WASHINGTON -- Military leaders are rattled by a list of “woke” senior officers that a conservative group urged Pete Hegseth to dismiss for promoting diversity in the ranks if he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon. The list compiled by the American Accountability Foundation includes 20 general officers or senior admirals and a disproportionate number of female officers. It has had a chilling effect on the Pentagon’s often frank discussions as leaders try to figure out how to address the potential firings and diversity issues under President-elect Donald Trump. Those on the list in many cases seem to be targeted for public comments they made either in interviews or at events on diversity, and in some cases for retweeting posts that promote diversity. Tom Jones, a former aide to Republican senators who leads the foundation, said Friday that those on the list are “pretty egregious” advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, policies, which he called problematic. “The nominee has been pretty clear that that has no place in the military,” Jones said of Hegseth. Hegseth has embraced Trump’s effort to end programs that promote diversity in the ranks and fire those who reflect those values. Other Trump picks, like Kash Patel for FBI director, have suggested targeting those in government who are not aligned with Trump. But Hegseth has been fighting to save his nomination as he faces allegations of excessive drinking and sexual assault and over his views questioning the role of women in combat. He spent the week on Capitol Hill trying to win the support of Republican senators, who must confirm him to lead the Pentagon, doing a radio interview and penning an opinion column. Some service members have complained in the past about the Pentagon's DEI programs, saying they add to an already heavy workload. The Pentagon still has a long way to go in having a general officer corps or specialty occupations such as pilots that have a racial and gender makeup reflective of the country. A defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the list said senior leaders are hoping that once Trump is sworn in, they will be able to discuss the issue further. They are prepared to provide additional context to the incoming administration, the official told The Associated Press, which is not publishing the names to protect service members’ privacy. Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Friday that the list would have “considerable, wide and deep consequences.” He said when military members see people singled out, they will start focusing on their own survival rather than the mission or their job. “You will drive people out,” Hagel said. “It affects morale as widely and deeply as anything — it creates a negative dynamic that will trickle through an organization." The list, which was first reported by The New York Post, includes nine Air Force general officers, seven Navy admirals of different ranks and four Army general officers. Eight of those 20 are women even though only 17% of the military is female. None are Marines. One female Navy officer was named because she gave a speech at a 2015 Women’s Equality Day event, where she noted that 80% of Congress is male, which affects what bills move forward. The officer also was targeted because she said “diversity is our strength.” The phrase is a widely distributed talking point that officers across the Pentagon have used for years to talk about the importance of having a military that reflects different educational, geographic, economic, gender and racial backgrounds in the country. An Air Force colonel, who is white, was called out for an opinion piece he wrote following the death of George Floyd, saying, “Dear white colonel, we must address our blind spots about race.” A female Air Force officer was targeted because of “multiple woke posts” on her X feed, including a tweet about LGBTQ rights, one about “whiteness” and another about honoring the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on a stamp. Another female Air Force officer was on the list because she “served as a panelist for a diversity, equity and inclusion” discussion in 2021. The list names an Army officer who traveled to 14 historically Black colleges to expand the military’s intelligence recruitment efforts, and an Air Force officer partly because he co-chairs the Asian-Pacific Islander subgroup of the service’s diversity task force. Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the Trump transition team, said in a statement that “No policy should be deemed official unless it comes directly from President Trump.” But in an interview Wednesday for Megyn Kelly’s SiriusXM satellite radio show, Hegseth said Trump told him he wanted a “warfighter” who would clean out the “woke crap.” Hegseth got a boost Friday from Trump, who posted on his social media site that Hegseth “will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense.” The president-elect added that “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Jones told the AP in June that his American Accountability Foundation was investigating scores of federal employees suspected of being hostile to Trump's policies. The work aligns with the Heritage Foundation’s far-reaching Project 2025 blueprint for a conservative administration. A letter Jones sent to Hegseth containing the list, dated Tuesday, says “purging the woke from the military is imperative.” The letter points to tensions with Iran, Russia and China and says “we cannot afford to have a military distracted and demoralized by leftist ideology. Our nation’s security is at stake.” Conservatives view the federal workforce as overstepping its role to become a power center that can drive or thwart a president’s agenda. During the first Trump administration, government officials came under attack from the White House and congressional Republicans, as Trump's own Cabinet often raised objections to some of his more singular or even unlawful proposals. ___ AP writer Courtney Bonnell contributed from Washington.
