Good morning. This is the Up First newsletter.
Today’s top stories
Republicans push $72 billion for immigration enforcement
Republicans in Congress are racing to approve roughly $72 billion in new funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to carry through the remainder of President Trump’s term. House and Senate GOP leaders are using budget reconciliation to try to pass the package without Democratic support. Many Democrats oppose more agency funding without policy changes that would limit law-enforcement tactics.
The package has drawn criticism from the president because it does not include funding for renovations to the White House ballroom. Several Republicans, including Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, have said they would oppose any budget that included ballroom money. Cassidy — who lost his primary after President Trump backed a different candidate — remains in office and has used his remaining votes to shape key measures, including casting a pivotal vote to advance the Iran war powers resolution. Sen. Lisa Murkowski warned that the president’s attacks on incumbents could backfire and harm the party’s prospects in November.
In related business, the House bipartisan majority passed a housing affordability bill aimed at encouraging homebuilding and limiting purchases by corporate landlords, including a proposed ban on companies buying more than 350 single-family homes.
Trump says more time before possible new strike on Iran
President Trump told reporters he may take several days to decide whether to order another strike on Iran, saying negotiations are underway with what he described as “impressive” Iranian negotiators. Iran says it is prepared for either diplomacy or continued conflict. Israel has pressed for a resumption of military action; many Gulf Arab states oppose it and say they were not consulted before earlier strikes and have borne the brunt of counterattacks. Relations between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were described as tense during a recent call. U.S. officials say Iran’s continued control of the Strait of Hormuz gives Tehran significant leverage, and some Iranian military leaders have warned they would escalate if attacked again.
U.S. indicts former Cuban president Raúl Castro
The Justice Department has obtained a criminal indictment accusing 94-year-old Raúl Castro and other former Cuban officials of playing a role in the 1996 shootdown of two U.S. planes that killed four members of the anti-Castro group Brothers to the Rescue. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the charges include conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, destruction of aircraft and four counts of murder. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel called the indictment politically motivated and denied its legal basis. The move comes amid heightened U.S. pressure on Cuba, which officials say includes restrictions on fuel shipments and other measures after recent regional developments.
Science funding still recovering from 2025 cuts
Thousands of U.S. researchers say they are still dealing with fallout from federal research funding cuts and freezes in 2025. Though some funding was quietly restored this year through the appropriations process, advocates and scientists say the money is not flowing to labs and projects at the pace needed. Concerns about transparency at the National Institutes of Health are also being raised as researchers try to rebuild stalled work.
Climate Solutions Week: beavers help reduce flooding in Britain
As part of NPR’s Climate Solutions Week, we’re looking at local strategies to adapt to extreme weather. In Britain, conservationists have reintroduced beavers to urban and rural waterways. In Greenford, West London, a family of beavers built a dam that created a pond and wetland, reducing flooding at a nearby Tube station that had been overwhelmed by heavy rain.
Deep dive: a new Ebola threat in central Africa
The World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency after an outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Authorities report more than 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths. Experts estimate Bundibugyo’s fatality rate may run 30–50% based on limited past outbreaks. Early symptoms resemble malaria or typhoid and can progress to severe bleeding, shock and organ failure. Unlike the Zaire strain, Bundibugyo has no licensed vaccines or proven treatments, and the outbreak is complicated by the region’s remoteness, weak health infrastructure and ongoing violence that hinders contact tracing.
3 things to know before you go
1) The National Trust for Historic Preservation released its list of America’s 11 most endangered historic sites for 2026.
2) Meta announced plans to lay off about 8,000 employees as it accelerates a shift toward artificial intelligence.
3) This week’s Word of the Week explores the origin and meaning of the name “bee” and why pollinators are more important than ever.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
