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"At noon yesterday, President Trump delegated to me the authority to manage troop numbers in Afghanistan," Mattis told the Senate Appropriations Committee during a hearing on the Pentagon's budget request.

"The delegation of this authority, consistent with the authority President Trump granted me two months ago for Iraq and Syria, does not at this time change the troop numbers for Afghanistan," Mattis added.

"This assures the department can facilitate our missions and nimbly align our commitment to the situation on the ground," he said of the new authority.

"Our overall mission in Afghanistan remains the same, to train, advise and assist the Afghan forces so they can safeguard the Afghan people and terrorists can find no haven in Afghanistan for attacking us or others," Mattis said, saying the new strategy for Afghanistan will be presented to Trump in the "coming weeks."

This is a change from the Bush and Obama administrations, where the White House approved troop levels, largely because tens of thousands of personnel were involved.

A US senior defense official told CNN that the decision concerning troop levels in Syria and Iraq was communicated via an internal policy memo on April 20.

There are currently about 8,400 US troops devoted to Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan, which encompasses both US counter terrorism forces to fight ISIS and the Taliban as well as the effort to train, advise and assist Afghan forces in a separate effort.

The Pentagon and White House have been reviewing an option to send 3,000 to 5,000 additional US forces solely in that training and advisory role.

The Pentagon is now conducting a broader military review involving both Afghanistan and Pakistan, so a decision on exactly how many additional troops might not come for several more weeks, defense officials have said in recent days.

The issue of troop levels became especially sensitive in the Obama administration because precise so-called "force management levels" were set for US deployments to Iraq and Syria. But those troop levels quickly became relatively meaningless because they were increased several times, and did not account for temporary deployments or the use of private contractors.

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Mattis confirms White House has given him authority to set Afghanistan troop levels - CNN International

President Trump has authorized his secretary of defense, James Mattis, to determine American troop levels in Afghanistan. Mattis confirmed this Wednesday morning in a hearing before the Senate Appropriations committee. "At noon yesterday, President Trump delegated to me the authority to manage troop numbers in Afghanistan," Mattis said.

The New York Times had reported Tuesday night that Trump had given Mattis that authority. "Mr. Mattis is believed to favor sending several thousand more American troops to strengthen the effort to advise Afghan forces as they push back against gains made by the Taliban, the Islamic State and other militant groups," reported the Times. "But officials said he had not yet decided how many more forces to send to Afghanistan, or when to deploy them."

During both the Obama and Bush administrations, Afghanistan troop levels were watched closely by the president and the White House. But while the policy is changing, Mattis told the Senate that there are no immediate plans to change troop levels. "The delegation of this authority, consistent with the authority President Trump granted me two months ago for Iraq and Syria, does not at this time change the troop numbers for Afghanistan," he said.

Mattis told the Senate Armed Services committee on Tuesday that the administration would have a new strategy on Afghanistan by mid-July. Last month the president's national security team presented a strategy proposal to Trump that would, among other changes, raise troop levels. Mattis and Trump's national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, are believed to be particularly strong advocates for the plan.

The White House has not said whether or not Mattis's "mid-July" promise is accurate or consistent with the president's timeline. "It is indeed what Mattis said," said one White House official.

Senate Passes Russia Sanctions, But White House Has No Position Yet

The Senate voted 97-2 Wednesday to pass a package of new sanctions against Russia. The two nays were Republicans Rand Paul and Mike Lee.

The Associated Press writes the sanctions were designed as a rebuke against Russia's interference in last November's presidential election. "The measure has been attached to a bill imposing penalties on Iran that the Senate is currently debating and also has strong support," reports the AP.

But the sanctions are also seen as a response the Trump administration's lack of admonishment for Russia. A White House official tells me the administration is still reviewing the sanctions amendment and will not take a position until after the House of Representatives considers it and the full bill makes it to the president's desk.

"The administration remains committed to existing sanctions against Russia and will keep them in place until Moscow fully honors its commitments to resolve the crisis in Ukraine. We believe that the existing executive-branch sanctions regime is the best tool for compelling Russia to fulfill its commitments," said the White House official. "In its current form, the legislation poses a number of risks to the administration's ability to conduct foreign policy. However, we are not opposed to tough legislation involving Russia sanctions. We remain committed to working with Congress on this issue."

White House Reacts to Scalise Shooting

The White House was relatively quiet Wednesday after the early-morning shooting in Alexandria, Virginia, that left five peopleincluding House majority whip Steve Scaliseinjured.

"The Vice President and I are aware of the shooting incident in Virginia and are monitoring developments closely. We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all others affected," said President Trump in a statement issued shortly after the first news reports broke.

Later on Wednesday, the president spoke from the White House about the incident. "Congressman Steve Scalise, a member of House leadership, was shot and badly wounded, and is now in stable condition at the hospital, along with two very courageous Capitol police officers," Trump said.

The president singled out Scalise, the third-ranking member in the House of Representatives, calling him a "patriot and a fighter."

"Steve, I want you to know that you have the prayers not only of the entire city behind you but of the entire nation and, frankly, the entire world," said Trump. "I spoke with Steve's wife, Jennifer, and I pledged to her our full and absolute support. Anything she needs."

Trump offered praise to the Capitol police, who were on the scene as part of Scalise's security detail. "Our brave Capitol police perform a challenging job with incredible skill. Their sacrifice makes democracy possible," said Trump. He also lauded the first responders in Alexandria, Virginia, where the group of congressmen and their aides were practicing for Thursday's charity baseball game against Democratic members of Congress.

The president closed with a message to the country. "We may have our differences, but we do well in times like these to remember that everyone who serves in our nation's capital serves because above all they love our country. We can all agree we are blessed to be Americans," he said.

Trump Disapproval at All-Time High

More Americans than ever disapprove of the job Donald Trump is doing as president. According to Gallup's daily approval metric, Trump's disapproval rate hit 60 percent for the first time on Tuesdaya worse rating than Gallup ever recorded for FDR, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, or Barack Obama. Meanwhile, the percentage of Americans who approve of Trump's performance shrunk to 37 percent.

Trump's weekly approval rating is also trending downward, polling at 41 percent, 38 percent, and 37 percent over the last three weeks.

One explanation for the slide could be the president's highly publicized fight with fired FBI director James Comey. Trump and Comey have each accused the other of lying about the nature of their relationship in the early months of the administration. A Politico poll released on Wednesday reports that 45 percent of voters trust Comey's version of events, while only 32 percent trust Trump's.

Despite Trump's slipping ratings, his own party appears to be sticking with him: 81 percent of Republican voters still approve of his job performance, according to the poll.

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Trump Delegates Afghanistan Troop Levels to Mattis - The Weekly Standard

New York Times

Women's Voices of Afghanistan Rise in Gemma Peacocke's Song Cycle New York Times During her travels in Afghanistan, the journalist and poet Eliza Griswold collected dozens of landays, a form of poetry recited by women at village feasts and in refugee camps, as well as on clandestine poetry phone-ins. The composer Gemma Peacocke has ...

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Women's Voices of Afghanistan Rise in Gemma Peacocke's Song Cycle - New York Times

New York Times

Roadside Bomb Hits American Convoy in Afghanistan New York Times JALALABAD, Afghanistan Three civilians were killed after a roadside bomb hit a convoy of American soldiers early Monday in Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan, according to Afghan officials in the area. The civilians were killed when soldiers ... US convoy hit by roadside bomb in eastern AfghanistanABC News Families share memories of US soldiers killed in AfghanistanCBS News US forces attacked in AfghanistanCNN Washington Post -ArmyTimes.com -Military.com -CNN all 156 news articles »

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Roadside Bomb Hits American Convoy in Afghanistan - New York Times

The Pentagon on Monday released the names of the three U.S. soldiers killed in an attack by an Afghan army soldier over the weekend.

The U.S. soldiers were identified as:

- Sergeant Eric M. Houck, 25, of Baltimore, Maryland

(Sgt. Eric M. Houck, 25 -- 101st Airborne Division)

- Sergeant William M. Bays, 29, of Barstow, North Carolina

(Sgt. William M. Bays, 29 -- 101st Airborne Division)

- Corporal Dillon C. Baldridge, 22, of Youngsville, North Carolina

(Cpl. Dillon C. Baldridge, 22 -- 101st Airborne Division)

The soldiers were shot Saturdayin Peka Valley, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. A fourth U.S. soldier was injured in the attack.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the act. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement that a militant loyalist had infiltrated the Afghan army "just to attack foreign forces."

The soldiers were assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Company D, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team Rakkasans deployed last fall in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel.

"Today, as we grieve, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Cpl. Baldridge, Sgt. Houck and Sgt. Bays. We take this as a family loss, said Maj. Gen. Andrew Poppas, Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell. In the days ahead, the 101st Soldiers and the Rakkasans will continue the fight against terrorism with unbridled determination. Our Soldiers are battle-hardened and committed to the defense of our nation and the freedoms for which we fight."

The three soldiers posthumously earned the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. Baldridge was posthumously promoted to Sgt., and, along with Bays, earned the Combat Infantry Badge and Army Commendation Medal. Houck was posthumously awarded the Combat Action Badge and Army Commendation Medal.

In his White House press briefing Monday afternoon, Press Secretary Sean Spicer acknowledged the loss of the soldiers in Afghanistan. Spicer said their thoughts and prayers are with the families of the American heroes.

The Pentagon is investigating the incident.

Fox News' Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.

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Afghanistan shooting: 3 US soldiers killed are identified ...