Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Kash Patel declined to confirm or deny plans to visit Moscow — Kash Patel, when asked whether he was planning to go to Moscow and for what purpose, declined to provide specifics, stating: "We're not going to announce where we're gonna go and when we're gonna go, except to tell you that this DOJ is going to go wherever we need to go to mete out justice for the American people." The response avoided direct confirmation or denial of Moscow travel plans.
• Vice President Vance defended Musk's Starlink decisions — Vice President JD Vance was asked whether he agreed with Republicans calling for an investigation into Musk's Starlink decisions. Vance responded that Musk "runs a private corporation" and that it is "completely understandable that he doesn't want to get in the middle of a war without the US govt directing him on what to do," and stated "I don't think this is about Elon."
• Sen. Kevin Cramer expressed concerns about Musk's influence over national security — Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) stated that he had concerns about Elon Musk's influence over national security matters following Ukraine's disruption of Starlink access. Cramer said that "one individual and one company has control over America's ability to protect the domain of space, which is a war-fighting domain," and expressed discomfort with "vendor lock-in" in space assets.
• SpaceX investor Ross Gerber criticized Musk's Starlink decisions on CNN — SpaceX investor Ross Gerber stated on CNN that he is "disgusted" with Elon Musk's decisions regarding Starlink, characterizing them as "strategically horrendous" and "horrible" from a humanitarian perspective. Gerber expressed concern that Musk could restrict Starlink access to the United States if he disagreed with a sitting president, and called for development of competitors to Starlink to ensure national security independence.

Supporting reports

• Congress members vow investigation into Starlink service cuts to Ukraine — Multiple Congress members, including Republicans, announced they will investigate and hold accountable whoever was responsible for cutting Starlink service to Ukraine. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) stated those limiting Starshield "will be fully investigated and will be held fully accountable" and promised "immediate harsh and punitive budget cuts" to responsible agencies.
• Bipartisan lawmakers called for investigation into Elon Musk's Starlink restrictions on Ukraine — The Wall Street Journal reported that bipartisan lawmakers are calling for an investigation into Elon Musk after SpaceX restricted Ukraine's access to the Starlink satellite network. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) told CNN that Congress must compel Musk to testify and could block federal funding for agencies that played a role in throttling the network. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) stated that national security decisions should be made in the national interest, not based on "the personal whim of an unstable executive."
• Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick stated Congress could block federal funding over Starlink throttling — Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) told CNN that Congress must investigate the Starlink network restrictions, call witnesses under oath, and get to the bottom of the matter because it is "a very, very serious matter." Fitzpatrick indicated that Congress could block funding for federal agencies or agency heads that played any role in throttling the network.
• Sen. Adam Schiff called for Musk to testify under oath — Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) stated that the Senate must put Elon Musk under oath regarding the Starlink restrictions. Schiff emphasized that national security decisions should be made in the national interest and not based on "the personal whim of an unstable executive."
• Sen. Cramer received briefing on Starshield and called for competition in space — Sen. Kevin Cramer received a briefing from Air Force Secretary Troy Meink on Starshield and told reporters that he wanted Congress and the Pentagon to "pour a lot of resources into making sure there's lots of competition both for satellite production and satellite launch." Cramer stated he was "uncomfortable with the potential vendor lock in space" and that recent events had demonstrated greater concern than cost alone.

Supporting reports

• Senate Republicans block war powers resolution to end US-Iran conflict — Senate Republicans voted down a House-passed war powers resolution on Thursday, September 25, 2026, that sought to end the US military conflict with Iran. The measure failed 49-50, despite bipartisan House passage and support from four Republican senators (Tillis, Murkowski, Paul, Collins). The conflict had reached 200 days with 19 US service members killed and over 750 injured. Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer and Andy Kim, invoked the War Powers Resolution to force the vote. The defeat marks the latest in a series of failed Democratic attempts to end the war since Trump ordered military strikes in late February 2026.

