Washington, D.C., May 13 (V7N) – US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has defended the Trump administration’s proposed $1.5 trillion military budget amid renewed criticism from lawmakers over the ongoing Iran war.
According to a report by The New York Times, Hegseth made the remarks during a congressional hearing on Tuesday, arguing that the massive defense budget is essential to preserve America’s military strength and address future security threats.
During the hearing, lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties raised questions regarding the rising cost of the conflict with Iran, the administration’s long-term strategy and concerns over the depletion of US weapons stockpiles.
US media reports indicate that the Iran war has already cost approximately $29 billion, although that figure is separate from the proposed defense budget currently under discussion.
Hegseth told lawmakers that the administration has contingency plans both to expand military operations if necessary and to scale back involvement depending on developments on the ground. However, he did not provide a clear timeline for ending the conflict.
The hearing highlighted growing debate in Washington over the financial and strategic implications of continued US military engagement in the Middle East amid rising geopolitical tensions.
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