Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is testifying before the House and Senate subcommittees Tuesday morning to justify President Donald Trump’s $1.5 trillion budget request for the U.S. military.
While the testimony is focused on the massive investment in the Defense Department, the ongoing war with Iran is likely to become a major topic. Lawmakers may also question Hegseth about drawing down the number of U.S. troops in Europe, as well as about support for the war in Ukraine.
General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is joining Hegseth.
During opening remarks, Hegseth called the budget “historic” but contended it was “fiscally responsible.”
The budget testimony comes a month after Hegseth gave a combative testimony to the House and Senate Armed Services Committee in which he accused congressional lawmakers of being “the biggest adversary.”
Ahead of Hegseth’s opening remarks, Rep. Betty McCollum urged the defense secretary not to “bring personalities” into the hearing.
Later Tuesday, FBI Director Kash Patel is expected to testify about the administration’s budget as it pertains to law enforcement.
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Iran war cost reaches $29 billion
Acting Under Secretary of Defense and Chief Financial Officer Jules Hurst testified that the cost of the Iran war has hit $29 billion.
Late last month, the Pentagon said the total cost was an estimated $25 billion.
Hurst attributed the increase to “updated repair and replacement of equipment costs,” along with “general operational costs.”
Hegseth pressed on US-Iran ceasefire
Democratic Representative Pete Aguilar pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, asking how officials know whether or not it’s active.
“As you know, for the most part, a ceasefire means the fire is ceasing, and we know that has occurred while negotiations occur. And there are lots of different discussions with our negotiating team that are happening,” Hegseth said.
Aguilar then asked: “Is the theory to create more ceasefires or more projects just to evade the War Powers Act?”
“The theory of the entire case is to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon. And if that has to be done kinetically and militarily, the Department of War is locked and loaded and ready to do that,” Hegseth replied.
In pictures: Hegseth and Caine testify
Hegseth keeps it calm during opening statement
Hegseth's opening statement thus far is devoid of the bluster and partisanship that characterized his testimony before the House and Senate Armed Services committees.
That's likely because he's been advised that the appropriations subcommittees he is appearing in front of today are responsible for cutting the check that funds his department. He's not going to walk into their house and bite the hand that feeds him.
Hegseth's testimony comes after a combative exchange with lawmakers
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s testimony to Congress Tuesday morning comes less than a month after he got into a tense exchange with lawmakers who questioned the validity of the Iran war.
Catch up with Hegseth’s most recent testimony:
Pete Hegseth lost his cool in front of Congress. It was a dramatic unraveling
Hegseth has his favorite soundbites — but none of them landed here, where he sounded increasingly deluded and desperate, writes Holly BaxterAriana Baio
Welcome to The Independent's live blog
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live blog for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s testimony to Congress on the Trump administration’s budget request for $1.5 trillion.
Ariana Baio
