President Donald Trump has set the stage for precision strikes inside Venezuela on military facilities the United States says protect and empower one of the globe’s most dangerous criminal syndicates, Cartel de los Soles.
The strikes reportedly could begin within hours.
The White House has intimated that Nicolás Maduro isn’t just Venezuela’s dictatorial ruler — he’s the head of the Soles cartel. &#8220;Cartel de los Soles is a Venezuela-based criminal group headed by Nicolas Maduro Moros and other high-ranking Venezuelan individuals in the Maduro regime that provides material support to foreign terrorist organizations threatening the peace and security of the United States, namely Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel,&#8221; the Treasury Department <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0207">reported</a> in July.
According to a source who spoke to <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article312722642.html">the Miami Herald</a>, “Maduro is about to find himself trapped and might soon discover that he cannot flee the country even if he decided to. What’s worse for him, there is now more than one general willing to capture and hand him over, fully aware that one thing is to talk about death, and another to see it coming.”
The strategic focus of the attacks is decapitating the cartel hierarchy that, Washington says, moves half a thousand tons of cocaine to American and European markets each year. Though officials haven’t confirmed if Maduro himself is a target, one source put it bluntly — “his time is running out,” the Miami Herald reported.
This escalation follows months of buildup ordered directly by President Trump upon returning to the Oval Office in January 2025. He executed a multipronged campaign to dismantle the crime-terror pipelines running from Caracas to Central America. Trump’s first move was to designate the Cartel de los Soles and its enforcer gang, Tren de Aragua, as terrorist organizations.
That classification signaled that the U.S. now treats Venezuela’s military-backed cartel as a global threat on par with al-Qaeda. Backing that declaration is a Joint Task Force of U.S. destroyers, Marines, and advanced aircraft patrols the Caribbean with pinpoint reconnaissance and reconnaissance drones tracking smuggling routes.
The arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, along with her full strike group, marked the largest U.S. naval concentration in the region in decades. Former Venezuelan officers call it the “final phase” — a buildup designed for precision strikes, not occupation.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth greenlit the deployment of F-35B fighters and MQ-9 Reapers to Puerto Rico, capable of destroying clandestine drug labs and airstrips in Venezuelan territory. Meanwhile, President Trump doubled the bounty for Maduro’s capture to $50 million — the largest such reward in U.S. history — and offered $25 million apiece for his cartel lieutenants, including Diosdado Cabello and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, both indicted in U.S. courts on narcotics charges.
Join us now during our exclusive Deal of the Decade. Get everything for $7 a month. Not as fans. As fighters. Go to <a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DailyWire.com/Subscribe</a> to join now.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, announcing the reward increase, accused Maduro of running the Cartel de los Soles “as a military drug empire” allied with Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel and transnational gangs.  Administration officials make no effort to hide their intent: destroy the cartel’s infrastructure and cripple Maduro’s power base. Trump, who has long pledged to stop the flow of deadly narcotics into the United States, views the Venezuelan campaign as the next front in his war on drugs — a continuation of his promise to use every element of American power to defend the nation from foreign narco-terror.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/u-s-eyes-striking-venezuelan-military-targets-used-for-drug-trafficking-cafcfe47">put it bluntly</a>: “The President is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our homeland.”  Behind the naval armada, U.S. intelligence operations have intensified. Trump recently confirmed that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert actions inside Venezuela — a rare presidential admission that signals just how personal this mission has become.
Pentagon sources reveal that B-1 and B-52 bombers have made repeated flights along Venezuela’s coast, probing its Russian-built S-300 missile systems and mapping air-defense weak points.  Maduro bragged last week that his forces possessed 5,000 Russian-made surface-to-air missiles. But analysts note that the overwhelming American presence — from electronic-warfare Growlers to missile-equipped destroyers — gives Trump unmatched tactical options. Former Commander of U.S. Southern Command Admiral James Stavridis called the buildup “a hammer poised over Caracas.”
Trump insiders echo the same strategic philosophy that guided earlier operations against Iranian General Qasem Soleimani: swift, targeted, devastating action. Elliott Abrams, Trump’s former Venezuela envoy, noted, “What he favors are high-impact strikes, not long occupations.” The force assembled in the Caribbean — roughly 10,000 personnel and over 100 combat aircraft — is optimized for surgical strikes, not invasion.
The administration’s goal, officials say, is not to occupy Venezuela but to break the nexus between Maduro’s regime and the international drug trade — through relentless, decisive pressure. Should Maduro’s own generals turn against him, the end could come swiftly. As one source told the Herald, “There’s more than one general willing to hand him over. Talking about death is one thing. Seeing it coming is another.”

US Warship Docked In Panama After Trump Said Military Hit Third Drug Boat From Venezuela

