Files
nexus/sreweekly/articles/222/04-faulty-equipment-lapsed-training-repeated-warnings-how-a-preventable-d.html
2026-09-12 17:23:01 +08:00

2971 lines
447 KiB
HTML
Raw Blame History

This file contains ambiguous Unicode characters
This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en-US">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
<meta name='robots' content='index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1' />
<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.2 (Yoast SEO v28.2) - https://yoast.com/product/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress/ -->
<meta name="description" content="Marine commanders did not act on dozens of pleas for additional manpower, machinery and time. When a training exercise ended in death, leadership blamed the very men they had neglected." />
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard" />
<meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" />
<meta property="og:type" content="article" />
<meta property="og:title" content="Faulty Equipment, Lapsed Training, Repeated Warnings: How a Preventable Disaster Killed Six Marines" />
<meta property="og:description" content="Marine commanders did not act on dozens of pleas for additional manpower, machinery and time. When a training exercise ended in death, leadership blamed the very men they had neglected." />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://www.propublica.org/article/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard" />
<meta property="og:site_name" content="ProPublica" />
<meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/propublica" />
<meta property="article:published_time" content="2019-12-30T10:00:00+00:00" />
<meta property="article:modified_time" content="2020-03-03T04:45:47+00:00" />
<meta property="og:image" content="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-1200x630.jpg?resize=2000,1050" />
<meta property="og:image:width" content="2000" />
<meta property="og:image:height" content="1050" />
<meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" />
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Faulty Equipment, Lapsed Training, Repeated Warnings: How a Preventable Disaster Killed Six Marines" />
<meta name="twitter:creator" content="@propublica" />
<meta name="twitter:site" content="@propublica" />
<meta name="twitter:label1" content="Est. reading time" />
<meta name="twitter:data1" content="47 minutes" />
<meta name="twitter:label2" content="Written by" />
<meta name="twitter:data2" content="Robert Faturechi, Megan Rose, and T. Christian Miller" />
<script type="application/ld+json" class="yoast-schema-graph">{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard"},"author":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/?post_type=profile&#038;p=1543"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/?post_type=profile&#038;p=1268"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/?post_type=profile&#038;p=1757"}],"headline":"Faulty Equipment, Lapsed Training, Repeated Warnings: How a Preventable Disaster Killed Six Marines","datePublished":"2019-12-30T10:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2020-03-03T04:45:47+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard"},"wordCount":9399,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg","inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard","url":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard","name":"Faulty Equipment, Lapsed Training, Repeated Warnings: How a Preventable Disaster Killed Six Marines &#8212; ProPublica","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg","datePublished":"2019-12-30T10:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2020-03-03T04:45:47+00:00","description":"Marine commanders did not act on dozens of pleas for additional manpower, machinery and time. When a training exercise ended in death, leadership blamed the very men they had neglected.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg","width":2500,"height":1667},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Archive","item":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/archive"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Faulty Equipment, Lapsed Training, Repeated Warnings: How a Preventable Disaster Killed Six Marines"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/","name":"ProPublica","description":"Investigative Journalism in the Public Interest","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/#organization","name":"ProPublica","url":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ProPublica-wordmark-color.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ProPublica-wordmark-color.png","width":7653,"height":1000,"caption":"ProPublica"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/propublica","https:\/\/x.com\/propublica","https:\/\/newsie.social\/@ProPublica"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/?post_type=profile&#038;p=1543","name":"Robert Faturechi","url":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/people\/robert-faturechi","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg","width":2000,"height":2000}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/?post_type=profile&#038;p=1268","name":"Megan Rose","url":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/people\/megan-rose","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg","width":2000,"height":2000}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/?post_type=profile&#038;p=1757","name":"T. Christian Miller","url":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/people\/t-christian-miller","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg","width":2000,"height":2000}}]}</script>
<!-- / Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->
<title>Faulty Equipment, Lapsed Training, Repeated Warnings: How a Preventable Disaster Killed Six Marines &#8212; ProPublica</title>
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//assets.propublica.org' />
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//cdn-4.convertexperiments.com' />
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//cdn.parsely.com' />
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//www.google.com' />
<link href='https://www.googletagmanager.com' rel='preconnect' />
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="ProPublica" href="https://www.propublica.org/feeds/propublica/main" />
<link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (JSON)" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://www.propublica.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.propublica.org%2Farticle%2Fmarines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard" />
<link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (XML)" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://www.propublica.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.propublica.org%2Farticle%2Fmarines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard&#038;format=xml" />
<style id='wp-img-auto-sizes-contain-inline-css'>
img:is([sizes=auto i],[sizes^="auto," i]){contain-intrinsic-size:3000px 1500px}
/*# sourceURL=wp-img-auto-sizes-contain-inline-css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-site-header-style-inline-css'>
.site-header-skip-link:is(:first-child)+*{margin-block-start:0}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/site-header/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-opener-art-style-inline-css'>
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/opener-art/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='wp-block-embed-inline-css'>
.wp-block-embed.alignleft,.wp-block-embed.alignright,.wp-block[data-align=left]>[data-type="core/embed"],.wp-block[data-align=right]>[data-type="core/embed"]{max-width:360px;width:100%}.wp-block-embed.alignleft .wp-block-embed__wrapper,.wp-block-embed.alignright .wp-block-embed__wrapper,.wp-block[data-align=left]>[data-type="core/embed"] .wp-block-embed__wrapper,.wp-block[data-align=right]>[data-type="core/embed"] .wp-block-embed__wrapper{min-width:280px}.wp-block-cover .wp-block-embed{min-height:240px;min-width:320px}.wp-block-embed{overflow-wrap:break-word}.wp-block-embed :where(figcaption){margin-bottom:1em;margin-top:.5em}.wp-block-embed iframe{max-width:100%}.wp-block-embed__wrapper{position:relative}.wp-embed-responsive .wp-has-aspect-ratio .wp-block-embed__wrapper:before{content:"";display:block;padding-top:50%}.wp-embed-responsive .wp-has-aspect-ratio iframe{bottom:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;right:0;top:0;width:100%}.wp-embed-responsive .wp-embed-aspect-21-9 .wp-block-embed__wrapper:before{padding-top:42.85%}.wp-embed-responsive .wp-embed-aspect-18-9 .wp-block-embed__wrapper:before{padding-top:50%}.wp-embed-responsive .wp-embed-aspect-16-9 .wp-block-embed__wrapper:before{padding-top:56.25%}.wp-embed-responsive .wp-embed-aspect-4-3 .wp-block-embed__wrapper:before{padding-top:75%}.wp-embed-responsive .wp-embed-aspect-1-1 .wp-block-embed__wrapper:before{padding-top:100%}.wp-embed-responsive .wp-embed-aspect-9-16 .wp-block-embed__wrapper:before{padding-top:177.77%}.wp-embed-responsive .wp-embed-aspect-1-2 .wp-block-embed__wrapper:before{padding-top:200%}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/blocks/embed/style.min.css */
</style>
<style id='wp-block-spacer-inline-css'>
.wp-block-spacer{clear:both}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/blocks/spacer/style.min.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-primary-term-style-inline-css'>
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/primary-term/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='wp-block-post-title-inline-css'>
.wp-block-post-title{box-sizing:border-box;word-break:break-word}.wp-block-post-title :where(a){display:inline-block;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;line-height:inherit;text-decoration:inherit}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/blocks/post-title/style.min.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-2026-core-post-title-styles-inline-css'>
.wp-block-post-title.entry-title.people-listing-header__hed{font-size:var(--p-scale-7)}@media(min-width:60rem){.wp-block-post-title.entry-title.people-listing-header__hed{font-size:var(--p-scale-8)}}.entry-header--video .wp-block-post-title.entry-title{font-size:var(--p-scale-7);line-height:var(--p-line-height-3)}@media(min-width:36rem){.entry-header--video .wp-block-post-title.entry-title{font-size:var(--p-scale-8)}}@media(min-width:48rem){.entry-header--video .wp-block-post-title.entry-title{font-size:var(--p-scale-9);line-height:var(--p-line-height-2)}}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/core/post-title/index.css */
</style>
<style id='wp-block-group-inline-css'>
.wp-block-group{box-sizing:border-box}:where(.wp-block-group.wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained){position:relative}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/blocks/group/style.min.css */
</style>
<link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-20' href='https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/core/group/index.css?m=1789050548g' type='text/css' media='all' />
<style id='propublica-dek-style-inline-css'>
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/dek/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-byline-text-style-inline-css'>
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/byline-text/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-byline-profile-style-inline-css'>
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/byline-profile/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-byline-style-inline-css'>
.wp-block-propublica-byline:has(.wp-block-propublica-byline__photos){align-items:center;display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;row-gap:var(--spacing0,1rem)}.wp-block-propublica-byline:has(.wp-block-propublica-byline__partners){align-items:flex-start}.wp-block-propublica-byline__photos{align-items:center;display:flex;gap:var(--spacing-1,.5rem);margin-inline-end:var(--spacing0,1rem)}.wp-block-propublica-byline:has(.wp-block-propublica-byline__photo-link:nth-child(5)) .wp-block-propublica-byline__photos{margin-inline-end:0;width:100%}.wp-block-propublica-byline__photo{border-radius:50%;height:50px;-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover;width:50px}.wp-block-propublica-byline__right{display:flex;flex-direction:column}.wp-block-propublica-byline__partners{margin-block-start:var(--spacing-2,.25rem)}.wp-block-propublica-byline__partners a{text-decoration:underline}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/byline/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-2026-propublica-byline-styles-inline-css'>
.wp-block-propublica-byline{font-size:var(--p-scale-4)}@media(min-width:78rem){.wp-block-propublica-byline{font-size:var(--p-scale-3)}}.wp-block-propublica-byline__partners{font-weight:400}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/propublica/byline/index.css */
</style>
<style id='wp-block-post-date-inline-css'>
.wp-block-post-date{box-sizing:border-box}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/blocks/post-date/style.min.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-2026-core-post-date-styles-inline-css'>
.wp-block-post-date{font-size:var(--p-scale-4)}@media(min-width:78rem){.wp-block-post-date{font-size:var(--p-scale-3)}}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/core/post-date/index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-sharetools-style-inline-css'>
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/sharetools/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-darkmodetoggle-style-inline-css'>
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/darkmodetoggle/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-opener-style-inline-css'>
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/opener/style-index.css */
</style>
<link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-40' href='https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/propublica/opener/index.css?m=1789050548g' type='text/css' media='all' />
<style id='wp-block-paragraph-inline-css'>
.is-small-text{font-size:.875em}.is-regular-text{font-size:1em}.is-large-text{font-size:2.25em}.is-larger-text{font-size:3em}.has-drop-cap:not(:focus):first-letter{float:left;font-size:8.4em;font-style:normal;font-weight:100;line-height:.68;margin:.05em .1em 0 0;text-transform:uppercase}body.rtl .has-drop-cap:not(:focus):first-letter{float:none;margin-left:.1em}p.has-drop-cap.has-background{overflow:hidden}:root :where(p.has-background){padding:1.25em 2.375em}:where(p.has-text-color:not(.has-link-color)) a{color:inherit}p.has-text-align-left[style*="writing-mode:vertical-lr"],p.has-text-align-right[style*="writing-mode:vertical-rl"]{rotate:180deg}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/blocks/paragraph/style.min.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-2026-core-paragraph-styles-inline-css'>
.has-drop-cap:not(:focus):first-letter{font-family:var(--p-fonts-hed);font-size:5em;font-weight:500;line-height:.94;margin:0 .1em 0 0}p.profile-bio{color:var(--p-dyn-color-gray-03);font-family:var(--p-fonts-sans);line-height:var(--p-line-height-3);text-wrap:balance}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/core/paragraph/index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-note-style-inline-css'>
.wp-block-propublica-note{line-height:var(--p-line-height-4);max-width:66ch}@media print{.wp-block-propublica-note{max-width:none}}.wp-block-propublica-note+.wp-block-propublica-note,.wp-block-propublica-note>:not(:first-child){margin-block-start:var(--p-spacing-4,var(--spacing0))}.wp-block-propublica-note.wp-block-propublica-note--content-warning{display:flex;max-width:none}.wp-block-propublica-note.wp-block-propublica-note--content-warning>:first-child{margin-block-start:.25em}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/note/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-2026-propublica-note-styles-inline-css'>
.wp-block-propublica-note.wp-block-propublica-note--content-warning{color:var(--p-color-text-hed);font-family:var(--p-fonts-sans);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;line-height:var(--p-line-height-3)}.wp-block-propublica-note.wp-block-propublica-note--content-warning:before{background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,%3Csvg%20width%3D%2224%22%20height%3D%2224%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2024%2024%22%20fill%3D%22none%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%3E%0A%3Cpath%20fill-rule%3D%22evenodd%22%20clip-rule%3D%22evenodd%22%20d%3D%22M10.29%203.86001L1.82%2018C1.64537%2018.3024%201.55297%2018.6453%201.55199%2018.9945C1.55101%2019.3437%201.64149%2019.6871%201.81443%2019.9905C1.98736%2020.2939%202.23673%2020.5468%202.53771%2020.7239C2.83869%2020.901%203.1808%2020.9962%203.53%2021H20.47C20.8192%2020.9962%2021.1613%2020.901%2021.4623%2020.7239C21.7633%2020.5468%2022.0126%2020.2939%2022.1856%2019.9905C22.3585%2019.6871%2022.449%2019.3437%2022.448%2018.9945C22.447%2018.6453%2022.3546%2018.3024%2022.18%2018L13.71%203.86001C13.5317%203.56611%2013.2807%203.32313%2012.9812%203.15449C12.6817%202.98585%2012.3437%202.89726%2012%202.89726C11.6563%202.89726%2011.3183%202.98585%2011.0188%203.15449C10.7193%203.32313%2010.4683%203.56611%2010.29%203.86001ZM12%208C12.5523%208%2013%208.44772%2013%209V13C13%2013.5523%2012.5523%2014%2012%2014C11.4477%2014%2011%2013.5523%2011%2013V9C11%208.44772%2011.4477%208%2012%208ZM12%2016C11.4477%2016%2011%2016.4477%2011%2017C11%2017.5523%2011.4477%2018%2012%2018H12.01C12.5623%2018%2013.01%2017.5523%2013.01%2017C13.01%2016.4477%2012.5623%2016%2012.01%2016H12Z%22%20fill%3D%22%23DA352B%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A");background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:100%;content:"";flex-shrink:0;height:2em;margin-right:.8em;width:2em}.wp-block-propublica-note.wp-block-propublica-note--contributor-line{font-family:var(--p-fonts-sans);font-size:var(--p-scale-4);font-style:normal}.wp-block-propublica-notes--bottom .wp-block-propublica-note.wp-block-propublica-note--contributor-line:before{background-color:var(--p-color-text-hed);content:"";display:block;height:1px;margin:var(--p-spacing-8) 0 var(--p-spacing-6);width:8rem}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/propublica/note/index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-notes-style-inline-css'>
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/notes/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-ad-slot-style-inline-css'>
.wp-block-propublica-ad-slot{clear:both;display:none;padding:var(--p-spacing-8,var(--spacing2)) 0;position:relative}.wp-block-propublica-ad-slot:before{content:"Advertisement";display:block;left:50%;position:absolute;top:.6rem;transform:translateX(-50%)}body.show-ads .wp-block-propublica-ad-slot{display:block}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/ad-slot/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-2026-propublica-ad-slot-styles-inline-css'>
.wp-block-propublica-ad-slot{background-color:var(--p-color-ad-bg);padding-block:var(--p-spacing-8)}.wp-block-propublica-ad-slot:before{color:var(--p-color-text-hed);font-family:var(--p-fonts-sans);font-size:var(--p-scale-1);letter-spacing:1px;line-height:var(--p-line-height-3);text-transform:uppercase;top:calc((var(--p-spacing-8) - var(--p-scale-1)*var(--p-line-height-3))/2)}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/propublica/ad-slot/index.css */
</style>
<link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-56' href='https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/blocks/image/style.min.css?m=1787604894g' type='text/css' media='all' />
<style id='propublica-2026-core-image-styles-inline-css'>
.wp-block-image img{height:auto;width:100%}.wp-block-image figcaption{margin-block-end:0;margin-block-start:var(--p-spacing-3)}.is-layout-constrained>.wp-block-image.alignleft{margin-inline-start:max(0px,(100% - var(--wp--style--global--content-size))/2)}.is-layout-constrained>.wp-block-image.alignright{margin-inline-end:max(0px,(100% - var(--wp--style--global--content-size))/2)}@media(max-width:35.9375rem){.is-layout-constrained>.wp-block-image.alignleft,.is-layout-constrained>.wp-block-image.alignright{float:none;margin-inline:unset}}.wp-block-image.alignleft:not(:has(figcaption)),.wp-block-image.alignright:not(:has(figcaption)){margin-block-end:1em}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/core/image/index.css */
</style>
<style id='wp-block-separator-inline-css'>
@charset "UTF-8";.wp-block-separator{border:none;border-top:2px solid}:root :where(.wp-block-separator.is-style-dots){height:auto;line-height:1;text-align:center}:root :where(.wp-block-separator.is-style-dots):before{color:currentColor;content:"···";font-family:serif;font-size:1.5em;letter-spacing:2em;padding-left:2em}.wp-block-separator.is-style-dots{background:none!important;border:none!important}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/blocks/separator/style.min.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-2026-core-separator-styles-inline-css'>
.wp-block-post-content .wp-block-separator{margin-block:var(--p-spacing-8);width:7.5rem}@media(min-width:48rem){.wp-block-post-content .wp-block-separator{margin-block:var(--p-spacing-9)}}@media print{.wp-block-post-content .wp-block-separator{border-top:1pt solid}}.wp-block-post-content .wp-block-separator.is-style-horizontal-rule{width:100%}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/core/separator/index.css */
</style>
<style id='wp-block-heading-inline-css'>
h1:where(.wp-block-heading).has-background,h2:where(.wp-block-heading).has-background,h3:where(.wp-block-heading).has-background,h4:where(.wp-block-heading).has-background,h5:where(.wp-block-heading).has-background,h6:where(.wp-block-heading).has-background{padding:1.25em 2.375em}h1.has-text-align-left[style*=writing-mode]:where([style*=vertical-lr]),h1.has-text-align-right[style*=writing-mode]:where([style*=vertical-rl]),h2.has-text-align-left[style*=writing-mode]:where([style*=vertical-lr]),h2.has-text-align-right[style*=writing-mode]:where([style*=vertical-rl]),h3.has-text-align-left[style*=writing-mode]:where([style*=vertical-lr]),h3.has-text-align-right[style*=writing-mode]:where([style*=vertical-rl]),h4.has-text-align-left[style*=writing-mode]:where([style*=vertical-lr]),h4.has-text-align-right[style*=writing-mode]:where([style*=vertical-rl]),h5.has-text-align-left[style*=writing-mode]:where([style*=vertical-lr]),h5.has-text-align-right[style*=writing-mode]:where([style*=vertical-rl]),h6.has-text-align-left[style*=writing-mode]:where([style*=vertical-lr]),h6.has-text-align-right[style*=writing-mode]:where([style*=vertical-rl]){rotate:180deg}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/blocks/heading/style.min.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-2026-core-heading-styles-inline-css'>
.wp-block-heading--most-read{font-size:var(--p-scale-5);margin-block-end:var(--p-spacing-1)}.wp-block-heading.topics-listing-section__hed{border-bottom:1px solid var(--p-dyn-color-gray-01);font-family:var(--p-fonts-sans);font-size:var(--p-scale-5);font-weight:700;line-height:var(--p-line-height-1);padding-bottom:var(--p-scale-3)}.wp-block-heading.topics-listing-section__hed a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)){color:inherit;text-decoration:none}.wp-block-heading.topics-listing-section__hed a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)):focus,.wp-block-heading.topics-listing-section__hed a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)):hover{color:inherit;text-decoration:underline}@media(min-width:60rem){.wp-block-heading.is-style-chapter-hed{font-size:var(--p-scale-9)}.wp-block-heading.is-style-explanatory-hed{font-size:var(--p-scale-6)}.wp-block-heading.is-style-standard-hed{font-size:var(--p-scale-8)}}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/core/heading/index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-2026-core-embed-styles-inline-css'>
.wp-block-embed .twitter-tweet-rendered{margin-inline:auto}.wp-block-embed.has-aspect-ratio .wp-block-embed__wrapper{height:100%;width:100%}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/core/embed/index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-lead-in-style-inline-css'>
.wp-block-propublica-lead-in>*{margin-block-end:0;margin-block-start:var(--p-vert-rhythm-sm,var(--spacing0))}.wp-block-propublica-lead-in>:first-child{margin-block-start:0}.wp-block-propublica-lead-in>:last-child{margin-block-end:0}.wp-block-propublica-lead-in.bb--size-full>.wp-block-heading,.wp-block-propublica-lead-in.bb--size-full>p,.wp-block-propublica-lead-in.bb--size-full>ul{margin-inline:var(--p-grid-margins,var(--grid-margins))}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/lead-in/style-index.css */
</style>
<link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-70' href='https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/propublica/lead-in/index.css?m=1789050548g' type='text/css' media='all' />
<style id='propublica-aside-style-inline-css'>
.wp-block-propublica-aside>*{margin-block-end:0;margin-block-start:var(--p-spacing-4,var(--spacing0))}.wp-block-propublica-aside>:first-child{margin-block-start:0}.wp-block-propublica-aside>:last-child{margin-block-end:0}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/aside/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-2026-propublica-aside-styles-inline-css'>
@media(min-width:60rem){.wp-block-propublica-aside.bb--size-xsmall-left,.wp-block-propublica-aside.bb--size-xsmall-right{font-size:var(--p-scale-3)}.wp-block-propublica-aside.bb--size-medium h2,.wp-block-propublica-aside.bb--size-medium h3{font-size:var(--p-scale-5)}.wp-block-propublica-aside.bb--size-medium h4{font-size:var(--p-scale-4)}.wp-block-propublica-aside.bb--size-medium h5{font-size:var(--p-scale-3)}.wp-block-propublica-aside.bb--size-medium h6{font-size:var(--p-scale-2)}}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/propublica/aside/index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-story-promo-style-inline-css'>
.wp-block-propublica-story-promo{overflow:hidden;position:relative}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/story-promo/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-2026-propublica-story-promo-styles-inline-css'>
.wp-block-propublica-story-promo a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)){text-decoration:none}.wp-block-propublica-story-promo a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)):focus,.wp-block-propublica-story-promo a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)):hover{text-decoration:underline}.story-promo{display:flex;flex-flow:column nowrap;gap:var(--p-spacing-4) var(--p-grid-gutter)}@media(min-width:48rem){.story-promo{flex-direction:row-reverse;justify-content:space-between}}.story-promo__art{flex:0 0 100%}@media(min-width:48rem){.story-promo__art{flex-basis:var(--p-col-size--04)}}@media(min-width:60rem){.story-promo__art{flex-basis:var(--p-col-size--05)}}.story-promo__art img{aspect-ratio:3/2;-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover}.story-promo__hed{display:block;font-family:var(--p-fonts-hed);font-size:var(--p-scale-5);font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-.01em;line-height:var(--p-line-height-2)}@media(min-width:60rem){.story-promo__hed{font-size:var(--p-scale-7)}}.bb--size-small-left .story-promo,.bb--size-small-right .story-promo,.bb--size-xsmall-left .story-promo,.bb--size-xsmall-right .story-promo{flex-flow:row-reverse nowrap}@media(min-width:48rem){.bb--size-small-left .story-promo,.bb--size-small-right .story-promo,.bb--size-xsmall-left .story-promo,.bb--size-xsmall-right .story-promo{flex-direction:column}}.bb--size-small-left .story-promo .story-promo__art,.bb--size-small-right .story-promo .story-promo__art,.bb--size-xsmall-left .story-promo .story-promo__art,.bb--size-xsmall-right .story-promo .story-promo__art{flex-basis:var(--p-col-size--02)}@media(min-width:48rem){.bb--size-small-left .story-promo .story-promo__art,.bb--size-small-right .story-promo .story-promo__art,.bb--size-xsmall-left .story-promo .story-promo__art,.bb--size-xsmall-right .story-promo .story-promo__art{flex-basis:100%}}.bb--size-small-left .story-promo .story-promo__hed,.bb--size-small-right .story-promo .story-promo__hed,.bb--size-xsmall-left .story-promo .story-promo__hed,.bb--size-xsmall-right .story-promo .story-promo__hed{font-size:var(--p-scale-4)}@media(min-width:48rem){.bb--size-small-left .story-promo .story-promo__hed,.bb--size-small-right .story-promo .story-promo__hed,.bb--size-xsmall-left .story-promo .story-promo__hed,.bb--size-xsmall-right .story-promo .story-promo__hed{font-size:var(--p-scale-5)}}@media(min-width:78rem){.bb--size-xsmall-left .story-promo .story-promo__hed,.bb--size-xsmall-right .story-promo .story-promo__hed{font-size:var(--p-scale-4)}}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/propublica/story-promo/index.css */
</style>
<style id='wp-block-post-content-inline-css'>
.wp-block-post-content{display:flow-root}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/blocks/post-content/style.min.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-2026-core-post-content-styles-inline-css'>
.wp-block-post-content{display:block;font-size:var(--p-scale-4)}@media(min-width:60rem){.wp-block-post-content{font-size:var(--p-scale-5)}}.wp-block-post-content .bb--size-full .attribution{margin-inline:var(--p-grid-margins)}.wp-block-post-content.is-layout-flow>.is-style-heading-kicker:not(:first-child),.wp-block-post-content.is-layout-flow>.wp-block-heading:not(:first-child){margin-block-start:var(--p-spacing-8)}@media(min-width:60rem){.wp-block-post-content.is-layout-flow>.is-style-heading-kicker:not(:first-child),.wp-block-post-content.is-layout-flow>.wp-block-heading:not(:first-child){margin-block-start:var(--p-spacing-9)}}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/core/post-content/index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-2026-core-query-styles-inline-css'>
@media(min-width:60rem){.wp-block-query.topics-listing-section--impact{width:var(--p-col-size--08)}}@media(min-width:78rem){.wp-block-query.topics-listing-section--impact{width:var(--p-col-size--10)}}@media(min-width:60rem){.wp-block-query.topics-listing-section--impact:has(+.wp-block-propublica-topic-series){width:var(--p-col-size--04)}}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/core/query/index.css */
</style>
<style id='wp-block-post-featured-image-inline-css'>
.wp-block-post-featured-image{margin-left:0;margin-right:0}.wp-block-post-featured-image a{display:block;height:100%}.wp-block-post-featured-image :where(img){box-sizing:border-box;height:auto;max-width:100%;vertical-align:bottom;width:100%}.wp-block-post-featured-image.alignfull img,.wp-block-post-featured-image.alignwide img{width:100%}.wp-block-post-featured-image .wp-block-post-featured-image__overlay.has-background-dim{background-color:#000;inset:0;position:absolute}.wp-block-post-featured-image{position:relative}.wp-block-post-featured-image .wp-block-post-featured-image__overlay.has-background-gradient{background-color:initial}.wp-block-post-featured-image .wp-block-post-featured-image__overlay.has-background-dim-0{opacity:0}.wp-block-post-featured-image .wp-block-post-featured-image__overlay.has-background-dim-10{opacity:.1}.wp-block-post-featured-image .wp-block-post-featured-image__overlay.has-background-dim-20{opacity:.2}.wp-block-post-featured-image .wp-block-post-featured-image__overlay.has-background-dim-30{opacity:.3}.wp-block-post-featured-image .wp-block-post-featured-image__overlay.has-background-dim-40{opacity:.4}.wp-block-post-featured-image .wp-block-post-featured-image__overlay.has-background-dim-50{opacity:.5}.wp-block-post-featured-image .wp-block-post-featured-image__overlay.has-background-dim-60{opacity:.6}.wp-block-post-featured-image .wp-block-post-featured-image__overlay.has-background-dim-70{opacity:.7}.wp-block-post-featured-image .wp-block-post-featured-image__overlay.has-background-dim-80{opacity:.8}.wp-block-post-featured-image .wp-block-post-featured-image__overlay.has-background-dim-90{opacity:.9}.wp-block-post-featured-image .wp-block-post-featured-image__overlay.has-background-dim-100{opacity:1}.wp-block-post-featured-image:where(.alignleft,.alignright){width:100%}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/blocks/post-featured-image/style.min.css */
</style>
<link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-88' href='https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/blocks/social-links/style.min.css?m=1787604895g' type='text/css' media='all' />
<style id='propublica-2026-core-social-links-styles-inline-css'>
.wp-block-social-links,.wp-block-social-links.has-normal-icon-size{gap:var(--wp--preset--spacing--p-spacing-3) .5em;justify-content:flex-start}.wp-block-social-links .wp-social-link svg,.wp-block-social-links.has-normal-icon-size .wp-social-link svg{height:1rem;width:1rem}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/core/social-links/index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-profile-social-links-style-inline-css'>
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/profile-social-links/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-contact-tools-style-inline-css'>
@media(min-width:60rem){.contact-tools__popover{transform:translateY(var(--wp-admin--admin-bar--height))}}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/contact-tools/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='wp-block-post-template-inline-css'>
.wp-block-post-template{box-sizing:border-box;list-style:none;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;max-width:100%;padding:0}.wp-block-post-template.is-flex-container{display:flex;flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:1.25em}.wp-block-post-template.is-flex-container>li{margin:0;width:100%}@media (min-width:600px){.wp-block-post-template.is-flex-container.is-flex-container.columns-2>li{width:calc(50% - .625em)}.wp-block-post-template.is-flex-container.is-flex-container.columns-3>li{width:calc(33.33333% - .83333em)}.wp-block-post-template.is-flex-container.is-flex-container.columns-4>li{width:calc(25% - .9375em)}.wp-block-post-template.is-flex-container.is-flex-container.columns-5>li{width:calc(20% - 1em)}.wp-block-post-template.is-flex-container.is-flex-container.columns-6>li{width:calc(16.66667% - 1.04167em)}}@media (max-width:600px){.wp-block-post-template-is-layout-grid.wp-block-post-template-is-layout-grid.wp-block-post-template-is-layout-grid.wp-block-post-template-is-layout-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}}.wp-block-post-template-is-layout-constrained>li>.alignright,.wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow>li>.alignright{float:right;margin-inline-end:0;margin-inline-start:2em}.wp-block-post-template-is-layout-constrained>li>.alignleft,.wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow>li>.alignleft{float:left;margin-inline-end:2em;margin-inline-start:0}.wp-block-post-template-is-layout-constrained>li>.aligncenter,.wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow>li>.aligncenter{margin-inline-end:auto;margin-inline-start:auto}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/blocks/post-template/style.min.css */
</style>
<link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-96' href='https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/core/post-template/index.css?m=1789050548g' type='text/css' media='all' />
<style id='wp-block-post-terms-inline-css'>
.wp-block-post-terms{box-sizing:border-box}.wp-block-post-terms .wp-block-post-terms__separator{white-space:pre-wrap}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/blocks/post-terms/style.min.css */
</style>
<style id='wp-block-button-inline-css'>
.wp-block-button__link{align-content:center;box-sizing:border-box;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;height:100%;text-align:center;word-break:break-word}.wp-block-button__link.aligncenter{text-align:center}.wp-block-button__link.alignright{text-align:right}:where(.wp-block-button__link){border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);text-decoration:none}.wp-block-button[style*=text-decoration] .wp-block-button__link{text-decoration:inherit}.wp-block-buttons>.wp-block-button.has-custom-width{max-width:none}.wp-block-buttons>.wp-block-button.has-custom-width .wp-block-button__link{width:100%}.wp-block-buttons>.wp-block-button.has-custom-font-size .wp-block-button__link{font-size:inherit}.wp-block-buttons>.wp-block-button.wp-block-button__width-25{width:calc(25% - var(--wp--style--block-gap, .5em)*.75)}.wp-block-buttons>.wp-block-button.wp-block-button__width-50{width:calc(50% - var(--wp--style--block-gap, .5em)*.5)}.wp-block-buttons>.wp-block-button.wp-block-button__width-75{width:calc(75% - var(--wp--style--block-gap, .5em)*.25)}.wp-block-buttons>.wp-block-button.wp-block-button__width-100{flex-basis:100%;width:100%}.wp-block-buttons.is-vertical>.wp-block-button.wp-block-button__width-25{width:25%}.wp-block-buttons.is-vertical>.wp-block-button.wp-block-button__width-50{width:50%}.wp-block-buttons.is-vertical>.wp-block-button.wp-block-button__width-75{width:75%}.wp-block-button.is-style-squared,.wp-block-button__link.wp-block-button.is-style-squared{border-radius:0}.wp-block-button.no-border-radius,.wp-block-button__link.no-border-radius{border-radius:0!important}:root :where(.wp-block-button .wp-block-button__link.is-style-outline),:root :where(.wp-block-button.is-style-outline>.wp-block-button__link){border:2px solid;padding:.667em 1.333em}:root :where(.wp-block-button .wp-block-button__link.is-style-outline:not(.has-text-color)),:root :where(.wp-block-button.is-style-outline>.wp-block-button__link:not(.has-text-color)){color:currentColor}:root :where(.wp-block-button .wp-block-button__link.is-style-outline:not(.has-background)),:root :where(.wp-block-button.is-style-outline>.wp-block-button__link:not(.has-background)){background-color:initial;background-image:none}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/blocks/button/style.min.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-2026-core-button-styles-inline-css'>
.wp-block-button{--button-bg-color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-black);--button-border:none;--button-border-radius:9999px;--button-color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-white);--button-font-size:var(--p-scale-4);--button-horizontal-spacing:var(--p-spacing-3);--button-size:var(--p-spacing-7);--icon-size:1em}.wp-block-button .wp-block-button__link,.wp-block-button .wp-block-button__link[type=button]{background-color:var(--button-bg-color);border:var(--button-border);border-radius:var(--button-border-radius);color:var(--button-color);font-family:var(--p-fonts-sans);font-size:var(--button-font-size);font-weight:700;line-height:var(--p-line-height-3);min-height:var(--button-size);padding:0 var(--button-horizontal-spacing);transition:opacity .2s}.wp-block-button .wp-block-button__link:hover,.wp-block-button .wp-block-button__link[type=button]:hover{opacity:.75}.wp-block-button.is-style-rectangle{--button-border-radius:0}.wp-block-button.is-style-outline{--button-bg-color:transparent;--button-border:1px solid var(--p-dyn-color-gray-01);--button-border-radius:9999px;--button-color:var(--p-dyn-color-gray-04)}.wp-block-button.is-style-outline .wp-block-button__link:hover,.wp-block-button.is-style-outline .wp-block-button__link[type=button]:hover{opacity:.75}.wp-block-button.is-style-more{--button-bg-color:var(--p-dyn-color-gray-01);--button-color:var(--p-color-text-hed);--button-font-size:var(--p-scale-3);--button-icon-size:0.8rem}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/core/button/index.css */
</style>
<style id='wp-block-buttons-inline-css'>
.wp-block-buttons{box-sizing:border-box}.wp-block-buttons.is-vertical{flex-direction:column}.wp-block-buttons.is-vertical>.wp-block-button:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.wp-block-buttons>.wp-block-button{display:inline-block;margin:0}.wp-block-buttons.is-content-justification-left{justify-content:flex-start}.wp-block-buttons.is-content-justification-left.is-vertical{align-items:flex-start}.wp-block-buttons.is-content-justification-center{justify-content:center}.wp-block-buttons.is-content-justification-center.is-vertical{align-items:center}.wp-block-buttons.is-content-justification-right{justify-content:flex-end}.wp-block-buttons.is-content-justification-right.is-vertical{align-items:flex-end}.wp-block-buttons.is-content-justification-space-between{justify-content:space-between}.wp-block-buttons.aligncenter{text-align:center}.wp-block-buttons:not(.is-content-justification-space-between,.is-content-justification-right,.is-content-justification-left,.is-content-justification-center) .wp-block-button.aligncenter{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:100%}.wp-block-buttons[style*=text-decoration] .wp-block-button,.wp-block-buttons[style*=text-decoration] .wp-block-button__link{text-decoration:inherit}.wp-block-buttons.has-custom-font-size .wp-block-button__link{font-size:inherit}.wp-block-buttons .wp-block-button__link{width:100%}.wp-block-button.aligncenter{text-align:center}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/blocks/buttons/style.min.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-republish-link-style-inline-css'>
.has-dialog{overflow:hidden}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link .wp-block-button{flex-shrink:0}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal{height:100vh;left:0;opacity:1;overflow:scroll;position:fixed;top:var(--wp-admin--admin-bar--height,0);transition:opacity .75s linear;width:100vw;z-index:1000}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal[aria-hidden=true]{display:none}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__header{display:flex;flex-direction:row;justify-content:flex-end;padding:var(--p-spacing-1,var(--spacing-2));position:sticky;top:0}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__content{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:var(--p-spacing-6,var(--spacing1));margin-inline:auto;padding:var(--p-spacing-9,var(--spacing3)) var(--wp--style--root--padding-right) var(--p-spacing-9,var(--spacing3)) var(--wp--style--root--padding-left)}@media(min-width:60rem){.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__content{flex-direction:row;padding:10vh 0;width:var(--p-col-size--10,var(--col-size--10))}}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__instructions hr{border-width:0 0 1px;margin-block:var(--p-spacing-6,var(--spacing1))}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__instructions ul:not(.wp-block-list){padding-inline-start:1rem}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__copy{flex-basis:50%;flex-shrink:0}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__copy textarea{border:0;height:25vh;margin-bottom:var(--p-spacing-3,var(--spacing-1));opacity:1;padding:1em;position:static;width:100%;word-break:break-all}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__copy-button[type=button]{display:block;transition:opacity .2s ease-in;width:100%}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/republish-link/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-2026-propublica-republish-link-styles-inline-css'>
.wp-block-propublica-republish-link .wp-block-button{--button-font-size:var(--p-scale-3);line-height:1}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal{background-color:var(--p-color-warm-black);color:var(--p-color-warm-white)}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__header{background-color:var(--p-color-warm-black)}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__close-button[type=button]{background-color:transparent;border:0;color:var(--p-color-white)}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__close-button[type=button] svg{stroke:currentColor}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__instructions .wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal-hed{color:inherit;font-size:var(--p-scale-6);margin-block-start:0}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__instructions .wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal-license{font-size:var(--p-scale-2);margin-block-start:var(--p-spacing-1)}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__instructions p{font-family:var(--p-fonts-sans);font-size:var(--p-scale-4);margin-block-start:var(--p-spacing-6)}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__instructions ul:not(.wp-block-list){font-family:var(--p-fonts-sans);font-size:var(--p-scale-3);list-style:disc;margin-block-start:var(--p-spacing-6)}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__instructions ul:not(.wp-block-list)>li{margin-block-start:var(--p-spacing-3)}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__copy textarea{background-color:var(--p-color-gray-05);color:var(--p-color-gray-02);font-family:var(--p-fonts-mono);font-size:var(--p-scale-3);line-height:var(--p-line-height-3)}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__copy-button[type=button]{background-color:var(--p-color-salmon-02);border:0;border-radius:9999px;color:var(--p-color-white);display:inline-block;font-family:var(--p-fonts-sans);font-size:var(--p-scale-4);font-weight:700;padding:var(--p-spacing-2) var(--p-spacing-5);text-decoration:none;transition:opacity .2s}.wp-block-propublica-republish-link__copy-button[type=button]:hover{opacity:.75}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/propublica/republish-link/index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-more-in-topic-style-inline-css'>
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/more-in-topic/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-2026-propublica-more-in-topic-styles-inline-css'>
.wp-block-propublica-more-in-topic .page-section__container>.wp-block-group.story-card:not(:first-child){position:relative}.wp-block-propublica-more-in-topic .page-section__container>.wp-block-group.story-card:not(:first-child):before{background-color:var(--p-color-divider);content:"";display:block;height:100%;left:calc(var(--p-grid-gutter)*-1/2);position:absolute;top:0;width:1px}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/propublica/more-in-topic/index.css */
</style>
<style id='wp-curate-query-style-inline-css'>
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-curate/build/query/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-module-style-inline-css'>
