THE FINAL FOUR: After repeated attempts by House Democrats to pass a war powers resolution to assert Congress’s authority to declare war, finally, a handful of Republicans were disenchanted enough with the progress of the war in Iran to cross the aisle and vote to send the legislation to the Senate, by a vote of 215-208.
The four Republicans who voted with all the Democrats were Reps. Thomas Massie (KY), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Tom Barrett (MI), and Warren Davidson (OH). Although a rebuke of President Donald Trump, the measure is likely to remain symbolic, given that Republicans control the Senate, and White House has argued the limits on the president’s war-making powers as commander in chief are unconstitutional. Trump could simply veto the measure — if it reaches his desk.
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The Trump administration also argues the war technically ended when major combat operations were replaced by a ceasefire within the 60-day limit proscribed by the 1973 War Powers Resolution. The strikes and counterstrikes between the U.S. and Iran don’t rise to the level of a full-scale war, or even violation of a ceasefire, Trump argued yesterday, seeming to excuse Iran’s attacks on America’s Gulf allies. “They were slightly provoked because we took a strong action … so they were reciprocating,” he told reporters at a White House signing session.
“I’d say in that part of the world, a ceasefire is when you’re shooting in a more moderate manner,” Trump said in response to a question about how he’d define a ceasefire when both sides are shooting at each other. “A ceasefire there is much different than a ceasefire in other parts of the world.”
PENTAGON INSPECTOR GENERAL LEADING COMPREHENSIVE GOVERNMENT-WIDE OVERSIGHT OF IRAN WAR
‘THIS IS OUR CHURCHILL MOMENT’: Trump is facing another revolt in Congress as six House Republicans and an independent voted to overrule House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and advance a bill that would impose long-delayed sanctions against Russia and force the release of U.S. aid to Ukraine.
“The House just voted 218-204 to move forward on the discharge petition to provide military aid to Ukraine and impose tough sanctions on Russia,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) posted on X. “This is our Churchill moment and we must pass the test.”
The bill is set for a floor vote today. As with the war powers vote, the Russia-Ukraine bill would face an uncertain future in the Senate. However, it is the latest signal of growing frustration by some Republicans with the president’s unwillingness to do more to help Ukraine, which is facing an increased onslaught of Russian air attacks as it has run out of Patriot missiles to defend its cities.
On Capitol Hill, Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced questions about why $400 million in aid Congress authorized last year has yet to be disbursed to Ukraine.
“Here they are fighting for their lives. They’re facing ballistic missiles. They don’t have the defense that they need. They’re valiantly doing everything they can to save their people, and we are going through some bureaucratic malaise,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL). “Is it finally resolved? Are we going to send this to the Ukrainians?”
“That’s going through the interagency process right now,” Rubio replied. “In fact, I saw maybe last Friday something on it. I think you’ll see news on that pretty soon.”
ZELENSKY COMPLAINS IRAN IS TAKING PRIORITY OVER UKRAINE FOR US
PULTE PICK COULD SPIKE 702: Meanwhile, Trump’s decision to appoint his political ally Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to simultaneously serve as director of national intelligence on an acting basis, has prompted Democrats to threaten to block passage of section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
The 702 provision, which permits U.S. intelligence agencies to collect communications of foreign nations operating outside the U.S. without warrants, expires June 12.
Pulte, whose appointment violates the law establishing the office of DNI requiring a person to have “extensive experience” in intelligence, could tank a bipartisan deal on extending Section 702, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) said on CNN yesterday.
“Section 702 is important, and I really wonder whether Donald Trump wants it even continued. You could not have picked a less qualified person,” said Warner, who is vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee. “I mean, I’m less concerned about what he will do on 702 and more concerned about just will he weaponize the whole intelligence community?”
Pulte is unlikely to win Senate confirmation, as several Republicans have said he’s unqualified.
“Very few Senate-confirmable positions come with statutory eligibility requirements. There are good reasons why the Director of National Intelligence is one of them,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Anyone performing this role of such immense public trust must have the extensive national security experience required by statute, and no nominee who falls short of this requirement will earn my vote.”
But Pulte can serve in an acting status for six months, which Warner notes “puts him right through the elections.”
