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Defense &
National Security

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The Big Story

More US troops headed to the Southern border

The Pentagon is sending 1,115 additional active-duty troops to deploy to the U.S.-Mexico border, bringing the number of service members there close to 10,000.

The troops will mainly help with sustainment engineering, logistics, medical and construction, U.S. Northern Command said in a statement Thursday.

The additional service members mark another increase in the military’s role in supporting President Trump’s aggressive immigration control agenda.

There are already just shy of 8,000 active-duty troops at the border, with the added 1,115 bringing the total to nearly 10,000, a figure approved by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier this year.

Trump, since the start of his administration, has vastly increased the number of troops at the border – by about 7,500 – after he heavily campaigned on minimizing illegal immigration and removing immigrants in the United States without legal status, promising “mass deportations.”

Last month, Trump authorized the military to take control of federal land stretching across three states at the southern border and designate it as “National Defense Areas” to assist in implementing his immigration crackdown. The move gave the military a more direct role in interacting with immigrants at the border, as it was given the authority to detain and search immigrants lacking certain documentation in New Mexico.

In the past decade, troops have traditionally supported law enforcement agencies with immigration issues at the border via logistics, surveillance, security and setting up temporary barriers or fencing, and they were not meant to come into contact with individuals crossing into the United States.

But under Trump’s second term, the U.S. military has continued to surge troops, armored vehicles, surveillance planes, warships and helicopters to assist in the southern border mission, even as the number of people attempting to enter the country has dropped dramatically.

Read more 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:

FBI investigating Israeli Embassy staffers’ slayings as ‘act of terror’

The FBI is investigating the shooting of two Israeli Embassy aides outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night as an “act of terror,” according to law enforcement. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a statement Thursday morning the incident has the “full attention” of the bureau and pledged to pursue harsh penalties in the case, which he suggested could be an act of antisemitic violence. “Last …

Full Story

CIA reports nonfatal shooting on its property

A nonfatal shooting took place outside CIA headquarters in Virginia early Thursday morning, officials said. A CIA spokesperson said law enforcement responded to a “security incident” outside headquarters in Langley. The main gate is closed until further notice, the spokesperson added. The Fairfax County Police Department said patrol officers responded to the scene at approximately 4 a.m. EDT “to assist CIA Police with traffic …

Full Story

Israeli Embassy staff killed outside Jewish Museum in DC: What we know

The fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., late Wednesday night drew an outpouring of grief as well as a global condemnation of antisemitic violence. The victims, Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, were attending a reception hosted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) on Wednesday night at the Capital Jewish Museum when they were shot and killed. The two were both staffers at the Israeli …

Full Story

A MESSAGE FROM BOEING

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On Our Radar

Upcoming things we’re watching on our beat:

Vice President Vance will speak at the U.S. Naval Academy 2025 graduation and commissioning ceremony at 9 a.m.

In Other News

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Judge says South Sudan deportation flight ‘unquestionably’ violated his order

A federal judge said Wednesday the Trump administration violated his order when it boarded a group of migrants on a flight headed for South Sudan earlier this week and he will issue an order requiring it to be remedied. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy ruled the flight ran afoul of his decision …

Full Story

On Tap Tomorrow

Events in and around the defense world:

The National Institute for Deterrence Studies will hold a virtual seminar on “Strategic Shifts: Russia’s Tactical and Expanding Theater Nuclear Competitive Advantage,” at 10 a.m.

What We’re Reading

News we’ve flagged from other outlets:

Lingering cost worries cloud plans for veterans disability reform bill (Military Times)
Here are all the big cuts and changes coming to the Army (Military.com)
Space Force losing 14% of its civilian workers (Defense One)

A MESSAGE FROM BOEING

Our early warning aircraft are mission tested and battle ready to counter any threat across any horizon eliminating the distance between threats. Learn more.

Trending Today

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

Trump ratchets up battle with Harvard, foreign students: 5 takeaways

The Trump administration intensified its battle with Harvard University on Thursday, revoking the storied college’s ability to enroll foreign students … Read more

House passes Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ in marathon overnight session

House Republicans on Thursday morning passed a sweeping bill full of President Trump’s legislative priorities, marking a major win for Speaker Mike … Read more