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The cost of the Iran war has risen to $43.6B, Pentagon tells Congress

The cost of the Iran war has risen to $43.6B, Pentagon tells Congress

The Pentagon estimates that the Iran war has cost more than $43.6 billion as of Sept. 3, according to an update shared with Congress.
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Senators Demand Transparency from Secretary Hegseth on Iran War Costs and Strategy

Senators Demand Transparency from Secretary Hegseth on Iran War Costs and Strategy

Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and a bipartisan group of their colleagues, including Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), have sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demanding a comprehensive accounting of the costs associated with the ongoing war with Iran. The senators criticized the Department of Defense for withholding crucial budget information from Congress and the American public, despite increasing U.S. casualties and taxpayer expenses. The letter highlights that the conflict, which President Trump initially stated would last six weeks, has now extended beyond six months, resulting in 18 American servicemember deaths and over 820 wounded. More than 50,000 troops are currently deployed to the Middle East, with deployments repeatedly extended, causing concern among military families. The senators also pointed out that American taxpayers have incurred an additional $100 billion in higher gas and diesel prices and at least $60 billion in increased costs for groceries, mortgages,...
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Top NATO commander joins briefing on review of US defence engagement in Europe

Top NATO commander joins briefing on review of US defence engagement in Europe

BRUSSELS, Sept 18 (Reuters) - NATO's top commander, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, took part in a virtual briefing  on Friday for Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby on potential approaches to a review of US troop deployments in Europe.
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ACLU Women's Rights Project Files FOIA Request on Pentagon Review of Women in Combat Roles

ACLU Women's Rights Project Files FOIA Request on Pentagon Review of Women in Combat Roles

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Women's Rights Project (WRP), alongside the National Women's Law Center (NWLC) and the Service Women's Action Network (SWAN), has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Department of Defense (DoD). This request seeks records related to a formal review initiated by the DoD concerning the 'effectiveness' of women in ground combat roles. The review, launched in December 2025, directs the Army and Marine Corps to provide data on the operational effectiveness of units with women integrated into combat roles. This comes a decade after the lifting of restrictions that allowed women to compete for these positions, with approximately 5,000 women having served in such roles. The DoD initially assigned the review to the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) and later reassigned it to Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), extending its duration to one year. The organizations filing the FOIA request express concern that this review ma...
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US military says it killed four in strike on alleged drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean

US military says it killed four in strike on alleged drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean

The U.S. military has attacked another boat suspected of being used to smuggle drugs in the Caribbean Sea, killing four people
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Implements Mandatory Testosterone Testing for Male Service Members

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Implements Mandatory Testosterone Testing for Male Service Members

The Pentagon has issued formal guidance for mandatory testosterone testing for male service members aged 30 and older. This policy, announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in July, aims to screen troops for 'testosterone deficiency' to ensure they operate at their 'absolute best.' While Hegseth's initial memo suggested mandatory screenings for all troops, the clinical guidance released on Thursday specifies that it applies only to male service members. The guidance for female service members regarding estrogen-based therapy is currently under review. The Pentagon's initiative aligns with a growing public interest in testosterone, often promoted by men's health influencers, though medical experts question the broad claims of its benefits. The new policy deviates from typical medical recommendations, which usually suggest testing only for men exhibiting symptoms and after two blood tests confirm low levels.
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Representative Thomas Massie Introduces Impeachment Articles Against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Over Iran War Handling

Representative Thomas Massie Introduces Impeachment Articles Against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Over Iran War Handling

U.S. Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, has introduced eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The impeachment effort stems from Hegseth's handling of the war with Iran. Massie's resolution carries special procedural powers, which initiated a legislative clock requiring GOP leaders to schedule a vote on the matter. However, reports indicate that Republicans have found a way to postpone this vote by sending members home early for a seven-week campaigning recess ahead of the midterm elections, pushing the vote until after November. Massie has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration and previously lost his re-election bid to a candidate backed by President Trump. He asserts that Hegseth has demonstrated actions grossly incompatible with his duties and the rule of law, posing a threat to the Constitution.
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Trump says progress made toward establishing US Army base in Poland

Trump says progress made toward establishing US Army base in Poland

WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday that progress is being made toward establishing a US Army base in Poland, crediting "the bold leadership" of Polish President Karol Nawrocki. "If this happens, the location will be announced very soon.
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Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Expected to Depart Amid Tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Expected to Depart Amid Tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is reportedly expected to leave his position by the end of the year. This anticipated departure comes amidst growing tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Army is currently operating without a Senate-confirmed permanent chief of staff, as Hegseth removed General Randy George from that role in April without public explanation. General Christopher LaNeve, the Army's vice chief of staff, is currently serving as acting chief of staff. During his tenure, Driscoll, alongside General George, championed the integration of new technologies and lessons learned from the conflict in Ukraine. Private companies committed over $25 billion to projects linked to Army bases under Driscoll's leadership. President Trump has publicly commended Driscoll's work.
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The Latest: Trump says EU allowing Canada as associate member could be a ‘hostile act’

The Latest: Trump says EU allowing Canada as associate member could be a ‘hostile act’

President Donald Trump suggested that the European Union allowing Canada to become an associate member could be a “hostile act” and threatened to respond to the proposed move by imposing more tariffs on the bloc
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Pentagon to proceed with controversial testosterone testing after pause

Pentagon to proceed with controversial testosterone testing after pause

By Gram Slattery WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - The Pentagon is reinstituting a mandatory testing program for testosterone deficiency among US service members age 30 and older, a spokesperson said on Thursday, bringing back a program that many medical experts have described as unnecessary and
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Democratic senator calls for US diplomats to help guide Europe troop review

Democratic senator calls for US diplomats to help guide Europe troop review

By Gram Slattery WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - A key Senate Democrat has asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure that U.S. diplomats are involved in a Pentagon-led review of America's military presence in Europe that has alarmed NATO allies.