U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies during a U.S. House Armed Services Committee hearing titled “Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request” on Capitol Hill, April 29, 2026.
Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Kaine will testify before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, marking the first time President Trump’s defense secretary has taken questions from lawmakers since the war with Iran began two months ago.
Lawmakers have slammed Hegseth and Kaine over the Pentagon’s budget, but the war with Iran is expected to loom large on the council. The war, now in its second month, has caused global economic turmoil as Iran has blocked shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began.
The U.S. military burns through ammunition during the conflict, and Congress needs to provide funding to replenish it. The Pentagon is also requesting a massive $1.5 trillion budget for fiscal year 2027, which is expected to come under intense scrutiny from lawmakers.
The hearing will also allow Democratic lawmakers, who have largely opposed the war, to publicly question Hegseth and his administration about future plans and the cost of the war. The hearing could also expose Republican dissatisfaction with the war and huge budget demands.
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