American killed in West Bank protests

September 6, 2024

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Defense and
National Security

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House Republicans unveil emergency plan to address VA budget shortfall

House Republicans on Friday unveiled an emergency funding plan to address the nearly $3 billion budget shortfall facing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). House Appropriations Committee Republicans, along with House Veterans Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), announced the Veterans Benefits Continuance and Accountability Supplemental Appropriations Act. “My bill is focused on ensuring we deliver on the bill we've named the Veterans Benefits Continuance and Accountability Supplemental Appropriations Act…

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Zelensky calls for increased air defense systems and long-range strike capabilities

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. and Western leaders on Friday and called for increased air defense and long-range strike capabilities as Russia continues to attack Ukraine with missiles and drones. Zelenskyy said his country's forces are “operating with minimal weapons,” at the start of a meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Liaison Group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

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Navy Secretary breaks law by supporting Biden: watchdog group

The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) said Thursday that Secretary of the Navy Carlos del Toro's apparent support for President Biden's reelection and criticism of former President Trump in January violated laws restricting certain political activity by federal employees. In a report sent to Biden, the OSC, an independent federal investigative agency, said del Toro violated the Hatch Act, a law that bans political activity.

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Our Radar

Upcoming topics we are keeping an eye on:

Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCall (Republican, Texas) hold a press conference on Monday The Biden administration Afghanistan withdrawal 2021.
Vietnamese Defense Minister Gen.Phan Van Giang I will visit pentagon on monday.

In other news

Read another article from The Hill:

2024 election remains safe amid ongoing efforts to influence elections

Intelligence agencies have determined that foreign adversaries have not attempted to disrupt the government's efforts to conduct the 2024 elections, despite their efforts to widen divisions in the United States. “Our assessment is that it would be extremely difficult for a foreign power to manipulate the electoral process…

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Tomorrow's schedule

Happenings in and outside the defense industry:

of Center for Strategic and International Studies Chat now Cybersecurity 9:15 AM ET Online Events.
of Atlantic Council Look The threat of climate change For international security at 4 p.m. Hybrid Events.
of Hudson Institute Discuss with Governor of Okinawa Prefecture Denny Tamaki10am on U.S.-Japan relations In-person events.
of Stimson Center Discuss Israeli-Palestinian Peace and Human Rights 10am Online Events.
of Wilson Center Analyze Taiwan, China, and the United States 4pm Online Events.

What we're reading

Other media highlights:

Vladimir Putin's flagship Arctic gas projects struggle Attract customers (Financial Times)
We The risk appears to be increasing Russian “sabotage” Secret military forces destroy vital undersea cables (CNN)
DC Lobbyist The battle is over The Future of the Orthodox Church Ukraine (The Washington Post)
US-Iraq The transaction is Hundreds of soldiers retreatAccording to sources, the first yearReuters)

Trending Today

Two big stories currently on The Hill:

Boebert defended her vote against veterans' health care benefits, saying she didn't want to spend “$600 billion forever.”

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) on Tuesday defended her vote against a bipartisan bill to expand health benefits for veterans, saying… read more

New poll finds Florida and Texas within margin of error in Harris vs. Trump race

Polling companies have said Florida and Texas are within the margin of error for the presidential election between former President Trump and Vice President Harris. read more