U.S. Precision Strikes On Venezuela Military Could Begin Within Hours

Donald Trump

Nicolas Maduro

U.S. Military

Venezuela

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that the United States military took out four more narco-trafficking boats through kinetic strikes in the Eastern Pacific, leaving 14 suspected drug traffickers dead. 
Hegseth said that the strikes took place in international waters on Monday and were authorized by President Donald Trump. The boats were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations (DTOs), Hegseth said. 
“The four vessels were known by our intelligence apparatus, transiting along known narco-trafficking routes, and carrying narcotics,” Hegseth wrote on X. “A total of 14 narco-terrorists were killed during the three strikes, with one survivor. All strikes were in international waters with no U.S. forces harmed.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Yesterday, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out three lethal kinetic strikes on four vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations (DTO) trafficking narcotics in the Eastern Pacific.
The four vessels were known by our intelligence… <a href="https://t.co/UhoFlZ3jPG">pic.twitter.com/UhoFlZ3jPG</a>
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar/status/1983164355999883548?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
There were eight male “narco-terrorists” on board the first boat, four on the second, and three on the third, according to Hegseth. He added that Mexican search-and-rescue authorities had assumed responsibility for coordinating the rescue of the survivor from the third boat. It was not specified which DTOs were targeted. 
“The Department has spent over TWO DECADES defending other homelands. Now, we’re defending our own,” Hegseth said. “These narco-terrorists have killed more Americans than Al-Qaeda, and they will be treated the same. We will track them, we will network them, and then, we will hunt and kill them.”
Join us now during our exclusive Deal of the Decade. Get everything for $7 a month. Not as fans. As fighters. Go to <a href="http://dailywire.com/Subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DailyWire.com/Subscribe</a> to join now.
At Trump’s direction, the military has taken out dozens of suspected drug-runners throughout the Caribbean Sea and expanded strikes into the Pacific. Two survivors of previous strikes were repatriated to Colombia and Ecuador, where American authorities recommended they face prosecution for drug trafficking. 
On Friday, Hegseth <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-deploys-largest-aircraft-carrier-to-south-america-as-trump-hints-at-land-strikes-against-cartels?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=4&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=U.S.+Deploys+Largest+Aircraft+Carrier+To+South+America+As+Trump+Hints+At+Land+Strikes+Against+Cartels">dispatched</a> the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group toward South America to aid in efforts to fight drug trafficking in the region. 
“The enhanced U.S. force presence … will bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere,” Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said. “These forces will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle TCOs [Transnational Criminal Organizations].”
Some lawmakers in Washington, D.C., have expressed concern about Trump’s strikes on suspected drug runners, arguing that Congress must grant approval before the administration uses the military to target suspected narco-terrorists in international waters. Trump has said that he doesn’t need a declaration of war to target those he says are bringing drugs into the country.

Screenshot 2025-10-28 at 10.04.48 AM

U.S. Takes Out 14 ‘Narco-Terrorists’ In Pacific Drug Boat Strikes

drug trafficking

Military

Pete Hegseth

World

A U.S. Navy fighter jet and helicopter crashed in the South China Sea within 30 minutes of each other on Sunday in two separate incidents that President Donald Trump called &#8220;very unusual.&#8221;
The five crew members aboard both aircraft were rescued and are in &#8220;safe and stable condition,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/USPacificFleet/status/1982583083519140329">according</a> to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Both Navy aircraft were conducting routine flights from the USS Nimitz when the crashes occurred, while President Trump was in the region.
The first aircraft that went down was a U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, which crashed at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time. The helicopter was assigned to the “Battle Cats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 and had three crew members on board. After the MH-60R Sea Hawk went down, search and rescue teams were deployed from Carrier Strike Group 11, and all three crew members were rescued.
Just 30 minutes later, at around 3:15 p.m. local time, an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet crashed during &#8220;routine operations.&#8221; The two crew members ejected before the crash and were also rescued by Carrier Strike Group 11 search-and-rescue personnel. The F/A-18F Super Hornet was assigned to the &#8220;Fighting Redcocks&#8221; of Strike Fighter Squadron 22.
Join us now during our exclusive Deal of the Decade. Get everything for $7 a month. Not as fans. As fighters. Go to <a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DailyWire.com/Subscribe</a> to join now.
On Sunday, Trump was in Malaysia, where he attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit before he departed for Japan, where he is scheduled to meet with the country&#8217;s newly elected prime minister. Trump was asked about the crashes while speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route to Japan, and said they were &#8220;very unusual.&#8221;
“They think it might be bad fuel,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/two-u-s-navy-aircraft-from-same-carrier-crash-into-south-china-sea-efc10fad">added</a>, according to The Wall Street Journal. &#8220;We’re gonna find out. Nothing to hide, sir.&#8221;
The U.S. Pacific Fleet said on Sunday evening that it is investigating the back-to-back crashes.
The USS Nimitz was on its way back to port in Washington after being deployed to the Middle East over the summer. After the crashes, China said it would &#8220;provide necessary assistance in a humanitarian spirit if requested by the U.S. side,&#8221; but the communist nation&#8217;s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun also criticized the United States for conducting military operations in the region.
&#8220;I need to stress that the U.S. aircraft crashed while conducting military drills in the South China Sea. The U.S. has been flexing muscles by frequently sending military vessels and aircraft to the South China Sea,&#8221; Guo added. &#8220;This is the root cause of security issues at sea and disruption to regional peace and stability.&#8221;
Trump is expected to meet with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday, as the United States threatens to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese goods. Trump <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-china-trade-deal-asia-tour-continues-japan-sanae-takaichi/">said</a> that he is hopeful that the United States will reach a trade deal with China in the coming days.
&#8220;I have a lot of respect for President Xi. I think we&#8217;re going to come away with a deal,&#8221; Trump told reporters on Air Force One.

