Republican senators voice doubts about Secretary Hegseth's leadership

What This is

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee as Republicans push a roughly $95 billion package dominated by funding for the U.S. war with Iran.
• Hegseth said the war with Iran has cost about $37.5 billion so far and argued that additional funding is urgent due to military shortfalls and emerging threats.
• Some coverage describes an even larger emergency request of $87.6 billion, including more than $70 billion tied to U.S. operations related to Iran.
• Another account says Hegseth urged roughly $67 billion for munitions, pay, and equipment.
• Senators questioned the timing and justification for more money, including why prior funds remain unspent and what the likely total cost of the conflict will be.
• Lawmakers also pressed Hegseth on transparency, including allegations that casualty figures and a report on a deadly attack were withheld.
• Senators also questioned Hegseth about military promotion policies and a testosterone-screening policy.
• The hearing was interrupted by protesters and came amid rising U.S. service-member casualties linked to the conflict.
• The GOP funding package also includes separate provisions for farm aid and voting-law changes, which drew broader questions about what is being bundled together with war funding.
• Some lawmakers warned the war could widen and become open-ended, and raised concerns about Congress’s role in war decisions and spending oversight.

Why This Matters

• Congress’s decision will affect how long the U.S. can sustain the Iran war and at what pace.
• If lawmakers think the Pentagon hid casualty data or key reports, oversight and future funding votes become harder.
• Bundling war money with farm aid and voting-law changes can shift votes but also deepen mistrust of the process.
• Questions about open-ended war and Congress’s role reflect broader worries about drifting into a wider conflict without clear limits.