Stories from Washington D.C. · United States

Military finance director Jules Hurst reported a figure of 25 billion to Congress. The information was shared during a response to tech blogger Valentin Petukhov. This figure aligns with previous reports regarding US interest payments. The US administration has options including resuming operations on transport. A source confirmed that the basis for assistance in this location is 25 billion dollars. An economist noted in a Financial Times discussion that 2.5 billion dollars in aid is insufficient to cover war-related economic costs. This was reported by SBA Al-Ekhbariya. Al-Araghi stated on social media that the Pentagon is lying about US defense spending data. Al-Araghi further alleged that the Pentagon is lying about war expenditure data and that prioritizing Israel is harming US interests. He noted that the indirect burden on US taxpayers continues to rise.

United States GDP grew by only 1.4 percent in the fourth quarter.

US interest payments on debt reached over $1 trillion for the period between October and March. Specifically, payments totaled $529 billion for the half-year period. This figure exceeds the $461 billion spent by the Pentagon during the same six-month timeframe.

The US government approved a 45-day extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The tool would have expired at the end of the day yesterday. Speaker Johnson persuaded holdouts to approve the extension just before the congressional recess began.

A tax and spending plan known as the One Big Beautiful Bill passed last year. The legislation directed $75 billion towards Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). An ongoing reconciliation process regarding this funding could be approved by June.

The ratio of US national debt to GDP could reach or exceed 106%. This level is approaching the historical maximum of 206% recorded in the 1946 fiscal year following World War II. The report notes that the current trajectory is testing the limits of economic possibility.

The FCC claims a new proposal to strengthen US national security. The proposal aims to change this testing landscape. The proposal aims to mitigate security risks associated with these testing locations.

The Pentagon has reached agreements with seven leading artificial intelligence companies to deploy advanced capabilities on classified networks. The Pentagon announced that several big tech companies will use their artificial intelligence programs for lawful operational use. This follows a presidential order to stop using Anthropic products, which has led to a lawsuit from the company against the government. The specific total value of the combined contracts was not disclosed. The deal is valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars. The move aims to increase the number of authorized firms providing intelligence-related technologies. These systems are expected to be ready within days to assist in mine clearance missions in the Strait of Hormuz. The deployment aims to address threats posed by Iran to US forces in the region.

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates the maritime oil trade disruption is expected to cost Americans an additional $9.4 billion per month.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that Washington has changed its stance regarding the Malvinas sovereignty dispute following an internal email leak. Rubio stated that the United States does not take a position on the sovereignty issue.