Pete Hegseth faces first Congress grilling since the Iran war began

Washington: Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will face questioning from lawmakers Wednesday for the first time since the Trump administration launched the war against Iran, which Democrats have contested as a costly conflict of choice waged without congressional approval. The hearing before the House Armed Services Committee is being held to discuss the administration's 2027 military budget proposal, which would boost defence spending to a historic $1.5 trillion. Hegseth and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, are expected to stress the need for more drones, missile defence systems and warships. Democrats are likely to pivot to the ballooning costs of the Iran war, huge drawdown of critical US munitions and bombing of a school that killed children. Some lawmakers also may question how prepared the military was to shoot down swarms of Iranian drones, some of which penetrated US defences and killed or injured American troops. While a ceasefire is now in place, the US and Israel launched the war Feb. 28 without congressional oversight. House and Senate Democrats have failed to pass multiple war power resolutions that would have required President Donald Trump to halt the conflict until Congress authorizes further action. Republicans have said they will keep faith in Trump's wartime leadership, for now, citing Iran's nuclear program, the potential for talks to resume and the high stakes of withdrawal. Still, GOP lawmakers are eager for the conflict to end, and some are eyeing future votes that could become an important test for the president if the war drags on. Iran's closing of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping corridor for the world's oil, has sent fuel prices skyrocketing and posed problems for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections. The US has responded with a Navy blockade of Iranian shipping and further built up its military forces in the region - with three aircraft carriers in the Middle East for the first time in more than 20 years. The countries appear locked in a stalemate, with Trump unlikely to accept Tehran's latest offer to reopen the strait if the US ends the war, lifts its sea blockade and postpones nuclear talks. Hegseth has avoided public questioning from lawmakers about the war, although he and Caine have held televised Pentagon briefings. Hegseth has mostly taken questions from conservative journalists, while citing Bible passages to castigate mainstream outlets. The defence secretary will face a much different dynamic Wednesday as well as on Thursday, when he and Caine also are set to face the Senate Armed Services Committee. Lawmakers' questions are likely to go beyond the budget and even the war to Hegseth's ousting of top military leaders. Besides Navy Secretary John Phelan's departure last week, Hegseth recently ousted the Army's top uniformed officer, Gen. Randy George, as well as several other top generals, admirals and defence leaders. "Tell us why. You know these are important positions. We are in a war posture with Iran," said North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican. Tillis, who was a crucial vote to confirming the defence secretary, added that Hegseth's management of the Pentagon had caused him to have second thoughts on his support. "He may be able to clean it up, but on its face, you don't go through the number of highly reputable, senior-level officials, admirals and generals," Tillis added. Rep. Austin Scott, a Georgia Republican, condemned George's termination during a House Armed Services Committee hearing last week, saying that "some of us are not through asking the questions about that." "I think the firing of Gen. George was an extreme disservice to the United States Army," Scott said. "And I think it was reckless conduct."