Supporting reports

• House approves $73bn budget for Iran war without Senate Democratic input — House Republicans approved a budget plan allocating $73 billion for the ongoing war with Iran on July 23, 2026, using reconciliation procedures to circumvent the Democratic filibuster in the Senate. The authorization falls short of the Pentagon's original $350 billion request needed to reach the administration's $1.5 trillion overall defense spending target for fiscal 2027. The move reflects Republican efforts to fund military operations without requiring bipartisan Senate approval.
• House passes $1.15tn defense bill with partisan voting and embedded voting restrictions — The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a $1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a 216-212 vote on July 23, 2026. The bill includes military pay raises, codifies renaming the Pentagon the "Department of War," and allocates funds for the ongoing war with Iran. Democrats largely opposed the measure, citing Trump's unilateral decision to attack Iran without congressional authorization, the inclusion of the Save America Act (banning mail-in ballots and imposing voter ID restrictions), and provisions deepening US-Israel defense cooperation. The bill now proceeds to the Senate.
• House passed National Defense Authorization Act with Section 219 — The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which includes Section 219, a controversial provision requiring the U.S. military to share sensitive technology with Israel. Six Democrats voted for the bill: Reps. Henry Cuellar (TX), Donald Davis (NC), Jared Golden (ME), Vicente Gonzalez (TX), Adam Gray (CA), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA). Seven Republicans voted against it: Reps. Josh Brecheen (OK), Tim Burchett (TN), Elijah Crane (AZ), Harriet Hageman (WY), Anna Paulina Luna (FL), Thomas Massie (KY), and Chip Roy (TX).
• Rep. Lauren Boebert missed NDAA vote citing Section 219 concerns — Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) told TMZ she missed the NDAA vote because she was waiting for a call from Secretary Hegseth and the vote was closed before she could participate. She stated she opposed Section 219 because her constituents do not want the military technology swap with Israel and said she was trying to avoid reporters due to recent Botox injections.
• Rep. Thomas Massie opposes NDAA Section 219 — Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) stated that Section 219 of the NDAA "tragically merges our military technology and supply chains with Israel's" and called it "a betrayal of our sovereignty," expressing hope the provision would fail in the Senate.
• House Republicans merge NDAA with voting restrictions (Save America Act) — House Republicans, bowing to pressure from rightwing lawmakers and Trump, merged the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with the Save America Act, legislation that would ban mail-in ballots and impose new voter identification requirements at registration and ballot-casting. Democrats objected to the $1.15tn NDAA cost and halted advancement of the Senate version in protest of renewed Iran hostilities, complicating the defense budget's Senate passage.
• House Republicans pass $95bn Iran war spending and voting restrictions before summer recess — House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, passed a $95bn budget blueprint for Iran war spending and a super-sized military budget (NDAA) merged with voting restrictions (the Save America Act) during their final week before summer recess. Four dissident Republicans joined Democrats to pass a symbolic war powers resolution mandating Trump withdraw troops from Iran. Senate Republican leader John Thune signaled he would place the budget on "hold" as leverage in funding negotiations, raising the likelihood the Iran spending question remains undecided until September.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon requests $67 billion emergency appropriation for Iran war operations — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee requesting an emergency injection of $67 billion to fund Pentagon operations through the end of the fiscal year on September 30. The Pentagon has sunk billions into the war in Iran; Hegseth stated the war cost $37.5 billion, though independent analysts estimate the true cost is significantly higher. The Navy and Air Force are projected to run out of money at the end of July 2026.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth requests $67 billion supplemental appropriation for Iran War operations — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared before Congress on Tuesday, July 22, requesting an additional $67 billion in supplemental funding to sustain Defense Department operations through the end of September. The request follows escalating military operations in Iran that have exhausted the expanded budget Congress previously provided. Senator Lisa Murkowski raised concerns that the administration may be attempting to use supplemental appropriations as a backdoor mechanism to satisfy War Powers Resolution requirements without explicit congressional authorization for military action.
• Hegseth requests $88bn supplemental funding for Iran war at Senate hearing — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate appropriations committee on the US-Israel war on Iran, disclosing that the conflict has cost $37.5bn to date and requesting approximately $88bn in supplemental funding ($67.1bn specifically for Iran operations). Hegseth warned that without the funds, the Pentagon faces "critical shortfalls" affecting military pay, equipment replenishment, and operations. The hearing occurred amid a collapsed ceasefire, recent American combat deaths, and bipartisan criticism over shifting war rationales and lack of congressional authorization.
• Hegseth requests $454bn defense budget increase to $1.5tn, citing "generational investment" — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate appropriations committee on July 21, 2026, requesting a $454bn increase in military spending for 2027, bringing the total to approximately $1.5tn—a 44% increase that would match World War II spending levels when adjusted for inflation. The request includes $67bn in emergency defense funds for 2026, with $37.5bn allocated to ongoing Iran war operations through September 30. Hegseth also disclosed that $75bn from a prior $156bn appropriation remains unobligated with no detailed spending plan.

Supporting reports

• Secretary Hegseth provides inconsistent testimony on Iran war objectives — During Senate Appropriations Committee testimony, Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) questioned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about statements made early in the Iran conflict claiming core objectives were to "destroy the missile threat" and "obliterate Iran's missiles and drones." Hegseth had declared four months earlier that all objectives had been achieved. When pressed, Hegseth declined to confirm whether the missile threat had been defeated, instead redefining "combat ineffective" to mean Iran could not deploy missiles at scale against the United States. Ossoff noted that Hegseth had assured the American people of Iranian surrender on day nine of the war and asked whether his statement that Iran's military had been "destroyed and made combat ineffective" was truthful.
• Senator Murray challenged Hegseth's claim that Iran's missile program is "functionally destroyed." — Senator Patty Murray cited Hegseth's April 8 statement that Iran's missile program was "functionally destroyed" with "launchers, production facilities and existing stockpiles depleted and decimated." She noted that Iran has been firing missiles at U.S. military bases and ships for the past week, contradicting Hegseth's assessment. Hegseth responded only that "Iran is at the weakest point militarily it has ever been in in the past decade."
• Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chair Caine testified on $1.5 trillion DOD budget request. — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chair Dan Caine testified before the Senate to defend a $1.5 trillion DOD budget request—nearly double the 2024 budget of $841 billion. Hegseth stated "not funding this department at $1.5 trillion is the greatest threat our nation faces," while Caine acknowledged air power has limits in achieving military objectives.
• Senator Durbin questioned unobligated DOD funding and "woke priorities" pivot. — Senator Dick Durbin asked Hegseth about $75 billion in unobligated DOD funding from the prior year's reconciliation package. Hegseth acknowledged the figure and stated "There's plans and designs on that - move away from all the woke priorities of what the Biden admin was pursuing," indicating funds would be redirected away from diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Senator Merkley pressed Caine on civilian infrastructure targeting in retaliation. — Senator Jeff Merkley questioned Joint Chiefs Chair Dan Caine on whether the U.S. would target civilian infrastructure in retaliatory strikes, noting that international law prohibits such targeting. Caine responded only that "we have a robust process," declining to provide explicit assurance that civilian infrastructure would be protected.
• Senator Murray questioned necessity of National Guard funding and Caribbean strikes for Iran war. — Senator Patty Murray asked Hegseth why "billions of dollars more for the National Guard and this administration's illegal strikes in the Caribbean" are urgently needed for the Iran war. Hegseth responded by blaming "gross negligence and neglect of the Biden admin" without addressing the substance of her question about the connection between Caribbean operations and Iran conflict.
• Senator Reed challenged Hegseth on war authorization and Strait of Hormuz contingencies. — Senator Jack Reed accused Hegseth of "gross negligence" for failing to fully inform Trump that the Strait of Hormuz could be effectively closed by Iranian action. Reed questioned whether Trump should be "praised for starting war without authority" and creating conditions where "the world economy is suffering tremendously," challenging the administration's failure to obtain congressional authorization.
• Senator Reed questioned whether airstrikes alone will defeat Iran; Caine declined to address ground troop escalation. — Senator Jack Reed asked Joint Chiefs Chair Dan Caine whether airstrikes alone would defeat Iran. Caine acknowledged that "air power has got limits" but declined to address whether ground combat escalation would follow, stating "I think it'd be unhelpful for me to opine on hypotheticals."

Supporting reports

• House Republicans pass budget resolution authorizing $95bn reconciliation bill for Iran war, farm aid, and voting restrictions — The Republican-controlled House passed a 216-214 budget resolution on Wednesday authorizing a $95bn reconciliation bill. The measure allocates $73bn for military operations against Iran (responding to the Trump administration's $88bn supplemental request), $12bn for farm aid affected by the Iran conflict and tariffs, and $10bn for the House administration committee to attempt passage of the Save America Act, which would ban mail-in ballots nationwide and impose strict voter ID requirements. The reconciliation process allows passage with a simple Senate majority, bypassing the Democratic filibuster.
• House Dem Whip criticizes GOP budget as prioritizing Trump's war and voter suppression — House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark issued a statement criticizing the House GOP's latest partisan budget, stating it allocates $73 billion for Trump's war, $10 billion for voter suppression, and $0 to lower costs. Clark characterized the budget as a misallocation of priorities away from helping constituents.
• House GOP leaders schedule packed floor agenda including Iran war funding and defense policy — House GOP leaders scheduled a packed floor agenda for the week of July 20, with only four days remaining before summer recess. The schedule includes the annual defense policy package, a bill to fund the government beyond the midterms, a budget resolution to unlock the reconciliation process, and a GOP-led stock trading ban measure. The agenda includes a $95 billion fiscal blueprint that includes funds for Iran war and farm aid, along with a watered-down version of an elections bill.
• House Democrats criticized Secretary of Defense Hegseth's Senate testimony — Multiple House Democrats, including Jeffries, Raskin, and AOC, publicly criticized Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's testimony before the Senate. The criticism followed Hegseth's appearance before the Senate, where he faced questioning about his qualifications and positions.
• House voted on budget resolution for third GOP reconciliation package — The House of Representatives voted on a budget resolution on July 22, 2026, that sets up a third GOP reconciliation package. Reconciliation packages allow the majority party to pass legislation with a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing the normal 60-vote threshold.
• Rep. Ted Lieu criticized UN Ambassador Mike Waltz over wounded troop figures — Rep. Ted Lieu publicly criticized UN Ambassador Mike Waltz during a hearing, challenging the accuracy of figures Waltz provided regarding the number of wounded troops. Lieu's criticism focused on what he characterized as misrepresentation of casualty data.

Supporting reports

• House defeats amendment to halt $3.3bn military aid to Israel; 103 Democrats vote yes — The House voted 314–104 to reject Republican Thomas Massie's amendment to a spending measure that would have halted $3.3 billion in planned military aid to Israel. Over 100 House Democrats voted in favor, signaling a significant shift in party sentiment toward Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu's government following accusations of genocide in Gaza. House Democratic leaders were split: Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed it, while Whip Katherine Clark and Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar supported it. The vote reflects deepening Democratic primary pressure on Israel policy ahead of November midterms.
• House votes on amendment to cut military aid to Israel; 103 Democrats support measure — The House voted on an amendment by Republican Thomas Massie to eliminate $3.3 billion in security assistance to Israel from the state department appropriations bill. The amendment failed 314-104, but 103 House Democrats—nearly half the caucus—voted in favor, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had urged Democrats to reject the amendment, but Minority Whip Katherine Clark publicly broke ranks and voted for it, signaling a significant fracture in the traditional bipartisan consensus on Israel aid.

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• Senate Democrats block NDAA advancement to protest Trump's Iran hostilities — Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, blocked advancement of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Tuesday in protest of Trump's resumption of military hostilities with Iran. The blockade denied the bill the 60 votes needed to clear the Senate. Democrats cited an ongoing exchange of fire between the US and Iran, occurring despite passage of a war powers resolution last month intended to force a ceasefire. The NDAA authorizes $1.15 trillion in defense spending and includes military pay increases and weapons funding.

Supporting reports

• House Republicans prepared to fund Iran war without spending offsets — Punchbowl News reported that House Republicans were preparing to send the Pentagon tens of billions of dollars in new funding for an "seemingly endless Iran war" that was "bottoming out in public opinion polls." The new Pentagon money may not be offset by spending cuts elsewhere, representing a departure from fiscal constraints typically applied to other spending categories.
• House Republicans released $95 billion budget framework for military, farm, and voter suppression funding — House Republicans released a $95 billion budget framework on July 15 to fund $73 billion in additional military spending for the Iran war, $12 billion in farm bailouts related to Trump's tariff wars, and $10 billion for aspects of the SAVE America voter suppression measure. The package was designed to pass through budget reconciliation, requiring no Democratic votes. Representative Brendan Boyle (D-PA) opposed the measure as an "America Last" budget that would fund an unpopular war and voter suppression while adding to the national debt.
• House Republicans release $95 billion budget framework — House Republicans unveiled a $95 billion budget framework that includes $73 billion for military funding related to the war on Iran, $12 billion in aid for farmers affected by tariffs, and $10 billion for aspects of the SAVE America measure. The proposal is expected to be passed through budget reconciliation, which does not require Democratic votes. However, it faces opposition from both Democrats and some Republicans who are concerned about the funding priorities.

