 Defense &
National Security |
Defense &
National Security |
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White House begins migrant flights to Guantánamo Bay |
The Trump administration has begun flying immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally to Guantánamo Bay amid plans to use the Cuba facility to detain thousands of migrants. |
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday confirmed the first flights from the U.S. to Guantánamo Bay carrying migrants lacking permanent legal status were underway. Trump last week signed a memo directing the departments of Defense and Homeland Security to prepare a 30,000-person migrant hold facility at Guantánamo Bay, an installation in Cuba best known as a military base used to house military prisoners, including several involved in the 9/11 attacks. The facility for military prisoners became infamous for accusations of torture and abuse as the U.S. carried out the war on terrorism. The Biden administration sought to wind down operations at the facility, but there are 15 detainees still there. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called Guantánamo Bay a "perfect place" to house migrants, and in recent days U.S. troops have arrived at the facility to help prepare it. About 300 service members will support the holding operations at the facility, but those numbers may change. "Due process will be followed, and having facilities at Guantánamo Bay will be an asset to us," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Sunday on "Meet the Press." Noem would not say whether women and children would be kept at Guantánamo Bay. U.S. military flights also have transported migrants to Ecuador, Guam, Honduras, Peru and in one case India.
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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Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee are asking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to probe what's driving the price hikes in rent and housing costs for military families. Specifically, 15 Democrats — led by the committee's ranking member, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) — wrote a letter on Monday asking the Department of Defense (DOD) to investigate whether the high prices are a result of … |
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The Marine Corps has passed an audit for the second year in a row, the only military service to do so, the branch announced Tuesday. "Independent auditors verified that the Marine Corps' financial records are materially accurate, complete, and compliant with federal regulations and issued an unmodified opinion for Fiscal Year 2024," Marine Corps officials said in a statement alongside the audit report. Such efforts … |
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Former Georgia Rep. Doug Collins (R) will lead the Department of Veterans Affairs after the Senate on Tuesday easily voted to confirm him as secretary. The chamber voted 77-23, with roughly half of Senate Democrats joining all 53 Republicans in voting for Collins. The vote concludes a relatively painless confirmation process for Collins, who had an uncontentious nomination hearing before the Senate Veterans' Affairs … |
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President Trump indicated Monday he wants a deal for rare earth elements and other items from Ukraine in exchange for continued military aid in the nation's war against Russia. "We’re handing them money hand over fist. We’re giving them equipment," Trump said Monday. "We’re looking to do a deal with Ukraine, where they’re going to secure what we’re giving them with their rare earth … |
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Upcoming things we're watching on our beat: |
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio continues his tour of Central America, with remarks made Tuesday in Costa Rica alongside the country's President Rodrigo Chavez. Stops are still planned for Guatemala and the Dominican Republic.
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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Gabbard, RFK Jr. pass committee hurdles in win for Trump |
Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday cleared crucial hurdles toward winning Senate confirmation, handing President Trump a key win as he looks for an early display of loyalty from GOP lawmakers. Gabbard and Kennedy overcame high-stakes committee votes that went down to the wire in their … |
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Events in and around the defense world: |
- A House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee will hold a hearing on "America Builds: Maritime Infrastructure," at 10 a.m.
- Hudson Institute will hear from former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at 10 a.m.
- Hudson Institute will also host a discussion on "Increased Economic Pressure Will Help the Trump Administration End Russia's War Against Ukraine," at 1:30 p.m.
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News we've flagged from other outlets: |
- US aid freeze puts at risk Ukraine's wartime help for frontline evacuees (The Associated Press)
- Buckley Space Force Base won't house immigrant detainees after all, U.S. Rep. Jason Crow says — but ICE is mum (The Denver Post)
- Cold snap, flooding cause chaos for patients at Defense Department's flagship hospital (Military.com)
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Two key stories on The Hill right now: |
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Congress has placed a hold on a $1 billion arms sale package for Israel that was readied alongside President Trump welcoming Israeli Prime Minister … Read more |
| President Trump on Tuesday said that he has left instructions that if Iran were to assassination him, the country should be destroyed. The president … Read more |
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Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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