Latest news with #SecretaryOfDefense
Fox News
09-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Senate Republican moves to give US an edge on China in harvesting minerals for weapons systems
FIRST ON FOX: A Senate Republican wants to give the U.S. a leg up in its race against China and to ween the nation off of its reliance on imports of key raw materials needed for weapons systems. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., would like to fast-track the harvesting of raw materials in the U.S. needed for the nation's defensive capabilities, and plans to blow through federal and judicial red tape to do it. Cotton plans to introduce legislation that would allow critical mineral mining projects deemed necessary to bolster the nation's military and defensive readiness by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to skirt environmental laws and possible blockages by the courts. His bill is designed to give the U.S. an edge against China, the world's largest producer of critical minerals like cobalt, lithium, graphite and other rare earth minerals used in weapons systems, electric vehicles and consumer electronics. Currently, China produces roughly 60% of the world's critical mineral supply, and processes up to 90%. "Current environmental laws put our readiness to counter Communist China at risk and waste taxpayer dollars on projects that stall out and die on the vine," Cotton said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "This bill will create jobs, better arm and prepare our soldiers, and spend taxpayer dollars more efficiently." Cotton's bill, dubbed the Necessary Environmental Exemptions for Defense Act, would create a waiver for mining activities and projects related to countering China and to allow the Pentagon to "operate with maximum agility and efficiency to ensure it is prepared to deter and, if necessary, fight and win a conflict with the Chinese Communist Party," according to bill text first obtained by Fox News Digital. Among the regulations and environmental review standards that could be skirted with the waiver are the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act and Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Cotton argued in his legislation that the aforementioned regulations "frequently and unnecessarily delay" the preparedness of the military without "substantial benefit to the environment or protected species," and that time is of the essence when it comes to national defense. The projects that would fall under the umbrella of the regulation exemption include testing and production and deployment of technologies, systems or equipment and the construction, maintenance, expansion, or repair of facilities or Defense Department infrastructure, among others. It would also prevent projects from being snarled in the courts, as long as the initiative is deemed necessary for military preparedness by the Secretary of Defense. The bill fits into the White House's broader plan to jump-start critical mineral mining in the country, be it through executive action, a bid to buy Greenland, a minerals agreement with Ukraine, or opening up more offshore mining in the Gulf of America. It also comes after President Donald Trump reached a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping to resume trade of critical minerals after shipments were stopped earlier this year following the White House's slew of tariffs against China and other countries.
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Newshour US Defence Secretary calls strikes most complex military operation in history
The White House has doubled down over its assessment of the Iran strike with the Trump administration slamming the leaked report that questioned how effective the US strike on Iran was. Also in the programme: We speak to the Kenyan government following the killing of 16 protesters on Wednesday; and why is it so hard for women athletes to break the four-minute mile? (Photo: US secretary of defence and the chairman of joint chiefs of staff holding a press conference. Credit: Reuters)
Al Jazeera
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
US Secretary of Defense attacks media for questioning Iran strikes
US Secretary of Defense attacks media for questioning Iran strikes NewsFeed US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth used a press briefing to berate the press, attacking the media for questioning the supposed success of US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Video Duration 02 minutes 33 seconds 02:33 Video Duration 00 minutes 30 seconds 00:30 Video Duration 02 minutes 00 seconds 02:00 Video Duration 01 minutes 11 seconds 01:11 Video Duration 02 minutes 15 seconds 02:15 Video Duration 00 minutes 35 seconds 00:35 Video Duration 03 minutes 05 seconds 03:05
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US defense chief says America does not 'seek war' and it didn't target Iranian troops or people
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Sunday America does not "seek war," and it didn't target Iranian troops or people.
Fox News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
REP RO KHANNA: A commonsense, bipartisan plan for immigration
The crisis in Los Angeles is a test of federalism and American values. I unequivocally condemn anyone who engaged in political violence, vandalism or harassed law enforcement. There is no denying that violence we saw from some of the protesters in LA was wrong. But President Donald Trump's attempt to override California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom's authority over the National Guard was not prudent and damaged the principle of limited federal power. Californians did not ask for the Marines or the National Guard. They wanted local and state law enforcement to restore order. In a House Armed Services Committee hearing last week, I asked Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth if he would abide by a district court ruling if they were to decide that deploying active-duty troops to Los Angeles was illegal. He refused to say if he would obey the district courts. Only after being pushed again by Maryland Democrat Rep. Sarah Elfreth, did he acknowledge that he would obey the Supreme Court. The administration's disregard for checks and balances and nonchalance about following court orders should be alarming to every American. We need leaders of both parties to stand up for the Constitution and offer a commonsense plan for those undocumented immigrants who are paying taxes and working hard. Even Trump is starting to recognize this. After facing backlash from industry leaders, he appeared to be considering an exemption for farms, hotels, and restaurants from the ICE raids, which his administration has now reversed. Of the 2.4 million farmworkers in the U.S., an estimated 40% lack legal status. They are critical to our country's food production. Instead of deporting all hardworking farmworkers, we need to create a path to legalization and citizenship. That is why I support the bipartisan "Farm Workforce Modernization Act" that would create a program for agricultural workers to earn legal status through continued employment. Now is the time to pass bipartisan legislation, Mr. President. Let's pass a law supporting a path to legalization and the citizenship for undocumented immigrants who are working hard and paying taxes in, as you define it, farming, hotels, and restaurants. Doing so would be a first step in getting something done on immigration and bringing this country together instead of just hurling insults at each other. More broadly, as Americans stand up for due process at town halls and at rallies, we should understand what peaceful protest, at its best, looks like. We can take inspiration from the tradition of Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and my grandfather, Amarnath Vidyalankar, who was an Indian freedom fighter. He spent several years in jail as part of Gandhi's movement. I am reminded of how the freedom fighters dressed well, were polite, and avoided confrontation with law enforcement. The same was true of civil rights freedom riders. We need this discipline today in order to break through and claim the moral high ground. We should also share the story of immigrants who believe in hard work, love of country, and patriotism. This was the story Mario Cuomo told about his uneducated father who worked 16-hour days and bled from the bottom of his feet. In my case, my father woke up at the crack of dawn to be one of the first at his workplace. My parents taught me that by being born in America I won the lottery. They instilled in me a love for American history, for the English language, and for our country's story and a relentless commitment to hard work. I believe by creating pathways to legalization and citizenship for hardworking immigrants who pay taxes, we can have social cohesion and build a nation where everyone can thrive. That spirit of finding common ground is what will allow our democracy to lead over China and be a model to the world.
