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The El-Sayed Connection: A Family, a Money Trail and a Terror Network
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The El-Sayed Connection: A Family, a Money Trail and a Terror Network

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What if the story surrounding Abdul El-Sayed didn’t begin with his political career?

What if it began decades earlier, with his mother?

Federal records, newly highlighted by Natalie Winters, reportedly place Fatten Elkomy, El-Sayed’s mother and a central influence during his upbringing, inside IARA-USA
beginning in 1999.

And this wasn’t just another international charity.

Court records highlighted in recent reporting reportedly show Elkomy’s name connected to Iraq-related financial transactions, including a $24,607.34 transfer request to an “Iraq office.” Other records reportedly identify her in correspondence surrounding additional transfers between 1999 and 2002.

Years later, IARA-USA pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy involving the secret transfer of approximately $1.375 million into Saddam-era Iraq in violation of U.S. sanctions.

Then the story gets darker.

The international network associated with IARA, also known as ISRA, was designated by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2004 under terrorism-related authorities. The government alleged that elements of the network had supported Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda and described alleged connections involving Hamas and the Taliban.

Now put those pieces together.

El-Sayed’s mother reportedly wasn’t merely someone who donated to the organization. Her name appears in reporting about the paperwork and correspondence surrounding actual Iraq-related transfers.

That raises an enormous unanswered question:

What did she know?

Was she simply an employee processing humanitarian transactions? Or did people involved in moving this money understand something about the larger network through which it was flowing?

And then there’s her son.

Abdul El-Sayed grew up to become a prominent Muslim political figure who has spoken publicly about the importance of Islam in his life. If his mother was one of his most important formative influences, then examining her worldview, associations and activities isn’t some irrelevant historical exercise.

What did she teach him about politics, America and the Middle East?

What did he know about her work with IARA?

Has he ever been told what those Iraq transfers were actually intended to accomplish?

Those questions become considerably more interesting when viewed alongside the government’s documented history with the organization.

And then comes perhaps the strangest coincidence of all.

The international network was known as ISRA.

Rep. Ilhan Omar’s daughter is named Isra Hirsi.

There is no documented basis to say Omar chose the name because of the organization, but in a story already involving American politics, Islam, Iraq and a network accused by the U.S. government of terrorist connections, the identical name is the kind of coincidence guaranteed to attract attention.

Sometimes conspiracy investigations begin with proof.

Other times they begin with a pattern; a collection of names, financial records and relationships that don’t seem particularly remarkable until somebody finally puts them on the same page.

That’s exactly what happened here.

This story and the documents behind it were exposed and discussed on Episode 225 of Secret America.

The federal records have been sitting there for years.

Now the question is whether they represent the end of the story, or the beginning of a much bigger one.

Trump Orders War Department to Sharply Cut Military Exercises with South Korea
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Trump Orders War Department to Sharply Cut Military Exercises with South Korea

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President Donald Trump directed the War Department on Sunday to “substantially reduce” joint military exercises with South Korea, citing their cost and Seoul’s reluctance to support American action against Iran. The order arrived just hours before the annual drills were scheduled to begin.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that he was “not happy” the United States had agreed to participate.

He also emphasized his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, signaling that expensive military routines should not automatically outrank presidential diplomacy.

“These exercises are not only costly… but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful,” Trump wrote.

The message was classic Trump, blunt about the bill and skeptical of bureaucratic momentum.

The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises are scheduled to continue through August 27 and involve approximately 18,000 South Korean troops. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff told Reuters that the drills began Monday as planned.

South Korea’s presidential Blue House said it was reviewing Trump’s post.

It “hopes that the friendly relationship between the U.S. and North Korean leaders will lead to meaningful dialogue between the two countries, opening discussions aimed at advancing peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula,” the office said.

Seoul said the allies would continue coordinating their combined military posture and future exercises.

USFK Commander Reaffirms Importance of Troop Presence in South Korea Amid Speculation of Reductions

It also said discussions were continuing over possible military contributions involving Iran, with South Korean officials weighing peninsula readiness and domestic legal requirements.

Trump said South Korean President Lee Jae Myung had declined to participate in efforts targeting Iran’s nuclear program.

“While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, ‘No thanks!’” Trump wrote.

A War Department spokesperson referred questions to the White House, which did not immediately provide additional details.

A Stronger, Smarter Presence: Trump-Era Vision Strengthens South Korea Force with Longer Deployments

It remains unclear how quickly commanders can scale back exercises that have already started or which portions could be reduced.

Trump has repeatedly challenged the cost and strategic value of large exercises with South Korea. He has also pushed Seoul to carry more of the financial burden for the 28,500 American troops stationed there, rather than expecting American taxpayers to keep signing checks without serious questions.

