admin Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing questioning on Wednesday from lawmakers for the first time since President Donald Trump’s administration launched the war against Iran, which Democrats have contested as a costly conflict of choice waged without congressional approval.
The chief financial official for the Pentagon told lawmakers that the estimated cost of the war with Iran is $25 billion so far.
During the hearing of the House Armed Services Committee, Jules Hurst III, the acting undersecretary of war for finances, said that most of the expense has been on munitions, but the military has also spent money on running the operations and equipment replacement.
Nancy Mace presents documents related to Rep. Cory Mills as she participates in a House Armed Services Committee hearing with Pete Hegseth in Washington. AFP
Until now, Hegseth has avoided public questioning from lawmakers about the war, although he and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine have held televised Pentagon briefings. Hegseth has mostly taken questions from conservative journalists, while citing Bible passages to castigate mainstream outlets.
Democrats quickly pivoted to the ballooning costs of the Iran war, the huge drawdown of critical US munitions and the bombing of an elementary school that killed children. Some lawmakers have also questioned how prepared the military was to shoot down swarms of Iranian drones, some of which penetrated US defences and killed or injured American troops.
Republicans have said they will keep faith in Trump’s wartime leadership, for now, citing Iran’s nuclear program, the potential for talks to resume and the high stakes of withdrawal. Still, GOP lawmakers are eager for the conflict to end, and some are eyeing future votes that could become an important test for the president if the war drags on.
Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan criticiced Hegseth over the deaths of six American soldiers who were stationed in Kuwait and killed by an Iranian drone.
Protesters demonstrate as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine arrives before a House Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington. AFP
Ryan pressed Hegseth on whether intelligence showed the location was high on Iran’s target list and was indefensible from aerial attack.
“Yet you sent our soldiers from the 103d Sustainment Command there anyway. Is that true or false?” Ryan asked.
Hegseth said the military took proactive measures to protect American forces and that the soldiers who died are remembered every day.
Ryan quoted survivours of the attack who told CBS that they weren’t prepared to defend against a drone attack. The congressman also accused Hegseth of downplaying what happened and said he should resign.
Associated Press
