U.S. opens environmental review of Pacific seabed mining.
Today's events
Seabed mining.
NOAA will prepare an environmental impact statement before deciding whether to license The Metals Company USA to explore for seabed minerals in the Pacific's Clarion–Clipperton Zone, beyond any nation's jurisdiction.1Aug 17 · NOAAEbola entry order.
The Centers for Disease Control continued an order barring entry to anyone present in specified countries during the previous 21 days, citing the Ebola outbreak; it runs to September 11 and no longer exempts lawful permanent residents.2Aug 17 · CDCChina aluminum duties.
Commerce found 18 Chinese aluminum-extrusion exporters ineligible for their own duty rates and folded them into the China-wide entity; customs will assess 86.01 percent on their entries from the review year.3Aug 17 · CommerceBiotech investment bill.
Senators introduced the Biotech Investment National Security Act of 2026 on August 6, a measure naming biotechnology investment a national-security matter; the printed bill entered the public record August 15.4Aug 15 · SenateInherent Resolve handover.
Rear Adm. Liam Hulin took command of the anti-Islamic State task force from Maj. Gen. Kevin Lambert on August 11 at its Jordan headquarters; more than 50,000 American troops are operating across the Middle East.5Aug 15 · CENTCOMIndonesia partnership.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio marked Indonesia's 81st independence anniversary by naming critical minerals, maritime security and the digital economy as priorities, and offered condolences for the East Nusa Tenggara earthquake.6Aug 16 · StateMigrant children's lawyers.
The refugee resettlement office cancelled its plan to award up to $150 million to Burke Law Group in Houston for representing unaccompanied migrant children; the firm withdrew from consideration on August 11.7Aug 17 · HHSAnimal gene therapies.
The Food and Drug Administration issued final guidance creating a master-file route for research on animal cell and tissue products, gene therapies, and heritable genomic changes engineered into animals.8Aug 17 · FDADrug prevention month.
Trump proclaimed August 2026 National Substance Use Primary Prevention Month, citing the permanent Schedule I listing of fentanyl-related substances and the designation of nearly a dozen cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.9Aug 17 · Fed. Reg.
Allied Governments
Volcano travel advice.
Britain's Foreign Office told travellers to stay clear of six Indonesian volcanoes and warned of aftershocks, landslides and transport disruption after the August 15 earthquake north of Flores.aAug 16 · UK FCDOColombia quake relief.
Japan agreed to ship tents, blankets and other emergency relief goods to Colombia through its international cooperation agency, at the Colombian government's request.bAug 17 · Japan MoFA
Voices
“History will record this deployment as one of the most operationally intense and consequential of the modern era.”
Adm. Brad Cooper, Commander, U.S. Central Command · Aug 155
“The United States looks forward to creating new avenues of opportunity for our nations in priority areas such as critical minerals, maritime security, and the digital economy.”
Sec. of State Marco Rubio · Aug 166
“NOAA may issue licenses and permits to U.S. citizens in areas beyond national jurisdiction under [the deep seabed mining act], provided all statutory and regulatory requirements are met.”
NOAA, Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement · Aug 171
“For the first time in American history, my 2026 National Drug Control Strategy establishes a framework that places quality, evidence-based prevention at the center of our national response.”
President Donald J. Trump, Presidential Proclamation · Aug 129
“[W]e will instruct [customs] to apply an ad valorem assessment rate of 86.01 percent to all entries of subject merchandise during the [review period].”
Commerce, Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review · Aug 173
“This withdrawal does not affect ORR's continued efforts to ensure access to legal services for eligible [unaccompanied children] in ORR care.”
Office of Refugee Resettlement, withdrawal notice · Aug 177
Sources
- Federal Register, “Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Issuance of an Exploration License to The Metals Company USA, LLC for ‘USA-B’” (NOAA, Commerce), August 17, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/tmc-usa-b-seabed-exploration-eis
- Federal Register, “Order Under Sections 362 and 365 of the Public Health Service Act Continuing the Suspension of the Right To Introduce Certain Persons From Countries Where a Quarantinable Communicable Disease Exists” (CDC), August 17, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/cdc-quarantinable-disease-entry-order
- Federal Register, “Aluminum Extrusions From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2024-2025” (Commerce), August 17, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/china-aluminum-extrusions-final-results
- U.S. Government Publishing Office, “S. 5316 — Biotech Investment National Security Act of 2026,” introduced in Senate August 6, 2026. govinfo.gov/app/details/…/s5316-biotech-investment
- U.S. Central Command, “CENTCOM Commander Completes 10-Day Trip to the Middle East,” August 15, 2026. centcom.mil/media/public-releases/…/commander-middle-east-trip
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Indonesia Independence Day,” August 16, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/indonesia-independence-day
- Federal Register, “Withdrawal of the Announcement of the Intent To Award a Single-Source Cooperative Agreement to Burke Law Group, PLLC in Houston, Texas” (HHS, Office of Refugee Resettlement), August 17, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/orr-burke-law-group-withdrawal
- Federal Register, “Type VII Veterinary Master File for Research and Development and Risk Reviews; Guidance for Industry; Availability” (FDA), August 17, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/type-vii-veterinary-master-file
- Federal Register, “National Substance Use Primary Prevention Month, 2026” (Presidential Proclamation of August 12, 2026), published August 17, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/substance-use-primary-prevention-month
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, “Indonesia travel advice,” August 16, 2026. gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/indonesia
- Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Emergency Assistance in Response to the Earthquake Damage in Colombia,” August 17, 2026. mofa.go.jp/press/release/…/colombia-earthquake-assistance