NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte says that most allies endorse President Donald Trump's demand that they invest 5% of gross domestic product on their security needs. Speaking Thursday after chairing a meeting of NATO defense ministers, Rutte said he has "total confidence that we will get there" by the next NATO summit in three weeks. The aim would be to spend 3.5% on defense budgets and an extra 1.5% on things like the roads, bridges, airfields and seaports needed to deploy armies more quickly. The ministers also approved purchasing targets to stock up on more weapons and military equipment to better defend Europe, the Arctic and North Atlantic.

House Republicans have narrowly approved their budget framework. The 216-214 tally was a turnaround for Speaker Mike Johnson after abruptly postponing Wednesday's vote. Johnson worked into the night to satisfy conservative lawmakers who refused to support the plan. He and Senate Majority Leader John Thune assured conservatives they were on track seeking at least $1.5 trillion in cuts. President Donald Trump had admonished the holdouts to "stop grandstanding." The bill is central to President Donald Trump's agenda of tax breaks, spending cuts and mass deportations. There are still more votes ahead as lawmakers draft a final package in the weeks to come.