Good Thursday evening. In this edition: Pentagon eyes $200 billion Iran funding request while Trump says he has no plans for boots on the ground.
Plus, Mullin, Gabbard, Pearl Harbor and Kent.
Iran War
The Pentagon is seeking $200 billion in additional funds for the war in Iran, though Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned the figure could change as he deferred to President Trump on how long the conflict will last.
"We're going back to Congress and our folks there to ensure that we're properly funded for what's been done, for what we may have to do in the future."
The supplemental funding request, which the administration would need to submit to Congress, would set up what is expected to be a contentious fight over a war lawmakers have had little to no say in.
Democrats are expected to push back on any additional funding for a war they have sharply criticized and which remains largely unpopular with the American people.
Unless Republicans attempt to advance the package through the reconciliation process, the funding measure would be subject to the Senate's 60-vote filibuster threshold, giving Democrats leverage.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) signaled he was open to the package, saying the U.S. must "adequately fund defense."
"I'm sure it will be detailed and specified. I'm sure it's not a random number, so we'll look at that," he told reporters, adding that it's "a dangerous time in the world."
President Trump said the administration was asking for the funds "for a lot of reasons beyond even what we're talking about in Iran."
The size of the request could also signal the Pentagon expects operations to last longer than its previously floated four-to-six-week timeline.
Secretary Hegseth told reporters that Thursday would be "largest strike package yet" in the nearly three-week-long operation. "Our capabilities continue to build, Iran's continue to degrade," he said.
The Pentagon chief declined to estimate how long the war would last, saying the timeline would be determined by President Trump.
"It will be at the president's choosing, ultimately, where we say, 'Hey, we've achieved what we need to on behalf of the American people to ensure our security,'" he said. "So, no time set on that, but we're very much on track."
President Trump also declined to put a timeline on the war but told reporters "it's going to be over with soon" and described the "little excursion" as "substantially ahead of schedule."
"We've obliterated their navy, we've obliterated their — just about everything there is to be obliterated," he said. "As you know, their leadership is gone."
He also told reporters he was not putting American troops on the ground in Iran as speculation mounts that he is considering doing so to support operations.
"I'm not puttingtroops anywhere," he said. "If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you. But I'm not putting troops."
With oil prices continuing to rise, multiple outlets have reported the administration is considering using troops to secure the Strait of Hormuz, as well as Iran's Kharg Island, the hub for 90% of the country's oil exports.
The administration has also reportedly discussed conducting a highly complex special operations mission to secure the regime's enriched uranium, much of which is stored in deep underground facilities.
So far, at least 13 U.S. service members have died in the conflict since it began late last month, with another 200 wounded, though many have since returned to duty.
The Senate Homeland Security Committeevoted8–7 to advance Sen. Markwayne Mullin's (R-OK) nomination to be Homeland Security secretary to the Senate floor. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), the panel's chair, voted against the nomination after bitterly clashing with Sen. Mullin during his confirmation hearing Wednesday, while Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) voted in favor. The nomination will next be considered by the full Senate, with a cloture vote possible as early as this weekend, where Sen. Mullin is expected to receive support from almost all Republicans. If confirmed, Sen. Mullin would replace Secretary Kristi Noem, whom President Trump fired earlier this month and who is expected to leave her post atop the Homeland Security Department by the end of March.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbardtold lawmakers the U.S. and Israel have different objectives in their joint military actions against Iran. "The Israeli government has been focused on disabling the Iranian leadership," she said during a House Intelligence Committee hearing. President Trump, she said, is focused on eliminating the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missile production, and navy. Rep. Julian Castro (D-TX) pressed the director on whether such a misalignment could threaten a potential deal with the Islamic Republic. "I don't know Israel's position on that," Ms. Gabbard replied.
President Trumpcracked an awkward joke about the World War II attack on Pearl Harbor during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as he responded to a question about why the U.S. did not inform allies ahead of its plans to attack Iran. "You don't want to signal too much, you know, when we go in — we went in very hard and we didn't tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise," he told reporters. "Who knows better about surprise than Japan?" he added, drawing laughter in the Oval Office. "Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor?" the president followed up, quieting the room.
The FBI is investigating former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent in connection with alleged leaks of classified information, Semafor reported first. The probe began before Mr. Kent resigned earlier this week from his post, citing his opposition to the war in Iran. In his resignation letter, Mr. Kent said Iran "posed no imminent threat to our nation" and accused President Trump of starting the war due to "pressure from Israel."
For your radar…
The Senate continues debate on the SAVE America Act on Friday, with work expected to extend through the weekend. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN2 starting at 10am ET.
