Pentagon declines to reaffirm NATO's collective defense, says up to Trump

By Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declined on Tuesday to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to NATO's collective defense, saying ‌that would be up to President Donald Trump after European allies ‌had failed to stand with the United States in the war against Iran.

The remarks by Hegseth at ​a Pentagon briefing were extraordinary, given that collective defense lies at the heart of the NATO alliance, which was formed in 1949 with the primary aim of countering the risk of Soviet attack on allied territory.

Any signal by the United States ‌that it might not be ⁠willing to defend NATO allies in the event of attack by Russia or another adversary could severely weaken the alliance even ⁠if Trump opts against withdrawing from it altogether, something that may require consent by Congress.

Experts have long warned that such remarks could also encourage Russia to test NATO members' ​readiness ​to enforce the alliance's Article 5, which ​states an armed attack against one ‌member state is an attack on all.

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Asked by Reuters at a news briefing if the United States is still committed to NATO's collective defense, Hegseth said: "As far as NATO is concerned, that's a decision that will be left to the president. But I'll just say a lot has been laid bare."

Hegseth then appeared ‌to point to Trump's latest remarks on social ​media blasting France for failing to allow overflight ​of U.S. military resupply aircraft ​headed to Israel and criticizing Britain for failing to launch the ‌war against Iran alongside the U.S. ​and Israel.

Trump said on ​Friday the United States does not "have to be there for NATO."

"You don't have much of an alliance if you have countries that are not ​willing to stand with ‌you when you need them. He's simply pointing that out, and ultimately, ​it'll be his decision of what that looks like," Hegseth said.

(Reporting ​by Phil Stewart; Editing by Alistair Bell)

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 31, 2026

Pentagon declines to reaffirm NATO's collective defense, says up to Trump

By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declined on Tuesday to reaffir...

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China, Pakistan call for start of peace talks as soon as possible, state media reports

March 31 (Reuters) - Chinese and Pakistani foreign ministers on ‌Monday called for an ‌immediate ceasefire and an end ​to war in the Gulf and Middle East regions, urging peace talks to be ‌held as ⁠soon as possible, Pakistan's foreign ministry and ⁠China's state news agency Xinhua reported.

The diplomats also ​said the ​safety of ​waterways should ‌be ensured and that of ships and crews stranded in the waters within the Strait of Hormuz, Xinhua ‌said.

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The countries made ​the appeal in ​a ​five-point initiative released on ‌Tuesday for restoring ​peace and ​stability in the region, Pakistan's foreign ministry said.

(Reporting ​by ‌Shi Bu, Xiuhao Chen and ​Ryan Woo, Ariba Shahid, ​Sakshi Dayal)

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 31, 2026

China, Pakistan call for start of peace talks as soon as possible, state media reports

March 31 (Reuters) - Chinese and Pakistani foreign ministers on ‌Monday called for an ‌immediate ceasefire and an end ​to...

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TSA workers are getting paid. How are wait times at O'Hare, Midway?

Transportation Security Administration workers arefinally getting paidafter more than a month of no earnings.

Amidballooning security wait timescaused by the partial government shutdown, PresidentDonald Trumpsigned an orderFriday to redirect funds set for the Department of Homeland Security to TSA workers.

Here's how lines are looking at O'Hare Airport Tuesday as things return to a somewhat normal state.

Is TSA getting paid now?

With legislation stalled in Congress, Trump signed an order Friday, March 27, redirecting federal funds to pay TSA workers. However, it's only a temporary fix, and long-term funding still needs to be approved by lawmakers, who are currently on a previously scheduled recess.

"At the direction of President Trump and the Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, TSA has immediately begun the process of paying its workforce," DHS Acting Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Lauren Bis told USA TODAY. "TSA officers should begin seeing paychecks as early as today."

Bis expressed both TSA and DHS's gratitude for putting money back into the pockets of TSA workers who've been working without pay.

How to check TSA wait times at O'Hare, Midway

TSA confirmed to USA TODAY that both theMyTSA mobile appand the agency's wait‑time tracker are down because of the shutdown.

"Airline passengers should visit the airport's website or app for more information on wait times," the agency said.

Travelers flying out of O'Hare or Midway can also checkFlightQueue.

