Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket lifts off on first space flight
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket successfully blasted off into orbit Thursday morning, Jan. 16. The company’s first rocket, powerful enough to launch satellites into space, took off just after 2 a.m. ET from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
All seven of its engines fired successfully.
Blue Origin marked the mission a success after demonstration technology on board the Blue Ring Pathfinder was safely carried to orbit.
However, the company did not reach its bonus goal of guiding part of the New Glenn rocket back to a safe landing on a platform in the middle of the ocean after takeoff.
Getty Images
It took rival SpaceX four tries to get a similar maneuver right.
Still, Blue Origin stressed its most important goal was for the test satellite to reach orbit. NASA intends to use the New Glenn rocket to launch two orbiters to Mars in the future.
Biden warns of ‘oligarchy’ and ‘tech-industrial complex’ in farewell speech
President Joe Biden’s farewell speech to America on Wednesday included several warnings. And a ceasefire deal to end more than a year of fighting in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas hit a snag. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
Biden warns of ‘oligarchy,’ ‘tech-industrial complex’ in farewell speech
Speaking from the Oval Office one last time, President Joe Biden delivered his farewell address Wednesday night, Jan. 15. Biden spoke on reforms he would like to see in Washington and issued a stark warning detailing his concerns about what he sees as a concentration of power among the ultra-wealthy and the risks of technology.
In what is likely his final address to the nation after a political career spanning five decades, Biden opened his speech with the ceasefire deal in Gaza announced earlier in the day. He said he kept the incoming administration fully informed during the process.
He said some of his top accomplishments in office include job growth following the pandemic, infrastructure modernization and Medicare reform, telling Americans it will take time to feel the full impact of what has been achieved.
With the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump just days away, Biden said he would ensure a peaceful transfer of power, but he did have a warning.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said. “We see the consequences all across America, and we’ve seen it before. More than a century ago, the American people stood up to the robber barons back then and busted the trusts. They didn’t punish the wealthy. They just made the wealthy play by the rules everybody else had. Workers want rights to earn their fair share.”
Referencing former President Dwight Eisenhower’s concerns about a military-industrial complex six decades ago, Biden said he’s equally concerned about the dangers of a potential rise of a tech-industrial complex.
“Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation enabling the abuse of power,” he said. “The free press is crumbling. Editors are disappearing. Social media is giving up on fact-checking. The truth is smothered by lies told for power and for profit. We must hold the social platforms accountable to protect our children, our families and our very democracy from the abuse of power.”
Biden remarked on the rise of artificial intelligence, calling it the most consequential technology of our time. He emphasized that the U.S., not China, must lead the race.
The president also spoke of his hopes for change in the nation’s capital, calling for an end of hidden funding called “dark money” from campaign contributions, a ban on stock trading from members of Congress and for the U.S. to enact an 18-year term limit on Supreme Court justices. He also called for the U.S. Constitution to be amended.
“We need to amend the Constitution to make clear that no president, no president is immune from crimes that he or she commits while in office,” Biden asserted. “The president’s power is not limit[less] — it is not absolute. And it shouldn’t be.”
In closing, Biden called on Americans to stay engaged in democracy. Telling the story of a veteran who worked at the Statue of Liberty, known as the Keeper of the Flame, he said America will always be defined by one word: “possibilities.”
“My eternal thanks to you, the American people,” Biden said. “After 50 years of public service, I give you my word, I still believe in the idea for which this nation stands [for] — a nation where the strength of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure. Now it’s your turn to stand guard. May you all be the keeper of the flame. May you keep the faith. I love America. You love it, too.”
Republicans, Democrats react to Biden’s farewell address
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wrote on X, “Joe Biden discussing democracy, a free press, institutions and the abuse of power in his final farewell speech is rich.”
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., also weighed in, writing, “Joe Biden’s going out of office the same way he went in: petty, partisan and frankly not telling the truth.”
“President Biden’s ‘farewell address’ should have been a formal apology for the endless lawfare, inflation-fueling policies and reckless decisions made during his administration,” Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida added.
Democrats responded differently.
“Tonight, President Biden delivered his farewell address to a nation that is stronger because of his leadership,” former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “In doing so, he honored the vision of founders, the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform and the aspirations of our children.”