North Korea routinely portrays the exercises as preparations for invasion because Pyongyang and Seoul technically remain at war.

The communist regime fired a ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan last week, following another recent launch of a short range ballistic missile.

A Stronger, Smarter Presence: Trump-Era Vision Strengthens South Korea Force with Longer Deployments
ROK and U.S. noncommissioned officers work together during land navigation exercises as part of the Mangudai Challenge at Story Live Fire Complex, South Korea, Oct. 22, 2024. The challenge highlights shared leadership and capability within the ROK-U.S. alliance.

Jenny Town of the Stimson Center offered a skeptical assessment of the decision.

“This decision may be part of a larger effort to create a diplomatic opportunity with Pyongyang, as Trump has consistently wanted since coming back to office, although the haphazard nature of this move is unlikely to make much of an impression in Pyongyang,” she said.

Trump’s relationship with Kim has swung between confrontation and personal diplomacy. Trump once called Kim “little rocket man” and threatened “fire and fury,” while Kim vowed to “tame the mentally deranged U.S. dotard with fire.”

The two leaders later participated in three summits, with Trump famously declaring, “we fell in love” after exchanging letters.

A Stronger, Smarter Presence: Trump-Era Vision Strengthens South Korea Force with Longer Deployments

Those meetings did not end North Korea’s nuclear weapons or ballistic missile programs, but they did establish a direct channel absent under many previous administrations.

Victor Cha of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said Trump may be trying to weaken Pyongyang’s growing relationship with Moscow.

“The other way to look at this is that Trump wants to engage Kim as a way to impede the Russia-NK ties,” Cha said.

North Korean troops have gained battlefield experience while supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to American military officials.

Fascist-Era Italian Bunkers Now Key Playground for Western Special Forces Tunnel Warfare Training
Marines patrol an underground tunnel as part of offensive operations during an exercise at Camp Stanley, South Korea, March 10, 2025. The semiannual exercise allows U.S. and South Korean marines to train together, improving combined capabilities to deter threats and maintain peace.

Ukraine also reported that North Korean missiles were used in a Russian ballistic missile strike against a steel facility in Zaporizhzhia.

Lieutenant General Joseph Jarrard of United States Northern Command recently warned that North Korea had tested intercontinental ballistic missiles with “enough boost to deliver a nuclear payload anywhere in North America.”

That threat means any reduction in exercises must be balanced against the unmistakable need for credible American readiness.

A United States official this year described Seoul as a “model ally” committed to raising military spending, but economic friction continues.

A former Trump administration official said the president is “frustrated with the intransigence” of South Korea’s government.

Trump Pushes Plan to Fix Barracks as War Secretary Hegseth Expands Force
President Donald J. Trump arrives at Osan Air Base, South Korea, June 30, 2019.

“The Lee government has repeatedly pursued policies antagonistic to American companies and shown little interest in following through on the historic investment deal with the United States,” the former official said.

Seoul pledged $350 billion in investment under a trade agreement last year, yet detailed plans have not been announced, giving Trump another reason to demand results instead of diplomatic boilerplate.

U.S. Army Calls for 133,000 GMLRS Rockets in Massive Arsenal Push
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U.S. Army Calls for 133,000 GMLRS Rockets in Massive Arsenal Push

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The U.S. Army is launching an ambitious effort to dramatically expand production of ground launched precision rockets as questions continue to mount over shrinking American munitions stockpiles.

The service wants industry capable of supplying 133,014 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System rockets by 2034.

According to an Army Sources Sought notice issued this week, contractors have until Sept. 1 to submit white papers explaining how they would meet the enormous production target.

The request signals that rebuilding the nation’s rocket inventory is no longer a problem Washington can afford to study indefinitely.

The proposed schedule calls for manufacturers to produce 19,002 GMLRS rockets annually from 2028 through 2034.

Actual deliveries under the potential contract are expected to begin in February 2030, leaving industry a limited window to prepare facilities, workers, suppliers and production lines.

“The scope of the contract includes production, tooling, engineering change proposals, and supporting activities of GMLRS rockets including unitary, alternative warhead (AW), and extended range (ER) rockets,” the notice said.

That broad scope indicates the Army is seeking more than a temporary production bump.

Lockheed Martin, the current GMLRS manufacturer, announced last year that it was expanding capacity to produce 14,000 rockets each year.

The Army’s latest objective would demand a capacity increase of nearly 36 percent beyond that already expanded production level.

Reaching the target will require dependable supplies of rocket motors, guidance components, explosives and other specialized materials.

It will also demand disciplined management because ambitious Pentagon production announcements have not always translated into functioning assembly lines or timely deliveries.

“Submissions must outline the most efficient and cost-effective methods for achieving this production rate,” the Army noted.

