Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine are testifying before a Senate committee Tuesday about the administration's request for $67 billion in supplemental funds tied to the Iran war and a $1.5 trillion defense budget.
Under questioning from Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin, Hegseth said the administration estimates the Iran conflict has cost $37.5 billion so far and that the figure includes some costs that will be incurred through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30; a defense official testified in late April that the war had cost about $25 billion at that point.
Hegseth opened his remarks saying, "Rest assured that every dollar appropriated to the Department of War will be focused on building the lethality of our joint force, and reinforcing peace through strength," and he said the supplemental request includes $21 billion for readiness to replace "much of the equipment utilized during recent operations."
Gen. Dan Caine opened his testimony honoring the three service members killed over the weekend and told senators, "I've come to you today to request the necessary funds while in the window of opportunity, while time is still on our side," adding that the United States "faces a global list of military challenges — in the Middle East, in Europe, in the Pacific. Both nuclear and nonnuclear challenges, and the continued threat of terrorism."
The hearing followed recent combat deaths: at least two U.S. soldiers were killed in an Iranian attack Friday, while another service member died in Iraq during a controlled explosion to destroy an Iranian drone, bringing the total number of service members killed since the war began in February to 17, and officials said nearly 100 American service members have been injured in multiple Iranian strikes on bases across the Middle East this month.
Sen. Susan Collins, the committee chair, recognized the service members as the hearing kicked off and said there are "divergent views on this committee about the decision to use military force against Iran" while warning that "there are must-pay bills and urgent requirements facing the department that affect the ability of our troops to be well-trained" and that "we should not undermine the readiness of our service members for any engagement, or refuse to rebuild critical capabilities."
Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the committee, said the conflict is "spiraling out of control again" and warned, "My colleagues and I cannot and will not support rubber-stamping a request to bankroll this war and whatever other misadventures Trump wants to get us into next," adding, "The American people want to see a quick and strategic end to this war, not $70 billion of their tax dollars sent to keep it going."
Last month the administration asked Congress for $88 billion, with the bulk aimed at covering the cost of the conflict, including $21 billion for munitions, $17.3 billion for operational costs and $12.1 billion for classified programs; the long-anticipated supplemental package also included funds to combat the Ebola outbreak in African countries and $11.1 billion for farm aid, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins will testify alongside Hegseth and Caine.
Protesters interrupted Hegseth as he began to speak, forcing Collins to pause the hearing, bang her gavel and call for the Capitol Police to remove protesters before Hegseth continued.
House Republicans have been pursuing the funds through the budget reconciliation process, but several GOP senators, including Collins and Lisa Murkowski, have cast doubt on the prospects of a third reconciliation bill; Majority Leader John Thune said, "I've said all along … that it's an option," and warned reconciliation "is very different in the House than it is in the Senate."