I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
Democrats Lead War Powers Resolutions on Iran, Which Fails in Senate. On June 23, Reps. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Adam Smith (D-WA), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, and Jim Himes (D-CT), ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced a War Powers Resolution (H.Con.Res.40) to order the removal of US forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization. On June 27, the Senate voted 53-47 against S.J.Res.59, which sought to prevent the Trump administration from taking further military action against Iran unless authorized by Congress.
House Bill Would Increase Penalties for Espionage. On June 23, Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC) introduced H.R.4081 to raise mandatory minimum sentences on persons convicted of economic or defense espionage crimes on behalf of foreign adversaries, namely Iran.
Lawmakers Continue Focus on Anti-Semitism. On June 23, Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL) introduced H.R.4087, which defines anti-Semitism for the enforcement of relevant civil rights laws. On June 24, Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) introduced S.Res.296 to condemn anti-Semitism.
Lawmakers Look to Bolster US Missile Defense. On June 23 and June 24, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Rep. Mark Messmer (R-IN) introduced S.2142 and H.R.4107, respectively. Citing threats from Iran, the bills aim to bolster US missile and drone defense capabilities.
House Bill Pushes for Designation of CAIR as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. On June 24, Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) introduced H.R.4097, which would direct the Secretary of State to review whether the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) qualifies for designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Bipartisan Bill Seeks Sanctions on the Polisario Front. On June 24, Reps. Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced H.R.4119 to impose sanctions on the Polisario Front.
House Passes Bill Addressing Maritime Security, Piracy Concerns. On June 24, the House passed H.R.1998, which supports efforts to stop piracy, particularly off the Somali Coast and in the Gulf of Aden, and to impose sanctions on foreign persons engaged in piracy.
House Tanks Resolution to Impeach Trump Over US Strikes on Iran. On June 24, in a vote of 344-79, the House tabled a resolution (H.Res.537) to impeach President Donald Trump. The resolution accused Trump of usurping power from Congress in his decision to launch strikes on Iran.
Senate Bill Looks to Ban Aid to Governments Opposing US at United Nations. On June 25, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced S.2170 to prohibit US foreign assistance to countries whose governments oppose US positions at the United Nations.
Bipartisan Senate Bill Aims to Block Former Government Employees from Lobbying for Countries of Concern. On June 26, Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, John Cornyn (R-TX), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced legislation to prohibit former government employees from lobbying on behalf of countries of concern, namely Iran and Syria.
Senate Resolution Recognizes Tunisia’s Role in Arab Spring, Supports Democratization. On June 26, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced S.Res.310 to recognize Tunisia’s leadership during the 2011 Arab Spring, support democratic principles and norms, and express concern over the current Tunisian government’s undermining of democratic institutions.
Republicans Offer Support for Iran Strikes. On June 26, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced S.Res.307 to express support for US and Israeli military strikes on Iran. On June 27, Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) introduced H.Res.554 to express support for the strikes and for Israel’s security.
House Bill Would Weaken TPS Program. On June 26, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) introduced H.R.4201, which would require that Congress approve a nation’s citizen’s eligibility for Temporary Protection Status (TPS), set an 18-month cap for a TPS duration (and require Congress to renew the designation), and exclude migrants already present in the United States from receiving TPS.
Bipartisan House Bill Looks to Deter Detention of US Nationals Overseas. On June 26, Reps. French Hill (R-AR), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Tom Kean (R-NJ), Mike Lawler (R-NY), and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) introduced H.R.4179, which would create a designation for countries, namely Syria and Iran, and nonstate actors that unlawfully or wrongly detain US citizens and permanent residents.
Bipartisan House Bill Seeks Repeal of Syria Sanctions. On June 27, Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) introduced H.R.2421 to repeal remaining US sanctions on Syria.
2) Hearings and Briefings
House Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing on Anti-Semitism. On June 24, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on “the domestic conditions giving rise to anti-Semitic attacks in the United States.”
Senate Committee Holds Hearing for CENTCOM Commander. On June 24, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing to consider the nomination of Vice Admiral Charles B. Cooper II to be admiral and commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM). The nomination hearing focused on China’s role in the Middle East, threats from Iran, support for Israel, security challenges in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, and bilateral defense partnerships in the region.
House Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing on Visa Process. On June 25, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing to examine visa processing and programs and potential threats to national security.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Administration Officials Downplay Trump Comments on Iran Regime Change. On June 23, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed President Trump’s Truth Social post about regime change in Iran, saying he “was just raising a question that I think many around the world are asking.” She continued, “if [Iran] refuse[s] to engage in diplomacy moving forward, why shouldn’t the Iranian people rise up against this brutal terrorist regime?” On June 25, Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented that the Trump administration is “not hitting [Iranian] regime people; we’re not trying to overthrow the government; we’re not looking to invade.”
