Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared before the Senate on Tuesday to make a case for President Donald 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 , mostly intended to replenish the Pentagon after the .
said the war has cost $37.5 billion, so far. He provided the new estimate, up from earlier accounts, during testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee, where his opening remarks were interrupted by protestors several times.
Meanwhile, the U.S. and Iran are back to bombing every day in a bid to . And neither is backing down, showing the limitations of 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 reliance on to bend Tehran to his will.
While the Trump administration says it is , Iran so far has refused to loosen its grip over the crucial oil shipping corridor in the Persian Gulf. It is for the conflict’s next phase. The intensifying attacks have collapsed an , killed more and sent , posing more problems for Republicans hoping to get reelected.
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US military says it launched 11th night of strikes on Iran
U.S. Central Command did not immediately reveal the targets being struck in the latest wave, which comes after Trump telegraphed that strikes would be intensifying.
US military identifies third service member killed in Iranian attack
The U.S. military has identified the service member as Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York.
The confirmation brings the death toll to 18 U.S. service members killed since the war began.
On Monday, the Pentagon identified Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, as the two other soldiers who were killed in Friday鈥檚 attack on a base in Jordan.
The soldiers were killed by Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in the first troop deaths from direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war. They were deployed to support a U.S. mission against the Islamic State group, a U.S. Central Command statement said.
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More than 500 troops injured in war with Iran, AP source says
The number of wounded personnel in the Iran war has grown to well over 500 troops, a U.S. official told The Associated Press.
The total is higher than the Pentagon鈥檚 official tally on the Defense Casualty Analysis System, which currently shows 482 wounded in the war.
The U.S. official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter with the media and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the system has a significant lag in reporting injuries. The official said that was a function of its design and not intentional.
Pentagon officials have insisted that the website shows their commitment to transparency about the number of dead and injured in the war.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell posted Monday that nearly 100 U.S. service members have sustained 鈥渟ome degree of injury鈥� since the U.S. restarted strikes on July 7 and that 96% of them have returned to duty.
The system said on July 6 that 413 troops had been wounded.
鈥� Konstantin Toropin
Hegseth engages in tense exchange with Michigan Sen. Gary Peters over Pentagon funding
Hegseth aggressively pushed back against questions from the Democratic senator, who pressed the secretary about the administration鈥檚 plan to win the war.
鈥淪ecretary Hegseth, despite your failure to win this war, you are back now before Congress asking for almost $70 billion in additional funding,鈥� Peters said. 鈥淵ou are asking the American people for a blank check.鈥�
Hegseth replied, 鈥淚 think your characterization of this incredible effort as a failure is reckless and it is irresponsible.鈥�
Peters reiterated that he saw Hegseth as a failure.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have a strategy, you don鈥檛 have a long-term plan to actually win this war,鈥� Peters said. 鈥淭he men and women are going to be able to do it, but they don鈥檛 have leadership. When will you show leadership?鈥�
Hegseth pushed back: 鈥淲hy don鈥檛 you show leadership and stand up to your fellow Democrats who won鈥檛 fund the troops?鈥�
Peters replied, 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a question of money, it鈥檚 a question of leadership.鈥�
Democrats challenge Hegseth on earlier claims the Iran war was won
Senate Democrats are pushing back on Hegseth鈥檚 request for more money when he and Trump claimed months ago that Iran鈥檚 military was destroyed and the U.S. military鈥檚 objectives met.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e asking for literally $1.5 trillion for a war that President Trump said he already won,鈥� Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York told Hegseth. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e asking for $1.5 trillion 鈥� unlimited money for bombs, but insufficient money for the American people, for their health care, their food, their housing, and our farmers.鈥�
Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia zeroed in on similar statements about the ongoing conflict.
鈥淢r. Secretary, you stated four months ago that Iran鈥檚 military had been rendered 鈥榗ombat ineffective鈥� for years to come,鈥� Ossoff said.
Hegseth countered that his statements didn鈥檛 mean that Iran didn鈥檛 have any more capabilities.
Trump to campaign in Michigan days before battleground state鈥檚 primary election
Trump is expected to hold a rally outside Detroit on July 27 as early voting gets underway in Michigan鈥檚 primary election, according to a person familiar with the plans who was not authorized to discuss the event publicly.
Early in-person voting begins July 25 for the Aug. 4 primary. Michigan voters are choosing party nominees for an open U.S. Senate seat and governor.
Republican Mike Rogers is unopposed in the Senate primary, while the GOP gubernatorial contest has intensified between Trump-backed U.S. Rep. John James and business owner Perry Johnson.