USS Nimitz

‘Very Unusual’: Two U.S. Navy Aircraft Crash During ‘Routine’ Flights Over South China Sea

China

U.S. Navy

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth dispatched the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group toward South America on Friday, as the United States continues to take out suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea and President Donald Trump hints at striking targets on land.
The aircraft carrier strike group will assist in disrupting &#8220;narcotics trafficking&#8221; and countering &#8220;narco-terrorism&#8221; in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility, Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a <a href="https://x.com/SeanParnellASW/status/1981759934539985132">post</a> on X. The SOUTHCOM region encompasses all of Central and South America, along with the Caribbean.
&#8220;The enhanced U.S. force presence &#8230; will bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;These forces will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle TCOs [Transnational Criminal Organizations].
The USS Gerald Ford, America&#8217;s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, is the flagship for Carrier Strike Group 12. The Strike Group also <a href="https://www.c2f.usff.navy.mil/csg12/">includes</a> a Carrier Air Wing, a Cruiser, and Destroyers. The carrier group is set to join eight other American ships in the region, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-aircraft-carrier-latin-america-uss-gerald-ford/">reported</a>. The growing U.S. military presence near South America is part of Trump&#8217;s effort to take out drug cartels and prevent deadly drugs from reaching American shores.
Trump has ordered <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/narco-terrorists-u-s-destroys-tren-de-aragua-drug-boat-in-caribbean-hegseth-says">10 strikes</a> against suspected drug runners in the Caribbean Sea, killing at least 43 people, while two other suspected cartel members have been captured. The president said on Wednesday that he would continue taking out suspected drug boats, adding that land strikes are &#8220;going to be next.&#8221;
Trump said that the United States is &#8220;totally prepared&#8221; to hit targets seeking to traffic drugs into the United States by land.
Join us now during our exclusive Deal of the Decade. Get everything for $7 a month. Not as fans. As fighters. Go to <a href="http://dailywire.com/Subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DailyWire.com/Subscribe</a> to join now.
&#8220;They&#8217;ll be coming in by land a little bit more because they&#8217;re not coming in by boat anymore. There are no boats in the water. There are no more boats,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://x.com/Breaking911/status/1981115684051702183">said</a>, adding, &#8220;And we will hit them very hard when they come in by land.&#8221;
The president&#8217;s boat strikes have focused on suspected cartel members coming out of Venezuela, enraging Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, who claims that the United States is seeking to force him out of power. Maduro has called the strikes “a military attack on civilians who were not at war and were not militarily threatening any country.”
Some lawmakers in Washington, D.C., have expressed concern about Trump&#8217;s strikes on suspected drug runners, arguing that Congress must grant approval before the administration uses the military to target suspected narco-terrorists in international waters. Most Democrats and some Republicans have called for more oversight of the Trump administration&#8217;s military actions in the Caribbean.
Republican Senators Mike Rounds (SD), Thom Tillis (NC), Todd Young (IN), and Susan Collins (ME), have all made public calls for more Congressional oversight on the strikes.
“This is a legitimate discussion between the two branches of government that we should always be having,” <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/us/politics/republicans-trump-drug-war.html">said</a> Tillis. “I think we’ve got to be very careful when you’re talking about ordering a kinetic strike.”
Senators Rand Paul (KY) and Lisa Murkowski (AK) have taken their opposition to Trump&#8217;s strikes a step further, joining with most Democrats earlier this month in an effort to pass a measure stopping the military action. Paul introduced the measure alongside Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), but it ultimately failed. Rounds, Young, Tillis, and Collins all voted against the measure, as did Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.
Trump said on Thursday that he doesn&#8217;t need to ask for a declaration of war to carry out the strikes.
“I think we’re just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country, OK? We’re going to kill them, you know? They are going to be, like, dead,&#8221; he said.
He <a href="https://x.com/amconmag/status/1981462145112879262">added</a> that he might &#8220;go to Congress&#8221; to inform them about the land strikes, saying, &#8220;I can&#8217;t imagine they would have any problem.&#8221;
The Trump administration has told the American people that the strikes are conducted based on credible intelligence that marks the targets as cartel members.

USS Gerald Ford

U.S. Deploys Largest Aircraft Carrier To South America As Trump Hints At Land Strikes Against Cartels

U.S. Sends Largest Aircraft Carrier Toward South America As Trump Hints At Land Strikes Against Cart

