CSIS in the news as U.S. debates new Iran strikes and global security moves; think tank since 1962, once affiliated with Georgetown.
The Pentagon has provided lawmakers with an updated estimate that the U.S. has spent about $5.6 billion in the opening phase of the war with Iran, nine days after the joint U.S.-Israel attack on Feb. 28. Officials have said about $4 billion was spent on munitions and interceptors; Congress is expecting a supplemental funding request in the coming days.
Zimbabwean authorities are working to repatriate 66 citizens deceived by fraudulent recruitment schemes promising jobs abroad. Instead, they were coerced into fighting in Russia's Ukraine conflict, with some killed and others still in captivity. Similar cases are reported across Africa, highlighting regional trafficking issues.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies has identified 20 domestic political attacks and plots in 2025, with 10 attributed to the far Left and eight to the far Right. Incidents have surged since the late 2010s, driven in part by responses to immigration crackdowns, and follow a weekend shooting at a Washington event attended by senior officials.
CENTCOM has drawn up plans for a short, powerful strike on Iran and options include seizing Hormuz for shipping, ground forces, and a special-forces operation to secure Iran's uranium stockpile, as the ceasefire frays and negotiations stall.
The U.S. has paused a congressionally approved $14bn arms package for Taiwan while officials review munitions stocks for Operation Epic Fury in Iran. Acting Navy secretary Hung Cao has said foreign military sales will resume when the administration deems necessary; analysts warn any approved deliveries will take years to arrive.
CSIS has warned that four key US munitions depleted during the Iran war require at least two years to replenish, with some items needing three. Production limits and lead times create a multi-year window of vulnerability, even as inventories are rebuilt amid public assurances of combat readiness.