Air National Guard

Colin Bales, a physical therapist and Air National Guard member, suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury in a diving accident at his family's lake house on July 4. He was airlifted to Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, North Dakota, where he underwent two surgeries and remains in stable condition. The family plans to transfer him to Craig Hospital in Denver for specialized rehabilitation and has started a fundraiser to cover estimated medical costs of $500,000 to $1 million.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., died at 71 after a 'brief and sudden illness,' ending his Senate career since 2003. Tributes from President Donald Trump, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, and other leaders highlighted his influence on national security and foreign policy.

Air National Guard leaders warned Congress that the U.S. Air Force is the oldest, smallest, and least ready in its history, requesting 72-100 new fighter jets (including F-35s and F-15EXs) to address readiness gaps. The plea comes amid heightened military operations like Operation Epic Fury in Iran and a proposed $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget for 2027.

Air National Guard leaders warn Congress that the U.S. Air Force is the oldest, smallest, and least ready in its 78-year history, requesting 72–100 new fighter jets (including 48 F-35s and 24 F-15EXs) to address readiness gaps. They cite Operation Epic Fury in Iran as evidence of urgent resource needs, with Brig. Gen. Shannon Smith emphasizing that current procurement rates risk leaving squadrons with outdated aircraft.

Jack Douglas Teixeira, a former Air National Guardsman from Massachusetts, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for unlawfully retaining and transmitting hundreds of pages of classified national defense information, including top secret documents, on social media platforms between 2022 and 2023.