Industry will therefore have to show that its proposals can deliver both speed and value rather than simply presenting another expensive stack of promises and PowerPoint slides.

Previous Army attempts to expand domestic ammunition production have encountered serious setbacks.

One facility intended to manufacture components for 155mm artillery shells failed to produce any parts, offering an embarrassing warning about the difference between announcing capacity and actually building usable munitions.

GMLRS rockets are fired by the tracked M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System, an armored platform designed to deliver concentrated firepower.

They can also be launched from the smaller M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, better known as HIMARS, which is mounted on a wheeled truck.

The standard GMLRS rocket has a range of approximately 70 kilometers, allowing forces to strike important targets well beyond the reach of conventional tube artillery. The extended range version can reach up to 150 kilometers, providing commanders with greater operational flexibility.

Lockheed Martin had delivered 75,000 GMLRS rockets to the U.S. Army by 2024, but even that substantial figure has not satisfied growing demand.

Modern conflicts consume precision weapons quickly, especially when allies are drawing from the same industrial base that must replenish American inventories.

The rocket system was originally designed during the Cold War to unleash overwhelming firepower against a possible Soviet assault in Europe.

Decades later, the M270, HIMARS and their guided rockets emerged as some of the most consequential Western weapons supplied during the war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces used GMLRS rockets to strike Russian command posts, ammunition depots, supply facilities and troop formations.

Their accuracy and mobility made the launchers dangerous battlefield assets, forcing Russian units to adjust logistics and move valuable headquarters farther from the front.

Ukraine also used HIMARS to strike a power plant inside Russia last September.

However, intense Russian jamming against the rockets’ GPS guidance eventually reduced their effectiveness, demonstrating that even advanced precision weapons face constant electronic warfare challenges.

Deliveries to Ukraine, combined with a protracted conflict involving Iran, have reduced American stocks of GMLRS rockets and other guided munitions.

Replenishing those inventories has become increasingly urgent as military planners confront simultaneous demands in Europe, the Middle East and the Indo Pacific.

A shortage of rocket motors has further complicated the effort, exposing the fragility of a production system allowed to shrink after the Cold War.

The Army’s new request is a serious step, but contractors will now have to prove that American industry can turn aggressive production goals into rockets ready for combat.

USS John F. Kennedy Clears Acceptance Sea Trials, Moves Closer to the Fleet
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USS John F. Kennedy Clears Acceptance Sea Trials, Moves Closer to the Fleet

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The Navy’s newest Gerald R. Ford class nuclear powered aircraft carrier has completed acceptance sea trials, moving the massive warship another important step closer to its scheduled delivery in 2027.

USS John F. Kennedy concluded the testing period Saturday after departing Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia on Wednesday.

The successful trial gives the Navy and shipbuilder another major milestone after years of construction, testing, technical work, and schedule adjustments.

“Our nation is depending on us to deliver these critical assets that will protect freedom around the world, and we’re proud to see CVN 79 take another step toward joining the fleet,” said Derek Murphy, NNS vice president of new construction aircraft carrier programs.

Acceptance sea trials are among the final hurdles a vessel must clear before formally entering the Navy fleet.

They provide an opportunity to evaluate the ship at sea and confirm that critical equipment and systems meet the standards expected of an American aircraft carrier.

The Kennedy previously completed builder’s sea trials in February.

Completing both rounds of testing demonstrates forward movement for a carrier that will eventually serve as one of the most visible and powerful instruments of American military strength.

Trump Aims to Double Naval Ship Requests in 2027 Budget Push
The USS John F. Kennedy undergoes ship construction on July 10, 2019, at Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding, Virginia. (Matt Hildreth/U.S. Navy)

The carrier was launched on Oct. 29, 2019, and christened on Dec. 7, 2019. It is the second Navy vessel named in honor of President John F. Kennedy, who served as a naval officer during World War II before entering national politics.

At 1,092 feet long and weighing approximately 100,000 tons, the Kennedy represents an enormous investment in American sea power.

A December 2025 Congressional Research Service report placed its overall procurement cost at $13.2 billion.

That price reflects the complexity of constructing a nuclear powered carrier packed with advanced aviation, weapons, propulsion, and command capabilities.

It also raises the stakes for ensuring the ship reaches the fleet ready to perform rather than merely looking impressive at the pier.

The Kennedy has encountered repeated delays since its christening, with delivery originally planned for July 2025.

The revised schedule now points to 2027 as work continues on several advanced systems critical to flight operations and combat effectiveness.

According to the Navy’s fiscal year 2026 budget documents, the latest delay was required “to support completion of Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) certification and continued Advanced Weapons Elevator (AWE) work.”

The Advanced Arresting Gear is designed to recover aircraft landing on the carrier’s flight deck, while the Advanced Weapons Elevators move munitions to support flight operations.

