Good afternoon! The Trump Administration spent most of the week concentrating on the conflict with Iran and announced it will release crude oil from U.S. reserves in an attempt to lower energy costs. Continuing its focus on foreign affairs, it declared it would begin investigating dozens of U.S. trading partners for possible trade violations. On Capitol Hill, lawmakers remained deadlocked over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding. The Senate overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan housing package and confirmed the head of U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency. The House was in recess at their annual Republican Issues Conference, where they discussed their legislative priorities for the remainder of the year.
WHITE HOUSE
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President Trump said the United States will release 172 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in an effort to ease high energy prices driven by the Iran conflict. The announcement came after the International Energy Agency (IEA) unveiled a coordinated 400-million-barrel release among member states.
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The Iran conflict is in its fourteenth day, and members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, which authorize defense spending and set national security policies in law, said they have yet to be fully briefed on the costs. The Senate Armed Services Committee held a classified briefing on the overall military effort Tuesday with Pentagon officials and top officers, but neither panel has received a briefing focused on the details of the costs.
- U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer is set to begin additional tariff investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, a move that could pave the way for new tariffs in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling against President Trump’s previous tariff program. The probes are expected to examine a multitude of possible violations. So far, over sixty countries are facing inquiries. Section 301 allows the US Trade Representative to impose tariffs in response to other nations’ trade measures it deems discriminatory to U.S. businesses or in violation of international trade agreements.
SENATE
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The Senate on Thursday again failed to advance the House-passed bill to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with the measure falling short of the 60 votes needed by a 51-46 margin. Democrats also sought votes on narrower funding bills for agencies including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the United States Coast Guard (USCG), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). With the exception of DHS law enforcement agencies, tomorrow marks one month since DHS has been shuttered, and negotiations remain stalled.
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The Senate voted 71-29 to confirm General Joshua Rudd as the new head of the United States Cyber Command and the National Security Agency (NSA), filling a top national security post that had been vacant since April 2025. Rudd now takes over as the administration places greater public emphasis on the use of cyber capabilities in military operations abroad.
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Senate Democrats are preparing to force votes on new Iran war powers measures unless Cabinet officials appear at public hearings on the conflict. Five nearly identical Senate Joint Resolutions filed by Democratic senators would direct the president to stop military action against from Iran unless Congress authorizes continued military involvement.
- The Senate approved its bipartisan housing bill on Thursday by an 89-10 vote. The bill differs from the previously passed House bill. Although both the House and Senate bills passed by wide margins, getting a bill to the president’s desk may take time, as the House and Senate must agree on the final text.
HOUSE
- House Republicans used their annual issues conference to discuss major legislative items they hope to pass this year. While no specifics were announced, Republicans agreed that items such a Farm bill are priorities. The possibility of a second budget reconciliation package is also in the mix, as well as additional military funding as a result of the Iran conflict.
