Hegseth Faces Congress Over Iran War
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke to Congress on Wednesday. It was his first time since the United States and Israel began fighting Iran in late February.
General Dan Caine also spoke. Caine leads the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
They answered questions about the Pentagon's $1.5 trillion budget request for 2027. The budget does not include Iran war costs.
Those costs are expected to need a separate spending request. The war has cost the United States about $25 billion so far.
Hegseth said the Iran war is not a failure. He also said critics of the war are a bigger threat to the United States than Iran itself.
Democratic lawmakers questioned Hegseth about the war. They said it is costly and was started without approval from Congress.
Sources say some Republicans have also raised concerns about the war. They also questioned Hegseth's decision to fire senior military leaders during wartime.
The hearing came two days before a key deadline. That deadline would legally require the United States to start ending the war without a vote from Congress.
Key Terms 4
- Joint Chiefs of Staff Top military leaders who advise the US government on defense.
- congressional approval A vote by Congress giving permission for a major action.
- War Powers Resolution A law limiting how long the president can wage war without Congress approving.
- supplemental spending request Extra money asked for outside the normal budget.