Hegseth clashes with lawmakers over Iran war in nearly six-hour-long hearing

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth sparred with Democratic lawmakers during a nearly six-hour-long hearing, marking his first time facing questions under oath since the start of the Iran war. Hegseth appeared before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine and the defense department’s chief financial officer, Jules Hurst. In his opening remarks, Hegseth stated that the “biggest adversary we face” is the “defeatist words” of Democrats and some Republicans. Democratic lawmakers on the committee criticized the use of federal money in the conflict. Hurst revealed during the hearing that the war had cost the US $25 billion (£18.5 billion) so far. Hurst noted that most of the expenses were for munitions and equipment replacement. Hurst informed lawmakers that a full cost assessment would be provided later. The US and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire to facilitate peace talks, but the conflict has not officially ended. Funding was a significant topic of discussion during the hearing. The White House has requested Congress to increase the US defense budget to $1.5 trillion (£1.1 trillion), a substantial rise that would represent the largest expansion in military spending since World War Two. Hegseth told the committee that the budget request “reflects the urgency of the moment.” Gen. Caine stated that the $1.5 trillion “represents a historic down payment for future security” that would enable the US to stay ahead of fast-evolving technology. Democrats on the committee often characterized US military action in Iran as an expensive “war of choice” waged without congressional approval. “You have been lying to the American public about this war from day one, and so has the president,” said California Democrat John Garamendi. He told Hegseth that Trump was “stuck in a quagmire” of another war in the Middle East. Hegseth called Garamendi’s statement “reckless” and denied Trump was in a “quagmire.” “Your hatred for President Trump blinds you,” Hegseth stated. Many Republicans on the committee largely supported the Pentagon, with Congressman Carlos Gimenez of Florida stating his belief that Iran poses an existential threat to the US. “When someone tells me for 47 years that they want to kill us, I think I am going to take them at their word,” he said. “I support our efforts to make sure that Iran never has a nuclear weapon.” The often-combative hearing also discussed the international economic ramifications of the war, such as the rise in global oil prices and its ripple effects on the prices of other goods. At one point, Hegseth retorted with a defiant tone, telling a congressman, “shame on you.” According to Iranian officials, the Minab strike killed 168 people, including approximately 110 children, during the opening stages of the joint US and Israel attack on Iran. US media reported in early March that US military investigators believed American forces were likely responsible for unintentionally hitting the school but had not reached a final conclusion. “We made a mistake, and that happens in war… two months after it happened, we refused to say anything about it, giving the world the impression that we just don’t care,” said Adam Smith, the leading Democrat on the committee. California Representative Ro Khanna pressed Hegseth on the cost of the school strike. The defense secretary stated that “that unfortunate situation remains under investigation” and that he “wouldn’t tie a cost to that.” #IranWar #HegsethHearing #DefenseBudget #USPolitics #CongressionalHearing #MilitarySpending #ForeignPolicy #WarCosts #USIran #NationalSecurity