Trump In China, Hegseth Requests Wartime Budget, FDA Commissioner Resigns

President Trump’s summit in Beijing with President Xi Jinping aims to stabilize a fragile trade relationship, with the U.S. seeking increased purchases of American products while China pushes for access to advanced semiconductors and jet engines. Meanwhile, the Pentagon reports that the ongoing war in Iran has cost $29 billion, a figure that excludes significant facility repair expenses, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth requests a record $1.5 trillion budget to address military underinvestment. Amidst these geopolitical and fiscal challenges, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has resigned following thirteen months of internal turmoil, including disputes over flavored vape regulations and controversial policy shifts that bypassed traditional advisory committees. The administration now faces the task of managing these complex regulatory and military transitions while navigating significant political pushback from Congress.