Both systems are fundamental to the Kennedy’s ability to generate sorties and sustain combat power at sea.

Getting those capabilities right matters because aircraft carriers remain central to America’s ability to project force without waiting for permission from a foreign government.

A fully operational carrier strike group can move aircraft, weapons, sailors, and command capabilities wherever national security requires them.

The sea trial milestone does not erase the carrier’s long and expensive road to delivery, but it provides tangible evidence that the program is advancing.

In shipbuilding, paperwork and promises are no substitute for taking a 100,000 ton carrier to sea and proving that it works.

The ship’s construction period was also shadowed by a deadly incident in June 2026, when a sailor was shot and killed aboard the carrier.

Another sailor was detained in pretrial confinement in connection with the death but was later released.

With acceptance sea trials completed, attention now shifts toward remaining certifications, weapons elevator work, and final preparations for delivery.

The Navy needs the Kennedy in service, particularly as China expands its fleet and American commanders face mounting demands across the Indo Pacific, Middle East, and other strategic waters.

The carrier still has work ahead before joining the operational fleet, but Saturday’s successful conclusion was a significant move in the right direction.

Once delivered, USS John F. Kennedy is expected to strengthen American carrier aviation and reinforce the hard power that keeps adversaries cautious and allies confident.

Former Air Force Chief Joins Sweeping White House Security Clearance Lawsuit
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Former Air Force Chief Joins Sweeping White House Security Clearance Lawsuit

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Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall plans to sue the Trump administration in an effort to regain his security clearance.

He will join a broader legal challenge involving other individuals whose access has been revoked since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025.

Kendall led the Air Force from 2021 until 2025 under former President Joe Biden.

He announced the planned lawsuit during a CNN appearance after the Pentagon accused him of sharing classified information about Air Force One capabilities with a media organization.

Kendall said Washington attorney Mark Zaid will represent him.

Zaid specializes in security clearance disputes and whistleblower cases, making him a familiar figure in legal battles involving access to sensitive government information.

Zaid previously challenged the Trump administration after officials revoked his own clearance in March 2025.

He characterized that decision as “retribution against an attorney for representing clients adverse to the government,” and his access was fully restored in January.

Zaid told Military Times that his firm is preparing litigation involving multiple people who contend their clearances were unlawfully revoked without due process.

He did not identify the other individuals expected to join Kendall as plaintiffs.

The Trump administration has canceled clearances held by numerous prominent political figures, former cabinet officials and intelligence personnel.

In March 2025, the White House announced that nearly 20 people, including Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, would lose their access.

Then Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced another group of 37 individuals in August 2025 whose clearances were scheduled for revocation.

The administration has treated access to classified material as a privilege tied to demonstrated trustworthiness, not a permanent benefit for Washington insiders.

During his CNN interview, Kendall denied revealing classified information and argued that the action occurred without proper procedures.

He also suggested that his public criticism of the Trump administration might have motivated the decision.

“Under the circumstances, there is a legitimate question as to whether this was a malicious and retaliatory decision,” Zaid said.

That assertion is expected to become a central argument in the coming lawsuit, though the Pentagon has publicly tied its action to an alleged unauthorized disclosure.

Kendall has repeatedly criticized Trump since leaving office in January 2025.

In a July 2025 New York Times opinion article, he accused the president of using fear to suppress dissent within the military, civil service and legal communities.

“Fear is the universal tool of authoritarians, and it is a clear sign that our democracy is in danger that so many Americans now have reason to fear their government,” Kendall wrote. “Fear has come to our country, and unlike Sandburg’s fog, it isn’t moving on any time soon.”

More recently, the New York Times and Wall Street Journal quoted Kendall raising concerns about the rapid modification of a jet donated by Qatar for presidential use.

The Pentagon subsequently revoked his clearance, alleging that he had disclosed classified details concerning Air Force One capabilities.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced on Aug. 7 that Kendall’s classified access and ability to serve in any “sensitive” position were void immediately. “This action follows his unauthorized disclosure of classified information regarding Air Force One’s capabilities to a media outlet,” Parnell said.

“Safeguarding classified information is a non-negotiable duty,” Parnell continued.

“Those who violate that trust forfeit the privilege of access and any role requiring it.”

The Pentagon declined additional comment and referred to Parnell’s public statement. Kendall also did not respond to multiple requests for comment, leaving his CNN remarks and his attorney’s statements as his principal public defense.

Zaid said officials have not specified precisely what classified material Kendall allegedly disclosed.

He added that the only communication from the Department of War concerning the removal was the social media announcement, rather than a detailed written explanation delivered through the customary process.

According to Zaid, cases involving a contractor’s security clearance usually include a Statement of Reasons.