.wp-block-propublica-module{overflow:hidden}.wp-block-propublica-module>*+*{margin-block-start:var(--p-spacing-4,var(--spacing0))}.wp-block-propublica-module__link{display:block}.wp-block-propublica-module__content>*+*{margin-block-start:var(--p-spacing-1,var(--spacing-2))}.wp-block-propublica-module--donate{border-radius:4px}.wp-block-propublica-module--donate .wp-block-propublica-module__content{margin-block-start:0;padding:var(--p-spacing-4,var(--spacing0))}.wp-block-propublica-module--donate .btn{margin-block-start:var(--p-spacing-4,var(--spacing0))}.wp-block-propublica-module--awards{border-radius:4px}.wp-block-propublica-module--awards .wp-block-propublica-module__content{margin-block-start:0;padding:var(--p-spacing-4,var(--spacing0))}@media(max-width:35.9375rem){.wp-block-propublica-module--awards{align-items:center;display:flex;flex-direction:row-reverse}}.wp-block-propublica-module--awards .wp-block-propublica-module__photo{margin:var(--p-spacing-4,var(--spacing0)) auto 0;max-width:7em}@media(max-width:35.9375rem){.wp-block-propublica-module--awards .wp-block-propublica-module__photo{margin:0 var(--p-spacing-4,var(--spacing0)) 0 0}}.wp-block-propublica-module--data-store-promo,.wp-block-propublica-module--events-promo{border-radius:4px}.wp-block-propublica-module--data-store-promo .wp-block-propublica-module__content,.wp-block-propublica-module--events-promo .wp-block-propublica-module__content{margin-block-start:0;padding:var(--p-spacing-4,var(--spacing0))}.wp-block-propublica-module--our-hottest-stories{counter-reset:start-from 0}.wp-block-propublica-module--our-hottest-stories .wp-block-post{counter-increment:start-from;margin-block-start:var(--p-spacing-4,var(--spacing0));padding-block-start:var(--p-spacing-4,var(--spacing0))}.wp-block-propublica-module--our-hottest-stories .story-card__hed{align-items:start;display:flex}.wp-block-propublica-module--our-hottest-stories .story-card__hed:before{content:counter(start-from);display:block;flex:0 0 var(--p-spacing-5,var(--scale1));text-align:left}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/module/style-index.css */
</style>
<link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-118' href='https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/propublica/module/index.css?m=1789050548g' type='text/css' media='all' />
<style id='propublica-donate-cta-style-inline-css'>
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/donate-cta/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-2026-propublica-donate-cta-styles-inline-css'>
.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta{background-color:var(--p-dyn-color-blue-01);padding:var(--p-spacing-8) var(--p-grid-margins)}@media(min-width:60rem){.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta{align-items:start;-moz-column-gap:var(--p-spacing-9);column-gap:var(--p-spacing-9);display:grid;grid-template-columns:3fr 1.4fr;grid-template-rows:auto auto;padding:var(--p-spacing-9) var(--p-grid-margins);row-gap:var(--p-spacing-7)}}.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__headline{color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-black);font-family:var(--p-fonts-hed);font-size:clamp(2.8rem,12vw,6.5rem);font-variation-settings:"wdth" 70;font-weight:500;line-height:1;margin:0 0 var(--p-spacing-7)}.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__headline span{display:block}@media(min-width:60rem){.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__headline{font-size:clamp(5.5rem,9vw,7.5rem);grid-column:1;grid-row:1/span 2;margin:0}}.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__highlight{color:var(--p-dyn-color-blue-03);padding-left:1.75em}.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__body{color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-black);font-family:var(--p-fonts-sans);font-size:var(--p-scale-3);line-height:var(--p-line-height-3);margin:0 0 var(--p-spacing-6)}@media(min-width:48rem){.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__body{font-size:var(--p-scale-4)}}@media(min-width:60rem){.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__body{grid-column:2;grid-row:1;margin:0}}.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__buttons{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:var(--p-spacing-4)}@media(min-width:36rem){.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__buttons{flex-direction:row}}@media(min-width:60rem){.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__buttons{flex-direction:column;grid-column:2;grid-row:2}}.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__btn{border-radius:9999px;display:block;font-family:var(--p-fonts-sans);font-size:var(--p-scale-4);font-weight:700;line-height:var(--p-line-height-3);padding:var(--p-spacing-2) var(--p-spacing-4);text-align:center;text-decoration:none;transition:opacity .2s}.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__btn:hover{opacity:.75}@media(min-width:36rem){.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__btn{flex:1}}@media(min-width:60rem){.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__btn{flex:none}}.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__btn--primary{background-color:var(--p-dyn-color-black);color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-white)}.wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__btn--secondary{background-color:var(--p-dyn-color-white);color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-black)}
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/block-styles/propublica/donate-cta/index.css */
</style>
<style id='propublica-site-footer-style-inline-css'>
/*# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/site-footer/style-index.css */
</style>
<style id='wp-block-library-inline-css'>
:root{--wp-block-synced-color:#7a00df;--wp-block-synced-color--rgb:122,0,223;--wp-bound-block-color:var(--wp-block-synced-color);--wp-editor-canvas-background:#ddd;--wp-admin-theme-color:#007cba;--wp-admin-theme-color--rgb:0,124,186;--wp-admin-theme-color-darker-10:#006ba1;--wp-admin-theme-color-darker-10--rgb:0,107,160.5;--wp-admin-theme-color-darker-20:#005a87;--wp-admin-theme-color-darker-20--rgb:0,90,135;--wp-admin-border-width-focus:2px}@media (min-resolution:192dpi){:root{--wp-admin-border-width-focus:1.5px}}.wp-element-button{cursor:pointer}:root .has-very-light-gray-background-color{background-color:#eee}:root .has-very-dark-gray-background-color{background-color:#313131}:root .has-very-light-gray-color{color:#eee}:root .has-very-dark-gray-color{color:#313131}:root .has-vivid-green-cyan-to-vivid-cyan-blue-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#00d084,#0693e3)}:root .has-purple-crush-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#34e2e4,#4721fb 50%,#ab1dfe)}:root .has-hazy-dawn-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#faaca8,#dad0ec)}:root .has-subdued-olive-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#fafae1,#67a671)}:root .has-atomic-cream-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#fdd79a,#004a59)}:root .has-nightshade-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#330968,#31cdcf)}:root .has-midnight-gradient-background{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#020381,#2874fc)}:root{--wp--preset--font-size--normal:16px;--wp--preset--font-size--huge:42px}.has-regular-font-size{font-size:1em}.has-larger-font-size{font-size:2.625em}.has-normal-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--normal)}.has-huge-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--huge)}.has-text-align-center{text-align:center}.has-text-align-left{text-align:left}.has-text-align-right{text-align:right}.has-fit-text{white-space:nowrap!important}#end-resizable-editor-section{display:none}.aligncenter{clear:both}.items-justified-left{justify-content:flex-start}.items-justified-center{justify-content:center}.items-justified-right{justify-content:flex-end}.items-justified-space-between{justify-content:space-between}.screen-reader-text{border:0;clip-path:inset(50%);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px;word-wrap:normal!important}.screen-reader-text:focus{background-color:#ddd;clip-path:none;color:#444;display:block;font-size:1em;height:auto;left:5px;line-height:normal;padding:15px 23px 14px;text-decoration:none;top:5px;width:auto;z-index:100000}html :where(.has-border-color){border-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-top-color]){border-top-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-right-color]){border-right-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-bottom-color]){border-bottom-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-left-color]){border-left-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-width]){border-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-top-width]){border-top-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-right-width]){border-right-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-bottom-width]){border-bottom-style:solid}html :where([style*=border-left-width]){border-left-style:solid}html :where(img[class*=wp-image-]){height:auto;max-width:100%}:where(figure){margin:0 0 1em}html :where(.is-position-sticky){--wp-admin--admin-bar--position-offset:var(--wp-admin--admin-bar--height,0px)}@media screen and (max-width:600px){html :where(.is-position-sticky){--wp-admin--admin-bar--position-offset:0px}}
/*# sourceURL=/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/common.min.css */
</style>
<style id='global-styles-inline-css'>
:root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square: 1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3: 4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4: 3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2: 3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3: 2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9: 16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16: 9/16;--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(6,147,227) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(252,185,0) 0%,rgb(255,105,0) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,105,0) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20: 0.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30: 0.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40: 1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50: 1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60: 2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70: 3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80: 5.06rem;--wp--preset--spacing--p-spacing-1: var(--p-spacing-1);--wp--preset--spacing--p-spacing-2: var(--p-spacing-2);--wp--preset--spacing--p-spacing-3: var(--p-spacing-3);--wp--preset--spacing--p-spacing-4: var(--p-spacing-4);--wp--preset--spacing--p-spacing-5: var(--p-spacing-5);--wp--preset--spacing--p-spacing-6: var(--p-spacing-6);--wp--preset--spacing--p-spacing-7: var(--p-spacing-7);--wp--preset--spacing--p-spacing-8: var(--p-spacing-8);--wp--preset--spacing--p-spacing-9: var(--p-spacing-9);--wp--preset--spacing--p-spacing-10: var(--p-spacing-10);--wp--preset--spacing--p-grid-gutter: var(--p-grid-gutter);--wp--preset--spacing--p-vert-rhythm-sm: var(--p-vert-rhythm-sm);--wp--preset--spacing--p-vert-rhythm-lg: var(--p-vert-rhythm-lg);--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgb(255, 255, 255), 6px 6px rgb(0, 0, 0);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgb(0, 0, 0);--wp--custom--gallery-caption-height: 1.5rem;--wp--custom--pagination-arrow-size: 2rem;--wp--custom--pagination-number-size: 1.5rem;}:root { --wp--style--global--content-size: var(--p-col-size--08);--wp--style--global--wide-size: var(--p-col-size--14); }:where(body) { margin: 0; }.wp-site-blocks > .alignleft { float: left; margin-right: 2em; }.wp-site-blocks > .alignright { float: right; margin-left: 2em; }.wp-site-blocks > .aligncenter { justify-content: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; }:where(.wp-site-blocks) > * { margin-block-start: var(--p-vert-rhythm-sm); margin-block-end: 0; }:where(.wp-site-blocks) > :first-child { margin-block-start: 0; }:where(.wp-site-blocks) > :last-child { margin-block-end: 0; }:root { --wp--style--block-gap: var(--p-vert-rhythm-sm); }:root :where(.is-layout-flow) > :first-child{margin-block-start: 0;}:root :where(.is-layout-flow) > :last-child{margin-block-end: 0;}:root :where(.is-layout-flow) > *{margin-block-start: var(--p-vert-rhythm-sm);margin-block-end: 0;}:root :where(.is-layout-constrained) > :first-child{margin-block-start: 0;}:root :where(.is-layout-constrained) > :last-child{margin-block-end: 0;}:root :where(.is-layout-constrained) > *{margin-block-start: var(--p-vert-rhythm-sm);margin-block-end: 0;}:root :where(.is-layout-flex){gap: var(--p-vert-rhythm-sm);}:root :where(.is-layout-grid){gap: var(--p-vert-rhythm-sm);}.is-layout-flow > .alignleft{float: left;margin-inline-start: 0;margin-inline-end: 2em;}.is-layout-flow > .alignright{float: right;margin-inline-start: 2em;margin-inline-end: 0;}.is-layout-flow > .aligncenter{margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}.is-layout-constrained > .alignleft{float: left;margin-inline-start: 0;margin-inline-end: 2em;}.is-layout-constrained > .alignright{float: right;margin-inline-start: 2em;margin-inline-end: 0;}.is-layout-constrained > .aligncenter{margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}.is-layout-constrained > :where(:not(.alignleft):not(.alignright):not(.alignfull)){max-width: var(--wp--style--global--content-size);margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}.is-layout-constrained > .alignwide{max-width: var(--wp--style--global--wide-size);}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body{background-color: var(--p-color-page-bg);color: var(--p-color-text-body);font-family: var(--p-fonts-sans);font-size: var(--p-scale-4);font-weight: 400;line-height: var(--p-line-height-3);padding-top: 0px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;}a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)){color: inherit;text-decoration: underline;}:root :where(.wp-element-button, .wp-block-button__link){background-color: #32373c;border-width: 0;color: #fff;font-family: inherit;font-size: inherit;font-style: inherit;font-weight: inherit;letter-spacing: inherit;line-height: inherit;padding-top: calc(0.667em + 2px);padding-right: calc(1.333em + 2px);padding-bottom: calc(0.667em + 2px);padding-left: calc(1.333em + 2px);text-decoration: none;text-transform: inherit;}cite{color: var(--p-color-text-supp);font-family: var(--p-fonts-sans);font-size: var(--p-scale-3);font-style: normal;font-weight: 400;line-height: var(--p-line-height-3);}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;}
:root :where(.wp-block-heading){color: var(--p-color-text-hed);font-family: var(--p-fonts-hed);font-weight: 500;letter-spacing: -0.01em;line-height: var(--p-line-height-2);}
:root :where(.wp-block-post-content){font-family: var(--p-fonts-serif);font-weight: 400;line-height: var(--p-line-height-4);}
:root :where(.wp-block-post-date){color: var(--p-color-text-meta);}
:root :where(.wp-block-post-featured-image){margin-bottom: 0;}
:root :where(.wp-block-post-terms){color: var(--p-dyn-color-gray-05);font-family: var(--p-fonts-sans);font-size: var(--p-scale-3);font-weight: 400;line-height: var(--p-line-height-3);}:root :where(.wp-block-post-terms .wp-block-post-terms__prefix){font-weight: 700;}
:root :where(.wp-block-post-terms a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){color: inherit;}
:root :where(.wp-block-post-title){color: var(--p-color-text-hed);font-family: var(--p-fonts-hed);font-weight: 700;}
:root :where(.wp-block-post-title a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){color: inherit;text-decoration: none;}
:root :where(.wp-block-post-title a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)):hover){text-decoration: underline;}
:root :where(.wp-block-separator){border-color: var(--p-dyn-color-gray-02);border-width: 1px 0 0;border-style: solid;}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-aside){border-color: var(--p-color-divider);border-width: 1px 0;border-style: solid;font-family: var(--p-fonts-sans);font-size: var(--p-scale-4);line-height: var(--p-line-height-3);padding-top: var(--p-spacing-5);padding-bottom: var(--p-spacing-5);}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-aside h1,.wp-block-propublica-aside h2,.wp-block-propublica-aside h3,.wp-block-propublica-aside h4,.wp-block-propublica-aside h5,.wp-block-propublica-aside h6){font-family: var(--p-fonts-sans);font-weight: 700;line-height: var(--p-line-height-3);}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-aside h2){font-size: var(--p-scale-4);}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-aside h3){font-size: var(--p-scale-4);}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-aside h4){font-size: var(--p-scale-3);}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-aside h5){font-size: var(--p-scale-2);}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-aside h6){font-size: var(--p-scale-1);}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-aside a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){color: inherit;text-decoration: underline;}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-byline){color: var(--p-color-text-hed);font-family: var(--p-fonts-sans);font-weight: 700;line-height: var(--p-line-height-3);}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-byline a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){color: inherit;text-decoration: none;}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-byline a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)):hover){text-decoration: underline;}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-contributors){color: var(--p-dyn-color-warm-black);}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-contributor-profile){font-weight: 700;}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-dek){color: var(--p-color-text-dek);font-family: var(--p-fonts-sans);font-size: var(--p-scale-4);font-weight: 400;line-height: var(--p-line-height-3);}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-note){font-family: var(--p-fonts-serif);font-size: var(--p-scale-4);font-style: italic;}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-note a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){color: inherit;}:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-note a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){text-decoration-color: inherit;}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-promo-letter){font-family: var(--p-fonts-serif);font-size: var(--p-scale-4);line-height: var(--p-line-height-4);}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-promo-letter a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){color: inherit;}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-reporter-contact){background-color: var(--p-dyn-color-warm-white);}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-reporting-highlights){font-family: var(--p-fonts-sans);font-size: var(--p-scale-4);line-height: var(--p-line-height-3);}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-reporting-highlights h1,.wp-block-propublica-reporting-highlights h2,.wp-block-propublica-reporting-highlights h3,.wp-block-propublica-reporting-highlights h4,.wp-block-propublica-reporting-highlights h5,.wp-block-propublica-reporting-highlights h6){font-size: var(--p-scale-5);}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-search-meta){color: var(--p-dyn-color-gray-04);font-family: var(--p-fonts-sans);font-size: var(--p-scale-4);font-weight: 600;}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-term-count){color: var(--p-dyn-color-gray-04);font-family: var(--p-fonts-sans);font-size: var(--p-scale-4);font-weight: 600;}
:root :where(.wp-block-propublica-term-tagline){color: var(--p-dyn-color-gray-03);font-family: var(--p-fonts-hed);font-size: var(--p-scale-6);line-height: var(--p-line-height-2);}
:root :where(.wp-block-wp-curate-post-title){color: var(--p-color-text-hed);font-family: var(--p-fonts-hed);font-weight: 900;line-height: var(--p-line-height-2);}
:root :where(.wp-block-wp-curate-post-title a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){color: inherit;text-decoration: none;}
:root :where(.wp-block-wp-curate-post-title a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)):hover){text-decoration: underline;}
/*# sourceURL=global-styles-inline-css */
</style>
<style id='block-style-variation-styles-inline-css'>
:root :where(.wp-block-post-featured-image.is-style-rounded--1 img){border-radius: 9999px;}
:root :where(.wp-block-post-featured-image.is-style-rounded--2 img){border-radius: 9999px;}
:root :where(.wp-block-post-featured-image.is-style-rounded--3 img){border-radius: 9999px;}
:root :where(.wp-block-button.is-style-outline--6 .wp-block-button__link){background: transparent none;border-color: currentColor;border-width: 2px;border-style: solid;color: currentColor;padding-top: 0.667em;padding-right: 1.33em;padding-bottom: 0.667em;padding-left: 1.33em;}
/*# sourceURL=block-style-variation-styles-inline-css */
</style>
<style id='wp-emoji-styles-inline-css'>
img.wp-smiley, img.emoji {
display: inline !important;
border: none !important;
box-shadow: none !important;
height: 1em !important;
width: 1em !important;
margin: 0 0.07em !important;
vertical-align: -0.1em !important;
background: none !important;
padding: 0 !important;
}
/*# sourceURL=wp-emoji-styles-inline-css */
</style>
<link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-132' href='https://www.propublica.org/_static/??/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/svelte-assets/index.css,/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/global/index.css?m=1789050548' type='text/css' media='all' />
<style id='core-block-supports-inline-css'>
.wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a77db08e > *{margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0;}.wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a77db08e > * + *{margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0;}.wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013{flex-wrap:nowrap;}.wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3ce78d47 > *{margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0;}.wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3ce78d47 > * + *{margin-block-start:var(--wp--preset--spacing--p-spacing-3);margin-block-end:0;}.wp-container-core-social-links-is-layout-f862bfa2{gap:0.5em 0.5em;}.wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3f9e86ef{flex-wrap:nowrap;gap:var(--wp--preset--spacing--p-spacing-3);}.wp-container-core-group-is-layout-15957e15{gap:var(--wp--preset--spacing--p-spacing-3);flex-direction:column;align-items:flex-start;}.wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ed87f293{flex-wrap:nowrap;justify-content:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;}.wp-container-content-9cfa9a5a{flex-grow:1;}.wp-container-core-group-is-layout-95163ec0{flex-wrap:nowrap;justify-content:flex-end;}.wp-container-core-group-is-layout-63c9a062 > *{margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0;}.wp-container-core-group-is-layout-63c9a062 > * + *{margin-block-start:var(--wp--preset--spacing--p-spacing-4);margin-block-end:0;}.wp-container-core-group-is-layout-16f820fd > *{margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:0;}.wp-container-core-group-is-layout-16f820fd > * + *{margin-block-start:var(--wp--preset--spacing--p-vert-rhythm-lg);margin-block-end:0;}
/*# sourceURL=core-block-supports-inline-css */
</style>
<style id='wp-block-template-skip-link-inline-css'>
.skip-link.screen-reader-text {
border: 0;
clip-path: inset(50%);
height: 1px;
margin: -1px;
overflow: hidden;
padding: 0;
position: absolute !important;
width: 1px;
word-wrap: normal !important;
}
.skip-link.screen-reader-text:focus {
background-color: #eee;
clip-path: none;
color: #444;
display: block;
font-size: 1em;
height: auto;
left: 5px;
line-height: normal;
padding: 15px 23px 14px;
text-decoration: none;
top: 5px;
width: auto;
z-index: 100000;
}
/*# sourceURL=wp-block-template-skip-link-inline-css */
</style>
<link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-136' href='https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/legacy-styles/index.css?m=1789050548g' type='text/css' media='all' />
<style id='block-visibility-screen-size-styles-inline-css'>
/* Large screens (desktops, 992px and up) */
@media ( min-width: 992px ) {
.block-visibility-hide-large-screen {
display: none !important;
}
}
/* Medium screens (tablets, between 768px and 992px) */
@media ( min-width: 768px ) and ( max-width: 991.98px ) {
.block-visibility-hide-medium-screen {
display: none !important;
}
}
/* Small screens (mobile devices, less than 768px) */
@media ( max-width: 767.98px ) {
.block-visibility-hide-small-screen {
display: none !important;
}
}
/*# sourceURL=block-visibility-screen-size-styles-inline-css */
</style>
<script src="https://ak.sail-horizon.com/spm/spm.v1.min.js"></script><script>Sailthru.init({ customerId: "c1d320b4976cc13366759531bf948c3a" });</script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.propublica.org/_static/??-eJyFzDEOwjAMQNELkbpIVJQBcZY0jsDBsaM6acXtyQAr7P8/2IsLKjVKhcLtTmJQVi1tYQoelkaM4NEZa4WN4j4kO0CfSAI3jAbJAMkqoGa3Ro+vIZN8q78096Nbv+mH6tM+7C1fj+f5Mk7jdJrTG917Rak=" ></script><script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/i18n.min.js?ver=c26c3dc7bed366793375" id="wp-i18n-js"></script>
<script id="wp-i18n-js-after">
wp.i18n.setLocaleData( { 'text direction\u0004ltr': [ 'ltr' ] } );
//# sourceURL=wp-i18n-js-after
</script>
<script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/republish-link/view.js?ver=2603981e5dd0737af935" id="propublica-republish-link-view-script-js" defer data-wp-strategy="defer"></script>
<script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/dark-mode-init/index.js?ver=9e5c837afdf9686339ab" id="propublica-2026-dark-mode-init-js-js"></script>
<script src="https://cdn-4.convertexperiments.com/v1/js/1004759-1004714.js?environment=production" id="convert-experiments-js" defer data-wp-strategy="defer"></script>
<link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://www.propublica.org/wp-json/" /><link rel="alternate" title="JSON" type="application/json" href="https://www.propublica.org/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/1545" /><link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="https://www.propublica.org/xmlrpc.php?rsd" />
<meta name="generator" content="WordPress 6.9.7" />
<script>
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
window.dataLayer.push({});
</script>
<!-- Google Tag Manager -->
<script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':
new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],
j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src=
'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);
})(window,document,'script','dataLayer',"GTM-K8BNLGX");</script>
<!-- End Google Tag Manager -->
<!-- Parse.ly Meta -->
<meta name="parsely-title" content="Faulty Equipment, Lapsed Training, Repeated Warnings: How a Preventable Disaster Killed Six Marines &#8212; ProPublica">
<meta name="parsely-link" content="https://www.propublica.org/article/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard">
<meta name="parsely-type" content="post">
<meta name="parsely-image-url" content="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-1200x630.jpg">
<meta name="parsely-pub-date" content="2019-12-30T05:00:00-05:00">
<meta name="parsely-section" content="National">
<meta name="parsely-author" content="Robert Faturechi">
<meta name="parsely-author" content="Megan Rose">
<meta name="parsely-author" content="T. Christian Miller">
<meta name="parsely-tags" content="series:Disaster in the Pacific,lang:English,topic:Military">
<!-- End Parse.ly Meta -->
<!-- Start Google Data Layer -->
<script>
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
window.dataLayer.push({
"contentType": "Item",
"publicationDate": "December 30, 2019 05:00:00",
"articleTopic": {
"2": {
"term_id": 2046,
"name": "Military",
"slug": "military",
"term_group": 0,
"term_taxonomy_id": 2046,
"taxonomy": "pp_topic",
"description": "",
"parent": 0,
"count": 106,
"filter": "raw"
}
},
"articleTitle": "Faulty Equipment, Lapsed Training, Repeated Warnings: How a Preventable Disaster Killed Six Marines",
"authorName": "Robert Faturechi,Megan Rose,T. Christian Miller",
"seriesName": "Disaster in the Pacific",
"contentRegion": "National",
"contentLanguage": "en",
"postId": 1545,
"articleVersion": "v5",
"contentLocation": "",
"storyType": "",
"impact": "false"
});
</script>
<!-- End Start Google Data Layer -->
<style>img#wpstats{display:none}</style>
<!--
CUSTOM STYLES FOR MARINES CRASH STORY
(FOR CUSTOM HEAD CODE FIELD)
-->
<style>
article hr {
margin: 4em 8em;
}
article .article-body > h3 {
text-align: center;
}
</style><link rel="icon" href="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Frame-2.png?w=32" sizes="32x32" />
<link rel="icon" href="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Frame-2.png?w=192" sizes="192x192" />
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Frame-2.png?w=180" />
<meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Frame-2.png?w=270" />
<script type="text/javascript">
(function(){
var bsa_optimize=document.createElement('script');
bsa_optimize.type='text/javascript';
bsa_optimize.async=true;
bsa_optimize.onload=function() {
document.body.classList.add('show-ads');
};
bsa_optimize.src='https://cdn4.buysellads.net/pub/propublica.js?'+(new Date()-new Date()%600000);
(document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0]||document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]).appendChild(bsa_optimize);
})();
</script>
<script type="module" crossorigin src="/svelte-assets/index-MmgamsBd.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" crossorigin href="/svelte-assets/index-B4-LO-se.css"></head>
<body class="wp-singular post-template-default single single-post postid-1545 single-format-standard wp-embed-responsive wp-theme-propublica-2026">
<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" focusable="false" height="0" role="none" style="left:-9999px;overflow:hidden;position:absolute" viewBox="0 0 0 0" width="0"><symbol id="am-symbol-arrow-right" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2">
<title>Arrow Right</title>
<line x1="5" x2="19" y1="12" y2="12"></line>
<polyline points="12 5 19 12 12 19"></polyline>
</g></symbol><symbol id="am-symbol-caret" viewBox="0 0 16 16"><title>Caret</title><path clip-rule="evenodd" d="m9.5858 8.00008-5.29289-5.2929 1.41421-1.41421 6.70708 6.70711-6.70708 6.70712-1.41421-1.4142z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></symbol><symbol id="am-symbol-clipboard-list" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2">
<rect height="4" rx="1" ry="1" width="8" x="8" y="2"></rect>
<path d="M16 4h2a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v14a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H6a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V6a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h2"></path>
<path d="M12 11h4"></path>
<path d="M12 16h4"></path>
<path d="M8 11h.01"></path>
<path d="M8 16h.01"></path>
</g></symbol><symbol id="am-symbol-clock" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2">
<circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10"></circle>
<path d="M12 6v6l4 2"></path>
</g></symbol><symbol id="am-symbol-close" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2">
<title>Close</title>
<line x1="18" x2="6" y1="6" y2="18"></line>
<line x1="6" x2="18" y1="6" y2="18"></line>
</g></symbol><symbol id="am-symbol-globe" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2">
<circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10"></circle>
<path d="M12 2a14.5 14.5 0 0 0 0 20 14.5 14.5 0 0 0 0-20"></path>
<path d="M2 12h20"></path>
</g></symbol><symbol id="am-symbol-land-plot" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2">
<path d="m12 8 6-3-6-3v10"></path>
<path d="m8 11.99-5.5 3.14a1 1 0 0 0 0 1.74l8.5 4.86a2 2 0 0 0 2 0l8.5-4.86a1 1 0 0 0 0-1.74L16 12"></path>
<path d="m6.49 12.85 11.02 6.3"></path>
<path d="M17.51 12.85 6.5 19.15"></path>
</g></symbol><symbol id="am-symbol-loader" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2">
<path d="M21 12a9 9 0 1 1-6.219-8.56"></path>
</g></symbol><symbol id="am-symbol-message-circle-plus" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2">
<path d="M2.992 16.342a2 2 0 0 1 .094 1.167l-1.065 3.29a1 1 0 0 0 1.236 1.168l3.413-.998a2 2 0 0 1 1.099.092 10 10 0 1 0-4.777-4.719"></path>
<path d="M8 12h8"></path>
<path d="M12 8v8"></path>
</g></symbol><symbol id="am-symbol-play" viewBox="0 0 20 20"><path d="M4.16667 4.16667C4.16658 3.87342 4.24388 3.58533 4.39074 3.3315C4.53761 3.07767 4.74885 2.86708 5.00313 2.721C5.25742 2.57492 5.54574 2.49853 5.839 2.49952C6.13225 2.50052 6.42005 2.57887 6.67334 2.72667L16.6708 8.55834C16.9231 8.70474 17.1326 8.91479 17.2783 9.16751C17.424 9.42023 17.5008 9.70675 17.501 9.99845C17.5013 10.2902 17.425 10.5768 17.2797 10.8298C17.1345 11.0828 16.9254 11.2932 16.6733 11.44L6.67334 17.2733C6.42005 17.4211 6.13225 17.4995 5.839 17.5005C5.54574 17.5015 5.25742 17.4251 5.00313 17.279C4.74885 17.1329 4.53761 16.9223 4.39074 16.6685C4.24388 16.4147 4.16658 16.1266 4.16667 15.8333V4.16667Z" stroke="currentColor" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="1.875"></path></symbol></svg><!-- Google Tag Manager (noscript) -->
<noscript>
<iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-K8BNLGX" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe>
</noscript>
<!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) -->
<div class="wp-site-blocks"><header class="wp-block-template-part">
<script type="application/json" class="svelte-config-new">{"componentName":"SiteHeader","props":{"type":"minimal","color":"light","fixedNavScrollStart":".p-opener, .p-custom-opener","reportingOnLinks":[{"text":"Dismantling USAID","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/usaid"},{"text":"Skipping Newborn Shots","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/series\/a-simple-shot"},{"text":"Contaminated Water","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/series\/toxic-pressure"}],"featuredSeries":[{"title":"Life of the Mother","description":"How Abortion Bans Lead to Preventable Deaths","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/series\/life-of-the-mother","imgSrc":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/abortion-deaths-3x2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?w=1024"},{"title":"The New Immigration","description":"How Recent Arrivals at the Border Have Changed the Country and Its Attitudes","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/series\/the-new-immigration","imgSrc":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/new-immigration.JPG?w=1024"},{"title":"Friends of the Court","description":"SCOTUS Justices\u2019 Beneficial Relationships With Billionaire Donors","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/series\/supreme-court-scotus","imgSrc":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SCOTUS-Series-Page-2x3.jpg?w=1024"}],"featuredTopics":[{"text":"Abortion","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/abortion"},{"text":"Civil Rights","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/civil-rights"},{"text":"Courts","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/courts"},{"text":"Criminal Justice","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/criminal-justice"},{"text":"Debt","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/debt"},{"text":"Democracy","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/democracy"},{"text":"Education","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/education"},{"text":"Climate and Environment","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/environment"},{"text":"Health Care","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/health-care"},{"text":"Health Insurance","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/health-insurance"},{"text":"Immigration","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/immigration"},{"text":"Labor","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/labor"},{"text":"Mental Health","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/mental-health"},{"text":"Military","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/military"},{"text":"Police","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/police"},{"text":"Politics","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/politics"},{"text":"Pregnancy","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/pregnancy"},{"text":"Prison","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/prison"},{"text":"Racial Justice","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/racial-justice"},{"text":"Regulation","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/regulation"},{"text":"Sex and Gender","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/sex-and-gender"},{"text":"Sports","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/sports"},{"text":"Technology","href":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/technology"}]}}</script><div style="display: contents"><!--[--><!--[1--><header class="site-header site-header--minimal site-header--minimal--light svelte-1r1xcpa"><div class="site-header--minimal__inner p-grid-container svelte-1r1xcpa"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/" class="site-header--minimal__wordmark svelte-1r1xcpa" aria-label="ProPublica"><svg role="img" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 841 144" fill="currentColor"><title>ProPublica</title><path d="M771.055 88.7807L786.575 22.5573L802.302 88.7807H771.055ZM804.993 1.44863H780.781L783.264 12.2099L757.397 122.72L749.533 142.173H768.571L763.191 122.72L769.399 96.2308H804.165L812.856 132.447L811.201 142.173H841L836.24 131.619L804.993 1.44863ZM717.25 143.622C734.426 143.622 744.566 132.033 749.947 117.546L745.601 115.684C741.048 126.859 734.426 134.93 723.045 134.93C707.317 134.93 699.868 113.614 699.868 70.1554C699.868 26.6963 707.11 4.96675 720.768 4.96675C727.184 4.96675 731.529 9.31265 740.014 20.2809L748.498 31.2492H749.326L744.566 1.44863H738.151C731.322 1.44863 726.356 0.206953 720.768 0.206953C693.452 0.206953 675.242 30.2144 675.242 73.8804C675.242 117.546 691.176 143.622 717.25 143.622ZM637.165 11.796V131.826L633.854 142.173H663.86L660.342 131.826V11.796L663.86 1.44863H633.854L637.165 11.796ZM557.287 11.796V131.826L553.976 142.173H619.368L626.197 107.406H625.37L601.572 137.207H580.464V11.796L583.982 1.44863H553.976L557.287 11.796ZM500.378 137.413H489.411V70.7762H499.137C512.588 70.7762 518.589 80.7097 518.589 104.302C518.589 127.894 513.002 137.413 500.378 137.413ZM499.344 6.20846C511.346 6.20846 516.727 15.1072 516.727 36.2159C516.727 57.3246 511.346 66.0164 499.551 66.0164H489.411V6.20846H499.344ZM513.829 67.672V67.2581C529.971 62.7052 540.525 51.3231 540.525 33.7325C540.525 13.8655 526.246 1.44863 502.862 1.44863H462.922L466.233 11.796V131.826L462.922 142.173H501.827C527.694 142.173 543.215 126.445 543.215 103.267C543.215 83.8139 532.247 70.9832 513.829 67.672ZM408.911 143.622C433.123 143.622 445.747 130.377 445.747 106.992V21.1087L452.162 1.44863H433.123L439.952 21.1087V107.199C439.952 124.169 432.502 133.481 417.189 133.481C401.875 133.481 395.46 124.583 395.46 106.992V11.796L398.771 1.44863H368.972L372.283 11.796V108.441C372.283 130.791 384.906 143.622 408.911 143.622ZM317.03 75.9499H306.684V6.20846H316.617C328.826 6.20846 334.413 16.3489 334.413 41.3896C334.413 66.4303 329.033 75.9499 317.03 75.9499ZM320.342 1.44863H280.195L283.506 11.796V131.826L280.195 142.173H310.202L306.684 131.826V80.7097H320.135C344.346 80.7097 359.039 63.3261 359.039 40.3549C359.039 17.3836 345.174 1.44863 320.342 1.44863ZM223.908 138.448C209.836 138.448 203.421 119.409 203.421 71.8109C203.421 24.2129 209.836 5.1737 223.701 5.1737C237.566 5.1737 243.981 24.006 243.981 71.8109C243.981 119.616 237.566 138.448 223.908 138.448ZM223.494 143.622C249.568 143.622 268.607 114.235 268.607 71.1901C268.607 28.1449 249.155 0 223.908 0C198.661 0 178.795 29.3866 178.795 72.4318C178.795 115.477 198.248 143.622 223.494 143.622ZM126.026 70.1554H115.472V6.41538H125.612C137.201 6.41538 142.374 15.5211 142.374 38.4923C142.374 61.4636 137.407 70.1554 126.026 70.1554ZM129.544 1.44863H88.9838L92.2948 11.796V131.826L88.9838 142.173H118.99L115.472 131.826V75.1221H122.301L151.479 142.173H176.519V141.759L145.685 72.0179C159.343 66.4303 167 53.5995 167 37.4576C167 15.935 153.342 1.44863 129.544 1.44863ZM36.8351 75.9499H26.4882V6.20846H36.4213C48.6307 6.20846 54.218 16.3489 54.218 41.3896C54.218 66.4303 48.8376 75.9499 36.8351 75.9499ZM40.1462 1.44863H0L3.31102 11.796V131.826L0 142.173H30.0062L26.4882 131.826V80.7097H39.9392C64.1511 80.7097 78.8437 63.3261 78.8437 40.3549C78.8437 17.3836 64.9788 1.44863 40.1462 1.44863Z"></path></svg><!----></a> <div class="site-header--minimal__actions svelte-1r1xcpa"><span class="site-header--minimal__menu-wrap svelte-1r1xcpa"><div class="svelte-v4lr3e button--circle" style="display: contents; --button-bg-color: transparent; --button-text-color: var(--p-color-white); --button-border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--button-text-color) 25%, transparent); --button-font-size: var(--p-scale-4);"><!--[--><!----><button data-button-root="true" tabindex="0" aria-label="Open navigation menu"><span aria-hidden="true"><svg role="img" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Menu</title><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M2 12C2 11.4477 2.44772 11 3 11H21C21.5523 11 22 11.4477 22 12C22 12.5523 21.5523 13 21 13H3C2.44772 13 2 12.5523 2 12Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M2 6C2 5.44772 2.44772 5 3 5H21C21.5523 5 22 5.44772 22 6C22 6.55228 21.5523 7 21 7H3C2.44772 7 2 6.55228 2 6Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M2 18C2 17.4477 2.44772 17 3 17H21C21.5523 17 22 17.4477 22 18C22 18.5523 21.5523 19 21 19H3C2.44772 19 2 18.5523 2 18Z" fill="currentColor"></path></svg><!----></span><!----><!----></button><!----><!--]--></div><!----></span> <div class="svelte-v4lr3e" style="display: contents; --button-bg-color: var(--p-dyn-color-salmon-02); --button-text-color: var(--p-color-white); --button-border: none; --button-font-size: var(--p-scale-4);"><!--[--><!----><a data-button-root="true" href="https://give.propublica.org/campaign/748664/donate?c_src=UpRed" aria-disabled="false" tabindex="0"><!---->Donate<!----><!----></a><!----><!--]--></div><!----></div></div></header><!--]--> <header class="site-header site-header-fixed svelte-h94uc9" aria-hidden="true"><div class="site-header-fixed__inner p-grid-container svelte-h94uc9"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/" class="site-header-fixed__wordmark svelte-h94uc9" aria-label="ProPublica"><svg role="img" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 841 144" fill="currentColor"><title>ProPublica</title><path d="M771.055 88.7807L786.575 22.5573L802.302 88.7807H771.055ZM804.993 1.44863H780.781L783.264 12.2099L757.397 122.72L749.533 142.173H768.571L763.191 122.72L769.399 96.2308H804.165L812.856 132.447L811.201 142.173H841L836.24 131.619L804.993 1.44863ZM717.25 143.622C734.426 143.622 744.566 132.033 749.947 117.546L745.601 115.684C741.048 126.859 734.426 134.93 723.045 134.93C707.317 134.93 699.868 113.614 699.868 70.1554C699.868 26.6963 707.11 4.96675 720.768 4.96675C727.184 4.96675 731.529 9.31265 740.014 20.2809L748.498 31.2492H749.326L744.566 1.44863H738.151C731.322 1.44863 726.356 0.206953 720.768 0.206953C693.452 0.206953 675.242 30.2144 675.242 73.8804C675.242 117.546 691.176 143.622 717.25 143.622ZM637.165 11.796V131.826L633.854 142.173H663.86L660.342 131.826V11.796L663.86 1.44863H633.854L637.165 11.796ZM557.287 11.796V131.826L553.976 142.173H619.368L626.197 107.406H625.37L601.572 137.207H580.464V11.796L583.982 1.44863H553.976L557.287 11.796ZM500.378 137.413H489.411V70.7762H499.137C512.588 70.7762 518.589 80.7097 518.589 104.302C518.589 127.894 513.002 137.413 500.378 137.413ZM499.344 6.20846C511.346 6.20846 516.727 15.1072 516.727 36.2159C516.727 57.3246 511.346 66.0164 499.551 66.0164H489.411V6.20846H499.344ZM513.829 67.672V67.2581C529.971 62.7052 540.525 51.3231 540.525 33.7325C540.525 13.8655 526.246 1.44863 502.862 1.44863H462.922L466.233 11.796V131.826L462.922 142.173H501.827C527.694 142.173 543.215 126.445 543.215 103.267C543.215 83.8139 532.247 70.9832 513.829 67.672ZM408.911 143.622C433.123 143.622 445.747 130.377 445.747 106.992V21.1087L452.162 1.44863H433.123L439.952 21.1087V107.199C439.952 124.169 432.502 133.481 417.189 133.481C401.875 133.481 395.46 124.583 395.46 106.992V11.796L398.771 1.44863H368.972L372.283 11.796V108.441C372.283 130.791 384.906 143.622 408.911 143.622ZM317.03 75.9499H306.684V6.20846H316.617C328.826 6.20846 334.413 16.3489 334.413 41.3896C334.413 66.4303 329.033 75.9499 317.03 75.9499ZM320.342 1.44863H280.195L283.506 11.796V131.826L280.195 142.173H310.202L306.684 131.826V80.7097H320.135C344.346 80.7097 359.039 63.3261 359.039 40.3549C359.039 17.3836 345.174 1.44863 320.342 1.44863ZM223.908 138.448C209.836 138.448 203.421 119.409 203.421 71.8109C203.421 24.2129 209.836 5.1737 223.701 5.1737C237.566 5.1737 243.981 24.006 243.981 71.8109C243.981 119.616 237.566 138.448 223.908 138.448ZM223.494 143.622C249.568 143.622 268.607 114.235 268.607 71.1901C268.607 28.1449 249.155 0 223.908 0C198.661 0 178.795 29.3866 178.795 72.4318C178.795 115.477 198.248 143.622 223.494 143.622ZM126.026 70.1554H115.472V6.41538H125.612C137.201 6.41538 142.374 15.5211 142.374 38.4923C142.374 61.4636 137.407 70.1554 126.026 70.1554ZM129.544 1.44863H88.9838L92.2948 11.796V131.826L88.9838 142.173H118.99L115.472 131.826V75.1221H122.301L151.479 142.173H176.519V141.759L145.685 72.0179C159.343 66.4303 167 53.5995 167 37.4576C167 15.935 153.342 1.44863 129.544 1.44863ZM36.8351 75.9499H26.4882V6.20846H36.4213C48.6307 6.20846 54.218 16.3489 54.218 41.3896C54.218 66.4303 48.8376 75.9499 36.8351 75.9499ZM40.1462 1.44863H0L3.31102 11.796V131.826L0 142.173H30.0062L26.4882 131.826V80.7097H39.9392C64.1511 80.7097 78.8437 63.3261 78.8437 40.3549C78.8437 17.3836 64.9788 1.44863 40.1462 1.44863Z"></path></svg><!----></a> <p class="site-header-fixed__tagline svelte-h94uc9">Investigative Journalism in the Public Interest</p> <div class="site-header-fixed__actions svelte-h94uc9"><span class="site-header-fixed__menu-wrap svelte-h94uc9"><div class="svelte-v4lr3e button--circle" style="display: contents; --button-bg-color: var(--p-dyn-color-white); --button-text-color: var(--p-dyn-color-warm-black); --button-border: 1px solid var(--p-dyn-color-gray-01); --button-font-size: var(--p-scale-4);"><!--[--><!----><button data-button-root="true" tabindex="-1" aria-label="Open navigation menu"><span aria-hidden="true"><svg role="img" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Menu</title><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M2 12C2 11.4477 2.44772 11 3 11H21C21.5523 11 22 11.4477 22 12C22 12.5523 21.5523 13 21 13H3C2.44772 13 2 12.5523 2 12Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M2 6C2 5.44772 2.44772 5 3 5H21C21.5523 5 22 5.44772 22 6C22 6.55228 21.5523 7 21 7H3C2.44772 7 2 6.55228 2 6Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M2 18C2 17.4477 2.44772 17 3 17H21C21.5523 17 22 17.4477 22 18C22 18.5523 21.5523 19 21 19H3C2.44772 19 2 18.5523 2 18Z" fill="currentColor"></path></svg><!----></span><!----><!----></button><!----><!--]--></div><!----></span> <div class="svelte-v4lr3e" style="display: contents; --button-bg-color: var(--p-dyn-color-salmon-02); --button-text-color: var(--p-color-white); --button-border: none; --button-font-size: var(--p-scale-4);"><!--[--><!----><a data-button-root="true" href="https://give.propublica.org/campaign/748664/donate?c_src=UpRed" aria-disabled="false" tabindex="-1"><!---->Donate<!----><!----></a><!----><!--]--></div><!----></div></div></header><!----> <div class="site-header-overlay svelte-18gbyx3" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" aria-label="Navigation" aria-hidden="true"><div class="site-header-overlay__top p-grid-container svelte-18gbyx3"><form class="site-header-overlay__search svelte-18gbyx3" role="search" action="https://www.propublica.org/" method="get"><label for="overlay-search" class="p-a11y">Search ProPublica</label> <input id="overlay-search" class="site-header-overlay__search-input svelte-18gbyx3" type="search" name="s" placeholder="Search" tabindex="-1"/> <button class="site-header-overlay__search-btn svelte-18gbyx3" type="submit" aria-label="Submit search" tabindex="-1"><span aria-hidden="true" style="display: contents"><svg role="img" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><title>Search</title><circle cx="11" cy="11" r="8"></circle><line x1="21" y1="21" x2="16.65" y2="16.65"></line></svg><!----></span></button></form> <button class="site-header-overlay__close svelte-18gbyx3" aria-label="Close navigation" tabindex="-1"><span aria-hidden="true" style="display: contents"><svg role="img" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><title>Close</title><line x1="18" y1="6" x2="6" y2="18"></line><line x1="6" y1="6" x2="18" y2="18"></line></svg><!----></span></button></div> <div class="site-header-overlay__body p-grid-container svelte-18gbyx3"><p class="site-header-overlay__blurb svelte-18gbyx3">ProPublica is a nonprofit, investigative newsroom that exposes
