Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will face a new round of questioning from lawmakers over the US-Israel war on Iran including by some Republicans who expressed concerns over the length of the conflict and lack of congressional approval.
The powerful House and Senate subcommittees that oversee defence spending are holding back-to-back hearings to review the Trump administration’s 2027 military budget proposal, which calls for a historic allocation of $1.5 trillion.
But the discussions are expected to veer into the handling of a war that appears locked in a stalemate as higher fuel prices pose political problems for Republicans in the midterm congressional elections.
Hegseth and General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are expected to outline the proposed defence budget and stress the need for more drones, warships, and interceptor missile systems whose stocks have been drawn down during the conflict with Iran.