That formal notice explains the government’s basis for revocation and permits the affected person to respond, present evidence and challenge the allegations.

Kendall now serves as a national director on the Air and Space Forces Association board and as a nonresident senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

His lawsuit will test how far a president and the national security establishment may go when withdrawing classified access from former officials accused of violating the government’s trust.

CENTCOM Commander Boards USS Abraham Lincoln as Mental Health and Morale Concerns Mount
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CENTCOM Commander Boards USS Abraham Lincoln as Mental Health and Morale Concerns Mount

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The commander of United States Central Command visited the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on Saturday as troubling reports raised questions about sailor mental health and morale during the ship’s lengthy deployment.

Admiral Brad Cooper met directly with sailors and Marines aboard the Nimitz class carrier.

The visit followed reporting that two service members attempted to jump overboard during a deployment that has stretched beyond 260 days.

The incidents intensified scrutiny of conditions aboard the Lincoln and the strain placed on its crew.

Cooper sought to provide perspective on the situation while acknowledging the undeniable difficulty of prolonged service at sea.

“Of the U.S. Navy’s 11 active aircraft carriers, the Lincoln currently has among the lowest number of cases related to mental health,” Cooper said in a social media statement.

Still, the CENTCOM commander did not suggest that everything aboard the carrier was running perfectly.

He acknowledged that life at sea is challenging and that the pressures of an extended deployment can affect every sailor differently.

Cooper’s stop aboard the Lincoln was part of a 10 day trip through the Middle East.

Inside the Navy’s Battle for Spare Parts: How Bureaucracy and Vendor Control Are Putting Our Military Readiness to the Test
U.S. Navy maintainers for the F/A-18E Super Hornet, seen here launching from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, say they’ve had to repurpose parts from grounded aircraft to address maintenance needs. (MCS Daniel Kimmelman/Navy)

During the trip, he met with civilian and military leaders from six countries, including Israel and Iraq, as American forces remained active across a volatile region.

The admiral had previously visited the Lincoln in February near the beginning of Operation Epic Fury.

His latest appearance came as accounts from military families and media organizations placed fresh attention on the carrier’s deployment schedule.

Family members publicly raised their concerns during an Aug. 6 town hall meeting with Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao and other senior military officials. Roughly 200 people attended the meeting in person, according to the report.

Allied Partnerships Urged to Rebuild U.S. Naval Industrial Base
Two F/A-18 Super Hornets launch from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in support of the Operation Epic Fury on March 3, 2026. (U.S. Navy)

Those attendees described fears that loved ones aboard the Lincoln were experiencing thoughts of self harm.

They also pointed to the extraordinary amount of time the crew had spent at sea without the relief of a regular port visit.

The Lincoln had reportedly gone more than 240 days without a port call during the extended deployment. The carrier stopped in Guam in December 2025 and later made another port visit in Oman during July.

Senator Richard Blumenthal raised the issue in a letter to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

U.S. And Japan Flex Allied Naval Muscle In Early Start To Massive Valiant Shield Drill
The USS Ronald Reagan, USS Tripoli and USS Abraham Lincoln steam in formation in the Philippine Sea, June 12, 2022, during Valiant Shield, a field training exercise.

Blumenthal claimed the stretch represented the longest continuous period at sea between port calls in Navy history, adding political pressure to an already serious command matter.

Several media organizations also published accounts of sailors allegedly trying to leave the ship by going overboard.

It was not immediately clear whether every report described a separate incident or whether some outlets were reporting different details about the same events.

United States officials allegedly told CNN that one sailor went overboard from the Lincoln and was rescued within an hour.

Senator Demands Navy Answers as USS Abraham Lincoln Deployment Drags On
A U.S. sailor conducts an inspection on an F/A-18E Super Hornet on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, June 27, 2026. (U.S. Navy)

Stars and Stripes separately reported that fellow service members intercepted a crew member before that individual could jump overboard.

MS NOW reported another account in which a sailor entered the water and remained there for almost an hour before being rescued.

A family member described that episode as a suicide attempt and alleged that her husband’s mental health concerns had been brushed aside by both the chain of command and the ship’s medical team.

Hegseth pushed back strongly after the reports began circulating, telling reporters that the situation had been “completely misrepresented.”

CENTCOM Chief Boards USS Abraham Lincoln as Quality of Life Concerns Intensify

His response suggested that the public narrative surrounding the Lincoln did not fully match the information available to senior War Department officials.

President Donald Trump was also asked about complaints from military families regarding the carrier’s deployment length.

Trump dismissed the suggestion that the deployment had continued too long, saying it was “not nearly long enough.”

The Lincoln and its air wing remain critical instruments of American power in a dangerous theater, and demanding deployments are part of carrier operations.

