving fatalities or significant damage.
• The controllers were initially allowed to go home and were only informed of the need for drug and alcohol testing 18 hours later, missing critical testing windows.
• FAA officials acknowledged procedural lapses and committed to training staff to ensure prompt testing following serious incidents, although board members criticized the ongoing failures in this process since previous similar incidents.

"S. Korea stands firm as Google, Apple push to export sensitive map data," Reuters-Yonhap

South Korea remains resolute in protecting national security by excluding high precision map data exports from negotiations with US tech giants Google and Apple. Both companies argue that access to this data is crucial for their mapping services, particularly in relation to autonomous vehicles and urban planning.

• The Korean government excluded high-precision map data export discussions from recent Korea-US tariff negotiations, signaling a commitment to national security over trade considerations.
• Google and Apple have made repeated requests for access to South Korea's 1:5,000-scale map data, citing its necessity for comprehensive mapping services, yet face pushback due to concerns over potential security breaches.
• A government panel, including representatives from eight ministries, is set to deliberate on the export of sensitive map data amid calls for a more robust legal framework governing such data sharing, highlighting the tension between security and economic interests.

"I’ll Miss My Passport Stamps," Skift

The European Union's decision to phase out physical passport stamps in favor of biometric e-gates marks the end of a tactile tradition for travelers. While this change promises efficiency and security, it also eliminates the sentimental value and personal connection of collecting stamps, which serve as tangible memories of journeys and cultural exchanges.

• The end of an era: The European Union is transitioning to biometric e-gates, eliminating the need for physical passport stamps, which have been a travel staple since the 1800s.
• Cultural significance: Passport stamps have historically represented not just a record of travel but also a form of soft power, influencing perceptions of countries based on ease of entry and the experience of crossing borders.
• Personal memories: Each stamp serves as a reminder of unique travel experiences and encounters, building a mosaic of personal history that e-gates cannot replicate, leaving many nostalgic for the tactile connection to their journeys.