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Senate Republicans late Monday proposed $1 billion to pay for new White House security measures, with lawmakers and White House officials disagreeing over whether the legislation would cover President Donald Trump’s planned ballroom.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, laid out a funding package for security upgrades related to the “East Wing Modernization Project,” the Trump administration’s name for its planned 90,000-square-foot project to rebuild the East Wing that Trump demolished last year.

The proposed legislative text says the money would be used for both aboveground and underground security features that the administration has declined to fully detail. The text explicitly says the money could not be used for “non-security elements” of the project, a reference to Trump’s planned ballroom.

“This bill does not fund ballroom construction,” Grassley spokeswoman Clare Slattery said in a statement. “It provides funds for Secret Service enhancements that will ensure all presidents, their families and their staffs are adequately protected.”

The legislative proposal comes amid a legal battle over whether the project can proceed, with U.S. District Judge Richard Leon last month ordering a halt to aboveground construction on the ballroom unless Congress authorizes the project, saying that work related to national security can continue. An appeals court panel has stayed Leon’s order while it considers the case.

Construction on the project continues apace. Photos taken in the past week show crews have erected a concrete structure topped with columns of exposed rebar, used to reinforce pillars that will support additional floors.

White House officials said Tuesday that the legislation, if enacted, would authorize the entire project – including the aboveground ballroom.

“Congress has rightly recognized the need for these funds,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement, citing the high-profile incident last month when a gunman stormed through the security checkpoint outside the White House correspondents’ dinner. “The proposal would provide the United States Secret Service with the resources they need to fully and completely harden the White House complex, in addition to the many other critical missions for the USSS.”

The legislation would be included in the Senate’s planned budget reconciliation bill, which can be enacted with a simple majority, bypassing any potential filibuster and eliminating the need for Senate Republicans to court Democratic votes.

Before it advances, the Senate parliamentarian will review the White House security proposal to ensure it complies with rules limiting what can be included in reconciliation bills. Only provisions related to spending or generating revenue can be included.

The larger proposed reconciliation bill also includes $38.2 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, $26 billion for Customs and Border Protection, $1.5 billion for the Department of Justice, and $5 billion for other border security, immigration and law enforcement efforts.

It would allow the administration to use the money through the end of September 2029, ensuring the agencies are funded through the end of Trump’s term.

White House officials have previously maintained that the ballroom, which Trump has said could cost $400 million, would be entirely funded by private donors and not come at taxpayers’ expense. Republicans on Tuesday said that security measures for the project should not be the responsibility of private donors, and they expect their proposal would provide sufficient funds to secure the facility.

Trump has argued that the ballroom itself is a needed national security measure so he and future presidents can safely entertain VIP guests, a message increasingly echoed by his allies in Congress after last month’s incident. Justice Department officials last week asked Leon to dissolve his order blocking construction, citing the shooting at the correspondents’ dinner in a rambling legal filing that read like one of Trump’s Truth Social posts.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the organization that sued the administration in December to block work on the project, has been skeptical of the security rationale. Lawyers representing the National Trust, a nonprofit charged by Congress with protecting historical buildings, noted that Trump continues to live at the White House and entertain foreign dignitaries despite the administration’s claims that the current situation poses a security risk.

“Your assertion that this lawsuit puts the President’s life at ‘grave risk’ is incorrect and irresponsible,” Gregory Craig, a Foley Hoag lawyer representing the National Trust, wrote to Justice Department lawyers last week. “Simply put, this case does not jeopardize the President’s safety in any way.”

Democrats argued Tuesday that the proposal illustrates that Republicans are out of touch with voters’ needs, highlighting the broadly unpopular ballroom. Fifty-six percent of Americans oppose Trump’s decision to tear down the White House’s East Wing to make way for his planned ballroom, funded by about $400 million in private donations, while 28 percent support the project, according to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll conducted last month.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee, said in a statement that Republicans “are ignoring the needs of middle-class America and instead funneling money into Trump’s ballroom and throwing billions at two lawless agencies.”

The legal fight over the ballroom’s construction, which initially focused on whether Trump had authority to pursue the project, has increasingly revolved around arguments about national security and the president’s safety. Since litigation was filed nearly five months ago, Justice Department lawyers have argued that work must continue on national security grounds, saying that any pause could imperil Trump, his family and White House staff. They have said the proposed building is designed to defend against “hostile attacks via drones, ballistic missiles, bullets, biohazards” and other potential threats while Trump has said crews are building a “massive complex” of secure underground facilities beneath it.

Leon has been unpersuaded, ruling twice that the administration has failed to justify the national security reasons for why the ballroom is needed immediately.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Dan Diamond, Jonathan Edwards, Riley Beggin

Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined U.S. efforts to secure maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz during a White House press briefing Tuesday, describing a mission focused on protecting commercial vessels and rescuing thousands of civilians stranded in the region.

Rubio, who delivered the briefing in place of Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, spoke at length about “Project Freedom,” the U.S.-led initiative designed to counter Iranian threats against shipping lanes. He said the operation’s objective is “to rescue almost 23,000 civilians from 87 different countries that are trapped and left for dead in the Persian Gulf by the Iranian regime.”

He sharply criticized Iran’s actions in the waterway, calling its blockade of the strait “not just criminal,” but “desperate and destructive,” and labeling it “piracy.”

Rubio warned that the consequences extend far beyond the immediate conflict, noting that “Nations from around the world, the overwhelming majority of whom are not even engaged in any military hostilities, are now at risk, not just of losing their cargo, but the lives of their own citizens, because of this blockade,” he said, adding that ships could soon run out of basic supplies such as food and potable water.

