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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine will testify before lawmakers today for the first time since the Trump administration launched the war in Iran, addressing the White House’s proposed 2027 military budget and other pressing issues. The hearing will focus on the proposed budget, which would increase defense spending by nearly 50% to $1.5 trillion. Hegseth is expected to stress the need for more military equipment, but lawmakers are likely to question him on broader topics. Democrats are expected to delve into the war in Iran, including reports that the U.S. bombed an Iranian school on the first day of the conflict, killing more than 160 people, including children. This comes after the House and Senate failed to pass multiple war powers resolutions that would have forced the president to stop operations without congressional permission. Those efforts could face new attention as soon as Saturday, which marks 60 days since Congress was notified of the war in Iran. The War Powers Resolution generally requires presidents to get congressional approval for conflicts longer than 60 days. The president can extend that window an additional 30 days to withdraw forces. The war reached the two-month mark on Tuesday.Lawmakers will likely ask Hegseth about the military’s preparedness to shoot down Iranian drones, some of which breached defense systems, injuring and killing American troops. While many Republicans have supported the war to limit or eliminate Iran’s nuclear program, frustration is growing over the timeline of the conflict. GOP lawmakers are expected to question the indefinite ceasefire between the two nations. Earlier this week, the White House rejected Iran’s latest peace proposal. Iran offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if its nuclear program isn’t part of the discussions to end the war. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said preventing Iran from building a nuclear weapon is the core issue of the negotiations. The war with Iran is not the only conflict that will be top of mind for lawmakers. Today will also mark the first time Hegseth has testified since the U.S. military helped capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and began bombing alleged drug boats near the country.Keep watching for the latest from the Washington News Bureau:
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine will testify before lawmakers today for the first time since the Trump administration launched the war in Iran, addressing the White House’s proposed 2027 military budget and other pressing issues.
The hearing will focus on the proposed budget, which would increase defense spending by nearly 50% to $1.5 trillion.
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Hegseth is expected to stress the need for more military equipment, but lawmakers are likely to question him on broader topics.
Democrats are expected to delve into the war in Iran, including reports that the U.S. bombed an Iranian school on the first day of the conflict, killing more than 160 people, including children.
This comes after the House and Senate failed to pass multiple war powers resolutions that would have forced the president to stop operations without congressional permission. Those efforts could face new attention as soon as Saturday, which marks 60 days since Congress was notified of the war in Iran. The War Powers Resolution generally requires presidents to get congressional approval for conflicts longer than 60 days. The president can extend that window an additional 30 days to withdraw forces. The war reached the two-month mark on Tuesday.
Lawmakers will likely ask Hegseth about the military’s preparedness to shoot down Iranian drones, some of which breached defense systems, injuring and killing American troops.
While many Republicans have supported the war to limit or eliminate Iran’s nuclear program, frustration is growing over the timeline of the conflict. GOP lawmakers are expected to question the indefinite ceasefire between the two nations.
Earlier this week, the White House rejected Iran’s latest peace proposal. Iran offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if its nuclear program isn’t part of the discussions to end the war. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said preventing Iran from building a nuclear weapon is the core issue of the negotiations.
The war with Iran is not the only conflict that will be top of mind for lawmakers. Today will also mark the first time Hegseth has testified since the U.S. military helped capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and began bombing alleged drug boats near the country.
Keep watching for the latest from the Washington News Bureau:
