NOW PLAYING
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & NatSec newsletter{beacon}
Defense &
National Security Defense &
National Security The Big Story
Pentagon briefs House lawmakers on Iran war as tensions escalate in region
The Pentagon briefed a bipartisan group of House lawmakers Monday in Congress on the U.S. war with Iran as the tensions in the Middle East escalate.
Greg Nash
Pentagon officials briefed the members of the Problem Solvers Caucus in the House SCIF, Rep. Nick Lalota (R-N.Y.) said in an interview with The Hill on Wednesday.
Lalota described the session as “informative” and “persuasive.”
“It was clear to me and many others in the room that our nation needs to resupply our munition stockpiles,” the New York Republican said.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a member of the caucus who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, told The Hill on Wednesday that he did not attend the briefing.
A source familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the classified session, confirmed to The Hill the briefing was just for caucus members and lasted just over an hour, during which the FY 2027 defense budget was discussed.
The briefing took place a day before Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee on the White House’s $87 billion supplemental request to help fund the Iran war.
The session also comes as President Trump threatened to strike Iranian bridges and power plants on Wednesday if Tehran did not stop harassing more commercial ships attempting to pass the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian foreign minister warned that Iran would fight “an eye for an eye.”
The U.S. military launched another round of strikes against Iran on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., marking the 12th consecutive day the U.S. forces executed kinetic action inside the country.
Iran-aligned Houthis, a militant group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government, in Yemen claimed Wednesday to have attacked two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea, days after warning it would impose a naval blockade on Saudi maritime traffic in the Red Sea.
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Filip Timotija — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.
Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.
Essential Reads
How policy will affect defense and national security now and in the future:
6 Democrats cross aisle, join GOP to back annual defense policy bill
Six Democratic House lawmakers crossed the aisle on Wednesday to join a majority of Republicans in passing a nearly $1.15 trillion annual defense policy bill. The Democrats who backed the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) all have a reputation of breaking with their party on key issues and many are running for reelection in swing districts this November. The six House Democrats who voted for the NDAA …
Full Story
House narrowly passes massive annual defense policy bill
House lawmakers on Wednesday narrowly passed a nearly $1.15 trillion annual defense policy bill, advancing the measure amid increasing tension over military spending and the war in Iran. The tally was 216-212, with six Democrats voting for the bill and seven Republicans voting against it. The lawmakers who crossed the aisle were Republican Reps. Josh Brecheen (Okla.), Tim Burchett (Tenn.), Eli Crane (Ariz.), Harriet Hageman …
Full Story
Houthi threats in Red Sea risk new front in US-Iran war
The Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen are signaling a major escalation in the war between the Islamic Republic and the U.S., threatening a blockade on a key Red Sea shipping route that facilitates about 7 percent of the world’s oil supply. The move would borrow from the Iranian playbook that has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz and compound the global energy crisis spurred by the Iran war. The Houthis in their …
Full Story
Support for Iran war among MAGA Trump voters plummets: Poll
Support for the war in Iran among President Trump’s most fervent voters has dipped dramatically, according to new polling. In the Politico poll, 37 percent of MAGA Trump voters said the U.S. should continue the war in Iran despite possible raised costs back home, while 50 percent said the same in May. The poll also found that another 37 percent of MAGA Trump voters said their country should go on with the war as long as it …
Full Story
In Other News
Branch out with a different read from The Hill:
Voto Latino, other advocacy groups call for Congress to impeach Mullin
Voto Latino and dozens of other advocacy organizations pressed for Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to be impeached in a letter to Congress last week. “We write to demand the immediate introduction of articles of impeachment and a full congressional investigation into Department …
Full StoryOn Tap Tomorrow
Events in and around the defense world:
- The Center for Strategic and International Studies is holding a discussion tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET on “The Air Campaign Returns: From Epic Fury to Midnight Hammer.”
- The Middle East Institute is holding a discussion tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. ET on “US Policy After Iraq: Getting Lebanon’s Disarmament Right.”
- The Henry L. Stimson Center is holding a discussion tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. ET on “The Path Ahead for U.S.-South Korea Shipbuilding.”
What We’re Reading
News we’ve flagged from other outlets:
- Trump administration weighing military options in Mali, officials say, The Washington Post reports.
- What Visuals Show About Recent Damage to U.S. Military Sites in the Middle East, The New York Times reports.
- Army partners with industry to alleviate Abrams engine supply chain woes, Breaking Defense reports.
Trending Today
Two key stories on The Hill right now:
House passes reconciliation framework for Pentagon boost, voting restrictions
House Republicans on Wednesday approved a $95 billion framework for a third budget reconciliation package that would boost funding for the Pentagon, … Read more
Harris 2028 White House bid ‘not going to happen’: Former Biden aide
A former Biden administration aide said Tuesday he doesn’t believe former Vice President Kamala Harris has much of a chance at winning the White … Read more
Opinions in The Hill
Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill:
- A dormant court just woke up, and due process is on trial
- Winning before the battle ends
- What the US needs to know about Iran’s mosaic defense
You’re all caught up.
Check out The Hill’s Defense page for the latest coverage.
Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view all our topical emails here 📩
Privacy Policy | Manage Subscriptions | Unsubscribe
400 N. Capitol St. NW Suite 950, Washington, DC 20001
Copyright © 1998 – 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.
If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safely unsubscribe.
CloseThank you for signing up!
Subscribe to more newsletters here
The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Defense and National Security newsletter Subscribe Add as preferred source on Google Tags Don Bacon Nicolas LaLotaCopyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments: Link copiedMore Defense & National Security Newsletter News
See All
Defense & National Security Newsletter US military launches Iran strikes for 10th consecutive day by Filip Timotija 2 days ago Defense & National Security Newsletter / 2 days ago 
