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The Big Story

Trump’s reversal: US to send more weapons to Ukraine after pause

The Pentagon is expected to send more defensive weapons to Ukraine, a reversal from the Trump administration’s decision last week to halt shipments of some missiles and munitions.

The update comes after President Trump, while meeting on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the U.S. must send more weapons to Ukraine so the war-torn country can defend itself against Russia’s ongoing attacks.

“Defensive weapons, primarily, but they’re getting hit very, very hard. So many people are dying in that mess,” the president told reporters. “We’re going to send some more weapons.”

The Pentagon confirmed the move Monday night, adding that the review of U.S. military stockpiles will continue.

The development comes after the administration said last week that it would pause the delivery of some air defense missiles and munitions to Kyiv due to concerns that U.S. military stockpiles might be depleted.

The decision sparked backlash from those supportive of Ukraine in the U.S. and Europe, with some lawmakers warning that a pause might stifle Ukraine in its attempt to intercept Russian missiles.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. has provided tens of billions of dollars in military aid, efforts that have been met with increased skepticism from some Trump allies.

The president expressed more frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin after the latest call on Thursday between the two leaders. The mounting irritation comes as Trump has pressed both Russia and Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire.

“We get a lot of bulls— thrown at us by Putin,” Trump said. “It’s turned out to be tougher,” he added about the war.

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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Essential Reads

How policy will affect defense and national security now and in
the future:

Graham: Senate will move ‘soon’ on Russia, China sanctions

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Tuesday that the Senate will move “soon” on a “tough” Russia sanctions bill that will also penalize the Kremlin’s top energy recipients, China and India. “President @realDonaldTrump is spot on about the games Putin is playing,” Graham said in a Tuesday post on X. “The Senate will move soon on a tough sanctions bill – not only against Russia – but also against countries like China and India …

Full Story

DHS: Three injured in Monday active shooter incident at Border Patrol facility

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Tuesday that three people were injured in a Monday active shooter incident at a Border Patrol facility. According to a DHS press release, alleged shooter Ryan Louis Mosqueda on Monday directed fire toward the front of a McAllen, Texas United States Border Patrol (USBP) sector annex. DHS said that Mosqueda was killed by officers and that nobody died amid the incident that injured …

Full Story

McConnell blasts ‘restrainers’ in Pentagon as Trump resumes Ukraine aid

Former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) praised President Trump on Tuesday for announcing that he would send additional weapons to Ukraine and blasted “isolationists and restrainers” at the Department of Defense (DOD), possibly taking aim at the Pentagon’s No. 3-ranking official. “I’m glad that President Trump wants to resume deliveries of lethal capabilities to Ukraine. America’s policy of providing lethal support …

Full Story

Bondi explains missing minute in Epstein video

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday sought to tamp down outrage on the right over the Justice Department’s recent memo on disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The Justice Department and FBI released a roughly 11-hour video Monday recorded outside Epstein’s prison cell door to dispel claims Epstein did not die by suicide. Some on the far right have seized on time stamps in the video, which skip from 11:58 p.m. to midnight. …

Full Story

On Our Radar

Upcoming things we’re watching on our beat:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow until Saturday to participate in the ASEAN-United States Post-Ministerial Conference, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
The full Senate Armed Services Committee will markup its version of the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act tomorrow.

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In Other News

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Senate Democrats press ICE on uniform, mask protocol

A group of Senate Democrats are pressing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the masking of officers not in uniform during its operations. In the letter, sent to acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, the group of Democrats argued the masks and lack of uniforms have led to chaos in Los Angeles …

Full Story

On Tap Tomorrow

Events in and around the defense world:

Defense Strategies Institute will hold Day 1 of its Defense Department Energy and Power Summit, with Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Robert Thompson, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Commissioner Annie Caputo, and Deputy Assistant Energy Secretary for Nuclear Reactors Rian Bahran, at 8:50 a.m.
Hudson Institute will host a virtual discussion on “Israel’s Economic Resilience after October 7: Navigating War and Strategic Pressures,” at 10 a.m.

What We’re Reading

News we’ve flagged from other outlets:

A Marco Rubio impostor is using AI voice to call high-level officials (The Washington Post)
Army will end most of its ceremonial horse programs and adopt out the animals (The Associated Press)
Trump’s u-turn on weapons leaves Ukrainians hopeful but cautious (The New York Times)

Trending Today

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

Senate GOP not happy with Trump beatdown of Tillis

Republican senators aren’t happy about how President Trump treated Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), whom the president blasted last week on social … Read more

Rollins suggests Medicaid recipients can replace deported farmworkers

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins believes that Medicaid work requirements and artificial intelligence will help bolster the nation’s farming workforce, … Read more

Opinions in The Hill

Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill:

You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow!

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Defense &National Security

Trump’s reversal: US to send more weapons to Ukraine after pause

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