“He could come up with a fake piece of intelligence as a justification to interfere with the elections,” Warner said. “He could take — especially if the president keeps his weaponization fund, that might not only pay off the January 6th rioters, but pay off people that would then interfere in the election.”
Good Thursday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Christopher Tremoglie. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com.
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WITH TRUMP, AN IRAN DEAL IS ALWAYS A DAY OR TWO AWAY: Despite what appears to be a stalemate in negotiations with Iran over opening the Strait of Hormuz and securing its stockpile of enriched uranium, President Trump insisted, “The negotiation itself is going very well, actually, very well.”
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump remained upbeat as always. “I mean, if it happens, and it might not happen, you know, who knows, but if it happens, it could happen like over the weekend.”
Trump reiterated his demands that all of Iran’s enriched uranium must be unearthed and destroyed or turned over to the U.S., but said he’s not willing to send U.S. troops in to retrieve the material. “That stuff is buried underneath a mountain that virtually collapses, very, very hard to get it,” Trump said. “But I still nevertheless want it, and I don’t want to do it if we’re in conflict. I don’t want to put men in that kind of danger.”
Asked if Iran has actually agreed to cooperate with the retrieval of the enriched uranium, Trump replied. “I mean, they’ve changed their mind a couple of times, but as it stands now, we will go in at some time in the not-too-distant future.”
TRUMP ‘PROUD’ OF IRAN WAR FOR MAKING EVERYONE ‘A LOT OF MONEY’: ‘EVERYTHING’S GOOD’
SENATE POISED TO PASS IMMIGRATION FUNDING: The Senate today begins its traditional vote-a-rama, a marathon session in which Democrats will be able to introduce an unlimited number of amendments to legislation to fund immigration enforcement, only to watch most of them go down to defeat in the Republican-led Senate.
Republicans are expecting to finally be able to pass their massive $70 billion immigration bill, after dropping funding for Trump’s White House Ballroom, and without authorization, the now-withdrawn $1,776 billion weaponization fund.
Still, Democrats — and some Republicans — say they will offer an amendment to permanently ban the so-called “settlement agreement,” which would allow payments to those convicted of assaulting police during the Jan. 6, 2021, siege of the U.S Capitol.
Retiring Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) is proposing that the nearly $1.8 billion be used to fund fraud prevention instead.
THE RUNDOWN:
Washington Examiner: Trump suffers defeat as four House Republicans back removing US from hostilities with Iran
Washington Examiner: Pentagon inspector general leading comprehensive government-wide oversight of Iran war
Washington Examiner: Trump ‘proud’ of Iran war for making everyone ‘a lot of money’: ‘Everything’s good’
Washington Examiner: Rubio grilled over Trump’s national security picks and foreign policy priorities: ‘It’s not funny, Secretary’
Washington Examiner: Rubio warns risk of escalation in Russia-Ukraine war is ‘more real than it was two years ago’
Washington Examiner: ‘Prospects don’t look great’ for a Russia-Ukraine deal, Rubio acknowledges
Washington Examiner: Zelensky complains Iran is taking priority over Ukraine for US
Washington Examiner: Senate Republicans make it official and cut Trump ballroom funding
Washington Examiner: US law enforcement intercepted unknown drones over the Masters and Miami Grand Prix: Mullin
Washington Examiner: Trump expected to nominate Todd Blanche as attorney general: Reports
Washington Examiner: US identifies soldier killed during training exercise in Iraq
Washington Examiner: Trump ‘proud’ of Iran war for making everyone ‘a lot of money’: ‘Everything’s good’
Wall Street Journal: Trump Tells Aides He Won’t Resume All-Out War with Iran Unless US Troops Are Killed
AP: Trump allies and critics worry he’s boxed in by Iran war
The Atlantic: Trump Dreads an Iran Deal Worse Than Obama’s
Axios: Israel and Lebanon Agree to Full Ceasefire, Conditioned on Steps by Hezbollah
Air & Space Forces Magazine: US Reduces Forces Committed to NATO, Tells Allies to Step Up Air and Naval Power
CBS News: Pilot of Fighter Jet Downed over Iran Was Previously Shot Down in Kuwaiti Friendly Fire Incident, Sources Say