Supporting reports

• House passes war powers resolution directing end to Iran hostilities — The House passed a war powers resolution directing the president to end U.S. hostilities with Iran absent congressional authorization. The vote was 215 to 208, with four Republicans—Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom Barrett, and Warren Davidson—joining every Democrat. The measure is a concurrent resolution, so its legal force is disputed, and it now moves to the Senate, but it puts the chamber on record after months in which similar efforts had been blocked or failed on tie votes.
• House advances Ukraine aid measure — Shortly after passing the Iran war powers resolution, the House advanced a measure to aid Ukraine in its war to repel Russia's invasion by a vote of 218 to 204. If the measure passes the House and Senate, it will provide $8 billion in loans and $300 million in security aid to Ukraine.
• House passes war powers resolution on Iran — The House of Representatives passed a resolution, introduced by Democrats, directing President Trump either to stop further strikes against Iran or to obtain congressional approval for military action. The resolution passed 215 to 208, despite Speaker Mike Johnson's warning that it was "very dangerous" and would "weaken" Trump's ability to resolve the conflict. The vote occurred after Johnson had sent House members home early before Memorial Day to prevent the measure from passing. According to a New York Times–Siena College poll, 64% of registered voters believe Trump's decision to go to war was wrong, while only 30% approve of it.
• US House passes war powers resolution to curb Trump's Iran authority — The US House of Representatives voted 215–208 to pass a war powers resolution requiring President Trump to seek congressional approval to continue military operations in Iran or withdraw US forces. Four Republicans voted with Democrats: Thomas Massie (Kentucky), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania), Warren Davidson (Ohio), and Tom Barrett (Michigan). The resolution advances to the Senate, where a similar measure previously gained bipartisan support. The vote marks the fourth House attempt to enforce the 1973 War Powers Resolution's 90-day threshold, which Trump's administration has rejected by citing a ceasefire in place since April 8.

Supporting reports

• Republican officials publicly criticize Iran deal terms — Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the reported terms a framework matching the Obama-era Iran deal, the very agreement Trump spent a decade attacking. Senator Ted Cruz issued a lengthy statement expressing deep concern that Iran would emerge with billions in assets, uranium enrichment capability, and control of the Strait. Senator Roger Wicker called the deal "ill-advised." Senator Lindsey Graham warned that a deal leaving Iran in regional dominance would empower Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militias. Ben Rhodes, an Obama-era JCPOA negotiator, stated that Operation Epic Fury accomplished nothing except putting the IRGC in charge of Iran and the Strait.
• Senator Roger Wicker condemned Iran deal as surrender — Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, publicly condemned the reported Iran agreement as "a disaster" that would nullify the accomplishments of Operation Epic Fury. Wicker urged Trump to allow the armed forces to complete the destruction of Iran's conventional military capabilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that pursuing an agreement with Iran's government "risks a perception of weakness."

Supporting reports

• Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly refused to attend an emergency Oval Office meeting with Trump regarding the weaponization fund controversy, marking a potential first instance of Johnson declining a direct presidential summons. — Trump called Speaker Mike Johnson to an emergency Oval Office meeting to discuss the weaponization fund controversy. According to four aides familiar with the meeting, Johnson refused to attend, potentially marking the first time the Speaker has declined a direct presidential request. A Johnson aide subsequently denied the report. The incident reflects tension between the White House and House leadership over the fund's political viability and fiscal impact.
• House Speaker Mike Johnson adjourned Congress early to prevent war powers vote — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) sent representatives home a day early to prevent members from passing a war powers resolution that would have ordered Trump to remove U.S. troops from his military operations against Iran. The 1973 War Powers Act permits the president 60 days to conduct military operations before requiring congressional approval; that timeline expired on May 1, 2026. The administration claimed it did not need authorization because it had declared a ceasefire on April 7, though it continued to maintain a blockade against Iranian ports and exchange fire with Iranian forces.

