On October 7, 2025, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced suspension of all biometric testing, ranking, and research activities—including the world-renowned Face Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT), Face Analysis Technology Evaluation (FATE), and IREX evaluations—due to the …
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President Trump signed Executive Order 14351 establishing the ‘Gold Card’ visa program, requiring foreign nationals to make ‘unrestricted gifts’ of $1 million to the Department of Commerce ($2 million if a corporation gives on behalf of an individual) to obtain residency. The …
Donald TrumpWhite HouseDepartment of Commerceexecutive-powerexecutive-ordersimmigrationcorruption
Commerce Department official George Cook was named acting Census Bureau director while simultaneously serving as Commerce Department’s acting undersecretary for economic affairs (which oversees the Census Bureau) and as chief of staff to that role—an unprecedented concentration of power …
George CookCensus BureauDepartment of CommerceDonald Trumpinstitutional-capturecensus-manipulationstatistical-integritypolitical-interferenceelectoral-manipulation
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced plans to extract government equity stakes from major corporations like Intel and Lockheed Martin in exchange for federal support, using tariffs and export licenses as pressure tools through a secretive ‘Investment Accelerator’ initiative. …
Howard LutnickDepartment of CommerceIntelLockheed MartinTrump Administrationinstitutional-capturecorporate-coercionregulatory-extortionsystematic-corruption
After taking a 10% equity stake in Intel worth $8.9 billion, the government waived performance benchmarks and accountability requirements despite Intel receiving over $11 billion in total federal support through CHIPS Act grants and additional programs. The benchmark waiver eliminates standards that …
TrumpIntelDepartment of Commercestate-capitalismcorporate-welfareCHIPS-Actaccountabilitycrony-capitalism
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced the U.S. government acquired a 10% stake in Intel by converting $8.9 billion in CHIPS Act grants into equity, purchasing 433.3 million shares at $20.47 per share. Of this total, $5.7 billion came from previously awarded but unpaid CHIPS Act grants, and …
Howard LutnickTrumpDepartment of CommerceIntelstate-capitalisminstitutional-capturecorporate-influenceCHIPS-Act
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced the U.S. government would take a 10% equity stake in Intel worth $8.9 billion, converting previously committed CHIPS Act grants into government ownership. SoftBank simultaneously invested $2 billion, purchasing 2% of Intel. The equity-for-funding model …
Howard LutnickIntel CorporationSoftBankDepartment of Commerceinstitutional-capturesystematic-corruptiontech
Trump administration pauses the $42 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program to implement ’tech-neutral’ approach, potentially allowing Elon Musk’s Starlink to receive $10-20 billion in federal grants instead of the original $4.1 billion. Critics argue this …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationElon MuskDepartment of CommerceHoward Lutnickgovernment-contractsstarlinkbroadbandfederal-grantsmusk-benefits
FAA approves 4,000 Starlink terminals worth $400 million despite existing contract with another company, while State Department announces $400 million Tesla Cybertruck contract and Commerce changes broadband requirements favoring Starlink.
FAAStarlinkTeslaState DepartmentDepartment of Commerceself-dealingstarlinkgovernment-contractsmuskregulatory-capture
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick overhauled the $42.5B BEAD broadband program to adopt “tech-neutral approach” allowing satellite providers like Starlink to receive $10-20B instead of expected $4.1B, while directing staff to “increase satellite usage regardless of other …
Howard LutnickDepartment of CommerceElon MuskStarlinkconflict-of-interestregulatory-capturestarlinkbroadbandmusk-benefits
Howard Lutnick, Commerce Secretary worth $3.1 billion, faces 106 potential conflicts of interest requiring recusal - the most of any cabinet member ever tracked by government watchdog groups. Transferred control of Cantor Fitzgerald to 27-year-old son while maintaining family financial interests.
Howard LutnickDepartment of CommerceCantor Fitzgeraldconflict-of-interestcabinet-wealthethics-violationregulatory-capture
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick refuses to recuse from Trump’s Digital Asset Working Group despite maintaining a $600 million stake in Tether, a cryptocurrency under DOJ investigation. Multiple sources, including Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office, highlight Lutnick’s significant …
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