How Much Is War with Iran Costing the US?
When pressed last week, White House budget director Russell Vought declined to tell members of the Senate Budget Committee how much the war with Iran has cost American taxpayers so far. The cost changes from day to day, he said.
US Builds Up Forces in the Middle East
An F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 151, launches Jan. 30 from the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. (US Central Command photo) Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community. The opinions expressed here do not reflect opinions of the Leader’s owners or staff. The US military buildup of warships and fighter planes near Iran mirrors the assets that the US has in the Caribbean, reports The Hill, as President Donald Trump weighs strikes against the Islamic Republic….
FY26 Budget Proposal Exceeds Pentagon Request
A bipartisan compromise to fund the federal government ahead of the Jan. 30 shutdown deadline would boost defense funding to more than $839 billion, which includes $972 million for the Navy’s next-generation F/A-XX fighter and $3 billion for the Air Force’s F-47.
Threat of a Government Shutdown Looms
Congress has two weeks to avoid a government shutdown. Both chambers are nowhere near a government spending agreement for fiscal 2025.
More US Warships Move to Middle East
The US concentrates firepower in the Middle East to deter attacks that could lead to all-out war with Israel., positioning about 18 warships including two aircraft carriers in the region as well as an Air Force F-22 Raptor squadron and a guided-missile submarine lurking nearby.
Five-County Study Supports Bay Ferry
A group of five counties, which includes St. Mary’s, has released a study on the feasibility of a Chesapeake Bay ferry system for recreational passengers. The study identifies Maryland waterfront communities that could be connected with a ferry service using high-speed catamarans. Six potential routes have been outlined.
State AG Files Lawsuit Against MetCom Over Sewage Overflows
The Maryland Attorney General’s Office filed a civil complaint Thursday in the Circuit Court for St. Mary’s County against the St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission over continued sewage overflows from its sanitary sewer system.
A Navy 1st: Woman to Command Nuclear Carrier
Another first in US Navy history. CAPT Amy Bauernschmidt is now the commanding officer of the USS Abraham Lincoln. She becomes the first woman to lead a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
Can a Government Shutdown Be Avoided?
President Donald Trump tells lawmakers that he would sign a stopgap spending bill to avoid a government shutdown, so long as it does not restrict his ability to build a border wall between Mexico and the US.
US Presence in Persian Gulf Sends Message
US Central Commander Gen. Frank McKenzie says the threat from Iran that prompted the deployment of reinforcements to the Persian Gulf region has not diminished. But the USS Abraham Lincoln’s presence has made an important difference.
