Hegseth faces withering questions about Iran in first congressional
appearance since war began
[April 30, 2026]
By BEN FINLEY, STEPHEN GROVES, DAVID KLEPPER and
KONSTANTIN TOROPIN
WASHINGTON (AP) — Making his first appearance before Congress since the
Trump administration went to war against Iran, Defense Secretary Pete
Hegseth faced withering questioning Wednesday from skeptical Democrats
over a costly conflict being waged without congressional approval.
The war has cost $25 billion so far, according to Pentagon numbers
presented to the House Armed Services Committee during a contentious
hearing ostensibly focused on the administration’s 2027 military budget
proposal. It would boost defense spending to a historic $1.5 trillion.
While Republicans focused on the details of military budgeting and
voiced support for the Iran operation, Democrats grilled Hegseth and
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, about the
ballooning costs of the war, the huge drawdown of critical U.S.
munitions and the bombing of a school that killed children. Some
lawmakers also questioned President Donald Trump's dealings with allies
and his shifting justification for the conflict.
Hegseth dismissed the criticism as political and rebuked lawmakers who
pushed him for answers.
“The biggest challenge, the biggest adversary we face at this point are
the reckless, feckless and defeatist words of congressional Democrats
and some Republicans,” Hegseth said.
Democrats press Hegseth over reasons for war
Wednesday's hearing stretched nearly six hours as Democrats and some
Republicans questioned Hegseth over the war and his ouster of several
top military leaders.
In one tense exchange, Hegseth told Democratic Rep. Adam Smith that
Iran’s nuclear facilities were obliterated in 2025 strikes by the U.S.,
prompting Smith to question the Trump administration’s reasoning for
starting the Iran war less than a year later.
“We had to start this war, you just said 60 days ago, because the
nuclear weapon was an imminent threat,” said Smith, the ranking Democrat
on the committee. “Now you’re saying that it was completely
obliterated?”
Hegseth responded that Iran “had not given up their nuclear ambitions”
and still had thousands of missiles.
Smith said the war “left us at exactly the same place we were before.”
Iran’s closing of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping corridor for
the world’s oil, has sent fuel prices skyrocketing and posed problems
for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections. The U.S. has imposed a
naval blockade of Iranian shipping and three American aircraft carriers
are in the Middle East for the first time in more than 20 years.
Democrats accused Hegseth of misleading Americans about the reasons for
the conflict and said rising gas prices are now threatening the
pocketbooks of millions of people in the U.S.
“Secretary Hegseth, you have been lying to the American public about
this war from day one and so has the president,” said Rep. John
Garamendi of California, who called the war “a geopolitical calamity," a
“strategic blunder" and a "self-inflicted wound to America."
Hegseth blasted Garamendi's remarks.
“Who are you cheering for here?” he asked the lawmaker. ”Your hatred for
President Trump blinds you” to the success of the war.
Hegseth defends firings of top military officers
The defense secretary faced intense questions from Rep. Chrissy Houlahan,
a Pennsylvania Democrat, about his decision to oust the Army’s top
uniformed officer, Gen. Randy George, one of several top military
officers to be dismissed since Trump took office again.
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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth appears before a House Committee
on Armed Services business meeting on the Department of Defense
Fiscal Year 2027 on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in
Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey Jr.)
Houlahan said George was deeply respected by members of the military
and Congress and asked why Hegseth fired him. Hegseth's response
that “new leadership” was needed failed to satisfy Houlahan.
“You have no way of explaining why you fired one of the most
decorated and remarkable men,” Houlahan began, before Hegseth
interrupted her. “We needed new leadership,” he repeated.
The Pentagon also announced this month that Navy Secretary John
Phelan was stepping down. Hegseth previously removed Adm. Lisa
Franchetti, the Navy’s top uniformed officer, Gen. Jim Slife, the
Air Force's No. 2 leader and others, while Trump fired Gen. Charles
“CQ” Brown Jr. as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska said that while Hegseth is
empowered to make personnel changes, he shared what he called
“bipartisan concern” about the firings.
“We had a huge bipartisan majority here that had confidence in the
Army chief of staff and the secretary of the navy,” Bacon said. “And
I would just point out it may be constitutionally right ... but it
doesn’t make it right or wise.”
Hegseth has said the changes are part of building a “warrior
culture” at the Pentagon.
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina defended Hegseth's
personnel moves, saying he is “trying to innovate and trying to
change the way we do business.”
“I’m glad that you’re firing people," Mace said. “There are people
there that are getting in your way. They need to go.”
Democrats ask about war's cost, while Republicans back Trump on
Iran
Hegseth detailed plans to increase pay for service members and
upgrade munitions while also announcing that, as of Tuesday, the
Pentagon had released $400 million in previously appropriated
military aid for Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
But the Iran war dominated the debate.
While a fragile ceasefire is in place, the U.S. and Israel launched
the war Feb. 28 without congressional oversight. House and Senate
Democrats have failed to pass multiple war power resolutions that
would have required Trump to halt the conflict until Congress
authorizes further action.
Republicans say they back Trump’s wartime leadership for now, citing
Iran’s nuclear program, the potential for talks to resume and the
high stakes of withdrawal. Still, GOP lawmakers are eager for the
conflict to end, and some are eyeing future votes that could become
an important test for the president if the war drags on.
Democrats questioned Hegseth over the war's economic impact and
rising gasoline costs, noting Trump's promise to lower consumer
costs. Hegseth responded by citing the threat posed by Iran.
“What is the cost of Iran having a nuclear weapon that they wield?”
he said.
The U.S. and Iran appear locked in a stalemate. Trump told Axios on
Wednesday that he is rejecting Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait
of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the U.S. blockade.
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