Key facts
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee.
- The hearing will focus on the U.S. war against Iran and a proposed $95 billion budget package.
- The budget includes $70 billion for war funding, $10 billion for farmers, and $10 billion for voting law changes.
- The conflict has resulted in 17 American service member deaths and over 100 injuries since July.
- Senators are questioning the administration's transparency regarding casualties and the war's objectives.
Senators are preparing to question Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday regarding the U.S. war against Iran, as Republicans advance a $95 billion budget package. This package includes funding for the military, aid for farmers, and changes to voting laws, all of which are top priorities for the White House. Hegseth, along with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, are scheduled to appear before the Senate Appropriations Committee. Their testimony comes days after the military reported three additional American service members had died in the conflict, bringing the total death toll to 17 and the number of injured to over 100 since early July. Sen. Patty Murray, a leading Democrat on the committee, expressed concern that the conflict with Iran could escalate into another protracted war. She noted President Donald Trump's repeated assertions that a resolution is near, while simultaneously requesting an additional $70 billion for the war effort. The war funding constitutes the majority of the Republican budget proposal, which aims to pass before lawmakers recess for midterm election campaigning. The proposal also allocates $10 billion for farmers facing difficulties due to Trump's tariffs and $10 billion for voter law changes, such as new identification requirements, without any offsetting spending cuts. An AP-NORC poll indicates that most Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the Iran situation. Rising gas prices have been linked to Iran's efforts to control oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, and U.S. munitions are reportedly dwindling amid ongoing missile strikes. Despite shifting away from his campaign promise to avoid prolonged military engagements, Trump has shown no inclination to de-escalate the war, and most Republicans have not challenged his strategy or objectives. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that the commander in chief and the Department of War are actively working towards a resolution. However, Hegseth faces scrutiny not only for the war but also for his leadership of the department. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Hegseth for promoting testosterone supplements for troops while allegedly withholding casualty numbers from the public. Senators have also demanded the release of a Pentagon report on a deadly attack on an Iranian primary school at the war's outset, threatening to withhold Hegseth's travel budget if he fails to comply. The Senate is set to consider another war powers resolution this week, having previously voted multiple times to halt the conflict. The House has passed a similar resolution limiting Trump's war-making authority, with some Republican support, but no measure has cleared both chambers to be sent to the president. The Republican budget proposal is expected to proceed through the reconciliation process, allowing for its passage with a simple majority, despite Democratic opposition. This is the same process used for Trump's tax cuts and Homeland Security funding. The proposal is slated for a House vote this week, initiating the drafting process by various committees. However, some Republicans, like Rep. Warren Davidson, have voiced concerns about the plan's impact on deficits due to the lack of spending offsets.