Hegseth to lead new Pentagon advisory board on Homeland Defense

The new board will consist of up to 20 members, including the secretary of defense, who will serve as chair; the assistant secretary of defense for Homeland Defense and Americas Security Affairs as vice chair; and the deputy assistant secretaries of defense for Homeland Defense and Defense Continuity and Mission Assurance.

By Misty Severi

Published: September 21, 2026 8:22pm

War Secretary Pete Hegseth will lead a new Pentagon advisory board that will oversee a blend of homeland security and defense, according to a Federal Register notice.

The Homeland Defense Board, which was first reported by Defense News on Monday, will fill what the Pentagon sees as a gap in the “specific, integrated advice” the secretary needs to defend the homeland, which is not available through alternative sources.

“While other agencies and departments operate within specific mission or geographic areas, their advisory mechanisms are statutorily constrained to their respective non-military domains,” the panel’s establishing documents read. “Relying solely on internal DoW staff or contracted studies is also insufficient, as it fails to provide the consensus-based, independent, and external peer review required at the highest levels of strategic decision-making.”

The new board will consist of up to 20 members, including the secretary of defense, who will serve as chair; the assistant secretary of defense for Homeland Defense and Americas Security Affairs as vice chair; and the deputy assistant secretaries of defense for Homeland Defense and Defense Continuity and Mission Assurance.

One civilian and one field- or mid-grade officer from each military branch and “such other members as the SecWar or the Deputy Secretary of War may appoint or designate," will also serve on the board.

The board's creation comes after Hegseth cut all members of existing Pentagon advisory panels last year after he ordered a 45-day “zero-based review” to determine if the roughly 40 such committees were aligned with the Trump administration’s policy priorities.

The review recommended cutting 14 different defense advisory groups, including the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, which was first established in 1951.

https://justthenews.com/government/security/hegseth-lead-new-pentagon-advisory-board-homeland-defense

Remember back when, that it was mentioned that there would be televised confessions? We know that the MSM would never broadcast it. Now, Trump TV makes perfect sense. Who here wants to hear televised confessions?

>>25063270

anon knows of someone on #19 now.

>>25063289

>Thats ridiculous.

anon completely agrees with you.

Donald J. Trump / @realDonaldTrump 09/21/2026 23:19:27

Truth Social: 117312531137546490

Keep the lights on, sideline Big Brother: Trump EPA rollback could save ratepayers $310 billion:

https://justthenews.com/government/federal-agencies/trumps-epa-gets-action-roots-out-30-billion-waste-fraud-and-abuse

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117312531137546490

>>25063310

Keep the lights on, sideline Big Brother: Trump EPA rollback could save ratepayers $310 billion

Republican officials and fossil-fuel advocates have long argued that Biden-era climate rules threatened coal plants, new gas generation and export projects, even as U.S. crude output and dry natural gas production would go on to set records. The EPA said it will save taxpayers $310 billion through 2047.

By Amanda Head

Published: September 21, 2026 11:06pm

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a repeal of nearly all the Biden administration’s 2024 Carbon Pollution Standards for greenhouse gas emissions from coal and gas-fired power plants, an action the agency said would save taxpayers $310 billion through 2047.

"Costs will go down for consumers on their electric bills, and it will also mean that electric generators can invest money into the electric grid, into ensuring grid stability, so that when folks need the lights to stay on, that they will stay on, and that electricity will be there when it's needed most for businesses, for hospitals, for families across the country," EPA deputy administrator David Fatouhi told Just The News.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the rule at the G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial in Houston, saying the 2024 standards exceeded Clean Air Act authority by relying on carbon-capture technology that was not adequately demonstrated and by ignoring the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling in West Virginia v. EPA.

The agency simultaneously proposed eliminating all remaining power-sector greenhouse gas standards, projecting an extra $370 million in direct compliance savings. EPA officials said coal production for electricity could rise more than tenfold and that the changes would lower electricity prices and restore baseload reliability.

