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Washington Today (3-19-26): Pres. Trump: Israel won’t hit Iranian energy; DoD asks for $200B for war

March 19, 2026

President Donald Trump says he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to strike any more Iranian energy sites after an attack on one led to an Iranian hit on energy infrastructure in Qatar. President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirm a report that the Administration sent to Congress a request for $200 billion in Iran war supplemental spending. President Trump in a White House meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, when asked why Japan did not get advanced warning of the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, said, “we didn’t tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? OK, why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?” Senate Homeland Security Committee approves the nomination of Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to be Homeland Security Secretary, by one vote, thanks to Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA). House Oversight Committee Democrats walk out of a closed briefing in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation with Attorney General Pam Bondi after she would not commit to complying with a committee subpoena for a sworn deposition. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) renames a holiday that had honored the late labor rights leader Cesar Chavez after this week’s revelations that he sexually abused young women.

Why it matters: This week’s events highlight the complex interplay of military spending, international relations, and domestic oversight. As the U.S. ramps up its military budget, questions arise about accountability and the implications for democratic governance.

What to watch:

  • Future congressional debates on military spending and budget allocations.
  • Responses from international allies regarding U.S. military strategies.
  • Ongoing investigations into the Epstein case and implications for political figures involved.

Key figures:

  • Donald Trump, President — Central to U.S.-Israel relations and military spending requests.
  • Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary — Advocating for increased military funding.
  • Pam Bondi, Attorney General — Involved in the Epstein investigation and congressional oversight issues.
  • Markwayne Mullin, Senator — Recently nominated for Homeland Security Secretary.
  • Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles — Making headlines with the renaming of a holiday.

Source credibility: C-SPAN, a reliable source for government proceedings, provides unfiltered access to political events.

Published: March 19, 2026 23:08

Source: C-SPAN — https://go.noligarchy.us/pKuF7X