A case filed in Cape Girardeau County could have implications for students’ rights to due process and free speech. The case involves a 12-year-old girl identified only by her initials, A.N., who is serving a 180-day suspension from Jackson Junior High School. According to her petition in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court, the punishment stems from a miscommunication. “This is a big deal,” A.N.’s attorney, David Roland of the Freedom Center of Missouri, told The Independent. “Over the last couple of years, there has been a spike in the number of school discipline cases that are roughly similar to this.” According to court filings, A.N. is a bright student with no prior disciplinary issues on her school record. In September, as threats of school shootings circulated nationwide and an incident in her neighborhood caused alarm, she became worried. A.N. saw public posts on the social media platform SnapChat with threats of potential violence at her school. A boy from an outside school district, who is identified by his initials of S.C., was collecting the threatening messages and sharing them in an informative fashion. A.N. reached out to the boy after seeing a threat, wondering if she should be worried. He asked her for the details, and she typed out what she had seen in a private message because she did not take a screenshot of the concerning post. Her message, which was a picture of her ceiling with the threat typed over it, didn’t include a disclaimer that it was second-hand information. S.C. knew that from the context, according to court documents. He shared the message widely, and the Jackson R-II School District was alerted and closed schools for one day. A.N. talked to police, and detectives unraveled the miscommunication. “The detective quickly came to the conclusion that A.N. had not intended to cause any harm, panic, or disruption by sending the Snap, that there was no evidence suggesting that the Snap constituted a threat to any person or place, including the district, and that A.N. had neither the means nor the capability to act on any alleged ‘threat,’” Roland wrote in the court filing. Later, A.N.’s principal and superintendent became aware that her message lacked any intent to harm but suspended her, first with an initial 10-day suspension and then expanding it to 180 days. A.N. returned to school between the 10-day suspension and notification of the extended sentence and attended classes for one and a half days. School policies allow for suspension up to 180 days for false alarms or reports, which the district handbook described as “intentionally tampering with alarm equipment for the purpose of setting off an alarm or making false reports for the purpose of scaring or disrupting the school environment.” A.N. was barred from school grounds, even while she had an appeal pending before the school board, which Roland argues is a due-process issue. “There was clearly no intent to frighten or anything. It’s basically a big misunderstanding,” Roland said. “The school understood that, and it punished her anyway. That was the big difference maker here.” Missouri courts have often sided with school officials and upheld discipline imposed for speech outside school grounds, Roland said. A.N.’s case is a more “extreme example,” and he predicts there is a good chance to succeed where others have failed. “We felt like this was a really good case to take on to try and establish that there have to be limits to the jurisdiction of the school,” Roland said. “Students do not give up their rights just because they’re enrolled in a public school.” Spokesperson for the Jackson R-II School district Merideth Pobst said the district “cannot comment on pending litigation or on confidential student disciplinary matters.” “The District’s first priority is to ensure student safety and to take appropriate action when we receive notice of safety-related concerns,” she added. Daniel Rhoads, a St. Louis-based attorney who often tackles student rights litigation, said Missouri courts often take the school’s side in issues of student speech. Tinker v. Des Moines, a U.S. Supreme Court Case decided in 1969, established that students have the right to free speech, even within schools. The case established a test that schools can only censor students when the speech causes a “substantial disruption.” Missouri courts, Rhoads said, “will look at all things out of the ordinary and call those all disruptions that are substantial enough to justify punishing the student for their speech.” Rhoads represented a student who had received a 180-day suspension after creating a meme that pictured a peer lying in a coffin. The peer received joking comments at school and got into an altercation in the classroom in frustration. A judge out of Missouri’s Eastern Division U.S. District