national-security19.365 min read
Rubio Defends Iran Deal Push as Final-Stage Talks Loom
2 days ago•Source: The Washington Post
National Security News
The latest national security stories, summarized by AI
Featured National Security Stories
View original source
22.13 min•3 days ago
Gabbard resigns as DNI amid husband’s cancer diagnosis
Tulsi Gabbard announced she is resigning as Director of National Intelligence, citing her husband’s diagnosis with an extremely rare bone cancer; she told the White House June 30 would be her last day, ending a tenure marked by limited access to Trump’s inner circle despite pushing his priorities.
More Top Stories
2
U.S. indicts Raúl Castro in murder, conspiracy case tied to 1996 plane downings
The Washington Post•5 days ago
3
Amaryllis Fox Kennedy exits two top intelligence posts in a Trump-era reshuffle
The Washington Post•6 days ago
More National Security Stories
CENTCOM chief rebukes lawmaker over Iran war remarks during hearing
At a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Iran, Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, accused Rep. Seth Moulton of impropriety after Moulton claimed the U.S. is losing the war and pressed about American casualties, with Cooper defending military gains and the Trump administration’s handling of the conflict.
Iraqi National Charged in Iran-Backed Terror Network Plotting Attacks Across Europe and the U.S.
The Justice Department charged Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, an Iraqi national and senior Kata’ib Hizballah operative tied to Iran’s IRGC, with six terrorism-related counts for directing and aiding attacks across Europe and the United States, including plots against U.S. targets and Jewish institutions. He was arrested overseas, transferred to U.S. custody, and faces significant prison time. The case, pursued by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and DOJ components, underscores ongoing efforts to dismantle foreign terrorist organizations and their leaders.
Hegseth’s halt to Poland troop rotation shocks Pentagon and allies
Pete Hegseth’s last-minute order to halt a 4,000-strong rotation to Poland—troops already arriving—caught Pentagon staff and European allies off guard, signaling a broader rethink of U.S. force posture in Europe and raising concerns about Russia deterrence; the move follows a separate plan to withdraw thousands of troops from Germany and drew mixed reactions from Poland and NATO.
FBI seeks tips in Iran espionage case involving ex-Air Force officer, $200K reward offered
The FBI is offering a $200,000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest of Monica Witt, a former Air Force counterintelligence officer who defected to Iran in 2013. Prosecutors allege Witt conspired with Iranians to provide documents and information related to the national defense of the United States between 2012 and 2015, risking an undercover officer’s safety. The indictment also charged four Iranians with conspiracy and related offenses; Witt’s current location and legal representation remain unclear.
China gains edge over U.S. as Iran war reshapes competition
A confidential U.S. intelligence assessment circulating as President Trump begins a trip to Beijing says China is exploiting the Iran war to gain a strategic edge over the United States across military, economic and diplomatic fronts, signaling shifts in global competition and raising concerns about U.S. readiness and its alliances.
Trump Quietly Dims the China Hawk Chorus Ahead of Xi Talks
As Trump prepares for a summit with Xi, the once-vocal GOP China hawks have largely faded, with the administration pursuing closer engagement and potential deals with Beijing—green-lighting Nvidia’s H200 AI chip sales and allowing TikTok to operate in the U.S.—even as the Pentagon still regards China as the pacing threat. Inside the White House and on Capitol Hill, hawks have been replaced by aides like Pete Hegseth, JD Vance, and David Sacks who favor accommodation, while bipartisan efforts to tighten export controls on semiconductors persist but face resistance.
DOJ expands leak crackdown as WSJ subpoenas surface over Iran reporting
The Justice Department issued subpoenas to the Wall Street Journal in March seeking information about the paper’s coverage of Iran, signaling a broader, more aggressive push to crack down on leaks and compel disclosure of sources.
Iran war price tag climbs to $29B as lawmakers press for clarity and funding
Pentagon officials told lawmakers the Iran war’s price tag has risen to $29 billion, up from $25 billion, mainly due to a refined estimate of repair and replacement costs for equipment, plus ongoing operational costs and munitions; it excludes potential U.S. base-reconstruction costs in the region. While fighting has largely ceased, the ceasefire is shaky and Democrats criticized the administration for undercounting costs, signaling a possible large supplemental request—reports have suggested up to $200 billion—though no request has yet been sent to Congress.
GOP pressure rises for congressional Iran-war briefing as ceasefire wavers
Sen. Deb Fischer, a top Republican on defense, urged the administration to brief Congress on any expansion of the Iran war if the fragile ceasefire ends, signaling growing GOP unease as Democrats push a new war-powers measure and Republicans consider authorization options amid broader security concerns and energy-price worries.
Slotkin warns Trump’s China trip could unsettle Taiwan policy
Sen. Elissa Slotkin warns that President Trump's upcoming Beijing trip could hand China leverage and threaten decades of Taiwan policy, highlighting the risk that the president's eagerness to seal a deal with Xi Jinping—‘any deal’—could lead to subtle shifts in U.S. language or commitments. The warning comes as gas prices rise and the Iran ceasefire remains uncertain, factors that could amplify Beijing’s leverage and complicate Washington's delicate balancing act on Taiwan.