Trump is expected to rally in Oakland County, an affluent Detroit suburb that for decades was one of Michigan鈥檚 premier political bellwether counties. Democrats have carried the county by widening margins in recent elections, even as Trump won Michigan in 2016 and again in 2024.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
鈥� Joey Cappelletti
Caine acknowledges limits of air strikes to win war
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, acknowledged the limits of airpower after being pressed on the reliance of airstrikes alone against Iran.
鈥淎s you look across the totality of history, airpower鈥檚 got limits, and we always have to be mindful of those,鈥� Caine said. 鈥淚 think where America鈥檚 area of exclusivity is, is when we bring the totality of the diplomatic, informational, economic and pair that with the military. And there鈥檚 a lot of that work going on.鈥�
Caine declined to say whether ground combat could be next after being pressed by Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat who noted the likely costs of having boots on the ground.
The general later said: 鈥淚ran will continue to be a challenge moving forward.鈥�
Hegseth estimates Iran war has cost $37.5B so far
Defense Secretary said Tuesday the has cost $37.5 billion, so far, as he is facing questions and protests at a Senate hearing ahead of a to fund the military, along with aid to farmers and voting law changes that are top White House priorities.
Hegseth provided the new estimate, up from earlier accounts, during testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee. Several times, protesters interrupted Hegseth鈥檚 opening remarks, which come days after the Pentagon announced that three more have died in the conflict, bringing the , and that more than 100 have been injured since early July.
Hegseth said the supplemental war funding is an 鈥渦rgent, necessary鈥� injection of funds, and with proposed a generational investment in the military.
鈥淲ithout these funds, we face critical shortfalls,鈥� Hegseth testified.
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Hegseth warns that troop training and pay is in doubt if military doesn鈥檛 get more money
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned senators that troop training would have to be curtailed if the Pentagon doesn鈥檛 get the $67 billion in supplemental funds its requesting from Congress. He also raised concerns about troop pay and weapons that defend against enemy drones and missiles.
Hegseth said $46 billion is needed for munitions and expanding production lines, while $21 billion would be for military pay, fuel and replacing equipment.
鈥淲ithout these funds, we face critical shortfalls that threaten our ability to also simply pay our service members,鈥� Hegseth said.
Democratic lawmakers countered that the Pentagon is yet to spend tens of billions of dollars of money it received last year. But Hegseth doubled down on the need for the supplemental funds.
Trump says direct US-Lebanon flights could resume for first time in more than 40 years
Trump said Tuesday he鈥檒l allow American carriers to resume direct flights to Lebanon more than 40 years after the US suspended the route.
Direct flights between the U.S. and Lebanon were suspended in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan鈥檚 administration following the hijacking of TWA Flight 847.
鈥淚 am hereby directing my Administration to allow all U.S. airline carriers to fly directly to Lebanon so that Americans can easily visit this beautiful land,鈥� Trump said in a social media post after meeting earlier on Tuesday with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
During a White House meeting on Tuesday with the country鈥檚 leader, Joseph Aoun, Trump pledged to help 鈥渁 lot.鈥� Aoun came to Washington to push for long-term calm after months of war between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group.
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Hegseth鈥檚 remarks repeatedly interrupted by anti-war protestors
One after another, protestors interrupted the defense secretary鈥檚 opening remarks and were quickly removed by Capitol Police. The secretary paused four times for protestors to be removed from the room.
鈥淪top bombing our children, stop bombing Palestine, this is illegal,鈥� yelled one protestor who was escorted from the room.
鈥淲e will have order in the hearing room,鈥� Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, told the room after a third protestor interrupted Hegseth鈥檚 remarks.
Collins added after a fourth protester interrupted proceedings: 鈥淚 would ask that the Capitol Police, whose professionalism I admire, remove those who are seeking to disrupt the hearing.鈥�
Senators criticize Iran war鈥檚 costs and Hegseth鈥檚 leadership as hearing begins
Senators opened Tuesday鈥檚 hearing on the Iran war鈥檚 costs with ample criticism for the conflict as well as the stalled careers of Black and female military officers under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Hegseth is set to testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee as Republicans push a to fund the military.
Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican and committee chair, cited news reports that women and people of color are disproportionately fired or sidelined under Hegseth鈥檚 leadership, arguing that it鈥檚 鈥渓ikely to discourage well qualified women and individuals of color from joining our armed forces.鈥�
Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat, noted the war鈥檚 lack of popular support and impact on the economy as gas prices rise and economic growth slows.
Judge weighs bid to block Trump administration policy to reject visas for natives of 75 countries
Lawyers for dozens of immigrants have asked a federal judge to block the Trump administration from enforcing a policy directing the State Department to reject visa applications by citizens of 75 countries based on their nationality.
U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden in Washington, D.C., didn鈥檛 rule from the bench on Tuesday after hearing arguments from attorneys for the government and roughly four dozen immigrants from the countries singled out by the January 2026 policy.