Court ruled this was enough of a disruption, although the meme was spread out of school. Rhoads said many student free speech cases are handled at the district level and never make it to court, but he sees a need for students to challenge unconstitutional rules statewide. “A lot of rules around speech and student handbooks are, frankly, unconstitutional and need to be challenged,” he said. “I’ve seen facially unconstitutional rules about speech in student handbooks, and unless you get a case where a student is punished under that rule and the family is able and willing to appeal it all the way to court, you’re not going to get the courts to strike those rules down.” Without more challenges like A.N.’s, he said, “students’ rights are just going to be trampled on indefinitely.”ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani police arrested thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of a rally in the capital to demand the ex-premier’s release from prison, a security officer said Sunday. Khan has been behind bars for more than a year and has over 150 criminal cases against him. But he remains popular and his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or PTI, says the cases are politically motivated. Shahid Nawaz, a security officer in eastern Punjab province, said police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters. They include five parliamentarians. Pakistan has sealed off Islamabad with shipping containers and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with PTI strongholds in Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Tit-for-tat teargas shelling between the police and the PTI was reported on the highway bordering Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns.” The government and Interior Ministry posted the announcement on the social media platform X, which is banned in Pakistan. They did not specify the areas, nor did they say how long the suspension would be in place. “Internet and mobile services will continue to operate as usual in the rest of the country,” the posts said. Meanwhile, telecom company Nayatel sent out emails offering customers “a reliable landline service” as a workaround in the areas suffering suspended cellphone service. Khan's supporters rely heavily on social media to demand his release and use messaging platforms like WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said Khan's wife Bushra Bibi was traveling to Islamabad in a convoy led by the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur. “She cannot leave the party workers on their own,” said Akram. There was a festive mood in Peshawar, with PTI members dancing, drumming and holding up pictures of Khan as cars set off for Islamabad. The government is imposing social media platform bans and targeting VPN services , according to internet advocacy group Netblocks. On Sunday, the group said live metrics showed problems with WhatsApp that were affecting media sharing on the app. The U.S. Embassy issued a security alert for Americans in the capital, encouraging them to avoid large gatherings and warning that even “peaceful gatherings can turn violent.” Last month, authorities suspended the cellphone service in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to thwart a pro-Khan rally. The shutdown disrupted communications and affected everyday services such as banking, ride-hailing and food delivery. The latest crackdown comes on the eve of a visit by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko . Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said authorities have sealed off Islamabad's Red Zone, which houses key government buildings and is the destination for Khan's supporters. “Anyone reaching it will be arrested,” Naqvi told a press conference. He said the security measures were in place to protect residents and property, blaming the PTI for inconveniencing people and businesses. He added that protesters were planning to take the same route as the Belarusian delegation, but that the government had headed off this scenario. Naqvi denied cellphone services were suspended and said only mobile data was affected. Associated Press writers Riaz Khan in Peshawar and Asim Tanveer in Multan contributed to this report.Furthermore, the government implemented targeted measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are the backbone of China's economy. By providing financial assistance, tax incentives, and streamlined regulatory procedures, the authorities created a conducive environment for SMEs to thrive and contribute to economic growth.
In response to the recent implementation of heightened security measures in Guangzhou Metro stations, the Customer Service department has issued a statement confirming that these measures are part of a standard practice that will remain unchanged in the long term.
