Stories from Washington D.C. · United States

Father Gery Studniewski has been appointed as an auxiliary bishop in Washington. The priest completed studies at the Pontifical College of America in Rome. His military service included roles as a chaplain in the International Military Unit in Sinai, Egypt, and at the Pentagon. He was ordained as a priest at age 38. This decision is considered a milestone for the Catholic Church in the United States due to his migratory background and social message.

The total amount of American military equipment sent to Israel since the start of the war has reached approximately 115,000 tons, including new shipments of cargo munitions and transport trucks. The source noted that while there are no ground troops involved, the shipment is. The Pentagon stated that $25 billion in military equipment is being provided to Israel. This funding primarily covers tens of thousands of bombs, missiles, and interceptors used during the war. The Department of Defense noted that the US has burned through amounts of these munitions. The package is described as a munitions supplemental to support ongoing war efforts. Defense Minister Katz confirmed 6,500 tons of military equipment, including large amounts of aerial munitions, arrived in Israel in the last 24 hours. Internal estimates suggest the real cost of US military support to Israel is closer to $50 billion.

US Defense Secretary Peter Hegset argued on Thursday that the 60-day clock for legislative authorization to continue the conflict is suspended due to the ceasefire. Virginia Senator Tim Kaine questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing this week. Under the War Powers Act, Congress must declare war or authorize force within 60 days of a conflict's start. Many Republicans had previously pointed to a May 1 deadline for congressional intervention. The statement comes amid discussions regarding potential options for resuming strikes against Iran if hostilities resume. He indicated a desire to wait longer before pursuing military action, which could include airstrikes or a ground incursion to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

Anthropic has filed a lawsuit against the federal government following an order from President Trump to stop using the company's products. The Pentagon stated that Anthropic cannot dictate how the military utilizes its tools.

Donald Trump is reportedly reviewing options for a short but powerful wave of strikes being prepared by Centcom. Navy blockade of ships heading to or from Iranian ports, which has involved the use of live fire to enforce. The official's position contrasts with the ongoing maritime restrictions. The announcement led to a 5% drop in oil prices. The move follows reports of a telephone conversation between Iranian officials and European Union foreign policy representatives. This development occurs despite reported opposition from certain factions within the Islamic Republic regarding negotiations. The proposal was delivered to the Pakistani government approximately two hours ago as a new set of suggestions from the US administration. The US President told an advisor in the Oval Office not to rush him regarding the peace proposal.

The US economy grew at an annualized rate of 2 percent in the first quarter of 2026. This growth rate was lower than previous expectations. The Eurozone is currently approaching a stagflationary period due to rising energy prices and inflation. These economic shifts are being driven by the impact of the Iranian war on global energy markets. Economic growth in the Atlantic region is also being impacted by the consequences of the Iranian war. US economic growth reached 2.1% in the first quarter, surpassing analyst expectations of 2.3%. The growth was supported by strong consumer spending, which accounts for approximately 30% of economic activity. This recovery follows the longest federal government shutdown in history, which previously constrained activity to 0.5%.

Leading artificial intelligence firms have reached agreements with the U.S. The listed partners include SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, NVIDIA, Reflection, Microsoft, and Amazon, notably excluding Anthropic. The companies involved include SpaceX, Google, Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, and OpenAI, according to the Ministry of War. These agreements aim to integrate AI into military operations. Microsoft, Nvidia, AWS, SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, and startup Reflection AI have joined the Pentagon's classified artificial intelligence program. Notably, Anthropic was excluded from these agreements. These agreements aim to integrate AI technology for lawful operational use. Companies involved include Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, OpenAI, and SpaceX. The Defense Department stated that this technology aims to enhance warfighter decision-making in complex operational environments.

The US has integrated an air-to-ground version of a missile system to enhance strike capabilities. These aircraft can carry and launch the missiles from the air, a feature described as being almost non-existent elsewhere in the world.

Democratic Congressman Salud Carbajal of Santa Barbara expressed outrage over the federal government's decision to cancel offshore wind lease deals. Carbajal described the move as a decision to sabotage wind energy projects.

NASA's budget accounted for approximately 4.5 percent of the discretionary budget. No specific total dollar amount for the discretionary budget was provided in the transcript.