At the same time, commanders must ensure sailors and Marines receive serious support while separating verified facts from breathless media narratives and political opportunism.

U.S. Unleashes .9 Billion Raytheon Deal to Supercharge Tomahawk Arsenal
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U.S. Unleashes $22.9 Billion Raytheon Deal to Supercharge Tomahawk Arsenal

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The United States military awarded Raytheon a massive $22.9 billion contract Monday to dramatically increase Tomahawk missile production.

The seven year agreement represents a major push to replenish precision weapons inventories and restore the industrial capacity required for sustained combat operations.

American stockpiles have faced growing pressure as Washington supplied substantial quantities of weapons to allies while also expending munitions during the conflict with Iran.

Those demands have raised serious concerns about available inventories of air defense interceptors and precision guided strike weapons.

“We called on industry to rapidly scale up munitions output, and RTX is delivering,” Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said in a post on X.

“This landmark Tomahawk contract ensures our warfighters continue to have the lethal firepower they need.”

Raytheon, a business unit of RTX, said the contract will allow annual Tomahawk production to climb beyond 1,000 missiles.

That would be an enormous increase from the roughly 60 Tomahawks the company currently produces each year.

Moving from 60 missiles annually to more than 1,000 is not a routine adjustment to an assembly line.

It requires expanded facilities, additional equipment, a larger skilled workforce, reliable suppliers, and long term access to specialized materials and electronic components.

Trump Backed U.S. Retaliation After Iranian Drone Attack Kills Four Reserve Soldiers
The guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black fires a Tomahawk land attack missile in support of Operation Epic Fury in an undisclosed location, Feb. 28, 2026.

The Tomahawk remains one of the Navy’s most important conventional strike weapons.

Launched from surface ships and submarines, the missile gives commanders the ability to hit land targets from long range with precision while keeping American platforms farther from hostile forces.

That reach can prove decisive during the opening stages of a conflict, particularly against command facilities, air defense sites, weapons storage areas, and other hardened targets.

A larger inventory also gives military planners more options without forcing them to ration critical weapons during an extended campaign.

The formal announcement finalizes a framework agreement signed by the military and Raytheon in February.

That earlier arrangement established the foundation for expanding production, while Monday’s award puts serious money and purchasing commitments behind the plan.

President Donald Trump’s administration has been pursuing multi year agreements with major American military contractors.

Germany Seals Deal to Buy U.S. Tomahawks, Bolstering Its Long-Range Strike Power
The U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner fires a Tomahawk land attack missile in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 1, 2026. (U.S. Navy)

These contracts provide companies with the predictability needed to invest billions of dollars in new factories, production equipment, supply networks, and workforce development.

That approach marks a welcome shift from the procurement drift that too often left manufacturers guessing about future orders.

Industry cannot build missiles at wartime speed when Washington purchases them in small batches and expects factories to remain ready through sheer wishful thinking.

Long term commitments give contractors a reason to expand capacity before the next emergency arrives. They also help suppliers plan for larger orders involving rocket motors, guidance systems, warheads, propulsion components, and the countless smaller parts required for modern precision weapons.

The Tomahawk agreement follows additional military deals signed earlier this month to accelerate production of Patriot and THAAD interceptor missile components.

Those systems are central to protecting American forces, allied installations, cities, and critical infrastructure from ballistic missile and aerial threats.

Together, the agreements suggest the Trump administration is treating munitions production as a national security priority rather than another paperwork exercise.

Japan’s Tomahawk Capable Destroyer Expands Reach, Strengthening Regional Deterrence

President Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth have emphasized military lethality, readiness, and the need to ensure American troops enter any fight with overwhelming firepower.

Rebuilding the arsenal will still take time because missile production depends on complicated supply chains and highly trained workers.

However, a seven year contract with a value approaching $23 billion provides the stability needed to begin reversing years of insufficient capacity.

For sailors aboard American destroyers, cruisers, and submarines, the result should be a deeper supply of one of the fleet’s most proven strike weapons.

For potential adversaries, the message is equally clear: the United States intends to restore its magazines and ensure its warfighters have the weapons required to hit hard from long range.

Third Innocent Bystander Shot in Brooklyn Within 48 Hours as Bullet Grazes Woman [WATCH]
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Third Innocent Bystander Shot in Brooklyn Within 48 Hours as Bullet Grazes Woman [WATCH]

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Another innocent New Yorker was caught in the path of gunfire Monday, becoming at least the third bystander shot in Brooklyn in less than 48 hours. The latest victim, a 52-year-old woman, was struck while simply walking down a neighborhood street, as reported by The New York Post.

Police said the woman was near the Glenwood Houses, a New York City Housing Authority complex in Flatlands, when a bullet grazed her left arm.

