Administration officials confirmed the president’s request late Tuesday. This demand comes as the Justice Department reviews expenditures from past investigations, igniting debate within Congress. Discussions are ongoing, and lawmakers remain divided on approving any compensation. No resolution is expected until the government shutdown is resolved.

Vice President JD Vance, visiting the region, praised efforts to maintain calm but noted that the full return of hostages and their remains remains a key priority for both sides. Vance toured a newly opened civilian-military coordination center, calling it essential to sustaining security efforts and facilitating humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Senators are returning to Capitol Hill today amid pressure to end the standoff. The Department of Energy confirmed that roughly 1,400 National Nuclear Security Administration workers are being furloughed starting this week. Only about 400 staffers will remain to protect critical assets. Officials insist no nuclear safety issues are expected but said delays in maintenance and safety reviews are likely.

Essential services persist, but federal workers face unpaid delays. Lawmakers exchanged blame during heated Capitol sessions. Senate attempts to advance a House funding bill failed for the ninth time. Impacts include understaffed air traffic control at major airports like Newark. Negotiations show no breakthrough, prolonging uncertainty for national operations.

The blast last week leveled parts of the facility near Nashville. Investigations point to a chemical reaction as the likely cause. Families of the deceased gathered for a memorial service this morning. Federal safety regulators are on site conducting a full probe. Local officials coordinate aid for displaced residents in the surrounding area.

The Israeli military confirmed that one of the bodies turned over was not a hostage, deepening mistrust between the two sides and adding strain to a fragile truce. Authorities said the identification process of the remaining bodies continues as families desperate for information wait for closure. Israeli officials have said they will reassess the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza until all hostages are returned.

The video claimed Democratic lawmakers were responsible for the government shutdown and was deemed too political by airport officials. Airports in Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, Las Vegas and several New York locations opted out of airing the video, citing concerns over neutrality. The decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of political messages in public spaces during the shutdown.

The truce, which took effect early Monday, marks a significant pause in the ongoing conflict that began two years ago. Twenty Israeli hostages, believed to be the remaining living captives held by Hamas, were released and transferred to the Red Cross for medical evaluation. Aid trucks began crossing into Gaza from Egypt, carrying essential supplies for residents facing severe shortages.

Palestinian families in Khan Yunis lined up to receive parcels, providing a brief respite amid ongoing reconstruction challenges. The deliveries total over 200 tons, distributed through local committees in coordination with United Nations agencies. Residents expressed cautious relief, noting the need for sustained access to rebuild essential services.

This agreement marks the first phase of a U.S.-brokered initiative to end the two-year conflict in Gaza that has severely impacted the region. Palestinians and Israelis reacted with relief and cautious optimism over this development. The deal also entails Israeli forces withdrawing to a specified line and a significant increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza.