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Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & NatSec newsletter

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Defense &
National Security

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The Big Story

Are Trump’s nuclear talks Obama Iran Deal 2.0?

Hawkish national security experts are slamming President Trump’s opening bid for nuclear talks with Iran as little more than a rehash of the Obama-era nuclear deal.

The criticism has Trump’s point person for talks with Iran, Steve Witkoff, to backtrack on his previous position. Witkoff said Monday night that the Islamic Republic could maintain a program enriching uranium up to 3.67 percent, the limit included in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration.

But by Tuesday morning, Witkoff reversed, saying the president’s position was to eliminate Iran’s ability to enrich uranium — the fuel needed for a nuclear weapon.

“Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East — meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program,” Witkoff wrote on social platform X.

“It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do.”

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) welcomed Witkoff’s reversal. “Well said and right on!” he replied to the post.

The reversal came on the heels of outrage among Iran hawks — including Trump supporters.

“Given Iran’s secret nuclear weapons research, Iran cannot be trusted to do ANY uranium enrichment,” said Fred Fleitz, vice chair of the America First Policy Institute, the think tank staffed by officials who served in Trump’s first administration. Fleitz was chief of staff of Trump’s first National Security Council.

Fleitz described the Obama-era deal, which Trump withdrew the U.S. from during his first term, as “disastrous” and said Iran’s nuclear program is far more advanced today than it was at the start of negotiations during the Obama administration in 2013. He said Iran could convert “reactor-grade uranium to weapon grade much faster” today.

U.S. intelligence agencies assess that while Iran has not made the decision to weaponize its uranium stockpile, the Islamic Republic is enriching uranium up to 60 percent. Experts say that reaching weapons-grade uranium of 90 percent for one bomb could happen within a matter of days, and Tehran could make enough fuel for multiple bombs within a matter of months.

Opponents of the JCPOA said that even the 3.67 percent enrichment was unacceptable. While they were glad to see Witkoff’s shift, their statements have indicated a fear over what Trump might agree to as part of a deal.

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 adviser put on leave amid leaks probe

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s adviser was escorted out of the Pentagon on Tuesday and put on administrative leave amid a probe into information leaks at the department. Dan Caldwell, one of Hegseth’s senior advisers, was placed on leave after being identified during an ongoing investigation into the leaks at the Pentagon, a defense official told The Hill. It is unclear if Caldwell made the disclosure to a reporter …

Full Story

Iran hawks warn Trump’s nuclear talks risk ‘Obama 2.0’

Hawkish national security experts are slamming President Trump’s opening bid for nuclear talks with Iran as little more than a rehash of the Obama-era nuclear deal, leading his top negotiator to backtrack on his previous position. Trump’s point person for talks with Iran, Steve Witkoff, said Monday night that the Islamic Republic could maintain a program enriching uranium up to 3.67 percent, the limit included in the …

Full Story

Entire Pentagon defense tech unit to leave by May

The entire staff of the Defense Digital Service (DDS), the Pentagon’s decade-old technology development office, is leaving by the start of May, with nearly all individuals resigning, a current member of the office confirmed to The Hill on Tuesday. The mass exodus, first reported by Politico, means the service will effectively shutter in less than a month. Of the 14 members of the office, a dozen including Director …

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7 US service members had ‘COVID-19-like symptoms’ after 2019 Wuhan games: Pentagon report

Seven U.S. service members exhibited “COVID-19-like symptoms” during or after their return from the 2019 World Military Games in Wuhan, China, according to a Pentagon report recently made public. The report indicates the service members had symptoms between Oct. 18, 2019, and Jan. 21, 2020. The symptoms all resolved within six days, according to the report, which is dated December 2022. The games opened on Oct. 18, 2019, and …

Full Story

On Our Radar

Upcoming things we’re watching on our beat:

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to host El Salvador Minister of National Defense Rene Merino Monroy tomorrow morning.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet with the Indonesian foreign minister tomorrow.

In Other News

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Senate Democrat calls Abrego Garcia case ‘constitutional crisis’

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said the case of a man wrongfully deported to El Salvador is a “constitutional crisis.” Murphy, seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2028, argued that Kilmar Abrego Garcia should not have been deported because he had been given protected status by a U.S. court, …

Full Story

On Tap Tomorrow

Events in and around the defense world:

The Defense Strategies Institute will hold Day 1 of its Unmanned Autonomous Systems Summit, at 8:45 a.m.
Atlantic Council will have a virtual discussion on “The U.S. Role in Ukraine’s Energy Sector,” at 9:30 a.m.
Defense Priorities will host a talk on “Ukraine’s critical choice: Pursue peace or fight on?” at 10:30 a.m.

What We’re Reading

News we’ve flagged from other outlets:

Another US aircraft carrier in Mideast waters ahead of second round of Iran-US nuclear talks (The Associated Press)
Shaving waivers revoked by Massachusetts Guard in change disproportionately impacting Black troops (Military.com)
VA plans to cut hundreds of payroll jobs at regional medical sites (Military Times)

Trending Today

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

Watch live: Biden in Chicago gives first speech since leaving White House

Former President Biden will give remarks Tuesday afternoon from Chicago in support of disability rights, marking his first speech since leaving the … Read more

Judge orders Trump officials’ depositions, blasts inaction in Abrego Garcia case

GREENBELT, Md. — A federal judge Tuesday ordered depositions from several Trump officials, blasting the administration for failing to take any steps … Read more

Opinions in The Hill

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

Vladimir Putin’s Palm Sunday message is one of death, and Trump has no answer
Congress aims to curb Hezbollah’s Latin American operations
Trump recognizes that domestic mining is a national security issue