Live updates: Hegseth, Trump announce military changes, government shutdown looms

What to Know

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned hundreds of U.S. military officials to an in-person meeting to declare an end to “woke” culture in the military and announce new directives for troops that include “gender-neutral” or “male-level” standards for physical fitness.
• Washington is just hours away from yet another federal government shutdown, with prospects looking rather bleak for a last-minute compromise in Congress to avoid federal closures beginning at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.
• Leaders from several Middle Eastern countries expressed cautious optimism about Trump’s plan to end to the war in Gaza and free the hostages being held there by Hamas. The militant group was not involved in the plan and said today that it would study the proposal before offering a response.