Senators Press Hegseth About the Iran War

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had another difficult hearing in Congress on Thursday.

Senators asked him tough questions about the Iran war, the cost of the conflict, and whether the Trump administration had proper legal authority to continue it.

Hegseth strongly defended the war and said critics in Congress were not giving enough credit to the US military. He said the administration was acting to stop Iran from gaining more power and to prevent bigger dangers later.

Democratic senators argued that the war has already cost too much and that Congress has not clearly approved it. Some lawmakers also questioned whether the administration has explained its strategy well enough.

The hearing was also connected to the military budget. Officials presented a very large defense spending plan and said the United States needs more ships, missile defenses, drones, and other weapons.

That meant the hearing was about two things at once: current war decisions and future military priorities. Supporters of the administration say both are linked because the US must stay strong in a dangerous world.

Opponents say strength is not enough without clear goals, legal limits, and honest accounting. They worry that a long war with Iran could drain money, weapons, and public support.

So the clash in the Senate showed a deeper argument in Washington. It is not only about one secretary or one hearing, but about who should control war decisions and how much risk the country is willing to carry.