corruption. We report in all 50 states and <a href="https://www.propublica.org/local-reporting-network" class="site-header-overlay__blurb-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">partner with local newsrooms</a>. Our work spurs <a href="https://www.propublica.org/impact" class="site-header-overlay__blurb-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">real-world impact</a> and has received numerous awards, including nine Pulitzer Prizes.</p> <nav class="site-header-overlay__nav svelte-18gbyx3" aria-label="Site navigation"><!--[--><div class="site-header-overlay__nav-group svelte-18gbyx3"><!--[--><a href="https://www.propublica.org/about" class="site-header-overlay__nav-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">About Us</a><a href="https://www.propublica.org/impact" class="site-header-overlay__nav-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Impact</a><a href="https://www.propublica.org/leadership" class="site-header-overlay__nav-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Leadership</a><a href="https://www.propublica.org/staff" class="site-header-overlay__nav-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Staff</a><a href="https://www.propublica.org/partners" class="site-header-overlay__nav-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Partners</a><!--]--></div><div class="site-header-overlay__nav-group svelte-18gbyx3"><!--[--><a href="https://www.propublica.org/contact" class="site-header-overlay__nav-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Contact Us</a><a href="https://www.propublica.org/media-center" class="site-header-overlay__nav-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Press</a><a href="https://www.propublica.org/tips" class="site-header-overlay__nav-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Send Us Tips</a><!--]--></div><!--]--></nav></div> <div class="site-header-overlay__bottom p-grid-container svelte-18gbyx3"><div class="site-header-overlay__topics svelte-18gbyx3"><div class="site-header-overlay__section-header svelte-18gbyx3"><h3 class="site-header-overlay__section-heading svelte-18gbyx3">Topics We Cover</h3> <a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics" class="site-header-overlay__see-all svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">See All</a></div> <ul class="site-header-overlay__topics-list svelte-18gbyx3"><!--[--><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/abortion" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Abortion</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/civil-rights" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Civil Rights</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/courts" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Courts</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/criminal-justice" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Criminal Justice</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/debt" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Debt</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/democracy" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Democracy</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/education" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Education</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/environment" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Climate and Environment</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/health-care" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Health Care</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/health-insurance" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Health Insurance</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/immigration" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Immigration</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/labor" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Labor</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/mental-health" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Mental Health</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/military" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Military</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/police" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Police</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/politics" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Politics</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/pregnancy" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Pregnancy</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/prison" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Prison</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/racial-justice" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Racial Justice</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/regulation" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Regulation</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/sex-and-gender" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Sex and Gender</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/sports" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Sports</a></li><li class="svelte-18gbyx3"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/technology" class="site-header-overlay__topic-link svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">Technology</a></li><!--]--></ul></div> <!--[0--><div class="site-header-overlay__investigations svelte-18gbyx3"><div class="site-header-overlay__section-header svelte-18gbyx3"><h3 class="site-header-overlay__section-heading svelte-18gbyx3">Our Biggest Series</h3> <a href="https://www.propublica.org/series" class="site-header-overlay__see-all svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1">See All</a></div> <div class="site-header-overlay__inv-grid svelte-18gbyx3"><!--[--><a href="https://www.propublica.org/series/life-of-the-mother" class="site-header-overlay__inv-card svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1"><div class="site-header-overlay__inv-text svelte-18gbyx3"><h4 class="site-header-overlay__inv-title svelte-18gbyx3">Life of the Mother</h4> <p class="site-header-overlay__inv-desc svelte-18gbyx3">How Abortion Bans Lead to Preventable Deaths</p></div> <img src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/abortion-deaths-3x2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="site-header-overlay__inv-img svelte-18gbyx3" loading="lazy"/></a><a href="https://www.propublica.org/series/the-new-immigration" class="site-header-overlay__inv-card svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1"><div class="site-header-overlay__inv-text svelte-18gbyx3"><h4 class="site-header-overlay__inv-title svelte-18gbyx3">The New Immigration</h4> <p class="site-header-overlay__inv-desc svelte-18gbyx3">How Recent Arrivals at the Border Have Changed the Country and Its Attitudes</p></div> <img src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/new-immigration.JPG?w=1024" alt="" class="site-header-overlay__inv-img svelte-18gbyx3" loading="lazy"/></a><a href="https://www.propublica.org/series/supreme-court-scotus" class="site-header-overlay__inv-card svelte-18gbyx3" tabindex="-1"><div class="site-header-overlay__inv-text svelte-18gbyx3"><h4 class="site-header-overlay__inv-title svelte-18gbyx3">Friends of the Court</h4> <p class="site-header-overlay__inv-desc svelte-18gbyx3">SCOTUS Justices’ Beneficial Relationships With Billionaire Donors</p></div> <img src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SCOTUS-Series-Page-2x3.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="site-header-overlay__inv-img svelte-18gbyx3" loading="lazy"/></a><!--]--></div></div><!--]--></div></div><!----><!--]--></div>
</header>
<main id="main" class="wp-block-group content p-grid-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<article class="wp-block-group p-grid-text-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<header class="wp-block-group entry-header is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3ce78d47 wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"><div class="wp-block-propublica-opener">
<div class="wp-block-group p-opener p-opener--full p-opener--left p-opener--full-hed-over-art is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a77db08e wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<div class="wp-block-group p-opener__art-wrapper is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a77db08e wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<figure>
<img
class="p-opener__art"
alt=""
width="1149"
height="766"
src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?w=1149"
sizes="100vw"
srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg 2500w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=2000,1334 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachutes-3x2.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w"
fetchpriority="high"
style="object-position: 50% 50%;" />
<figcaption class="p-attribution screen-reader-text">
<span class="p-attribution__credit">
Illustration by Matt Huynh, special to ProPublica
</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<div style="height:100%" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer p-opener__art-scrim p-hide-below-lg"></div>
<div class="wp-block-group p-opener__topic-title-dek-wrapper p-opener__topic-title-dek-wrapper--over-art p-hide-below-lg is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<p class="p-opener__series wp-block-propublica-primary-term">
<a href="https://www.propublica.org/series/navy-accidents-pacific-7th-fleet" class="wp-block-propublica-primary-term__link p-opener__series-link">
Disaster in the Pacific </a>
</p>
<h1 class="p-opener__hed p-opener__hed--small wp-block-post-title">Faulty Equipment, Lapsed Training, Repeated Warnings: How a Preventable Disaster Killed Six Marines</h1>
</div>
</div>
<figcaption class="p-attribution" aria-hidden="true">
<span class="p-attribution__credit">
Illustration by Matt Huynh, special to ProPublica
</span>
</figcaption>
<div class="wp-block-group p-opener__topic-title-dek-wrapper is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<p class="p-opener__series p-hide-above-lg wp-block-propublica-primary-term">
<a href="https://www.propublica.org/series/navy-accidents-pacific-7th-fleet" class="wp-block-propublica-primary-term__link p-opener__series-link">
Disaster in the Pacific </a>
</p>
<h1 class="p-opener__hed p-hide-above-lg wp-block-post-title">Faulty Equipment, Lapsed Training, Repeated Warnings: How a Preventable Disaster Killed Six Marines</h1>
<h2 class="p-opener__dek wp-block-propublica-dek">
Marine commanders did not act on dozens of pleas for additional manpower, machinery and time. When a training exercise ended in death, leadership blamed the very men they had neglected.</h2>
</div>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-group p-article-meta-1 p-article-meta-1--left is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<div class="p-article-meta-1__byline wp-block-propublica-byline">
<div class="wp-block-propublica-byline__photos">
<a href="https://www.propublica.org/people/robert-faturechi" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" class="wp-block-propublica-byline__photo-link">
<img
src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?w=50"
srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?w=50 1x, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?w=100 2x"
alt=""
class="wp-block-propublica-byline__photo"
width="50"
height="50"
/>
</a>
<a href="https://www.propublica.org/people/megan-rose" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" class="wp-block-propublica-byline__photo-link">
<img
src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?w=50"
srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?w=50 1x, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?w=100 2x"
alt=""
class="wp-block-propublica-byline__photo"
width="50"
height="50"
/>
</a>
<a href="https://www.propublica.org/people/t-christian-miller" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" class="wp-block-propublica-byline__photo-link">
<img
src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?w=50"
srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?w=50 1x, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?w=100 2x"
alt=""
class="wp-block-propublica-byline__photo"
width="50"
height="50"
/>
</a>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-byline__right">
<div class="wp-block-propublica-byline__content">
<span class="wp-block-propublica-byline-text">by </span><span class="wp-block-propublica-byline-profile"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/people/robert-faturechi">Robert Faturechi</a></span><span class="wp-block-propublica-byline-text">, </span><span class="wp-block-propublica-byline-profile"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/people/megan-rose">Megan Rose</a></span><span class="wp-block-propublica-byline-text"> and </span><span class="wp-block-propublica-byline-profile"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/people/t-christian-miller">T. Christian Miller</a></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="p-article-meta-1__pubdate wp-block-post-date"><time datetime="2019-12-30T05:00:00-05:00">December 30, 2019, 5:00 am</time></div>
<div class="wp-block-group p-article-meta-1__section-actions p-article-meta-1__section-actions--left is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<div class="wp-block-group p-article-meta-1__section-actions-container is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex">
<script type="application/json" class="svelte-config-new">{"componentName":"ShareTools","props":{"pageUrl":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard","pageTitle":"Faulty Equipment, Lapsed Training, Repeated Warnings: How a Preventable Disaster Killed Six Marines"}}</script><div style="display: contents"><!--[--><div class="share-tools" data-pp-click="" data-pp-location="share tools"><!--[--><!--[--><!--$s1--><!--[0--><div class="svelte-v4lr3e button--circle" style="display: contents; --button-bg-color: var(--p-dyn-color-white); --button-text-color: var(--p-dyn-color-gray-05); --button-border: 1px solid var(--p-dyn-color-gray-01); --button-font-size: var(--p-scale-4);"><!--[--><!----><button data-button-root="true" type="button" tabindex="0" id="bits-s1" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expanded="false" data-state="closed" data-popover-trigger="" aria-label="Share"><span aria-hidden="true" style="display: contents"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g clip-path="url(#clip0_149_321)"><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M4 11C4.55228 11 5 11.4477 5 12V20C5 20.2652 5.10536 20.5196 5.29289 20.7071C5.48043 20.8946 5.73478 21 6 21H18C18.2652 21 18.5196 20.8946 18.7071 20.7071C18.8946 20.5196 19 20.2652 19 20V12C19 11.4477 19.4477 11 20 11C20.5523 11 21 11.4477 21 12V20C21 20.7957 20.6839 21.5587 20.1213 22.1213C19.5587 22.6839 18.7957 23 18 23H6C5.20435 23 4.44129 22.6839 3.87868 22.1213C3.31607 21.5587 3 20.7956 3 20V12C3 11.4477 3.44772 11 4 11Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M11.2929 1.29289C11.6834 0.902369 12.3166 0.902369 12.7071 1.29289L16.7071 5.29289C17.0976 5.68342 17.0976 6.31658 16.7071 6.70711C16.3166 7.09763 15.6834 7.09763 15.2929 6.70711L12 3.41421L8.70711 6.70711C8.31658 7.09763 7.68342 7.09763 7.29289 6.70711C6.90237 6.31658 6.90237 5.68342 7.29289 5.29289L11.2929 1.29289Z" fill="currentColor"></path><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M12 1C12.5523 1 13 1.44772 13 2V15C13 15.5523 12.5523 16 12 16C11.4477 16 11 15.5523 11 15V2C11 1.44772 11.4477 1 12 1Z" fill="currentColor"></path></g><defs><clipPath id="clip0_149_321"><rect width="24" height="24" fill="white"></rect></clipPath></defs></svg><!----></span><!----><!----></button><!----><!--]--></div><!----><!--]--><!----><!--]--> <!--[--><!--[-1--><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!----><!--]--></div><!--]--></div>
<script type="application/json" class="svelte-config-new">{"componentName":"DarkModeToggle","props":[]}</script><div style="display: contents"><!--[--><div class="dark-mode-toggle svelte-1r7den"><div class="svelte-v4lr3e button--circle" style="display: contents; --button-bg-color: var(--p-color-page-bg); --button-text-color: var(--p-dyn-color-gray-05); --button-border: 1px solid var(--p-dyn-color-gray-01); --button-font-size: var(--p-scale-4);"><!--[--><!----><button data-button-root="true" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"><span aria-hidden="true"><!--[-1--><svg role="img" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><title>Contrast</title><circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10"></circle><path fill="currentColor" d="M12 18a6 6 0 000-12v12z"></path></svg><!--]--></span><!----><!----></button><!----><!--]--></div><!----> <label class="p-a11y" for="dark-mode-toggle__select">Change Appearance</label> <select class="dark-mode-toggle__select svelte-1r7den" id="dark-mode-toggle__select" data-pp-change="true" data-pp-category="change-mode"><!--[--><option value="auto" selected="">Auto</option><option value="light">Light</option><option value="dark">Dark</option><!--]--></select></div><!--]--></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</header>
<div class="wp-block-group article-body is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<aside class="wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"><div class="wp-block-propublica-notes--top wp-block-propublica-notes">
<div class="wp-block-propublica-note">
<p>ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive <a href="https://www.propublica.org/newsletters/the-big-story?source=www.propublica.org&#038;placement=top-note&#038;region=national">our biggest stories</a> as soon as they’re published.</p>
</div>
</div>
</aside>
<div class="entry-content wp-block-post-content is-layout-flow wp-block-post-content-is-layout-flow">
<p>Capt. Jahmar Resilard and Capt. Austin Smith were hurtling over the Pacific Ocean at 280 miles per hour. From inside the cockpit of their U.S. Marine Corps fighter jet, they kept their eyes on the hulking fuel tanker flying ahead. Off to their right, two Marines in a second jet assigned to Fighter Attack Squadron 242 did the same.</p>
<p>The moon was below the horizon. The lights on all three aircraft were turned off. In total darkness, 50 miles off the coast of Japan, the two jets were to stick their noses into fuel hoses trailing behind the tanker’s wings.</p>
<p>Even for the most prepared aviators, the training mission was not simple. Doing it at night made it even trickier. The night vision goggles fastened to their faces badly constricted how much they could see, like wearing binoculars to operate heavy equipment.</p>
<p>It didn’t help that Resilard had only executed a nighttime refueling once before in his career, more than a year earlier. His qualification to do so had formally lapsed, but no one realized it because a known glitch in the Marine Corps’ training tracker had yet to be fixed.</p>
<p>Resilard gained on the tanker, a behemoth capable of carrying more than 12,000 gallons of fuel. He connected gingerly to the hose.</p>
<p>“Good flow,” Smith assured him from the backseat of their cockpit.</p>
<div class="p-hide-print p-bb--size-full wp-block-propublica-ad-slot">
<div id="bsa-zone_1760102005055-6_123456"></div>
</div>
<p>The second Hornet had connected to the tanker’s other fuel hose. As the gas poured in at a rate of hundreds of gallons a minute, the three Marine Corps aircraft turned a wide, careful oval inside the safety of their approved airspace.</p>
<p>The December 2018 flight was part of a week of hastily planned exercises that would test how prepared Fighter Attack Squadron 242 was for war with North Korea. But the entire squadron, not just Resilard, had been struggling for months to maintain their basic skills. Flying a fighter jet is a highly perishable skill, but training hours had been elusive. Repairs to jets were delayed. Pleadings up the chain of command for help and relief went ignored.</p>
<p>“Everyone believes us to be under-resourced, under-manned,” the squadron’s commander wrote to his superiors months earlier.</p>
<p>And now, in perhaps the world’s most volatile theater, a Marine Corps general had ordered up a rushed set of exercises. The aviators in the air over the Pacific, investigators later found, had been given so little time to adjust their sleep schedules in order to fly at night that inside their F/A-18D Hornets that night it was as if they were legally drunk.</p>
<p>“Don’t have a good feeling,” Capt. James Wilson, the pilot of the second Hornet, had texted to his wife before taking off that night. “Love you.”</p>
<p>Smith, Resilard’s weapons officer, had flown so little of late that he was getting nauseous when he did fly. On the night of the refueling, he’d violated regulations and taken a motion sickness pill, risking drowsiness.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-propublica-position-medium"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" js-autosizes height="501" width="752" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?w=752" alt="" class="wp-image-19621" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg 1887w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-pilots-3x2.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" /></figure>
<p>But both Hornets managed to refuel and disconnect without incident. Success felt close. They just had to safely separate. The mood over the radio was light.</p>
<p>“If you guys will go ahead and start a left turn to the middle of the area, we will give you a little show on the way out,” Wilson said to the tanker crew.</p>
<p>“Fuck yeah,” one of the tanker pilots replied.</p>
<p>Then, suddenly, Resilard’s Hornet drifted over the top of the tanker and to its right, a dangerous and unexpected maneuver.</p>
<p>It’s possible Resilard’s night vision goggles malfunctioned. They were a known menace. In fact, they were so problematic — the image could blur, and some aviators said they could even accidentally turn upside down — that the Air Force had recommended they not be fielded at all. The Marine Corps did so anyway.</p>
<p>“Oh … sheeitt … what are they gonna do?” the tanker pilot, still excited, said over the intercom, unaware Resilard was in danger.</p>
<div class="p-hide-print p-bb--size-full wp-block-propublica-ad-slot">
<div id="bsa-zone_1760102469343-3_123456"></div>
</div>
<p>Then Resilard corrected back. For 11 seconds, his jet dove down and to the left, straight for the tanker. One of the Marines in the second Hornet tried to radio a warning to Resilard but fumbled in activating the communications line.</p>
<p>The jet lanced the side of the tanker; the impact was shattering. Smith slammed into his Hornet’s canopy. He instantly yanked the ejection handle, activating the rockets under his and Resilard’s seats. The force of being launched out into the night sky ripped the helmet and goggles off Resilard’s head.</p>
<p>From the cockpit of the second Hornet, all Wilson could see below him was fire. He watched the burning tanker fall for 10 seconds. At 12,000 feet, it disappeared into a thick marine layer. The clouds glowed red. Five Marines were fatally trapped on board. All that could be heard over their intercom was wind whipping in and men hollering.</p>
<p>His parachute deployed, Smith began a 15,000-foot fall. He shot off flares into the night sky hoping someone would see, pausing when he passed through a freezing layer in the sky and his hands went numb. He struggled unsuccessfully to get his steel-toe boots off before he hit the water.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-propublica-position-small"><img decoding="async" js-autosizes height="640" width="527" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachuter-1-inline.jpg?w=527" alt="" class="wp-image-19622" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachuter-1-inline.jpg 1079w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachuter-1-inline.jpg?resize=247,300 247w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachuter-1-inline.jpg?resize=768,933 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachuter-1-inline.jpg?resize=843,1024 843w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachuter-1-inline.jpg?resize=863,1049 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachuter-1-inline.jpg?resize=422,513 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachuter-1-inline.jpg?resize=552,671 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachuter-1-inline.jpg?resize=558,678 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachuter-1-inline.jpg?resize=527,640 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachuter-1-inline.jpg?resize=752,914 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachuter-1-inline.jpg?resize=556,676 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachuter-1-inline.jpg?resize=400,486 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-parachuter-1-inline.jpg?resize=800,972 800w" sizes="(max-width: 527px) 100vw, 527px" /></figure>
<p>Falling 800 feet per minute, Smith and Resilard splashed into the Pacific. Smith was bruised, and he was shivering, but his head bobbed above the water and the reflective tape on his helmet could help rescuers spot him.</p>
<p>Resilard, who had landed far from Smith, was in worse shape. Blood was pooling on his brain. But he was active and conscious. He had a wristwatch, the kind runners use to keep track of distance traveled and calories burned. It showed Resilard’s pulse was strong, over 100 beats per minute.</p>
<p>Rescuers should have been on the way.</p>
<p>Smith’s location beacon failed in the water, but he got his radio to transmit his location.</p>
<p>Resilard had less luck. Injured, cold, he couldn’t get his radio to work. He couldn’t punch in the broadcast sequencing right. While the radios can be configured to transmit coordinates automatically, the Marine Corps had chosen not to adopt the practice.</p>
<p>Resilard’s circumstances only worsened. His location beacon had also malfunctioned in the water. The Marine Corps’ senior leadership knew the beacons were flawed but hadn’t replaced them.</p>
<p>After a deadly mishap involving a beacon two years earlier, Squadron 242’s commander tried to remedy the problem by getting replacements. But weeks before the crash the Marine Corps ordered a halt to their use because they were not officially authorized.</p>
<p>In the sky, the Marines on the second Hornet tried to help, radioing their Japanese allies and asking for rescue aircraft. It was all but futile.</p>
<div class="p-hide-print p-bb--size-full wp-block-propublica-ad-slot">
<div id="bsa-zone_1760102552591-0_123456"></div>
</div>
<p>Years earlier, the U.S. had struck an agreement giving responsibility for the search and rescue of American forces in the region to the Japanese military. The American commanders who’d ordered up the December training mission, however, were unaware of one wrinkle: The Japanese would only be available to help in emergencies if their forces were also actively training.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-propublica-position-medium"><img decoding="async" js-autosizes height="599" width="752" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?w=752" alt="" class="wp-image-19623" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg 2217w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=300,239 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=768,611 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=1024,815 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=1536,1223 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=2048,1630 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=863,687 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=422,336 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=552,439 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=558,444 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=527,420 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=752,599 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=1149,915 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=556,443 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=1112,885 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=2000,1592 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=400,318 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=800,637 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=1200,955 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-resilard-watch.jpg?resize=1600,1274 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" /></figure>
<p>That night in December, the Japanese were not. Help, if it could make it, was hours away.</p>
<p>At 68 degrees, the sea water was not immediately lethal. But hypothermia would eventually set in.</p>
<p>Three hours after the crash, Smith and Resilard were still waiting. Smith had managed to inflate his raft and climb in. Resilard could not pull himself into his but did his best to cling to it. His watch showed his heart was still beating around 86 times a minute — more slowly than earlier, but clear evidence he was alive.</p>
<p>Dawn was coming. Maybe the light would help.</p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chapter 1 <br>“Nobody Is Getting Off”</h3>
<p>Fighter Attack Squadron 242, based in the Pacific, was part of what the U.S. military called its “Fight Tonight” force. If hostilities broke out, the squadron would cross quickly into North Korean airspace, equipped to hit Pyongyang’s missile batteries. Failure could result in hundreds of thousands dead in South Korea’s capital.</p>
<p>The loss of life in a relatively routine training exercise, then, was a bruising blow to the Marine Corps. And there were, in late 2018, no shortage of reasons the Marines would want to look long and hard at the full circumstances behind the tragedy.</p>
<p>The Navy’s 7th Fleet, based in Japan along with the squadron, had seen 17 sailors killed in back-to-back accidents the year before, painful embarrassments that would ultimately be traced to years of ignored warnings about a crisis in training, manpower and machinery. Aviation accidents were also on the rise, and Squadron 242 had been involved in one of them: a 2016 near-disaster involving an unqualified pilot taking part in a similar nighttime refueling. The fighter jet sheared off part of the tanker’s refueling hose, barely avoiding a full-on collision.</p>
<p>In Washington, Congress was beginning to openly question whether American commanders in the Pacific were being honest about the preparedness of their forces.</p>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-lead-in">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Watch: How the Marine Corps Failed Squadron 242</h3>
<p>Falling from 15,000 feet, the two Marines hit the Pacific Ocean at 800 feet per minute. They were bruised and cold, their rescue equipment failed and help was hours away.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="How the Marine Corps Failed Squadron 242" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/lOUp6DcPfAo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>
</div>
<p>The Marine Corps promised to spare no one in its investigation of the December 2018 crash, and Col. Samuel Schoolfield was named to lead the probe.</p>
<p>In meeting with members of the squadron, Schoolfield said he understood the fear among aviators that they could be made fall guys.</p>
<p>“That’s not what I’m doing,” Schoolfield told one squadron member. “I’ve had some really tough conversations with people my rank and higher. … Nobody is getting off.”</p>
<div class="p-hide-print p-bb--size-full wp-block-propublica-ad-slot">
<div id="bsa-zone_1760102636564-5_123456"></div>
</div>
<p>Schoolfield, however, went right after the squadron, months later issuing a withering, and often personal, judgment of their character and commitment. Schoolfield deemed the members of the squadron to be cowboys, operating within a command climate of “gross unprofessionalism.” Schoolfield cited “excessive alcohol consumption,” issues with drugs and adultery. The squadron’s use of “sexually explicit call signs” was typical of the debauched environment, Schoolfield asserted.</p>
<p>There were, to be sure, mistakes uncovered by Schoolfield that had to be answered for. Lt. Col. James Compton, the squadron’s commander, had failed to make sure a senior officer was on duty the night of the refueling, a standard safeguard against rash decisions. As a result, on the night of the accident, it had been left to Wilson, the senior pilot, to agree to a late request from the tanker crew to do a midair refueling. Wilson, for his part, never relayed the hastily added change in plans to Compton.</p>
<p>Schoolfield was also troubled by Wilson having proposed a “show” of some kind after the refueling had taken place. While the accident happened before Wilson ever performed whatever flourish he had in mind, Schoolfield found his idea reckless and traceable to the squadron’s leadership. Compton and his senior aides had “created nonchalant attitudes towards safety and standardization.”</p>
<p>But members of the squadron found Schoolfield’s assertions about their drinking and personal lives to be irrelevant, even dishonest.</p>
<p>The prescription drugs he accused the Marines of seeking were “go/no-go pills” — sleep and stimulant medications aviators are commonly prescribed when forced to work fatigued.</p>
<p>Schoolfield slammed two of the aviators involved in the crash for having Ambien in their systems that night, falsely suggesting it played a role in what happened, even though blood and urine tests showed trace amounts that the Marine Corps determined couldn’t have impaired the men.</p>
<p>The case of adultery he revealed was an infidelity involving a Marine with no role in the crash.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-propublica-position-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" js-autosizes height="595" width="752" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?w=752" alt="" class="wp-image-19624" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png 2418w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=300,237 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=768,608 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=1024,811 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=1536,1216 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=2048,1621 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=863,683 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=422,334 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=552,437 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=558,442 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=527,417 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=752,595 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=1149,910 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=556,440 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=1112,880 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=2000,1583 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=400,317 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=800,633 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=1200,950 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-schoolfield-report.png?resize=1600,1267 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" /><figcaption class="attribution"><span class="attribution__caption">The Marine Corps’ public investigation criticized the squadron and its flight crew that night, essentially absolving senior leaders of blame.</span></figcaption></figure>
<p>Schoolfield’s report, though, would be the final word. He’d made that clear to those he’d interviewed.</p>
<p>“Like we talked about this morning,” he told one aviator, “this investigation is the one that goes into the official record.”</p>
<p>Schoolfield’s investigation, completed in June 2019, was released to the public and to the media.</p>
<p>The families of the dead Marines received personal briefings on his findings. Some of the parents reacted with anger and disgust toward the Hornet squadron.</p>
<p>Compton, who had been relieved of his command before the announcement of the Schoolfield report, read the findings with disbelief. He’d accepted his fate, conceding he’d made mistakes and to some degree failed his squadron.</p>
<div class="p-hide-print p-bb--size-full wp-block-propublica-ad-slot">
<div id="bsa-zone_1760102719203-6_123456"></div>
</div>
<p>But Schoolfield’s official report, he believed, was a whitewash, a cynical effort to protect senior commanders and thus to mislead the families of the lost Marines.</p>
<p>Compton had warned higher command for months the squadron was at risk. In dozens of memos and emails, he’d detailed problems with training, equipment and morale. He’d run the numbers showing how distinctly disadvantaged the squadron was, with senior positions unfilled and basic parts for the safe and regular operation of its planes unavailable.</p>
<p>“We’re doing a disservice to the families and to the nation by sweeping this under the rug,” Compton said.</p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chapter 2 <br>“Has Anybody Flown During This Time of Night Before?”</h3>
<p>Compton took over Squadron 242, the Bats, in May 2018, six months before the crash. As a young aviator, Compton had flown with the Bats when the squadron was supporting the war in Iraq. He was in flight school on 9/11, and almost immediately after getting his wings he was thrust into around-the-clock, high-tempo combat missions. He’d actually flown the Hornet, Profane 12, Resilard was in the night of the accident.</p>
<p>But the squadron he was given command of in Japan was unrecognizable to him, full of Marines who had been neglected by their Corps bosses for years. The squadron members, demoralized, ached not so much for the thrill of action on the front lines but to be anywhere else.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-propublica-position-small"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" js-autosizes height="377" width="527" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-jet-inline.jpg?w=527" alt="" class="wp-image-19625" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-jet-inline.jpg 1412w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-jet-inline.jpg?resize=300,214 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-jet-inline.jpg?resize=768,549 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-jet-inline.jpg?resize=1024,732 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-jet-inline.jpg?resize=863,617 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-jet-inline.jpg?resize=422,302 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-jet-inline.jpg?resize=552,394 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-jet-inline.jpg?resize=558,399 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-jet-inline.jpg?resize=527,377 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-jet-inline.jpg?resize=752,537 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-jet-inline.jpg?resize=1149,821 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-jet-inline.jpg?resize=556,397 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-jet-inline.jpg?resize=1112,795 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-jet-inline.jpg?resize=400,286 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-jet-inline.jpg?resize=800,572 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-jet-inline.jpg?resize=1200,858 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 527px) 100vw, 527px" /></figure>
<p>“They were not happy with their existence,” Compton said. “They wanted nothing to do with fleet life, which to me was very strange.”</p>
<p>In repeated, consistent memos in the months that followed, Compton alerted his direct superiors and higher headquarters of the myriad issues, including the squadron’s morale.</p>
<p>The reports Compton sent up the chain of command showed the squadron was consistently not capable of completing seven of its 10 “mission essential tasks,” the core functions of a fighter jet squadron. Among the tasks they couldn’t handle if war broke out: armed reconnaissance, when jets fly deep into a battle space seeking out enemy targets to strike, and air interdiction, traveling into enemy airspace to bomb a known target. Both missions would be crucial to containing a North Korean attack.</p>
<p>Compton sent updates on the squadron’s staffing, breaking down the number of Marines needed in each department and at each experience level compared with how many the squadron actually had. They had more junior Marines than they needed but consistently fell short for more senior posts. Their maintenance staff was the most inexperienced of any F/A-18 squadron in the Marine Corps. In some months, less than a third of their 13 Hornets were “mission capable.”</p>
<p>Personnel shortfalls in the maintenance department slowed the repair of jets, resulting in fewer training hours for aviators. Compton’s pilots had averaged 9.4 hours of flight time in one month, and his weapon systems officers just 3.7 hours. The Marine Corps recommended monthly minimum is 15.7 hours.</p>
<p>He laid out the dismal metrics in writing to his direct boss, Col. Mark Palmer.</p>
<p>“Thanks good update,” Palmer wrote back.</p>
<div class="p-hide-print p-bb--size-full wp-block-propublica-ad-slot">
<div id="bsa-zone_1760102804706-4_123456"></div>
</div>
<p>Compton was at a loss.</p>
<p>“It’s either ignoring it, or basically negligence, or basically an inability to do anything about it,” Compton said.</p>
<p>That summer, relations between the U.S. and North Korea were whipsawing. After months of fiery rhetoric, President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un finally met for their summit in Singapore, shaking hands and expressing a vague commitment to denuclearization. But within weeks, North Korea was back to its bellicosity, accusing the Trump administration of a “unilateral and gangster-like demand” that the country disarm its nuclear arsenal. Kim was refusing to shut down his nuclear weapons facilities or to allow inspectors in. In fact, intelligence reports were showing he was quietly expanding the sites.</p>
<aside class="wp-block-propublica-aside">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mission Essential Tasks</h3>
<p>The commanding officer of the Bats had warned his superiors for months that his squadron was not prepared to handle most of its mission essential tasks, the basics for an aviation squadron, if war broke out.</p>
<p><span style="color: green;font-weight: bold">☑︎ Suppression of enemy air defense</span><br>
<span style="color: green;font-weight: bold">☑︎ Offensive anti-air warfare</span><br>
<span style="color: green;font-weight: bold">☑︎ Expeditionary operations</span><br>
<span style="color: red;font-weight: bold">☒ Armed reconnaissance</span><br>
<span style="color: red;font-weight: bold">☒ Striking coordination and reconnaissance</span><br>
<span style="color: red;font-weight: bold">☒ Close air support</span><br>
<span style="color: red;font-weight: bold">☒ Air interdiction</span><br>
<span style="color: red;font-weight: bold">☒ Forward air controller airborne</span><br>
<span style="color: red;font-weight: bold">☒ Tactical air coordinator airborne</span><br>
<span style="color: red;font-weight: bold">☒ Active air defense</span></p>
</aside>
