The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
When medicines are controlled: How Drug Enforcement Administration rules exacerbate drug shortages
English Summary
This Brookings event discusses how the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) regulatory framework, particularly its quota system for Schedule II medicines, exacerbates persistent drug shortages in the United States. While these production limits aim to prevent the diversion of medications like opioids and ADHD treatments for illicit use, they often fail to account for manufacturing realities, leading to delays and rationing in patient care. The panel explores the intersection of federal regulation and supply chain stability, suggesting that reforms are necessary to balance public safety with the reliable availability of essential medicines.
中文摘要
這場布魯金斯學會(Brookings)活動探討了美國緝毒局(DEA)的監管架構,特別是針對第二類管制藥品的配額制度,如何加劇美國長期性的藥品短缺問題。雖然這些生產限制旨在防止鴉片類藥物和過動症(ADHD)治療藥物被挪作非法用途,但往往未能考慮到製造業的現實情況,導致患者照護的延誤與藥物配給。專家小組探討了聯邦監管與供應鏈穩定性之間的交集,並建議進行改革,以在維護公共安全與確保基本藥物穩定供應之間取得平衡。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The article argues that Donald Trump's unique and prolonged lame-duck period, coupled with domestic political pressures, makes him dangerously prone to international instability. Having exhausted major diplomatic gambits, Trump is expected to channel his energy into high-stakes, unilateral actions, primarily targeting adversaries such as Iran and Cuba. These potential actions—ranging from fresh strikes in the Persian Gulf to attempts at regime change—carry a significant risk of destabilizing regional security and triggering a global economic crisis. Policymakers must anticipate this pivot to high-risk foreign policy to mitigate potential international flare-ups.
-
3.
The publication argues that current efforts to improve the well-being of men and boys of color are too fragmented, failing to account for the structural linkages between systems like education, employment, and criminal justice. It proposes a new, holistic framework that traces how structural conditions flow through multiple domains to measurable outcomes, such as longevity. Key reasoning emphasizes the need to treat 'place' as a fundamental actor and to identify successful communities where these populations are already thriving. Policy implications require shifting away from individual-focused interventions toward developing structural, place-based agendas that address systemic inequities.
-
4.
The Blue Wave signals significant voter frustration with cost of living and inflation, giving Congress a mandate to prioritize affordability and cost-reduction measures. Economically, the rapid build-out of AI data centers is creating localized stress, driving up skilled labor wages and straining resources, while also facing constraints from power grids and potential local regulatory backlash. Policymakers must manage this 'sequencing issue'—addressing rising costs before full productivity gains from AI can materialize—and anticipate shifts in global data center infrastructure as the market matures.
-
5.
The built environment workforce, comprising 15.3 million workers across 95 occupations, is foundational to modern infrastructure and economic stability. While highly paid, the workforce suffers from significant demographic imbalances, being disproportionately white and male, and often lacking clear career progression pathways. To prevent project delays and cost overruns, policy must mandate that capital asset owners treat labor market forecasting as core to project planning. Strategic interventions are required to strengthen career pipelines through robust apprenticeships, improve retention, and actively recruit younger and more diverse workers.