Administration officials recently called on executive departments and agencies to invest in various research and development endeavors that would help preserve national security and promote economic competitiveness. 

Federal agencies should invest in technologies relevant to automation, advanced computing, next-generation manufacturing, spaceflight, clean and affordable energy, medicine and agriculture, Mike Mulvaney, Office of Management and Budget director, and Michael Kratsios, deputy assistant to the president at the Office of Science and Technology Policy, said in a memo released Monday.

The memo details the R&D priorities of the Trump administration and serves as a guide for agencies when they develop budget proposals for fiscal year 2020.

It also describes practices that government agencies could promote to maximize R&D resources and personnel.

These priority practices include an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education; the maintenance and innovative management of R&D assets and infrastructure; and the promotion of public-private collaborations.

Such practices, paired with federally funded R&D investments, would “strengthen the nation’s innovation base and position the United States for unparalleled job growth, continued prosperity, and national security.”

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., has introduced an amendment to increase funds for a spending package that would allot $6 million for unmanned aircraft system research.

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The amendment would boost the minibus II‘s UAS research funds under the fiscal 2019 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development section of the bill from $3 million to $6 million, Warner’s office said Tuesday.

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The minibus II is intended to support research efforts that would help the government safely integrate UAS into U.S. national airspace.

“This amendment will ensure we continue supporting advancements in the safe and responsible integration of unmanned systems in our airspace,” said Warner, a two-time Wash100 awardee.

Sens. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., serve as the base bill’s sponsors.

Several U.S. intelligence agencies have obtained satellite images that suggest North Korea is developing new liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles that could reach the U.S., the Washington Post reported Monday.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency collected evidence of recent activity on a Hwasong-15 ICBM at a research facility in Sanumdong, North Korea.

Planet Labs also presented commercial satellite images of supply trucks and other vehicles going in and out of the missile facility, as well as photos of possible activity at a uranium-enrichment plant known as Kangson.

U.S. officials and private analysts believe the possible ICBM developments suggest that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has not completely agreed to shutting down the nuclear program, despite President Trump announcing last week that the Asian nation started dismantling facilities at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during a Senate hearing last week that the federal government continues to coordinate with North Korea on disarmament efforts and that the process of denuclearization will take time.