The shooting occurred around 1:10 p.m., bringing broad daylight violence to Ralph Avenue.

Three male suspects fled the area on scooters after the gunfire, according to law enforcement sources. Their rapid escape left police searching for answers while residents were once again forced to confront violence outside their homes.

First responders treated the wounded woman at the scene before transporting her to Brookdale Medical Center.

She was listed in stable condition, and police confirmed that she had no involvement in whatever confrontation led to the shooting.

The woman was simply in the wrong place when someone decided to open fire on a city street. That grim distinction offers little comfort in a borough where innocent residents have repeatedly paid the price for reckless criminals.

Police data recorded so far this year shows shooting incidents in the 63rd Precinct have dropped 60 percent compared with the same period in 2025. The precinct includes the location where Monday afternoon’s shooting unfolded.

That statistic is encouraging on paper, but percentages do not stop bullets or shield pedestrians walking past public housing. For the latest victim, the supposed improvement still ended with an emergency trip to the hospital.

Monday’s gunfire followed the horrifying death of Sofronie Hartzog, a mother of five who was struck by a stray bullet during a massive street brawl in Crown Heights. She later collapsed inside the bathroom of a nearby bar.

The deadly violence erupted around 2:23 a.m. Sunday, after a fight broke out among a crowd of roughly 100 people outside the Ooh La La Lounge. The establishment is located near Bergen Street and Howard Avenue.

During the chaos, an errant bullet struck Hartzog in the back and hit a 34-year-old man in the abdomen. Police said neither victim was an intended target, making them casualties of somebody else’s armed mayhem.

After being wounded, Hartzog managed to run inside the lounge before collapsing in a restroom. Emergency crews rushed her to Brookdale Medical Center, the same hospital that later received Monday’s wounded bystander, but doctors could not save her.

“They killed her, that’s what happened,” her grieving aunt, Melinda Hartzog, told The Post. Her words captured the brutal reality behind another burst of supposedly random city violence.

“She was the best person in the world,” the aunt said while describing the devastating loss. Hartzog left behind five children who will now grow up without their mother because gunfire erupted during a street fight.

Neighbor Jennifer Ortiz remembered Hartzog as a devoted mother who took pride in her children. Ortiz said the children were well behaved and that Hartzog regularly dressed them in nice outfits.

The two shootings, separated by less than two days, show how quickly street disorder can destroy families and wound residents who have nothing to do with the underlying conflict.

One woman survived with a grazed arm, while another never made it home to her five children.

Police continued searching for the three scooter-riding suspects connected to Monday’s shooting.

Residents deserve arrests, prosecution, and consequences, not another round of comforting statistics while armed suspects vanish down Brooklyn streets.

Portland Mother Barred From Child’s Graduation After Challenging Radical Gender Curriculum
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Portland Mother Barred From Child’s Graduation After Challenging Radical Gender Curriculum

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A Portland, Oregon, mother has filed a federal lawsuit against Portland Public Schools after she was barred from school property following her objections to curriculum and school policies involving gender identity, as reported by The New York Post.

Allison Roberts filed the lawsuit Wednesday against the school district and her child’s elementary school, according to the Liberty Justice Center, which is representing her in the case.

The dispute began last year at Meriwether Lewis Elementary School, where Roberts said she objected to the school replacing its traditional rainbow pride flag with an “Intersex-Inclusive Progress” version.

According to the Liberty Justice Center, Roberts believed the revised flag promoted political and ideological views that conflicted with her Christian faith.

Roberts said she supports “being immersed” in Portland’s gay community but objected to the inclusion of transgender-related messaging in the revised flag.

Her concerns expanded after she learned about an assignment given to her 11-year-old child called an “identity flower.”

According to the lawsuit, the assignment asked students to identify and discuss their gender identity with classmates and teachers.

Roberts said she was not given advance notice of the assignment. She subsequently sought a meeting with the school’s principal to discuss her concerns.

After what she considered an unsatisfactory response from school officials, Roberts wrote an open letter criticizing the school’s policies. She distributed the letter on a public sidewalk outside school property.

The situation later escalated following a heated exchange between Roberts and another parent. Roberts was subsequently issued a one-year trespass order that barred her from attending school events.

The order meant Roberts could not attend her child’s graduation ceremony.

When Roberts contacted the school seeking an explanation, she was reportedly told that the restrictions were connected to allegations of “harassment, intimidation, and threatening behavior.”

School officials also described the alleged conduct as part of a pattern of “animus and harassment targeting vulnerable members of [the] community.”

Roberts disputes the characterization of her conduct and contends that the school retaliated against her because of her criticism of its policies.

The Liberty Justice Center argues that Portland Public Schools violated Roberts’ First and Fourteenth Amendment rights by restricting her speech and retaliating against her for criticizing school policies.

