Hegseth Testifies on Iran War and Budget Before Senate Committee

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday for a hearing on the administration's Iran war strategy and proposed fiscal year 2027 defense budget of $1.5 trillion. The session followed a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday.

Hegseth was accompanied by Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who stated the budget would fund additional drones, missile defense systems, and warships.

During the hearing, Sen. Jack Reed, the committee's ranking Democrat, stated, "I am concerned that you have been telling the president what he wants to hear instead of what he needs to hear," according to CBC reporting. Reed cited 13 U.S. troops killed, more than 400 injured, and equipment losses in the conflict.

He noted the Strait of Hormuz remains closed as of the hearing date, contributing to rising fuel prices, and that Iran continues to hold enriched uranium and combat capabilities under its current leadership. Sen. Tim Kaine asked if the administration would seek congressional authorization under the War Powers Act of 1973, which sets a 60-day deadline for such approval, expiring Friday.

Hegseth responded that the current ceasefire pauses the deadline, an interpretation Kaine disputed. A White House official, speaking anonymously to Politico, said the administration is discussing the timeline with lawmakers. No public statement from the administration has indicated plans for a 30-day extension.

Democrats have introduced but not passed resolutions requiring congressional authorization to continue the conflict.

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst questioned Hegseth on recent retirements of senior Army officials, listing their prior achievements and stating her disappointment, according to the New York Post. Hegseth replied that personnel decisions are performance-based and criticized past leadership for priorities he described as "social engineering" on race and gender issues.

Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren asked about potential insider trading, inquiring if Hegseth had invested in defense funds before the war via his Morgan Stanley broker. " Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand raised the U.S. strike on an Iranian site that killed over 165 people, including children, near a Revolutionary Guard base, and asked about a 90% cut to a Pentagon division focused on reducing civilian casualties.

Hegseth stated the department has an "ironclad commitment" to minimizing civilian deaths and that the incident is under investigation. No public findings from that investigation have been released as of the hearing.

The proposed budget marks a nearly 50% increase from prior levels, which Hegseth described as addressing erosion in the defense industrial base inherited from previous administrations. Committee chair Sen. Roger Wicker stated the U.S. faces the most dangerous security environment since World War II and noted the war's goal to diminish Iran's conventional forces and prompt negotiations.

Sen. Deb Fischer commented on the budget's focus on nuclear deterrence and the Golden Dome missile defense program.

The hearing also addressed U.S. military operations in Venezuela, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, and Ecuador, as well as domestic deployments in Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland. Hegseth stated that replacing munitions used in the Iran war would take months or years, depending on the item, according to the Washington Examiner.

On artificial intelligence, Hegseth said AI does not make lethal decisions in operations.

Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, indicated in an NPR interview before the hearing that he planned to question Hegseth on the war's long-term implications. The war started with U.S. strikes on February 28 and is currently under ceasefire.

France24 reported Hegseth attacked Democratic critics during his Wednesday testimony. The Washington Times and CBC noted clashes with Democrats and some Republicans over the war.