The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
November 5, 2025
Registration Now Open
Travel Academy Overview
Register for GovTravels today! The National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA), in association with the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) and the General Services Administration (GSA), will host GovTravels 2026, February 23-26, at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center Hotel in Alexandria, VA. The 2026 GovTravels theme, “Navigating New Horizons: Empowering Government and Travel Industry through Education & Training,” highlights the importance of staying mission-ready through continuous learning. Don’t miss the Travel Academy’s unique and interactive breakout classes that offer an unparalleled educational experience. Be part of the future of government travel! […READ MORE…]
Sean Duffy Says Flight Delays, Cancellations Will Continue Amid Government Shutdown
By Elvia Limon
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Sunday that he expects flight delays and cancellations to continue as the ongoing government shutdown creates staffing shortages at airports nationwide.
“We will delay, we will cancel, any kind of flight across the national airspace to make sure people are safe,” he told ABC News’s “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz on Sunday. “There is a level of risk that gets injected into the system when we have a controller that’s doing two jobs instead of one.” […READ MORE…]
(Transportation.gov) U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced today that the Department of Transportation has secured an additional $111 million funding to sustain the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, which was in danger of funding lapses due to the Democrat-led shutdown. Additional funding should prevent the program from lapsing until November 18, and USDOT may have authority to extend it beyond that date. […READ MORE…]
Duffy Plans to Expand Driver Enforcement to Shippers
(Freight Waves) In his appearance on Fox News’ “The Will Cain Show,” Duffy signaled a notable expansion in his enforcement strategy, pivoting from primarily holding trucking companies (carriers) accountable to also targeting shippers for enabling non-English-proficient commercial truck drivers. This move aims to broaden road safety measures amid ongoing crashes and debates on immigration and federal oversight. […READ MORE…]
NDTA and Toys for Tots are recruiting your support to help Santa’s Elves!
How does Santa get around to all the children in just one night?
He has LOTS of help: Elves, Marines, & YOU!
Join NDTA in our effort to support the annual
Marine Toys for Tots Program.
Please send or bring any new, unwrapped toys to our office
between Friday, November 7 and Monday, December 8, 2025.
Or, bring a toy AND celebrate with us and the Marines on
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Our doors will be open between 12 and 2pm.
At 1:15pm an official celebration of contributions will be held.
Enjoy refreshments and photographs with a pair of dedicated Marines!
If you are not able to drop off a toy in person, please send new, unwrapped toys to NDTA at the address below.
Financial donations are also welcome.
You may drop off or mail a check payable to Toys for Tots to:
NDTA
Attention: Jennifer Reed
50 S. Pickett Street, Suite #220
Alexandria, VA 22304
If you would like to make a donation via credit card, please call NDTA
703-751-5011
NDTA truly appreciates your support for this incredible Toys for Tots campaign!
Editor’s Picks
World’s Largest Cargo Sailboat Completes Historic First Atlantic Crossing
(MarineInsight) The world’s largest cargo sailboat, Neoliner Origin, completed its first transatlantic voyage on October 30 despite damage to one of its sails during the journey. The 136-metre-long vessel had to rely partly on its auxiliary motor and its remaining sail after the aft sail was damaged in a storm shortly after departure.
(Fall River Reporter) The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Campbell (WMEC 909) returned Monday to their homeport at U.S. Naval Station Newport after a 54-day maritime border security patrol in the Windward Passage. During the deployment, the crew supported Operation Vigilant Sentry in the Coast Guard District Southeast, advancing missions to protect lives at sea and prevent unlawful maritime entry into the United States and its territories.
Marine Corps Ordered to Boost Security Around Ammunition, Explosives After Audit
(News Nations) The U.S. Marine Corps has been directed to ramp up its security around its ammunition and explosives after a government audit found annual inspections did not meet Department of Defense standards.
The audit, conducted by the Government Accountability Office, cited a series of “physical security deficiencies” because of inspections that were either “not conducted or completed.”
Marine Corps Greenlights Boat-based Recon Companies, Narco-subs
(MarineCorpsTimes) The Marine Corps is scaling back its vision for shallow-water littoral regiments while approving a new unit with high-speed boats, focusing on a Pacific-oriented future force. This update, part of the Corps’ Force Design 2030 published in October, highlights a “continuous Campaign of Learning” that aids in making quicker fielding decisions and adapting, as necessary.
The Mach 9.6 X-43A ‘Hypersonic Scramjet’ Has a Message for the U.S. Air Force
(NationalSecurityJournal) China’s H-20 stealth bomber, first announced in 2016, remains elusive, with U.S. intelligence assessing it won’t debut until the 2030s.
Despite Chinese officials claiming a reveal is “very soon,” there is no verified prototype, and analysts are skeptical. U.S. intelligence officials state China is facing significant “engineering design challenges” and the H-20 is “probably nowhere near as good” as U.S. platforms.
Boeing Plans to Sell 32 Undefeated Fighter Jets in the World to this Country
(Aviation A2Z) Boeing has expanded its offer to the Polish Ministry of National Defense (MND) by pairing the advanced F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet with the MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone and an industrial cooperation package aimed at strengthening Poland’s defense sector. The proposal, revealed during Boeing’s recent presentation in Warsaw, underscores the aerospace giant’s renewed push to secure a deal after two years of discussions and to deepen defense collaboration with Polish firms.
SAP Concur Expands AI Agents for Travel and Expense
(BTN Europe) SAP Concur has launched its AI Booking Agent in Concur Travel, along with an AI tool to fill in missing receipt information. The Booking Agent, part of SAP’s AI copilot Joule, creates policy-compliant itineraries based on travelers’ natural language queries and is now generally available. Additionally, the Receipt Analysis Agent for ExpenseIt can fill in details from receipts, like missing location, vendor, or expense type, and sum line items to calculate a missing total.
Southwest Airlines Partners with Hahnair to Expand Global Ticketing Reach
(SWAmedia) Southwest Airlines Co. has entered an interline agreement with Hahnair to boost global visibility and provide ticketing access to 100,000 travel agencies in 190 markets outside the U.S., extending Southwest’s reach beyond its domestic base. Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson said the partnership helps international visitors travel more easily within the United States using Southwest’s extensive domestic network.
UPS Expands Healthcare Reach with Completion of Andlauer Deal
UPS has completed the acquisition of Andlauer Healthcare Group, a provider of logistics and refrigerated transportation services for the healthcare sector in Canada, for $1.6 billion in cash.
Andlauer’s customers include companies that make pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biologics, blood products, nutraceuticals, medical devices, consumer healthcare, animal health, and health and beauty products.
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