LNG got parked while methane got billed under Biden

Republican officials and fossil-fuel groups have long argued that Biden-era climate rules threatened coal plants, new gas generation and export projects, even as U.S. crude output and dry natural gas production would later set records.

The centerpiece was the EPA’s 2024 Carbon Pollution Standards, which required many existing coal units and new baseload gas plants to cut carbon deeply, often via carbon capture, or retire. Coal advocates said the rule would force widespread plant closures as electricity demand rose. The Trump EPA this month repealed most of that package and projected $310 billion in savings.

Other measures drew similar fire. A 2023-24 methane rule and Inflation Reduction Act waste emissions charge raised compliance costs for oil and gas operators. Tightened Mercury and Air Toxics Standards were estimated to cost the power sector hundreds of millions of dollars. In January 2024 the Energy Department paused new LNG export permits pending a climate review; a federal judge later ordered reviews resumed.

Industry groups and advocates warned that the stack of rules chilled investment and grid reliability.

Winter is coming, and so is the risk

Many regions of the country are transitioning through fall with winter on the close horizon, when U.S. power and natural gas systems must heat homes and businesses at the same time, which is why debates over greenhouse gas limits on coal and gas-fired plants have immediate reliability stakes.

The rule changes will affect the entire country because of the grid's interconnectedness, according to Fatouhi: "We anticipate the benefit will be across the country because, of course, the electric grid is across state lines and is very interconnected, of course. And so, when we can get more generation online in one part of the country, it helps everyone."

The North American Electric Reliability Corp. said in its 2025–26 winter assessment that peak demand has risen about 20 gigawatts and that prolonged cold can still leave some regions short of energy.

Past winters show the risk. In February 2021, Winter Storm Uri caused widespread blackouts in Texas after gas production froze and generating units tripped. Austin's Fox affiliate reported that the state estimated that Winter Storm Uri directly contributed to the deaths of more than 200 Texans and caused billions of dollars in damage.

Grid operators in ERCOT and the Southwest Power Pool ordered load shedding. A 2014 polar vortex strained the Midwest and East. New England remains vulnerable when pipeline capacity is tight.

Industry groups argued Biden-era carbon-capture rules would force plant retirements, so with these latest rule changes, customers can presumably rely on energy going into winter more than in recent years.

https://justthenews.com/government/federal-agencies/trumps-epa-gets-action-roots-out-30-billion-waste-fraud-and-abuse

>>25063310

Donald J. Trump / @realDonaldTrump 09/21/2026 23:26:49

Truth Social: 117312560106447861

Schoenlaw / @Schoenlaw 09/17/2026 09:50:34

Truth Social: 117286701272925228

wsj.com/opinion/americans-hous. The writer tries to make excuses to explain this great news but the facts are the facts: Americans are doing better financially and the poverty level is dramatically down! Let’s give credit where it is due and celebrate good news for our country and fellow Americans!!! @realDonaldTrump

Donald J. Trump reTruthed…

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117312560106447861

>>25063323

>>>RED OCTOBER<<<

CBP intercepts vessel with 13 Chinese nationals on board off the coast of Florida: Report

Officials told the outlet that the 27-foot boat was carrying nearly two dozen foreign nationals, including 13 Chinese nationals, and that all passengers were taken into custody without incident last week.

By Misty Severi

Published: September 21, 2026 10:00pm

Updated: September 21, 2026 10:25pm

Customs and Border Protection officials reportedly intercepted a smuggling vessel off the coast of Florida that carried foreign nationals, including over a dozen Chinese nationals, Fox News reported on Monday.

Officials told the outlet that the 27-foot boat was carrying nearly two dozen foreign nationals, including 13 Chinese nationals, and that all passengers were taken into custody without incident last week.

The interdiction, which was also carried out by Coast Guard personnel, resulted in the apprehension of one suspected smuggler, one Cuban national, 13 Chinese nationals, eight Ecuadorian nationals and one Dominican national.