<p>In this environment, the Bats were sent off for three months of exercises in Australia. Things only deteriorated. Their shipment of spare parts and other cargo didn’t arrive for a month. In an update to his bosses, Compton complained of the “heinously” late delivery, saying it contributed to a 40% reduction of training.</p>
<p>The Bats were counting on seven smaller parts shipments as well, but they only got two. They had to beg their Australian counterparts for tow bars, tugs, lubricants, generators and other spares. Or they cannibalized parts from jets in the shop to make their other jets whole.</p>
<p>Compton’s updates grew more desperate.</p>
<p>“The squadron aircrew’s monthly flight time has gotten dangerously low,” he wrote. “To maintain the level of combat readiness that our nation deserves, the number of qualified Marines must increase.”</p>
<p>In late fall of 2018, the Trump administration called off the United States’ annual military exercise with the South Koreans, citing the need for diplomacy at a critical moment. The Pentagon said canceling the war games exercise might “give the diplomatic process every opportunity to continue.”</p>
<p>Despite the president’s decision, Maj. Gen. Thomas Weidley, the top Marine Corps aviation commander in the region, nonetheless abruptly ordered up a week of around-the-clock flights for a handful of squadrons, including 242.</p>
<p>The decision took Compton by surprise, and his unease about the state of his squadron deepened.</p>
<p>“I didn’t think that our leadership would basically say, ‘We don’t care what the president thinks, we’re going to execute anyway,’” Compton later told investigators.</p>
<p>Weidley’s decision — to carry out a more limited, but still aggressive, version of the annual exercises — left little time to plan the squadron’s missions.</p>
<div class="p-hide-print p-bb--size-full wp-block-propublica-ad-slot">
<div id="bsa-zone_1760102877593-3_123456"></div>
</div>
<p>Compton, and commanders for other participating squadrons, struggled to understand the orders that eventually were passed down. The plans called for too many flights per day, officers involved said, and missions so long they violated Marine Corps protocols. On the eve of the exercise, details as basic as where the planes would be landing, which requires host nation approval, had yet to be finalized.</p>
<p>Maj. Patrick Moran, one of Compton’s aides, left a meeting with higher command “with such confusion that I felt like I had reached exhaustion.” He emailed Compton, “We just don’t have clear tasking/training objectives.”</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-propublica-position-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" js-autosizes height="564" width="752" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?w=752" alt="" class="wp-image-19626" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=2048,1536 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=863,647 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=422,317 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=552,414 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=558,419 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=527,395 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=752,564 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=1149,862 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=556,417 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=1112,834 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=2000,1500 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=800,600 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=1200,900 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-squadron-inline.jpg?resize=1600,1200 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" /><figcaption class="attribution"><span class="attribution__caption">James Compton, third from right, along with other Marines from his unit.</span></figcaption></figure>
<p>With days left before around-the-clock operations launched, Compton split his squadron into morning, afternoon and night shifts. He was most concerned about the daytime hours because flight plans were still fluid, and decisions about their intricacies still needed to be made. He thus assigned all of his highest ranking officers to those shifts, and none to the night shift, the most dangerous.</p>
<p>Even in daylight, flying a fighter jet taxes the body and mind. The G-force at high speeds sucks blood down to the legs, starving the brain of oxygen. To pump blood back to their heads, pilots pulse the muscles in their lower halves. Bands around their legs that inflate like blood pressure cuffs help. Meanwhile, they’re manipulating the pitch, yaw and roll of their planes with measured, practiced movements of their hands and feet, while simultaneously monitoring their instrument panels and calculating their next moves. Fatal mistakes happen quickly.</p>
<p>Flying in the dark can be even more demanding. Marine Corps protocol recommends pilots flying nights be given up to four weeks to adjust their sleep schedules. Compton’s Marines were given just a few days.</p>
<p>Wilson later recounted his reaction to getting assigned the night shift: “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”</p>
<p>Wilson was hand-selected to lead the late team. He had flown night sorties over Iraq and was considered one of the Bats’ most seasoned pilots. But he had flown just four hours in the last month, a quarter of the minimum time needed to be truly capable. The night plans gave him pause.</p>
<p>Wilson huddled with the other Marines assigned the late shift, 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.</p>
<p>“Has anybody flown during this time of night before?” he asked.</p>
<p>Nobody raised their hand.</p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chapter 3 <br>“I Can’t See Anything but the Fire”</h3>
<p>On Dec. 6, Wilson and Resilard were set to start their engines for the first of the week’s night flights just after midnight. Their initial objective was quite limited: Their two Hornets were to take off, “burn holes in the sky” to gain some much-needed flight time and land.</p>
<p>But just a few hours before takeoff, the Bats got a call from a tanker squadron looking to rendezvous for a midair refueling. It was a more complicated mission and wasn’t on the Bats’ flight schedule.</p>
<div class="p-hide-print p-bb--size-full wp-block-propublica-ad-slot">
<div id="bsa-zone_1760102962444-4_123456"></div>
</div>
<p>Wilson approved the addition without calling Compton, his commanding officer. He sped through a preflight brief, then he led the men to the airstrip.</p>
<p>On the walk to their Hornets, Wilson made one last admonishment. He noted that two years earlier, Capt. James Frederick, a friend, was killed while flying an F/A-18C during a training exercise in the same airspace. Frederick’s wife was pregnant at the time with their second child.</p>
<p>“That was my way of saying, hey, keep your head on a swivel, you know, stuff happens,” Wilson said.</p>
<p>Resilard, for his part, tried to stay upbeat. He was enthusiastic about getting some training in.</p>
<p>“I’m all about the flight time, man,” he told his squadron mates.</p>
<p>Resilard was piloting the second Hornet, Profane 12. He was an inconsistent aviator. Weeks earlier, Resilard landed short of a runway and into the wrong set of steel cables that help stop a jet upon touching down. The incident could have been catastrophic if the cables hadn’t happened to be bidirectional. His squadron mates christened him with a new call sign, ALIBi, short for “Am Lucky It’s Bi.”</p>
<p>Resilard was said to work hard, but he was afforded little opportunity to improve. That year, he was averaging just over half the minimum recommended monthly flight time. His qualification for refueling at night had lapsed. But a glitch in the Marine Corps’ tracking system was erroneously displaying pilots as qualified for skills they hadn’t been tested on for a year or more.</p>
<p>In the air shortly after midnight, Resilard and Wilson watched as the tanker went dark. It flipped on its covert lights, invisible to the naked eye.</p>
<p>Through their night vision goggles, Wilson and Resilard, flying in formation, could see the hulking aircraft and little else. The tanker, a KC-130J Hercules named Sumo 41, was operated by two pilots and three enlisted aircrew. Two long, flexible refueling hoses extended back from pods mounted under each of the tanker’s wings. A heavy funnel is attached to each tip, keeping the hoses steady and level, like two water skiers being towed behind a boat.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-propublica-position-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" js-autosizes height="502" width="752" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-refeuling-3x2.jpg?w=752" alt="" class="wp-image-19627" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-refeuling-3x2.jpg 1012w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-refeuling-3x2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-refeuling-3x2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-refeuling-3x2.jpg?resize=863,576 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-refeuling-3x2.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-refeuling-3x2.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-refeuling-3x2.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-refeuling-3x2.jpg?resize=527,352 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-refeuling-3x2.jpg?resize=752,502 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-refeuling-3x2.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-refeuling-3x2.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-refeuling-3x2.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-refeuling-3x2.jpg?resize=800,534 800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" /><figcaption class="attribution"><span class="attribution__credit">3D illustration by MacGregor Campbell, special to ProPublica</span></figcaption></figure>
<p>Their approved airspace, off the southern coast of Shikoku, Japan, was a rectangle, roughly 40 miles wide and 90 miles long.</p>
<p>Wilson disconnected first. He elevated more than a hundred feet above the tanker and shifted off to its right side.</p>
<p>Standard procedure would have called for Resilard, once he was done refueling, to join Wilson on the tanker’s right side and depart from there. But Wilson called an audible and directed Resilard to stay left. The tanker crew was unfazed.</p>
<p>“That’s approved,” Maj. James Brophy, the tanker’s lead pilot said over the radio.</p>
<p>The next 90 seconds proved fatal.</p>
<p>Wilson made his boastful promise of a “show.” Concerned he was pressed too far up against the border of the airspace to his right, he asked the tanker to shift left, sending it away from him and closer to Resilard.</p>
<p>The Marines on the tanker didn’t know what Wilson had planned, but they were fired up.</p>
<p>“Are they gonna fucking burn by both of us on each side?” Maj. Kevin Herrmann asked over the intercom.</p>
<p>“Dude, I was about to ask, like, can they do something cool like we used to? Nobody does that shit anymore.”</p>
<p>“Never,” Brophy agreed.</p>
<p>“I fucking like it guys,” Herrmann said. “Excited.”</p>
<p>Then one of the three enlisted crew members, standing watch from the left window of the tanker, noticed Resilard drift over them.</p>
<p>“12 moving over the top from left to right,” he said over the tanker’s intercom.</p>
<p>What caused Resilard’s drift is not known.</p>
<p>Resilard had been positioned above the tanker and to its left. He had been inadvertently pressing his right rudder all night — a sign of stress — and counterbalancing with his flight stick. It’s possible that when the tanker, still in covert lighting, shifted left and underneath him, he lost sight of it, panicked and stopped fighting the rightward creep.</p>
<p>Another possibility: After Resilard had finished refueling, the tanker pilot asked for Resilard’s jet ID for invoice purposes. That number is displayed inside the cockpit near Resilard’s right knee. If you look right, you can inadvertently go right, particularly in the dark without other points of reference.</p>
<p>Whatever the cause, no one alerted him to his dangerous drift.</p>
<p>Smith, sitting behind Resilard to help guide the flight and man the weapons systems, saw their Hornet passing over the tanker. It filled the field of view on his night goggles. Fatigued and drowsy from Dramamine, Smith didn’t recognize it was a mistake. He stayed quiet.</p>
<p>Through the darkness, Wilson’s weapons officer, Capt. Paul Keith, could make out the silhouette of Resilard’s Hornet. His wings were waggling like he was struggling to regain control. Keith looked down at the scale in his cockpit to orient himself, then looked back out. He realized Resilard was slicing their way.</p>
<p>Resilard’s Hornet was now in the middle, with Profane 11 to its right and the tanker to its left. Then, Resilard headed back toward the tanker.</p>
<p>“What the fuck is he doing?” Keith shouted.</p>
<p>Smith, confident they were a safe distance from the tanker even as they hurtled toward it, looked the other way, at the Hornet on the right. When his Hornet hit the tanker, Smith said it was “the most violent thing that I have ever felt in my life.”</p>
<p>Smith pulled the ejection handle, initiating an overwhelming force that can crush vertebrae. He did not warn his pilot beforehand as he was supposed to, so Resilard wasn’t in proper position to eject. His helmet was stripped off and his night vision goggles ripped away.</p>
<p>Smith’s escape was smoother. The left side of his body was banged up, but he was OK. He began descending in his parachute under the tanker.</p>
<p>From the cockpit of his Hornet, Wilson saw the sparks from the ejection rockets. He hit the afterburners, nose high, shooting up and away from the crash. Still climbing, he made a sharp turn back over the burning tanker. He looked down.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-propublica-position-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" js-autosizes height="501" width="752" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-explosion-3x2.jpg?w=752" alt="" class="wp-image-19628" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-explosion-3x2.jpg 1013w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-explosion-3x2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-explosion-3x2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-explosion-3x2.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-explosion-3x2.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-explosion-3x2.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-explosion-3x2.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-explosion-3x2.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-explosion-3x2.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-explosion-3x2.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-explosion-3x2.jpg?resize=556,370 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-explosion-3x2.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-night-vision-explosion-3x2.jpg?resize=800,533 800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" /><figcaption class="attribution"><span class="attribution__credit">3D illustration by MacGregor Campbell, special to ProPublica</span></figcaption></figure>
<p>Even 3,000 feet away, the flames were so overwhelming he thought they’d scorch his jet.</p>
<p>“My goggles are completely bloomed out,” he said. “I can’t see anything but the fire.”</p>
<p>For 10 seconds, Wilson saw the flaming wreckage glide down.</p>
<p>Hanging from his parachute, Smith’s descent was slow. Not a strong swimmer, the first thing he did was inflate his life vest.</p>
<p>He screamed for help. He saw a light down in the water — maybe a boat. He shot off one of his small flares. No response.</p>
<p>Descending in the dark, he hit the water without warning. His life vest held. He inflated his raft, then pulled himself aboard. With each swell, ocean water poured in. Soaked, and some 50 miles out at sea, Smith was shaking.</p>
<p>Up above, as they soared over the crash site, Wilson and Keith struggled to radio for help: “MAYDAY. MAYDAY. MAYDAY.”</p>
<p>Six minutes later, they radioed again, looking for confirmation that rescue aircraft and boats were being launched.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-propublica-position-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" js-autosizes height="601" width="752" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?w=752" alt="" class="wp-image-19629" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=300,240 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=768,614 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=1024,819 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=1536,1229 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=863,690 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=422,338 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=552,441 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=558,446 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=527,421 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=752,601 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=1149,919 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=556,445 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=1112,889 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=2000,1600 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=400,320 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=800,640 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=1200,960 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-crash-locator-map-4x5.jpg?resize=1600,1280 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" /><figcaption class="attribution"><span class="attribution__credit">Lucas Waldron/ProPublica (Source: Microsoft Corporation/Earthstar Geographics SIO)</span></figcaption></figure>
<p>Another 10 minutes passed. A flight controller asked them to confirm which aircraft were down.</p>
<p>“Profane 12 is in the water. Sumo 41 is in the water,” Wilson responded.</p>
<p>After four minutes, the control center radioed back “to confirm there was a collision between Profane 12 and Sumo 41?”</p>
<p>Six more minutes passed. No sign of help. Wilson again asked for an “update on search-and-rescue assets.”</p>
<p>He was told they should be coming.</p>
<p>By 2:27 a.m., 40 minutes after the first call for help, Wilson still saw no sign that help was on the way. He tried the radio again: “Status of search and rescue.”</p>
<p>They hovered high over the crash site for roughly 90 minutes. With his gas running low, Wilson dipped below the cloud layer and began searching himself.</p>
<p>“My hands were shaking,” he remembered. “My stomach was in knots.”</p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chapter 4 <br>“We Now Have to Live With the Repercussions”</h3>
<p>While the Schoolfield report became the official public word on the December 2018 crash, it wasn’t the only inquiry conducted by the Marines. Per protocol, a safety board was convened to conduct a confidential examination of the accident and any issues of responsibility and leadership it raised.</p>
<p>What witnesses divulge in safety investigations cannot be used to discipline or prosecute them, freeing them to be more candid. A warning printed on the safety reports reminds military personnel that releasing the information is a crime. The safety inquiry into the fatal accident involving Squadron 242 included interviews with rank-and-file Marines, commanders in both the attack and tanker squadrons and the senior officers in the two commands above 242.</p>
<p>ProPublica reviewed the safety report. It, like Schoolfield’s findings, details the flight crew’s missteps the night of the crash.</p>
<p>But the safety investigation also paints a damning picture of high-level culpability and systemic dysfunction. It includes issues entirely unmentioned by the official report. In a startling compendium of failings, senior leaders make admissions about their own lapses and give alarming assessments about the state of Marine Corps forward-deployed forces.</p>
<p>The report said the leaders of the Marine Corps’ aviation units in the Pacific had created a dangerous culture in which safety issues were routinely brushed aside. In the unit’s day-to-day operations, raising safety concerns “is like the boy crying wolf.” “Risk is accepted with the mindset that this is ‘just the way things are’ or we ‘just make do with what we’ve got,’” it said.</p>
<p>Saying no to unsafe orders accomplishes little, the report found: “The lower echelon gets asked to find another way to mitigate the risk. The mindset becomes, ‘Higher HQ wants this to happen; therefore, we’ll find a way to make it happen.’”</p>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-lead-in">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Read More</h3>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-lead-in">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Read More</h3>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-story-promo">
<a href="https://features.propublica.org/navy-accidents/uss-fitzgerald-destroyer-crash-crystal/" class="story-promo">
<div class="story-promo__art">
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="459" height="306" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?w=459&amp;h=306&amp;crop=1" class="attachment-propublica-story-promo size-propublica-story-promo wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg 2777w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20200504-fight-the-ship-captain-recrop-3x2.jpg?resize=1600,1066 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 459px) 100vw, 459px" js-autosizes="true" /> </div>
<div class="story-promo__info">
<strong class="story-promo__hed">Death and Valor on an American Warship Doomed by its Own Navy</strong>
</div>
</a>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-story-promo">
<a href="https://features.propublica.org/navy-accidents/us-navy-crashes-japan-cause-mccain/" class="story-promo">
<div class="story-promo__art">
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="459" height="306" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?w=459&amp;h=306&amp;crop=1" class="attachment-propublica-story-promo size-propublica-story-promo wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/20190207-big-navy-3x2.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 459px) 100vw, 459px" js-autosizes="true" /> </div>
<div class="story-promo__info">
<strong class="story-promo__hed">Years of Warnings, Then Death and Disaster</strong>
</div>
</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>That damning conclusion — front-line warning being thwarted by top-level commanders — echo the findings of ProPublica’s investigations into the 2017 tragedies involving the 7th Fleet’s two destroyers, <a href="https://features.propublica.org/navy-accidents/uss-fitzgerald-destroyer-crash-crystal/">the USS Fitzgerald</a> and <a href="https://features.propublica.org/navy-accidents/us-navy-crashes-japan-cause-mccain/">the USS John McCain</a>. The destroyers were involved in fatal accidents months apart, and the Navy was quick to portray them as the result of negligence by sailors on the two ships. ProPublica’s reconstructions of the accidents, however, showed that uniformed and civilian Navy leaders at the highest levels had been alerted for years that the sailors and ships of the 7th Fleet were in crisis: undertrained, overtaxed and starved of the time and parts required to operate the country’s most versatile warships.</p>
<p>With the 2018 accident over the Pacific, the safety board investigation found that the two commanders above Compton’s squadron — Palmer and Weidley — were both “fully aware” of the Bats’ shortfalls. And that those shortfalls were reported up to “higher headquarters on a regular basis.”</p>
<p>There was “no evidence that senior leaders in the chain of command responded to” Compton’s warnings “with any additional or supplementary support.”</p>
<p>The safety board questioned the management of resources across the Marine Corps and its “Fight Tonight” force.</p>
<p>“The least experienced maintenance department in the active fleet should not be the maintenance department of a forward deployed Fight Tonight squadron. The opposite should be true,” the report stated. “The forward deployed force should be resourced to sustain the best readiness posture the service can provide — not the worst.”</p>
<p>The limited ability of junior mechanics assigned to the Bats by the Marine Corps grounded planes and limited flight training hours, which the report said can be “tied directly” to the “dangerously low” proficiency of the four Hornet aviators involved in the crash.</p>
<p>The report revealed that these same manpower problems were raised by a previous safety board, looking at a January 2016 mishap, and “the recommendation to address this problem was accepted by every level of command.”</p>
<p>Nonetheless the shortfalls continued: “Senior leaders are not unaware of these factors. Yet senior leaders have allowed this under resourced condition to continue unabated.”</p>
<p>The decisions about resources and “the acceptance of elevated risk levels associated with them have become institutionalized in the force,” the report found. “Consequently, warnings go unheeded at multiple levels of command, hazards continue unmitigated, and controls remain unimplemented.”</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-propublica-position-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" js-autosizes height="485" width="752" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?w=752" alt="" class="wp-image-19630" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png 2418w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=300,193 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=768,495 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=1024,660 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=1536,990 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=2048,1320 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=863,556 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=422,272 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=552,356 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=558,360 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=527,340 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=752,485 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=1149,740 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=556,358 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=1112,716 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=2000,1289 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=400,258 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=800,515 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=1200,773 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-document-safety-board.png?resize=1600,1031 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" /><figcaption class="attribution"><span class="attribution__caption">A confidential investigation into the crash detailed how senior Marine Corps leaders neglected the squadron, ignored warnings and created unsafe conditions</span></figcaption></figure>
<p>The report confirmed that Palmer’s command did not give the involved squadrons a clear sense of what they were being ordered to do and failed to properly assess how risky the missions were. Palmer’s command was also short-staffed and overworked, forced to attend to other duties while simultaneously planning around-the-clock operations.</p>
<p>“Planners and decision makers cannot analyze risk well when they do not have time to think,” the report said.</p>
<p>Flight training for the Bats had been steadily declining since 2013, and they were given the least training hours of any F/A-18 squadron during the most recent fiscal year: 1,920 hours of flight time compared with the Marine Corps’ average of 3,189. The safety board described it as “dangerously low” and “a staggering deficit for a deployed squadron.”</p>
<p>For several consecutive years, the Bats were given fewer flight hours than the Marine Corps’ own published minimums to maintain basic proficiency.</p>
<p>One reason for the lack of flight time: Their planes were in bad shape. The Marine Corps minimum for the percentage of a squadron’s fleet that should be mission capable in a given month is 75%. They only met that rate once in the previous year and in the two months before the crash hit their lowest rates: 26% and 30%.</p>
<p>“Hazards caused by low aircraft readiness were highlighted” in a 2014 report about poor pilot proficiency, the safety board noted.</p>
<p>The safety report pointed out other mistakes the Marine Corps failed to learn from.</p>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-lead-in">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Read More</h3>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-lead-in">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Read More</h3>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-story-promo">
<a href="https://features.propublica.org/navy-uss-mccain-crash/navy-installed-touch-screen-steering-ten-sailors-paid-with-their-lives/" class="story-promo">
<div class="story-promo__art">
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="459" height="306" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?w=459&amp;h=306&amp;crop=1" class="attachment-propublica-story-promo size-propublica-story-promo wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navysteering-3x2.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 459px) 100vw, 459px" js-autosizes="true" /> </div>
<div class="story-promo__info">
<strong class="story-promo__hed">The Navy Installed Touch-Screen Steering Systems to Save Money. 10 Sailors Paid With Their Lives.</strong>
</div>
</a>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-story-promo">
<a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/how-we-reconstructed-the-flawed-navigation-controls-behind-the-navy-worst-maritime-accident-in-40-years" class="story-promo">
<div class="story-promo__art">
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="459" height="306" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?w=459&amp;h=306&amp;crop=1" class="attachment-propublica-story-promo size-propublica-story-promo wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191220-navyhowwereported-3x2.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 459px) 100vw, 459px" js-autosizes="true" /> </div>
<div class="story-promo__info">
<strong class="story-promo__hed">How We Reconstructed the Flawed Navigation Controls Behind the Navy’s Worst Maritime Accident in 40 Years</strong>
</div>
</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>The glitch in the Marine Corps’ system for training tracking, which erroneously showed Resilard as being qualified to handle night refueling, was also previously cited in a past safety report.</p>
<p>In 2016, the same Hornet and tanker squadrons suffered a similar incident during a nighttime refueling. The Hornet pilot in that incident turned into the tanker and sheared off a portion of the fuel hose. No one was hurt, but the Hornet came within 10 feet of the tanker, narrowly avoiding a catastrophic crash.</p>
<p>In that case, the same glitch with the Marine Corps’ training tracking system also showed the pilot was qualified for night refueling when he wasn’t. In both 2016 and 2018, the qualification tracking system showed the pilots as “green” for the mission because they had done a similar exercise during the day. Logging the day code as completed erroneously refreshed the night code.</p>
<p>The correction to the system was never made.</p>
<p>The commander of the tanker squadron, writing to the board, was infuriated.</p>
<p>“It is difficult to fathom that a near similar incident occurred a mere 2 ½ years ago between the same two squadrons and yet little to no action was taken to rectify the issue,” the commander wrote. “Repeating errors is undesirable in any line of work but is absolutely unacceptable in aviation.”</p>
<p>The review also found that the rushed nature of the exercises in December had compromised the skills of already undertrained aviators. The inability of the night team to adequately adjust sleep schedules had left Wilson, Resilard, Smith and Keith so impaired by fatigue that it was as if they were flying with a blood alcohol level well above the legal driving limit.</p>
<p>Senior leaders were allowed to review the report and share their thoughts. Each of them criticized the decisions made by Compton, his officers and the flight crew involved in the crash. But they were also brutally candid about the perilous state of Marine Corps aviation at large, describing the weaknesses in stark terms rarely heard in public.</p>
<p>The commander for the tanker squadron, which lost five Marines in the crash, was unsparing.</p>
<p>“In an (area of operations) where the mantra of ‘Fight Tonight’ is repeated everywhere,” Lt. Col. Mitchell Maury said, referring to the Pacific, “we are not manned, trained, and equipped to execute to the appropriate level of effectiveness.”</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-propublica-position-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="658" height="654" js-autosizes src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-hornets-above.jpg?w=658" alt="" class="wp-image-19631" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-hornets-above.jpg 658w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-hornets-above.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-hornets-above.jpg?resize=300,298 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-hornets-above.jpg?resize=70,70 70w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-hornets-above.jpg?resize=422,419 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-hornets-above.jpg?resize=552,549 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-hornets-above.jpg?resize=558,555 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-hornets-above.jpg?resize=527,524 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-hornets-above.jpg?resize=160,160 160w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-hornets-above.jpg?resize=556,553 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-hornets-above.jpg?resize=232,232 232w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-hornets-above.jpg?resize=400,398 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 658px) 100vw, 658px" /></figure>
<p>“This concern has been reported repetitiously to higher headquarters,” he said, including to the Marine Corps’ commandant, its highest-ranking officer, and the Navy secretary, the top civilian leader. “Forward deployed units are consistently hindered by a lack of experienced personnel and the result is decreased readiness and increased risk.”</p>
<p>He warned of the “extreme risk” involved in forcing Marine aviators to “do more with less” and called on other leaders to “have the moral courage to step up and refrain from executing when the risk outweighs the reward,” otherwise “more tragedy will ensue.”</p>
<p>He blamed the deadly crash on a “failure to adjust” after previous mishaps.</p>
<p>“We now have to live with the repercussions,” he said.</p>
<p>Weidley wrote the longest response. He acknowledged that the squadron had been short-staffed and under-trained. “None of these gaps,” he said, “are news. All have been highlighted in readiness reports to higher headquarters.”</p>
<p>But he devoted much of his response to reiterating the mistakes made by the Bats and their flight crew: Compton’s failure to assign senior officers to the night shift, the use of unauthorized medications, the unapproved change to the flight plan, Wilson’s rushed preflight brief and the unusual order he gave Resilard to depart from the left side of the tanker instead of the right.</p>
<p>Both he and Palmer, he wrote, told squadron commanders “to not exceed what safely could be done” during the week of exercises. “Naval aviators are trained to have the courage to say no when things aren’t right,” he wrote, suggesting the Bats did not have that courage.</p>
<p>None of the safety board’s findings have been made public. No changes to Schoolfield’s report have been made. The families, who were given Schoolfield’s findings, were given no idea of the extent to which the safety board blamed top leadership failures for the deaths.</p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chapter 5 <br>“Why, Why Can’t We Find Capt. Resilard?”</h3>
<p>As a boy, Jahmar Resilard was in awe of Will Smith’s character in the movie “Independence Day”: a black F/A-18 pilot slugging aliens and saving the world. It had been tunnel vision for Resilard after that. He was going to be a Marine Corps pilot.</p>
<p>Now, hours after being ejected from his own F/A-18, Resilard was alone in the dark, bobbing in the Pacific, trying to stay alive.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-propublica-position-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" js-autosizes height="601" width="752" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-resilard-raft-4x5.jpg?w=752" alt="" class="wp-image-19632" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-resilard-raft-4x5.jpg 1219w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-resilard-raft-4x5.jpg?resize=300,240 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-resilard-raft-4x5.jpg?resize=768,614 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-resilard-raft-4x5.jpg?resize=1024,819 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-resilard-raft-4x5.jpg?resize=863,690 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-resilard-raft-4x5.jpg?resize=422,338 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-resilard-raft-4x5.jpg?resize=552,442 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-resilard-raft-4x5.jpg?resize=558,446 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-resilard-raft-4x5.jpg?resize=527,422 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-resilard-raft-4x5.jpg?resize=752,601 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-resilard-raft-4x5.jpg?resize=1149,919 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-resilard-raft-4x5.jpg?resize=556,445 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-resilard-raft-4x5.jpg?resize=1112,889 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-resilard-raft-4x5.jpg?resize=400,320 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-resilard-raft-4x5.jpg?resize=800,640 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-resilard-raft-4x5.jpg?resize=1200,960 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" /></figure>
<p>Resilard’s head was exposed to the elements. His helmet had been ripped off as he ejected, and with it the reflective tape that rescue aircraft might see from above. His left jawline was badly bruised, and trauma to his neck left him at risk of paralysis.</p>
<p>He took out his flares and his strobe light. From his life vest, he removed a pouch of fluorescent green dye. He pulled the tab, releasing the thick pigment into the sea water — a marker for rescuers.</p>
<p>But his ability to move was diminishing. Unable to pull himself into his raft, he was at risk of going under.</p>
<p>Smith, in his raft, pulled off one of his steel-toe boots. He used it to bail water.</p>
<p>Smith had liked flying with Resilard. The two had an easy rapport. Resilard wasn’t like other pilots, Smith thought, too proud to admit when something wasn’t right. Despite Resilard’s struggles as an aviator, Smith had total confidence in him. He was a pro, someone Smith would fly with again in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>And Smith was certain Resilard was floating somewhere nearby.</p>
<p>The scramble to rescue Resilard and Smith had been painfully problematic. The Americans responsible for coordinating rescue with the Japanese did not even have contact information for their Japanese counterparts handy.</p>
<p>It would not be until 4:06 a.m. — two and a half hours after the crash — that the first Japanese UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter took off from Hamamatsu Air Base, more than 200 miles away.</p>
<p>“It would probably surprise the American public to know there are not any American search-and-rescue people on standby for a multitude of forces deployed on mainland Japan,” said Compton, who followed the search for his men that night from their ready room on base. “It’s all totally dependent upon the government of Japan. We found out the hard way.”</p>
<p>Of the Japanese, he said: “They are not in their squadrons ready to walk to an airplane when they hear a call. No, they’re at home. They’re at home having to drive into work, figure out where to go, fire up an airplane and get out there.”</p>
<p>At 5:43 a.m., a Japanese helicopter finally found Smith in the water. A rescue craft had passed him earlier, its spotlight even hitting his raft, but the crew had apparently missed him.</p>
<p>This time the chopper hovered overhead. A diver descended into the water, swam over to Smith and attached him to a hoist. Smith tossed the boot he’d been bailing water with into the sea.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-propublica-position-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" js-autosizes height="369" width="752" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?w=752" alt="" class="wp-image-19633" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=300,147 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=768,377 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=1024,502 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=1536,753 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=863,423 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=422,207 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=552,271 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=558,274 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=527,258 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=752,369 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=1149,563 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=556,273 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=1112,545 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=2000,980 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=400,196 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=800,392 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=1200,588 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-smith-raft-helicopter.jpg?resize=1600,784 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" /></figure>
<p>Smith told the rescuers Resilard was still in the water.</p>
<p>“I 100% expected us to fly right over to him and pick him up, and me and him to be sitting in that helicopter. A hundred percent. If you would have asked me that, I would have probably been like, yeah, he’s right there. I mean, we ejected out of the same aircraft, right?”</p>
<p>“They shouldn’t be that far apart,” Compton said. “The ejection sequence is only like a third of a second apart. The winds and conditions would be very similar, so you’re thinking, ‘Got to be here somewhere close.’ From that point on, it’s a race against the elements and time, and just your ability to survive whatever it was that you just went through, which in this case was a pretty catastrophic collision. Any extra time is too much time, bottom line.”</p>
<p>But Resilard was not quickly discovered.</p>
<p>“It was like, why, why can’t we find Capt. Resilard?” Compton said.</p>
<p>The answer proved enragingly obvious. His location beacon failed in the water.</p>
<p>Senior leaders knew that model of location beacon was flawed. It had malfunctioned in at least two prior mishaps, including the crash two years earlier in which Wilson’s friend, Frederick, was found dead in the same waters. Other squadrons had a better model. But the Marine Corps did not issue replacements for the Bats. And so their commanding officer obtained a commercial brand of beacon available to hikers and hunters for the squadron, but the Marine Corps ordered they not be used during an inspection a few weeks before the crash because they were not authorized by the Corps.</p>
<p>With no beacon to help find Resilard, rescue aircraft searched fruitlessly.</p>
<p>Resilard had been scheduled to go home for Christmas. He was bringing his girlfriend. The two met when he was stationed in San Diego. When he got his orders to deploy to Japan, she packed up and moved with him. She was the first girlfriend he ever told his family about. They had just gotten engaged but were waiting to share the news over the holidays. There would be much to celebrate. Jahmar’s older sister was expecting and due to give birth around the time of his visit.</p>
<p>At 10:46 a.m., nine hours after the crash, a Japanese Coast Guard ship finally spotted him. In the water, Resilard was either exhausted or he’d lost consciousness. His arms had slipped below the waterline. But his watch indicated he was still alive.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-propublica-position-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" js-autosizes height="423" width="752" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?w=752" alt="" class="wp-image-19634" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg 2245w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=1024,577 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=1536,865 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=2048,1153 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=863,486 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=422,238 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=552,311 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=558,314 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=527,297 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=752,423 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=1149,647 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=556,313 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=1112,626 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=2000,1126 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=800,450 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=1200,676 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-japanese-coast-guard-ships.jpg?resize=1600,901 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" /></figure>
<p>The crew on the ship, however, wasn’t able to get him out of the water. The waves were too strong and the ship’s deck too high to safely pull him in. The ship crew called in a helicopter.</p>
<p>At 11:27 a.m., a Japanese SH-60 Seahawk hovered overhead.</p>
<p>It was now almost 10 hours since the crash.</p>
<p>Resilard’s watch showed his heart was still beating.</p>
<p>The helicopter crew determined it couldn’t pull him up. He was unresponsive and tangled in his gear. His body was wrapped in the lanyard connecting the seat pan to the inflatable raft.</p>
<p>They called in another ship.</p>
<p>At 11:30 a.m., Resilard’s heart stopped beating. He had drowned.</p>
<p>It took almost another hour for the crew of the second ship to pull his body aboard.</p>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Epilogue</h3>
<p>In the months after the December 2018 tragedy, Compton stayed in charge of Squadron 242, but he had little concrete assurance that he wouldn’t ultimately pay with his job.</p>
<p>He accepted that possible outcome. What happened under his watch was his responsibility. He could have been more blunt in his warnings. He could have pounded the table, threatened to resign if the squadron didn’t get the help it needed. He knew his Marines were poorly trained. He could have flatly refused flying at night. And some of the bad behavior Schoolfield uncovered implicated him. Compton’s WhatsApp profile photo was a selfie he took in midair, hardly the image of a leader strictly enforcing the rules.</p>
<p>But he also knew the problems went well beyond his failings. At a memorial for the six Marines who had gone to their deaths, he sensed some hope. Weidley, his superior, encouraged him to let him know what staffing gaps the squadron needed filled.</p>
<p>Compton asked for six experienced aviators and four seasoned mechanics. He got one pilot, called up from the reserves, and one weapon systems officer. Both were assigned only temporarily.</p>
<p>In March, things had not improved, and Compton once more wrote to his superiors that a shortage of trained aircrew “continues to be a major concern.”</p>
<p>“I implore higher headquarters,” he wrote, “to ensure we receive qualified personnel.”</p>
<p>The next month, Compton, while in South Korea, was summoned along with his three top aides to Marine Corps headquarters in Japan. They were to be relieved of their positions. Compton was not surprised by his impending firing, but the idea that his aides would be punished along with him was crushing.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-propublica-position-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="605" height="484" js-autosizes src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-compton-interview-2.jpg?w=605" alt="" class="wp-image-19635" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-compton-interview-2.jpg 605w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-compton-interview-2.jpg?resize=300,240 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-compton-interview-2.jpg?resize=422,338 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-compton-interview-2.jpg?resize=552,442 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-compton-interview-2.jpg?resize=558,446 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-compton-interview-2.jpg?resize=527,422 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-compton-interview-2.jpg?resize=556,445 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-compton-interview-2.jpg?resize=400,320 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 605px) 100vw, 605px" /><figcaption class="attribution"><span class="attribution__caption">Compton</span> <span class="attribution__credit">Katie Campbell/ProPublica</span></figcaption></figure>
<p>The night before flying to Japan, Compton got himself a hotel room in Seoul. He said he stood on his 14th floor balcony and considered jumping. If he killed himself, he thought, perhaps the commanders would rethink the punishment of his aides.</p>
<p>“I’m not proud of it,” Compton said. “It’s a very weak thought, a very weak thing. But my mind went there.”</p>
<p>Weidley, who failed to act on Compton’s months of warnings, lit into Squadron 242’s leader before dismissing him.</p>
<p>“Marines deserve nothing but the best leadership, and it’s clear that you’re not delivering that, therefore effective immediately, I’m relieving you of command,” Compton recalled Wiedley saying. “You will remove your personal effects from your office in the squadron under the cover of darkness. You will say nothing to anybody until I’ve made the announcement.”</p>
<p>ProPublica sent the Marine Corps a lengthy set of questions about the accident, the Schoolfield report and the secret safety review. We also reached out directly to Schoolfield and the Marine personnel cited in the various reports and documents.</p>
<p>The Marine Corps called Schoolfield’s command investigation “thorough” but acknowledged that Schoolfield was wrong in suggesting that the trace amounts of Ambien in the aviators’ systems had impaired their abilities.</p>
<p>“Ambien use did not play a role in the mishap though the language of the command investigation can be read to suggest otherwise,” the spokesperson said.</p>
<p>The Marine Corps declined to answer a number of questions from ProPublica about revelations within the safety investigation, asserting that disclosing such information is a crime. The Marines requested ProPublica not report its contents, saying it would have a chilling effect on future safety investigations, but ProPublica found that the public interest in the issues involved outweighed those concerns, as the documents revealed systemic problems and ongoing safety risks.</p>
<p>The report is still being reviewed up the chain of command, the Marines said, and is not yet final.</p>
<p>Because the findings are supposed to be secret, investigators are encouraged “to speculate, opine, analyze and make recommendations that may or may not be fully supported by facts,” the spokesperson said, declining to provide any examples of inaccuracies.</p>
<p>The Marine Corps said it had taken steps to improve conditions for the Bats. The training tracking system that incorrectly showed Resilard as qualified for nighttime refueling has been fixed. The squadron is scheduled this month to get a new flight simulator. Marines are being sent to the squadron for three-year tours, instead of two, to increase experience levels.</p>
<p>To improve coordination during emergencies, U.S. and Japanese forces conducted a search-and-rescue training exercise this year. The Marines have also been running their own internal rescue exercises.</p>
<p>The Marine Corps said it does not plan to replace the malfunctioning seat beacons, a spokesperson said, but will instead be “leveraging several funded initiatives in place to improve the beacon’s reliability, including antenna extension kits and water-activated passive signaling devices.”</p>
<p>The spokesperson defended the model of night vision goggles the Bats were assigned, saying it “provides significant benefits, such as increased situational awareness and expeditious sensor cueing.”</p>
<p>“Aviation safety is a top priority for the Marine Corps,” the spokesperson said. “Investigating ourselves when mishaps and other events occur is vital to helping us identify issues that create unsafe conditions.”</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-propublica-position-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" js-autosizes height="530" width="752" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?w=752" alt="" class="wp-image-19636" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg 2102w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=300,211 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=768,541 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=1024,721 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=1536,1082 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=2048,1443 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=863,608 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=422,297 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=552,389 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=558,393 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=527,371 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=752,530 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=1149,810 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=556,392 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=1112,783 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=2000,1409 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=400,282 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=800,564 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=1200,845 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-cockpit-mayday.jpg?resize=1600,1127 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" /></figure>
<p>The Marine Corps has launched a new review of the crash, the spokesperson said, that could result in additional discipline.</p>
<p>To date, no one above Compton has been disciplined.</p>
<p>Palmer, identified in the safety report as having been fully briefed on the dangerous state of Squadron 242 for months before the accident, earned a new position in a directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the body of top military leaders that advises the president and defense secretary. He was awarded a legion of merit medal, reserved for officers who exhibit exceptional performance.</p>
<p>Weidley is now the assistant chief of staff for the U.S. military’s unified command in South Korea. At his change of command ceremony this year, he said “there is no more ready, no more lethal, no more rehearsed combat wing on this planet than 1st MAW,” referring to his command, which he said “is always ready to respond and always ready to go at a moment’s notice.”</p>
<p>Palmer, Weidley and Schoolfield declined to comment for this article.</p>
<p>Compton said the three surviving Marines from the 2018 accident had their actions reviewed. Wilson was told he would not fly again, and he left the Marines. Smith was also stripped of his flying privileges, but he for now remains with the Marine Corps in Japan. Keith had to undergo retraining but is again flying with the Bats.</p>
<p>The three could either not be reached or would not speak publicly about the incident and its consequences.</p>
<p>ProPublica asked the Marine Corps to provide data to show improvements in Squadron 242’s staffing, training and ability to execute basic missions in war. The Marine Corps did not. Asked whether 242’s deficiencies posed a threat to national security, the Marine Corps spokesperson declined to comment, citing “operational security reasons.”</p>
<p>There are signs, however, that the situation remains dire.</p>
<p>The documents from the safety investigation indicated that even in the months after the crash, inexperienced maintenance staff “continues to have substantial negative impact on aircraft readiness.”</p>
<p>“Yet this condition remains unabated,” the report stated.</p>
<p>It also found that “to the time of this investigation,” flight training hours “continued to be well below fleet averages and insufficient to meet the (Marine Corps’) published minimums to sustain aircrew readiness.”</p>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-lead-in">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Read More</h3>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-lead-in">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Read More</h3>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-story-promo">
<a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/marines-pacific-kc-130j-tanker-crash-deaths" class="story-promo">
<div class="story-promo__art">
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="459" height="306" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?w=459&amp;h=306&amp;crop=1" class="attachment-propublica-story-promo size-propublica-story-promo wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg 4966w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-victims-3x2.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 459px) 100vw, 459px" js-autosizes="true" /> </div>
<div class="story-promo__info">
<strong class="story-promo__hed">The Men Who Lost Their Lives When Their Tanker Went Down in a Doomed Military Training Flight</strong>
</div>
</a>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-story-promo">
<a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/blame-over-justice-the-human-toll-of-the-navy-relentless-push-to-punish-one-of-its-own" class="story-promo">
<div class="story-promo__art">
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="459" height="306" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?w=459&amp;h=306&amp;crop=1" class="attachment-propublica-story-promo size-propublica-story-promo wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191118-navy-benson-3x2.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 459px) 100vw, 459px" js-autosizes="true" /> </div>
<div class="story-promo__info">
<strong class="story-promo__hed">Blame Over Justice: The Human Toll of the Navy’s Relentless Push to Punish One of Its Own</strong>
</div>
</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>The families of the six dead Marines have become close, sharing in the grief of losing sons, brothers, husbands. Some have been vocal about their anger with the Marine Corps.</p>
<p>“The families have been lied to,” said Todd Ross, whose son was killed on the tanker. “They not only lied to us, they lied to everybody.”</p>
<p>“If they’re not willing to take full responsibility for the actions of their command, and those underneath you, and are trying to pawn that off on somebody else just to keep your skin, then you’re violating every form of decency there is,” he said.</p>
<p>Resilard’s sister, pregnant at the time of the accident, had to be induced early because of the trauma from her brother’s death. Caring for her newborn son has been a welcome distraction, she said. But it’s impossible to escape the grief.</p>
<p>“He looks like just Jahmar,” she said.</p>
<p>Today, Compton is back in Billings, Montana, near where he grew up and where he has now started a new career as a financial advisor. He spoke at length with ProPublica in recent months.</p>
<p>Compton said he regularly is jolted awake at 2 a.m., the hour when the crash occurred.</p>
<p>“Almost without fail,” he said. “It just happens.”</p>
<p>“The hard reality is that this unit under my watch was not prepared for combat,” he said. “Because we could not do a basic thing. That’s hard. That’s a hard reality to face.”</p>
<p>“I do blame myself and I’ll always blame myself,” he added. “The only reason I’m talking now is because I’m not convinced that we’re going to change anything.</p>
<p>“The United States Marine Corps, an organization which I loved and had devoted my life to, I want to make sure that it learns from this tragedy. It has to.”</p>
<p>“The only thing preventing another thing like this from occurring is, frankly, luck. And what that means to me is that people are going to die that don’t need to die.”</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-propublica-position-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" js-autosizes height="364" width="752" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-and-jets-inline.jpg?w=752" alt="" class="wp-image-19637" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-and-jets-inline.jpg 1250w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-and-jets-inline.jpg?resize=300,145 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-and-jets-inline.jpg?resize=768,372 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-and-jets-inline.jpg?resize=1024,496 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-and-jets-inline.jpg?resize=863,418 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-and-jets-inline.jpg?resize=422,204 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-and-jets-inline.jpg?resize=552,267 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-and-jets-inline.jpg?resize=558,270 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-and-jets-inline.jpg?resize=527,255 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-and-jets-inline.jpg?resize=752,364 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-and-jets-inline.jpg?resize=1149,556 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-and-jets-inline.jpg?resize=556,269 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-and-jets-inline.jpg?resize=1112,538 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-and-jets-inline.jpg?resize=400,194 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-and-jets-inline.jpg?resize=800,387 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/20191230-marines-tanker-and-jets-inline.jpg?resize=1200,581 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" /></figure>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">How We Reported a Deadly Marine Corps Accident</h3>
<p><em>We set out to reconstruct the December 2018 crash between two U.S. Marine Corps aircraft flying off the coast of Japan. We wanted to understand what went wrong in the air that night, resulting in the deaths of six Marines, and what went wrong up the chain of command in the months and weeks before the tragedy.</em></p>
<p><em>We interviewed current and former Marine Corps and Navy officials, as well as the family members of those who were killed. We reviewed thousands of pages of internal Marine Corps records, including emails and memos, an unredacted version of the official investigation released to the public, and a separate confidential investigation that was intended to be hidden from public view. Interviews were conducted on both coasts and in Billings, Montana. To better understand the crash, we designed a 3D animation of the three aircraft involved and their motion relative to one another in the minutes before the incident. We provided the Marine Corps with a lengthy list of questions, many of which they declined to answer. ProPublica attempted to contact those mentioned by name in this story and other significant participants in the incident. To reconstruct scenes and dialogue in the narrative, ProPublica used official transcripts, contemporaneous emails and interviews with the people quoted or eyewitness sources.</em></p>
<p><em>The following people contributed to this story: Katie Campbell, Nate Schweber, Joe Singer, MacGregor Campbell, Lucas Waldron, Matt Huynh, Alicia DeWitt, David Owen Hawxhurst, Lucas Waldron, Micah Kovacs and Doris Burke.</em></p>
</div>
<aside class="wp-block-query is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow">
<h2 class="wp-block-heading screen-reader-text">Corrections</h2>
</aside>
<aside class="wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<div class="wp-block-propublica-notes--bottom wp-block-propublica-notes">
<div class="wp-block-propublica-note--contributor-line wp-block-propublica-note">
<p>Original illustrations by Mat Huynh and MacGregor Campbell, special to ProPublica. Additional illustration work by Joe Singer and David Sleight, ProPublica.</p>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-note--story-update wp-block-propublica-note">
<p><strong>Clarification, Jan. 3, 2020:</strong> While multiple aviators have reported the entire image flipping in their night vision goggles, the Marine Corps said after this article published that what the goggles spontaneously invert is the symbols projected on the image — such as speed and altitude — not the image itself. Aviators who talked to ProPublica said that even the symbols inverting could disorient a pilot.</p>
</div>
</div>
</aside>
</div>
<footer class="wp-block-group entry-footer is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<div class="wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"><div class="wp-block-template-part">
<div class="wp-block-query is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow">
<h2 class="wp-block-heading screen-reader-text">Contributors</h2>
<ul class="rich-byline-group wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow"><li class="wp-block-post post-1543 profile type-profile status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry">
<div class="wp-block-group rich-byline-group__inner is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ed87f293 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex"><figure style="aspect-ratio:1;width:70px;height:70px;" class="is-style-rounded is-style-rounded--1 wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/people/robert-faturechi" target="_self" style="height:70px"><img width="70" height="70" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?w=70&amp;h=70&amp;crop=1" class="attachment-propublica-rich-byline-thumbnail size-propublica-rich-byline-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=863,863 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=70,70 70w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=422,422 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=552,552 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=558,558 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=527,527 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=752,752 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=1149,1149 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=160,160 160w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=357,357 357w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=714,714 714w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=556,556 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=1112,1112 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=232,232 232w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=464,464 464w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=1600,1600 1600w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=800,800 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits00280-robert-faturechi-sized.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 70px) 100vw, 70px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-15957e15 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3f9e86ef wp-block-group-is-layout-flex"><h3 class="wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/people/robert-faturechi" target="_self" >Robert Faturechi</a></h3>
<div class="alignleft wp-block-propublica-profile-social-links">
<ul class="wp-block-social-links alignleft has-small-icon-size has-icon-color has-icon-background-color is-layout-flex wp-container-core-social-links-is-layout-f862bfa2 wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex"><li style="color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-black, var(--color-light-none));background-color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-white, var(--color-neutral-10));" class="wp-social-link wp-social-link-x wp-block-social-link"><a href="https://x.com/RobertFaturechi" class="wp-block-social-link-anchor"><svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13.982 10.622 20.54 3h-1.554l-5.693 6.618L8.745 3H3.5l6.876 10.007L3.5 21h1.554l6.012-6.989L15.868 21h5.245l-7.131-10.378Zm-2.128 2.474-.697-.997-5.543-7.93H8l4.474 6.4.697.996 5.815 8.318h-2.387l-4.745-6.787Z" /></svg><span class="wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text">X</span></a></li><li style="color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-black, var(--color-light-none));background-color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-white, var(--color-neutral-10));" class="wp-social-link wp-social-link-bluesky wp-block-social-link"><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/robert-faturechi.bsky.social" class="wp-block-social-link-anchor"><svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M6.3,4.2c2.3,1.7,4.8,5.3,5.7,7.2.9-1.9,3.4-5.4,5.7-7.2,1.7-1.3,4.3-2.2,4.3.9s-.4,5.2-.6,5.9c-.7,2.6-3.3,3.2-5.6,2.8,4,.7,5.1,3,2.9,5.3-5,5.2-6.7-2.8-6.7-2.8,0,0-1.7,8-6.7,2.8-2.2-2.3-1.2-4.6,2.9-5.3-2.3.4-4.9-.3-5.6-2.8-.2-.7-.6-5.3-.6-5.9,0-3.1,2.7-2.1,4.3-.9h0Z"></path></svg><span class="wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text">Bluesky</span></a></li><li style="color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-black, var(--color-light-none));background-color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-white, var(--color-neutral-10));" class="wp-social-link wp-social-link-threads wp-block-social-link"><a href="https://www.threads.net/@robert_faturechi" class="wp-block-social-link-anchor"><svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M16.3 11.3c-.1 0-.2-.1-.2-.1-.1-2.6-1.5-4-3.9-4-1.4 0-2.6.6-3.3 1.7l1.3.9c.5-.8 1.4-1 2-1 .8 0 1.4.2 1.7.7.3.3.5.8.5 1.3-.7-.1-1.4-.2-2.2-.1-2.2.1-3.7 1.4-3.6 3.2 0 .9.5 1.7 1.3 2.2.7.4 1.5.6 2.4.6 1.2-.1 2.1-.5 2.7-1.3.5-.6.8-1.4.9-2.4.6.3 1 .8 1.2 1.3.4.9.4 2.4-.8 3.6-1.1 1.1-2.3 1.5-4.3 1.5-2.1 0-3.8-.7-4.8-2S5.7 14.3 5.7 12c0-2.3.5-4.1 1.5-5.4 1.1-1.3 2.7-2 4.8-2 2.2 0 3.8.7 4.9 2 .5.7.9 1.5 1.2 2.5l1.5-.4c-.3-1.2-.8-2.2-1.5-3.1-1.3-1.7-3.3-2.6-6-2.6-2.6 0-4.7.9-6 2.6C4.9 7.2 4.3 9.3 4.3 12s.6 4.8 1.9 6.4c1.4 1.7 3.4 2.6 6 2.6 2.3 0 4-.6 5.3-2 1.8-1.8 1.7-4 1.1-5.4-.4-.9-1.2-1.7-2.3-2.3zm-4 3.8c-1 .1-2-.4-2-1.3 0-.7.5-1.5 2.1-1.6h.5c.6 0 1.1.1 1.6.2-.2 2.3-1.3 2.7-2.2 2.7z"/></svg><span class="wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text">Threads</span></a></li><li style="color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-black, var(--color-light-none));background-color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-white, var(--color-neutral-10));" class="wp-social-link wp-social-link-linkedin wp-block-social-link"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-faturechi-40712815" class="wp-block-social-link-anchor"><svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M19.7,3H4.3C3.582,3,3,3.582,3,4.3v15.4C3,20.418,3.582,21,4.3,21h15.4c0.718,0,1.3-0.582,1.3-1.3V4.3 C21,3.582,20.418,3,19.7,3z M8.339,18.338H5.667v-8.59h2.672V18.338z M7.004,8.574c-0.857,0-1.549-0.694-1.549-1.548 c0-0.855,0.691-1.548,1.549-1.548c0.854,0,1.547,0.694,1.547,1.548C8.551,7.881,7.858,8.574,7.004,8.574z M18.339,18.338h-2.669 v-4.177c0-0.996-0.017-2.278-1.387-2.278c-1.389,0-1.601,1.086-1.601,2.206v4.249h-2.667v-8.59h2.559v1.174h0.037 c0.356-0.675,1.227-1.387,2.526-1.387c2.703,0,3.203,1.779,3.203,4.092V18.338z"></path></svg><span class="wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text">LinkedIn</span></a></li></ul></div>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-propublica-dek">
I am a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter at ProPublica.</p>
<script type="application/json" class="svelte-config-new">{"componentName":"ContactTools","props":{"emailAddress":"Robert.Faturechi@propublica.org","phoneNumber":"917-512-0216","signalNumber":"","signalUsername":"rfaturechi.40","buttonText":"Have a Tip for a Story?"}}</script><div style="display: contents"><!--[--><div class="contact-tools" data-pp-click="" data-pp-location="contact tools"><!--[--><!--[--><!--$s1--><!--[0--><div class="svelte-v4lr3e" style="display: contents; --button-bg-color: var(--p-dyn-color-black); --button-text-color: var(--p-dyn-color-white); --button-border: none; --button-font-size: var(--p-scale-3);"><!--[--><!----><button data-button-root="true" type="button" tabindex="0" id="bits-s1" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expanded="false" data-state="closed" data-popover-trigger=""><!---->Have a Tip for a Story?<!----><!----></button><!----><!--]--></div><!----><!--]--><!----><!--]--> <!--[--><!--[-1--><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!----><!--]--></div><!--]--></div>
<div class="wp-block-group rich-byline__contact-prompt-tail is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"></div>
<p class="rich-byline__contact-prompt">Contact me, by email or securely on Signal, with tips about the federal government and Trump’s businesses.</p>
</div>
</div>
</li><li class="wp-block-post post-1268 profile type-profile status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry">
<div class="wp-block-group rich-byline-group__inner is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ed87f293 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex"><figure style="aspect-ratio:1;width:70px;height:70px;" class="is-style-rounded is-style-rounded--2 wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/people/megan-rose" target="_self" style="height:70px"><img width="70" height="70" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?w=70&amp;h=70&amp;crop=1" class="attachment-propublica-rich-byline-thumbnail size-propublica-rich-byline-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=863,863 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=70,70 70w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=422,422 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=552,552 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=558,558 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=527,527 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=752,752 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=1149,1149 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=160,160 160w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=357,357 357w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=714,714 714w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=556,556 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=1112,1112 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=232,232 232w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=464,464 464w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=1600,1600 1600w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=800,800 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20171213_portraits_00734-megan-rose-sized.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 70px) 100vw, 70px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-15957e15 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3f9e86ef wp-block-group-is-layout-flex"><h3 class="wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/people/megan-rose" target="_self" >Megan Rose</a></h3>
<div class="alignleft wp-block-propublica-profile-social-links">
<ul class="wp-block-social-links alignleft has-small-icon-size has-icon-color has-icon-background-color is-layout-flex wp-container-core-social-links-is-layout-f862bfa2 wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex"><li style="color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-black, var(--color-light-none));background-color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-white, var(--color-neutral-10));" class="wp-social-link wp-social-link-x wp-block-social-link"><a href="https://x.com/MegMcCloskey" class="wp-block-social-link-anchor"><svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13.982 10.622 20.54 3h-1.554l-5.693 6.618L8.745 3H3.5l6.876 10.007L3.5 21h1.554l6.012-6.989L15.868 21h5.245l-7.131-10.378Zm-2.128 2.474-.697-.997-5.543-7.93H8l4.474 6.4.697.996 5.815 8.318h-2.387l-4.745-6.787Z" /></svg><span class="wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text">X</span></a></li><li style="color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-black, var(--color-light-none));background-color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-white, var(--color-neutral-10));" class="wp-social-link wp-social-link-linkedin wp-block-social-link"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/megmccloskey" class="wp-block-social-link-anchor"><svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M19.7,3H4.3C3.582,3,3,3.582,3,4.3v15.4C3,20.418,3.582,21,4.3,21h15.4c0.718,0,1.3-0.582,1.3-1.3V4.3 C21,3.582,20.418,3,19.7,3z M8.339,18.338H5.667v-8.59h2.672V18.338z M7.004,8.574c-0.857,0-1.549-0.694-1.549-1.548 c0-0.855,0.691-1.548,1.549-1.548c0.854,0,1.547,0.694,1.547,1.548C8.551,7.881,7.858,8.574,7.004,8.574z M18.339,18.338h-2.669 v-4.177c0-0.996-0.017-2.278-1.387-2.278c-1.389,0-1.601,1.086-1.601,2.206v4.249h-2.667v-8.59h2.559v1.174h0.037 c0.356-0.675,1.227-1.387,2.526-1.387c2.703,0,3.203,1.779,3.203,4.092V18.338z"></path></svg><span class="wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text">LinkedIn</span></a></li></ul></div>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-propublica-dek">
I cover national security, the U.S. military and how the armed forces are deployed here and abroad.</p>
<script type="application/json" class="svelte-config-new">{"componentName":"ContactTools","props":{"emailAddress":"megan@propublica.org","phoneNumber":"602-848-9612\u202c","signalNumber":"","signalUsername":"MegRose.54","buttonText":"Have a Tip for a Story?"}}</script><div style="display: contents"><!--[--><div class="contact-tools" data-pp-click="" data-pp-location="contact tools"><!--[--><!--[--><!--$s1--><!--[0--><div class="svelte-v4lr3e" style="display: contents; --button-bg-color: var(--p-dyn-color-black); --button-text-color: var(--p-dyn-color-white); --button-border: none; --button-font-size: var(--p-scale-3);"><!--[--><!----><button data-button-root="true" type="button" tabindex="0" id="bits-s1" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expanded="false" data-state="closed" data-popover-trigger=""><!---->Have a Tip for a Story?<!----><!----></button><!----><!--]--></div><!----><!--]--><!----><!--]--> <!--[--><!--[-1--><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!----><!--]--></div><!--]--></div>
<div class="wp-block-group rich-byline__contact-prompt-tail is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"></div>
<p class="rich-byline__contact-prompt">Tell me about changes being made to how the military operates and where, who is in charge, and how decisions are determined. I’m interested in how norms and safeguards are transforming on paper, through personnel and in the field.</p>
</div>
</div>
</li><li class="wp-block-post post-1757 profile type-profile status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry">
<div class="wp-block-group rich-byline-group__inner is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ed87f293 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex"><figure style="aspect-ratio:1;width:70px;height:70px;" class="is-style-rounded is-style-rounded--3 wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/people/t-christian-miller" target="_self" style="height:70px"><img width="70" height="70" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?w=70&amp;h=70&amp;crop=1" class="attachment-propublica-rich-byline-thumbnail size-propublica-rich-byline-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=863,863 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=70,70 70w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=422,422 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=552,552 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=558,558 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=527,527 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=752,752 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=1149,1149 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=160,160 160w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=357,357 357w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=714,714 714w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=556,556 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=1112,1112 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=232,232 232w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=464,464 464w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=1600,1600 1600w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=800,800 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/T.-Christian-Miller-1x1.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 70px) 100vw, 70px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-15957e15 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3f9e86ef wp-block-group-is-layout-flex"><h3 class="wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/people/t-christian-miller" target="_self" >T. Christian Miller</a></h3>
<div class="alignleft wp-block-propublica-profile-social-links">
<ul class="wp-block-social-links alignleft has-small-icon-size has-icon-color has-icon-background-color is-layout-flex wp-container-core-social-links-is-layout-f862bfa2 wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex"><li style="color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-black, var(--color-light-none));background-color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-white, var(--color-neutral-10));" class="wp-social-link wp-social-link-x wp-block-social-link"><a href="https://x.com/txtianmiller" class="wp-block-social-link-anchor"><svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13.982 10.622 20.54 3h-1.554l-5.693 6.618L8.745 3H3.5l6.876 10.007L3.5 21h1.554l6.012-6.989L15.868 21h5.245l-7.131-10.378Zm-2.128 2.474-.697-.997-5.543-7.93H8l4.474 6.4.697.996 5.815 8.318h-2.387l-4.745-6.787Z" /></svg><span class="wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text">X</span></a></li><li style="color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-black, var(--color-light-none));background-color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-white, var(--color-neutral-10));" class="wp-social-link wp-social-link-bluesky wp-block-social-link"><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/tchristianmiller.bsky.social" class="wp-block-social-link-anchor"><svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M6.3,4.2c2.3,1.7,4.8,5.3,5.7,7.2.9-1.9,3.4-5.4,5.7-7.2,1.7-1.3,4.3-2.2,4.3.9s-.4,5.2-.6,5.9c-.7,2.6-3.3,3.2-5.6,2.8,4,.7,5.1,3,2.9,5.3-5,5.2-6.7-2.8-6.7-2.8,0,0-1.7,8-6.7,2.8-2.2-2.3-1.2-4.6,2.9-5.3-2.3.4-4.9-.3-5.6-2.8-.2-.7-.6-5.3-.6-5.9,0-3.1,2.7-2.1,4.3-.9h0Z"></path></svg><span class="wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text">Bluesky</span></a></li><li style="color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-black, var(--color-light-none));background-color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-white, var(--color-neutral-10));" class="wp-social-link wp-social-link-threads wp-block-social-link"><a href="https://www.threads.net/@tchristianmiller" class="wp-block-social-link-anchor"><svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M16.3 11.3c-.1 0-.2-.1-.2-.1-.1-2.6-1.5-4-3.9-4-1.4 0-2.6.6-3.3 1.7l1.3.9c.5-.8 1.4-1 2-1 .8 0 1.4.2 1.7.7.3.3.5.8.5 1.3-.7-.1-1.4-.2-2.2-.1-2.2.1-3.7 1.4-3.6 3.2 0 .9.5 1.7 1.3 2.2.7.4 1.5.6 2.4.6 1.2-.1 2.1-.5 2.7-1.3.5-.6.8-1.4.9-2.4.6.3 1 .8 1.2 1.3.4.9.4 2.4-.8 3.6-1.1 1.1-2.3 1.5-4.3 1.5-2.1 0-3.8-.7-4.8-2S5.7 14.3 5.7 12c0-2.3.5-4.1 1.5-5.4 1.1-1.3 2.7-2 4.8-2 2.2 0 3.8.7 4.9 2 .5.7.9 1.5 1.2 2.5l1.5-.4c-.3-1.2-.8-2.2-1.5-3.1-1.3-1.7-3.3-2.6-6-2.6-2.6 0-4.7.9-6 2.6C4.9 7.2 4.3 9.3 4.3 12s.6 4.8 1.9 6.4c1.4 1.7 3.4 2.6 6 2.6 2.3 0 4-.6 5.3-2 1.8-1.8 1.7-4 1.1-5.4-.4-.9-1.2-1.7-2.3-2.3zm-4 3.8c-1 .1-2-.4-2-1.3 0-.7.5-1.5 2.1-1.6h.5c.6 0 1.1.1 1.6.2-.2 2.3-1.3 2.7-2.2 2.7z"/></svg><span class="wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text">Threads</span></a></li><li style="color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-black, var(--color-light-none));background-color:var(--p-dyn-color-warm-white, var(--color-neutral-10));" class="wp-social-link wp-social-link-linkedin wp-block-social-link"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/t-christian-miller-871832b" class="wp-block-social-link-anchor"><svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M19.7,3H4.3C3.582,3,3,3.582,3,4.3v15.4C3,20.418,3.582,21,4.3,21h15.4c0.718,0,1.3-0.582,1.3-1.3V4.3 C21,3.582,20.418,3,19.7,3z M8.339,18.338H5.667v-8.59h2.672V18.338z M7.004,8.574c-0.857,0-1.549-0.694-1.549-1.548 c0-0.855,0.691-1.548,1.549-1.548c0.854,0,1.547,0.694,1.547,1.548C8.551,7.881,7.858,8.574,7.004,8.574z M18.339,18.338h-2.669 v-4.177c0-0.996-0.017-2.278-1.387-2.278c-1.389,0-1.601,1.086-1.601,2.206v4.249h-2.667v-8.59h2.559v1.174h0.037 c0.356-0.675,1.227-1.387,2.526-1.387c2.703,0,3.203,1.779,3.203,4.092V18.338z"></path></svg><span class="wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text">LinkedIn</span></a></li></ul></div>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-propublica-dek">
I’m a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter dedicated to accountability, transparency and data-driven journalism.</p>
<script type="application/json" class="svelte-config-new">{"componentName":"ContactTools","props":{"emailAddress":"T.Christian.Miller@propublica.org","phoneNumber":"202-361-0696","signalNumber":"","signalUsername":"tchristianmiller.99","buttonText":"Have a Tip for a Story?"}}</script><div style="display: contents"><!--[--><div class="contact-tools" data-pp-click="" data-pp-location="contact tools"><!--[--><!--[--><!--$s1--><!--[0--><div class="svelte-v4lr3e" style="display: contents; --button-bg-color: var(--p-dyn-color-black); --button-text-color: var(--p-dyn-color-white); --button-border: none; --button-font-size: var(--p-scale-3);"><!--[--><!----><button data-button-root="true" type="button" tabindex="0" id="bits-s1" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expanded="false" data-state="closed" data-popover-trigger=""><!---->Have a Tip for a Story?<!----><!----></button><!----><!--]--></div><!----><!--]--><!----><!--]--> <!--[--><!--[-1--><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!----><!--]--></div><!--]--></div>
<div class="wp-block-group rich-byline__contact-prompt-tail is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"></div>
<p class="rich-byline__contact-prompt">I am interested in hearing from insiders and whistleblowers — people who know how their organizations work and what is going wrong. I welcome documents and data that deliver concrete evidence.</p>
</div>
</div>
</li></ul></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-group is-content-justification-right is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-95163ec0 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex" style="border-top-color:var(--p-dyn-color-gray-01);border-top-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--p-spacing-3)"><div class="taxonomy-pp_topic hide-print wp-block-post-terms wp-container-content-9cfa9a5a"><span class="wp-block-post-terms__prefix">Filed under — </span><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/military" rel="tag">Military</a></div>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-republish-link" data-component="republish-link">
<div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--6"><button type="button" class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button wp-block-propublica-republish-link__open-button">Republish This Story</button></div>
</div>
<div
class="wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal--hidden"
role="dialog"
aria-modal="true"
aria-hidden="true"
aria-labelledby="propublica-republish-link-label4"
aria-description="propublica-republish-link-description5"
>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__header">
<button type="button" class="wp-block-propublica-republish-link__close-button" aria-label="Close">
<svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" width="24" height="24"><use href="#am-symbol-close"></use></svg> </button>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__content">
<div class="wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__instructions">
<h2 class="wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal-hed" id="propublica-republish-link-label4">Republish This Story for Free</h2>
<p class="wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal-license" id="propublica-republish-link-description5"><a rel="license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)</a></p>
<hr/>
<p>
Thank you for your interest in republishing this story. You are free to republish it so long as you do the following: </p>
<ul>
<li>
You have to credit <em>ProPublica and any co-reporting partners</em>. In the byline, we prefer &quot;Author Name, Publication(s).&quot; At the top of the text of your story, include a line that reads: &quot;This story was originally published by ProPublica.&quot; You must link the word &quot;ProPublica&quot; to the original URL of the story. </li>
<li>
If you&#039;re republishing online, you must link to the URL of this story on propublica.org, include all of the links from our story, including our newsletter sign up language and link, and use our <a href="/pixelping">PixelPing tag</a>. </li>
<li>
If you use canonical metadata, please use the ProPublica URL. For more information about canonical metadata, <a href="https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/139066?hl=en">refer to this Google SEO link</a>. </li>
<li>
You can&#039;t edit our material, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. (For example, &quot;yesterday&quot; can be changed to &quot;last week,&quot; and &quot;Portland, Ore.&quot; to &quot;Portland&quot; or &quot;here.&quot;) </li>
<li>
You cannot republish our photographs or illustrations without specific permission. Please contact <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#92fff7f6fbf3e0fbf5fae6e1d2e2e0fde2e7f0fefbf1f3bcfde0f5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="204d454449415249474854536050524f5055424c4943410e4f5247">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. </li>
<li>
It&#039;s okay to put our stories on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories. You can&#039;t state or imply that donations to your organization support ProPublica&#039;s work. </li>
<li>
You can&#039;t sell our material separately or syndicate it. This includes publishing or syndicating our work on platforms or apps such as Apple News, Google News, etc. </li>
<li>
You can&#039;t republish our material wholesale, or automatically; you need to select stories to be republished individually. (To inquire about syndication or licensing opportunities, contact <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#610d0802040f12080f062111130e1114030d0802004f0e1306"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cea2a7adaba0bda7a0a98ebebca1bebbaca2a7adafe0a1bca9">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.) </li>
<li>
You can&#039;t use our work to populate a website designed to improve rankings on search engines or solely to gain revenue from network-based advertisements. </li>
<li>
We do not generally permit translation of our stories into another language.
</li>
<li>
Any website our stories appear on must include a prominent and effective way to contact you. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__copy">
<label>
<span class="screen-reader-text">HTML</span>
<textarea readonly tabindex="-1">
<h1>Faulty Equipment, Lapsed Training, Repeated Warnings: How a Preventable Disaster Killed Six Marines</h1>
<p>Capt. Jahmar Resilard and Capt. Austin Smith were hurtling over the Pacific Ocean at 280 miles per hour. From inside the cockpit of their U.S. Marine Corps fighter jet, they kept their eyes on the hulking fuel tanker flying ahead. Off to their right, two Marines in a second jet assigned to Fighter Attack Squadron 242 did the same.</p>
<p>The moon was below the horizon. The lights on all three aircraft were turned off. In total darkness, 50 miles off the coast of Japan, the two jets were to stick their noses into fuel hoses trailing behind the tanker’s wings.</p>
<p>Even for the most prepared aviators, the training mission was not simple. Doing it at night made it even trickier. The night vision goggles fastened to their faces badly constricted how much they could see, like wearing binoculars to operate heavy equipment.</p>
<p>It didn’t help that Resilard had only executed a nighttime refueling once before in his career, more than a year earlier. His qualification to do so had formally lapsed, but no one realized it because a known glitch in the Marine Corps’ training tracker had yet to be fixed.</p>
<p>Resilard gained on the tanker, a behemoth capable of carrying more than 12,000 gallons of fuel. He connected gingerly to the hose.</p>
<p>“Good flow,” Smith assured him from the backseat of their cockpit.</p>
<p>The second Hornet had connected to the tanker’s other fuel hose. As the gas poured in at a rate of hundreds of gallons a minute, the three Marine Corps aircraft turned a wide, careful oval inside the safety of their approved airspace.</p>
<p>The December 2018 flight was part of a week of hastily planned exercises that would test how prepared Fighter Attack Squadron 242 was for war with North Korea. But the entire squadron, not just Resilard, had been struggling for months to maintain their basic skills. Flying a fighter jet is a highly perishable skill, but training hours had been elusive. Repairs to jets were delayed. Pleadings up the chain of command for help and relief went ignored.</p>
<p>“Everyone believes us to be under-resourced, under-manned,” the squadron’s commander wrote to his superiors months earlier.</p>
<p>And now, in perhaps the world’s most volatile theater, a Marine Corps general had ordered up a rushed set of exercises. The aviators in the air over the Pacific, investigators later found, had been given so little time to adjust their sleep schedules in order to fly at night that inside their F/A-18D Hornets that night it was as if they were legally drunk.</p>
<p>“Don’t have a good feeling,” Capt. James Wilson, the pilot of the second Hornet, had texted to his wife before taking off that night. “Love you.”</p>
<p>Smith, Resilard’s weapons officer, had flown so little of late that he was getting nauseous when he did fly. On the night of the refueling, he’d violated regulations and taken a motion sickness pill, risking drowsiness.</p>
<p>But both Hornets managed to refuel and disconnect without incident. Success felt close. They just had to safely separate. The mood over the radio was light.</p>
<p>“If you guys will go ahead and start a left turn to the middle of the area, we will give you a little show on the way out,” Wilson said to the tanker crew.</p>
<p>“Fuck yeah,” one of the tanker pilots replied.</p>
<p>Then, suddenly, Resilard’s Hornet drifted over the top of the tanker and to its right, a dangerous and unexpected maneuver.</p>
<p>It’s possible Resilard’s night vision goggles malfunctioned. They were a known menace. In fact, they were so problematic — the image could blur, and some aviators said they could even accidentally turn upside down — that the Air Force had recommended they not be fielded at all. The Marine Corps did so anyway.</p>
<p>“Oh … sheeitt … what are they gonna do?” the tanker pilot, still excited, said over the intercom, unaware Resilard was in danger.</p>
<p>Then Resilard corrected back. For 11 seconds, his jet dove down and to the left, straight for the tanker. One of the Marines in the second Hornet tried to radio a warning to Resilard but fumbled in activating the communications line.</p>
<p>The jet lanced the side of the tanker; the impact was shattering. Smith slammed into his Hornet’s canopy. He instantly yanked the ejection handle, activating the rockets under his and Resilard’s seats. The force of being launched out into the night sky ripped the helmet and goggles off Resilard’s head.</p>
<p>From the cockpit of the second Hornet, all Wilson could see below him was fire. He watched the burning tanker fall for 10 seconds. At 12,000 feet, it disappeared into a thick marine layer. The clouds glowed red. Five Marines were fatally trapped on board. All that could be heard over their intercom was wind whipping in and men hollering.</p>
<p>His parachute deployed, Smith began a 15,000-foot fall. He shot off flares into the night sky hoping someone would see, pausing when he passed through a freezing layer in the sky and his hands went numb. He struggled unsuccessfully to get his steel-toe boots off before he hit the water.</p>
<p>Falling 800 feet per minute, Smith and Resilard splashed into the Pacific. Smith was bruised, and he was shivering, but his head bobbed above the water and the reflective tape on his helmet could help rescuers spot him.</p>
<p>Resilard, who had landed far from Smith, was in worse shape. Blood was pooling on his brain. But he was active and conscious. He had a wristwatch, the kind runners use to keep track of distance traveled and calories burned. It showed Resilard’s pulse was strong, over 100 beats per minute.</p>
<p>Rescuers should have been on the way.</p>
<p>Smith’s location beacon failed in the water, but he got his radio to transmit his location.</p>
<p>Resilard had less luck. Injured, cold, he couldn’t get his radio to work. He couldn’t punch in the broadcast sequencing right. While the radios can be configured to transmit coordinates automatically, the Marine Corps had chosen not to adopt the practice.</p>
<p>Resilard’s circumstances only worsened. His location beacon had also malfunctioned in the water. The Marine Corps’ senior leadership knew the beacons were flawed but hadn’t replaced them.</p>
<p>After a deadly mishap involving a beacon two years earlier, Squadron 242’s commander tried to remedy the problem by getting replacements. But weeks before the crash the Marine Corps ordered a halt to their use because they were not officially authorized.</p>
<p>In the sky, the Marines on the second Hornet tried to help, radioing their Japanese allies and asking for rescue aircraft. It was all but futile.</p>
<p>Years earlier, the U.S. had struck an agreement giving responsibility for the search and rescue of American forces in the region to the Japanese military. The American commanders who’d ordered up the December training mission, however, were unaware of one wrinkle: The Japanese would only be available to help in emergencies if their forces were also actively training.</p>
<p>That night in December, the Japanese were not. Help, if it could make it, was hours away.</p>
<p>At 68 degrees, the sea water was not immediately lethal. But hypothermia would eventually set in.</p>
<p>Three hours after the crash, Smith and Resilard were still waiting. Smith had managed to inflate his raft and climb in. Resilard could not pull himself into his but did his best to cling to it. His watch showed his heart was still beating around 86 times a minute — more slowly than earlier, but clear evidence he was alive.</p>
<p>Dawn was coming. Maybe the light would help.</p>
<hr />
<h3>Chapter 1 <br>“Nobody Is Getting Off”</h3>
<p>Fighter Attack Squadron 242, based in the Pacific, was part of what the U.S. military called its “Fight Tonight” force. If hostilities broke out, the squadron would cross quickly into North Korean airspace, equipped to hit Pyongyang’s missile batteries. Failure could result in hundreds of thousands dead in South Korea’s capital.</p>
<p>The loss of life in a relatively routine training exercise, then, was a bruising blow to the Marine Corps. And there were, in late 2018, no shortage of reasons the Marines would want to look long and hard at the full circumstances behind the tragedy.</p>
<p>The Navy’s 7th Fleet, based in Japan along with the squadron, had seen 17 sailors killed in back-to-back accidents the year before, painful embarrassments that would ultimately be traced to years of ignored warnings about a crisis in training, manpower and machinery. Aviation accidents were also on the rise, and Squadron 242 had been involved in one of them: a 2016 near-disaster involving an unqualified pilot taking part in a similar nighttime refueling. The fighter jet sheared off part of the tanker’s refueling hose, barely avoiding a full-on collision.</p>
<p>In Washington, Congress was beginning to openly question whether American commanders in the Pacific were being honest about the preparedness of their forces.</p>
<p>The Marine Corps promised to spare no one in its investigation of the December 2018 crash, and Col. Samuel Schoolfield was named to lead the probe.</p>
<p>In meeting with members of the squadron, Schoolfield said he understood the fear among aviators that they could be made fall guys.</p>
<p>“That’s not what I’m doing,” Schoolfield told one squadron member. “I’ve had some really tough conversations with people my rank and higher. … Nobody is getting off.”</p>
<p>Schoolfield, however, went right after the squadron, months later issuing a withering, and often personal, judgment of their character and commitment. Schoolfield deemed the members of the squadron to be cowboys, operating within a command climate of “gross unprofessionalism.” Schoolfield cited “excessive alcohol consumption,” issues with drugs and adultery. The squadron’s use of “sexually explicit call signs” was typical of the debauched environment, Schoolfield asserted.</p>
<p>There were, to be sure, mistakes uncovered by Schoolfield that had to be answered for. Lt. Col. James Compton, the squadron’s commander, had failed to make sure a senior officer was on duty the night of the refueling, a standard safeguard against rash decisions. As a result, on the night of the accident, it had been left to Wilson, the senior pilot, to agree to a late request from the tanker crew to do a midair refueling. Wilson, for his part, never relayed the hastily added change in plans to Compton.</p>
<p>Schoolfield was also troubled by Wilson having proposed a “show” of some kind after the refueling had taken place. While the accident happened before Wilson ever performed whatever flourish he had in mind, Schoolfield found his idea reckless and traceable to the squadron’s leadership. Compton and his senior aides had “created nonchalant attitudes towards safety and standardization.”</p>
<p>But members of the squadron found Schoolfield’s assertions about their drinking and personal lives to be irrelevant, even dishonest.</p>
<p>The prescription drugs he accused the Marines of seeking were “go/no-go pills” — sleep and stimulant medications aviators are commonly prescribed when forced to work fatigued.</p>
<p>Schoolfield slammed two of the aviators involved in the crash for having Ambien in their systems that night, falsely suggesting it played a role in what happened, even though blood and urine tests showed trace amounts that the Marine Corps determined couldn’t have impaired the men.</p>
<p>The case of adultery he revealed was an infidelity involving a Marine with no role in the crash.</p>
<p>Schoolfield’s report, though, would be the final word. He’d made that clear to those he’d interviewed.</p>
<p>“Like we talked about this morning,” he told one aviator, “this investigation is the one that goes into the official record.”</p>
<p>Schoolfield’s investigation, completed in June 2019, was released to the public and to the media.</p>
<p>The families of the dead Marines received personal briefings on his findings. Some of the parents reacted with anger and disgust toward the Hornet squadron.</p>
<p>Compton, who had been relieved of his command before the announcement of the Schoolfield report, read the findings with disbelief. He’d accepted his fate, conceding he’d made mistakes and to some degree failed his squadron.</p>
<p>But Schoolfield’s official report, he believed, was a whitewash, a cynical effort to protect senior commanders and thus to mislead the families of the lost Marines.</p>
<p>Compton had warned higher command for months the squadron was at risk. In dozens of memos and emails, he’d detailed problems with training, equipment and morale. He’d run the numbers showing how distinctly disadvantaged the squadron was, with senior positions unfilled and basic parts for the safe and regular operation of its planes unavailable.</p>
<p>“We’re doing a disservice to the families and to the nation by sweeping this under the rug,” Compton said.</p>
<hr />
<h3>Chapter 2 <br>“Has Anybody Flown During This Time of Night Before?”</h3>
<p>Compton took over Squadron 242, the Bats, in May 2018, six months before the crash. As a young aviator, Compton had flown with the Bats when the squadron was supporting the war in Iraq. He was in flight school on 9/11, and almost immediately after getting his wings he was thrust into around-the-clock, high-tempo combat missions. He’d actually flown the Hornet, Profane 12, Resilard was in the night of the accident.</p>
<p>But the squadron he was given command of in Japan was unrecognizable to him, full of Marines who had been neglected by their Corps bosses for years. The squadron members, demoralized, ached not so much for the thrill of action on the front lines but to be anywhere else.</p>
<p>“They were not happy with their existence,” Compton said. “They wanted nothing to do with fleet life, which to me was very strange.”</p>
<p>In repeated, consistent memos in the months that followed, Compton alerted his direct superiors and higher headquarters of the myriad issues, including the squadron’s morale.</p>
<p>The reports Compton sent up the chain of command showed the squadron was consistently not capable of completing seven of its 10 “mission essential tasks,” the core functions of a fighter jet squadron. Among the tasks they couldn’t handle if war broke out: armed reconnaissance, when jets fly deep into a battle space seeking out enemy targets to strike, and air interdiction, traveling into enemy airspace to bomb a known target. Both missions would be crucial to containing a North Korean attack.</p>
<p>Compton sent updates on the squadron’s staffing, breaking down the number of Marines needed in each department and at each experience level compared with how many the squadron actually had. They had more junior Marines than they needed but consistently fell short for more senior posts. Their maintenance staff was the most inexperienced of any F/A-18 squadron in the Marine Corps. In some months, less than a third of their 13 Hornets were “mission capable.”</p>
<p>Personnel shortfalls in the maintenance department slowed the repair of jets, resulting in fewer training hours for aviators. Compton’s pilots had averaged 9.4 hours of flight time in one month, and his weapon systems officers just 3.7 hours. The Marine Corps recommended monthly minimum is 15.7 hours.</p>
<p>He laid out the dismal metrics in writing to his direct boss, Col. Mark Palmer.</p>
<p>“Thanks good update,” Palmer wrote back.</p>
<p>Compton was at a loss.</p>
<p>“It’s either ignoring it, or basically negligence, or basically an inability to do anything about it,” Compton said.</p>
<p>That summer, relations between the U.S. and North Korea were whipsawing. After months of fiery rhetoric, President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un finally met for their summit in Singapore, shaking hands and expressing a vague commitment to denuclearization. But within weeks, North Korea was back to its bellicosity, accusing the Trump administration of a “unilateral and gangster-like demand” that the country disarm its nuclear arsenal. Kim was refusing to shut down his nuclear weapons facilities or to allow inspectors in. In fact, intelligence reports were showing he was quietly expanding the sites.</p>
<p>In this environment, the Bats were sent off for three months of exercises in Australia. Things only deteriorated. Their shipment of spare parts and other cargo didn’t arrive for a month. In an update to his bosses, Compton complained of the “heinously” late delivery, saying it contributed to a 40% reduction of training.</p>
<p>The Bats were counting on seven smaller parts shipments as well, but they only got two. They had to beg their Australian counterparts for tow bars, tugs, lubricants, generators and other spares. Or they cannibalized parts from jets in the shop to make their other jets whole.</p>
<p>Compton’s updates grew more desperate.</p>
<p>“The squadron aircrew’s monthly flight time has gotten dangerously low,” he wrote. “To maintain the level of combat readiness that our nation deserves, the number of qualified Marines must increase.”</p>
<p>In late fall of 2018, the Trump administration called off the United States’ annual military exercise with the South Koreans, citing the need for diplomacy at a critical moment. The Pentagon said canceling the war games exercise might “give the diplomatic process every opportunity to continue.”</p>
<p>Despite the president’s decision, Maj. Gen. Thomas Weidley, the top Marine Corps aviation commander in the region, nonetheless abruptly ordered up a week of around-the-clock flights for a handful of squadrons, including 242.</p>
<p>The decision took Compton by surprise, and his unease about the state of his squadron deepened.</p>
<p>“I didn’t think that our leadership would basically say, ‘We don’t care what the president thinks, we’re going to execute anyway,’” Compton later told investigators.</p>
<p>Weidley’s decision — to carry out a more limited, but still aggressive, version of the annual exercises — left little time to plan the squadron’s missions.</p>
<p>Compton, and commanders for other participating squadrons, struggled to understand the orders that eventually were passed down. The plans called for too many flights per day, officers involved said, and missions so long they violated Marine Corps protocols. On the eve of the exercise, details as basic as where the planes would be landing, which requires host nation approval, had yet to be finalized.</p>
<p>Maj. Patrick Moran, one of Compton’s aides, left a meeting with higher command “with such confusion that I felt like I had reached exhaustion.” He emailed Compton, “We just don’t have clear tasking/training objectives.”</p>
<p>With days left before around-the-clock operations launched, Compton split his squadron into morning, afternoon and night shifts. He was most concerned about the daytime hours because flight plans were still fluid, and decisions about their intricacies still needed to be made. He thus assigned all of his highest ranking officers to those shifts, and none to the night shift, the most dangerous.</p>
<p>Even in daylight, flying a fighter jet taxes the body and mind. The G-force at high speeds sucks blood down to the legs, starving the brain of oxygen. To pump blood back to their heads, pilots pulse the muscles in their lower halves. Bands around their legs that inflate like blood pressure cuffs help. Meanwhile, they’re manipulating the pitch, yaw and roll of their planes with measured, practiced movements of their hands and feet, while simultaneously monitoring their instrument panels and calculating their next moves. Fatal mistakes happen quickly.</p>
<p>Flying in the dark can be even more demanding. Marine Corps protocol recommends pilots flying nights be given up to four weeks to adjust their sleep schedules. Compton’s Marines were given just a few days.</p>
<p>Wilson later recounted his reaction to getting assigned the night shift: “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”</p>
<p>Wilson was hand-selected to lead the late team. He had flown night sorties over Iraq and was considered one of the Bats’ most seasoned pilots. But he had flown just four hours in the last month, a quarter of the minimum time needed to be truly capable. The night plans gave him pause.</p>
<p>Wilson huddled with the other Marines assigned the late shift, 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.</p>
<p>“Has anybody flown during this time of night before?” he asked.</p>
<p>Nobody raised their hand.</p>
<hr />
<h3>Chapter 3 <br>“I Can’t See Anything but the Fire”</h3>
<p>On Dec. 6, Wilson and Resilard were set to start their engines for the first of the week’s night flights just after midnight. Their initial objective was quite limited: Their two Hornets were to take off, “burn holes in the sky” to gain some much-needed flight time and land.</p>
<p>But just a few hours before takeoff, the Bats got a call from a tanker squadron looking to rendezvous for a midair refueling. It was a more complicated mission and wasn’t on the Bats’ flight schedule.</p>
<p>Wilson approved the addition without calling Compton, his commanding officer. He sped through a preflight brief, then he led the men to the airstrip.</p>
<p>On the walk to their Hornets, Wilson made one last admonishment. He noted that two years earlier, Capt. James Frederick, a friend, was killed while flying an F/A-18C during a training exercise in the same airspace. Frederick’s wife was pregnant at the time with their second child.</p>
<p>“That was my way of saying, hey, keep your head on a swivel, you know, stuff happens,” Wilson said.</p>
<p>Resilard, for his part, tried to stay upbeat. He was enthusiastic about getting some training in.</p>
<p>“I’m all about the flight time, man,” he told his squadron mates.</p>
<p>Resilard was piloting the second Hornet, Profane 12. He was an inconsistent aviator. Weeks earlier, Resilard landed short of a runway and into the wrong set of steel cables that help stop a jet upon touching down. The incident could have been catastrophic if the cables hadn’t happened to be bidirectional. His squadron mates christened him with a new call sign, ALIBi, short for “Am Lucky It’s Bi.”</p>
<p>Resilard was said to work hard, but he was afforded little opportunity to improve. That year, he was averaging just over half the minimum recommended monthly flight time. His qualification for refueling at night had lapsed. But a glitch in the Marine Corps’ tracking system was erroneously displaying pilots as qualified for skills they hadn’t been tested on for a year or more.</p>
<p>In the air shortly after midnight, Resilard and Wilson watched as the tanker went dark. It flipped on its covert lights, invisible to the naked eye.</p>
<p>Through their night vision goggles, Wilson and Resilard, flying in formation, could see the hulking aircraft and little else. The tanker, a KC-130J Hercules named Sumo 41, was operated by two pilots and three enlisted aircrew. Two long, flexible refueling hoses extended back from pods mounted under each of the tanker’s wings. A heavy funnel is attached to each tip, keeping the hoses steady and level, like two water skiers being towed behind a boat.</p>
<p>Their approved airspace, off the southern coast of Shikoku, Japan, was a rectangle, roughly 40 miles wide and 90 miles long.</p>
<p>Wilson disconnected first. He elevated more than a hundred feet above the tanker and shifted off to its right side.</p>
<p>Standard procedure would have called for Resilard, once he was done refueling, to join Wilson on the tanker’s right side and depart from there. But Wilson called an audible and directed Resilard to stay left. The tanker crew was unfazed.</p>
<p>“That’s approved,” Maj. James Brophy, the tanker’s lead pilot said over the radio.</p>
<p>The next 90 seconds proved fatal.</p>
<p>Wilson made his boastful promise of a “show.” Concerned he was pressed too far up against the border of the airspace to his right, he asked the tanker to shift left, sending it away from him and closer to Resilard.</p>
<p>The Marines on the tanker didn’t know what Wilson had planned, but they were fired up.</p>
<p>“Are they gonna fucking burn by both of us on each side?” Maj. Kevin Herrmann asked over the intercom.</p>
<p>“Dude, I was about to ask, like, can they do something cool like we used to? Nobody does that shit anymore.”</p>
<p>“Never,” Brophy agreed.</p>
<p>“I fucking like it guys,” Herrmann said. “Excited.”</p>
<p>Then one of the three enlisted crew members, standing watch from the left window of the tanker, noticed Resilard drift over them.</p>
<p>“12 moving over the top from left to right,” he said over the tanker’s intercom.</p>
<p>What caused Resilard’s drift is not known.</p>
<p>Resilard had been positioned above the tanker and to its left. He had been inadvertently pressing his right rudder all night — a sign of stress — and counterbalancing with his flight stick. It’s possible that when the tanker, still in covert lighting, shifted left and underneath him, he lost sight of it, panicked and stopped fighting the rightward creep.</p>
<p>Another possibility: After Resilard had finished refueling, the tanker pilot asked for Resilard’s jet ID for invoice purposes. That number is displayed inside the cockpit near Resilard’s right knee. If you look right, you can inadvertently go right, particularly in the dark without other points of reference.</p>
<p>Whatever the cause, no one alerted him to his dangerous drift.</p>
<p>Smith, sitting behind Resilard to help guide the flight and man the weapons systems, saw their Hornet passing over the tanker. It filled the field of view on his night goggles. Fatigued and drowsy from Dramamine, Smith didn’t recognize it was a mistake. He stayed quiet.</p>
<p>Through the darkness, Wilson’s weapons officer, Capt. Paul Keith, could make out the silhouette of Resilard’s Hornet. His wings were waggling like he was struggling to regain control. Keith looked down at the scale in his cockpit to orient himself, then looked back out. He realized Resilard was slicing their way.</p>
<p>Resilard’s Hornet was now in the middle, with Profane 11 to its right and the tanker to its left. Then, Resilard headed back toward the tanker.</p>
<p>“What the fuck is he doing?” Keith shouted.</p>
<p>Smith, confident they were a safe distance from the tanker even as they hurtled toward it, looked the other way, at the Hornet on the right. When his Hornet hit the tanker, Smith said it was “the most violent thing that I have ever felt in my life.”</p>
<p>Smith pulled the ejection handle, initiating an overwhelming force that can crush vertebrae. He did not warn his pilot beforehand as he was supposed to, so Resilard wasn’t in proper position to eject. His helmet was stripped off and his night vision goggles ripped away.</p>
<p>Smith’s escape was smoother. The left side of his body was banged up, but he was OK. He began descending in his parachute under the tanker.</p>
<p>From the cockpit of his Hornet, Wilson saw the sparks from the ejection rockets. He hit the afterburners, nose high, shooting up and away from the crash. Still climbing, he made a sharp turn back over the burning tanker. He looked down.</p>
<p>Even 3,000 feet away, the flames were so overwhelming he thought they’d scorch his jet.</p>
<p>“My goggles are completely bloomed out,” he said. “I can’t see anything but the fire.”</p>
<p>For 10 seconds, Wilson saw the flaming wreckage glide down.</p>
<p>Hanging from his parachute, Smith’s descent was slow. Not a strong swimmer, the first thing he did was inflate his life vest.</p>
<p>He screamed for help. He saw a light down in the water — maybe a boat. He shot off one of his small flares. No response.</p>
<p>Descending in the dark, he hit the water without warning. His life vest held. He inflated his raft, then pulled himself aboard. With each swell, ocean water poured in. Soaked, and some 50 miles out at sea, Smith was shaking.</p>
<p>Up above, as they soared over the crash site, Wilson and Keith struggled to radio for help: “MAYDAY. MAYDAY. MAYDAY.”</p>
<p>Six minutes later, they radioed again, looking for confirmation that rescue aircraft and boats were being launched.</p>
<p>Another 10 minutes passed. A flight controller asked them to confirm which aircraft were down.</p>
<p>“Profane 12 is in the water. Sumo 41 is in the water,” Wilson responded.</p>
<p>After four minutes, the control center radioed back “to confirm there was a collision between Profane 12 and Sumo 41?”</p>
<p>Six more minutes passed. No sign of help. Wilson again asked for an “update on search-and-rescue assets.”</p>
<p>He was told they should be coming.</p>
<p>By 2:27 a.m., 40 minutes after the first call for help, Wilson still saw no sign that help was on the way. He tried the radio again: “Status of search and rescue.”</p>
<p>They hovered high over the crash site for roughly 90 minutes. With his gas running low, Wilson dipped below the cloud layer and began searching himself.</p>
<p>“My hands were shaking,” he remembered. “My stomach was in knots.”</p>
<hr />
<h3>Chapter 4 <br>“We Now Have to Live With the Repercussions”</h3>
<p>While the Schoolfield report became the official public word on the December 2018 crash, it wasn’t the only inquiry conducted by the Marines. Per protocol, a safety board was convened to conduct a confidential examination of the accident and any issues of responsibility and leadership it raised.</p>
<p>What witnesses divulge in safety investigations cannot be used to discipline or prosecute them, freeing them to be more candid. A warning printed on the safety reports reminds military personnel that releasing the information is a crime. The safety inquiry into the fatal accident involving Squadron 242 included interviews with rank-and-file Marines, commanders in both the attack and tanker squadrons and the senior officers in the two commands above 242.</p>
<p>ProPublica reviewed the safety report. It, like Schoolfield’s findings, details the flight crew’s missteps the night of the crash.</p>
<p>But the safety investigation also paints a damning picture of high-level culpability and systemic dysfunction. It includes issues entirely unmentioned by the official report. In a startling compendium of failings, senior leaders make admissions about their own lapses and give alarming assessments about the state of Marine Corps forward-deployed forces.</p>
<p>The report said the leaders of the Marine Corps’ aviation units in the Pacific had created a dangerous culture in which safety issues were routinely brushed aside. In the unit’s day-to-day operations, raising safety concerns “is like the boy crying wolf.” “Risk is accepted with the mindset that this is ‘just the way things are’ or we ‘just make do with what we’ve got,’” it said.</p>
<p>Saying no to unsafe orders accomplishes little, the report found: “The lower echelon gets asked to find another way to mitigate the risk. The mindset becomes, ‘Higher HQ wants this to happen; therefore, we’ll find a way to make it happen.’”</p>
<p>That damning conclusion — front-line warning being thwarted by top-level commanders — echo the findings of ProPublica’s investigations into the 2017 tragedies involving the 7th Fleet’s two destroyers, <a href="https://features.propublica.org/navy-accidents/uss-fitzgerald-destroyer-crash-crystal/">the USS Fitzgerald</a> and <a href="https://features.propublica.org/navy-accidents/us-navy-crashes-japan-cause-mccain/">the USS John McCain</a>. The destroyers were involved in fatal accidents months apart, and the Navy was quick to portray them as the result of negligence by sailors on the two ships. ProPublica’s reconstructions of the accidents, however, showed that uniformed and civilian Navy leaders at the highest levels had been alerted for years that the sailors and ships of the 7th Fleet were in crisis: undertrained, overtaxed and starved of the time and parts required to operate the country’s most versatile warships.</p>
<p>With the 2018 accident over the Pacific, the safety board investigation found that the two commanders above Compton’s squadron — Palmer and Weidley — were both “fully aware” of the Bats’ shortfalls. And that those shortfalls were reported up to “higher headquarters on a regular basis.”</p>
<p>There was “no evidence that senior leaders in the chain of command responded to” Compton’s warnings “with any additional or supplementary support.”</p>
<p>The safety board questioned the management of resources across the Marine Corps and its “Fight Tonight” force.</p>
<p>“The least experienced maintenance department in the active fleet should not be the maintenance department of a forward deployed Fight Tonight squadron. The opposite should be true,” the report stated. “The forward deployed force should be resourced to sustain the best readiness posture the service can provide — not the worst.”</p>
<p>The limited ability of junior mechanics assigned to the Bats by the Marine Corps grounded planes and limited flight training hours, which the report said can be “tied directly” to the “dangerously low” proficiency of the four Hornet aviators involved in the crash.</p>
<p>The report revealed that these same manpower problems were raised by a previous safety board, looking at a January 2016 mishap, and “the recommendation to address this problem was accepted by every level of command.”</p>
<p>Nonetheless the shortfalls continued: “Senior leaders are not unaware of these factors. Yet senior leaders have allowed this under resourced condition to continue unabated.”</p>
<p>The decisions about resources and “the acceptance of elevated risk levels associated with them have become institutionalized in the force,” the report found. “Consequently, warnings go unheeded at multiple levels of command, hazards continue unmitigated, and controls remain unimplemented.”</p>
<p>The report confirmed that Palmer’s command did not give the involved squadrons a clear sense of what they were being ordered to do and failed to properly assess how risky the missions were. Palmer’s command was also short-staffed and overworked, forced to attend to other duties while simultaneously planning around-the-clock operations.</p>
<p>“Planners and decision makers cannot analyze risk well when they do not have time to think,” the report said.</p>
<p>Flight training for the Bats had been steadily declining since 2013, and they were given the least training hours of any F/A-18 squadron during the most recent fiscal year: 1,920 hours of flight time compared with the Marine Corps’ average of 3,189. The safety board described it as “dangerously low” and “a staggering deficit for a deployed squadron.”</p>
<p>For several consecutive years, the Bats were given fewer flight hours than the Marine Corps’ own published minimums to maintain basic proficiency.</p>
<p>One reason for the lack of flight time: Their planes were in bad shape. The Marine Corps minimum for the percentage of a squadron’s fleet that should be mission capable in a given month is 75%. They only met that rate once in the previous year and in the two months before the crash hit their lowest rates: 26% and 30%.</p>
<p>“Hazards caused by low aircraft readiness were highlighted” in a 2014 report about poor pilot proficiency, the safety board noted.</p>
<p>The safety report pointed out other mistakes the Marine Corps failed to learn from.</p>
<p>The glitch in the Marine Corps’ system for training tracking, which erroneously showed Resilard as being qualified to handle night refueling, was also previously cited in a past safety report.</p>
<p>In 2016, the same Hornet and tanker squadrons suffered a similar incident during a nighttime refueling. The Hornet pilot in that incident turned into the tanker and sheared off a portion of the fuel hose. No one was hurt, but the Hornet came within 10 feet of the tanker, narrowly avoiding a catastrophic crash.</p>
<p>In that case, the same glitch with the Marine Corps’ training tracking system also showed the pilot was qualified for night refueling when he wasn’t. In both 2016 and 2018, the qualification tracking system showed the pilots as “green” for the mission because they had done a similar exercise during the day. Logging the day code as completed erroneously refreshed the night code.</p>
<p>The correction to the system was never made.</p>
<p>The commander of the tanker squadron, writing to the board, was infuriated.</p>
<p>“It is difficult to fathom that a near similar incident occurred a mere 2 ½ years ago between the same two squadrons and yet little to no action was taken to rectify the issue,” the commander wrote. “Repeating errors is undesirable in any line of work but is absolutely unacceptable in aviation.”</p>
<p>The review also found that the rushed nature of the exercises in December had compromised the skills of already undertrained aviators. The inability of the night team to adequately adjust sleep schedules had left Wilson, Resilard, Smith and Keith so impaired by fatigue that it was as if they were flying with a blood alcohol level well above the legal driving limit.</p>
<p>Senior leaders were allowed to review the report and share their thoughts. Each of them criticized the decisions made by Compton, his officers and the flight crew involved in the crash. But they were also brutally candid about the perilous state of Marine Corps aviation at large, describing the weaknesses in stark terms rarely heard in public.</p>
<p>The commander for the tanker squadron, which lost five Marines in the crash, was unsparing.</p>
<p>“In an (area of operations) where the mantra of ‘Fight Tonight’ is repeated everywhere,” Lt. Col. Mitchell Maury said, referring to the Pacific, “we are not manned, trained, and equipped to execute to the appropriate level of effectiveness.”</p>
<p>“This concern has been reported repetitiously to higher headquarters,” he said, including to the Marine Corps’ commandant, its highest-ranking officer, and the Navy secretary, the top civilian leader. “Forward deployed units are consistently hindered by a lack of experienced personnel and the result is decreased readiness and increased risk.”</p>
<p>He warned of the “extreme risk” involved in forcing Marine aviators to “do more with less” and called on other leaders to “have the moral courage to step up and refrain from executing when the risk outweighs the reward,” otherwise “more tragedy will ensue.”</p>
<p>He blamed the deadly crash on a “failure to adjust” after previous mishaps.</p>
<p>“We now have to live with the repercussions,” he said.</p>
<p>Weidley wrote the longest response. He acknowledged that the squadron had been short-staffed and under-trained. “None of these gaps,” he said, “are news. All have been highlighted in readiness reports to higher headquarters.”</p>
<p>But he devoted much of his response to reiterating the mistakes made by the Bats and their flight crew: Compton’s failure to assign senior officers to the night shift, the use of unauthorized medications, the unapproved change to the flight plan, Wilson’s rushed preflight brief and the unusual order he gave Resilard to depart from the left side of the tanker instead of the right.</p>
<p>Both he and Palmer, he wrote, told squadron commanders “to not exceed what safely could be done” during the week of exercises. “Naval aviators are trained to have the courage to say no when things aren’t right,” he wrote, suggesting the Bats did not have that courage.</p>
<p>None of the safety board’s findings have been made public. No changes to Schoolfield’s report have been made. The families, who were given Schoolfield’s findings, were given no idea of the extent to which the safety board blamed top leadership failures for the deaths.</p>
<hr />
<h3>Chapter 5 <br>“Why, Why Can’t We Find Capt. Resilard?”</h3>
<p>As a boy, Jahmar Resilard was in awe of Will Smith’s character in the movie “Independence Day”: a black F/A-18 pilot slugging aliens and saving the world. It had been tunnel vision for Resilard after that. He was going to be a Marine Corps pilot.</p>