AP: US Strike on an Alleged Drug Boat Kills 2 in the Eastern Pacific Ocean
Defense News: Experts Warn Terrorism Threat Is Rising in Africa as US Pulls Back
Task & Purpose: Hegseth Directs ‘Joint Warfighting Ability’ Be Considered for Officer, NCO Promotions
Bloomberg: General Dynamics Will Spend $200 Million to Reboot Ammo Plant
Defense Scoop: Pentagon Looks to AI, Other Tech to Help Tackle Contested Logistics Challenges
Air & Space Forces Magazine: New Push for Separate ‘Cyber Force’ Builds, but Questions Remain
Breaking Defense: The Biggest Industry, Training Hurdles for Making Drone Wingman a Reality
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force Seeks New Gearboxes for CV-22 in ’27 Budget
Air & Space Forces Magazine: GE, Rolls-Royce Get Contracts to Advance Autonomous Drone Engine Designs
The War Zone: The USMC’s AV-8B Harrier Has Flown Off into the Sunset
Wall Street Journal: Condoleezza Rice Opinion: What the U.S. Has Accomplished in Iran
THE CALENDAR:
THURSDAY | JUNE 4
9 a.m. — DRCNet Foundation and StoptheDrugWar virtual discussion: “Murder on the Land and the Sea II: Accountability for Extrajudicial Drug War Killings Is Only a Matter of Time,” John Ramming, adviser at the Center for Civilians in Conflict; Dino Singson de Leon, trustee at the Human Rights and People Empowerment Center; and Sarah Harrison, nonresident fellow at the Stimson Center’s Conventional Defense Program https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN0oRIOjaeo
10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee markup of H.R.8800, the “National Defense Authorization Act for FY2027.” http://www.armedservices.house.gov
10 a.m. 1400 L St. NW — Atlantic Council Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense meeting on “Pandora’s Prompt: AI and the Biological Threat,” with former HHS Secretary Donna Shalala; and former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/from-the-ground-up-federated-biodefense/
10:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “Data Centers, AI, and the Future of U.S. Strategic Competitiveness,” with Matt Pearl, director, CSIS Strategic Technologies Program; Aalok Mehta, director, CSIS Wadhwani AI Center; Joseph Majkut, director, CSIS Energy Security and Climate Program; and Philip Luck, director, CSIS economics program and CSIS chair in international business https://www.csis.org/events/data-centers-ai-and-future-us-strategic-competitiveness
2:30 p.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies virtual discussion: “Air Force priorities,” with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Lamontagne https://afa-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/
5 p.m. 1615 H St. NW — U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes Initiative enlistee recognition ceremony to honor approximately 150 high school seniors from the National Capital Region who have committed to military service, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth; Ross Perot Jr., USCC chairman of the board; Salvatore Giunta, Medal of Honor recipient; and Abby Spencer Moffat, president and CEO of the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation [email protected]
FRIDAY | JUNE 5
8 a.m. H-140, U.S. Capitol — House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee markup of the FY2027 Homeland Security bill http://appropriations.house.gov
10 a.m. — National Institute for Deterrence Studies virtual seminar: “Missile Defense: Assessing the Effectiveness and Looking to the Future,” with former National Nuclear Security Administration Deputy Administrator Frank Rose, president of Chevalier Strategic Advisers https://thinkdeterrence.com/events/missile-defense-assessing-the-effectiveness
10 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Brookings Institution discussion: “Russia and Ukraine: Societies transformed by war,” with Anna Colin Lebedev, senior lecturer and researcher for Paris Nanterre University’s Institute of Social Sciences of Politics
10 a.m. — Atlantic Council virtual discussion: “Russia’s Illicit Exploitation of Foreign Nationals for its War Against Ukraine,” with Ilya Nuzov, head of the International Federation for Human Rights’ Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk; Rosemary Tollo, co-founder and program director of Journalists for Justice; Maria Tomak, associate researcher at Truth Hounds; and Brig. Gen. Dmytro Usov, secretary of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War at the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/russias-illicit-exploitation-of-foreign-nationals
