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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

State Department scraps office dedicated to relocating Afghan allies

A proposed reorganization of the State Department would cut an office dedicated to helping Afghan allies escape the country.

The Thursday notification to Congress would cut the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE), eliminating the office on July 1.

“This is not streamlining. This is deliberate dismantling. The CARE Office was established to fix the failures of the U.S. withdrawal. Eliminating it — without public explanation, transition planning, or reaffirmation of mission — is a profound betrayal of American values and promises,” Shawn Van Diver, the president of #AfghanEvac, said in a statement.

The move is part of a massive redesign of the State Department that pushes additional cuts beyond the sweeping proposals previously made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

In addition to slashing programs, it also proposes cutting another 18 percent of staff and would further solidify the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

While the Trump administration has been critical of former President Biden’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, it was the first Trump administration that initially brokered a deal to leave the country.

In the aftermath of the withdrawal, key Republicans in Congress have put up roadblocks to efforts that would aid Afghans – both those in the U.S. and those left behind in the chaotic exit.

While the restructuring proposal said Afghan issues would be handled by the Afghanistan Affairs Office, congressional Democrats saw it as an end to an office designed to handle the complex needs faced by vulnerable Afghans. Many remain in hiding in the country and face challenges in getting travel documents.

Read the full report at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Ellen Mitchell — your guides 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:

Africa terror group could soon strike inside the US, general says

The U.S. military’s top general in Africa said terrorist factions in the Sahel region have increased their presence so much in the past three years that they soon may be able to launch attacks within the United States. The region, which mainly includes Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, is “the flash point of prolonged conflict and growing instability,” U.S. Africa Command head Gen. Michael Langley told reporters Thursday. “It …

Full Story

DC mayor concerned about parade tanks’ impact on streets

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser is raising concerns that military tanks and armored vehicles set to roll down city streets next month for the Army’s 250th anniversary parade will tear up the roadways. Bowser on Thursday warned that the city would be on the hook for expenses linked to repairing its streets after the June 14 event, with an unknown timetable for when the Pentagon might reimburse Washington. “I remain concerned …

Full Story

US looking into attempt to impersonate Trump chief of staff Susie Wiles: Report

The White House and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are looking into a reported attempt at impersonating White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. Two White House officials confirmed the effort to impersonate Wiles to NewsNation. The investigation was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. People familiar with the message told the WSJ that an unknown individual sent text messages and made phone calls to multiple …

Full Story

Hegseth orders Pentagon’s testing office staff cut by more than half

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s top Democrat is blasting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his decision this week to appoint a new director of the Pentagon’s operational test enterprise and rapidly cut its staff by more than half. Hegseth said his directed reorganization, which would reduce the staff, budget and resources at the Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E), supports the Defense Department’s “America First” strategy, according to a Tuesday memo.

Full Story

On Our Radar

Upcoming things we’re watching on our beat:

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will give remarks tonight at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

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In Other News

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Labor Department suspends Job Corps centers operations, drawing bipartisan pushback

The Department of Labor (DOL) announced this week it will pause operations at Job Corps centers nationwide, a move that has already gotten pushback from both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill. The department said Thursday it will begin a “phased pause” initiating “an orderly transition for students, staff, and local communities.” The pause will occur by June 30, the office said.

Full Story

On Tap Tomorrow

Events in and around the defense world:

The Council on Foreign Relations will discuss “The Geopolitics of Critical Minerals: Risks, Resilience and Resource Control” at 12:15 p.m.

What We’re Reading

News we’ve flagged from other outlets:

Navy orders force-wide housing inspections after secretary ‘appalled’ by Guam barracks conditions (Military.com)
Behemoth Golden Dome may face lackluster scrutiny in Trump’s Pentagon (Military Times)

Trending Today

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

Trump announces plan to double steel tariffs

President Trump announced Friday his administration would be doubling tariffs on steel imports from 25 percent to 50 percent during a visit to Pennsylvania … Read more

Five takeaways from Trump’s White House farewell to Elon Musk

President Trump and Elon Musk appeared together one last time in the Oval Office on Friday, marking the exit of the world’s richest man from his frontline … Read more

Opinions in The Hill

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

Credit where credit is due: Hegseth made the right call about women in combat
This Memorial Day, let’s remember the veterans still fighting
Trump must not fall for Iran’s nuclear shell game