Defense Secretary Hegseth to Testify on $87 Billion Supplemental Bill

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Caine and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rolling will testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee at 10 a.m. Tuesday, The Hill reported.

The three officials are expected to defend the administration’s request for an $87 billion supplemental spending bill that includes $67 billion for defense. The White House formally asked Congress for the measure on June 24. The bill would cover costs tied to the Iran war, help address an Ebola outbreak and provide aid to U.S.

Farmers. U.S. forces have conducted strikes inside Iran for 10 consecutive days. Iran has responded by targeting U.S. outposts in Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain and Qatar. Two U.S. service members were killed in Jordan and one in Iraq in recent days.

The Pentagon stated on Monday that nearly 100 service members have been injured since July 7, with 96 percent returning to duty. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought previously told Congress the conflict has cost around $30 billion, though Sen.

Linda J. Estimated the figure at $98 billion. Hegseth and Caine last testified before Congress in early May on the Pentagon’s $1.5 trillion budget request. The last Pentagon news media briefing on operations against Iran occurred on May 5.

Before the Senate hearing, Hegseth will hold a classified briefing Tuesday morning with House and Senate lawmakers on the war and the supplemental request, according to a Pentagon source and another source familiar with the matter.