Former President Barack Obama also responded to his former vice president.
“Four years ago, in the middle of a pandemic, we needed a leader with the character to put politics aside and do what was right. That’s what Joe Biden did… I’m grateful to Joe for his leadership, his friendship and his lifetime of service to this country we love,” Obama said.
Netanyahu says cabinet won’t meet over ceasefire deal with Hamas yet
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said his cabinet will not meet to approve the deal for a ceasefire in Gaza until Hamas ends a “last-minute crisis.” The decision comes after Netanyahu’s office said Hamas retracted on some of the terms of the agreement but did not specify which.
Even as a deal seems close or even imminent, Israeli strikes continued in the Gaza Strip, with the territory’s health ministry reporting at least 48 people killed over the past day.
Under the three-phase ceasefire agreement, fighting will stop in Gaza for 42 days. Thirty-three Israeli hostages, including two Americans, and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be freed during the first phase. It is set to go into effect Sunday, Jan. 19.
The remainder of the hostages, including Israeli male soldiers, are to be released during the second phase. Hamas said it will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal.
Israeli troops will pull back to the edges of Gaza and many Palestinians will be able to return to what remains of their homes — something many people took to the streets to celebrate. Israel is also set to allow a flood of humanitarian aid into the region.
The Associated Press reported Thursday morning that mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the U.S. will meet in Cairo on Thursday for talks on implementing the deal.
On Truth Social, Trump said his administration will continue to work closely with Israel to make sure Gaza never again becomes what he called a “terrorist safe haven.”
Crews work to control Los Angeles area wildfires as winds die down
The National Weather Service lifted the red flag warning for the Los Angeles area Wednesday night as winds died down. Strong winds have made it harder for fire crews to battle the flames.
However, dangerous fire and weather conditions are expected to return next week.
Good news: We are expecting a much-needed break from the fire weather concerns to close this week. Bad News: Next week is a concern. While confident that we will NOT see a repeat of last week, dangerous fire weather conditions are expected. #cawx#PalisadesFire#EatonFirepic.twitter.com/zhXmHUWtgp
This comes as firefighters still work to contain the two biggest, deadliest and most destructive fires in Southern California. The Palisades and Eaton fires continue to rage in the Los Angeles area.
Plus, a new vegetation fire broke out in the San Bernardino area Wednesday afternoon.
The Eaton and Palisades fires have not grown much over the past few days, but they are both still largely uncontained. Fire officials reported some progress in the desperate fight to extinguish the flames.
Meanwhile, the Little Mountain fire in San Bernardino spans over 30 acres at 0% containment. Police arrested a man in connection with that fire on two felony charges, including one of reckless burning.
Senate confirmation hearings continue as Inauguration Day nears
Senate confirmation hearings continue Thursday, Jan. 16, as President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for interior secretary, EPA administrator, housing and urban development secretary and treasury secretary answer questions from lawmakers.
“To my knowledge, Donald Trump has never acknowledged the legal results of the 2020 election,” Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said to Bondi. “Are you prepared to say today, under oath without reservation, that Donald Trump lost the presidential contest to Joe Biden in 2020?”
Bondi replied, “Ranking Member Durbin, President Biden is the president of the United States. He was duly sworn in, and he is the President of the United States. There was a peaceful transition of power. President Trump left office and was overwhelmingly elected in 2024.”
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for secretary of state, also had his hearing Wednesday. Straight Arrow News political correspondent Ray Bogan has a complete breakdown of what happened here.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket lifts off on first space flight
Thursday morning saw a big win for billionaire Jeff Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, as its New Glenn rocket blasted off into orbit.
The company’s first rocket powerful enough to launch satellites into space took off just after 2 a.m. ET from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. All seven of its engines fired successfully.
Blue Origin marked the mission a success after demonstration technology on board, called the Blue Ring Pathfinder, was safely carried to orbit.
However, the company did not reach its bonus goal of guiding part of the New Glenn rocket back to a safe landing on a platform in the middle of the ocean after takeoff.
It took rival SpaceX four tries to get a similar maneuver right.
Still, Blue Origin stressed its most important goal was for the test satellite to reach orbit. NASA intends to use the New Glenn rocket to launch two orbiters to Mars in the future.