Supporting reports

• House GOP cancels War Powers Resolution vote on Iran — House Republican leaders abruptly canceled a vote on an Iran War Powers Resolution that was likely to pass due to absences of Republican members and others who signaled support for the measure. The cancellation came after the Senate advanced a similar resolution earlier in the week to limit Trump's military action against Iran without congressional approval.
• House Republican leaders delayed Iran war-powers vote past Memorial Day recess — House Republican leaders delayed a vote on the Iran war-powers resolution into June, after appearing to lack the votes to defeat it. The measure's sponsor, Rep. Gregory Meeks, stated he believed it would have passed. A similar House resolution had fallen on a tie vote the week before. The delay postpones a constitutional confrontation over congressional war-declaration authority.
• House Republicans cancel scheduled war powers resolution vote on Iran conflict — House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled a scheduled Thursday vote on a war powers resolution that would have required President Trump to end the US war with Iran. The measure likely would have passed with bipartisan support. Democrats criticized the cancellation as cowardly avoidance of political embarrassment for Trump. The vote has been postponed until June. Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick stated the resolution would pass when brought to a vote again.
• House Republicans adjourned without voting on War Powers resolution — Rep. Johnny Olszewski (D-MD) reported that House Republicans did not have the votes to continue the war and decided to adjourn for the holiday instead of stopping the war. While the war continues, American taxpayers are paying tens of billions of dollars, service members are being lost, and gas prices are rising. The House closed up shop without addressing the War Powers resolution.

Supporting reports

• Senate Republicans blocked sixth Democratic measure to require Trump to end Iran war — Senate Republicans blocked a sixth Democratic measure, introduced by Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), that would have required President Trump to end military operations against Iran. This occurred as the 60-day War Powers Act deadline approached, after which the president must either terminate hostilities or obtain congressional approval. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) stated that Congress need not intervene because the U.S. is "not at war," contradicting the administration's own characterization of ongoing military operations.

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• Hegseth testifies before Senate Armed Services Committee on DEI dismissals — At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Defense Secretary Hegseth denied that Trump had instructed him to target Black and female officers for dismissal, but acknowledged that the administration viewed prior leadership's focus on "height, social engineering, race and gender" as "unhealthy." The testimony occurred as part of oversight of the officer purge.
• House Armed Services Committee Hearing with Pete Hegseth — Pete Hegseth, a prominent figure, faced a challenging hearing before the House Armed Services Committee. The hearing was marked by contentious exchanges and scrutiny over his qualifications and past statements. The outcome of this hearing could influence his standing and future involvement in military-related matters.
• Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Pentagon budget and Iran war strategy — Senator Jack Reed, ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, confronted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a Capitol Hill hearing on the Pentagon's $1.45 trillion budget submission. Reed accused Hegseth of providing Trump with "dangerously exaggerated" assessments of US military success in Iran, failing to give the president accurate information while pursuing a personal agenda. The hearing also addressed Hegseth's controversial personnel decisions, including firing senior commanders and inviting Kid Rock to an Army base, amid an eight-week stalemate in the Iran conflict that has closed the Strait of Hormuz and driven up fuel prices.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before House and Senate Armed Services Committees on Iran war and defense budget — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the House Armed Services Committee on April 29 and the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 30 regarding Trump's $1.5 trillion defense budget request and the ongoing Iran military operations. This was the first public administration testimony since the war began. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) detailed the strategic and human costs: 13 service members killed, over 400 wounded, dozens of aircraft lost, significant base damage, depleted missile inventory, and degraded morale and readiness across the force, particularly among overdeployed units.

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• House Democrats file six articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — On Wednesday, House Democrats led by Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) filed six articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, alleging "high crimes and misdemeanors" including an unauthorized attack on Iran that killed at least 175 people (including children) in a school strike, deadly strikes on suspected drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean, sharing classified information on Signal in 2025, withholding facts about civilian casualties, attempting to punish Senator Mark Kelly for reminding service members of their right to refuse illegal orders, and forcing transgender service members from the military. The articles assert Hegseth violated his constitutional oath and committed war crimes.

