Space Force on path to double active-duty force by 2030

The U.S. Space Force says it wants to grow from roughly 10,000 active-duty Guardians today to about 20,000 by 2030, with 2,800 more active-duty personnel and 2,000 civilians requested for fiscal 2027. The expansion tracks a much larger proposed military-space budget and signals broad congressional support for a faster buildup in launch, missile warning, cyber protection and communications programs.

Appropriators approve Legislative Branch spending bill with GAO cuts

House appropriators advanced a fiscal 2027 Legislative Branch bill that would cut the Government Accountability Office by nearly one-quarter while boosting Capitol Police funding. Democrats say the move would weaken one of Congress's main oversight tools just as fights over executive accountability and federal spending are intensifying.

Surface transportation bill approved by House committee

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved a five-year reauthorization bill covering roughly $580 billion in highway and rail programs through fiscal 2031. A late White House-backed rail-safety provision helped push the measure forward, but it could also complicate support when the package reaches the floor.

Reconciliation bill punted until after Memorial Day recess

Republican leaders left Washington without a vote on their immigration budget package after Senate disputes over legislative text and a proposed Justice Department anti-weaponization fund derailed the timeline. The delay shows how internal GOP bargaining is still constraining the party's ability to move major priorities on schedule.

SpaceX IPO filing casts Starlink Mobile as future wireless challenger

SpaceX's IPO prospectus frames Starlink Mobile as a direct-to-smartphone service that could eventually compete with terrestrial carriers even in urban markets. The filing ties that ambition to upgraded satellites and newly acquired spectrum, turning mobile connectivity into a core growth narrative for the company beyond launch alone.

Rocket Lab wins first GEO satellite production contract from U.S. Space Force

Rocket Lab won a $90 million Space Force contract to design, build and operate two geostationary satellites for space-domain awareness missions. The award is the company's first GEO production program and broadens its move from small-launch provider into a prime contractor for higher-value national-security spacecraft.

Sixth Varda mission successfully returns

Varda completed its W-6 reentry mission in South Australia, advancing a business model that combines in-space manufacturing with hypersonic-test payload return. The latest flight adds cadence to commercial reentry operations and gives Air Force and NASA partners more real-world thermal and navigation data.

Russian surveillance ship spotted near NATO sub drills

A Russian surveillance vessel lingered near NATO's Dynamic Mongoose anti-submarine exercise in the Norwegian Sea, prompting monitoring by Portuguese and British assets. The episode is a reminder that undersea competition and maritime intelligence collection remain tightly linked in the North Atlantic theater.