<p>Now, hours after being ejected from his own F/A-18, Resilard was alone in the dark, bobbing in the Pacific, trying to stay alive.</p>
<p>Resilard’s head was exposed to the elements. His helmet had been ripped off as he ejected, and with it the reflective tape that rescue aircraft might see from above. His left jawline was badly bruised, and trauma to his neck left him at risk of paralysis.</p>
<p>He took out his flares and his strobe light. From his life vest, he removed a pouch of fluorescent green dye. He pulled the tab, releasing the thick pigment into the sea water — a marker for rescuers.</p>
<p>But his ability to move was diminishing. Unable to pull himself into his raft, he was at risk of going under.</p>
<p>Smith, in his raft, pulled off one of his steel-toe boots. He used it to bail water.</p>
<p>Smith had liked flying with Resilard. The two had an easy rapport. Resilard wasn’t like other pilots, Smith thought, too proud to admit when something wasn’t right. Despite Resilard’s struggles as an aviator, Smith had total confidence in him. He was a pro, someone Smith would fly with again in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>And Smith was certain Resilard was floating somewhere nearby.</p>
<p>The scramble to rescue Resilard and Smith had been painfully problematic. The Americans responsible for coordinating rescue with the Japanese did not even have contact information for their Japanese counterparts handy.</p>
<p>It would not be until 4:06 a.m. — two and a half hours after the crash — that the first Japanese UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter took off from Hamamatsu Air Base, more than 200 miles away.</p>
<p>“It would probably surprise the American public to know there are not any American search-and-rescue people on standby for a multitude of forces deployed on mainland Japan,” said Compton, who followed the search for his men that night from their ready room on base. “It’s all totally dependent upon the government of Japan. We found out the hard way.”</p>
<p>Of the Japanese, he said: “They are not in their squadrons ready to walk to an airplane when they hear a call. No, they’re at home. They’re at home having to drive into work, figure out where to go, fire up an airplane and get out there.”</p>
<p>At 5:43 a.m., a Japanese helicopter finally found Smith in the water. A rescue craft had passed him earlier, its spotlight even hitting his raft, but the crew had apparently missed him.</p>
<p>This time the chopper hovered overhead. A diver descended into the water, swam over to Smith and attached him to a hoist. Smith tossed the boot he’d been bailing water with into the sea.</p>
<p>Smith told the rescuers Resilard was still in the water.</p>
<p>“I 100% expected us to fly right over to him and pick him up, and me and him to be sitting in that helicopter. A hundred percent. If you would have asked me that, I would have probably been like, yeah, he’s right there. I mean, we ejected out of the same aircraft, right?”</p>
<p>“They shouldn’t be that far apart,” Compton said. “The ejection sequence is only like a third of a second apart. The winds and conditions would be very similar, so you’re thinking, ‘Got to be here somewhere close.’ From that point on, it’s a race against the elements and time, and just your ability to survive whatever it was that you just went through, which in this case was a pretty catastrophic collision. Any extra time is too much time, bottom line.”</p>
<p>But Resilard was not quickly discovered.</p>
<p>“It was like, why, why can’t we find Capt. Resilard?” Compton said.</p>
<p>The answer proved enragingly obvious. His location beacon failed in the water.</p>
<p>Senior leaders knew that model of location beacon was flawed. It had malfunctioned in at least two prior mishaps, including the crash two years earlier in which Wilson’s friend, Frederick, was found dead in the same waters. Other squadrons had a better model. But the Marine Corps did not issue replacements for the Bats. And so their commanding officer obtained a commercial brand of beacon available to hikers and hunters for the squadron, but the Marine Corps ordered they not be used during an inspection a few weeks before the crash because they were not authorized by the Corps.</p>
<p>With no beacon to help find Resilard, rescue aircraft searched fruitlessly.</p>
<p>Resilard had been scheduled to go home for Christmas. He was bringing his girlfriend. The two met when he was stationed in San Diego. When he got his orders to deploy to Japan, she packed up and moved with him. She was the first girlfriend he ever told his family about. They had just gotten engaged but were waiting to share the news over the holidays. There would be much to celebrate. Jahmar’s older sister was expecting and due to give birth around the time of his visit.</p>
<p>At 10:46 a.m., nine hours after the crash, a Japanese Coast Guard ship finally spotted him. In the water, Resilard was either exhausted or he’d lost consciousness. His arms had slipped below the waterline. But his watch indicated he was still alive.</p>
<p>The crew on the ship, however, wasn’t able to get him out of the water. The waves were too strong and the ship’s deck too high to safely pull him in. The ship crew called in a helicopter.</p>
<p>At 11:27 a.m., a Japanese SH-60 Seahawk hovered overhead.</p>
<p>It was now almost 10 hours since the crash.</p>
<p>Resilard’s watch showed his heart was still beating.</p>
<p>The helicopter crew determined it couldn’t pull him up. He was unresponsive and tangled in his gear. His body was wrapped in the lanyard connecting the seat pan to the inflatable raft.</p>
<p>They called in another ship.</p>
<p>At 11:30 a.m., Resilard’s heart stopped beating. He had drowned.</p>
<p>It took almost another hour for the crew of the second ship to pull his body aboard.</p>
<hr />
<h3>Epilogue</h3>
<p>In the months after the December 2018 tragedy, Compton stayed in charge of Squadron 242, but he had little concrete assurance that he wouldn’t ultimately pay with his job.</p>
<p>He accepted that possible outcome. What happened under his watch was his responsibility. He could have been more blunt in his warnings. He could have pounded the table, threatened to resign if the squadron didn’t get the help it needed. He knew his Marines were poorly trained. He could have flatly refused flying at night. And some of the bad behavior Schoolfield uncovered implicated him. Compton’s WhatsApp profile photo was a selfie he took in midair, hardly the image of a leader strictly enforcing the rules.</p>
<p>But he also knew the problems went well beyond his failings. At a memorial for the six Marines who had gone to their deaths, he sensed some hope. Weidley, his superior, encouraged him to let him know what staffing gaps the squadron needed filled.</p>
<p>Compton asked for six experienced aviators and four seasoned mechanics. He got one pilot, called up from the reserves, and one weapon systems officer. Both were assigned only temporarily.</p>
<p>In March, things had not improved, and Compton once more wrote to his superiors that a shortage of trained aircrew “continues to be a major concern.”</p>
<p>“I implore higher headquarters,” he wrote, “to ensure we receive qualified personnel.”</p>
<p>The next month, Compton, while in South Korea, was summoned along with his three top aides to Marine Corps headquarters in Japan. They were to be relieved of their positions. Compton was not surprised by his impending firing, but the idea that his aides would be punished along with him was crushing.</p>
<p>The night before flying to Japan, Compton got himself a hotel room in Seoul. He said he stood on his 14th floor balcony and considered jumping. If he killed himself, he thought, perhaps the commanders would rethink the punishment of his aides.</p>
<p>“I’m not proud of it,” Compton said. “It’s a very weak thought, a very weak thing. But my mind went there.”</p>
<p>Weidley, who failed to act on Compton’s months of warnings, lit into Squadron 242’s leader before dismissing him.</p>
<p>“Marines deserve nothing but the best leadership, and it’s clear that you’re not delivering that, therefore effective immediately, I’m relieving you of command,” Compton recalled Wiedley saying. “You will remove your personal effects from your office in the squadron under the cover of darkness. You will say nothing to anybody until I’ve made the announcement.”</p>
<p>ProPublica sent the Marine Corps a lengthy set of questions about the accident, the Schoolfield report and the secret safety review. We also reached out directly to Schoolfield and the Marine personnel cited in the various reports and documents.</p>
<p>The Marine Corps called Schoolfield’s command investigation “thorough” but acknowledged that Schoolfield was wrong in suggesting that the trace amounts of Ambien in the aviators’ systems had impaired their abilities.</p>
<p>“Ambien use did not play a role in the mishap though the language of the command investigation can be read to suggest otherwise,” the spokesperson said.</p>
<p>The Marine Corps declined to answer a number of questions from ProPublica about revelations within the safety investigation, asserting that disclosing such information is a crime. The Marines requested ProPublica not report its contents, saying it would have a chilling effect on future safety investigations, but ProPublica found that the public interest in the issues involved outweighed those concerns, as the documents revealed systemic problems and ongoing safety risks.</p>
<p>The report is still being reviewed up the chain of command, the Marines said, and is not yet final.</p>
<p>Because the findings are supposed to be secret, investigators are encouraged “to speculate, opine, analyze and make recommendations that may or may not be fully supported by facts,” the spokesperson said, declining to provide any examples of inaccuracies.</p>
<p>The Marine Corps said it had taken steps to improve conditions for the Bats. The training tracking system that incorrectly showed Resilard as qualified for nighttime refueling has been fixed. The squadron is scheduled this month to get a new flight simulator. Marines are being sent to the squadron for three-year tours, instead of two, to increase experience levels.</p>
<p>To improve coordination during emergencies, U.S. and Japanese forces conducted a search-and-rescue training exercise this year. The Marines have also been running their own internal rescue exercises.</p>
<p>The Marine Corps said it does not plan to replace the malfunctioning seat beacons, a spokesperson said, but will instead be “leveraging several funded initiatives in place to improve the beacon’s reliability, including antenna extension kits and water-activated passive signaling devices.”</p>
<p>The spokesperson defended the model of night vision goggles the Bats were assigned, saying it “provides significant benefits, such as increased situational awareness and expeditious sensor cueing.”</p>
<p>“Aviation safety is a top priority for the Marine Corps,” the spokesperson said. “Investigating ourselves when mishaps and other events occur is vital to helping us identify issues that create unsafe conditions.”</p>
<p>The Marine Corps has launched a new review of the crash, the spokesperson said, that could result in additional discipline.</p>
<p>To date, no one above Compton has been disciplined.</p>
<p>Palmer, identified in the safety report as having been fully briefed on the dangerous state of Squadron 242 for months before the accident, earned a new position in a directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the body of top military leaders that advises the president and defense secretary. He was awarded a legion of merit medal, reserved for officers who exhibit exceptional performance.</p>
<p>Weidley is now the assistant chief of staff for the U.S. military’s unified command in South Korea. At his change of command ceremony this year, he said “there is no more ready, no more lethal, no more rehearsed combat wing on this planet than 1st MAW,” referring to his command, which he said “is always ready to respond and always ready to go at a moment’s notice.”</p>
<p>Palmer, Weidley and Schoolfield declined to comment for this article.</p>
<p>Compton said the three surviving Marines from the 2018 accident had their actions reviewed. Wilson was told he would not fly again, and he left the Marines. Smith was also stripped of his flying privileges, but he for now remains with the Marine Corps in Japan. Keith had to undergo retraining but is again flying with the Bats.</p>
<p>The three could either not be reached or would not speak publicly about the incident and its consequences.</p>
<p>ProPublica asked the Marine Corps to provide data to show improvements in Squadron 242’s staffing, training and ability to execute basic missions in war. The Marine Corps did not. Asked whether 242’s deficiencies posed a threat to national security, the Marine Corps spokesperson declined to comment, citing “operational security reasons.”</p>
<p>There are signs, however, that the situation remains dire.</p>
<p>The documents from the safety investigation indicated that even in the months after the crash, inexperienced maintenance staff “continues to have substantial negative impact on aircraft readiness.”</p>
<p>“Yet this condition remains unabated,” the report stated.</p>
<p>It also found that “to the time of this investigation,” flight training hours “continued to be well below fleet averages and insufficient to meet the (Marine Corps’) published minimums to sustain aircrew readiness.”</p>
<p>The families of the six dead Marines have become close, sharing in the grief of losing sons, brothers, husbands. Some have been vocal about their anger with the Marine Corps.</p>
<p>“The families have been lied to,” said Todd Ross, whose son was killed on the tanker. “They not only lied to us, they lied to everybody.”</p>
<p>“If they’re not willing to take full responsibility for the actions of their command, and those underneath you, and are trying to pawn that off on somebody else just to keep your skin, then you’re violating every form of decency there is,” he said.</p>
<p>Resilard’s sister, pregnant at the time of the accident, had to be induced early because of the trauma from her brother’s death. Caring for her newborn son has been a welcome distraction, she said. But it’s impossible to escape the grief.</p>
<p>“He looks like just Jahmar,” she said.</p>
<p>Today, Compton is back in Billings, Montana, near where he grew up and where he has now started a new career as a financial advisor. He spoke at length with ProPublica in recent months.</p>
<p>Compton said he regularly is jolted awake at 2 a.m., the hour when the crash occurred.</p>
<p>“Almost without fail,” he said. “It just happens.”</p>
<p>“The hard reality is that this unit under my watch was not prepared for combat,” he said. “Because we could not do a basic thing. That’s hard. That’s a hard reality to face.”</p>
<p>“I do blame myself and I’ll always blame myself,” he added. “The only reason I’m talking now is because I’m not convinced that we’re going to change anything.</p>
<p>“The United States Marine Corps, an organization which I loved and had devoted my life to, I want to make sure that it learns from this tragedy. It has to.”</p>
<p>“The only thing preventing another thing like this from occurring is, frankly, luck. And what that means to me is that people are going to die that don’t need to die.”</p>
<hr />
<h3>How We Reported a Deadly Marine Corps Accident</h3>
<p><em>We set out to reconstruct the December 2018 crash between two U.S. Marine Corps aircraft flying off the coast of Japan. We wanted to understand what went wrong in the air that night, resulting in the deaths of six Marines, and what went wrong up the chain of command in the months and weeks before the tragedy.</em></p>
<p><em>We interviewed current and former Marine Corps and Navy officials, as well as the family members of those who were killed. We reviewed thousands of pages of internal Marine Corps records, including emails and memos, an unredacted version of the official investigation released to the public, and a separate confidential investigation that was intended to be hidden from public view. Interviews were conducted on both coasts and in Billings, Montana. To better understand the crash, we designed a 3D animation of the three aircraft involved and their motion relative to one another in the minutes before the incident. We provided the Marine Corps with a lengthy list of questions, many of which they declined to answer. ProPublica attempted to contact those mentioned by name in this story and other significant participants in the incident. To reconstruct scenes and dialogue in the narrative, ProPublica used official transcripts, contemporaneous emails and interviews with the people quoted or eyewitness sources.</em></p>
<p><em>The following people contributed to this story: Katie Campbell, Nate Schweber, Joe Singer, MacGregor Campbell, Lucas Waldron, Matt Huynh, Alicia DeWitt, David Owen Hawxhurst, Lucas Waldron, Micah Kovacs and Doris Burke.</em></p>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard" />
<meta name="syndication-source" content="https://www.propublica.org/article/marines-hornet-squadron-242-crash-pacific-resilard" />
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://pixel.propublica.org/pixel.js" async></script>
</textarea> </label>
<button type="button" class="wp-block-propublica-republish-link__copy-button">Copy HTML</button>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</footer>
</article>
</main>
<div class="wp-block-template-part">
<div class="wp-block-group page-recirc p-grid-container is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-16f820fd wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<section class="page-recirc__topics-band hide-print wp-block-propublica-more-in-topic">
<script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script><script type="application/json" class="svelte-config-new">{"componentName":"PageSectionFullWithDividers","props":{"content":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group story-card story-card--stacked is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><figure style=\"aspect-ratio:3\/2;\" class=\"story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/trump-hegseth-dod-nato-civilian-harm-reduction-absent\" target=\"_self\" ><img width=\"422\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?w=422\" class=\"attachment-propublica-more-in-topic size-propublica-more-in-topic wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg 3000w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px\" js-autosizes=\"true\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h3 class=\"story-card__hed wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/trump-hegseth-dod-nato-civilian-harm-reduction-absent\" target=\"_self\" >Empty Seat: U.S. Absent as Western Powers Meet on Wartime Protections for Civilians<\/a><\/h3><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group story-card story-card--stacked is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><figure style=\"aspect-ratio:3\/2;\" class=\"story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/army-artillery-factory-fiasco-takeaways\" target=\"_self\" ><img width=\"422\" height=\"282\" src=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?w=422\" class=\"attachment-propublica-more-in-topic size-propublica-more-in-topic wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg 3000w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=768,513 768w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=1024,684 1024w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=1536,1026 1536w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=2048,1367 2048w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=863,576 863w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=422,282 422w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=552,369 552w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=558,373 558w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=527,352 527w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=752,502 752w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=1149,767 1149w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=1112,742 1112w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=2000,1335 2000w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=800,534 800w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=1200,801 1200w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=1600,1068 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px\" js-autosizes=\"true\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h3 class=\"story-card__hed wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/army-artillery-factory-fiasco-takeaways\" target=\"_self\" >The Costly Blunders in the Army\u2019s $533 Million Fiasco<\/a><\/h3><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group story-card story-card--stacked is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><figure style=\"aspect-ratio:3\/2;\" class=\"story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/hegseth-civilian-harm-mitigation-response-trump-defense-department\" target=\"_self\" ><img width=\"422\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?w=422\" class=\"attachment-propublica-more-in-topic size-propublica-more-in-topic wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg 3000w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px\" js-autosizes=\"true\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h3 class=\"story-card__hed wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/hegseth-civilian-harm-mitigation-response-trump-defense-department\" target=\"_self\" >Top Commanders Told Hegseth Not to Cut Civilian Protection Program, Poll Showed. He Did It Anyway.<\/a><\/h3><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group story-card story-card--stacked is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><figure style=\"aspect-ratio:3\/2;\" class=\"story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/military-defense-spending-budget-series\" target=\"_self\" ><img width=\"422\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?w=422\" class=\"attachment-propublica-more-in-topic size-propublica-more-in-topic wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg 3000w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px\" js-autosizes=\"true\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h3 class=\"story-card__hed wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/military-defense-spending-budget-series\" target=\"_self\" >The $1 Trillion Black Box<\/a><\/h3><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group story-card story-card--stacked is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><figure style=\"aspect-ratio:3\/2;\" class=\"story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/getinvolved\/share-military-defense-spending-tips\" target=\"_self\" ><img width=\"422\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?w=422\" class=\"attachment-propublica-more-in-topic size-propublica-more-in-topic wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg 3000w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px\" js-autosizes=\"true\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h3 class=\"story-card__hed wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/getinvolved\/share-military-defense-spending-tips\" target=\"_self\" >Do You Know About U.S. Military Spending? Help ProPublica Understand Where the Money Goes.<\/a><\/h3><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group story-card story-card--stacked is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><figure style=\"aspect-ratio:3\/2;\" class=\"story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/general-dynamics-artillery-factory-failed\" target=\"_self\" ><img width=\"422\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?w=422\" class=\"attachment-propublica-more-in-topic size-propublica-more-in-topic wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg 3000w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px\" js-autosizes=\"true\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h3 class=\"story-card__hed wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/general-dynamics-artillery-factory-failed\" target=\"_self\" >Fiasco in the Factory: Taxpayers Funded a $533 Million Artillery Plant That Made Nothing<\/a><\/h3><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","title":"More in Military","url":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/military","headingTag":"h2"}}</script><div style="display: contents"><!--[--><div class="page-section-full-with-dividers | hide-print svelte-a1hk41"><div class="page-section svelte-xc9et8"><!--[0--><!----><h2 class="page-section__heading svelte-xc9et8"><!--[0--><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/military" class="page-section__heading-link svelte-xc9et8">More in Military</a> <span class="page-section__heading-caret svelte-xc9et8" aria-hidden="true"><svg role="img" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" fill="none" height="16" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="16"><title>Caret</title><path clip-rule="evenodd" d="m9.5858 8.00008-5.29289-5.2929 1.41421-1.41421 6.70708 6.70711-6.70708 6.70712-1.41421-1.4142z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg><!----></span><!--]--><!----></h2><!----><!--]--> <!--[-1--><!--]--> <div class="page-section__container page-section__container--full-always svelte-xc9et8 page-section__container--scroll-snap page-section__container--row"><!---->
<div class="wp-block-group story-card story-card--stacked is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"><figure style="aspect-ratio:3/2;" class="story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-hegseth-dod-nato-civilian-harm-reduction-absent" target="_self" ><img width="422" height="281" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?w=422" class="attachment-propublica-more-in-topic size-propublica-more-in-topic wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"><h3 class="story-card__hed wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-hegseth-dod-nato-civilian-harm-reduction-absent" target="_self" >Empty Seat: U.S. Absent as Western Powers Meet on Wartime Protections for Civilians</a></h3></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card story-card--stacked is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"><figure style="aspect-ratio:3/2;" class="story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/army-artillery-factory-fiasco-takeaways" target="_self" ><img width="422" height="282" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?w=422" class="attachment-propublica-more-in-topic size-propublica-more-in-topic wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=768,513 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=1024,684 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=1536,1026 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=2048,1367 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=863,576 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=422,282 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=552,369 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=558,373 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=527,352 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=752,502 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=1149,767 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=1112,742 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=2000,1335 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=800,534 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=1200,801 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WEB_Army_N-Mejia_260826.jpg?resize=1600,1068 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"><h3 class="story-card__hed wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/army-artillery-factory-fiasco-takeaways" target="_self" >The Costly Blunders in the Army’s $533 Million Fiasco</a></h3></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card story-card--stacked is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"><figure style="aspect-ratio:3/2;" class="story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/hegseth-civilian-harm-mitigation-response-trump-defense-department" target="_self" ><img width="422" height="281" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?w=422" class="attachment-propublica-more-in-topic size-propublica-more-in-topic wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26017061361736.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"><h3 class="story-card__hed wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/hegseth-civilian-harm-mitigation-response-trump-defense-department" target="_self" >Top Commanders Told Hegseth Not to Cut Civilian Protection Program, Poll Showed. He Did It Anyway.</a></h3></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card story-card--stacked is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"><figure style="aspect-ratio:3/2;" class="story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/military-defense-spending-budget-series" target="_self" ><img width="422" height="281" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?w=422" class="attachment-propublica-more-in-topic size-propublica-more-in-topic wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-series-intro-3x2_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"><h3 class="story-card__hed wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/military-defense-spending-budget-series" target="_self" >The $1 Trillion Black Box</a></h3></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card story-card--stacked is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"><figure style="aspect-ratio:3/2;" class="story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/getinvolved/share-military-defense-spending-tips" target="_self" ><img width="422" height="281" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?w=422" class="attachment-propublica-more-in-topic size-propublica-more-in-topic wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260727-Gordon-DoD-callout-lead_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"><h3 class="story-card__hed wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/getinvolved/share-military-defense-spending-tips" target="_self" >Do You Know About U.S. Military Spending? Help ProPublica Understand Where the Money Goes.</a></h3></div>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card story-card--stacked is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"><figure style="aspect-ratio:3/2;" class="story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/general-dynamics-artillery-factory-failed" target="_self" ><img width="422" height="281" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?w=422" class="attachment-propublica-more-in-topic size-propublica-more-in-topic wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dod-Artillery-Final.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"><h3 class="story-card__hed wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/general-dynamics-artillery-factory-failed" target="_self" >Fiasco in the Factory: Taxpayers Funded a $533 Million Artillery Plant That Made Nothing</a></h3></div>
</div>
<!----><!----></div></div><!----></div><!--]--></div></section>
<section class="wp-block-group page-recirc__most-read is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"> <div class="wp-block-propublica-module--our-hottest-stories wp-block-propublica-module">
<div class="wp-block-group wp-block-propublica-module__content is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-63c9a062 wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most Read</h2>
<div class="wp-block-wp-curate-query"><ul class="wp-block-post-template--most-read wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow"><li class="wp-block-post post-96711 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry pp_topic-criminal-justice pp_language-en pp_display_on-national">
<div class="wp-block-wp-curate-post">
<div class="wp-block-group story-card is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<figure style="aspect-ratio:3/2;" class="story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-911-saudi-bayoumi-investigation" target="_self" ><img width="752" height="494" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?w=752" class="attachment-propublica-position-medium size-propublica-position-medium wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=300,197 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=768,504 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=1024,672 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=1536,1008 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=2048,1344 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=863,566 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=422,277 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=552,362 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=558,366 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=527,346 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=752,494 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=1149,754 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=556,365 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=1112,730 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=2000,1313 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=400,263 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=800,525 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=1200,788 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-150092224.jpg?resize=1600,1050 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<h3 class="story-card__hed wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-911-saudi-bayoumi-investigation" target="_self" >25 Years After 9/11, Questions About the FBI’s Pursuit of Saudi Suspects in the Case Have Only Grown</a></h3>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li><li class="wp-block-post post-72115 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry pp_topic-sports pp_language-en pp_display_on-national pp_series-the-dominican-baseball-factory">
<div class="wp-block-wp-curate-post">
<div class="wp-block-group story-card is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<figure style="aspect-ratio:3/2;" class="story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/how-dominican-republic-baseball-factory-traps-players-mlb-santo-caraballo" target="_self" ><img width="752" height="940" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?w=752" class="attachment-propublica-position-medium size-propublica-position-medium wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg 2400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=240,300 240w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=768,960 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=819,1024 819w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=1229,1536 1229w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=1638,2048 1638w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=863,1079 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=422,528 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=552,690 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=558,698 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=527,659 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=752,940 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=1149,1436 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=556,695 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=1112,1390 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=1280,1600 1280w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=400,500 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=800,1000 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=1200,1500 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=1600,2000 1600w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2027/04/DR-Baseball-Lead-2.jpg?resize=2000,2500 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<h3 class="story-card__hed wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/how-dominican-republic-baseball-factory-traps-players-mlb-santo-caraballo" target="_self" >The Dominican Baseball Factory</a></h3>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li><li class="wp-block-post post-89761 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry pp_topic-abortion pp_topic-health-care pp_language-en pp_display_on-national pp_series-life-of-the-mother">
<div class="wp-block-wp-curate-post">
<div class="wp-block-group story-card is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<figure style="aspect-ratio:3/2;" class="story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/ectopic-pregnancy-deaths-doubled-analysis" target="_self" ><img width="752" height="501" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?w=752" class="attachment-propublica-position-medium size-propublica-position-medium wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260908-ectopic-3x2-1.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<h3 class="story-card__hed wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/ectopic-pregnancy-deaths-doubled-analysis" target="_self" >Ectopic Pregnancy Deaths Have Nearly Doubled. It’s Worse in States With Abortion Bans.</a></h3>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li><li class="wp-block-post post-97267 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry pp_topic-democracy pp_language-en pp_display_on-national">
<div class="wp-block-wp-curate-post">
<div class="wp-block-group story-card is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<figure style="aspect-ratio:3/2;" class="story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/postal-service-audit-primary-election-ballots" target="_self" ><img width="752" height="501" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?w=752" class="attachment-propublica-position-medium size-propublica-position-medium wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-1280041238_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<h3 class="story-card__hed wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/postal-service-audit-primary-election-ballots" target="_self" >U.S. Postal Service Failed to Properly Handle Some Ballots During This Year’s Primary Elections, Audit Finds</a></h3>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li><li class="wp-block-post post-92652 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry pp_topic-education pp_language-en pp_location-florida pp_location-georgia pp_display_on-national pp_series-private-schools-public-money">
<div class="wp-block-wp-curate-post">
<div class="wp-block-group story-card is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<figure style="aspect-ratio:3/2;" class="story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/school-vouchers-disabilities" target="_self" ><img width="752" height="501" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?w=752" class="attachment-propublica-position-medium size-propublica-position-medium wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260730-Sanchez-Vouchers-119_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<h3 class="story-card__hed wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/school-vouchers-disabilities" target="_self" >Vouchers Promise Students With Disabilities a Path to Private School. Parents Say That’s Not the Reality.</a></h3>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li><li class="wp-block-post post-89453 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry pp_topic-criminal-justice pp_topic-sports pp_language-en pp_display_on-national pp_series-the-dominican-baseball-factory">
<div class="wp-block-wp-curate-post">
