Hegseth Grilled on War Costs, Budget, Pentagon Shake-up

0:00It's April 29th. Welcome in. This is Global News Today, where the world meets AI. I'm Corey with the story. Defense Secretary Pete Hankseth is facing lawmakers for the first time since the Trump administration kicked off the war with Iran back on February 28th. This House Armed Services Committee hearing zeroes in on the 2027 military budget proposal, jacking defense spending up to 1.5 trillion dollars. Hankseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman, General Dan Cain, planned to push hard for more drones, missile defenses, and warships to beef up readiness. Democrats have set to grill him on the war skyrocketing costs, the massive drain on US munitions stocks, and mishaps like the bombing of a school that killed kids, plus Iranian drones, slipping through defenses, and hitting American troops. A ceasefire holds for now, but Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz, spiking global fuel prices and hurting Republicans before midterms. The US spired back with a navy blockade and part three aircraft carriers in the Middle

1:04East for the first time in over 20 years. Lawmakers from both sides filled the heat. Democrats pushed war powers resolutions to force congressional sign-off, but they flopped. Republicans back, Trump's leadership siding Iran's nuclear threats installed talks, though many want the stalemate wrapped up quick and are watching. For those that could test the president if it drags, adding fuel to the fire, Hankseth's recent purge of top brass-like navy secretary, John Fielin, Army Chief General Randy George, and other generals, and admirals, has even some GOP voices second-guessing. They worry about shaking up key spots right in the middle of wartime footing. As Hankseth heads to the Senate Committee Thursday, expect questions to spill beyond budget and battle lines into his Pentagon's shake-up, all while the US and Iran dig in with no easy off-ramp in sight.