CiVL News: Apr 3, 2026, 1:05 PM PDT -- Military Budget Surge, Maine Data Moratorium, and Church Committee Redux

Here's your latest episode from the Reason Magazine CiVL News Roundup produced by CiVL.com. This episode covers President Trump's ambitious military budget request, his controversial solution for the Strait of Hormuz oil crisis, and Maine's pioneering legislation to regulate data center construction. It also delves into the abrupt departure of Attorney General Pam Bondi. • President Trump requested a 43% increase in the Pentagon's budget to nearly $1.5 trillion. • This proposed military spending hike would be the largest year-over-year increase since the Korean War. • Ben Freeman of the Quincy Institute called the military budget proposal an "enormous waste of taxpayer dollars." • Trump suggested countries buy American oil or "just take it" to address the Strait of Hormuz closure. • The US is a net oil exporter but lacks the capacity to replace all oil lost from the Strait of Hormuz. • Maine's House passed HB 307, banning new data center construction over 20 megawatts until 2027. • The bill also establishes the Maine Data Center Coordination Council to oversee future development. • State Representative Melanie Sachs cited power grid and environmental impacts as reasons for the ban. • President Trump ousted Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is reportedly moving to the private sector. • Todd Blanche, Bondi's deputy, will serve as acting Attorney General. • Trump's Truth Social post from last September urged Bondi to prosecute his political enemies more quickly. Join CiVL and be part of building the future you want to live in. Be an early adopter. We're just getting started. Human respect, a core tenet of CiVL's vision, recognizes that the path to a flourishing civilization does not lie in more efficient forms of coercion, but in the widespread adoption of human respect as a primary value. By moving away from the "Conflict Machine" and toward a culture of voluntary cooperation, we align ourselves with the natural requirements for human well-being. We built CiVL News out of our passion for free and open access to information. Follow the topics you care about, and don't be subjected to algos! You're invited to build a hub with us for ideas that upgrade civilizations.