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Rich countries must pay for ‘historical debt’ of emissions says climate lawyerTORONTO (AP) — Embattled Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not expected to announce a decision on his future over the Christmas holidays, a person familiar with the matter said Monday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The prime minister will be traveling to British Columbia with his family from Dec. 26 to Jan. 2. Concerns about Trudeau’s leadership were exacerbated last week when Chrystia Freeland, Trudeau’s finance minister and deputy prime minister, abruptly resigned from the Cabinet after she was told she would no longer be finance minister. A growing number of Liberal Members of Parliament want Trudeau to step aside fearing the party is headed for an historic defeat. It remains an open question whether Trudeau will lead the Liberal party into next year’s elections. Parliament is now shut for the holidays until late next month. The leftist New Democratic Party said Friday it would vote “no confidence” after lawmakers reconvene on Jan. 27. When Trudeau returns from the holidays he could move to suspend Parliament for months while a party leadership race is held. Or he could delay an opposition day when a “no confidence vote” could be scheduled in Parliament. RELATED COVERAGE Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal Takeaways from Trump’s 1st rally speech as president-elect German Christmas market ramming is the latest attack to use vehicles as deadly weapons Because Trudeau’s Liberals do not hold an outright majority in Parliament, they have for years depended on the support of the NDP to pass legislation and stay in power. But that support has vanished — NDP leader Jagmeet Singh made clear Friday the NDP will vote to bring down the government. Trudeau, who has led the country for nearly a decade, has become widely unpopular in recent years over a wide range of issues , including the high cost of living and rising inflation. There is no mechanism for Trudeau’s party to force him out in the short term. He could say he will step aside when a new party leader is chosen, or his Liberal party could be forced from power by a “no confidence” vote in Parliament that would trigger an election that would very likely favor the opposing Conservative Party. The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian products if Canada does not stem what he calls a flow of migrants and drugs in the United States — even though far fewer of each cross into the U.S. from Canada than from Mexico. Trudeau has not addressed his future or taken questions from the media since his finance minister resigned. But he has said his government is preparing for Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Trudeau is scheduled to participate virtually in a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Canada-U.S. Relations on Monday.
Novavax Inc. stock outperforms competitors on strong trading dayPublished 4:21 pm Sunday, November 24, 2024 By Data Skrive Monday’s college basketball slate has plenty of excitement, including the matchup between the Memphis Tigers and the UConn Huskies, and you’ll find our best bets against the spread for two games in this article. Watch men’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .
TORONTO (AP) — Embattled Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not expected to announce a decision on his future over the Christmas holidays, a person familiar with the matter said Monday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The prime minister will be traveling to British Columbia with his family from Dec. 26 to Jan. 2. Concerns about Trudeau’s leadership were exacerbated last week when Chrystia Freeland, Trudeau’s finance minister and deputy prime minister, abruptly resigned from the Cabinet after she was told she would no longer be finance minister. A growing number of Liberal Members of Parliament want Trudeau to step aside fearing the party is headed for an historic defeat. It remains an open question whether Trudeau will lead the Liberal party into next year’s elections. Parliament is now shut for the holidays until late next month. The leftist New Democratic Party said Friday it would vote “no confidence” after lawmakers reconvene on Jan. 27. When Trudeau returns from the holidays he could move to suspend Parliament for months while a party leadership race is held. Or he could delay an opposition day when a “no confidence vote” could be scheduled in Parliament. RELATED COVERAGE Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal Takeaways from Trump’s 1st rally speech as president-elect German Christmas market ramming is the latest attack to use vehicles as deadly weapons Because Trudeau’s Liberals do not hold an outright majority in Parliament, they have for years depended on the support of the NDP to pass legislation and stay in power. But that support has vanished — NDP leader Jagmeet Singh made clear Friday the NDP will vote to bring down the government. Trudeau, who has led the country for nearly a decade, has become widely unpopular in recent years over a wide range of issues , including the high cost of living and rising inflation. There is no mechanism for Trudeau’s party to force him out in the short term. He could say he will step aside when a new party leader is chosen, or his Liberal party could be forced from power by a “no confidence” vote in Parliament that would trigger an election that would very likely favor the opposing Conservative Party. The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian products if Canada does not stem what he calls a flow of migrants and drugs in the United States — even though far fewer of each cross into the U.S. from Canada than from Mexico. Trudeau has not addressed his future or taken questions from the media since his finance minister resigned. But he has said his government is preparing for Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Trudeau is scheduled to participate virtually in a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Canada-U.S. Relations on Monday.Chelsea in line to benefit as Barcelona hold 'very satisfactory' transfer meeting with Bundesliga star
Lee Gang-in, a talented midfielder from South Korea, may not yet have the same level of fame as Mbappé, but when it comes to merchandise sales, he is proving to be a force to be reckoned with. According to recent reports, Lee's physical store jersey sales are only second to Mbappé, showcasing his growing popularity among fans worldwide.