Drug Cartels

The U.S. Central Command on Wednesday “strongly” urged Hamas to end its violence in Gaza after President Donald Trump vowed that the terror group would be disarmed.
Admiral Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, issued a <a href="https://x.com/centcom/status/1978456188976042321?s=46&amp;t=o-U3qwC25WnWaylJ0oeG7Q">statement</a> calling on Hamas to take advantage of “an historic opportunity for peace … by fully standing down, strictly adhering to Trump’s 20-point peace plan, and disarming without delay.” This week, Hamas terrorists have ramped up their efforts to reassert control in the Gaza Strip after Israeli forces pulled out of most areas in Gaza in accordance with the ceasefire and hostage agreement.
At least seven men, whom Hamas accused of conspiring with Israel, were publicly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/terror-reigns-hamas-publicly-executes-gazans-after-israeli-troop-pullback">executed</a> in Gaza on Monday. Hamas has also been fighting with rival groups in Gaza in recent days.
“We strongly urge Hamas to immediately suspend violence and shooting at innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza — in both Hamas-held parts of Gaza and those secured by the IDF behind the Yellow Line,” Admiral Cooper said.
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout!</a> 
“We have conveyed our concerns to the mediators who agreed to work with us to enforce the peace and protect innocent Gaza civilians,” Cooper added. “We remain highly optimistic for the future of peace in the region.”
President Trump said on Tuesday that Hamas has already promised to disarm, a major demand in his 20-point peace plan.
“They’re going to disarm because they said they were going to disarm,” Trump said. “And if they don’t disarm, we will disarm them.”
“They know I’m not playing games,” the president added.
Media reports published last week claimed that the United States was deploying 200 troops to Israel to watch over the ceasefire, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt <a href="https://x.com/PressSec/status/1976423398164332631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1976423398164332631%7Ctwgr%5E996a5875757fb3dbf5844d44607057c57034a84e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.livenowfox.com%2Fnews%2Fus-sending-200-troops-israel-gaza-ceasefire-deal">said</a> those reports were “NOT true and taken out of context.” Leavitt added, “To be clear: up to 200 U.S. personnel, who are already stationed at CENTCOM, will be tasked with monitoring the peace agreement in Israel, and they will work with other international forces on the ground.” CENTCOM’s area of responsibility spans across 21 nations in the Middle East.
<div id="attachment_986277" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-986277" class="wp-image-986277 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2204816687.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="558" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2204816687.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2204816687-300x163.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2204816687-768x419.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />March 15, 2025: U.S. aircrafts taking off from aircraft carrier as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces carry out precision airstrikes kicking against Iranian-backed Houthi targets across Yemen, according to CENTCOM. (Photo by CENTCOM/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)</div>
Vice President JD Vance <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jd-vance-there-will-be-no-u-s-boots-on-the-ground-in-israel-gaza">said</a> earlier this week that the administration had no plans to put American troops on the ground in Gaza or Israel.
“We’re not planning to put boots on the ground. What we already have is a U.S. Central Command, we already have people in that region of the world,” Vance told NBC News on Sunday. “They’re going to monitor the terms of the ceasefire. They’re going to monitor, ensure the humanitarian aid is flowing.”
The first phase of Trump’s peace plan, which went into effect on Monday, did not include Hamas laying down its weapons, nor have the terrorists agreed to give up control of the Gaza Strip, another major point of the president’s plan. Trump, however, remains optimistic that the terror group will agree to those stipulations in the future.
Israel has already accused Hamas of failing to follow through on its promise to hand over all of the remaining hostages. While the 20 remaining living hostages were handed over earlier this week, Israel is still waiting to receive the remains of dozens of hostages who died in Hamas captivity.
The Israel Defense Forces <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/idf-hamas-undermines-ceasefire-deal-after-handing-over-wrong-body?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=IDF%3A+Hamas+Undermines+Ceasefire+Deal+After+Handing+Over+Wrong+Body">said</a> on Wednesday that one of the four bodies it has received so far “does not match any of the hostages.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called on Hamas to uphold its end of the agreement and return all 28 deceased hostages. Netanyahu’s office said that Israel “will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we return all of the fallen hostages, every last one of them.”

Hamas

U.S. Military Warns Hamas To End Gaza Violence After Trump Vows To ‘Disarm’ Terrorist Group

Gaza

Israel

Politics

Trump Administration

A &#8220;small group&#8221; of the 200 Texas National Guard troops deployed to Illinois was reportedly sent home after a photo of several heavyset guardsmen arriving in the state sparked viral criticism over fitness standards.
The Texas Military Department said that an unspecified number were not &#8220;in compliance&#8221; with its &#8220;validation process,&#8221; Task &amp; Purpose <a href="https://taskandpurpose.com/news/texas-national-guard-chicago-standards/">reported</a>. A photo taken by an Associated Press photographer and published by ABC News last week showed the larger-bodied National Guard members.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Members of the Texas National Guard have arrived in Illinois, according to sources familiar with their whereabouts and video taken of them at an Army Reserve training facility in a Chicago suburb.
Read more: <a href="https://t.co/AkmU3diD97">https://t.co/AkmU3diD97</a> <a href="https://t.co/chTjQ1TrFY">pic.twitter.com/chTjQ1TrFY</a>
— ABC News (@ABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1975648844693074010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“In less than 24 hours, Texas National Guardsmen mobilized for the Federal Protection Mission,” a spokesperson told Task &amp; Purpose by email this weekend. “The speed of the response necessitated a concurrent validation process, during which we identified a small group of service members who were not in compliance and have been replaced.”
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth responded to the Task &amp; Purpose article on social media, writing, &#8220;Standards are back at The [Department of War].&#8221; Since taking over at what was previously known as the Defense Department, Hegseth has gone on a fitness blitz, urging military leaders and troops to uphold strict standards, telling military leaders last month that it&#8217;s &#8220;tiring&#8221; to &#8220;see fat troops&#8221; and &#8220;it’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals.&#8221;
The National Guard Bureau, which operates within the War Department, released a <a href="https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/Press-Releases/Article/4322684/ngb-statement-on-fitness-standards-for-mobilization/#:~:text=When%20mobilizing%20for%20active%20duty,standards%20will%20take%20their%20places.">statement</a> after the photo went viral, emphasizing that troops “are required to meet service-specific height, weight and physical fitness standards at all times.”
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout!</a> 
&#8220;When mobilizing for active duty, members go through a validation process to ensure they meet those requirements,” the bureau added. “On the rare occasions when members are found not in compliance, they will not go on mission. They will be returned to their home station, and replacements who do meet standards will take their places.”
Social media users poked fun at the troops shown in the AP photo. One X user <a href="https://x.com/sportsdummie/status/1975653450810859930">wrote</a>, &#8220;Meal Team 6 reporting for duty,&#8221; while another person <a href="https://x.com/homemade_jorts/status/1975670929314529690">said</a>, &#8220;Guess they missed @PeteHegseth memo about weight.&#8221;
The <a href="https://nationalguard.com/basic-combat-training/army-combat-fitness-test">Army Fitness Test</a>, which National Guard troops are required to pass, &#8220;consists of six events that assess strength and endurance, improving readiness and preventing injuries.&#8221; Troops are required to take the test at least once a year.
The Trump administration <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-deploys-national-guard-to-chicago-as-pritzker-melts-down-over-invasion">deployed</a> around 300 National Guard troops to Illinois as the president seeks to crack down on illegal immigration and violent crime in the Chicago area. The Trump administration, however, has been <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/appeals-court-blocks-trump-deploy-national-guard-illinois-rcna237065">blocked</a> by an appeals court from deploying those troops to the streets.

