Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter{beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story  Biden's Ukraine missiles decision enrages Russia, riles Trump allies The Biden administration is apparently calling Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s bluff by allowing Ukraine to strike far into Russian territory with U.S. weapons systems, a move that has drawn the ire of President-elect Trump’s allies.  © AP The lifting of a restriction on the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) will reportedly apply initially to the Russian region of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces have held territory since an August surprise, and where some 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to bolster Russian counter-attacks.   Biden officials would not publicly confirm Monday the new policy, but pointed to North Korea’s involvement as an escalation by Moscow.  Prominent figures in Trump’s orbit suggested the move was meant to complicate the incoming president’s push to end the war.   Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), Trump’s pick for national security adviser, told Fox News on Monday that Biden’s ATACMS lift is “another step up the escalation ladder.”  “And nobody knows where this is going,” he said. “Trump is talking grand strategy here. How do we get both sides to the table to end this war, what’s the framework for the deal, and who’s sitting at that table.”   “The Military Industrial Complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3 going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives,” Donald Trump Jr. wrote on X Sunday, responding to reports about the policy change.   The Kremlin on Monday accused Biden of adding “fuel to the fire” in Ukraine, and pointed to previous remarks from Putin, who warned in September that any nuclear-armed nation approving the use of such missiles in Russia would be declaring war with his country.  “This would in a significant way change the very nature of the conflict,” Putin said in September.   Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh dismissed concerns of escalation, pointing to North Korean troop deployments as already a major increase in hostilities.   “North Korea entering this war makes them co-belligerents with Russia, and we’re talking about North Korean soldiers being used to take sovereign territory, Ukraine’s sovereign territory,” she told reporters in a Monday briefing.   ATACMS are long-range missiles that can be fired from systems like the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and reach targets up to 190 miles away.  They are much more accurate and lethal than the long-range drones that Ukraine has used to target deep into Russia.   Read the full report at TheHill.com.  Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.  Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads  How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future:  Top House Democrat: Gabbard ‘a national security threat’ to US Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Monday that former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), now a Republican and President-elect Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, is “a national security threat” to the United States.  Full Story   Trump signals use of military for deportationsPresident-elect Trump recirculated a social media post Monday suggesting his incoming administration will declare an immigration national emergency and use military assets to support his mass deportation pledge, labeling the claim “TRUE!!!” On his Truth Social site, Trump at 4:03 a.m. EST reposted Tom Fitton, the president of Judicial Watch, a conservative organization that’s been active both in courts and on social media …  Full Story  Trump Jr.: Biden administration trying to cause ‘World War 3’ by helping UkraineDonald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President-elect Trump, claimed the Biden administration is trying to cause “World War 3” by helping Ukraine in its war with Russia. “The Military Industrial Complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3 going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives,” Trump Jr. posted on the social platform X. “Gotta lock in those $Trillions. Life be dammed!!! Imbeciles!” He …  Full Story  Russia: US adding ‘fuel to the fire’ with Ukraine missiles decision The Kremlin on Monday issued an angry response to a reported U.S. decision to allow Ukraine to use Western-provided missiles to strike deep into Russian territory, accusing Washington of adding “fuel to the fire” in a war Moscow launched almost three years ago.  Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reportedly said it marked a “qualitative increase in the level of” U.S. involvement in what Moscow calls a special military …  Full Story   On Our Radar  Upcoming things we're watching on our beat:  Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was in the Philippines yesterday to meet with President Bongbong Marcos ahead of traveling on to Laos and Fiji. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and  Bret Holmgren, acting director, National Counterterrorism Center, will testify Wednesday on worldwide threats before the House Committee on Homeland Security and again Thursday before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Thursday.   In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Neo-Nazi march in Ohio draws rebuke COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — President Joe Biden joined the chorus of state and city officials who are condemning a weekend neo-Nazi march in Columbus, Ohio.  Full Story   On Tap Tomorrow  Events in and around the defense world:  A Senate Judiciary subpanel will hold a hearing on “China’s cybersecurity threat,” at 2 p.m. The U.S. Helsinki Commission will hold a hearing on“1000 Days of Russia’s War on Ukraine,” with testimony from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, at 2:30 p.m.  The Senate Armed Services emerging threats and capabilities subcommittee will hold a hearing on the “Activities of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office,” at 4:30 p.m.  What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets: Second Trump presidency could mean harder line with defense industry (Military Times) North Korea may end up sending Putin 100,000 troops for his war (Bloomberg)  Trending Today  Two key stories on The Hill right now: The Trump administration’s next target: naturalized US citizens  Even “documented” immigrants will not be safe, because Miller has declared that he will pursue the seldom-used process of “denaturalization” to go … Read more Pennsylvania Supreme Court rebukes Democratic election officials who counted undated mail ballots The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Monday rebuked Democratic-controlled elections boards that counted undated and misdated mail ballots, siding … Read more  Opinions in The Hill Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: Trump, the self-proclaimed peacemaker, should channel and exceed his inner Reagan How Trump can continue to realign the Middle East in his second term Trump will make peace through strength great again  You're all caught up. 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