Democrats Slam Hegseth Over Unauthorized Iran War, $25 Billion Price Tag, and Military Purges

In his first congressional appearance since the Trump administration launched a war in Iran without approval, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth endured relentless Democratic attacks over the conflict’s staggering costs and strategic failures. The hearing, ostensibly about the 2027 military budget, quickly turned into a battleground over the $25 billion war, which Democrats say has been waged with no clear justification and no congressional authorization.

Democrats hammered Hegseth on the administration’s shifting rationale for the war. Rep. Adam Smith confronted him over contradictory claims about Iran’s nuclear capabilities, pointing out that a 2025 U.S. strike supposedly obliterated Iran’s nuclear facilities—yet the administration still justified war less than a year later by citing an imminent nuclear threat. “The war left us at exactly the same place we were before,” Smith said bluntly.

Accusations flew that the administration has been lying from the start. Rep. John Garamendi called the war a “geopolitical calamity” and “a self-inflicted wound to America,” highlighting the impact on gas prices hurting everyday Americans. Hegseth dismissed such criticism as partisan attacks, accusing Democrats of being the “biggest adversary” to the war effort.

The hearing also exposed turmoil inside the Pentagon. Hegseth defended his controversial firing of several top military officers, including Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George. Democrats like Rep. Chrissy Houlahan questioned the rationale, emphasizing George’s broad respect across the military and Congress. Hegseth offered only vague claims of needing “new leadership,” prompting bipartisan unease. Even some Republicans expressed concern over the chaotic personnel changes, warning they may undermine military effectiveness.

Republicans largely backed Trump’s war decisions, citing the ongoing threat from Iran’s missile arsenal and nuclear ambitions. Yet some voiced a desire to end the conflict soon, signaling potential fissures within GOP ranks if the war drags on.

As the Pentagon pushes a historic $1.5 trillion defense budget, the Iran war looms large as a costly, unauthorized quagmire that has shaken military leadership and strained the economy. This hearing laid bare the administration’s failure to justify the conflict or secure congressional backing, raising urgent questions about accountability and the true cost of Trump’s war.