Senate panel advances renaming the Pentagon to the Department of War

The Senate Armed Services Committee advanced a bill to rename the Pentagon the Department of War, a rebrand already approved by the House and seen as a potential law this year, with a Congressional Budget Office estimate of up to $125 million for the change. In related updates, Sen. Rick Scott lifted his holds on Coast Guard promotions as talks with a shipbuilder progress; House Republicans discussed using reconciliation to fund military needs alongside other priorities. Separately, FISA Section 702 faces a lapse after the House rejected a short extension, and Senate Republicans are weighing questions for DOJ nominee Todd Blanche over abortion-pill litigation as Democrats outline policy priorities for an H.R. 1 alternative focused on voting rights and affordability.