US-NEWS-TEXAS-NATIONAL-GUARD-DEPLOYMENT-TB

Texas National Guard Trims The Fat – Literally – After Viral Photo Sparks Fitness Concerns

Department of War

National Guard

Texas

Under War Secretary Pete Hegseth, America’s military is rediscovering its true mission of forging warriors, not social justice activists. He’s already purged divisive DEI and race-based admissions policies from our elite service academies, but one seemingly benign obstacle remains: academic accreditation. And like the wall on the training course, it must be overcome.
From West Point to the Air Force Academy, all five military service academies are accredited by a handful of private, unaccountable agencies with enormous influence over higher education. Unless the academies adopt these gatekeepers’ standards, their degrees may not be recognized when graduates pursue advanced degrees at civilian universities. That gives a handful of unelected, pro-DEI activists control over curriculum at schools founded to produce warfighters, including my alma mater, West Point.
That’s a serious problem.
West Point, established by Thomas Jefferson in 1802, along with the Naval Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy, are all accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which <a href="https://www.msche.org/standards/fourteenth-edition/">lists</a> “reflection on diversity, equity, and inclusion” among its “guiding principles.” That includes applying DEI to admissions targets, student assessments, and curriculum design. 
Never mind that the Supreme Court ruled race-based admissions unconstitutional in 2023, the commission insists that DEI reflection should “address disparate impacts on an increasingly diverse student population if discovered.” Its leadership reflects this far-left agenda, including commission president Heather Perfetti, a <a href="https://www.msche.org/president/">DEI champion</a>, and board members like Valerie Lehr, a professor of “LGBTQ politics” and author of Queer Family Values.
The Coast Guard Academy is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, whose standards also reference DEI <a href="https://www.neche.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Standards-for-Accreditation-2021.pdf">at least five times</a>. While the commission is reportedly considering ditching DEI in October, it remains under the control of a <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/01/10/169037364/300-college-presidents-call-for-guns-to-be-banned-on-campuses-other-steps">gun control extremist</a> who urged the Obama administration to ban “military-style assault weapons” and has praised the children of illegal aliens as embodiments of “<a href="https://www.ajc.com/news/opinion/opinion-dreamer-collegians-embody-america-promise/2PfaNiACsrc1EKNVTsWCNL/">America’s promise</a>.”
The same holds true for many of the military’s <a href="https://www.restorethemilitary.com/professional-military-education/">Professional Military Education institutions</a>, full of leftist ideologues and subject to the same diversity accreditation mandates.
It’s bad enough that these commissions push radical ideologies on civilian universities. But America cannot afford to waste resources indoctrinating the next generation of military officers, especially as <a href="https://restoration-news.com/is-america-prepared-for-a-war-with-china">China poses a rising threat</a>.
The military’s biggest problem isn’t meeting diversity quotas; it’s restoring a warrior ethos to military culture. For decades, political mandates imposed by Democratic presidents undermined unit cohesion and combat readiness, while leaving the U.S. military dependent on foreign manufacturing to supply critical equipment. 
The organization I lead, Restoration of America, has laid out a blueprint for reenvisioning the military at <a href="https://www.restorethemilitary.com/">RestoretheMilitary.com</a>. It includes legislative solutions for reforming our service academies.
Fortunately, President Trump is turning things around. Under his direction, the War Department is reinstating physical fitness standards. He’s also removing woke senior officers, such as Merchant Marine Academy Superintendent Joanne Nunan, an <a href="https://restoration-news.com/exclusive-service-academy-s-woke-leadership-removed">anti-Christian bigot</a> he fired in June. In July, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll <a href="https://restoration-news.com/west-point-leadership-thumbs-its-nose-at-the-trump-administration">blocked</a> the West Point superintendent from hiring Biden’s “disinformation” czar to head the Social Studies Department.
These are major victories that should be celebrated, but we cannot rest on our laurels.
The next logical step is removing all outside influence over academy curricula by withdrawing the academies from these accreditors. The service academies should either be accredited by a new War Department accrediting body or accreditation should be eliminated altogether. Accreditation exists to prevent fraudsters from issuing worthless degrees from a phony “college,” and to ensure that students know the basics.
West Point, Annapolis, and the others have nothing to prove. They’ve demonstrated their excellence on the battlefield, time and again. It’s time to let them make warriors, not quotas.
* * *
Doug Truax is a West Point graduate, former 4th Infantry Division Army Captain, Ranger, and successful entrepreneur. He is the volunteer, unpaid founder, and CEO of <a href="http://www.restorationofamerica.com">Restoration of America</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial">Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout!</a>

