The Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency, established in 1958, is responsible for advancing the state of the art in defense science and technology. The agency’s structure, priorities and budget are discussed in a new report from the Congressional Research Service. See Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency: Overview and Issues for Congress, February 2, 2018.
(For a lively and revealing history of DARPA, see Sharon Weinberger’s recent book The Imagineers of War: The Untold Story of DARPA, the Pentagon Agency That Changed the World, Knopf, 2017.)
Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
Resolutions to Censure the President: Procedure and History, February 1, 2018
Evolving Assessments of Human and Natural Contributions to Climate Change, February 1, 2018
Real Wage Trends, 1979 to 2016, January 30, 2018
Gun Control: Concealed Carry Legislation in the 115th Congress, CRS Insight, January 30, 2018
Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador: Key Takeaways and Analysis, CRS Legal Sidebar, February 2, 2018
U.S. Foreign Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean: FY2018 Appropriations, February 5, 2018
The Balkans and Russia, CRS Insight, January 31, 2018
Iraq: In Brief, February 6, 2018
Al Qaeda and U.S. Policy: Middle East and Africa, February 5, 2018
U.S. Security Assistance and Security Cooperation Programs: Overview of Funding Trends, February 1, 2018
The 2018 National Defense Strategy, CRS Insight, February 5, 2018
The New START Treaty: Central Limits and Key Provisions, updated February 5, 2018
New Nuclear Warheads: Legislative Provisions, CRS Insight, February 5, 2018
Criminal Prohibitions on Disclosing the Identities of Covert Intelligence Assets, CRS Legal Sidebar, February 6, 2018
Moving postsecondary education data collection to the states is the best way to ensure that the U.S. Department of Education can meet its legislative mandates in an era of constrained federal resources.
Supporting children’s development through health, nutrition, education, and protection programs helps the U.S. achieve its national security and economic interests, including the Administration’s priorities to make America “safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”
To strengthen federal–state alignment, upcoming AI initiatives should include three practical measures: readiness assessments before fund distribution, outcomes-based contracting tied to student progress, and tiered implementation support reflecting district capacity.
“FAS is very pleased to see the Fix Our Forests Act, S. 1426, advance out of Committee. We urge the Senate to act quickly to pass this legislation and to ensure that federal agencies have the capacity and resourcing they need to carry out its provisions.”