Pete Hegseth faces a second day of grilling from Democrats on Capitol Hill, with senators getting their first opportunity to confront or praise the Pentagon chief over his handling of the Iran war.
The defense secretary battled with Democrats and some Republicans yesterday during a nearly six-hour House armed services committee hearing, where he faced questioning over the war's costs in dollars, lives, and diminishing stockpiles of critical weapons.
The Senate armed services committee will hear a similar presentation on the Trump administration's 2027 military budget proposal, which would boost defense spending to a historic $1.5 trillion.
Hegseth Denies 'Quagmire' Label
Yesterday Hegseth denied that the US-Israel war on Iran, which the Pentagon estimates has cost the US at least $25bn, was 'a quagmire'. During the hearing, California Democrat John Garamendi attacked Hegseth over the 'astounding incompetence' that Garamendi argued had led to 'political and economic disaster at every level'.
'The president has gotten himself and America stuck in a quagmire of another war in the Middle East,' Garamendi said. 'He is desperately trying to extricate himself from his own mistakes; it is in America's, and indeed the world's, interest he succeed in that.'
Hegseth was incensed, responding 'Your hatred for president Trump blinds you to the truth of the success of this mission … you call it a quagmire, handing propaganda to our enemies? Shame on you for that statement.'
Other Developments
- US economic growth likely accelerated in the first quarter on a rebound in government spending after a crippling government shutdown. Figures will be out at 8.30am ET.
- King Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to make stops in Virginia before wrapping up their US visit back at the White House on Thursday with a formal farewell from Trump.
- Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said that Democrats will once again force a vote on a war powers resolution on Iran, the sixth time in recent weeks.
- The House approved a three-year reauthorization of a divisive US surveillance program ahead of its expiration on Friday.
- Trump reinforced his feelings towards James Comey in a social media post, referencing a mob term.
- The US supreme court struck down a major element of the Voting Rights Act, paving the way for aggressive gerrymandering.
- The Florida Legislature approved a new congressional map intended to maximize Republicans' advantage.
- Outgoing Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said he will stay on as a central bank governor when his leadership term ends.
- The Department of Justice announced charges against three anti-ICE protesters for allegedly assaulting a rightwing video journalist.
