Hegseth Defends Iran War, Budget Before Congress

0:00It's May 1st, U.S. News Today starts now, AI powered and always on. Pete Hakeseth, the Secretary of War, faced Congress this week and back-to-back hearings before the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. It marked his first public defense of the ongoing war with Iran, which kicked off two months ago without congressional approval. Lawmakers grilled him on the Trump administration's massive budget proposal, pushing defense spending to a record $1.5 trillion for. Four drones, missiles, and ships. Earlier this week, Hakeseth fired back at critics, calling out Democrats and some Republicans as reckless naysayers dragging down the effort. He framed the conflict as a bold win under Trump, though he admitted it stretched beyond the initial few-week promise. Meanwhile, the Pentagon revealed war costs so far at $25 billion, mostly on munitions, with fears it could hit $100 billion. This hammered Hakeseth on vague in-goals, rising gas prices from the close-straight of Hormuz and heavy losses, 13 U.S. troops killed over, 400 injured.

1:06Even some Republicans pressed for assurances on avoiding civilian deaths and questioned his firing of a top army general, a decorated leader who boosted recruiting. One lawmaker called it a betrayal of Trump's voters amid economic pain. Two details emerged on a deadly strike hitting an Iranian school near a military base, killing over 165, mostly kids, now under, investigation with signs pointing to U.S. bombs. Hakeseth insists the Pentagon prioritizes civilian protection, but blames past policies from munitions strains. He's pushing the budget to ramp up production and fix vulnerabilities. As a 60-day legal window for the war expires Friday, pressure mounts on the White House for congressional buy-in, truce, or not. Hakeseth claims the clock pauses during cease-fires, but skeptics disagree setting up more clashes ahead.