Bills offense is 'Cooking,' with running game adding a powerful new dimensionBoise State makes the College Football Playoff as Big 12's 1st-round bye chances dim
In his address, Mr. Zhang Wei, CEO of the China Barter Trading Platform, expressed his gratitude to all the partners and stakeholders who have supported the platform's development. He outlined the platform's features and capabilities, highlighting its user-friendly interface, secure payment system, and comprehensive trade matching services.
Title: Tyronn Lue: Lakers' 19-Year Offer lacks respect, Refuses Terms without RespectTEHRAN – Russia's deputy foreign minister has revealed that a forthcoming comprehensive strategic partnership treaty between Tehran and Moscow will encompass defense and security cooperation, marking a significant expansion of bilateral ties. In an interview with TASS news agency, Andrei Rudenko confirmed the broad scope of the new agreement while maintaining discretion about specific details. "I would only note that it will meet challenges and requirements of our time and cover almost all current and promising spheres of Iranian-Russian cooperation, including defense and security," Rudenko said. The new treaty builds upon a previous strategic agreement established in 2001, which focused on industry, technology, security, energy, and nuclear power plant development. While the original agreement has been extended until 2026, both nations have agreed to draft a new, more comprehensive long-term partnership. Rudenko emphasized the evolution of bilateral relations over the past twenty years, noting that Russia is "closely coordinating approaches with its Iranian friends and taking necessary measures to strengthen peace and security in the region." Iran's Ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, recently indicated that the path to finalizing the agreement is clear, with both nations working to schedule President Pezeshkian's Moscow visit for the official signing ceremony of the new treaty. The enhanced partnership agreement is expected to be more comprehensive than its predecessor, incorporating various sectors including energy, industry, transport, and agriculture, alongside the newly emphasized defense and security components.
President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on Chinese imports when he takes office, a move that could deepen a trade war he initiated six years ago. He has not provided many specifics, but China is already preparing for economic battle. "Six years of really intense, focused preparatory work has gotten the top leaders in Beijing ready to deal with whatever comes down the pike," said Even Pay, an analyst with research firm Trivium China. Here’s a look at how the showdown between the world’s two largest economies unfolded during Trump’s previous term and where it might head now. What happened during Trump's first term? Trump initiated a trade war in 2018 by imposing 25% tariffs on Chinese imports, including industrial machinery, cars, auto parts and television cameras. These goods accounted for about $50 billion of the $540 billion the United States spent on Chinese-made products that year. The goal was to spur U.S. manufacturing, reduce the trade imbalance and penalize China for what Trump deemed unfair trade practices. In 2018, China imported only $120 billion in U.S. goods. China retaliated with its own 25% tariffs on about $50 billion worth of U.S. goods. Despite trade talks over the next year, both nations continued to escalate tariffs. By 2020, tariffs covered $550 billion in Chinese goods and $185 billion in U.S. goods. Experts said the trade war failed to significantly reduce the U.S. trade deficit or boost U.S. exports. Instead, it weighed on economic growth and cost jobs in both the U.S. and China. In Trump’s final year, the two nations agreed to a truce, signing a trade deal that removed some tariffs and reduced others. China also pledged to purchase an additional $200 billion in U.S. goods and services - a commitment it did not meet. Did things cool off after President Biden took office? Not entirely. While the rhetoric from the White House became less combative, getting tough on China had become a political imperative for any president, and the trade war only intensified. Biden retained the Trump-era tariffs and introduced additional measures, including a 100% tax on Chinese electric car imports, a 50% tax on solar panels and a 25% tax on lithium-ion batteries and steel and aluminum products. He also continued Trump’s use of export bans to restrict China’s access to U.S. technology. Last week, the U.S. expanded its restrictions on semiconductor sales and related manufacturing equipment to China, adding 140 Chinese entities to a blacklist that limits their ability to trade with U.S. businesses on national security grounds. What might Trump do this time? For months, Trump has advocated raising tariffs on Chinese imports by 60% or more. Last month, he stated on social media that he would impose a 10% tariff, "above any additional tariffs," on all products from China. Trump’s motivations extend beyond trade or boosting U.S. manufacturing. He has also suggested using tariffs to pressure China - and Mexico - to take greater action in curbing the U.S. opioid crisis. Both countries are leading sources of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals. How is China preparing for more tariffs? China has already taken steps to mitigate potential damage. The country, which typically purchases corn, soybeans and sorghum from the U.S., has diversified its sources and increased stockpiles. Brazil has emerged as a significant beneficiary of this shift, potentially impacting U.S. farmers, who send about 77% of their sorghum exports to China. China is more vulnerable to tariffs than the U.S., largely because it exports much more than it imports. The current economic situation in China exacerbates its challenges. Growth has stalled amid a real estate downturn, mounting debt, rising youth unemployment and sluggish consumer spending. Larry Hu, chief China economist at Macquarie Group, estimated that a 60% tariff hike from the U.S. would slash Chinese exports by 8% and reduce GDP by 2%. If the U.S. broadens tariffs to include goods from other countries, it would amplify the impact on China, which has circumvented some tariffs by rerouting exports through third-party nations. How can China go on the offense? China’s most significant leverage lies in its dominance of crucial materials essential for U.S. products like semiconductors and missiles. After the latest round of U.S. tech restrictions, China retaliated by banning exports of rare elements like gallium, germanium and antimony, cutting off at least half the U.S. supply, according to U.S. Geological Survey data. This move was seen as a warning to the next administration of China’s ability to disrupt U.S. advancements in key strategic industries. China can also employ monetary policy as a weapon. During the last trade war, it allowed the yuan to depreciate against the U.S. dollar, making Chinese exports cheaper. The U.S. labeled China a currency manipulator, an accusation Beijing denied. After the U.S. began blacklisting Chinese companies under Trump, China launched its own blacklist of entities it considers threats to its national interests. This enables Beijing to swiftly sanction U.S. individuals and businesses in retaliation for trade restrictions. In September, China investigated PVH Corp., the parent company of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, for allegedly boycotting Xinjiang cotton. The U.S. has accused China of genocide against Muslim ethnic groups in Xinjiang and prohibits the use of products tied to forced labor. On Monday, China launched an antitrust probe into Nvidia, a U.S. semiconductor giant whose value has surged amid the AI boom. The U.S. has barred Nvidia from selling certain advanced chips to China. If the trade war escalates, China could expand its list of targeted companies and create hurdles for U.S. businesses operating in China, such as banning staff, restricting sales or imposing burdensome compliance requirements. What are the downsides for China? China has the capability to harm the U.S. economy, but it must act cautiously. Ja-Ian Chong, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, said punishing U.S. operations in China could deter foreign investment and accelerate efforts to relocate supply chains to other countries. This comes at a time when China is striving to attract more international business. Enforcing a full embargo on crucial materials would be difficult given the complexity of global supply chains and could alienate other trade partners, including Taiwan and South Korea. "Beijing has options, but these options are not cost-free," Chong said. "It comes down to how far China is willing to go."Bird and marsh grass along the Chesapeake Bay. (Image via the Virginia Office of Natural Resources). Top officials from all the Chesapeake Bay states and the federal government gathered in Annapolis Tuesday to reiterate their commitment to cleaning up the historically and economically critical estuary and strengthening the decade-long partnership that has helped improved the Bay’s health — even if that progress hasn’t been as swift and consistent as they might have hoped. