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What Happened Today – June 2, 2026

The Pentagon hired Elias Irizarry to work in the office that helps run the missions guarding American embassies and rescuing citizens taken hostage.

That work requires a top-secret clearance, but Irizarry spent fourteen days in jail after pleading guilty to entering the Capitol during the January 6 insurrection. Prosecutors say he carried a metal pole up the scaffolding, waved the crowd up the stairs, and made his way inside.

The Pentagon calls him a qualified, patriotic young professional it is proud to employ. On the LinkedIn profile he keeps, Irizarry lists his profession as patriot. Five years after he attacked his own government, that same government has handed him a highly sensitive national security job.

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🟠 GovBrief Intensity Score 112
Elevated Activity. Watch for distractions.
Volume: Low (12)
Severity: Moderate (2.33)
Defining Moments: 0
Previous 5 Days
🚨176|🟒55|🟑103|πŸ”΄140|🟠120
100 = normal day. Volume is headline count. Stories weighted by significance. Defining Moments are the ones history remembers.
Today's Quote
I am more energized than ever to keep fighting for the people of New Jersey’s 7th District. Right now I am focused on my recovery and under the advice of healthcare professionals, I will transition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks. At that time I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition. Once again, I appreciate all of the prayers and patience from my constituents and colleagues. I understand the need for transparency on this matter and I look forward to sharing my experience with the public.
Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ) in a statement on June 2, 2026, after he won his uncontested primary. He has not attended House votes for three months.
Yesterday's Most Read

Minnesota Republican delegates hold a moment of silence for Derek Chauvin at the state party convention, days after the anniversary of George Floyd's murder.

Today’s GovBrief News


War 1 of 12

U.S. and Iran trade new strikes as a senior Iranian commander calls renewed war inevitable, contradicting Trump's claim that talks are advancing rapidly.

Tehran's missiles all missed their targets

Source: CBS News

June 2, 2026

Science 2 of 12

The National Science Foundation suspends $21 million in UC Berkeley grants over undisclosed foreign funding from allied nations that several researchers say they never received.

One project led by a Nobel laureate

Source: The Associated Press

June 2, 2026

Voting Rights 3 of 12

The Supreme Court revives an Alabama congressional map that a federal court found intentionally discriminates against Black voters, weeks before the midterm primaries.

Hundreds of thousands voters manually reassigned

Source: Courthouse News Service

June 2, 2026

Economy 4 of 12

U.S. proposes new tariffs of up to 12.5% on 60 countries over forced labor, reviving Trump's nation-by-nation levies under a different law after the Supreme Court struck down the originals.

Section 301 replaces the struck-down authority

Source: CNBC

June 2, 2026

Military 5 of 12

The Pentagon hires Elias Irizarry, who pleaded guilty to storming the Capitol on January 6, into a sensitive office running counterterrorism and hostage rescue missions.

Entered through a broken window with pole

Source: The Independent

June 2, 2026

Intelligence 6 of 12

Trump names housing finance chief Pulte, who has no intelligence background, as acting director of national intelligence while he keeps running Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

No confirmation vote until next year

Source: Roll Call

June 2, 2026

Justice Dept 7 of 12

Acting Attorney General Blanche says the administration is permanently killing its $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund but keeping the order that shields Trump's family from tax audits.

Won't put the reversal in writing

Source: ABC News

June 2, 2026

Courts 8 of 12

New Jersey sues GEO Group in state court after inspectors were allowed into only the food service areas of the Newark migrant jail where detainees report tuberculosis and untreated illness.

Twelfth day of hunger strike and protests

Source: The New Jersey Monitor

June 2, 2026

Courts 9 of 12

Trump tells the Supreme Court he will appeal the $83 million award to writer E. Jean Carroll for defaming her after she said he sexually assaulted her in 1996.

His DOJ now investigates her case's participants

Source: USA Today

June 2, 2026

Oversight 10 of 12

Trump quietly signs the voluntary AI testing order he postponed in May, after Sacks, Musk, and Zuckerberg lobbied against the tougher original.

Testing window shrank to 30 days

Source: UPI

June 2, 2026

Media 11 of 12

The White House Correspondents' Association reschedules its annual dinner for July 24 at the former Trump International Hotel in DC, weeks after a gunman halted April's event.

Trump teases repeating his nasty remarks

Source: CNN

June 2, 2026

Fighting Back 12 of 12

Seven states sue to block the administration's $795 million deal paying a foreign energy company to abandon offshore wind off New York and New Jersey and drill oil and gas instead.

Move follows repeated administration court losses

Source: The Maritime Executive

June 2, 2026

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