McFadden, who was nominated to the bench by Trump, appeared to be skeptical that the lawsuit鈥檚 plaintiffs have legal standing to challenge the policy. But the judge also said he sees some legal precedent to support arguments by plaintiffs鈥� lawyers.
Plaintiffs鈥� attorneys said it鈥檚 illegal for the State Department to enforce a blanket prohibition on issuing immigrant visas to nationals of the 75 designated countries.
Government lawyers say the plaintiffs haven鈥檛 shown how they鈥檙e irreparably harmed by the policy.
UN chief warns military escalation puts pressure on trade, transport, fuel and commodities prices
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran and the region, including a desalination plant and nuclear power plant under construction, 鈥渦nacceptable鈥� and a violation of international law, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday.
Attacks on vital infrastructure for civilians including hospitals and water supplies must stop immediately, the secretary-general鈥檚 spokesman said.
The secretary-general and his personal envoy, Jean Arnault, call the current situation 鈥渢eetering,鈥� and don鈥檛 want to see a return to full-scale conflict, he said.
Guterres reiterates that there is no military solution to the conflict and calls for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and intensified efforts toward a peaceful settlement, Dujarric said.
Trump appears to try to shift blame for US soldiers鈥� deaths
The president told reporters he would go to Dover for the dignified transfer of U.S. soldiers killed in the Middle East over the weekend.
鈥淭hey did slip something through in Jordan,鈥� he said, appearing to refer to the deadly Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks there. 鈥淚f we had other operators, you know, it would have not happened, unfortunately.鈥�
He went on: 鈥淲e鈥檝e stopped almost everything, but when you let other people do your job with the United States 鈥� we let other people do the job 鈥� and sometimes it doesn鈥檛 work out so well.鈥�
Trump did not elaborate on his comments, and it was not immediately clear who Trump was saying was responsible for protecting U.S. forces in Jordan. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for more information.
Trump says US will strike Pickaxe Mountain 鈥榲ery soon鈥�
Discussing plans to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, Trump said the United States will soon target the area near Pickaxe Mountain 鈥� a fortified underground site near one of Iran鈥檚 primary nuclear enrichment facilities.
鈥淲e鈥檒l be hitting that area pretty soon, and very heavily,鈥� Trump told reporters on Tuesday.
The president made the comment after being asked whether he believes Iran has moved nuclear centrifuges to the site. He said it 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 mean anything鈥� unless Iran has uranium to enrich.
鈥淲e follow the material,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where the action is.鈥�
Trump says he鈥檒l pay his respects to fallen service members at Dover
The president is expected to attend the dignified transfer on Wednesday. It鈥檚 a ritual considered to be one of the most somber duties of the commander-in-chief.
鈥淚鈥檒l be going to Dover for something that I feel is 鈥� it鈥檚 a great honor for me to do it,鈥� Trump told reporters.
Two soldiers killed in Iranian missile and drone attacks in Jordan will be returned during the dignified transfer, according to an administration official speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly.
The remains of another soldier killed in Iraq during a detonation of an Iranian drone will also be returned, the official said, as well as a fourth service member whose remains have not yet been identified but who is believed to be a soldier missing after the Jordan attacks.
鈥�- Collin Binkley
Trump says US will 鈥榯ake care of business鈥� if Houthis impose blockade
Asked about his level of concern about a blockade of the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, Trump suggested it wasn鈥檛 an immediate problem.
鈥淪o far, it hasn鈥檛 happened,鈥� Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. 鈥淚 think that if there is something like that, we鈥檒l just have to take care of business.鈥�
The Houthi-run SABA news agency said six ships were forced to reroute on Tuesday after being warned by the rebels, a day after they announced against Saudi Arabia.
But Trump said 鈥渨e鈥檝e had no problem with the Houthis鈥� recently, and 鈥渢hey鈥檝e had no problem with us for a long period of time, including during this conflict.鈥�
Trump says he鈥檚 looking at a tariff on Canada over wildfires
Days of smoke from wildfires in Canada drifting into the United States contributed to poor air quality in cities from Detroit to Washington, D.C.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e not managing their forests properly. And the wind has a tendency to blow right over New York City,鈥� said Trump, once a longtime resident of the city. 鈥淢ichigan was really affected,鈥� he added.
Asked about the issue during an Oval Office appearance with the president of Lebanon, Trump said Canada seems unable to manage the problem.
Trump says US has 鈥榥o interest鈥� in Iran talks for now
Speaking in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump gave a dim view on possible talks with Iran to end the war.
鈥淚 will tell you, they want to desperately meet. And until they鈥檙e ready to meet in a meaningful way, we have no interest in meeting,鈥� Trump told reporters.