Trump, US Officials Insist that US Strikes Destroyed Iran’s Nuclear Facilities. On June 23, President Trump released the text of his letter to Congress justifying his decision to order the June 21 US airstrikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran. He then wrote on Truth Social that the US strikes on Iran had “totally destroyed” its nuclear facilities. On June 24, Trump added that “Iran will never rebuild their nuclear facilities” and criticized reporting that asserted that US strikes only set Iran’s nuclear program back by several months. On June 25, Secretary Rubio said that “significant, substantial, lasting damage was done to [Iran’s] program.” Speaking at a press conference at the NATO summit in The Hague, President Trump cited Israeli intelligence and again insisted that US strikes had destroyed the facilities. CIA Director John Ratcliffe also stated that “several key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and would have to be rebuilt over the course of years.” In a press briefing on June 26, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth presented the administration’s purported evidence of the strikes’ damage to the nuclear sites.
On June 27, Trump said that he expects Iran to allow international inspection and that he would consider launching additional strikes if Iran began enriching uranium at a concerning level. He also reaffirmed that Iran will “not be going back to nuclear any time soon.” Later, reacting to a statement from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Trump wrote that he did not let US or Israeli forces strike the Iranian leader despite knowing “exactly where he was sheltered.” Trump also claimed that prior to Khamenei’s statement, he was considering the “possible removal of sanctions” on Iran.
Trump Urges Israel and Iran to Uphold Ceasefire. On June 23, President Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached between Israel and Iran. He thanked “Iran for giving us early notice” in its June 23 missile attack on the US al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. On June 24, Trump said he was “unhappy” with both Israel and Iran for breaking the ceasefire, using an expletive. He later urged Israel not to launch additional strikes on Iran. On June 25, Secretary Rubio stated that US strikes on Iran “helped end the conflict” and that President Trump has “made clear that he doesn’t want a war with Iran.” Also on June 25, Trump said that US and Iranian officials would discuss a more durable diplomatic solution in an upcoming meeting, but such a meeting has not been finalized.
Trump Urges Israeli Court to Cancel Netanyahu Corruption Trial. On June 25, President Trump wrote on Truth Social that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial in Israel “should be cancelled immediately” or that Netanyahu should be pardoned. He also wrote that “it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu,” praising Netanyahu effusively.
Witkoff Hints at Abraham Accords News. On June 25, in an interview with CNBC, Special Envoy Steven Witkoff said that there will soon be “big announcements on countries that are coming into the Abraham Accords.”
2) Department of State
Department Condemns Attack on Syrian Church. On June 24, Spokesperson Tammy Bruce condemned a recent terrorist attack on a church in Syria and called on the Syrian Government to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Department Spokesperson Says Administration Still Working on Gaza Ceasefire. On June 24, Spokesperson Bruce said that the Trump administration “never stopped working for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip” and accused Hamas of repeatedly rejecting ceasefire proposals. On June 29, President Trump expressed support for a deal to be made, emphasizing the need to release Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Department Approves $30 Million for Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. On June 26, Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Piggott announced that the Department of State approved $30 million for the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and urged other nations to fund the organization.
Secretary Rubio Meets with G7 Foreign Ministers. On June 25, Secretary Rubio met with G7 foreign ministers at the NATO Summit to discuss the US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities and the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, among other topics.
Secretary Rubio Condemns Threats to IAEA Director General. On June 28, Secretary Rubio condemned calls (reportedly by an Iranian newspaper) for the arrest and execution of the International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi.
3) Department of Defense
AFRICOM Commander Visits Djibouti and Somalia. From June 16 to 20, AFRICOM Commander Gen. Michael Langley met with defense officials in Djibouti and Somalia to discuss security cooperation and counterterrorism efforts.
AFRICOM Conducts Strikes in Somalia. On June 19, US forces conducted airstrikes against the so-called Islamic State in Somalia.
III. Judicial Branch
Supreme Court Allows for Deportations to Third Countries. On June 23, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling that will allow the Department of Homeland Security to deport migrants to third countries that have agreed to accept them. The ruling follows instances in which deported migrants had been stranded in Djibouti and amid reported Trump administration plans to send migrants to Libya.
Judge Blocks Trump Effort to Ban International Students at Harvard. On June 25, a federal judge in Massachusetts blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to bar foreign nationals from entering the United States to study at Harvard University.
