US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth engaged in a robust exchange with Democratic lawmakers regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran during a nearly six-hour hearing. During the session, a defense official disclosed that American operations in the region have incurred costs amounting to $25 billion (£18.5 billion) to date. Secretary Hegseth, testifying under oath for the first time since the conflict began, appeared before the House Armed Services Committee alongside Gen Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Jules Hurst, the defense department’s chief financial officer. He characterized the “defeatist words” of some Democrats and Republicans as the “biggest adversary” faced. The hearing highlighted three primary areas of discussion, with the group also scheduled to appear before the equivalent Senate committee.
Cost of the Conflict Under Scrutiny
Financial expenditures emerged as a central theme. Mr. Hurst confirmed that the conflict had cost the US $25 billion (£18.5 billion) so far, with the majority of these expenses allocated to munitions and equipment replacement. He indicated that a comprehensive cost assessment would be provided later. While the US and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire to facilitate peace talks, the conflict has not been officially concluded. Democratic lawmakers on the committee voiced criticism regarding the allocation of federal funds. The White House has proposed a significant increase in the US defense budget to $1.5 trillion (£1.1 trillion), marking the largest expansion in military spending since World War Two. Secretary Hegseth stated that this budget request “reflects the urgency of the moment,” while Gen Caine described the $1.5 trillion as a “historic down payment for future security” aimed at staying ahead of rapidly evolving technology.
Political Divisions Over Engagement
Democrats on the committee frequently described the US military involvement in Iran as an expensive “war of choice” initiated without Congressional approval. Representative John Garamendi, a California Democrat, asserted, “You have been lying to the American public about this war from day one, and so has the president,” adding that President Donald Trump was “stuck in a quagmire” in the Middle East. Secretary Hegseth dismissed Garamendi’s statement as “reckless” and denied the “quagmire” claim, suggesting, “Your hatred for President Trump blinds you.” In contrast, many Republican members of the committee largely expressed support for the Pentagon’s actions. Congressman Carlos Gimenez of Florida stated his belief that Iran posed an “existential threat” to the US, remarking, “When someone tells me for 47 years that they want to kill us, I think I am going to take them at their word. I support our efforts to make sure that Iran never has a nuclear weapon.” The often-contentious hearing also touched upon the international economic repercussions of the conflict, such as rising global oil prices and their broader impact on commodity costs.
Calls for Accountability on Civilian Casualties
During the hearing, some lawmakers pressed for accountability regarding an airstrike on a school in Iran early in the conflict. According to Iranian officials, the Minab strike resulted in 168 fatalities, including approximately 110 children, during the initial stages of the joint US and Israel operation in Iran. US media reports in early March indicated that US military investigators believed American forces were likely responsible for unintentionally hitting the school, though a final conclusion had not been reached. Adam Smith, the leading Democrat on the committee, commented, “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.” Representative Ro Khanna questioned Secretary Hegseth about the cost associated with the school strike. The Defense Secretary responded that “that unfortunate situation remains under investigation” and that he “wouldn’t tie a cost to that.”
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