Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Trump explains reduced joint drills with South Korea President Trump said he was turned off by South Korea not agreeing to help the U.S. denuclearize Iran, spurring him to reduce the joint military exercises. © AP...

Click in for more news from The Hill {beacon} Healthcare Healthcare   The Big Story Kindergarten vaccine exemptions hit all time high The percentage of American kindergartners exempted from MMR vaccines rose sharply in the 2025-26 school year, as overall vaccination rates continued to fall. © AP Photo/Mary Conlon New federal data released Monday showed...

President Trump is lashing out at rivals and allies alike amid an escalating game of economic chicken between the U.S. and Iran. On Monday, he threatened to "bomb the s‑‑‑ out of" Oman, a day after he told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea. Trump separately on Monday doubled...

{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment   The Big Story CBP halts Big Bend National Park border construction Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott said he would halt construction activity in Big Bend National Park as efforts to erect a border barrier have been met with bipartisan pushback. © Getty Images In...

Fewer American adults are gambling than a decade ago, according to a new poll. In the Gallup poll, 45 percent of respondents said they had taken part in one or more forms of gambling over the past year, down from 64 percent a decade ago and 63 percent in 2007. Among respondents’ gambling activities in...

Carlos Felipe Jaramillo-Grajales used a stolen Social Security number and passport to register to vote and cast ballots over roughly 20 years, DHS says.

The Department of Justice ended its landmark lawsuit after the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department slashed lengthy concealed carry permit delays.