The White House (via OMB) strongly protests Congressional efforts within the FY 2027 NDAA to prohibit the purchase of warships from foreign shipyards. The Administration argues that these restrictions undermine national security by limiting flexibility and hindering its strategy of leveraging allied yards, such as in the 'Finland model,' to drive investment into U.S. shipbuilding capacity. This signals a significant policy shift toward integrating international partners into advanced naval construction, suggesting the Pentagon is prepared to bypass traditional domestic build requirements for future combat vessels.
FISA Section 702 Lapse Assured—What Now?
English Summary
Despite government warnings of intelligence "darkness," CATO argues that Section 702's lapse will have limited practical impact because existing FISC certifications are grandfathered through March 2027, other FISA authorities remain, and most signals intelligence operates under Executive Order 12333 independent of 702. The genuine operational constraint is the inability to issue new directives to service providers, not loss of existing capability. However, the author warns that surveillance capabilities will persist through 12333 without the oversight architecture—FISC review, congressional reporting, compliance procedures—creating operations without adequate accountability. This is particularly concerning given documented tripling of warrantless searches of sensitive targets (journalists, religious groups) in 2025 and the administration's disabling of independent oversight bodies. Congress should condition reauthorization on a warrant requirement for searches of Americans' data, addressing the core civil liberties problem.
中文摘要
儘管政府發出關於情報「黑暗期」的警告，卡托研究所主張第702條款的終止影響有限，原因是現有外國情報監視法院（FISC）的認證已獲保留至2027年3月，其他《外國情報監視法》（FISA）權限仍然存在，且大部分訊號情報在獨立於第702條款的《行政命令12333》下運作。真正的運作制約不在於現有能力喪失，而在於無法向服務提供商發布新指令。然而，作者警告，在缺乏監督機制—包括FISC審查、國會報告、合規程序—的情況下，監視能力將通過《行政命令12333》持續存在，導致缺乏適當問責的運作。鑒於2025年對記者和宗教團體等敏感目標的無搜索令搜索數量增加三倍的文件證據，以及政府禁用獨立監督機構的事實，這尤其令人關注。國會應將對美國人數據搜索的搜索令要求作為重新授權的條件，以解決核心公民自由問題。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The Western Pacific remains a highly active theater defined by sustained U.S.-led military exercises and escalating great power competition. Key evidence includes continuous joint operations, such as RIMPAC 2026 in Hawaii and the deployment of CSGs into the South China Sea, juxtaposed with increased naval activity from both China (PLAN task groups) and Russia near Japan's critical straits. These movements underscore a strategic push by non-allied powers to assert presence and challenge regional norms. Policy implications dictate that allied nations must maintain robust multilateral cooperation and interoperability to safeguard freedom of navigation and manage escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
-
3.
The article argues that the post-Cold War era of U.S. unipolarity, established by the perceived invincibility demonstrated during the Gulf War, has ended. This decline is driven by globalization and technological diffusion, which have democratized advanced military capabilities, allowing regional actors to challenge major powers. Consequently, policymakers must prepare for a more volatile international order marked by frequent crises, heightened costs for securing global trade chokepoints, and reduced predictability from American power. The new rules dictate that great powers can no longer effortlessly impose their will through force.
-
4.
The article argues that current market borrowing costs are rising independently of the Federal Reserve's policy stance, challenging the assumption that the Fed controls all rates. Evidence shows significant increases in key rates—such as 2-year Treasuries and mortgages—even while the effective federal funds rate remains steady. This divergence occurs because market rates reflect complex factors like inflation expectations, credit risk, and geopolitical volatility, which are outside the central bank's direct control. Policymakers should therefore recognize that sustainable rate moderation requires credible disinflation and disciplined government budgets, rather than relying solely on Fed intervention.
-
5.
Mini cities are temporary, child-run educational models—originating in Germany and Austria—that simulate real civic life by having children manage businesses, elect officials, pay taxes, and handle legal disputes. The core argument is that these hands-on experiences provide a superior learning environment compared to conventional schooling because children learn through the natural consequences of their actions rather than abstract grades. Policy implications suggest expanding this model from temporary summer programs into permanent, year-round structures that blur the line between play and real economic activity, potentially serving as a comprehensive 'launching pad' for future adult careers.