<div class="wp-block-group story-card is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<figure style="aspect-ratio:3/2;" class="story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/oneil-cruz-pittsburgh-pirates-santo-caraballo-car-crash-payments-dominican-republic" target="_self" ><img width="752" height="564" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?w=752" class="attachment-propublica-position-medium size-propublica-position-medium wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=863,647 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=422,317 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=552,414 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=558,419 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=527,395 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=752,564 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1149,862 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=556,417 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1112,834 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=800,600 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1200,900 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRTrip2_0761_maxHeight_3000_maxWidth_3000.jpg?resize=1600,1200 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<h3 class="story-card__hed wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/oneil-cruz-pittsburgh-pirates-santo-caraballo-car-crash-payments-dominican-republic" target="_self" >The Rising Baseball Star, a Fatal Car Crash and the Fixer</a></h3>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li><li class="wp-block-post post-96845 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry pp_topic-environment pp_topic-pollution pp_language-en pp_display_on-national">
<div class="wp-block-wp-curate-post">
<div class="wp-block-group story-card is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<figure style="aspect-ratio:3/2;" class="story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/methane-gas-epa-proposal-stripper-wells" target="_self" ><img width="752" height="501" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?w=752" class="attachment-propublica-position-medium size-propublica-position-medium wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMG_9755.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<h3 class="story-card__hed wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/methane-gas-epa-proposal-stripper-wells" target="_self" >EPA to Loosen Methane Rules, Boosting Pollution From Oil and Gas Wells</a></h3>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li><li class="wp-block-post post-96808 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry pp_topic-military pp_language-en pp_display_on-national">
<div class="wp-block-wp-curate-post">
<div class="wp-block-group story-card is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<figure style="aspect-ratio:3/2;" class="story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-hegseth-dod-nato-civilian-harm-reduction-absent" target="_self" ><img width="752" height="501" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?w=752" class="attachment-propublica-position-medium size-propublica-position-medium wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-2275283168.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<h3 class="story-card__hed wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-hegseth-dod-nato-civilian-harm-reduction-absent" target="_self" >Empty Seat: U.S. Absent as Western Powers Meet on Wartime Protections for Civilians</a></h3>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li><li class="wp-block-post post-92340 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry pp_topic-environment pp_topic-regulation pp_language-en pp_location-north-carolina pp_organization-the-assembly pp_display_on-local-reporting-network pp_display_on-national">
<div class="wp-block-wp-curate-post">
<div class="wp-block-group story-card is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<figure style="aspect-ratio:3/2;" class="story-card__art wp-block-post-featured-image"><a aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/western-north-carolina-helene-mobile-home-fema-recovery" target="_self" ><img width="752" height="501" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?w=752" class="attachment-propublica-position-medium size-propublica-position-medium wp-post-image" alt="" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg 3000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=863,575 863w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=422,281 422w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=552,368 552w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=558,372 558w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=527,351 527w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=752,501 752w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1149,766 1149w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=459,306 459w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=556,371 556w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1112,741 1112w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=800,533 800w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260626-Barber-NC-Helene-12_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1600,1067 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" js-autosizes="true" /></a></figure>
<div class="wp-block-group story-card__description is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow">
<h3 class="story-card__hed wp-block-post-title"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/western-north-carolina-helene-mobile-home-fema-recovery" target="_self" >Hurricane Helene Killed His Wife and Destroyed His Mobile Home. New Tenants Are Now Renting the Same Flood-Prone Land.</a></h3>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li></ul></div>
</div>
</div>
</section>
</div>
</div>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-donate-cta is-layout-flow wp-block-propublica-donate-cta-is-layout-flow">
<p class="wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__headline">
<span>Support </span><span class="wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__highlight">Independent </span><span>Journalism:</span>
</p>
<p class="wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__body">
As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on donations from individuals like you to fuel our work. <strong> Your support today will directly fund investigations that shine a light on urgent issues:</strong>
corporations prioritizing profits over public safety, health insurers denying coverage to patients, unintended consequences of new laws and more. </p>
<div class="wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__buttons">
<a class="wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__btn wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__btn--primary" href="https://give.propublica.org/campaign/748664/donate?c_src=site-footer">
Donate </a>
<a class="wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__btn wp-block-propublica-donate-cta__btn--secondary" href="https://www.propublica.org/support/other-ways-to-give">
More Ways to Give </a>
</div>
</div>
<script type="application/json" class="svelte-config-new">{"componentName":"SiteFooter","props":{"newsletterSignupSource":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/","donateUrl":"https:\/\/give.propublica.org\/campaign\/748664\/donate?c_src=site-footer"}}</script><div style="display: contents"><!--[--><footer class="svelte-1inkrri"><div class="p-grid-container"><!--[0--><div class="site-footer__newsletter-signup-wrapper svelte-1inkrri"><h2 class="svelte-1inkrri">Go behind the scenes of ProPublica’s biggest investigations.</h2> <form class="newsletter-signup svelte-m7l5d3" action="https://signup.propublica.org/newsletter/turing" method="post" name="newsletterSignup"><label for="newsletter-signup-email-2380" class="p-a11y">Email Address:</label> <input class="newsletter-signup__input svelte-m7l5d3" type="email" placeholder="Your email address" id="newsletter-signup-email-2380" name="email" required=""/> <div class="svelte-v4lr3e" style="display: contents; --button-bg-color: var(--p-dyn-color-black); --button-text-color: var(--p-dyn-color-white); --button-border: none; --button-font-size: var(--p-scale-4);"><!--[--><!----><button data-button-root="true" type="submit" tabindex="0" style="width: 100%;"><!---->Get our weekly newsletter<!----><!----></button><!----><!--]--></div><!----> <input type="hidden" name="stlist" value="Weekly Dispatch"/> <input type="hidden" name="success_location" value="https://www.propublica.org/forms/thankyou"/> <input type="hidden" name="error_location" value="https://www.propublica.org/forms/error"/> <input type="hidden" name="placement" value="site-footer"/> <input type="hidden" name="topic" value=""/> <input type="hidden" name="source" value="https://www.propublica.org/"/> <!--[-1--><!--]--></form><!----></div><!--]--> <!--[--><!--$s1--><!--[-1--><div id="bits-s1" data-orientation="vertical" data-accordion-root=""><!--[--><!--[--><!--$s2--><!--[-1--><div id="bits-s2" data-state="closed" data-orientation="vertical" data-accordion-item=""><!--[--><!--$s3--><!--[-1--><div id="bits-s3" role="heading" aria-level="2" data-heading-level="2" data-state="closed" data-orientation="vertical" data-accordion-header=""><!--[--><!--$s4--><!--[-1--><button type="button" id="bits-s4" aria-expanded="false" aria-disabled="false" data-state="closed" data-orientation="vertical" data-accordion-trigger="" tabindex="0"><span class="svelte-1inkrri">Info</span> <svg viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none"><circle cx="10" cy="10" r="9.5" stroke="currentColor"></circle><line x1="10" y1="5" x2="10" y2="15" stroke="currentColor"></line><line x1="5" y1="10" x2="15" y2="10" stroke="currentColor"></line></svg><!----></button><!--]--><!--]--><!----></div><!--]--><!--]--> <!--[--><!--$s5--><!--[0--><!--[-1--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----></div><!--]--><!--]--><!--[--><!--$s6--><!--[-1--><div id="bits-s6" data-state="closed" data-orientation="vertical" data-accordion-item=""><!--[--><!--$s7--><!--[-1--><div id="bits-s7" role="heading" aria-level="2" data-heading-level="2" data-state="closed" data-orientation="vertical" data-accordion-header=""><!--[--><!--$s8--><!--[-1--><button type="button" id="bits-s8" aria-expanded="false" aria-disabled="false" data-state="closed" data-orientation="vertical" data-accordion-trigger="" tabindex="0"><span class="svelte-1inkrri">Coverage</span> <svg viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none"><circle cx="10" cy="10" r="9.5" stroke="currentColor"></circle><line x1="10" y1="5" x2="10" y2="15" stroke="currentColor"></line><line x1="5" y1="10" x2="15" y2="10" stroke="currentColor"></line></svg><!----></button><!--]--><!--]--><!----></div><!--]--><!--]--> <!--[--><!--$s9--><!--[0--><!--[-1--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----></div><!--]--><!--]--><!--[--><!--$s10--><!--[-1--><div id="bits-s10" data-state="closed" data-orientation="vertical" data-accordion-item=""><!--[--><!--$s11--><!--[-1--><div id="bits-s11" role="heading" aria-level="2" data-heading-level="2" data-state="closed" data-orientation="vertical" data-accordion-header=""><!--[--><!--$s12--><!--[-1--><button type="button" id="bits-s12" aria-expanded="false" aria-disabled="false" data-state="closed" data-orientation="vertical" data-accordion-trigger="" tabindex="0"><span class="svelte-1inkrri">Local</span> <svg viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none"><circle cx="10" cy="10" r="9.5" stroke="currentColor"></circle><line x1="10" y1="5" x2="10" y2="15" stroke="currentColor"></line><line x1="5" y1="10" x2="15" y2="10" stroke="currentColor"></line></svg><!----></button><!--]--><!--]--><!----></div><!--]--><!--]--> <!--[--><!--$s13--><!--[0--><!--[-1--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----></div><!--]--><!--]--><!--[--><!--$s14--><!--[-1--><div id="bits-s14" data-state="closed" data-orientation="vertical" data-accordion-item=""><!--[--><!--$s15--><!--[-1--><div id="bits-s15" role="heading" aria-level="2" data-heading-level="2" data-state="closed" data-orientation="vertical" data-accordion-header=""><!--[--><!--$s16--><!--[-1--><button type="button" id="bits-s16" aria-expanded="false" aria-disabled="false" data-state="closed" data-orientation="vertical" data-accordion-trigger="" tabindex="0"><span class="svelte-1inkrri">Contact</span> <svg viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none"><circle cx="10" cy="10" r="9.5" stroke="currentColor"></circle><line x1="10" y1="5" x2="10" y2="15" stroke="currentColor"></line><line x1="5" y1="10" x2="15" y2="10" stroke="currentColor"></line></svg><!----></button><!--]--><!--]--><!----></div><!--]--><!--]--> <!--[--><!--$s17--><!--[0--><!--[-1--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----></div><!--]--><!--]--><!--[--><!--$s18--><!--[-1--><div id="bits-s18" data-state="closed" data-orientation="vertical" data-accordion-item=""><!--[--><!--$s19--><!--[-1--><div id="bits-s19" role="heading" aria-level="2" data-heading-level="2" data-state="closed" data-orientation="vertical" data-accordion-header=""><!--[--><!--$s20--><!--[-1--><button type="button" id="bits-s20" aria-expanded="false" aria-disabled="false" data-state="closed" data-orientation="vertical" data-accordion-trigger="" tabindex="0"><span class="svelte-1inkrri">Support us</span> <svg viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none"><circle cx="10" cy="10" r="9.5" stroke="currentColor"></circle><line x1="10" y1="5" x2="10" y2="15" stroke="currentColor"></line><line x1="5" y1="10" x2="15" y2="10" stroke="currentColor"></line></svg><!----></button><!--]--><!--]--><!----></div><!--]--><!--]--> <!--[--><!--$s21--><!--[0--><!--[-1--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----></div><!--]--><!--]--><!--]--><!----></div><!--]--><!--]--> <div class="site-footer__link-lists-above-lg svelte-1inkrri"><!--[--><section class="svelte-1inkrri"><h2 class="svelte-1inkrri">Info</h2> <ul class="site-footer__link-list svelte-1inkrri"><!--[--><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/about" class="svelte-1inkrri">About</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/impact" class="svelte-1inkrri">Impact</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/leadership" class="svelte-1inkrri">Leadership</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/staff" class="svelte-1inkrri">Staff</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/partners" class="svelte-1inkrri">Partners</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/awards" class="svelte-1inkrri">Awards</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/events" class="svelte-1inkrri">Events</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/jobs" class="svelte-1inkrri">Jobs</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/fellowships" class="svelte-1inkrri">Fellowships</a></li><!--]--><!----></ul></section><section class="svelte-1inkrri"><h2 class="svelte-1inkrri">Coverage</h2> <ul class="site-footer__link-list svelte-1inkrri"><!--[--><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/abortion" class="svelte-1inkrri">Abortion</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/civil-rights" class="svelte-1inkrri">Civil Rights</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/courts" class="svelte-1inkrri">Courts</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/criminal-justice" class="svelte-1inkrri">Criminal Justice</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics/debt" class="svelte-1inkrri">Debt</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/topics" class="svelte-1inkrri">See All</a></li><!--]--><!----></ul></section><section class="svelte-1inkrri"><h2 class="svelte-1inkrri">Local</h2> <ul class="site-footer__link-list svelte-1inkrri"><!--[--><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/midwest" class="svelte-1inkrri">Midwest</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/northwest" class="svelte-1inkrri">Northwest</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/south" class="svelte-1inkrri">South</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/southwest" class="svelte-1inkrri">Southwest</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/texas" class="svelte-1inkrri">Texas</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/local-reporting-network" class="svelte-1inkrri">Local Reporting Network</a></li><!--]--><!----></ul></section><section class="svelte-1inkrri"><h2 class="svelte-1inkrri">Contact</h2> <ul class="site-footer__link-list svelte-1inkrri"><!--[--><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/contact" class="svelte-1inkrri">General Inquiries</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/tips" class="svelte-1inkrri">Send Us a Tip</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/corrections" class="svelte-1inkrri">Corrections</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/freelance-pitches" class="svelte-1inkrri">Freelance Pitches</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/media-center" class="svelte-1inkrri">Media Inquiries</a></li><!--]--><!----></ul></section><section class="svelte-1inkrri"><h2 class="svelte-1inkrri">Support us</h2> <ul class="site-footer__link-list svelte-1inkrri"><!--[--><li><a href="https://give.propublica.org/campaign/748664/donate?c_src=site-footer" class="svelte-1inkrri">Donate</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/support/other-ways-to-give" class="svelte-1inkrri">More Ways To Give</a></li><!--]--><!----></ul></section><!--]--></div> <div class="site-footer__bottom svelte-1inkrri"><a class="wordmark svelte-1inkrri" href="https://www.propublica.org/" aria-label="ProPublica home page"><svg role="img" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 841 144" fill="currentColor"><title>ProPublica</title><path d="M771.055 88.7807L786.575 22.5573L802.302 88.7807H771.055ZM804.993 1.44863H780.781L783.264 12.2099L757.397 122.72L749.533 142.173H768.571L763.191 122.72L769.399 96.2308H804.165L812.856 132.447L811.201 142.173H841L836.24 131.619L804.993 1.44863ZM717.25 143.622C734.426 143.622 744.566 132.033 749.947 117.546L745.601 115.684C741.048 126.859 734.426 134.93 723.045 134.93C707.317 134.93 699.868 113.614 699.868 70.1554C699.868 26.6963 707.11 4.96675 720.768 4.96675C727.184 4.96675 731.529 9.31265 740.014 20.2809L748.498 31.2492H749.326L744.566 1.44863H738.151C731.322 1.44863 726.356 0.206953 720.768 0.206953C693.452 0.206953 675.242 30.2144 675.242 73.8804C675.242 117.546 691.176 143.622 717.25 143.622ZM637.165 11.796V131.826L633.854 142.173H663.86L660.342 131.826V11.796L663.86 1.44863H633.854L637.165 11.796ZM557.287 11.796V131.826L553.976 142.173H619.368L626.197 107.406H625.37L601.572 137.207H580.464V11.796L583.982 1.44863H553.976L557.287 11.796ZM500.378 137.413H489.411V70.7762H499.137C512.588 70.7762 518.589 80.7097 518.589 104.302C518.589 127.894 513.002 137.413 500.378 137.413ZM499.344 6.20846C511.346 6.20846 516.727 15.1072 516.727 36.2159C516.727 57.3246 511.346 66.0164 499.551 66.0164H489.411V6.20846H499.344ZM513.829 67.672V67.2581C529.971 62.7052 540.525 51.3231 540.525 33.7325C540.525 13.8655 526.246 1.44863 502.862 1.44863H462.922L466.233 11.796V131.826L462.922 142.173H501.827C527.694 142.173 543.215 126.445 543.215 103.267C543.215 83.8139 532.247 70.9832 513.829 67.672ZM408.911 143.622C433.123 143.622 445.747 130.377 445.747 106.992V21.1087L452.162 1.44863H433.123L439.952 21.1087V107.199C439.952 124.169 432.502 133.481 417.189 133.481C401.875 133.481 395.46 124.583 395.46 106.992V11.796L398.771 1.44863H368.972L372.283 11.796V108.441C372.283 130.791 384.906 143.622 408.911 143.622ZM317.03 75.9499H306.684V6.20846H316.617C328.826 6.20846 334.413 16.3489 334.413 41.3896C334.413 66.4303 329.033 75.9499 317.03 75.9499ZM320.342 1.44863H280.195L283.506 11.796V131.826L280.195 142.173H310.202L306.684 131.826V80.7097H320.135C344.346 80.7097 359.039 63.3261 359.039 40.3549C359.039 17.3836 345.174 1.44863 320.342 1.44863ZM223.908 138.448C209.836 138.448 203.421 119.409 203.421 71.8109C203.421 24.2129 209.836 5.1737 223.701 5.1737C237.566 5.1737 243.981 24.006 243.981 71.8109C243.981 119.616 237.566 138.448 223.908 138.448ZM223.494 143.622C249.568 143.622 268.607 114.235 268.607 71.1901C268.607 28.1449 249.155 0 223.908 0C198.661 0 178.795 29.3866 178.795 72.4318C178.795 115.477 198.248 143.622 223.494 143.622ZM126.026 70.1554H115.472V6.41538H125.612C137.201 6.41538 142.374 15.5211 142.374 38.4923C142.374 61.4636 137.407 70.1554 126.026 70.1554ZM129.544 1.44863H88.9838L92.2948 11.796V131.826L88.9838 142.173H118.99L115.472 131.826V75.1221H122.301L151.479 142.173H176.519V141.759L145.685 72.0179C159.343 66.4303 167 53.5995 167 37.4576C167 15.935 153.342 1.44863 129.544 1.44863ZM36.8351 75.9499H26.4882V6.20846H36.4213C48.6307 6.20846 54.218 16.3489 54.218 41.3896C54.218 66.4303 48.8376 75.9499 36.8351 75.9499ZM40.1462 1.44863H0L3.31102 11.796V131.826L0 142.173H30.0062L26.4882 131.826V80.7097H39.9392C64.1511 80.7097 78.8437 63.3261 78.8437 40.3549C78.8437 17.3836 64.9788 1.44863 40.1462 1.44863Z"></path></svg><!----></a> <p class="svelte-1inkrri">Investigative Journalism in the Public Interest</p> <ul class="svelte-1inkrri"><!--[--><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/code-of-ethics" class="svelte-1inkrri">Code of Ethics</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/steal-our-stories" class="svelte-1inkrri">Republishing</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/legal" class="svelte-1inkrri">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/advertising" class="svelte-1inkrri">Advertising Policy</a></li><li><a href="https://www.propublica.org/gift-acceptance-practices" class="svelte-1inkrri">Gift Acceptance</a></li><!--]--><!----></ul></div></div></footer><!--]--></div>
</div>
<script type="speculationrules">
{"prefetch":[{"source":"document","where":{"and":[{"href_matches":"/*"},{"not":{"href_matches":["/wp-*.php","/wp-admin/*","/wp-content/uploads/*","/wp-content/*","/wp-content/plugins/*","/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/*","/*\\?(.+)"]}},{"not":{"selector_matches":"a[rel~=\"nofollow\"]"}},{"not":{"selector_matches":".no-prefetch, .no-prefetch a"}}]},"eagerness":"conservative"}]}
</script>
<script type="application/json" class="svelte-config-new">{"componentName":"BottomPanelCta","props":{"contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/api_components\/modal-default.json"}}</script><div style="display: contents"><!--[--><div id="bottom-panel-cta" class="bottom-panel-cta svelte-1dz4e5r" data-pp-location="modal" data-pp-view="" data-pp-category="newsletter_signup"><button class="bottom-panel-cta__close svelte-1dz4e5r" aria-label="Close"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" aria-hidden="true" class="svelte-1dz4e5r"><line x1="18" y1="6" x2="6" y2="18"></line><line x1="6" y1="6" x2="18" y2="18"></line></svg></button> <div class="bottom-panel-cta__container bottom-panel-cta__container--newsletter p-grid-container svelte-1dz4e5r"><div class="bottom-panel-cta__message svelte-1dz4e5r"><h2 class="bottom-panel-cta__heading svelte-1dz4e5r">Journalism That Holds Power to Account</h2> <p class="bottom-panel-cta__deck svelte-1dz4e5r">Sign up for ProPublica's Big Story newsletter and get our latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.</p></div> <!--[0--><form id="bottom-panel-cta-form" class="bottom-panel-cta__form svelte-1dz4e5r" method="post" action="https://signup.propublica.org/newsletter/turing" data-pp-action="subscribe"><label for="bottom-panel-cta-email" class="p-a11y">Please enter your email address:</label> <input type="email" name="email" id="bottom-panel-cta-email" class="bottom-panel-cta__email svelte-1dz4e5r" placeholder="you@example.com" required=""/> <input type="hidden" name="stlist" value="The Big Story"/> <input type="hidden" name="placement" value="modal"/> <input type="hidden" name="success_location" value="https://www.propublica.org/forms/thankyou"/> <input type="hidden" name="error_location" value="https://www.propublica.org/forms/error"/> <input type="hidden" name="source" value="https://www.propublica.org/"/> <input type="hidden" name="ajax" value="true"/> <div class="svelte-v4lr3e" style="display: contents; --button-bg-color: var(--p-dyn-color-black); --button-text-color: var(--p-dyn-color-white); --button-border: none; --button-font-size: var(--p-scale-4);"><!--[--><!----><button data-button-root="true" type="submit" tabindex="0" id="bottom-panel-cta-form-button"><span class="bottom-panel-cta__btn-long svelte-1dz4e5r">Get the Newsletter</span> <span class="bottom-panel-cta__btn-short svelte-1dz4e5r">Subscribe</span><!----><!----></button><!----><!--]--></div><!----></form><!--]--></div></div> <div id="bottom-panel-cta-toast" class="bottom-panel-cta__toast svelte-1dz4e5r" role="alert" style="background-color: var(--p-dyn-color-blue-03);"><div class="bottom-panel-cta__toast-text svelte-1dz4e5r"></div> <button class="bottom-panel-cta__toast-close svelte-1dz4e5r" aria-label="Close"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" aria-hidden="true" class="svelte-1dz4e5r"><line x1="18" y1="6" x2="6" y2="18"></line><line x1="6" y1="6" x2="18" y2="18"></line></svg></button></div><!--]--></div><script type="application/json" class="svelte-config-new">{"componentName":"GridOverlay","props":{"isVisible":false}}</script><div style="display: contents"><!--[--><div class="grid-overlay svelte-1nbqece grid-overlay--hide"><div class="grid-overlay__content p-grid-container svelte-1nbqece"><div class="grid-overlay__col svelte-1nbqece"></div> <div class="grid-overlay__col svelte-1nbqece"></div> <div class="grid-overlay__col svelte-1nbqece"></div> <div class="grid-overlay__col svelte-1nbqece"></div> <div class="grid-overlay__col p-hide-below-sm svelte-1nbqece"></div> <div class="grid-overlay__col p-hide-below-sm svelte-1nbqece"></div> <div class="grid-overlay__col p-hide-below-md svelte-1nbqece"></div> <div class="grid-overlay__col p-hide-below-md svelte-1nbqece"></div> <div class="grid-overlay__col p-hide-below-lg svelte-1nbqece"></div> <div class="grid-overlay__col p-hide-below-lg svelte-1nbqece"></div> <div class="grid-overlay__col p-hide-below-lg svelte-1nbqece"></div> <div class="grid-overlay__col p-hide-below-lg svelte-1nbqece"></div> <div class="grid-overlay__col p-hide-below-xl svelte-1nbqece"></div> <div class="grid-overlay__col p-hide-below-xl svelte-1nbqece"></div></div></div><!--]--></div><script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/vendor/react.min.js?ver=18.3.1.1" id="react-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/vendor/react-jsx-runtime.min.js?m=1787604897g" ></script><script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/vendor/react-dom.min.js?ver=18.3.1.1" id="react-dom-js"></script>
<script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/a11y.min.js?ver=cb460b4676c94bd228ed" id="wp-a11y-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/url.min.js?m=1787604897g" ></script><script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/api-fetch.min.js?ver=3a4d9af2b423048b0dee" id="wp-api-fetch-js"></script>
<script id="wp-api-fetch-js-after">
wp.apiFetch.use( wp.apiFetch.createRootURLMiddleware( "https://www.propublica.org/wp-json/" ) );
wp.apiFetch.nonceMiddleware = wp.apiFetch.createNonceMiddleware( "35fd75d255" );
wp.apiFetch.use( wp.apiFetch.nonceMiddleware );
wp.apiFetch.use( wp.apiFetch.mediaUploadMiddleware );
wp.apiFetch.nonceEndpoint = "https://www.propublica.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=rest-nonce";
//# sourceURL=wp-api-fetch-js-after
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.propublica.org/_static/??-eJx9zEsOwjAMRdEN4QYk1JYBYi1uYlQH50PtqFJXDxOGZHzPe26vwNlLC6Quqgus5hYpy5A4D1FP7g/wL1DaGIUPNC4ZAj2xiUHF7Ru6c2xWalcEqht5NAp9VlK3k3qsBKsl6TuhRNm6hhV0RZGyA70b/g4f6X6Z5mk8X+fbGD+I1npo" ></script><script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/keycodes.min.js?ver=34c8fb5e7a594a1c8037" id="wp-keycodes-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.propublica.org/_static/??-eJx9zEsOQDAQANALqSERZSHOIjqLafSj0/G5PRs76f7lwRkV+XUTgwyWwRBniIlConyrXVCwduRryxX80TW4GLhs3u5YMqolEhdhQiOXSkEy+a+c3dTqQfdNN4y9fQB5aT++" ></script><script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/data.min.js?ver=f940198280891b0b6318" id="wp-data-js"></script>
<script id="wp-data-js-after">
( function() {
var userId = 0;
var storageKey = "WP_DATA_USER_" + userId;
wp.data
.use( wp.data.plugins.persistence, { storageKey: storageKey } );
} )();
//# sourceURL=wp-data-js-after
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/html-entities.min.js?m=1787604896g" ></script><script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/rich-text.min.js?ver=5bdbb44f3039529e3645" id="wp-rich-text-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.propublica.org/_static/??/wp-includes/js/dist/shortcode.min.js,/wp-includes/js/dist/warning.min.js?m=1787604897j" ></script><script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/blocks.min.js?ver=57eca4d23daac7159d88" id="wp-blocks-js"></script>
<script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/vendor/moment.min.js?ver=2.30.1" id="moment-js"></script>
<script id="moment-js-after">
moment.updateLocale( 'en_US', {"months":["January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"monthsShort":["Jan","Feb","Mar","Apr","May","Jun","Jul","Aug","Sep","Oct","Nov","Dec"],"weekdays":["Sunday","Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday"],"weekdaysShort":["Sun","Mon","Tue","Wed","Thu","Fri","Sat"],"week":{"dow":1},"longDateFormat":{"LT":"g:i a","LTS":null,"L":null,"LL":"F j, Y","LLL":"F j, Y g:i a","LLLL":null}} );
//# sourceURL=moment-js-after
</script>
<script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/date.min.js?ver=795a56839718d3ff7eae" id="wp-date-js"></script>
<script id="wp-date-js-after">
wp.date.setSettings( {"l10n":{"locale":"en_US","months":["January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"monthsShort":["Jan","Feb","Mar","Apr","May","Jun","Jul","Aug","Sep","Oct","Nov","Dec"],"weekdays":["Sunday","Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday"],"weekdaysShort":["Sun","Mon","Tue","Wed","Thu","Fri","Sat"],"meridiem":{"am":"am","pm":"pm","AM":"AM","PM":"PM"},"relative":{"future":"%s from now","past":"%s ago","s":"a second","ss":"%d seconds","m":"a minute","mm":"%d minutes","h":"an hour","hh":"%d hours","d":"a day","dd":"%d days","M":"a month","MM":"%d months","y":"a year","yy":"%d years"},"startOfWeek":1},"formats":{"time":"g:i a","date":"F j, Y","datetime":"F j, Y g:i a","datetimeAbbreviated":"M j, Y g:i a"},"timezone":{"offset":-4,"offsetFormatted":"-4","string":"America/New_York","abbr":"EDT"}} );
//# sourceURL=wp-date-js-after
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/primitives.min.js?m=1787604896g" ></script><script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/components.min.js?ver=0d72a218dfea8f6f442f" id="wp-components-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/keyboard-shortcuts.min.js?m=1787604896g" ></script><script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/commands.min.js?ver=cac8f4817ab7cea0ac49" id="wp-commands-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.propublica.org/_static/??/wp-includes/js/dist/notices.min.js,/wp-includes/js/dist/preferences-persistence.min.js?m=1787604896j" ></script><script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/preferences.min.js?ver=2ca086aed510c242a1ed" id="wp-preferences-js"></script>
<script id="wp-preferences-js-after">
( function() {
var serverData = false;
var userId = "0";
var persistenceLayer = wp.preferencesPersistence.__unstableCreatePersistenceLayer( serverData, userId );
var preferencesStore = wp.preferences.store;
wp.data.dispatch( preferencesStore ).setPersistenceLayer( persistenceLayer );
} ) ();
//# sourceURL=wp-preferences-js-after
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.propublica.org/_static/??/wp-includes/js/dist/style-engine.min.js,/wp-includes/js/dist/token-list.min.js?m=1787604897j" ></script><script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/block-editor.min.js?ver=addf558a422e2ee57920" id="wp-block-editor-js"></script>
<script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/platform-visibility-controls/index.js?ver=c42c8d9b4e2cfc7d3385" id="propublica-platform-visibility-controls-js-js"></script>
<script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/build/svelte-assets/index.js?ver=36af742e01b764ded6ff" id="propublica-svelte-assets-js-js"></script>
<script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/core-data.min.js?ver=15baadfe6e1374188072" id="wp-core-data-js"></script>
<script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/media-utils.min.js?ver=c66754bed5498afe7050" id="wp-media-utils-js"></script>
<script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/patterns.min.js?ver=4131f04a041db58120d8" id="wp-patterns-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/plugins.min.js?m=1787604896g" ></script><script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/server-side-render.min.js?ver=7db2472793a2abb97aa5" id="wp-server-side-render-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.propublica.org/_static/??/wp-includes/js/dist/viewport.min.js,/wp-includes/js/dist/wordcount.min.js?m=1787604897j" ></script><script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/dist/editor.min.js?ver=e94186146898a6d39837" id="wp-editor-js"></script>
<script id="wp-editor-js-after">
Object.assign( window.wp.editor, window.wp.oldEditor );
//# sourceURL=wp-editor-js-after
</script>
<script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/archiveless/build/sidebar/index.js?ver=7e6e73f42c662d3540a6" id="archiveless-sidebar-js-js"></script>
<script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/themes/propublica-2026/build/global/index.js?ver=90ea8157d5d941107777" id="propublica-2026-global-js-js"></script>
<script id="wp-block-template-skip-link-js-after">
( function() {
var skipLinkTarget = document.querySelector( 'main' ),
sibling,
skipLinkTargetID,
skipLink;
// Early exit if a skip-link target can't be located.
if ( ! skipLinkTarget ) {
return;
}
/*
* Get the site wrapper.
* The skip-link will be injected in the beginning of it.
*/
sibling = document.querySelector( '.wp-site-blocks' );
// Early exit if the root element was not found.
if ( ! sibling ) {
return;
}
// Get the skip-link target's ID, and generate one if it doesn't exist.
skipLinkTargetID = skipLinkTarget.id;
if ( ! skipLinkTargetID ) {
skipLinkTargetID = 'wp--skip-link--target';
skipLinkTarget.id = skipLinkTargetID;
}
// Create the skip link.
skipLink = document.createElement( 'a' );
skipLink.classList.add( 'skip-link', 'screen-reader-text' );
skipLink.id = 'wp-skip-link';
skipLink.href = '#' + skipLinkTargetID;
skipLink.innerText = 'Skip to content';
// Inject the skip link.
sibling.parentElement.insertBefore( skipLink, sibling );
}() );
//# sourceURL=wp-block-template-skip-link-js-after
</script>
<script src="https://assets.propublica.org/static/prod/v5/js/deploy/utils.js?ver=1.0" id="propublica-deploy-utils-js" async data-wp-strategy="async"></script>
<script src="https://assets.propublica.org/static/prod/v5/js/deploy/user-funnel.js?ver=1.0" id="propublica-deploy-user-funnel-js" async data-wp-strategy="async"></script>
<script id="wp-parsely-loader-js-before">
window.wpParselySiteId = 'propublica.org';
//# sourceURL=wp-parsely-loader-js-before
</script>
<script src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/mu-plugins/wp-parsely-3.16/build/loader.js?ver=71d37502d12f3838b80d" id="wp-parsely-loader-js"></script>
<script data-parsely-site="propublica.org" src="https://cdn.parsely.com/keys/propublica.org/p.js?ver=3.16.4" id="parsely-cfg"></script>
<script src="https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?onload=grecaptchaLoaded&amp;render=6LcC1roqAAAAAK9equRCqsCagWPYzf79SKrxGFGY&amp;ver=1.0" id="recaptcha-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.propublica.org/wp-content/plugins/propublica/src/js/recaptcha-init.js?m=1767073494g" ></script><script id="jetpack-stats-js-before">
_stq = window._stq || [];
_stq.push([ "view", {"v":"ext","blog":"243258115","post":"1545","tz":"-4","srv":"www.propublica.org","hp":"vip","j":"1:16.1.3"} ]);
_stq.push([ "clickTrackerInit", "243258115", "1545" ]);
//# sourceURL=jetpack-stats-js-before
</script>
<script src="https://stats.wp.com/e-202637.js" id="jetpack-stats-js" defer data-wp-strategy="defer" fetchpriority="low"></script>
<script id="wp-emoji-settings" type="application/json">
{"baseUrl":"https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/72x72/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/svg/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=6.9.7"}}
</script>
<script type="module">
/*! This file is auto-generated */
var e="script#wp-emoji-settings",t=document.querySelector(e);if(!(t instanceof HTMLScriptElement))throw new Error("Element missing: "+e);const r=JSON.parse(t.text),s=(window._wpemojiSettings=r,"wpEmojiSettingsSupports"),o=["flag","emoji"];function i(e){try{var t={supportTests:e,timestamp:(new Date).valueOf()};sessionStorage.setItem(s,JSON.stringify(t))}catch(e){}}function c(e,t,n){e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(t,0,0);t=new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data);e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(n,0,0);const r=new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data);return t.every((e,t)=>e===r[t])}function p(e,t){e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(t,0,0);var n=e.getImageData(16,16,1,1);for(let e=0;e<n.data.length;e++)if(0!==n.data[e])return!1;return!0}function u(e,t,n,r){switch(t){case"flag":return n(e,"\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f","\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200b\u26a7\ufe0f")?!1:!n(e,"\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddf6","\ud83c\udde8\u200b\ud83c\uddf6")&&!n(e,"\ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f","\ud83c\udff4\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc62\u200b\udb40\udc65\u200b\udb40\udc6e\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc7f");case"emoji":return!r(e,"\ud83e\u1fac8")}return!1}function f(e,t,n,r){let a;const s=(a="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope?new OffscreenCanvas(300,150):document.createElement("canvas")).getContext("2d",{willReadFrequently:!0}),o=(s.textBaseline="top",s.font="600 32px Arial",{});return e.forEach(e=>{o[e]=t(s,e,n,r)}),o}function a(e){var t=document.createElement("script");t.src=e,t.defer=!0,document.head.appendChild(t)}r.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},new Promise(t=>{let n=function(){try{var e=JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem(s));if("object"==typeof e&&"number"==typeof e.timestamp&&(new Date).valueOf()<e.timestamp+604800&&"object"==typeof e.supportTests)return e.supportTests}catch(e){}return null}();if(!n){if("undefined"!=typeof Worker&&"undefined"!=typeof OffscreenCanvas&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&URL.createObjectURL&&"undefined"!=typeof Blob)try{var e="postMessage("+f.toString()+"("+[JSON.stringify(o),u.toString(),c.toString(),p.toString()].join(",")+"));",r=new Blob([e],{type:"text/javascript"});const a=new Worker(URL.createObjectURL(r),{name:"wpTestEmojiSupports"});return void(a.onmessage=e=>{i(n=e.data),a.terminate(),t(n)})}catch(e){}i(n=f(o,u,c,p))}t(n)}).then(e=>{for(const n in e)r.supports[n]=e[n],r.supports.everything=r.supports.everything&&r.supports[n],"flag"!==n&&(r.supports.everythingExceptFlag=r.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&r.supports[n]);var t;r.supports.everythingExceptFlag=r.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!r.supports.flag,r.supports.everything||((t=r.source||{}).concatemoji?a(t.concatemoji):t.wpemoji&&t.twemoji&&(a(t.twemoji),a(t.wpemoji)))});
//# sourceURL=https://www.propublica.org/wp-includes/js/wp-emoji-loader.min.js
</script>
</body>
</html>