How are TSA wait times at O'Hare?

FlightQueueshows fast security wait times at O'Hare, with an average wait of less than 15 minutes, as of 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

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Travelers reported average wait times of five minutes at Terminals 2 and 3 and an hour at Terminal 5.

The site shows busy wait times for immigration at O'Hare, with average waits of 30-45 minutes.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents patrol at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York City, March 23, 2026. Hundreds of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were ordered to deploy to airports to help fill TSA staffing gaps across the country.

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ICE agents appear at airports as TSA delays snarl check-in

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents patrol at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York City, March 23, 2026. Hundreds ofImmigration and Customs Enforcement agents were ordered to deploy to airportsto help fill TSA staffing gaps across the country.

When is the best time to arrive at TSA to avoid long lines?

For the quickest pass through security, the site recommends arriving before 7 a.m. and avoiding peak hours between 4-6 p.m.

How are TSA wait times at Midway? Immigration?

FlightQueueshows fast wait times for security and immigration at Midway Airport, with an average wait of less than 15 minutes for both.

Is ICE still at airports?

Though TSA workers have started receiving paychecks, Border CzarTom Homansaid ICE officersmay remain at airportsa little longer.

Homan appeared onCNN's "State of the Union" on March 29 and said the security line pressure may alleviate slightly. He also said whether or not ICE officers leave airports depends on how many TSA officials return to work.

"I'm working very closely with the TSA administrator and the ICE director to decide what airport needs what, but you know, God bless men and women of ICE," Homan said. "They're plugging those holes, they're keeping the security at the airport at a high level."

The USA TODAY Network reached out to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's office to see if ICE officers would remain at O'Hare, but have yet to received a response.

CONTRIBUTING:Zachary Schermele,Trevor HughesandBart Jansen, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Check out TSA wait times at O'Hare, Midway as workers start getting paid

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 31, 2026

TSA workers are getting paid. How are wait times at O'Hare, Midway?

Transportation Security Administration workers arefinally getting paidafter more than a month of no earnings. ...

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Infinimmune, Merck enter into antibody discovery pact

March 31 (Reuters) - Biotech firm Infinimmune said on Tuesday it has entered ‌into a deal with Merck, ‌that could be worth up to about $838 million ​in milestone payments, to discover and develop multiple antibodies for various undisclosed disease targets.

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* Under the agreement, the privately ‌held Infinimmune willreceive ⁠an undisclosed upfront payment and could earn milestonepayments tied to ⁠multiple drug candidates worth up to about $838million. * Merck will have the exclusive right ​to develop ​andcommercialize antibody ​candidates that come out ‌of thecollaboration. * Infinimmune said it will use its proprietary platform toscreen large numbers of human immune cells and identifynaturally occurring antibodies, then useAI tools‌to refine andimprove them. * ​The companies did not ​disclose the ​disease targets Merckselected for the ‌partnership. * Infinimmune focuses on ​discovering antibody ​medicinesdirectly from the human immune system. * Outside the Merck deal, Infinimmune is ​also ‌developing itsown early-stage medicines for moderate-to-severe ​eczema andother immune-related diseases.

(Reporting by Kunal ​Das in Bengaluru)

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 31, 2026

Infinimmune, Merck enter into antibody discovery pact

March 31 (Reuters) - Biotech firm Infinimmune said on Tuesday it has entered ‌into a deal with Merck, ‌that could be wort...

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Florida to rename Palm Beach airport after Trump

March 30 (Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron ‌DeSantis signed legislation ‌on Monday to rename ​the Palm Beach International Airport after Donald Trump, ‌the latest ⁠in a series of buildings, ⁠institutions, government programs, warships and ​money ​to ​bear the ‌U.S. president's name.

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The decision to rename the airport after Trump follows Florida's ‌approval last ​year of ​a ​plan to ‌donate a downtown Miami ​property ​for the site of Trump's ​presidential ‌library.

(Reporting by David ​Shepardson; Editing by ​Chris Reese)

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 31, 2026

Florida to rename Palm Beach airport after Trump

March 30 (Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron ‌DeSantis signed legislation ‌on Monday to rename ​the Palm Beach International...

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