The organization is asking a federal court to declare the actions against Roberts unconstitutional and to issue an injunction addressing the policies at issue.

The case also challenges the school district’s harassment policy. Timothy R. Snowball, senior counsel at the Liberty Justice Center, said the organization intends to seek a preliminary injunction while the lawsuit proceeds.

“Our next step in the case will be filing a motion for a preliminary injunction to put a stop to these unconstitutional policies while the case moves forward. This motion will help protect not only Allison’s rights, but all affected families in Portland,” Snowball said.

The requested injunction would seek to prevent Roberts from facing further restrictions under the policies while the court considers the broader constitutional claims.

Portland Public Schools declined to comment to Fox News Digital about the pending litigation.

Roberts said she has received support from people in Portland as well as parents and grandparents elsewhere in the country.

“It has been heartening to see the outpouring of support from my local Portland community, and from parents and grandparents across the country,” she said.

“I never wanted things to get to this point. But knowing that I’m fighting this battle not just for my family, but for millions of American families, reassures me that bringing this suit is the right thing to do.”

The lawsuit now moves into federal court proceedings, where Roberts’ claims and the school district’s actions will be examined.

The dispute raises questions over how public schools handle controversial curriculum, parental objections, and speech by parents criticizing school policies.

For Roberts, the immediate dispute began with a school assignment and concerns over a flag.

It ultimately resulted in a one-year exclusion from school property and prevented her from attending an important milestone in her child’s education.

The Liberty Justice Center says its broader goal is to ensure that other Portland families do not face similar restrictions for challenging school policies.

Roberts is seeking relief through the federal courts, while Portland Public Schools has not publicly commented on the allegations because the case remains pending.

NJ School Athletic Director Accused of Prowling Outside Young Girl’s Bedroom Window [WATCH]
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NJ School Athletic Director Accused of Prowling Outside Young Girl’s Bedroom Window [WATCH]

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A New Jersey school district athletic director has been charged after police said he was recorded looking through the bedroom window of a young girl in Pennsylvania late at night, as reported by The New York Post.

Winfield Becker, 48, was identified by Plumstead Township police as the man allegedly seen outside the girl’s home in Cabin Run, Bucks County, at approximately 10:40 p.m. on Aug. 6, 2026.

According to police, the homeowner provided investigators with surveillance footage that allegedly captured Becker looking through the bedroom window. Authorities subsequently arrested him in connection with the incident.

Becker serves as athletic director for the Hopewell Valley Regional School District in New Jersey, according to the Trentonian.

The district is located in Mercer County, not far from Princeton, and serves more than 3,500 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, according to information cited from the district’s LinkedIn page.

The case has prompted the school district to notify parents, although officials emphasized that the alleged incident did not involve any students.

In a letter sent to parents, Hopewell Valley Regional School District Superintendent Rosetta Treece said Becker would be placed on a leave of absence.

The superintendent also made clear that the alleged conduct occurred outside the district’s schools and did not involve students.

The district’s response followed the arrest and allegations against Becker in Bucks County.

According to court records, Becker faces charges of loitering and prowling at night, along with a summary offense of harassment.

The allegations stem from the Aug. 6 incident in Cabin Run. Police said the homeowner’s surveillance system provided evidence that led investigators to identify Becker as the person outside the residence.

Authorities have not alleged that Becker entered the home. The charges instead concern his alleged presence outside the residence and his conduct involving the bedroom window.

Becker is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 8.

His attorney, Thomas Logan, disputed the allegations and said Becker intends to contest the case.

“We look forward to his appearance in court where he can vindicate his name against these baseless accusations.”

The incident has drawn attention because Becker holds an athletic leadership position in a New Jersey school district responsible for thousands of students. School officials, however, have said that no students were involved in the Pennsylvania incident.

The Hopewell Valley Regional School District serves communities in Mercer County, with its schools located near Princeton. Becker’s role as athletic director places him in a position working with students and school athletic programs, but the allegations described by Plumstead Township police concern activity at a private residence in Bucks County.

The district’s decision to place Becker on leave allows the school system to address the situation while the criminal case proceeds through the courts.

Police and prosecutors have not established Becker’s guilt through the charges. The allegations remain subject to court proceedings, and Becker is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The surveillance footage supplied by the homeowner is expected to be part of the evidence in the case. Investigators have relied on the video as they pursue the allegations involving Becker’s presence near the residence.

The charges of loitering and prowling at night and harassment are now scheduled to be addressed in court.

Becker’s Sept. 8 appearance will provide an opportunity for the defense to respond formally to the accusations.

For the school district, Superintendent Treece has told parents that the allegations did not involve students and that Becker will remain on leave while the matter moves forward.

The case remains pending in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.


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