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• House rejects war-powers resolution on Iran military action — The House of Representatives voted 214–213 to reject a war-powers resolution that would have directed the President to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran absent explicit congressional authorization. The narrow margin—a single vote—reflected deep division over executive war-making authority and congressional oversight. The Senate had blocked a similar measure the day before, continuing a pattern of failed legislative efforts to reassert congressional war powers over military operations.
• House vote held on invoking War Powers Act regarding Iran — The House of Representatives held a vote on invoking the War Powers Act concerning Iran, as part of a day of multiple congressional hearings and legislative activity addressing the ongoing military operations.
• War Powers Resolution to block Iran war fails in House, 213-214 — The War Powers Resolution that would have blocked Trump from continuing Operation Epic Fury failed in the House by a single vote, 213-214. Republican Congressman Massie crossed the aisle to vote yes. Democrat Congressman Golden crossed the aisle to vote no. Republican Congressman Davidson, who had voted yes in March, voted present.
• US House rejects war powers resolution on Iran military action — The House of Representatives voted 213–214 on Thursday to reject a war powers resolution introduced by Rep. Greg Meeks that would have prohibited further military action against Iran. The resolution failed by one vote, requiring at least two additional votes to pass. Three Democrats who previously opposed similar measures—Henry Cuellar, Greg Landsman, and Juan Vargas—voted in favor this time, citing concerns about Trump's handling of the conflict and the risk of open-ended engagement. One Republican, Thomas Massie, voted for passage; one Democrat, Jared Golden, voted against.

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• RFK Jr testifies before House Ways and Means Committee on health budget amid vaccine and public health criticism — Robert F Kennedy Jr, health secretary, testified before the US House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday regarding the administration's health budget and policies. Lawmakers from both parties challenged Kennedy over sweeping changes to vaccination recommendations, promotion of vaccine misinformation during a measles outbreak affecting nearly 2,300 cases, cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, and previous racist comments about Black children. Kennedy defended his positions while promoting disputed claims about vaccine safety and hepatitis B transmission risk, and the hearing became contentious with multiple heated exchanges.
• Gov. Andy Beshear defended Pope's biblical interpretation on war — Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear responded to claims by Speaker Johnson and Vice President Vance that the Pope was misinterpreting the Bible regarding war. Beshear stated that there is no point in the New Testament where Jesus discusses just war, and that the Pope is simply speaking about Christ who could have brought down fire on the Roman Empire but chose not to. Beshear emphasized that Jesus, "the most powerful person who's ever walked the face of the Earth," could have justified violence but instead chose to be "the Prince of Peace" rather than "the Prince of Power."
• Rep. Linda Sanchez questioned RFK Jr. on public health messaging priorities — During House testimony, Rep. Linda Sanchez questioned RFK Jr. about suspending a pro-vaccine campaign while spending taxpayer dollars on a campaign featuring him drinking milk shirtless in a hot tub with Kid Rock, asking how this constituted a better public health message. RFK Jr. responded by citing global measles epidemic prevention, to which Sanchez countered that no country has seen a bigger percentage increase in measles than the United States.
• Rep. Melanie Stansbury criticized illegal war and administration's actions — Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) stated that millions of people have been displaced and American bases bombed, questioning the justification for the war. She characterized the conflict as illegal, led by a president attacking the Pope, threatening war crimes, and implicated in Epstein files, while being unable to explain the war's purpose or post-war plans.
• Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove criticized war costs and health care priorities — Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) criticized the administration's spending priorities, stating that the costs of the war are visible in rising gas prices and fertilizer costs, and that the administration wants to spend $2 billion daily on military operations rather than help Americans access health care. She used colorful language to express frustration with the spending priorities.
• Rep. Terri Sewell questioned RFK Jr. on statements about Black children and ADHD medication — Rep. Terri Sewell asked RFK Jr. whether he had ever parented a Black child, referencing a 2024 podcast interview in which he allegedly suggested Black children on ADHD medication should be "re-parented." RFK Jr. denied making the statement. The Ways & Means Committee Democrats subsequently posted a video clip of RFK Jr. from 2024 stating: "Every Black kid is now just standard put on Adderall, SSRIs, benzos, which are known to induce violence, and those kids are going to have a chance to go somewhere and get re-parented."
• RFK Jr. testified before House on health care fraud investigation — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., leading a Trump administration initiative to investigate alleged health care fraudsters, testified before the House. During questioning, Rep. Lloyd Doggett presented a case involving Paul Walczak, who retained $10 million in wages and purchased a $2 million yacht after his mother contributed to the Trump campaign, and was no longer required to pay $4.4 million or serve prison time. Doggett asked whether RFK Jr. recommended pardons for health care fraudsters or if campaign contributions influenced the decisions. RFK Jr. denied the account as not credible.
• RFK Jr. testified before House committee on HHS spending and policy — RFK Jr. testified before a House committee hearing. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici questioned HHS spending on a video of RFK Jr. drinking milk in a hot tub with Kid Rock. Rep. Greg Casar asked about 1.4 million people who lost health insurance from Obamacare; RFK Jr. responded they were "almost all illegal immigrants." Rep. Adelita Grijalva referenced RFK Jr.'s history of performing his own medical research, including cutting the penis off a dead raccoon. Rep. Summer Lee raised concerns that RFK Jr.'s agency instructed programs to remove 200 words from funding applications including the word "Black."