International nonprofit wants to protect moon sites from space tourism
For the first time ever, the World Monuments Fund, whose mission is to preserve cultural heritage sites around the globe, is now setting its sights beyond Earth. The organization, founded in 1996, announced on Wednesday, Jan. 15, that the moon is among 25 at-risk sites, with the expectation that trips to the lunar surface will become the norm in the not-so-distant future.
The WMF warns that moon tourism could someday threaten more than 90 lunar landing and impact sites, including Tranquility Base, where U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon.
WMF officials said they fear the lunar landscape may be victim to looters looking for souvenirs and private lunar exploration, potentially destroying iconic footprints and tracks that are part of human history if something isn’t done to protect them now.
The organization is urging international collaboration to preserve the moon, but currently no such organization exists, and no one country can lay claim to the Earth’s only natural satellite.
The WMF creates the at-risk list to raise awareness and spur action to preserve important artifacts and sites around the world, and now space.
Adversaries present persistent threats in 2025, can the US military handle them?
As the New Year begins, many people see it as a chance for a fresh start. However, the challenges that existed in 2024 are likely to persist in 2025, especially in the realm of national defense.
Each branch of the U.S. Department of Defense is working to modernize its forces to address these ongoing issues.
At the Air, Space and Cyber Conference, hosted by the Air Force Association in Fall 2024, commanders from NORAD, U.S. Cyber Command, U.S. Space Command and U.S. Transportation Command gathered to discuss the current dangers.
As 2025 begins, America’s national defense faces a range of evolving threats. Rising tensions with China and Russia, along with challenges posed by non-state actors, present numerous problems to prepare for. Gen. Greg Guillot, commander of NORAD, explained that these threats have expanded from regional concerns to global ones.
“What we face today is a variety of threats in all domains, from multiple adversaries and from all avenues of approach, not just from the north,” Guillot said. “And these threats can threaten us from much further away than even just a couple of years ago.”
Former U.S. Transportation Command leader, the newly retired Gen. Jackie Van Ovost, highlighted cyber vulnerabilities both at home and abroad.
“What we are talking about is winning without fighting,” Van Ovost said. “Sound familiar? And then finally, we talk about the long-range threat, the long-range threat to mobility missions specifically designed to touch us. And these are the risks we see playing out today on an active basis around the globe.”
The panel identified the People’s Republic of China as America’s biggest threat across all spectrums. The PRC is heavily invested in a military build-up, and is intensely focused on cyber warfare. Gen. Timothy Haugh, commander of U.S. Cyber Command, pointed out that it is a multi-pronged offensive.
“We want to expose this threat first is where PRC has been targeting, the intellectual property of our industry, which is really the foundation of our economy and the underpinnings of our department’s security,” Haugh said. “Also how they look at, over time, the critical infrastructure of the United States, we have exposed how they target our critical infrastructure and what that means for us as a nation, that we have a competitor that is willing to use those types of tactics to target not only the department but our citizens.”
Gen. Stephen Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command, explained that the U.S. is also working to defend the nation from threats that may not necessarily be land-based. Both China and Russia continue to develop ways to disrupt America’s space-based communications systems.
“The PRC in particular has gone to space for the same advantages that we have, not because it is cool,” Whiting said. “I mean, it is, but that is not why they have gone to space. It is to give themselves the ability to operate on ocean-wide, on continental-wide, on global scales. And so they have gone to space to enable their air force, their army, their navy, their marine corps, to be more precise, more lethal, and more far-ranging. And we have got to deal with that fact to make sure that we help protect the joint force from the space-enabled attack of others.”
Another area of growing concern for U.S. military leadership is the Arctic. Increasing collaboration between Russia and China has America’s attention. The two adversaries exercised together in the Bering Strait in the summer of 2023.
“But it shows on a daily basis that the Arctic is an area where a number of nations are showing interest, not only for military purposes but also for scientific purposes,” Guillot said. “And it takes up 52% of our AOR, so we spent a lot of time looking at that, how we are adapting to pursuing sensors that go from sea floor all the way up to space in multiple layers and domains, to make sure that we can detect all of those adversaries, not at the ranges that we did 5-10 years ago, but much further away. Because of the increased complexity and capability of their weapons.”
