In his first appearance before Congress since the Trump administration went to war with Iran, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced harsh questioning from House lawmakers on Wednesday about the costly conflict.
Wednesday’s hearing lasted nearly six hours, with Democrats and some Republicans grilling Mr. Hegseth on the war and the firing of several top military officials.
In a tense exchange, Mr. Hegseth told Democratic representative Adam Smith that Iranian nuclear facilities had been obliterated by US strikes in 2025, prompting Mr. Smith to question the Trump administration’s rationale for starting the war against Iran less than a year later.
“We had to start this war, you just said 60 days ago, because nuclear was an imminent threat,” Smith said. “Now you’re saying it’s completely obliterated?”
Mr. Hegseth responded that Iran “had not abandoned its nuclear ambitions” and still possessed thousands of missiles.
Mr. Smith stated that the war “has left us in the exact same place as before.”
According to Pentagon figures presented to the House Armed Services Committee during a contentious session focusing on the administration’s 2027 military budget proposal, the war has already cost $25 billion, increasing defense spending to a record $1.5 trillion.
Democrats grill Hegseth on war reasons
While Republicans focused on military budget details and expressed support for the operation in Iran, Democrats questioned Mr. Hegseth and General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the rising costs of the war, significant reduction in essential American munitions, and the bombing of a school that killed children.
Some lawmakers also questioned President Trump’s relationships with allies and his shifting justifications for the conflict.
Mr. Hegseth dismissed these criticisms as politics and rebuked legislators who pushed for answers. “The biggest challenge, the biggest adversary we face right now, are the reckless, unaware, and defeatist words of Congress Democrats and some Republicans,” Mr. Hegseth said.
Democrats accused Mr. Hegseth of misleading Americans about the reasons for the conflict and stated that the increase in gas prices was now hitting millions of wallets across the United States.
“Secretary of State Hegseth has been lying to the American public about this war from day one, just like the president,” said Representative John Garamendi (California), who described the war as a “geopolitical calamity,” a “strategic blunder,” and a “self-inflicted wound on America.”
Mr. Hegseth criticized Mr. Garamendi’s remarks: “Who are you encouraging here?” he asked the legislator. “Your hatred for President Trump blinds you to the success of the war.”
So far, Mr. Hegseth has avoided public questions from lawmakers about the war, though he and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine have held televised Pentagon briefings.
Hegseth defends firing top military officials
Meanwhile, the Defense Secretary also faced intense questions about his decision to remove the highest-ranking uniformed officer in the military, General Randy George, one of many top military officials fired since Trump took office.
Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, said that Mr. George was deeply respected by members of the military and Congress and asked why Mr. Hegseth dismissed him. Mr. Hegseth’s response, citing the need for “new leadership,” did not satisfy Ms. Houlahan.
The Pentagon also announced this month that Navy Secretary John Phelan was stepping down. Mr. Hegseth had previously removed Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the Navy’s top uniformed officer, General Jim Slife, Air Force number two, among others, while Mr. Trump fired General Charles “CQ” Brown Jr. as Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman.
Republican Congressman Don Bacon of Nebraska said that while Mr. Hegseth had the authority to make personnel changes, he shared what he called “bipartisan concern” over these dismissals.
