Trump Administration Live Updates: Head of U.S. Central Command Testifies to Senators

Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, addressing concerns about the Iran conflict’s impact on U.S. military readiness. He stated that the U.S. military has sufficient munitions for current operations but acknowledged that the war has depleted stockpiles in Asia and Europe, reducing preparedness against potential threats from Russia and China. Cooper claimed the U.S. had ‘met every military objective’ in the Iran conflict, which began on February 28, while acknowledging Iran still retains roughly 70% of its prewar missile stockpile and mobile launchers. He noted that Iran’s ability to execute large-scale missile volleys has been ‘dramatically degraded,’ though residual capabilities remain. The Pentagon abruptly canceled a planned deployment of 4,000 troops to Poland, following an earlier withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany. The decision surprised military officials, who cited no clear explanation for the reversal. Meanwhile, President Trump discussed the Strait of Hormuz—through which 20% of global oil supply passes—with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their summit. Both leaders agreed the strait must remain open for energy trade, but China provided no new commitments to pressure Iran. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Guo Jiakun, confirmed the Middle East was discussed but reiterated Beijing’s ‘consistent and clear’ policy on the strait. While China has historically opposed the U.S. blockade, it has not recently criticized it or signaled stronger action to reopen shipping lanes. The U.S. continues to seek a lasting resolution, though current cease-fire efforts remain stalled.