Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Faces House Scrutiny Amid $25 Billion Iran War Price Tag and Military Shakeup

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is stepping into the hot seat before the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday, facing lawmakers eager to probe the staggering $25 billion price tag of the war in Iran and the fallout from his recent purge of top military brass.

The hearing, centered on the Pentagon’s $1.5 trillion budget request for 2027, will also feature Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine. Both officials are expected to push for expanded drone fleets, missile defenses, and naval assets — a clear signal that the Pentagon plans to escalate its military footprint despite the costly stalemate in the Middle East.

Jules Hurst III, the Pentagon’s acting undersecretary for war finances, revealed that most of the $25 billion spent so far has gone to munitions, operational costs, and equipment replacement. This figure underscores the enormous financial toll of a war launched on February 28 by the U.S. and Israel without any formal congressional authorization.

That lack of oversight has been a glaring issue. Despite multiple attempts, House and Senate Democrats have failed to pass war powers resolutions that would have forced President Donald Trump to halt the conflict pending congressional approval. Instead, the war has dragged on, with Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz — a critical oil shipping lane — sending global fuel prices soaring and complicating Republican messaging ahead of midterms.

The U.S. response has been heavy-handed: a naval blockade targeting Iranian shipping and an unprecedented deployment of three aircraft carriers in the region, a show of force unseen in two decades. Yet the conflict remains deadlocked. Tehran has offered to reopen the strait if the U.S. ends the war, lifts the blockade, and pauses nuclear negotiations — an offer Trump appears unwilling to accept.

Adding to the tension, Hegseth faces questions about his recent dismissal of several senior military leaders, including Navy Secretary John Phelan and Army General Randy George. These moves have raised alarms about politicization and instability within the Pentagon’s top ranks.

Hegseth’s congressional appearance comes at a precarious moment, as the U.S. grapples with the consequences of an unauthorized war, mounting costs, and leadership upheaval. Lawmakers are poised to demand accountability not just on budget numbers, but on the broader failures of military oversight and strategy under Hegseth’s watch.

The Senate Armed Services Committee will continue this scrutiny Thursday, underscoring the urgent need for transparency and democratic checks on executive war powers long ignored in this costly conflict.