Congress grills Hegseth over Iran war spending
Photo: US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (Getty Images)
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced intense questioning in Congress over the rising costs of the war with Iran and the lack of a clear strategy from President Donald Trump’s administration, Bloomberg reports.
During the hearing, lawmakers overseeing Pentagon spending demanded explanations regarding the billions of dollars being spent on the conflict and possible plans for further US military action in the Middle East.
Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro said the Trump administration was failing to provide sufficient transparency about the war.
"There has been a consistent lack of transparency since this war began," she stressed.
According to the congresswoman, the cost of the conflict continues to rise while the United States’ ultimate objective remains unclear.
"The end game is ill-defined, when it is defined at all," DeLauro said.
The hearing officially focused on the Trump administration’s record $1.5 trillion defense budget request for fiscal year 2027. However, most of the attention centered on the US and Israeli war against Iran.
The senior Democrat on the defense subcommittee, Betty McCollum, recalled an earlier estimate that the conflict could cost $25 billion and urged the Pentagon to provide more details.
She demanded explanations regarding ammunition expenditures, ship maintenance costs, possible equipment losses, and damage to American facilities.
McCollum also asked Hegseth whether the Pentagon has a plan to withdraw or redeploy troops if Congress refuses to support the continuation of military operations.
In response, the Pentagon chief said the United States has several possible scenarios prepared.
"We have a plan to escalate if necessary, we have a plan to retrograde if necessary, we have a plan to shift assets," Hegseth said, declining to provide further details.
The prolonged conflict between the United States and Iran has already had serious consequences for the global economy. Amid the fighting and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, oil and fuel prices have surged while global markets remain unstable.
At the same time, political pressure on the Trump administration is growing within the United States itself. Experts warn that a war without clear results could negatively affect the President’s approval ratings and complicate his position ahead of future elections.
