Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Faces Lawmakers Over Iran War and $1.5 Trillion Military Budget

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine are stepping into the hot seat today for their first congressional hearing since the Trump administration launched the war in Iran. The hearing will focus not only on the White House’s jaw-dropping $1.5 trillion military budget proposal—a nearly 50 percent increase—but also on the mounting questions about the legality and human cost of the conflict.

Democratic lawmakers are expected to press Hegseth on reports that U.S. forces bombed an Iranian school on day one of the war, killing more than 160 people, including children. This devastating strike highlights the administration’s reckless disregard for civilian lives and the rules of engagement. Despite multiple failed attempts by Congress to pass war powers resolutions that would require the president to halt operations without explicit congressional approval, the conflict has now stretched beyond the 60-day limit set by the War Powers Resolution.

Hegseth will also face tough questions about the military’s ability to defend American troops from Iranian drone attacks, which have breached U.S. defense systems and caused casualties. While many Republicans initially backed the war aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, frustration is growing over the lack of a clear endgame. GOP lawmakers are expected to challenge the administration’s support for an indefinite ceasefire, especially after the White House rejected Iran’s recent peace offer that included reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The hearing will not be limited to Iran. It will also mark Hegseth’s first testimony since the U.S. military’s controversial involvement in Venezuela, including the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and bombings of alleged drug boats near the country. This broadening of military engagements raises urgent questions about the Trump administration’s pattern of expanding conflicts without transparent congressional oversight or public accountability.

At a time when America’s democratic institutions are already under strain, the administration’s cavalier approach to war powers and defense spending demands relentless scrutiny. We’ll be watching closely as lawmakers challenge Hegseth to explain the true costs of these conflicts and the reckless expansion of military operations under Trump’s watch.