Reconciliation Three Point No

Good afternoon. This is the Final NOTUS newsletter for June 9, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

Is Reconciliation 3.0 dead? Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who chairs the Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) said as much during an Air Force appropriations hearing today — comments that have scores of political and defense-related ramifications.

• “I think it’s safe to conclude there will not be another reconciliation bill, so it’s not really an option,” McConnell said.
• House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Missouri) said today he’d also be a “no” if tax provisions aren’t included, though he’d “love for the speaker to say tax is going to be a part of it.”

The Republican Study Committee met last night to discuss targets for a new package — which could increase military and defense funding and target government “fraud” — and Speaker Mike Johnson says JD Vance is directly involved. But House Republicans already face a tight afternoon vote on the Senate’s reconciliation bill that would fund ICE and Customs and Border Protection.

Donald Trump indicated he is not inclined to replace Bill Pulte as the director of national intelligence, Politico reports. The president made his comments during a private afternoon meeting with Johnson about Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act holdups — contradicting Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s comments this morning that the administration is “weighing seriously a long-term pick.”

• House Democrats have said they will not vote with Republicans to extend a key FISA provision this week because of Pulte’s appointment.

• Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso said earlier today that the White House has been “consistent” in saying Pulte would not be a full-time nominee.

THE ADMINISTRATION

Trump said there will be a military response following a U.S. helicopter crashing yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz, which the military says was caused by an Iranian drone. Both pilots had been rescued and were “fine,” the president said today.

Hundreds of millions of dollars in National Park Service funding is sitting in limbo at the Department of the Interior as staff work through a backlog of 1,400 active grants.

The Trump administration has warned more than 500 hospitals in letters that they are failing to provide the public with basic pricing information, saying it keeps health care costs higher than they should be. Failure to comply comes with penalties as high as $2 million annually.

THE HILL

Black Democratic candidates are coordinating to defeat Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Florida), who is running in a historically Black district after Florida redrew its congressional maps to bolster Republicans’ chances.

The Government Accountability Office found serious oversight problems at the country’s largest immigration detention center, including unsanitary conditions and inadequate health assessments.

Some lawmakers are threatening to withhold their DCCC dues after the House campaign arm spent $135,000 on what appears to be a failed effort to boost a preferred California candidate in last week’s primary.

The NRSC presented senators with polling today that found tight races for Republicans in Nebraska, Alaska, Maine, Ohio and Iowa, two sources told NOTUS’ Reese Gorman.

THE PRESIDENT’S TEAM

Thank you for reading! Today’s newsletter was produced by Kelly Poe and Andrew Burton. If you liked it, please forward it to a friend. If someone shared it with you, please sign up — it’s free! Got a tip or comments to share? Email us at finalnotus@notus.com.