Washington DC Celebrates Army’s 250th Anniversary With Parade And Festivities

Social Justice Warriors Shouldn’t Control West Point

Social Justice Warriors Shouldn't Control West Point

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Leftists

LGBTQ

Opinion

Social Justice

West Point

Woke Culture

Another boat carrying suspected drug runners and their payload was blown to smithereens on Friday morning, under orders from President Donald Trump.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted a video of the strike against the suspected &#8220;narco-terrorists,&#8221; saying that U.S. intelligence &#8220;without a doubt, confirmed that this vessel was trafficking narcotics.&#8221; It marks the fourth strike ordered by the president against suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea.
&#8220;Four male narco-terrorists aboard the vessel were killed in the strike, and no U.S. forces were harmed in the operation. The strike was conducted in international waters just off the coast of Venezuela while the vessel was transporting substantial amounts of narcotics &#8211; headed to America to poison our people,&#8221; said Hegseth. &#8220;Our intelligence, without a doubt, confirmed that this vessel was trafficking narcotics, the people onboard were narco-terrorists, and they were operating on a known narco-trafficking transit route. These strikes will continue until the attacks on the American people are over!!!!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Earlier this morning, on President Trump&#8217;s orders, I directed a lethal, kinetic strike on a narco-trafficking vessel affiliated with Designated Terrorist Organizations in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility. Four male narco-terrorists aboard the vessel were killed in the… <a href="https://t.co/QpNPljFcGn">pic.twitter.com/QpNPljFcGn</a>
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar/status/1974150886084485503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The president <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-deploys-forces-to-take-on-latin-american-drug-cartels-in-the-southern-caribbean">deployed</a> troops and military assets to the South Caribbean in August to take on “threats to U.S. national security from specially designated narco-terrorist organizations in the region.” U.S. forces have now killed 21 suspected drug runners in four strikes against suspected &#8220;narco-terrorists.&#8221;
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout</a>
The Trump administration told Congress earlier this week that the president has decided the United States is in an &#8220;armed conflict&#8221; with drug cartels and that his actions are in self-defense, as Democrats condemn the strikes. A White House spokeswoman <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/us/politics/trump-drug-cartels-war.html?smid=tw-share">told</a> The New York Times that “the president acted in line with the law of armed conflict to protect our country from those trying to bring deadly poison to our shores, and he is delivering on his promise to take on the cartels and eliminate these national security threats from murdering more Americans.”
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has also condemned the U.S. action off his country&#8217;s coast, calling the strikes “a military attack on civilians who were not at war and were not militarily threatening any country.” He also accused the Trump administration of &#8220;seeking a regime change&#8221; in Venezuela. Maduro has a $50 million bounty on his head, which was placed by the U.S. government, citing his alleged ties to transnational gangs and drug cartels.

U.S. government – Unclassified

U.S. Takes Out Another Boat In Caribbean, Killing Four Suspected ‘Narco-Terrorists’

Global Politics

When Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told a room filled with top military leaders that it was time to raise their standards, “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin was “befuddled,” as she said later.
All across the country, conservatives and other normies were thrilled to finally imagine our military adhering to the standards that make us the most formidable and respected superpower in the world.
Hegseth said combat troops will be held to “the highest male standard.”
“This job is life or death,” he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-are-done-with-that-sht-trump-hegseth-demand-excellence-from-military-brass">emphasized</a>. “Standards must be met … it’s common sense and core to who we are and what we do.”
But liberals, they don’t understand that concept. Rather than seeing Hegseth’s speech as a call to excellence, Hostin assumed the speech indicated some sort of punishment.
“I don’t understand how that was supposed to be an uplifting message for our military,” she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-view-hosts-cant-deduce-why-military-leaders-might-need-to-be-in-top-physical-shape">said</a> on “The View.”
That reaction says it all. Progressives and conservatives aren’t just on different sides of the political spectrum. They’re often speaking entirely different languages.
For Hostin, a word like “uplifting” means constant affirmation. It means telling people they’re perfect just as they are, just like it means telling men that they can become women and that losers are really winners.
Conservatives, on the other hand, understand that real encouragement isn’t about coddling feelings. It’s about calling people to something greater. To truly uplift someone is to tell them they are capable of raising higher, getting better, and being stronger. Challenge isn’t a dirty word; it’s a call to action.
* * * 
At Jeremy’s Razors, we believe in high standards—not just for our blades, but for the men who use them. Shaving isn’t a chore; it’s the first standard you set for yourself every morning. Too many men have been told to settle for weak razors and weaker expectations. That’s not uplifting—it’s lowering the bar.
Jeremy’s Razors were built to demand more: a sharper edge, a cleaner shave, and a reminder that excellence starts at the mirror. Because the man who holds himself to high standards doesn’t cut corners—he cuts clean.
Right now, you can raise your standard for just $7.99 with our Precision 5 Special Offer. Step up to the best woke-free shave at<a href="https://jeremysrazors.com/collections/legend/products/precision-5-special-offer"> jeremysrazors.com</a>.
Sunny Hostin may never understand that. But conservatives do. Because deep down, we know that greatness comes from expecting more—of our leaders, our country, and even our shave.
Jeremy&#8217;s Razors shares common ownership with The Daily Wire.

Pete Hegseth Demands Excellence. ‘The View’ Misses The Point.

