Hegseth, Caine to testify on Pentagon budget amid Iran war

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine are set to testify before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, the first time Trump’s defense chief will take questions from lawmakers since the war against Iran began two months ago.

Lawmakers are grilling Hegseth and Caine about the Pentagon budget, but the war with Iran is expected to loom large over the panel. The war has now dragged into its second month and has caused global economic turmoil as Iran has choked vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the conflict.

The U.S. military has burned through munitions during the conflict, which Congress will need to provide funding to replenish. The Pentagon is also asking for a massive $1.5 trillion fiscal 2027 budget, which is expected to draw scrutiny from lawmakers.

The hearing will also allow Democrats, who have largely opposed the war, to publicly question Hegseth and the administration on their plans going forward and on the cost of the war. The hearing could also lay bare Republican frustrations with the war and the colossal budget request.

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