He said that in dialogue behind the scenes, Iranian officials have said 鈥渢hey want to meet desperately to try and end it, because they鈥檙e getting decimated.鈥�
Iran and the U.S. have escalated attacks recently as their interim deal to end the war falls apart.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels say their Red Sea blockade is working
The rebels have by declaring a naval blockade of the kingdom, threatening the flow of global oil supplies and trade through the Red Sea.
With the Strait of Hormuz blocked, Saudi Arabia has been relying on a pipeline to the Red Sea to get millions of barrels of oil to market.
Six ships in the Red Sea were forced to reroute on Tuesday after they received warnings from the rebels, according to the Houthi-run SABA news agency.
Separately, three Houthi officials told The Associated Press that the rebel group warned international shipping companies on Monday to avoid transiting in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the gateway to the Red Sea at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.
鈥� By Jon Gambrell and Munir Ahmed
Report says Trump administration has harmed global efforts to prevent and treat HIV
The President鈥檚 Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, , is credited with saving at least 26 million lives since its inception in 2003. But it鈥檚 been impaired by the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development and cuts to thousands of global health grants.
These disruptions to the have forced organizations to close clinics, lay off staff and cut services, seriously impeding efforts to prevent and treat in dozens of countries, according to a report released Tuesday by amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research.
Other research, published in the journal Nature Health in June, found a 10% decline in antiretroviral treatment 鈥� nearly two million fewer people living with HIV 鈥� getting the life-saving treatment through PEPFAR.
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Trump administration pushes ahead with plans to reopen US embassy in Libya
The State Department has informed Congress that it plans to move ahead with the potential re-opening of the U.S. Embassy in Libya. It鈥檚 proposing to allocate nearly $41 million to restore America鈥檚 formal diplomatic presence in the North African nation.
The effort comes amid new warnings of Iranian-related attacks against U.S. facilities and interests around the world, particularly in the Middle East.
The department told lawmakers that the money would cover 鈥渁 range of security-related activities associated with plans for the potential phased resumption of embassy operations in Libya.鈥� The embassy in Tripoli was shuttered in July 2014.
The Trump administration reopened the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela following the ouster of former President Nicolas Maduro in January and is also seeking to reopen the closed embassy in Damascus, Syria.
AI stocks keep rising, even as Brent oil鈥檚 price tops $90
for makers of computer chips and other winners of the boom are carrying Wall Street higher on Tuesday after .
After rocketing higher because of the in AI chips and data centers, in recent weeks on worries that they shot too high. Concerns are also weighing that AI investments may fall off if they don鈥檛 produce as much profit and productivity as promised.
The gains came despite more climbs for oil prices, and Brent crude oil topped $90 per barrel because of . It rose 2.2% to $91.17, up from less than $72 early this month.
The oil price hikes threaten a reacceleration of , just as it was slowing more than economists expected. That in turn could push and other central banks to raise interest rates, which would for stocks and other investments.
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Rubio will meet with Chinese counterpart in Manila
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday in Manila, the State Department said.
The top diplomats from the world鈥檚 two largest economies are attending annual talks of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this week in the Philippine capital.
The ASEAN summit comes amid unfolding crises led by renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran as well as a violent skirmish in the disputed South China Sea.
The Rubio-Wang meeting could help set up the next sitdown between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Rubio said ahead of the summit that he expects Xi to visit the U.S. in September and that 鈥渋t鈥檚 incumbent on powerful, important countries like ours to continue to talk and have a relationship.鈥�
Secret Service agent injured at White House correspondents鈥� dinner will be honored at make-up event
Secret Service Police Officer Victor Gonzales will be given a special award for exceptional service at a , the association said Tuesday.
Gonzales was at a security checkpoint during the April dinner when it was by a gunman who prosecutors say was trying to assassinate Trump. The Secret Service said Gonzales was struck in his protective vest as he engaged the gunman, who was tackled outside the ballroom.
鈥淗is swift and decisive actions assisted in deterring the gunman from proceeding any further,鈥� the Secret Service said.
A being held Friday at the Waldorf Astoria hotel at 罢谤耻尘辫鈥檚 encouragement will also honor Washington Hilton hotel staff who helped guests in the aftermath.
US military identifies soldier killed while disarming a drone in Iraq
The military said it was investigating the death of Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton of Fayetteville, North Carolina, of an Iranian drone on Sunday at an air base in Irbil.
Swinton, 30, will get a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge, and be promoted to staff sergeant, the military said in a statement.
He enlisted in the Army in 2017, and was assigned to the 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, out of Fort Bragg.
Two U.S. Army soldiers were killed in Jordan on Friday while defending against . They were the first U.S. troop deaths from direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war.
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