Edited By CURTIS YEE, MICHAEL WARREN, LUENA RODRIGUEZ-FEO VILEIRA and NELL CLARK
Here’s what we’re following:
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is testifying before the Senate Tuesday to make a case for U.S. President Donald Trump’s $87.6 billion supplemental funding request, mostly intended to replenish the Pentagon after the U.S. war against Iran. Hegseth said the war has cost $37.5 billion, so far. Hegseth 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.
- Trump delivered a dim view of possible talks with Iran to end the war, telling reporters Tuesday that the U.S. has “no interest in meeting” until Iran is ready to convene “in a meaningful way.”
- Also on Tuesday, Trump hosted his first-ever meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who is looking for a path to long-term calm after months of war at home between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. Lebanon and Israel continue to hold rare direct talks mediated by Washington. Hours after the meeting, Trump made the surprise announcement that he’d allow U.S. carriers to resume direct flights to Lebanon for the first time in over 40 years.
- The U.S. military on Tuesday identified an American soldier killed disarming a drone in Iraq as Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of North Carolina. A day earlier, the military identified two U.S. soldiers killed in Jordan while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Seventeen U.S. troops have been killed since the start of the war.
25 min ago
Trump to campaign in Michigan days before battleground state’s primary election
By JOEY CAPPELLETTI
Trump is expected to hold a rally outside Detroit on July 27 as early voting gets underway in Michigan’s 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’s 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.
1:24 p.m. PDT
Caine acknowledges limits of air strikes to win war
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine listens at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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.
“As you look across the totality of history, airpower’s got limits, and we always have to be mindful of those,” Caine said. “I think where America’s area of exclusivity is, is when we bring the totality of the diplomatic, informational, economic and pair that with the military. And there’s a lot of that work going on.”
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: “Iran will continue to be a challenge moving forward.”
48 min ago
Hegseth estimates Iran war has cost $37.5B so far
By LISA MASCARO
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the U.S. war against Iran has cost $37.5 billion, so far, as he is facing questions and protests at a Senate hearing ahead of a $95 billion GOP budget package 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’s opening remarks, which come days after the Pentagon announced that three more American service members have died in the conflict, bringing the death toll to 17, and that more than 100 have been injured since early July.
Hegseth said the supplemental war funding is an “urgent, necessary” injection of funds, and with President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget a generational investment in the military.
“Without these funds, we face critical shortfalls,” Hegseth testified.
57 min ago
Hegseth warns that troop training and pay is in doubt if military doesn’t get more money
By BEN FINLEY
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned senators that troop training would have to be curtailed if the Pentagon doesn’t 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.
“Without these funds, we face critical shortfalls that threaten our ability to also simply pay our service members,” 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.
58 min ago
Trump says direct US-Lebanon flights could resume for first time in more than 40 years
By KAREEM CHEYAHEB, WILL WEISSERT
President Donald Trump said Tuesday he’ll 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’s administration following the hijacking of TWA Flight 847.
“I 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,” 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’s leader, Joseph Aoun, Trump pledged to help Lebanon “a lot.” Aoun came to Washington to push for long-term calm after months of war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.
12:25 p.m. PDT
Hegseth’s remarks repeatedly interrupted by anti-war protestors
By MATT BROWN
One after another, protestors interrupted the defense secretary’s opening remarks and were quickly removed by Capitol Police. The secretary paused four times for protestors to be removed from the room.
“Stop bombing our children, stop bombing Palestine, this is illegal,” yelled one protestor who was escorted from the room.
“We will have order in the hearing room,” Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, told the room after a third protestor interrupted Hegseth’s remarks.
Collins added after a fourth protester interrupted proceedings: “I would ask that the Capitol Police, whose professionalism I admire, remove those who are seeking to disrupt the hearing.”
12:07 p.m. PDT
Senators criticize Iran war’s costs and Hegseth’s leadership as hearing begins
By BEN FINLEY
Senators opened Tuesday’s hearing on the Iran war’s 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 $95 billion budget package 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’s leadership, arguing that it’s “likely to discourage well qualified women and individuals of color from joining our armed forces.”
Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat, noted the war’s lack of popular support and impact on the economy as gas prices rise and economic growth slows.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., arrives before Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine attend a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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