Hegseth Testifies Before House Committee on Iran War Costs and Officer Firings

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the House Armed Services Committee on April 29, 2026, in a hearing that lasted nearly six hours, according to reports from Euronews and BBC News. The session focused on the U.S. military action against Iran, including costs, munitions usage, and recent dismissals of military officers.

Pentagon figures presented during the hearing, as cited by a department comptroller and echoed in a Spectator Index post, listed the conflict's cost at $25 billion so far. Hegseth stated that U.S. strikes in 2025 "obliterated" Iran's nuclear facilities and that Iran "had not given up their nuclear ambitions" and retained thousands of missiles.

Lawmakers questioned Hegseth on civilian casualties, including a bombing incident that killed children at a school, and on munitions drawdowns. Democrats, including Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, pressed Hegseth on the firing of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, according to The Washington Times.

The hearing also covered the status of Army Secretary Christine Driscoll, who is described in Responsible Statecraft as struggling to survive in the Pentagon environment.

Broader economic effects linked to the war appeared in related reporting. The New York Times cited World Bank estimates that energy prices will surge 24 percent in 2026. CNBC reported that the U.S. Iran war sent oil prices soaring, affecting tech firms' earnings.

The Financial Times noted that Standard Chartered booked a $190 million charge related to the Iran war. com stated that the UK faces recession risk as the Iran war threatens growth and inflation. The Guardian reported that CEOs of U.S. top energy firms averaged nearly 16 percent pay raises to $12.3 million in a 2025 review.