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The Big Story

After deadly Army helo, jet crash, sweeping air safety legislation unveiled

Seven Democratic lawmakers unveiled legislation Thursday outlining updated air safety regulations after a deadly passenger plane collided with an Army helicopter in January.

The proposed bill would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to do safety reviews after commercial airline accidents while requiring companies to use advanced aircraft-tracking technology known as ADS-B.

Democratic Sens. Maria Cantwell (Wash.), Tammy Duckworth (Ill.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Raphael Warnock (Ga.), Tim Kaine (Va.), Mark Warner (Va.) and Ed Markey (Mass.) introduced the Safe Operation of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 “to strengthen aviation safety at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), airports across the nation, and the Federal Aviation Administration,” according to a press release.

Both President Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have called for major reform for airlines after several deadly plane crashes at the beginning of the year.

Complications continued in early May, as two commercial passenger jets landing at National Airport last week needed to shift course because of an Army helicopter taking a “scenic route” near the airport.

Duffy, in part, said incidents occurred due to a dwindling air traffic control staff, outdated communication technology and a lack of clear guidance on military flights.

However, lawmakers say Thursday’s legislation will help close the gap in aviation regulations.

“The DCA tragedy claimed 67 lives and exposed critical gaps in aviation safety oversight—over 15,000 near-misses should have been a glaring warning sign,” Cantwell said in the release.

“This legislation closes dangerous loopholes that allowed aircraft to operate without essential safety technology, mandates modern surveillance systems that enhance pilot awareness of nearby aircraft, and ensures the FAA finally acts on the data instead of ignoring it.”

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:

Hegseth could be ‘on the hook’ for hundreds of millions on Qatari jet, says Raskin

The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee has warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that he could be “on the hook” for hundreds of millions of dollars for having accepted a luxury jet from the Qatari government. In a letter sent Wednesday, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) argued that Hegseth’s formal acceptance of the Boeing 747 jetliner last month — a move made so the Air Force can upgrade its security measures …

Full Story

Pentagon watchdog investigates if staffers were asked to delete Hegseth’s Signal messages

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon’s watchdog is looking into whether any of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s aides were asked to delete Signal messages that may have shared sensitive military information with a reporter, according to two people familiar with the investigation and documents reviewed by The Associated Press. The inspector general’s request focuses on how information about the March 15 airstrikes …

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Bannon: Musk should be ‘deported from the country immediately’

MAGA insider and former White House adviser Steve Bannon called on President Trump to investigate Elon Musk’s immigration status and deport the South African tech billionaire after the bitter implosion of the president’s relationship with Musk on Thursday. “They should initiate a formal investigation of his immigration status because I am of the strong belief that he is an illegal alien, and he should be deported …

Full Story

US sanctions four International Criminal Court judges

The U.S. on Thursday said it is sanctioning four International Criminal Court (ICC) judges via a part of a prior executive order President Trump issued in February. The four judges that the U.S. said it is sanctioning are Reine Alapini-Gansou, Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, Solomy Balungi Bossa and Beti Hohler, according to a fact sheet from State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce’s office. “We do not take this step lightly. …

Full Story

On Our Radar

Upcoming things we’re watching on our beat:

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Dan Caine are set to testify before the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, June 12.
President Trump will speak at the Grand Military Parade and Celebration honoring the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army on Saturday, June 14.

In Other News

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

DHS orders officers to focus on overstayed visas

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ordered the staff of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to focus on overstayed visas, according to a Wednesday press release from USCIS. Over the weekend, an attack …

Full Story

On Tap Monday

Events in and around the defense world:

The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft will discus South Korea’s foreign policy under its new president at 9 a.m.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies, will hold a talk on “Building an Autonomous Future for the DOD,” at 1 p.m.

What We’re Reading

News we’ve flagged from other outlets:

‘Unite for Vets’ rally calls for Trump to abandon planned cuts at the VA (Military Times)
White House asked Joint Chiefs chairman for candidates to lead NASA, worrying experts (Military.com)
Pentagon watchdog investigates if staffers were asked to delete Hegseth’s Signal messages (The Associated Press)

Trending Today

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

Supreme Court hands DOGE big wins in Social Security, records cases

The Supreme Court on Friday handed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) two major victories in its expanding legal battle over drastic efforts … Read more

5 winners from the Trump-Musk breakup

The vicious blowup between President Trump and Elon Musk has shaken up the power dynamics in Washington, D.C. As Musk burns his bridges to the White … Read more

Opinions in The Hill

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

You’re all caught up. See you next week!

Democrats unveil air safety bill after deadly crash

Defense &
National Security

Defense &
National Security

After deadly Army helo, jet crash, sweeping air safety legislation unveiled

Paul Klee

Michael Parkes

Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky

Defense & National Security

Defense & National Security

After deadly Army helo, jet crash, sweeping air safety legislation unveiled

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