The generals pointed out that these capabilities will only continue to grow. While those charged with defending the U.S. may not yet have all the answers they are looking for, they believe they are on the right track. They acknowledged that prioritizing investments in secure communications and accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence within U.S. Cyber Command, and its components, will enhance cybersecurity, and their ability to respond to AI-enabled cyber attacks.
Access the full Weapons and Warfare episode here.
Access all Weapons and Warfare podcast episodes here.
The US military navigates global threats in 2025: Weapons and Warfare
As we kick off the new year, the United States is confronted with a range of complex and serious threats from adversaries aiming to compromise U.S. security across multiple domains. To clarify the challenges ahead, host Ryan Robertson highlights key insights from a Mitchell Institute panel called “The Dangers We Face,” featuring four Air and Space Forces senior leaders.
Also featured in this episode:
CENTCOM strikes targets in Yemen.
Congressional continuing resolution will impact the U.S. Marine Corps’ retention efforts.
Seven soldiers awarded Medals of Honor.
Weapon of the Week: Axon Vision’s AI-based counter-drone defenses detect, track and neutralize unauthorized drones in real time, enhancing security and minimizing risks to sensitive areas.
You can subscribe to the Weapons and Warfare podcast on the platform of your choosing here.
At least 24 dead as strong winds return to fuel California wildfires
Fire crews continue to battle deadly wildfires in Southern California as the death toll rises and strong winds are set to return. And a potential end to the Israel-Hamas war could be in sight as progress was made toward a ceasefire and hostage release deal. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Jan. 13, 2025.
At least 24 dead as strong winds return to fuel Los Angeles area wildfires
At least 24 people are now confirmed dead and dozens more At least 24 people are now confirmed dead and dozens more are missing as multiple fires continue to rage in Southern California. Firefighters said they’re making progress against the wildfires that have now been burning for almost a week in the Los Angeles area.
Still, the threat remains high as dangerous Santa Ana winds will pick up again starting Monday, Jan. 13.
Weary fire crews said it’s not safe enough in many areas to assess the true total damage. Three fires continued to burn into Monday, Jan. 13: the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires, all of which broke out last Tuesday, Jan. 7.
The Palisades Fire remained the biggest and least contained, at more than 23,000 acres with only about 13% containment. Officials expanded evacuation orders for the Palisades Fire as it moves east, threatening the Brentwood and Encino areas.
The Eaton Fire was just over 14,000 acres and 27% contained on Monday. According to CalFire, the two fires are now the second and fourth most destructive in state history.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department said flames destroyed more than 7,000 buildings in the Eaton Fire alone. Investigators are only about a quarter of the way through their damage assessment.
The county is now under a public health emergency over smoke and particulate matter, which could cause long-term harm.
Progress made in Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks, officials say
Mediators with the U.S., Qatar and Egypt said they’ve made significant progress in brokering a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. However, nothing has been finalized just yet.
The deal would result in the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip ever since the terror group attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
It is believed there are a total of 98 hostages; however, as many as three dozen are feared dead.
Officials briefed on the negotiations said there was a breakthrough in Doha early Monday morning following talks between Israel’s spy chiefs, President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff and Qatar’s prime minister.
In addition, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joe Biden spoke about the cease-fire deal on the phone Sunday, Jan. 12.
Officials said negotiators for Israel and Hamas took a proposed final draft of the deal back to their leaders for approval. However, this is not the first time a deal to end the war has been closely considered. The U.S. has said several times over the past year that a deal was imminent, only for it to fall through.
An Egyptian official said an agreement will likely take a few more days and both sides are aiming for a deal before Trump’s inauguration next Monday, Jan. 20. However, Hamas said there are still issues it says need to be resolved, including an Israeli commitment to ending the war and details about the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the hostage-prisoner exchange.
JD Vance, Christopher Wray speak on Jan. 6 ahead of Trump inauguration
Incoming Vice President JD Vance and outgoing FBI Director Christopher Wray shared their thoughts with Fox News and CBS News with just one week until President-elect Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day.
In his first interview since leaving the Senate, Vance spoke to Fox News Sunday of executive orders concerning illegal immigration on day one of the Trump administration and of being hopeful there soon will be a cease-fire deal in the war between Israel and Hamas. Vance was also asked about Trump’s plans to pardon those convicted in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the Capitol.
