This is our flagship newsletter Morning Wire. You can subscribe here and we’ll email it to you daily.Welcome back, thank you for joining us. Primaries are happening today. I’ll be watching the results closely, and below we’re checking in with one of our political reporters on the ground. Also in the headlines: The Pentagon has told lawmakers it needs roughly $80 billion for the Iran war; the National Guard and U.S. Park Police patrol the Reflecting Pool as Trump looks for a renovation do-over.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks in the Oval Office of the White House during an executive order signing about quantum computing with President Donald Trump, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Pentagon seeks $80 billion from Congress for Iran war The request adds to what is already a sizable military spending boost being sought by the president. The White House has requested $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon — a nearly 50% increase over the current fiscal year’s funding levels. Read more.Why this matters:The White House Office of Management and Budget has yet to make a formal request to Congress. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been making the rounds on Capitol Hill. The funding package will almost certainly run into trouble from lawmakers who refuse to support Trump’s decision to go to war and are reluctant to give the Pentagon more money at a time of high costs of living for Americans.Related coverage →Iran’s president heads to Pakistan as US-Iran teams work to finalize a war-ending deal