Sources told Fox News that it is rare for Chinese nationals to attempt to enter the U.S. through maritime Caribbean routes that are typically used by Haitians, Dominicans and Cubans and often used land routes in California and Texas.

Officials said the illegal immigrants were transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Pablo Valent for processing and authorities seized the vessel.

The incident comes after the Coast Guard interdicted a vessel carrying 25 Chinese nationals attempting to illegally enter the United States a mile south of Key Biscayne, Florida, in June.

https://justthenews.com/government/security/cbp-intercepts-vessel-13-chinese-nationals-board-coast-florida

Americans Are Getting Richer*

The Census Bureau says median incomes rose in 2025, though many had to work more hours.

By The Editorial Board

Sept. 16, 2026 5:39 pm ET

Most Americans got richer last year, at least by statistical measures, according to the Census Bureau’s annual income and poverty report. The median inflation-adjusted household income rose 2.6% in 2025 to a record $87,460. But the report’s details also show why so many Americans feel glum about the economy.

The Census Bureau’s annual report released Tuesday provides an economic snapshot in time. The look-back on 2025 doesn’t account for most of last summer’s tax cuts and the recent surge in energy prices from the Iran war. But it does show that, as of last year, inflation-adjusted incomes for most Americans had surpassed pre-pandemic levels.

One reason is Americans worked more. The number of men working full-time grew 1.3 million, and by 800,000 for women. However, the total number of workers increased by much less—230,000 for men and 130,000 for women. This suggests that part-time workers increased their hours, perhaps because wages weren’t keeping pace with inflation.

Median earnings for full-time male workers fell $690, while rising $1,900 for full-time female workers. The gender pay gap fell as a result, though declining earnings for men isn’t a cause for celebration. One culprit may be a slowing labor market in manufacturing last year, alongside continued strong job and wage growth in services that employ relatively more women.

In any case, the overall increase in incomes drove the poverty rate to an historic low of 10.2%. The childhood poverty rate also declined by one percentage point to 13.4%. Although the so-called supplemental poverty rate—which takes into account transfer payments and geographical disparities in housing costs—stayed roughly flat at 13.1%, that’s largely because higher earnings reduced welfare. That’s good.

One caveat: President Trump’s deportations may have inflated median incomes by reducing the number of lower-wage workers. The Census Bureau reported a 10.6% decline in the number of workers with no high school diploma—equal to about one million workers. No wonder restaurants can’t find employees.

At the same time, the number of workers with a college degree or higher last year increased by 1.8 million, while their median earnings declined 1.1% By contrast, earnings for high school grads increased 5.5%. This seems to be more evidence that too many young people are going to college, and not enough are training for trades that pay well.

Even so, lower- and middle-income Americans have suffered the brunt of inflation. Since 2019, pre-tax inflation-adjusted incomes have increased by a mere 0.6% for the bottom 10th percentile ($110), versus 3% ($5,400) for those at the 80th percentile and 5.6% at the 95th percentile ($18,700). The data doesn’t include capital gains, which have mostly benefited higher earners who own assets as individuals rather than in tax-free retirement accounts.

These disparities are smaller after adjusting for income transfers and taxes. Americans in the 95th percentile paid on average $85,700 in income and payroll tax, while those at the 10th percentile gained $130 on net from tax credits. Adding the value of other transfer payments like Medicaid would further reduce the income differences.

Still, a large share of Americans have experienced stagnating real incomes since the pandemic. Joe Biden’s inflation and its persistence is the biggest culprit, but the Federal Reserve is on that case (see nearby).

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/americans-household-income-2025-census-bureau-2e2a9e36

What kind of cloud formation is that above NYC?

https://truthsocial.com/@WhiteHouse/posts/117312046524085637

Donald J. Trump / @realDonaldTrump 09/22/2026 00:00:52

Truth Social: 117312693997244079

Thanks Johnny. You are a total winner! President DJT

SPORTS MLB Legend Johnny Damon Refuses To Apologize For His Opinion on President Trump: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/article317314631.html

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