“I think it’s very simple,” Vance said. “Look, if you protested peacefully on January the 6th and you’ve had Merrick Garland’s Department of Justice treat you like a gang member, you should be pardoned. If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn’t be pardoned. And there’s a little bit of a gray area there but we’re very much committed to seeing the equal administration of law and there are a lot of people, we think, in the wake of January the 6th who were prosecuted unfairly. We need to rectify that.”
On 60 Minutes, FBI Director Christopher Wray explained his decision to step down three years before the end of his 10-year term. Trump appointed Wray in 2017, during his first administration.
The FBI director then oversaw investigations into Trump, as well as President Joe Biden and Biden’s son Hunter. Trump intends to replace Wray with former aide Kash Patel.
“Well, my decision to retire from the FBI, I have to tell you it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” Wray said on 60 Minutes. “I care deeply, deeply about the FBI, about our mission and, in particular, about our people. But the president-elect had made clear that he intended to make a change, and the law is that, that is something he is able to do for any reason or no reason at all. My conclusion was that the thing that was best for the Bureau was to try to do this in an orderly way, to not thrust the FBI deeper into the fray.”
Wray was also asked about Trump’s plans to pardon many of the roughly 1,500 people charged with federal crimes in the Jan. 6 riots.
“I do think it’s important to step back and remember that we’re talking about hundreds of people who are convicted, most of them pled guilty of serious federal crimes,” Wray said. “Heck, I think 170 or so of them pled guilty to assaulting law enforcement, dozens of them with dangerous or deadly weapons. And there’s a whole bunch that were convicted of seditious conspiracy.”
After Vance’s interview aired on Fox, the vice president-elect responded to a critic on X saying Trump will be looking at each case concerning Jan. 6 individually.
Special counsel Jack Smith resigns as fight to block Trump report continues
Special counsel Jack Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee the criminal investigations into Trump, resigned from the Department of Justice. While his departure was expected, it comes as Trump and his allies continue efforts to block the release of Smith’s final report on his investigations.
Smith’s resignation was made public Saturday, Jan. 11, in a brief footnote of a DOJ court filing to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon of Florida. She was appointed to the bench by Trump.
Cannon issued an order last week temporarily blocking the DOJ from releasing Smith’s investigation into Trump’s interference in the 2020 election results. The DOJ filed an emergency motion late Friday, Jan. 10, asking a federal appeals court to reverse the order.
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin scrubs New Glenn launch attempt
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin called off the planned launch of its New Glenn rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Monday morning. The company scrubbed the launch due to a “few anomalies” found during the countdown.
The delay of the rocket’s inaugural attempt to reach orbit could last at least 24 hours or longer. The launch, when it does happen, will include an attempt to land New Glenn’s first stage booster on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean.
In an interview with Reuters before the launch attempt, Bezos said that the booster landing is “the thing we’re most nervous about.”
A wild ending to NFL’s wild-card weekend with 1 more game to go
The NFL’s wild-card weekend saw one wild finish Sunday night. Five teams advanced to the divisional round, and a final wild-card game will be played Monday night.
On Saturday, the Houston Texans defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 32-12 in the opening game of wild-card weekend. Then the Baltimore Ravens moved on with a convincing 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On Sunday, the Buffalo Bills dominated the Denver Broncos 31-7 while the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers 22-10.
Late Sunday night, a last-second field goal — with the ball hitting off the uprights and going through, known as a “doink” — gave the Washington Commanders the 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was Washington’s first playoff win since 2005.
Monday night, the Minnesota Vikings will meet the Los Angeles Rams in a game that was moved from Los Angeles to Arizona due to the wildfires.
Blue Origin granted FAA license for New Glenn rocket’s first mission
“Next stop launch,” Bezos said in a post on X that also featured a video of a rocket test.
New Glenn is reportedly set to lift off on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.
The first mission is expected to be launching technology related to its Blue Ring program, which is a business venture that reportedly offers spacecraft to the Pentagon.
Project Kuiper involves deploying more than 3,200 low-orbit satellites over roughly a decade to provide global broadband access. Blue Origin is also working on certifying New Glenn with the U.S. Space Force for the National Security Space Launch program.