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), seated next to Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) participating by video, convened the annual meeting of the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council, which consists of leaders of the six states in the Bay watershed, along with the District of Columbia, to retool their 10-year-old cooperative agreement at a critical juncture in the Bay cleanup. The meeting comes just weeks before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who unsuccessfully tried to eliminate funding for Bay programs during his first term, adding an element of uncertainty for the Chesapeake’s state-based environmental stewards. But officials from red and blue states described their allegiance to the Bay cleanup as durable and unshakable Tuesday. Moore called the Bay “the greatest heirloom clearly we have,” saying, “We did not create it. We inherited it. So it’s up to us to protect it.” He also outlined legislation that he plans to introduce during the 2025 General Assembly session to strengthen Bay health, which he is tentatively calling the Bay Legacy Act. The original multistate partnership, fashioned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2014 during the Obama administration, laid out 31 goals for the Bay states and D.C. to meet by 2025. While some states have fallen short of hitting some of the marks, federal and state officials describe the program — and particularly the sense of partnership it has engendered — as an overwhelming success. “The goals don’t need to be changed,” Youngkin said. “We just need more time to achieve them.” The state and federal leaders did vote Tuesday to revise the watershed agreement , taking several recommendations from a steering committee of numerous stakeholders that has been meeting for more than two years. Some of the proposed changes seek to streamline the way data is collected and analyzed, and also try to heighten accountability in Bay cleanup efforts. One proposal would place more emphasis on habitat rehabilitation throughout the Bay watershed, while another would spotlight climate impacts in the government’s ongoing scientific inquiry. The Chesapeake Bay Program is also going to create an Agricultural Advisory Committee, to elevate the priorities of a sector that’s critical to Bay health — and a huge economic driver in the region — before the executive council. “This allows farmers to make improvements while preserving the viability of their businesses,” Youngkin said. The agriculture committee will complement the work of the Local Government Advisory Committee , Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee and Stakeholders Advisory Committee . Every speaker during the public meeting Tuesday — including environmental agency officials from D.C., Delaware, West Virginia and New York, and two high-ranking EPA officials — emphasized the importance of the ongoing partnership between the states and the federal government. “The Chesapeake Bay has always been our region’s greatest unifier, and we just saw that bipartisan support for the Bay is alive and well,” said Hilary Harp Falk, president and CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “It’s a really big deal when three governors and leaders from around the region meet to stack hands and reaffirm commitments to clean water. This kind of local and state leadership is more critical than ever.” Such cooperation hasn’t always been the case. In 2020, Maryland, Virginia and D.C. filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration’s EPA, accusing the agency of violating the Clean Water Act by failing to enforce Chesapeake Bay pollution reduction limits for Pennsylvania and New York. During his speech Tuesday — he was supposed to attend the meeting in person, but was sidelined by the heavy fog that blanketed the Mid-Atlantic — Shapiro acknowledged that his state had been lagging on its commitment to Bay cleanup goals until recent years. “It is important for me to participate in this conversation, because for a long time, Pennsylvania was on the sidelines and now we’re in the game,” he said. And in another sign of interstate collegiality, Youngkin nominated Moore to serve another year as chair of the executive council. Asked after the meeting about the potential impact of the incoming Trump administration on Bay cleanup efforts, Moore reiterated the states’ commitment to working together. “We all collectively understand the importance of this work,” he said, adding, “We look forward to working with the new administration to ensure that our goals are met.” Moore’s Bay Legacy Act Moore, from the dais of Tuesday’s meeting, offered broad details of the legislation he’s planning to introduce in the upcoming legislative session on Bay health. Those plans were fleshed out slightly by administration officials in interviews Tuesday. They said the bill, tentatively called the Bay Legacy Act, would: Seek to increase regenerative farming practices in the state, particularly on land owned by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in part by offering long-term leases to farmers to encourage them to regenerate the soil;Improve aquaculture permitting in the state; andStrengthen water-quality monitoring programs within DNR, largely by establishing new protocols that would make it easier for the agency to work with other entities and “citizen scientists” who conduct water quality tests of their own. Administration officials said more details on the proposed legislation could be released in a matter of days. “We are going to continue to move forward and move fast in this state,” Moore said, “because that is what the people of Maryland demand and require.” Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: editor@marylandmatters.org .