For context, President Trump’s Department of Transportation pulled its approval today for New York’s new “Congestion Pricing” tolls for cars driving through Manhattan; which was an attempt by the state and city to raise money for New York’s aging mass transit system. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the tolls “backwards and unfair” further stating it was a “slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners.”

According to the Washington Post, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has signed a memo, ordering senior leaders at the Pentagon and across the U.S. Military to develop plans to cut roughly 40% of the defense budget by 2030, in increments of 8% per year for the next five years. The United States’ defense budget in 2025 was nearly $850 billion, having drastically grown since the mid-2010s due to threats from both China and Russia, who also both continue to increase their annual defense spending. The memo ordered that the proposed cuts be drawn up by February 24th, with only 17 categories of defense spending being prohibited from the cuts by the Trump Administration, which include operations at the U.S-Mexico Border, the modernization of nuclear weapons and missile defense system, and the acquisition of submarines, one-way attack drones and other munitions.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has appointed outgoing Deputy Chief of General Staff, Major General Amir Baram, as the next Director General of the Defense Ministry.

Outgoing Israeli Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, who is currently in the United States meeting with Senior U.S. Defense Officials, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Q. Brown Jr. who awarded Halevi with the Legion of Merit during a Ceremony yesterday, has announced that he will be expediting his return to Israel in anticipation of Hamas turning over several Hostage Bodies tomorrow in the Gaza Strip. During his Final Visit to the U.S. as Chief of General Staff, General Halevi who will resign on March 5th, also met with the Commander of U.S. Central Command, General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, to discuss the Situation across the Middle East, specially in regards to Lebanon and Iran.

The Commander of U.S. Central Command (NORTHCOM), General Gregory M. Guillot met recently with Mexican Secretary of National Defense, General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, to discuss continued cooperation to increase security along the U.S-Mexico Border; leading to the formulation of a Joint Statement of Understanding regarding cooperative activities along the border, to include coordinated patrols on their respective sides of the border, increased information sharing, and methods for immediate communications.

For the second time this week, 2 U.S. Air Force B-52H Long-Range Strategic Bombers launched from RAF Fairford, as well as at least 4 KC-135R Aerial-Refueling Tankers launched from RAF Mildenhall, are currently heading South across Europe towards the Mediterranean, likely on another Bomber Task Force Mission as a “Show of Force” in the Middle East.

While on Air Force One earlier tonight, U.S. President Donald J. Trump expressed support for a push by some Republican Members of Congress, for the Federal Government to “take over” Washington D.C. (the District of Columbia), effectively ending the Home Rule Act of 1973.

Footage showing the military convoy carrying the bodies of the four hostages released this morning by Hamas, Shiri Bibas and her two young children Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifshitz, crossing into Israel from the Gaza Strip earlier today, being saluted by police officers who line the roads.

The Israeli Police escort the military convoy carrying the bodies of the four hostage through Southern and Central Israel, as people line the roads to honor the fallen, on their way to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute in Tel-Aviv.

According to Reuters, the United States is refusing to co-sponsor a Draft U.N. General Assembly Resolution by several European Nations, marking the 3-Year Anniversary of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, while backing Ukraine’s Territorial Integrity and condemning Russian Aggression. The U.S. had previously co-sponsored every Resolution by the U.N. against the Illegal Russian Invasion and in support of Ukraine.

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell will not run for another term in Kentucky in 2026, the Associated Press has been told. McConnell has served the longest in party leadership in the Senate’s history and makes the announcement on his 83rd birthday.

Keith Kellogg, the U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, arrived, by train, in Kyiv, Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today. However, the Ukrainian president’s office announced that a planned press availability with both decision-makers has been cancelled at the request of the U.S. delegation. More to follow.