Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified alongside a top general for a second day in the first public Congressional hearings since the start of the war with Iran. These proceedings followed a marathon session in the House, where Hegseth clashed with Democrats over the conflict and his purge of top military leaders.
During the hearings on Capitol Hill, Democratic lawmakers accused Hegseth of launching the war without evidence of an imminent threat and without a coherent strategy. Senator Jack Reed warned that the Defense Secretary was dismantling trust in the U.S. military, while the Senate Armed Services Committee’s top Democrat stated that Hegseth is causing lasting harm to the military.
Democrats further condemned the justification for the war and its estimated $25 billion cost, criticizing the launch of the conflict without approval. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s proposal regarding the Strait of Hormuz, leaving negotiations at an impasse as Tehran seeks international support.