US armed forces test Dark Eagle hypersonic missile at Mach 5 speeds
The U.S. military has successfully tested its Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), moving closer to fielding advanced hypersonic technology. The test, conducted at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, demonstrated the missile’s ability to exceed speeds of 3,800 miles per hour, more than five times the speed of sound, and strike distant targets.
Officials described the event as a significant milestone in making the weapon combat-ready. The hypersonic system, also known as “Dark Eagle,” is part of a joint effort by the Army and Navy.
Designed to counter emerging threats, the system can outpace and outmaneuver traditional defenses. The Navy plans to deploy the LRHW on Zumwalt-class destroyers and submarines, while the Army prepares for its operational debut by 2025.
The test included the missile’s ground-based launcher and operations center, marking the first live-fire trial of its complete system. Previous tests have focused on individual components or simulated scenarios. This latest success builds on earlier trials, including a June 2024 test in Hawaii.
Hypersonic weapons are considered critical for modern battlefields, combining speed, range and maneuverability to target well-defended or time-sensitive objectives. However, critics question their high production costs and potential to escalate tensions with adversaries such as China and Russia, which are also advancing their hypersonic programs.
The U.S. military emphasized the importance of continued testing and evaluation to ensure the system’s safety and effectiveness. With this technology, commanders aim to enhance deterrence and precision targeting in an evolving global threat environment.
Governors unite against plan to let Space Force take National Guard resources
In a show of unity, all 55 governors of U.S. states and territories are urging Congress to stop a plan for increased federal control of state Air National Guard units. The proposal is currently part of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, the annual must-pass defense budget and policy bill.
Legislative Proposal 480 would allow the federal government to reassign certain Air National Guard units, usually controlled by a state’s governor, to the U.S. Space Force without a governor’s approval.
The House Armed Services Committee advanced the bill –– passed Tuesday, Dec. 11 –– with the proposal in it.
Gov. Jared Polis, D-Colo., and Gov. Kevin Stitt, R-Okla., released a joint statement on behalf of the National Governors Association.
“The Armed Services Committee’s failure to preserve governors’ lawful authority over their National Guards in the NDAA is deeply concerning and breaks with more than a century of important precedent surrounding state’s rights, as well as a violation of federal law,” they said. “It is crystal clear that National Guard units may not be moved without consultation and approval from governors.”
The National Guard Association of the United States, the leading group representing National Guard service members, also opposes the bill. The organization told its members “with all 55 of the nation’s governors behind us, now is the time to make your voice heard.”
The Space Force is the newest service branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, formally established in 2019. If it passes, the proposal could shape the relationship between the new branch and the Air National Guard’s space-related units.
The governors said they support the NDAA but hope Congress changes the Space Force proposal’s current language before final passage.
Man arrested after allegedly flying drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base
Authorities arrested a Brentwood, California, man after they said he was flying a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County. Officials with the U.S. Department of Justice said he also took photos of the site.
Vandenberg Space Force Base is a critical facility for U.S. military and space operations, known for satellite launches and missile testing. Its restricted airspace makes unauthorized drone activity a significant security concern.
Police arrested Yinpiao Zhou, 39, at San Francisco International Airport on Tuesday, Dec. 10, as he prepared to board a flight to China. He faces charges of failing to register an aircraft not providing transportation and violating national defense airspace. Zhou is expected to make his first court appearance on Wednesday, Dec. 11, in San Francisco federal court.
According to an affidavit, drone detection systems at Vandenberg identified a drone flying over the base on Nov. 30. The drone reportedly flew for nearly an hour, reached an altitude of almost one mile and originated from Ocean Park, a public area near the base.
Security personnel located Zhou at Ocean Park with another individual and discovered the drone concealed in his jacket.
Federal agents later searched the drone and found aerial photographs of Vandenberg Space Force Base. A review of Zhou’s cellphone revealed a prior search for “Vandenberg Space Force Base Drone Rules” and messages discussing modifications to allow the drone to fly higher than its normal altitude limits.
Zhou, a Chinese citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States, had returned from China in February 2024. Authorities said the person accompanying Zhou at Ocean Park arrived in the U.S. from China on Nov. 26, just days before the incident.
If convicted, Zhou faces a maximum sentence of four years in federal prison. The FBI is assisting in the investigation.