Emphasizing the humanitarian aspect, Rubio said, “These are innocent bystanders. These are countries and ships that have nothing to do with any of this, and nonetheless, are being caught in the middle of it and being held hostage, merely because Iran can do it. Just as the regime brutally slaughtered tens of thousands of its own citizens for the crime of peaceful protest.”

He further stated that ten civilian sailors have already died due to the blockade and related attacks, and that several countries have requested U.S. assistance in freeing their vessels.

Rubio described Project Freedom as a limited military effort, saying it is a “defensive operation” in which U.S. forces will engage only if fired upon first.

Addressing regional tensions, Rubio also commented on the situation in Lebanon, stating that “there’s no problem between the Lebanese government and the Israeli government. Israel doesn’t claim that any land in Lebanon belongs to them.”

He identified the Iran-backed Hezbollah as the central issue, saying, “They terrorize and attack Israelis, but they also are inflicting tremendous damage on the Lebanese people. The reason why Lebanon gets attacked by Israel is because of Hezbollah, because Hezbollah is hiding in some house, launching rockets against Israelis.”

Rubio said Israel’s military actions are aimed at countering those threats and reiterated that the broader objective is the disarmament of Hezbollah.

{Matzav.com}

A nationwide recall has been announced for several potato chip products after concerns emerged that they may be contaminated with salmonella, a potentially dangerous bacteria.

Utz Quality Foods said it is voluntarily recalling certain Zapp’s and Dirty brand potato chips after discovering that a seasoning ingredient used in the products—containing dry milk powder—could be contaminated. The company said the ingredient was supplied by California Dairies Inc. through a third-party vendor.

Although the seasoning batches were tested and initially showed no contamination, the recall notice explained that the company is acting “out of an abundance of caution,” prompting the decision to remove the products from shelves.

At this time, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the affected products.

The recall applies to nine specific items, including various sizes of Zapp’s Bayou Blackened Ranch, Zapp’s Salt and Vinegar, Zapp’s Big Cheezy chips, as well as Dirty brand Salt and Vinegar, Maui Onion, and Sour Cream and Onion potato chips. These items were distributed across retail stores throughout the United States.

Health officials note that salmonella is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness in the country. According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the bacteria infects approximately 1.35 million Americans each year, resulting in about 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths.

Symptoms of salmonella infection typically develop between eight and 72 hours after exposure and can include diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, nausea, and vomiting. In some cases, however, individuals may show no symptoms at all.

Doctors say most cases resolve on their own within several days to a week and do not require medical treatment. However, they warn that certain groups—including infants, young children, pregnant women, and older adults—face a higher risk of serious illness due to weaker immune systems.

While most patients recover without complications, more severe infections can occur. In such cases, the bacteria may enter the bloodstream and spread to vital organs such as the brain, heart, or lungs, potentially leading to life-threatening conditions like sepsis. Antibiotics may be used in these situations.

Health officials are advising anyone who experiences symptoms after consuming the affected products to contact their healthcare provider and report the illness to local health authorities.

The recall is part of a broader concern linked to the same dry milk powder ingredient. Recently, Ghirardelli Chocolate Company also recalled certain powdered chocolate drink mixes due to possible salmonella contamination associated with the same supplier.

Like Utz, Ghirardelli reported no confirmed illnesses tied to its products and stated that its own testing “had not identified any impacted powdered beverage mixes.” The company added, “Nothing is more important to us than the safety and quality of our products, and we’re taking this step out of an abundance of caution,” reinforcing that the recall was a preventive measure.

{Matzav.com}

An unusual and urgent meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee has raised questions about whether military action against Iran may be approaching, as tensions in the Persian Gulf continue to escalate.

According to a report by Kan News, Huckabee arrived at the Prime Minister’s Office in Yerushalayim on Sunday for what was described as a high-priority meeting. The timing of the meeting, considered highly irregular in diplomatic terms, points to the urgency of ongoing security coordination between Israel and the United States amid growing concerns over Iran.

The report, by journalist Gili Cohen, noted that holding such a meeting on a Sunday—typically a day of rest for U.S. government officials—deviates from standard diplomatic protocol. The decision to proceed regardless underscores the significance of the issues under discussion.

The talks come as both countries prepare for the possibility of renewed direct confrontation with Iran. While officials in Washington have publicly stated that recent Iranian attacks do not yet constitute “grounds for a strike” inside Iranian territory, behind the scenes the level of alert remains extremely high.

President Donald Trump reiterated in remarks from the White House that “we cannot allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons,” describing Tehran’s current military situation in stark terms.

The U.S. Embassy declined to provide details about the content of the Netanyahu-Huckabee meeting. A spokesperson stated that it is official policy not to comment on private diplomatic discussions.

The rising tensions follow a series of Iranian attacks in the Gulf. Iran reportedly launched 12 ballistic missiles toward the United Arab Emirates, along with cruise missiles and drones. Air defense systems intercepted some of the projectiles, but a fire broke out at oil facilities in Fujairah, and three Indian nationals were moderately injured.

According to additional reports, the Trump administration had opened a backchannel with Iran and informed it in advance about the planned military operation in the Strait of Hormuz. A senior U.S. official said the message was delivered on Sunday and included details about “Project Freedom,” along with a warning not to interfere with the American effort.

Despite that warning, Iran responded with force. On the first day of the operation, Iranian forces reportedly carried out multiple attacks against U.S. naval vessels and commercial ships in the strait. Israeli and American defense officials now assess that if diplomatic efforts remain stalled, further military steps could be authorized by President Trump.

A senior Israeli official told CNN that “the intention would be to carry out a short operation aimed at increasing pressure on Iran to make additional concessions in negotiations,” as coordination between Israel and the United States continues against the backdrop of intensifying tensions in the region.

{Matzav.com}