Jeremy's Razors

Sunny Hostin

The View

A Texas Republican said that Democrats are holding the paychecks of millions of military service members “hostage” in order to advance their far-left agenda. 
Congressman Ronny Jackson told The Daily Wire that the Democrats’ opposition to a short-term spending plan backed by Republicans was causing real-world harm to those tasked with protecting America. As the shutdown continues, approximately two million military personnel are expected to continue working without pay — even as members of Congress continue to receive their paychecks. 
“Democrats are shutting down the government and holding our troops’ paychecks hostage, punishing the very men and women who put their lives on the line to protect America,” Jackson said. “It is both ridiculous and unsurprising that Democrats would once again put their radical agenda ahead of ensuring our servicemembers are properly taken care of.”
Jackson’s office highlighted how children in his own district, whose parents work at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita County, Texas, no longer have access to after-school programs. 
“For many families, these programs are essential support while parents serve,” Jackson’s office noted.
“Military personnel on active duty, including reserve component personnel on Federal active duty, will continue to report for duty and carry out assigned duties. This includes duty involving excepted and, to the extent they can be performed without incurring new obligations, non-excepted activities,” the Department of War’s shutdown contingency plan <a href="https://wjla.com/resources/pdf/79d6e679-134e-465a-ade4-dbb99d290dd9-CONTINGENCYPLANGUIDANCEFORCONTINUATIONOFOPERATIONSINTHEABSENCEOFAPPROPRIATIONS.pdf">reads</a>.
At the same time, nearly 400,000 civilian employees of the Department of War who perform “critical national security activities” are also expected to work without pay. Hundreds of thousands of other civilian employees for the department are currently furloughed. 
“The military cannot enter into new contracts or renew existing contracts, needlessly delaying the acquisition of critical capabilities for our warfighters,” Jackson’s office noted. 
Last month, the Republican-led House approved a bill that would have continued government funding for the next fiscal year at the same level as the previous fiscal year. That same bill stalled in the Senate after Democrats demanded around $1.5 trillion in new spending. 
The Trump administration has urged Republicans to take advantage of the shutdown to cut down on wasteful government spending and combat fraud. Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought has been tasked with reviewing the sprawling federal bureaucracy to see where cuts may be possible.

2024 Republican National Convention: Day 2

Democrats Holding Military Paychecks ‘Hostage’ To Push ‘Radical Agenda,’ Congressman Says

federal funding

Government Shutdown

Ronny Jackson

President Donald Trump has “determined” that the United States is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels that he has designated as terrorist organizations, according to a memo to Congress. 
The memo reportedly sent this week said that the American military remained ready to eliminate drug smugglers and that the country was at a “critical point” requiring the use of force. It comes as the Trump administration has conducted multiple strikes on boats the president said were filled with narcoterrorists bound for the United States.
“The President determined these cartels are non-state armed groups, designated them as terrorist organizations, and determined that their actions constitute an armed attack against the United States,” the memo <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-determined-us-armed-conflict-cartels-congress-notice-rcna235294">said</a>, according to NBC News. &#8220;In response, based upon the cumulative effects of these hostile acts against the citizens and interests of the United States and friendly foreign nations, the President determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations.&#8221;
Violent gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13 have all been <a href="https://www.state.gov/designation-of-international-cartels">designated</a> as foreign terrorist organizations by the State Department. 
The memo <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/02/white-house-war-drug-smugglers-00592369?utm_content=politico/magazine/Politics&amp;utm_source=flipboard">added</a> that the administration remained “postured to carry out military operations as necessary to prevent further deaths or injury to American citizens by eliminating the threat.”
“The United States has now reached a critical point where we must use force in self-defense and defense of others against the ongoing attacks by these designated terrorist organizations,” the memo <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-armed-conflict-cb57804807e55a00ace60ad5f4d4f24d">said</a>. 
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout</a>
Last month, the Trump administration carried out a series of strikes on drug-running boats, the president said. The first, on September 2, targeted a vessel operated by Tren de Aragua that had departed Venezuela loaded with “a lot of drugs,” according to Trump.
Another strike was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-blows-up-another-boatful-of-narcoterrorists-we-are-hunting-you">conducted</a> on September 15 that killed three male drug traffickers operating a boat carrying drugs in the Caribbean Sea, according to the Department of War. 
The Trump administration has said the strikes are necessary to protect the country from dangerous drugs. 
“As we have said many times, the President acted in line with the law of armed conflict to protect our country from those trying to bring deadly poison to our shores, and he is delivering on his promise to take on the cartels and eliminate these national security threats from murdering more Americans,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said on the memo to Congress.

