Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clashed with Democratic lawmakers in Congress for a second consecutive day on Thursday, rejecting senators' accusations that the war against Iran was launched without evidence of an imminent threat and conducted without a coherent strategy.
Hegseth's defense of the administration
In his opening statements, Hegseth labeled Democratic lawmakers as "reckless naysayers" and "defeatists from the cheap seats," asserting that they have failed to acknowledge the U.S. military's successes against the Islamic Republic over the past two months and in other operations since President Donald Trump returned to office. He emphasized that Trump has shown the courage "unlike other presidents to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon and that their nuclear blackmail never succeeds. We have the best negotiator in the world driving a great deal."
Democratic criticism
Senator Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, delivered a sharp rebuke in his opening statement. He criticized Hegseth's efforts to reshape the military's culture and warned that such actions could cause long-term damage. Reed argued that the war with Iran has left the United States in a worse strategic position, citing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the deaths of 13 U.S. service members, numerous injuries, and the destruction of equipment. "The American people's trust in our military took 250 years to build. You are dismantling it in a fraction of that time," Reed concluded.
Republican support
Hegseth received a warmer welcome from Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Wicker opened the hearing by noting that the U.S. faces its most dangerous security environment since World War II and praised Trump's use of the military. Through the war against Iran, Trump "has worked to remove the regime's conventional military capabilities and force it back to the table for a permanent solution," Wicker said. He also commended Trump's 2027 budget proposal, calling it "chock full of important programs and initiatives that are absolutely necessary to secure American interest in the 21st century."
Previous day's hearing
A day earlier, Hegseth battled with Democrats during a nearly six-hour House Armed Services Committee hearing, where he faced intense questioning about the war's costs in dollars, lives, and diminishing stockpiles of critical weapons. The Senate committee is now hearing a similar presentation on the Trump administration's 2027 military budget proposal, which seeks to boost defense spending to historic levels.
Key issues and future challenges
Hegseth and General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are again stressing the need for more drones, missile defense systems, and warships. They are also likely to face tough questions about American troop levels in Europe, following Trump's new threat against NATO ally Germany on Wednesday. Trump suggested he could soon reduce the U.S. military presence in Germany as he feuds with Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the Iran war.
