Hegseth grilled on cost of war, testosterone policy and troop deaths

Hegseth grilled on cost of war, testosterone policy and troop deaths

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate on Tuesday that the war with Iran has cost $37.5 billion so far, as he faced lawmakers demanding answers about the conflict's rising price tag and the deaths of American service members. The figure, which Hegseth said includes anticipated costs through September 30, marks an increase of nearly $8 billion since the last public estimate, as reported by ABC Australia and The Guardian.

Hegseth, appearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, defended the Trump administration's roughly $88 billion supplemental funding request, calling it "urgent, necessary," according to The Guardian. Of that total, $67.1 billion is earmarked specifically for the war effort, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The hearing marked Hegseth's first sustained public questioning since a brief ceasefire collapsed and hostilities resumed earlier this month. At least two US soldiers were killed in an Iranian attack on Friday, and another died in Iraq destroying an Iranian drone, pushing the American death toll since February to 17, The Guardian reported. Nearly 100 troops have been wounded in the conflict, officials confirmed, though most injuries were minor.

Coverage comparison

Multiple outlets covered the hearing, with a focus on the escalating costs and the administration's request for additional funding. ABC Australia reported that Hegseth estimated the war's cost at $37.5 billion and noted the Republican budget proposal includes $95 billion in funding for the military. The Jerusalem Post highlighted Hegseth's request for $67 billion in supplemental funding and described the hearing as a "generational investment" to achieve "peace through strength."

The Guardian provided critical coverage, emphasizing the "soaring" costs and the administration's "shifting" rationale for the conflict. One report quoted Democratic Senator Patty Murray warning that the war could become "another forever war," while another noted that the Pentagon is running low on cash to sustain operations.

Key claims

• US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth estimated the cost of the war with Iran at $37.5 billion, as reported by ABC Australia, The Guardian, and the Jerusalem Post.
• Hegseth defended an $88 billion supplemental funding request, according to The Guardian.
• At least two US soldiers were killed in an Iranian attack on Friday, and another died in Iraq, according to The Guardian.
• Nearly 100 troops have been wounded in the conflict, The Guardian reported.
• The Pentagon is running low on cash to keep the fight going, as reported by The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post.
• The Republican budget proposal includes $95 billion in funding for the military, ABC Australia reported.
• Some Democrats criticized the administration's strategy, with Senator Patty Murray accusing it of shifting its rationale by the week, The Guardian reported.

Perspectives

Democratic lawmakers: Senator Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the panel, accused the administration of shifting its rationale for the war by the week and warned the conflict risked becoming "another forever war," as reported by The Guardian and ABC Australia. She also questioned why President Trump has repeatedly said a deal is near while requesting billions more in funding.

Republican lawmakers: While some Republicans, including Senator Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, have previously crossed the aisle to support war-powers resolutions aimed at reining in the president's authority, the hearing focused primarily on funding. Collins, who chairs the committee, has expressed frustration that the administration's strategy appears to shift daily, The Guardian reported.

Trump administration: Defense Secretary Hegseth defended the supplemental request as "urgent, necessary" and argued that long-term strategic dominance requires a "generational investment" in the military. He also stated that not funding the department at $1.5 trillion would be the greatest threat facing the nation, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Iranian perspective: The Guardian reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described surviving a US-Israeli airstrike that killed the country's supreme leader, and ordinary Iranians described airstrikes, repression, and water shortages as the "new normal."