President Trump Visits Fort Bragg To Honor U.S. Forces

Trump To Congress: U.S. In ‘Armed Conflict’ With ‘Terrorist’ Drug Cartels

Congress

Executive

Tren De Aragua

With a government shutdown underway because Democrats are demanding $1.5 trillion in new spending, here are five brutal consequences of the stoppage.
Troops Protecting America Will Go Without Pay 
Thanks to the shutdown, members of the military working to protect America will go without pay until new funding is approved. Despite not getting paid, military personnel will still be expected to stay on duty and perform their required tasks. 
“Military personnel on active duty, including reserve component personnel on Federal active duty, will continue to report for duty and carry out assigned duties. This includes duty involving excepted and, to the extent they can be performed without incurring new obligations, non-excepted activities,” <a href="https://wjla.com/resources/pdf/79d6e679-134e-465a-ade4-dbb99d290dd9-CONTINGENCYPLANGUIDANCEFORCONTINUATIONOFOPERATIONSINTHEABSENCEOFAPPROPRIATIONS.pdf">according </a>to the Department of War’s shutdown contingency plan. 
Civilian employees of the military who are not needed in support roles will be furloughed while the shutdown continues. At the same time, other federal law enforcement officers, such as those working for the Department of Homeland Security, will also go without pay. 
“Our [Homeland Security] law enforcement officers will continue to work throughout the Democrats’ Shutdown to make sure our homeland is safe and secure. More than 200,000 of these patriots will go without pay,” <a href="https://x.com/Sec_Noem/status/1973229586910683546">said</a> Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “The Democrats will be forcing over 150,000 officers and nearly 50,000 members of the military—our frontline of defense—to continue protecting our nation without pay.”
<div id="attachment_979633" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-979633" class="size-full wp-image-979633" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2237786142.jpg" alt="Members of the National Guard patrol near the US Capitol on the National Mall in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. National Guard troops deployed to Washington, DC for President Donald Trump's &quot;safe and beautiful mission&quot; are set to keep working in the city, without pay, if the US government shuts down over a funding dispute between the White House and congressional Democrats." width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2237786142.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2237786142-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2237786142-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2237786142-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Credit: Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images.</div>
Law Enforcement Operations
The shutdown could stifle the work of certain federal law enforcement task forces cracking down on violent crime across the country, the National Association of Police Organizations <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-led-shutdown-will-put-law-enforcement-lives-on-the-line-without-pay-top-orgs-warn?author=Mary+Margaret+Olohan&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Democrat-Led+Shutdown+Will+Put+Law+Enforcement+%E2%80%98Lives+On+The+Line%E2%80%99+Without+Pay%2C+Top+Orgs+Warn">warned</a>. 
“Federal funding for task forces will stop flowing,” the organization warned. “Federal grants, resources, and supports for state and local law enforcement will stop, leaving vital public safety initiatives in the lurch.”
The organization, which represents 250,000 law enforcement agents, stated that law enforcement personnel should not be expected to put their lives on the line without adequate compensation.
“To have them risk their lives without pay undermines support for the work they are doing and increases the stresses and strains the job puts on them and their families,” the organization added. “We are calling on all lawmakers to do the right thing and enact a continuing resolution to fund the government before time runs out.”
Veterans Will Lose Assistance
Military veterans will also lose access to key Department of Veteran Affairs assistance programs, <a href="https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/veterans-benefits/2025/october/whats-affected-by-the-government-shutdown">according</a> to the American Legion. They will no longer be able to receive transition program assistance or career counseling, regional benefit centers will be closed, and there will be no ground maintenance or placement of permanent headstones at VA cemeteries. Additionally, multiple hotlines will be closed. 
“President Trump opposes a lapse in appropriations, and on September 19, the House of Representatives passed, with the Trump Administration’s support, a clean continuing resolution to fund the government through November 21. Unfortunately, Democrats are blocking this Continuing Resolution in the U.S. Senate due to unrelated policy demands,” the VA <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/live-blog/government-shutdown-2025-trump-live-updates-rcna234261">said</a> in a letter to veterans. 
Travel 
While airports will continue to operate across the country, there could be delays as thousands of Federal Aviation Administration employees are <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/faa-would-furlough-11000-employees-us-government-shutdown-2025-09-30/">expected</a> to be furloughed. Additionally, aircraft controllers and TSA employees will also be working without pay throughout the shutdown. 
“Under [President Trump’s] leadership, [the Department of Transportation] has hired 20% more air traffic controllers than the previous administration did in the same time period. Our team at the [FAA] did tremendous work to make this happen AHEAD of schedule,” said Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. “Now, [Sen. Schumer] and [Rep. Jeffries] are holding their paychecks HOSTAGE to push their America Last agenda through Congress.”
“The American people shouldn’t have to suffer through endless delays and cancellations because Democrats are too busy fighting for benefits for illegal immigrants! Make it make sense!” Duffy added. 
<div id="attachment_979635" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-979635" class="size-full wp-image-979635" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2231890603.jpg" alt="Travelers wait in line at the TSA security checkpoint at Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) in Dallas, Texas, US, on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. For the first time in almost 20 years, pre-flight screening as of last month no longer requires passengers to take off their shoes and run them through X-ray machines, and officials have signaled they intend to ease the rule limiting containers of carry-on liquids to no more than 3.4 ounces." width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2231890603.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2231890603-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2231890603-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2231890603-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Credit: Photographer: Shelby Tauber/Bloomberg via Getty Images.</div>
Healthcare Programs Expire, Nutrition Programs Languish 
Certain healthcare programs have either expired or are expected to face delays as the shutdown continues. 
For example, the Acute Hospital Care at Home Initiative, which enables hospitals to obtain approval to treat Medicare patients with conditions such as respiratory diseases or bacterial infections at home, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/popular-health-program-will-expire-if-senate-dems-force-government-shutdown-white-house-warns?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=7&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Popular+Health+Program+Will+Expire+If+Senate+Dems+Force+Government+Shutdown%2C+White+House+Warns">expired</a> on Tuesday. The popular program required congressional approval to continue and had been benefiting approximately 1,200 patients per month. 
Two other healthcare programs that could be impacted by the shutdown are the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which provides low-income families with additional nutrition, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is intended to provide food benefits to low-income individuals. 
The <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/government-shutdown-2025-air-travel-social-security-impact-rcna234594">programs</a> will move forward “subject to the availability of funding,” and House Speaker Mike Johnson said they could be significantly hampered by the program. 
Vice President JD Vance <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jd-vance-tells-ben-shapiro-democrat-support-for-shutdown-is-cracking?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=JD+Vance+Tells+Ben+Shapiro+Democrat+Support+For+Shutdown+Is+‘Cracking’">told</a> Ben Shapiro that he believed the shutdown was a politically untenable situation for Democrats, who voted Tuesday and Wednesday to block a temporary spending plan.
“You already see, I think, the Democrats cracking a little bit because they realize it’s such a preposterous position to say, ‘We’re gonna shut down TSA, we’re gonna not pay our troops because you guys won’t give us benefits for illegal aliens.’ It’s crazy, and I don’t think it’s a tenable political situation for them to be in,” Vance said.

Menu