US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion military budget before House and Senate lawmakers on Tuesday, as Congress pressures the Pentagon over the rising cost of the Iran war, weapons stockpiles and the administration’s long-term strategy in the conflict.The hearings came as the Trump administration faces mounting pressure from the economic impact of Iran’s virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane through which about 20% of the world’s oil normally flows.Hegseth told lawmakers that the ceasefire with Iran remains in place despite the recent exchange of fire. He appeared before Congress after testifying in the Senate, where a Democrat warned, “You have had a series of tactical successes but are on the verge of a strategic loss.”While Hegseth took a softer tone than in previous hearings, lawmakers from both parties raised concerns about the rising cost of the war and its impact on military readiness.Pentagon officials told Congress that the cost of the war on Iran has now risen to nearly $29 billion, compared with an estimate of $25 billion presented about two weeks ago. Nearly $24 billion of the total is tied to munitions replacement and equipment repair, while the rest covers operational costs for deployed forces, Pentagon Comptroller Jay Hurst said.
This estimate does not include the cost of repairing or rebuilding damaged US military sites in the region.Lawmakers also questioned whether the conflict had depleted U.S. arms supplies, a suggestion Hegseth rejected.At the same time, Hegseth acknowledged that the administration is moving to increase weapons production to support the conflict and prepare for future military operations.The administration’s proposed 2027 defense budget includes $750 billion for the Golden Dome missile defense system, $102 billion for aircraft procurement and research and development, about $75 billion for drone and counter-drone technologies, and $65 billion to build the Navy’s 18 warships and 16 support ships.In January, Trump said he wanted to increase the US military budget by half next year to $1.5 trillion.“I have decided that for the good of our country, especially in these very turbulent and dangerous times, our military budget for 2027 should not be $1 trillion, but $1.5 trillion,” Trump said on Truth Social.“This will allow us to build the ‘Dream Army’ we have long deserved, and most importantly, it will keep us safe and secure, no matter the enemy,” the president said.Trump said the increase would be supported by revenue generated from tariffs imposed since his return to office.The administration plans to allocate about $1.1 trillion to defense through the regular appropriations process, with another $350 billion expected through budget reconciliation, which would allow Republicans to pass measures without Democratic support.The proposal comes as the United States faces an annual deficit approaching $2 trillion and a national debt exceeding $39 trillion.
