➀ The US Air Traffic Control Association criticized the slow progress in resolving air traffic control system issues, highlighting the lack of a comprehensive plan since 1957;

➁ Despite congressional acts (1957 Airways Modernization Act and 1958 Federal Aviation Act) and allocated funds, no effective system plan was developed over three years;

➂ The root issue stems from failure to clearly define the problem, hindering solutions despite extensive expert analysis.

➀ The global space economy grew 7.8% to $613 billion in 2024, driven by commercial sectors (78%) and government investments (22%), with U.S. civil and military spending at $77 billion;

➁ Record space launches in 2025 averaged one every 28 hours, led by SpaceX, while satellite broadband competition expanded with Amazon's Kuiper and OneWeb;

➂ U.S. military space funding prioritized the $25 billion Golden Dome missile defense system and infrastructure upgrades, signaling rapid growth in Earth Observation and sovereign space capabilities.

Yesterday, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced the establishment of the Patent Fraud Detection and Mitigation Working Group to address threats to the U.S. patent system and ensure its integrity.

The group aims to limit improper activities in patent applications and reexamination proceedings, and will focus on addressing erroneous fee certifications, monitoring suspicious filings, and identifying potential misrepresentations to the USPTO.

The agency has also launched a new webpage to provide information on new and potential threats in patent applications and reexamination proceedings.

➀ Statista estimates that 16,000 U.S. federal employees have been laid off under presidential executive orders, in addition to 75,000 who accepted buyouts.

➁ The cuts are less than 4% of the 2.4 million non-military and non-postal federal workforce.

➂ Specific departments affected include the IRS, Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, and Medicare.

➀ The government has delayed its AI Bill to avoid upsetting the US government, as reported by the Guardian.

➁ The Bill would have required companies using LLMs in AI programs to submit them for vetting to the AI Security Institute.

➂ The intention was to present the Bill to parliament before Christmas, but it will now be postponed until summer.

➀ Elon Musk has confirmed he's using six young individuals between the ages of 19 and 24 to play critical roles in his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

➁ The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recently took control of a government computer system, resulting in officials being locked out.

➂ A new WIRED report has identified six individuals who play critical roles in DOGE and have been tasked with modernizing Federal technology and software.

➀ Elon Musk's aides have locked millions of federal government employees out of data systems.

➁ This action has raised concerns about cybersecurity and lack of oversight.

➂ The Enterprise Human Resources Integration system, containing sensitive personal data, is inaccessible to OPM officials.

➀ In 1961, Mr. Woodrow Wyatt, a Labour MP for Bosworth, proposed the creation of a 'Minister of Space Research and Development' to advance a British communications satellite system.

➁ When Mr. Wyatt presented this proposal to Prime Minister Macmillan, it was immediately rejected.

➂ Mr. Wyatt plans to introduce a series of Private Members Bills, including one to establish a 'Space Research Minister' and another to facilitate the construction of a vertical take-off aircraft.

➀ Ed Gulls, a tech-savvy individual, is leveraging the PM's enthusiasm for AI to secure contracts and personal benefits.

➁ The PM believes in the transformative potential of AI and is proposing various applications, from locating blood clots to reducing administrative tasks.

➂ Ed positions himself as a bridge between AI developers and the government, securing contracts and receiving emoluments for his efforts.

➀ The U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has selected 13 companies to compete for orders under its Luno B GEOINT program.

➁ These companies will provide unclassified, commercial GEOINT products, data, and services to expand the agency's geospatial information.

➂ The program aims to transform the NGA's approach to geospatial information and knowledge, enhancing access to data and services and integrating them into broader enterprise capabilities.

➀ The author, Ed, discusses the tendency of ministers to focus on frequent announcements rather than substantive strategies.

➁ He mentions his practice of recycling old announcements with modifications to appear innovative.

➂ Ed's department has been making numerous press releases on topics such as gigabit broadband and AI company grants, leading to jealousy among his ministerial colleagues.