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Pentagon says US naval blockade has cost Iran $4.8 billion 

2 May 2026 at 02:09
The Defense Department has estimated that the U.S. naval blockade has cost Iran about $4.8 billion in oil revenue, a Pentagon official familiar with the assessment told The Hill late Friday.  The blockade, which was instituted more than two weeks ago, is one of the actions President Trump has used to inflict pressure on Iran...

Trump orders withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany amid feud with Merz

1 May 2026 at 21:52
President Trump ordered the Pentagon on Friday to withdraw about 5,000 U.S. service members from Germany amid his public feud with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.  The redeployment of troops will bring the number of service members roughly to pre-2022 levels and will affect a brigade combat team and potentially other U.S. forces already in Germany,...

  • ✇TheHill - Just In
  • Hegseth complicates Iran war 60-day clock  Filip Timotija
    Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Hegseth complicates Iran war 60-day clock Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argued on Thursday that the 60-day clock for the war with Iran stopped when President Trump announced a ceasefire with Tehran. © AP The president notified...
     

Hegseth complicates Iran war 60-day clock 

30 April 2026 at 23:20
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Hegseth complicates Iran war 60-day clock Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argued on Thursday that the 60-day clock for the war with Iran stopped when President Trump announced a ceasefire with Tehran. © AP The president notified...

  • ✇TheHill - Just In
  • Trump considers reduction of US troops in Germany Filip Timotija
    Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Trump considers reduction of US troops in Germany President Trump said on Wednesday that he is reviewing a possible reduction of U.S. troops in Germany, with the determination to be made over the “next short period...
     

Trump considers reduction of US troops in Germany

29 April 2026 at 23:05
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Trump considers reduction of US troops in Germany President Trump said on Wednesday that he is reviewing a possible reduction of U.S. troops in Germany, with the determination to be made over the “next short period...

Six takeaways from Hegseth’s first hearing since Iran war started

29 April 2026 at 22:16
House Democrats came out firing during Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s first hearing since the Iran war started, peppering the Pentagon chief with questions on his characterization of the conflict and recent high-profile firings of top military officials. Their Republican counterparts were notably conflict-averse, apart from a couple of supportive comments toward Gen. Randy Goerge, the...

Kid Rock joins Hegseth on Army helicopter ride after fly-by controversy

28 April 2026 at 01:45
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Kid Rock both flew in Army Apache helicopters on Monday in the Washington, D.C., area, weeks after the military came under fire for flying helicopters near the singer’s house in Tennessee. “Kid Rock is a patriot and huge supporter of our troops. The War Department is wasting no time celebrating...

Senate Democrats probe attack that killed 6 US service members in Kuwait amid Iran war

27 April 2026 at 21:48
A group of Senate Democrats are investigating an early March attack on U.S. troops stationed in Kuwait, where six service members were killed and another 20 were injured amid the U.S. war with Iran. The four Democrats — Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) and Mark Kelly (Ariz.), who are all...

Hegseth to push for Pentagon’s $1.5 trillion budget in front of Senate committee 

27 April 2026 at 16:26
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will testify in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday to push for the Pentagon’s $1.5 trillion budget request, a source familiar with the matter told The Hill on Monday.  The testimony in the Senate chamber will take place a day after he is scheduled to testify before the House...

Pakistan's rapid turn from pariah to linchpin in Iran peace talks

25 April 2026 at 10:00
Pakistan has emerged as a key player in the U.S.-Iran peace talks, marking a remarkable turn of fortunes for its top general, who during President Trump's second term has transformed from a global pariah to a diplomatic heavyweight.  Trump on Tuesday announced an extension of the ceasefire with Iran, saying it would be in place...

  • ✇TheHill - Just In
  • Iran noncommittal as US sends envoys to Pakistan Filip Timotija
    Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} View Online Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Iran noncommittal as US sends Witkoff, Kusher to Pakistan for talks President Trump is dispatching special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to Pakistan this weekend for a second round of talks...
     

Iran noncommittal as US sends envoys to Pakistan

24 April 2026 at 21:45
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} View Online Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Iran noncommittal as US sends Witkoff, Kusher to Pakistan for talks President Trump is dispatching special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to Pakistan this weekend for a second round of talks...

Soldier's arrest in Maduro raid Polymarket bet spotlights military's risks in prediction markets

24 April 2026 at 21:16
The arrest of a U.S. soldier accused of using classified information to place a prediction market bet on the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is stoking new fears over how betting markets could threaten national security in high-stake situations. Lawmakers have raised concerns for months over the legal and ethical dangers surrounding prediction markets, and...

Navy secretary's removal points to Trump’s anxiety over shipbuilding

23 April 2026 at 23:16
The abrupt firing of Navy Secretary John Phelan, the latest head to roll in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s turbulent Pentagon, points to President Trump’s anxiety over his ambitious and divisive vision for U.S. shipbuilding. Phelan, a billionaire and Trump fundraiser, was ousted on Wednesday, 13 months into the role, becoming the first service secretary to...

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