The ongoing war has so far cost $25 billion (€21 billion), according to figures from the Pentagon presented to the House Armed Services Committee.
In his first appearance before Congress since the Donald Trump administration initiated military action against Iran, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced intense scrutiny from lawmakers on Wednesday over the rising cost of the conflict.
The hearing, which lasted nearly six hours, saw both Democrats and some Republicans question Hegseth on the war as well as his removal of several senior military officials.
During a heated exchange, Hegseth told Democratic Representative Adam Smith that Iran’s nuclear facilities had been destroyed in US strikes carried out in 2025. Smith, however, challenged the justification for launching the war less than a year later.
“We had to start this war, you just said 60 days ago, because the nuclear weapon was an imminent threat,” said Smith, the ranking Democrat on the committee. “Now you’re saying that it was completely obliterated?”
Hegseth responded that Iran “had not given up their nuclear ambitions” and still had thousands of missiles.
Smith said the war “left us at exactly the same place we were before.”
Figures presented during the session, which focused largely on the administration’s proposed 2027 military budget, indicated that the conflict could push defence spending to a record $1.5 trillion (€1.28 trillion).
While Republican lawmakers largely supported the Iran operation and focused on budgetary details, Democrats pressed Hegseth and Dan Caine over escalating costs, depletion of US munitions, and a bombing incident that reportedly killed children at a school.
Some legislators also raised concerns about President Trump’s engagement with allies and what they described as shifting explanations for the war.
Hegseth dismissed the criticism, attributing it to political motives, and pushed back against lawmakers demanding further clarification. “The biggest challenge, the biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless, feckless and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans,” Hegseth said.
Democrats, however, accused the defence secretary of misleading the public and warned that rising fuel prices linked to the conflict were placing financial strain on Americans.
“Secretary Hegseth, you have been lying to the American public about this war from day one and so has the president,” said Representative John Garamendi of California, who described the war as “a geopolitical calamity,” a “strategic blunder” and a “self-inflicted wound to America.”
Hegseth rejected Garamendi’s remarks, responding sharply. “Who are you cheering for here?” he asked the lawmaker. ”Your hatred for President Trump blinds you” to the success of the war.
Prior to this hearing, Hegseth had largely avoided direct questioning from lawmakers on the conflict, although he and the Joint Chiefs chairman had conducted televised briefings at the Pentagon.
The defence secretary also came under pressure over his decision to remove several top military officials, including the Army’s senior officer, Randy George.
Representative Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania questioned the dismissal, noting George’s strong reputation among both military personnel and lawmakers. Hegseth’s explanation that “new leadership” was required did not satisfy her.
“You have no way of explaining why you fired one of the most decorated and remarkable men,” Houlahan began, before Hegseth interrupted her. “We needed new leadership,” he repeated.
The Pentagon recently confirmed that Navy Secretary John Phelan would step down. Hegseth has also overseen the removal of several senior officers, including Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Gen. Jim Slife, and Gen. Charles Q Brown Jr, who was dismissed by President Trump as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska acknowledged that Hegseth has the authority to make personnel decisions but noted that concerns over the dismissals were shared across party lines.
