Hegseth, Caine testify on Pentagon budget amid Iran war
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies at the U.S. House Armed Services Committee hearing titled “Department of Defense FY2027 Budget Request” on Capitol Hill on April 29, 2026.
Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chief of Staff Dan Caine will testify before the court. House Armed Services Committee On Wednesday, Trump’s defense chief will take questions from lawmakers for the first time since the war against Iran began two months ago.
Lawmakers are grilling Hegseth and Caine about the Pentagon budget, but the war with Iran is expected to be at the forefront of the panel. The war has now entered its second month and has caused global economic turmoil as Iran has blocked shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the conflict.
The U.S. military burned through munitions during the conflict, and Congress will need to provide funding to replace that munitions. The Pentagon is also requesting a massive $1.5 trillion fiscal 2027 budget, which is expected to be submitted to lawmakers for review.
The hearing will also allow Democrats, who largely oppose the war, to publicly question Hegseth and the administration about their plans going forward and the cost of the war. The hearing could also reveal Republicans’ frustrations with the war and the massive budget request.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
