Dale Willman

A partial shutdown of the federal government got underway three hours ago.

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security expired after Congress could not agree on potential changes to how ICE agents handle arrests.

The department also includes TSA which could mean some disruptions to travel next week because of slowdowns in airport screenings.

Congress, meanwhile, is now on recess.

President Trump Friday said he's sending the USS Gerald Ford to the Mideast.

The ship is the world's largest aircraft carrier.

It will join other military assets in the region as Trump continues to increase pressure on Tehran to reduce its nuclear program.

Trump was speaking to military families at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

He told the families a change in power in Iran would be, quote, the best thing that could happen there.

The United Kingdom says it's spending more than half a billion dollars this year on hypersonic and long-range weapons.

The spending is part of joint projects with France, Italy, and Germany.

As NPR's Lauren Freyer reports, the U.K.

Prime Minister is calling for more European contributions to NATO.

The top lawyer at the investment bank Goldman Sachs will step down later this year.

This comes after newly released files showed the extent of her ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

NPR's Ryan Lucas reports.

And you're listening to NPR News.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department says there's been law enforcement activity in Tucson related to the disappearance of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie's mother, but it's offered no specifics.

84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on February 1st.

Officials say a street has been blocked off two miles from Guthrie's home, and forensic, FBI, and sheriff's vehicles have been going in and out of that area.