Morning Brief: US Government Shuts Down, Zaporizhzhia Plant Runs on Backup Generators, South Korea to Boost Defense Spending

· Guy D. McCardle

Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. (File/Unsplash)

It’s Wednesday, October 1, 2025, and Washington wakes to a shutdown after Trump and Congress failed to strike a funding deal. At the Pentagon, Hegseth rolled out stricter combat and grooming rules, while Trump tapped General Kenneth Wilsbach as the next Air Force chief. Overseas, Russia bombed Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia’s nuclear plant is on emergency power; Europe piled pressure on Israel as protests spread; and Syria’s Druze turned toward autonomy with Israeli backing. The Taliban denied an internet ban in Afghanistan, Australia clashed with China over iron ore, and South Korea raised defense spending to reduce its reliance on the US.

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US Government Shuts Down as Trump and Congress Fail to Reach Deal

The US government entered a shutdown on Wednesday after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to reach a funding agreement, forcing about 750,000 federal workers into furloughs or possible firings.

Trump vowed to make “irreversible” cuts, targeting programs favored by Democrats, while allowing defense and key security agencies to remain open.

The shutdown, the third under Trump, underscores the deep partisan divide and leaves no clear path to resolution.

Democrats are demanding funding for Affordable Care Act subsidies to curb soaring insurance costs, while Republicans refuse to link health care to budget talks. Both parties’ temporary funding bills failed in the Senate, leaving services like education, environmental protection, and national parks disrupted. Medicare and Medicaid will continue, though delays are expected.

The shutdown risks economic fallout, with uncertainty over the delivery of the monthly jobs report and potential ripple effects across markets and households.

With both sides entrenched, the standoff could become another prolonged closure like those of past administrations.

 

Pentagon Imposes Gender-Neutral Combat Standards, Stricter Grooming Rules in Major Policy Shift

The Pentagon announced this week a sweeping personnel reform, introducing stricter grooming requirements, new gender-neutral combat standards, and reduced mandatory training.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized a renewed focus on warfighting, declaring that combat readiness and fitness will be the military’s central mission.

Under the new policy, combat roles in the Navy and Marine Corps must meet sex-neutral standards modeled on the male baseline, while non-combat jobs remain age- and sex-normed. Service members will now complete both service fitness and combat readiness tests annually, with body composition standards strictly enforced.

The reforms extend to grooming rules, requiring most troops to be clean-shaven, with only narrow medical or religious exceptions.

Education and training programs will undergo a 60-day review to restore earlier standards, while mandatory training will be pared back to prioritize mission focus.

Hegseth also ordered stricter handling of hazing definitions, faster resolution of Military Equal Opportunity complaints, and stronger accountability for frivolous cases. Civilian employees will be subject to a new performance-driven “warrior ethos” management model.

Hegseth said the changes aim to build a lethal, disciplined, and fit force prepared to win wars.

 

Trump Nominates General Kenneth Wilsbach as Next Air Force Chief of Staff

President Trump has nominated General Kenneth Wilsbach, former head of Air Combat Command, to become the next Air Force chief of staff and join the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The Senate received the nomination Monday, and Wilsbach will require confirmation by the Senate Armed Services Committee and full Senate.

If approved, Wilsbach will succeed General David Allvin, who announced in August that he would retire in November, midway through his four-year term.

Allvin’s early departure follows the February firing of the Air Force vice chief of staff and marks the third early exit from the Joint Chiefs in recent months.

Wilsbach, a veteran fighter pilot with 6,000 flying hours and 71 combat missions, previously commanded US Air Forces in the Pacific. He stepped down from leading Air Combat Command in August and is expected to take over his new role around November 1 if confirmed.

 

Pentagon Extends US Troop Tours in South Korea to Boost Stability and Readiness

American service members assigned to South Korea will now serve longer tours under a Defense Department policy that took effect Wednesday.

Accompanied troops will complete 36-month tours, while unaccompanied troops will serve 24 months, up from previous shorter rotations. Those already stationed in South Korea will not be affected, and troops unable to secure accompanied status at certain bases may serve a 12-month tour instead.

US Forces Korea, which oversees about 28,500 troops, described the change as a “normalization” of tour lengths meant to improve stability, operational readiness, and quality of life. Larger bases such as Camp Humphreys are expanding facilities to support more family members, while smaller installations like Camp Mujuk and Kunsan Air Base will remain largely unaccompanied posts.

Officials said longer tours will help retain skilled personnel and strengthen regional expertise amid growing security challenges.

The extension comes as the Army and Air Force reactivated South Korea-based units this year, including the 528th Military Intelligence Company and the 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, to enhance capabilities in the region.

 

Russian Airstrike on Kharkiv Injures Six and Sparks Market, Residential Fires

A Russian guided bomb strike hit the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv overnight, injuring six people and igniting fires across the city, regional officials said Wednesday.

Five of the injured remain hospitalized. The attack set ablaze parts of a market and several residential buildings, with firefighters battling flames through the night.

Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city near the Russian border, has faced frequent aerial assaults since the start of the war in 2022.

Moscow has not commented on the latest strike.

Both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians, framing attacks as aimed at critical wartime infrastructure.

