War Profiteer Hegseth Dismisses Congress Critics as $25B Iran War Bill Surfaces

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth went on the offensive Wednesday, targeting congressional critics who have questioned the ongoing Iran war’s justification and execution. Speaking before the House Armed Services Committee, Hegseth dismissed opposition voices as “reckless, feckless, and defeatist” despite the Pentagon revealing that Operation Epic Fury has already cost an eye-watering $25 billion in just two months.

Hegseth framed the conflict as an existential battle to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, invoking the long and costly wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam to justify the current military engagement. “We are two months in on an existential fight for the safety of the American people. Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb,” he declared, invoking former President Trump as “the best negotiator in the world.”

But Democrats on the committee were far from convinced. Ranking member Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) ridiculed Trump’s claims that Iran had capitulated to war demands, pointing out Tehran’s public denials and accusing the administration of relying on “Jedi mind tricks.” Smith noted that previous administrations, including Trump’s first term, kept Iran nuclear-free without resorting to war. He challenged Hegseth to explain how the current military actions would actually improve the nuclear situation, especially as Iran’s recent offer was merely to “talk about nukes later.”

Hegseth dismissed the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) as ineffective and insisted that only by “staring down” Iran could the US force Tehran to the negotiating table. He drew parallels to North Korea’s nuclear blackmail, warning against repeating past mistakes that allowed Pyongyang to amass ballistic missiles unchecked.

The staggering $25 billion cost, mostly spent on munitions, was disclosed by Pentagon CFO Jules Hurst III. This figure comes amid reports that the Trump administration may seek an additional $200 billion military spending package to sustain the war effort.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) highlighted the broader economic impact, estimating the total cost to Americans at $631 billion when factoring in elevated energy prices—translating to an extra $5,000 per household annually. Meanwhile, Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) accused Hegseth and Trump of “lying to the American public from day one,” condemning the administration for shifting justifications and misleading progress reports.

Hegseth fired back, accusing Garamendi of unfairly labeling the conflict a “quagmire” and attempting to “stain the troops.” He contrasted the current operation with the prolonged, nebulous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, insisting that two months in, the military success on the battlefield could open strategic opportunities.

The ongoing cease-fire has lowered direct war expenses, but American consumers continue to shoulder higher fuel costs due to global oil price spikes. This dynamic could weaken Congressional leverage to enforce the War Powers Resolution’s 60-day limit on conflicts without explicit approval—a limit Operation Epic Fury reached this week.

As the administration doubles down on a costly and controversial war, lawmakers and the public alike face mounting questions about the true price of this conflict—both in dollars and in democratic accountability.