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• Ro Khanna introduces bill to ban US gasoline exports during price spikes — California congressman Ro Khanna introduced legislation to ban US gasoline exports when national average gas prices exceed $3.12 per gallon, responding to historic price increases triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran. The bill aims to keep domestic fuel supplies at home to lower consumer costs. Khanna also referenced a companion windfall tax proposal on fossil fuel companies introduced the previous month with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, designed to fund rebates to American taxpayers.

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• More than 85 House Democrats and two senators publicly called for Trump's removal via impeachment or 25th Amendment — Following Trump's Easter Sunday threats against Iran and Tuesday declaration that "a whole civilization will die tonight" unless Iran met demands by 8 p.m., more than 85 House Democrats and two Democratic senators publicly called for the president's removal via impeachment, the 25th Amendment, or both. Former Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene also raised the 25th Amendment. Rep. John Larson filed articles of impeachment. By Wednesday, House Democratic leadership signaled greater openness to the issue, with Minority Leader Jeffries announcing a virtual briefing on Trump administration accountability and the 25th Amendment.
• Trump escalated Iran threats to civilization-ending language, then announced two-week ceasefire less than two hours before deadline — President Trump escalated threats against Iran to language suggesting an entire civilization could die, then pivoted to announce a two-week ceasefire less than two hours before his own stated deadline. The ceasefire announcement did not resolve the political damage from the escalation. The timing and rhetoric marked a significant shift in executive communication on military conflict.

Supporting reports

• Rep. John Larson filed articles of impeachment against Trump — Rep. John Larson filed articles of impeachment against President Trump in response to his threats against Iran, including his Easter Sunday post threatening "Hell" for Iran and his Tuesday declaration that "a whole civilization will die tonight" unless Iran met his demands by 8 p.m.

Supporting reports

• Rep. Carlos Gimenez compared Iran to cancer requiring elimination — Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) appeared on Fox and stated "I support what the president is doing. Iran is like a cancer. Sometimes the cure to cancer hurts, but the cancer has to be eliminated. And the cancer is Iran," endorsing the military action and using dehumanizing language to justify the elimination of the nation.

Supporting reports

• Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called for 25th Amendment invocation — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on social media "25TH AMENDMENT!!! Not a single bomb has dropped on America. We cannot kill an entire civilization. This is evil and madness," calling for the removal of Trump under the 25th Amendment in response to his genocide threat against Iran.

Supporting reports

• Rep. Mike Lawler defended Trump's threat as credible military action — Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) appeared on CNN and, when pressed on Trump's statement that a civilization would die "never to be brought back again," reframed it as targeting "energy infrastructure and civilian infrastructure." When asked if Congress should vote on whether the U.S. should "make a whole civilization die," Lawler stated "He is not bluffing. People misunderestimate at their own peril," confirming Trump's intent to follow through on the threat.