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US defense secretary Pete Hegseth defended President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion military budget before House and Senate lawmakers on Tuesday, as Congress pressed the Pentagon over the rising cost of the Iran war, weapons stockpiles and the administration’s long-term strategy in the conflict.The hearings came as the Trump administration faces growing pressure from the economic impact of Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping corridor through which about 20% of the world’s oil normally flows.Hegseth told lawmakers that the ceasefire with Iran remains in effect despite recent exchanges of fire. He appeared before Congress after testifying in the Senate, where one Democrat warned that “you’ve achieved a series of tactical successes but are on the verge of a strategic loss.”While Hegseth adopted a softer tone than in previous hearings, lawmakers from both parties raised concerns about the war’s expanding cost and its impact on military readiness.Pentagon officials told Congress that the cost of the Iran war has now climbed to nearly $29 billion, up from the $25 billion estimate provided nearly two weeks ago. Pentagon comptroller Jay Hurst said roughly $24 billion of the total is tied to replacing munitions and repairing equipment, while the remainder covers operational costs for deployed forces. The estimate does not include the cost of repairing or rebuilding damaged US military sites in the region.Lawmakers also questioned whether the conflict was straining US weapons supplies, a suggestion Hegseth rejected.At the same time, Hegseth acknowledged that the administration is moving to increase weapons production to support the conflict and prepare for future military operations.The administration’s proposed 2027 defense budget includes $750 billion for the “Golden Dome” missile defense system, $102 billion for aircraft procurement and research and development, nearly $75 billion for drone and counter-drone technologies and $65 billion to build 18 Navy warships and 16 support ships.In January, Trump said he wanted to increase the US military budget by half next year to reach $1.5 trillion.“I have determined that, for the Good of our Country, especially in these very troubled and dangerous times, our Military Budget for the year 2027 should not be $1 Trillion Dollars, but rather $1.5 Trillion Dollars,” Trump said on Truth Social.“This will allow us to build the ‘Dream Military’ that we have long been entitled to and, more importantly, that will keep us SAFE and SECURE, regardless of foe,” the president said.Trump said the increase would be supported by revenue generated from tariffs introduced since his return to office.The administration plans to allocate about $1.1 trillion for defense through the regular appropriations process, with another $350 billion expected through budget reconciliation, which would allow Republicans to pass measures without Democratic support.The proposal comes as the United States faces annual deficits nearing $2 trillion and a national debt exceeding $39 trillion.
