Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Kaine were questioned publicly for a second day, this time before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Thursday’s hearing came a day after Mr. Hegseth and Mr. Kaine appeared before a House committee and was the first time they faced public questioning from lawmakers since the United States and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28.
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Mr. Hegseth repeatedly criticized critics of the war, including members of Congress, in sometimes bellicose terms, accusing them of “recklessly” supporting America’s enemies.
On Thursday, he again defended the war, which Pentagon officials said yesterday has cost the United States at least $25 billion so far, but offered little clarity about next steps amid a pause in fighting and stalled negotiations with Iran.
This was a key moment.
Hegseth says US stockpile is in ‘good condition’
Mr. Hegseth rejected major criticisms of the war and insisted that U.S. ammunition stockpiles remained in “good condition.”
It comes amid a series of reports suggesting that may not be true. Some lawmakers charge that ammunition depletion could leave the United States vulnerable in other theaters.
The New York Times reported last week that the military is rapidly acquiring weapons and hardware from other regions due to the number of expensive long-range stealth missiles and Patriot interceptor missiles the United States has used so far in the war.
Yesterday, Pentagon officials told lawmakers that the U.S. has spent $25 billion since the war began, but it’s unclear whether that includes damage to U.S. assets in the Middle East.
Kaine says Russia supported Iran war
The top U.S. commander briefly acknowledged that Russia has supported Iran in the current war, but offered few details.
“There is definitely some action going on,” he said, indicating that he could not reveal any more information publicly.
Russia and Iran have long traded arms, and Russia has provided political support to Tehran during the war. However, there have been few details of more specific assistance throughout the conflict.
Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin again expressed support for Iran during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in St. Petersburg.
Hegseth says war powers are ‘suspended’
Friday marks the 60th day since President Trump formally notified Congress of the U.S. attack on Iran. Under the War Powers Act of 1973, the president is legally required to halt operations or seek approval from Congress to continue.
But on Thursday, Hegseth offered a novel interpretation of the law, saying that during a cessation of fighting, “the 60-day clock stops or stops.” The United States and Iran have largely paused attacks since April 8 ahead of ceasefire talks, which have since stalled.
The United States has continued to maintain a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and President Trump has repeatedly threatened to renew attacks.
The language of the War Powers Act does not explicitly indicate that a cessation of hostilities would change the 60-day schedule.
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine was alarmed by Hegseth’s comments.
“I don’t think the law would support that,” he said.
Voices of doubt about the withdrawal of civilian oversight
Before starting the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, the Pentagon was already reportedly moving to downsize some departments involved in monitoring harm to civilians in conflicts.
This included cutting staff at the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence, which aims to assess and glean lessons from the high number of civilian deaths during the United States’ “global war on terror.”
Further questions have been raised over reported civilian deaths in Iran, including the US attack on the girls’ school in Minab.
On Thursday, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand asked Hegseth, “What is your response to targeting that resulted in the destruction of schools, hospitals, civilian facilities? Why did you cut by 90 percent a department that was supposed to help keep civilians from being targeted?”
Republican Rep. Mike Rounds followed with a series of questions, asking whether the Pentagon still has the resources to protect civilians.
Hegseth insisted the department still has “all the necessary resources” to do so.
Democrat asks if Hegseth told President Trump ‘what he wanted to hear’
Some of the toughest questions came from Sen. Jack Reed, the committee’s top Democrat.
Mr. Hegseth was reportedly one of the most ardent behind-the-scenes supporters of the war, which Mr. Reed said called into question his advice to the president.
“I’m concerned that you’re telling the president what he wants to hear, not what he needs to hear,” Reid said at one point.
In another instance, Reed said he believed Hegseth was “causing lasting harm to the military.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Hegseth again attacked members of Congress, especially Democrats, who question the war and its purpose.
“As I said yesterday and I will say it again today, the greatest enemy we face right now is the reckless naysayer and defeatist rhetoric of Congressional Democrats and some Republicans,” Hegseth said in his opening statement.
