Pete Hegseth Clashes With Democrats Over U.S. War In Iran And 2027 Budget Proposal

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clashed with Democratic lawmakers in Congress for a second day over the U.S. war in Iran, rejecting accusations that the conflict was launched without evidence of an imminent threat and waged without a coherent strategy.

The Senate Armed Services Committee hearing lasted three hours on Thursday and focused on the Trump administration’s 2027 military budget proposal, which would boost defense spending to a historic $1.5 trillion US.

ABC News

In his opening statements, Hegseth called Democratic lawmakers "reckless naysayers" and "defeatists from the cheap seats" who have failed to recognize the many successes of the U.S. military against the Islamic Republic.

Democrats peppered Hegseth with questions about his efforts to remake military culture, U.S. support for Ukraine, and whether Trump would seek congressional approval for the war.

Hegseth said the ceasefire postpones the deadline for securing such approval, and he framed the conflict as a success against Iran.

The hearing also included Republican questions about the dismissal of a top Army general and assurances that the Pentagon is doing everything possible to prevent civilian deaths.

The Associated Press reported that the war has cost $25 billion so far, citing Pentagon numbers presented to the House Armed Services Committee during a contentious hearing focused on the 2027 budget proposal.

A central dispute in the hearings and reporting involved whether the War Powers Resolution deadline for congressional approval can be paused during a ceasefire.

Al Jazeera reported that the Donald Trump administration argued a key May 1 deadline it faces to secure congressional approval for the U.S.-Israel war on Iran no longer matters because of the ongoing ceasefire with Tehran.

Al Jazeera

The outlet explained that once the president notifies Congress about a war, a 60-day deadline under the War Powers Resolution begins, and that in this case the deadline expires on Friday.

During testimony before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Hegseth argued that the ongoing yet fragile ceasefire had effectively paused the clock on the deadline, saying the "60-day clock pauses, or stops" during a pause in fighting.

Al Jazeera also described how Democratic lawmakers and legal experts contested that interpretation, arguing the statute contains no provision allowing for a pause once the deadline has started.

The same reporting noted that the U.S. and Iran have largely halted direct attacks since April 8 as ceasefire negotiations began, though talks later stalled.

Reuters was cited in Al Jazeera’s account for an administration position that "For War Powers Resolution purposes, the hostilities that began on Saturday, February 28, have terminated," and that there has been "no exchange of fire between US Armed Forces and Iran since Tuesday, April 7."

Democrats pressed Hegseth on the war’s costs, casualties, and strategic outcomes, while Republicans defended the operation and its budget priorities.

In CBC’s account of Thursday’s Senate hearing, Sen. Jack Reed argued the war left the U.S. in a worse strategic position, citing "13 American troops killed, more than 400 injured" and equipment destroyed, and he said the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, sending fuel prices skyrocketing.

Reed also said Iran still has enriched uranium and retains enough combat effectiveness to keep the conflict locked in an impasse, while Iran’s hard-line regime remains in charge.

Reed told Hegseth, "I am concerned that you have been telling the president what he wants to hear instead of what he needs to hear," and he added that "Bold assurances of success are a disservice to both the commander in chief and the troops who risked their lives based on them."

CBC reported that Hegseth responded by emphasizing that Trump had the courage "unlike other presidents to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon and that their nuclear blackmail never succeeds."

In the AP account of Hegseth’s first congressional appearance since the war began, Democrats also challenged the bombing of a school that killed children and questioned shifting justifications for starting the war.

AP reported that Democrats accused Hegseth of misleading Americans, with Rep. John Garamendi saying, "Secretary Hegseth, you have been lying to the American public about this war from day one and so has the president," and calling it "a geopolitical calamity," "a strategic blunder" and "a self-inflicted wound to America."

Beyond the legal fight over War Powers, lawmakers confronted Hegseth about personnel changes and accountability inside the Pentagon.

CBC reported that some Republican senators asked about the dismissal of a top Army general and sought assurances that the Pentagon is doing everything possible to prevent civilian deaths.

Al Jazeera

In the AP account, Democrats pressed Hegseth about his decision to oust the Army’s top uniformed officer, Gen. Randy George, and AP said Hegseth’s response that "new leadership" was needed failed to satisfy Rep. Chrissy Houlahan.

AP quoted Houlahan saying, "You have no way of explaining why you fired one of the most decorated and remarkable men," before Hegseth interrupted her with "We needed new leadership," he repeated.

AP also reported that the Pentagon announced this month that Navy Secretary John Phelan was stepping down, and it listed other removals Hegseth made, including Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Gen. Jim Slife, and Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown Jr. as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

CBC similarly described that Reed lambasted Hegseth for his firing of top military leaders and suggested the war secretary had failed to recognize the accomplishments of women and people of colour in the military, adding that Reed noted "60 per cent of some two dozen officers fired by Hegseth have been female or Black."

Hegseth told Reed that any firing is based on performance and that previous Pentagon leaders "were focused on social engineering, race and gender in ways that we think were unhealthy for the department."

The hearings also returned repeatedly to civilian harm, including a deadly strike on an Iranian elementary school adjacent to a Revolutionary Guard base, and to how the Pentagon is handling legal and operational obligations.

“The Donald Trump administration has argued that a key May 1 deadline it faces to secure congressional approval for the US-Israel war on Iran no longer matters because of the ongoing ceasefire with Tehran”

Al Jazeera

CBC reported that the Associated Press has reported growing evidence points to U.S. culpability for a deadly strike on an Iranian elementary school adjacent to a Revolutionary Guard base that killed more than 165 people, including children.

Al Jazeera

CBC also described that Democrats peppered Hegseth with questions about civilian deaths and the Pentagon decision to hollow out a congressionally mandated office set up specifically to reduce civilian casualties, and it quoted Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand asking, "What is your response to targeting that has resulted in the destruction of schools, hospitals, civilian places? Why did you cut by 90 per cent the".

TRT World’s account of Hegseth’s House testimony said Hegseth told lawmakers that two months after a deadly American strike on an Iranian elementary school killed more than 165 people, including many children, the incident remains under investigation, adding that he said, "that unfortunate situation remains under investigation" and that he "wouldn’t tie a cost to that."

TRT World also reported that Hegseth told reporters last month that the military assigned a general from outside of US Central Command to investigate the strike, while he refused questions about what led to it while arguing that the US does not target civilians.

In the AP account, Democrats also questioned President Donald Trump’s dealings with allies and his shifting justification for the conflict, and AP quoted Rep. John Garamendi calling the war a "geopolitical calamity" and "strategic blunder".

The legal clock dispute remains a near-term pressure point, with Al Jazeera reporting that the War Powers deadline expires on May 1 and that on Thursday Hegseth argued the ceasefire paused the clock even as Democrats and legal experts contested that reading.