I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
House Bill Would Codify Trump Executive Order on University Funding. On June 9, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) introduced H.R.3836, which would codify Executive Order 14282 to mandate stronger enforcement of foreign funding disclosures at higher education institutions.
Congress Condemns Anti-Semitism. On June 9, the House passed H.Res.481, condemning anti-Semitism and politically motivated violence, and H.Res.488, which condemns the recent attack in Boulder. On June 10, Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) introduced H.Res.498 to condemn anti-Semitism and to encourage academic and civic institutions to quell pro-Palestine protests. On June 12, the Senate passed S.Res.278 to condemn the Boulder attack.
House Bill Seeks Terrorist Designation of Muslim Brotherhood. On June 10, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced H.R.3883 to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
House Bill Would Revoke Passports of Individuals with Alleged Ties to Terrorist Organizations. On June 10, Rep. Sheri Biggs (R-SC) introduced H.R.3860 to enable the government to deny US passports to individuals charged with or convicted of terrorism-related crimes or who provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations.
Senate Passes Bill to Increase Criminal Penalties for Agents of Foreign Adversaries. On June 11, the Senate unanimously passed S.1136, which would increase criminal penalties for violent crimes in the United States committed on behalf of foreign adversaries such as Iran.
Senate Republicans Vote Against Blocking Military Sales to Qatar, United Arab Emirates. On June 11, the Senate voted 39-56 against S.J.Res.53 and S.J.Res.54, which would have blocked proposed foreign military sales to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
House Bill Looks to Broaden Meaning of Terrorist Activity Under Immigration Act. On June 11, Rep. Austin Pfluger (R-TX) introduced H.R.3926, which deems that persons affiliated with or who are accused of endorsing the activities of Hamas, Hezbollah, al-Qaeda, Palestine Islamic Jihad, and the so-called Islamic State are engaged in “terrorist activity” under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
House Bill Zeroes in on Foreign Funding at Think Tanks and Nonprofits. On June 12, Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) introduced H.R.3966, which would require think tanks and nonprofits to publicly disclose contributions of more than $10,000 from foreign governments and political parties.
House Bill Pushes to Lift Sanctions on Syria. On June 12, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) introduced a bipartisan bill (H.R.3951) to repeal the Caesar Act and its associated sanctions on Syria.
House Bill Would Recognize Somaliland as Independent Country. On June 12, Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) introduced H.R.3992, which would recognize Somaliland as a separate and independent country from Somalia.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
Democrats Criticize Recissions on Package Cuts to Foreign Assistance. On June 12, Democratic leadership on the Senate and House appropriations and foreign affairs committees expressed concern over cuts to US foreign assistance in the Trump administration’s recissions package (H.R.4), which passed the House on June 12.
Bipartisan Letter Demands No Iran Nuclear Enrichment. On June 13, Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Don Bacon (R-NE) led a letter to President Donald Trump demanding that any nuclear deal with Iran not allow for uranium enrichment and must ensure there is no pathway to a nuclear weapon.
3) Hearings and Briefings
HASC Holds Hearings on CENTCOM Force Posture. On June 10, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) held a hearing featuring the CENTCOM and AFRICOM commanders on US force posture and national security threats in the Middle East and North Africa.
Congress Holds Defense Budget Hearings. On June 10, 11, and 12, the House Appropriations Committee, Senate Appropriations Committee, and HASC), respectively, held hearings for the Trump administration’s Fiscal Tear 2026 budget request for the Department of Defense.
House Hearing Scrutinizes Pro-Palestine Activism. On June 11, the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence of the House Committee on Homeland Security held a hearing on pro-Palestine activism and threats to US national security.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Trump Urges Iran to Make a Deal Despite Israeli Strike. On June 12, shortly before Israel conducted airstrikes across Iran, President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he is “committed to a Diplomatic Resolution to the Iran Nuclear Issue” and that Iran “must completely give up hopes of obtaining a Nuclear Weapon.” That evening, after Israel’s attack on the Islamic Republic was underway, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement claiming that “Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran.” Rubio also warned Iran against targeting US “interests or personnel” in response to the Israeli strikes and said that the Trump administration is prepared to protect US forces.
On June 13, President Trump praised Israel’s strikes, writing that they will “only get worse” if Iran does not make a deal. However, he later added that Iran may have a “second chance” to reach a nuclear agreement. Also on June 13, Trump told FOX News that “he was aware that Israel was going to conduct preemptive strikes on Iran before they happened.”
On June 15, President Trump claimed that the United States is not participating in the ongoing strikes but warned that he would unleash the “full strength and might of the US Armed Forces” if Iran attacks US targets. He wrote on Truth Social that “Iran and Israel should make a deal” and that “we will have peace soon.” On the same day, the Associated Press reported that Trump rejected an Israeli plan to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
2) Department of State
Secretary Rubio Meets with UAE Prime Minister. On June 10, Secretary Rubio met with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, discussing economic partnerships, regional security, and humanitarian relief efforts.
Secretary Rubio Condemns Sanctions on Israeli Officials. On June 10, Secretary Rubio condemned sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia on Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
US Officials Participate in Defeat-ISIS Group Meeting. On June 10, the United States participated in a meeting of senior diplomatic officials from the Small Group of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, which focused on disrupting financial support networks, terrorist recruitment, and terrorist travel.
Huckabee Says United States Not Pursuing Palestinian State. On June 10, Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said that establishing an independent Palestinian state is not a goal of US policy and that “unless there are some significant things that happen that change the culture, there’s no room for it.” Huckabee’s statement follows reports throughout the week that the Trump administration has been discouraging foreign governments from participating in an upcoming UN conference to address a roadmap to an independent Palestinian state.
Syria Envoy Says No Conditions for Sanctions Relief. On June 10, Special Envoy for Syria and Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack said that the Trump administration is “not giving conditions” for sanctions relief but there are “expectations” tied to security matters and Syria’s eventual entry into the Abraham Accords. Barrack also expressed concern about the “need to coordinate a protection system around” Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who is at substantial risk for assassination.
Department Orders Departure of Regional Personnel. On June 11, the Department of State ordered the departure of nonessential personnel from the US embassy in Iraq and authorized departures from Bahrain and Kuwait, citing escalating regional tensions.
3) Department of Defense
AFRICOM Conducts Strikes in Somalia. On June 4 and 10, US forces conducted airstrikes against the so-called Islamic State in Somalia.
CENTCOM Conducts Strikes in Syria. On June 10, CENTCOM conducted an airstrike in northwest Syria, killing an official of the so-called Islamic State.
AFRICOM Co-Hosts Africa Senior Enlisted Leader Conference. From June 10 to 12, AFRICOM and the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces co-hosted the 7th Africa Senior Enlisted Leader Conference.
4) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Sanctions Palestinian Organizations. On June 10, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned five individuals and five organizations it deems “sham charities” and accuses of acting as financial supporters or having other affiliations with Hamas.