 

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Relies on Emergency Generators for Ninth Day After Power Cut

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine has been running on emergency diesel generators for nine consecutive days after its last external power line was severed during fighting on September 23.

Russia’s management of the facility says backup supply remains sufficient, though Ukrainian and Russian officials accuse each other of shelling that prevents restoration of the Dneprovskaya line.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned that this is the longest outage of external power since the war began, underscoring the risk of a nuclear accident. Although all six reactors are shut down and radiation levels remain normal, cooling still depends on continuous power.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi urged urgent restoration of offsite power, noting that a failure of the emergency generators could jeopardize reactor and spent fuel safety.

Russian forces have controlled the plant since capturing it in 2022.

 

Europe’s Pressure on Israel Mounts as Pro-Palestinian Protests Surge and Calls for Sanctions Grow

Pro-Palestinian protests have intensified across Europe, with demonstrations reaching more than 2,000 in the past five months and fueling political pressure on governments to take stronger action against Israel over its war in Gaza.

Several European countries, including France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, have recognized a Palestinian state, while leaders such as Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen have signaled support for sanctions against Israel.

European navies have also been deployed to protect activist aid flotillas heading for Gaza.

The shift reflects growing public outrage over the humanitarian toll of the war, which has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians, displaced most of Gaza’s population, and created famine conditions, according to Gaza health officials.

Netanyahu acknowledged eroding European support, while critics in Europe cited violations of humanitarian norms and called for accountability.

Germany remains divided, balancing its historic support for Israel with rising domestic protests, while Italy appears poised to align with other European states pressing for tougher measures.

Cultural and sporting boycotts, including threats to exclude Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest, are also gaining traction as public pressure builds.

 

Druze in Sweida Turn Toward Autonomy and Israel After Sectarian Violence

Syrian government forces entered Sweida over the summer to reassert control, but clashes and sectarian attacks on Druze civilians backfired, fueling demands for autonomy and even secession.

Sweida’s Druze community has since formed a de facto governing body, the Supreme Legal Council, and a coalition of armed factions known as the National Guard. Led by spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, the movement has consolidated power and shifted away from Damascus, with some residents now openly displaying Israeli flags in protests.

Israel has seized the opportunity, launching strikes against Syrian forces during the fighting, coordinating aid deliveries, and calling for a demilitarized southern Syria.

Al-Hijri has publicly thanked Israel, while Druze leaders in Israel and Syria have strengthened ties.

Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has pledged accountability and reconciliation, but most in Sweida distrust Damascus and accuse the government of complicity in the attacks.

With resentment deepening, many Druze now see autonomy, federalism, or outright separation as the only way to secure their safety.

 

Taliban Denies Internet Ban, Blames Nationwide Blackout on Aging Cables

The Taliban government on Wednesday denied imposing a nationwide internet ban in Afghanistan, attributing widespread outages to deteriorating fiber optic cables being replaced.

The statement, the first official response to the blackout, came after reports from several provinces last month that Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada had ordered shutdowns to combat immorality.

Internet advocacy group NetBlocks reported Monday that connectivity had collapsed nationwide, including in Kabul, with phone services also affected.

The disruption has hindered banking, commerce, aviation, and aid operations. Humanitarian organizations, including Save the Children, warned that the blackout is severely affecting their ability to deliver assistance and called on authorities to restore reliable communications.

The Taliban did not say when services would return.

 

Australia Urges China to Resume BHP Iron Ore Imports Amid Reported Buying Halt

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday called on China to allow Australian iron ore exports to continue without disruption after reports that state-run China Mineral Resources Group Co. instructed steelmakers and traders to suspend purchases from mining giant BHP.

The move, reportedly linked to tough contract negotiations, affects new dollar-denominated cargo deals, including shipments already leaving Australia.

Albanese said the reports were “concerning” and stressed the importance of uninterrupted trade for both economies, urging a swift resolution. Treasurer Jim Chalmers confirmed plans to meet BHP CEO Mike Henry, while Western Australia Premier Roger Cook described the suspension as “strategic gamesmanship” over pricing.

Analysts said China remains reliant on BHP’s supply, as other major producers such as Vale, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue are already at full capacity.

The dispute comes as China has lifted other trade barriers in recent years but continues to use leverage in critical commodity negotiations.

 

South Korea to Boost Defense Spending, Push for Self-Reliant Military

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung pledged Wednesday to increase defense spending and build a more self-reliant military as questions grow over US security commitments under President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy.

Speaking at an Armed Forces Day ceremony, Lee emphasized strengthening South Korea’s independent defense capabilities while affirming the alliance with Washington.

Lee announced an 8.2 perecnt rise in next year’s defense budget to fund advanced systems, including artificial intelligence combat robots, drones, and precision-guided missiles, alongside improvements in soldier welfare and support for the defense industry.

While avoiding direct mention of North Korea, Lee noted South Korea’s defense budget already surpasses North Korea’s gross domestic product (GDP), framing the buildup as essential for deterrence.

He also reaffirmed plans to transfer wartime operational control of allied forces from a US commander to a South Korean-led joint command.

The move, long debated as a sovereignty issue, comes as Trump officials signal that Seoul must assume greater responsibility for its own defense. The US currently maintains about 28,500 troops in South Korea under its nuclear umbrella commitment.

 

Sources: News Agencies