“A commander of an Iran-backed militia has been charged with plotting to attack Jewish sites in the United States, including a synagogue in New York City,” the New York Times reports.

Tom Nichols: “Last week, the Trump administration released the official 2026 United States Counterterrorism Strategy. The document is a mess, replete with typos, hyperbolic assertions, and an obsession with former President Joe Biden.”

“The bigger problem, however, is that it’s not an actual strategy. It’s more a long set of notes for a campaign speech, a repackaging of President Trump’s various preoccupations and prejudices that frames everything the administration doesn’t like as ‘terrorism’ and any actions it has already taken as ‘counterterrorism.’”

Bloomberg: “The US Navy said it plans to buy at least 15 new battleships endorsed by President Donald Trump over the next 30 years, according to its new shipbuilding plan, marking a deeper commitment than previously revealed to what could be the costliest warship ever produced.”

“The U.S. Army is searching for two service members who went missing while taking part in a joint military exercise in Morocco,” the New York Times reports.

Washington Post: “The defense secretary is now more confident than ever in his job security, people familiar with the matter said, and appears to be inoculated against his early missteps thanks to his unflinching loyalty to and close personal relationship with Trump, his willingness to carry out presidential directives with few questions asked and his pugnacious reshaping of the military to root out “woke” people and policies.”

President Trump said the U.S. navy acted “like pirates” as he described an operation seizing a ship amid the American blockade of Iranian ports, The Guardian reports.

Said Trump: “We land on top of it and we took over the ship. We took over the cargo, took over the oil. It’s a very profitable business.”

He added: “We’re like pirates. We’re sort of like pirates. But we’re not playing games.”

New York Times: “For months, President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have celebrated tentative agreements with defense companies to expand production of Patriot air defense systems, Tomahawk cruise missiles and other weapons believed crucial for a war with China, Russia or North Korea…”

“Trouble is, the administration does not yet have the funding or congressional support for the weapons it needs for the possible future wars. And the Pentagon is diverting munitions deliveries intended for allies for its own use as a stopgap measure until large new arms orders begin.”

Punchbowl News: “The House finally passed a FISA extension.”

“And moments later, the Senate made it official that they’ll completely ignore it.”

“A bill to extend FISA Section 702 for three years passed the House 235-191. Twenty-two Republicans voted no and 42 Democrats voted yes.”

“But Senate Majority Leader John Thune said late Wednesday that the Senate will likely consider a 45-day extension of FISA. It would give congressional leaders through June 12 to come up with a longer-term plan.”

Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) questioned Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth if they agreed with the quote: “The military won’t follow unlawful orders.”

CAIN: Yes.

HEGSETH: I do, but understand what you’re insinuating as a partisan point.

GOODLANDER: I’m not. I’m actually quoting you directly, Mr. Hegseth, from April 12, 2016; and I appreciate that, on the record, you’ve clarified this important principle of American law.

The Pentagon has asked Congress to codify its “Department of War” renaming, saying it will cost nearly $52 million to complete and will not have a “significant impact” on President Trump’s fiscal 2027 defense budget request, The Hill reports.

“A U.S. Army soldier was arrested on an indictment accusing him of using classified information to make bets that won him $400,000 on the Polymarket prediction market related to the American military mission that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro,” CNBC reports.

NOTUS: “Lawmakers in both parties are raising alarms about the abrupt ouster of Navy Secretary John Phelan, with some Republicans questioning Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership and Democrats warning of mounting chaos inside the Pentagon.”

“Phelan’s sudden departure came without explanation amid broader Pentagon infighting and shake-ups during the active conflict with Iran. It left lawmakers scrambling for answers about the direction of Navy leadership.”

Secretary of the Navy John Phelan is leaving the Trump administration “effective immediately,” CNBC reports.

A Pentagon spokesman did not provide an explanation for Phelan’s sudden departure, which comes as the U.S. Navy enforces a high-stakes blockade of Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz.