Defense &
National Security
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Defense &
National Security
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US troops on the ground in Gaza? |
President Trump has not committed to sending the U.S. military into Gaza after he appeared to float such a possibility, the White House has stressed. |
“The president has not committed to putting boots on the ground in Gaza," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during the daily press briefing Wednesday.
"He has also said that the United States is not going to pay for the rebuilding of Gaza. His administration is going to work with our partners in the region to reconstruct this region,” she added. The press secretary was peppered with questions on the topic after Trump said the U.S. would "do what is necessary" when asked during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he was sending U.S. military personnel to secure the Gaza Strip. Trump rocked U.S.-Middle East policy by announcing he would back the resettlement of Palestinians out of Gaza and a U.S. takeover of the territory, suggesting it could be turned into a “Riviera of the Middle East.” He was not definitive about whether he believed Palestinians would solely be the ones living in the Gaza Strip, but he said he envisioned a place that would inhabit “the world’s people.” Netanyahu was aware of Trump’s announcement before he made it public, Leavitt said.
Trump on Tuesday also suggested that Palestinians in Gaza be relocated and settled elsewhere, offering up either one site or a dozen different locations as possibilities.
He also described a potential U.S. takeover of Gaza as “a long-term ownership position.”
Read the full report at TheHill.com. |
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. |
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How policy will affect defense and national security now and in
the future: |
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President Trump has revoked the security detail for former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, adding him a slew of others who have had their security provisions taken away after being critical of the commander in chief. Esper, who served as the Pentagon chief from July 2019 until November 2020, lost his security detail Tuesday night, multiple outlets reported. His detail, which had been provided by the Defense Department, was initially … |
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The first military flight carrying 10 “high-threat” migrants to Guantánamo Bay landed on Tuesday evening, according to the Defense Department. The C-17 plane, which took off from El Paso, Texas, landed at 7:20 p.m., U.S. Transportation Command said in a social media post. The Pentagon later released a statement Wednesday saying that the “10 high-threat individuals are currently being housed in vacant detention facilities” … |
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been releasing migrant detainees due to limited capacity in detention centers, according to a report from CBS News. |
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Upcoming things we're watching on our beat: |
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio tomorrow wraps up his tour of Central America, with the final stop in the Dominican Republic.
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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CIA offers buyouts to employees: Reports |
The CIA has offered buyouts to employees, according to multiple reports. CIA employees were informed they could receive eight months of pay and benefits if they leave their roles, according to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the offers. Officials told the Journal that priorities … |
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Events in and around the defense world: |
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The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies will hold a virtual discussion on “Rockets, Pagers, and Targeted Strikes: Law-of-War Issues in the Israeli-Hezbollah Conflict,” at 2:30 p.m.
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News we've flagged from other outlets: |
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VA nurses are in short supply. Unions say Trump’s deferred resignation plan could make things worse (The Associated Press)
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Hegseth to host Australian leader in first visit with a foreign peer (Military Times)
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Two key stories on The Hill right now: |
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The odds of a government shutdown are surging as President Trump battles Democrats over efforts to freeze funding and Republicans brawl internally … Read more |
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Tensions flared during a House GOP conference meeting Wednesday as the group struggles to unite around a plan to pass President Trump’s legislative … Read more |
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Op-ed related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
Save story
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Republican party divided amid uproar over US president’s plan to take over the enclave
Financial Times - 4h
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Netanyahu calls Trump the ‘greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House’ at a new conference alongside the US president. Trump says Palestinians have ‘no alternative’ but to leave ...
The Guardian - 22h
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A shortage of infantry troops and supply routes under Russian drone attacks have dealt a blow to Ukrainian forces around the strategic eastern city of Pokrovsk
ABC News - 2d
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Palestinian health authorities estimate 10,000 people are likely to be dead beneath Gaza's ruins.
BBC News - Jan. 23
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The new administration has also halted all refugee travel and processing, leaving thousands stranded as they wait to come to the US.
BBC News - Jan. 22
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Controversial move follows flurry of executive actions including suspension of refugee resettlement programme. US politics live – latest updates The Pentagon is set to deploy up to 1,500 ...
The Guardian - Jan. 22
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The Pentagon is sending up to 1,500 troops to help secure the southern border as President Trump pushes to stem the tide of migrants entering the country. Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses ...
The Hill - Jan. 22
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The rocket's upper stage disintegrated over the Caribbean, forcing airline flights to alter course.
BBC News - Jan. 17
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Exclusive: SDF leader says removal of 2,000-strong force would leave door open for Islamic State resurgence. The leader of the Kurdish forces that control north-eastern Syria has called on Donald ...
The Guardian - Jan. 9
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Senate Democrats are bracing to stay in the chamber overnight to make the case against the nomination of Russell Vought to serve as the White House’s next budget chief, who is expected to be ...
The Hill - 1h
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The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., has ordered a dozen cadet extracurricular and social clubs to immediately and permanently "cease all activities," with all affected groups centered on ...
The Hill - 1h
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The share of Republicans who say they want tech billionaire Elon Musk to have significant influence in the Trump administration has fallen substantially in the months since President Trump was ...
The Hill - 1h
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Aftershocks reverberated Wednesday from President Trump’s declaration the previous day that the United States should take “long-term ownership” of Gaza and that the Palestinians who live there ...
The Hill - 1h
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Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said Democrats have appeared “surprised and flat footed” after actions taken by tech billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on ...
The Hill - 2h
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Senate Democrats are bracing to stay in the chamber overnight to make the case against the nomination of Russell Vought to serve as the White House’s next budget chief, who is expected to be ...
The Hill - 1h
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The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., has ordered a dozen cadet extracurricular and social clubs to immediately and permanently "cease all activities," with all affected groups centered on ...
The Hill - 1h
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The share of Republicans who say they want tech billionaire Elon Musk to have significant influence in the Trump administration has fallen substantially in the months since President Trump was ...
The Hill - 1h
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Many federal workers are in flux as some take deferred resignation offers and others worry about layoffs. NBC News' Hallie Jackson speaks with two affected workers.
NBC News - 1h
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Aftershocks reverberated Wednesday from President Trump’s declaration the previous day that the United States should take “long-term ownership” of Gaza and that the Palestinians who live there ...
The Hill - 1h
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