Story perspectives

Battleship Funding Defended as US-Iran Ceasefire Talks Begin

6/5/2026

Summary

Story summary

House Armed Services Committee amendment to cut the $1 billion battleship allocation failed 26-30.
Rep. Adam Smith and Democrats warned the $17 billion Trump-class battleship for 2028 would divert funds from systems.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran are negotiating a tentative cease-fire after the Pentagon reported forces intercepted Iranian missiles and drones targeting Kuwait and Bahrain, struck a Qeshm Island control station, and Iran agreed not to develop a nuclear weapon.

History

Historical Context

In August 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait, prompting the U.S. to mobilize the modernized battleship USS Missouri for Gulf War operations. Missouri entered the Persian Gulf in November 1990, fired 28 Tomahawk missiles and 783 sixteen-inch shells during Desert Storm. The 1991 deployment illustrates how past battleship funding resurfaces in today’s budget amendment debate involving Rep. Adam Smith and President Trump.

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Story summary

House Armed Services Committee amendment to cut the $1 billion battleship allocation failed 26-30.
Rep. Adam Smith and Democrats warned the $17 billion Trump-class battleship for 2028 would divert funds from systems.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran are negotiating a tentative cease-fire after the Pentagon reported forces intercepted Iranian missiles and drones targeting Kuwait and Bahrain, struck a Qeshm Island control station, and Iran agreed not to develop a nuclear weapon.

1 / 2