Hegseth Faces Sharp Questions on $25B Iran Costs as War Powers Deadline Nears

The price tag for U.S. military action in Iran has reached $25 billion, mostly spent on munitions, just as a 60-day clock under the War Powers Resolution expires. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth endured more than five hours of questioning in the House Armed Services Committee on April 29, 2026, about strategy, leadership changes and mounting economic ripple effects. Lawmakers from both parties pressed for clarity on what success looks like as a naval blockade persists in the Strait of Hormuz even after a ceasefire took hold on April 8.

The hearing, nominally about the Pentagon's $1.5 trillion fiscal 2027 budget request, quickly pivoted to Operation Epic Fury. Pentagon comptroller Jules Hurst told the panel the sum reflected direct costs to date. Senators from both parties had previewed similar lines of inquiry for a follow-up session the next day before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine, a member of that panel, signaled he would seek specifics on objectives and timelines.

At the center of the tension sits one unanswered question: Has the combination of earlier strikes, a fragile truce and continued blockade advanced long-term U.S. interests, or has it simply deferred harder choices while draining resources? Hegseth rejected descriptions of the effort as a quagmire. He told lawmakers the biggest adversary at this point consisted of "the reckless, feckless and defeatist words" from congressional Democrats and some Republicans. The remark drew repeated follow-ups.

Rep. Adam Smith, the committee's top Democrat, challenged Hegseth on shifting rationales. Smith noted the administration's claim that Iranian nuclear sites had been "obliterated" in 2025 strikes, then asked why new action was required months later if the threat had been eliminated. Hegseth responded that Tehran retained ambitions and thousands of missiles. Other members raised the February 28 strike on a school in Minab that killed civilians, including children, and pressed for an accounting of depleted U.S. munitions stockpiles.

Bipartisan unease also surfaced over Hegseth's decisions to remove senior officers, among them Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, Navy Secretary John Phelan and others. Rep. Jen Kiggans, a Virginia Republican whose district includes major naval installations, questioned the firings. Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican, voiced "bipartisan concern" that the moves risked eroding confidence despite acknowledging the secretary's authority. Hegseth described the changes as necessary to instill a "warrior culture."

Democrats forced repeated procedural votes on resolutions to terminate hostilities. All have failed so far, with most Republicans backing the administration. Sen. Rand Paul and Rep. Thomas Massie have joined calls for greater congressional say. A 30-day extension remains possible if the president certifies unavoidable military necessity. Oil prices climbed above $126 a barrel after President Trump indicated the blockade could last months. Global markets reacted to uncertainty over when Hormuz shipping lanes might reopen.

The administration began strikes on February 28 alongside Israel, citing imminent nuclear risks from Iran. The operation killed then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued statements this week declaring Iran's nuclear and missile programs national assets and warning that foreigners had no place in the Persian Gulf "except at the bottom of its waters." U.S. officials have described the blockade as more effective than additional bombing at pressuring Tehran.

Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine also fielded questions on the $400 million in previously approved Ukraine aid that had not yet been distributed, according to Sen. Richard Blumenthal. Sen. Roger Wicker, the Senate panel chairman, used the budget discussion to highlight plans for domestic manufacturing revival. "Like the generations that came before us, we are now revitalizing manufacturing right here at home," Wicker stated. Sen. Tim Kaine called the $25 billion figure "low" and said he needed a fuller briefing.

By the hearing's close, few concrete answers had emerged on total projected costs, an exit strategy or how the administration would handle the War Powers deadline. A supplemental funding request is expected once assessments conclude. The Senate session on April 30 offered another opportunity for scrutiny, with both sides anticipating sharper exchanges. The exchanges laid bare divisions that go beyond party lines: lawmakers want measurable outcomes, not rhetoric, at a moment when fiscal, strategic and legal deadlines converge.