Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in his opening remarks during a congressional hearing Tuesday that not fully funding the Department of Defense (DOD) to the tune of $1.5 trillion is the “greatest threat” the United States faces at home and abroad.
Hegseth made the remarks while testifying today before the Senate Appropriations Committee, as the White House is requesting an additional $87.6 billion for “urgent needs” regarding the United States’ ongoing military operations in Iran. He was joined in the hearing by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
That approximate $87.6 billion total would earmark roughly $67 billion for DOD, including approximately $21 billion for munitions, $17.3 billion for operational costs, and $12.1 billion for classified programs. The request also includes some $300 million for improved security at U.S. embassies and diplomatic outposts across the Middle East and South Asia.
“Rest assured that every dollar appropriated to the Department of War will be focused on building the lethality of our joint force and reinforcing peace through strength,” Hegseth said in his opening statement directed at senators and the American people.
“As I have said before, not fully funding this department…given the world we live in and the disaster of what the Biden administration’s budgets gave us, not funding this department at $1.5 trillion, I believe, is the greatest threat that our nation faces,” he added.
Hegseth Says Iran War Has Cost $37.5 Billion
The secretary also said, for the first time, that the cost of the Iran War as it currently stands is roughly $37.5 billion. The Pentagon previously never acknowledged the cost to U.S. taxpayers. The cost question was asked by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).
Hegseth said that Congress must decide to address this funding shortage right now as American military personnel fight in current conflicts and perhaps future ones. Otherwise, he said, “it’s just talk.”
The U.S. conducted military strikes against Iran on Tuesday for the 10th consecutive day, as the war that jointly started with U.S. and Israeli strikes began Feb. 28 now approaches the five-month mark without a ceasefire, a memorandum of understanding, or a solution to reopen the Strait of Hormuz that Iran has strategically used and that was open prior to U.S. military intervention in the region.
Lawmakers, notably on the Democratic side of the aisle, have referenced defense spending and the “illegal” war—including the lack of congressional war powers checks on the administration and Pentagon—as impetus to hold major defense spending legislation like the National Defense Authorization Act.
Caine said in his opening remarks that “the character of war is changing,” alluding to artificial intelligence, various strategic vulnerabilities, and in cyberspace.
The Armed Forces are America’s “greatest insurance policy,” Caine said.
Rollins said the USDA is participating as part of “a fight for America”.
“After all, defending America’s ability to feed and fuel and clothe herself is defending America full stop,” Rollins said.
The hearing follows a weekend in which three U.S. service members lost their lives, bringing the total number of military casualties to 17 since the war began earlier this year.
The two active-duty soldiers who were supporting Operation Inherent Resolve have been identified by the U.S. Army as 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, who was killed in action on July 18. Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, was killed in action on July 17, during a same-day enemy attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.
On Tuesday, the Pentagon identified 30-year-old Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton of Fayetteville, N.C., as the U.S. service member killed in action on July 19 after a downed Iranian drone was detonated at Erbil Air Base in Iraq.
Another service member was declared missing when the announcements regarding the deaths of Feehan and Gonzales were made. There has been no update provided on that individual’s identity or whereabouts.
Senators Question Trump Administration on $87 Billion Request
Senators on both sides of the political aisle questioned Hegseth, Caine and Rollins.
Hegseth, when asked by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) about the merits of military operation in the first considering a lack of congressional approval on war powers, said he is aware of the “long-standing legal debate” but said he and his department share the White House’s perspective on the broader legal authority.
“We have all the authority necessary at this point,” Hegseth said.
Sen. Patty Murry of Washington, the most senior Democrat on the committee, also questioned the requested funding mechanism—saying it “does not make a lot of sense.” Hegseth replied by blaming the “gross negligence” of the Biden administration.
She also quoted Hegseth’s own remarks made this past April, when he said that Iran’s missile program was “functionally destroyed.” Hegseth defended the ongoing military operation, saying that the amount of damage perpetrated against Iran by the U.S. military has has left Iran “in the worst place they have ever been.”
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) asked Hegseth about the potential fallout if DOD does not get its additional funding.
Hegseth, citing the purported ineptitude of the previous Biden administration and its “woke” policies, described a “generational investment” that will ensure the U.S. avoids “playing catch-up” with adversaries.
UPDATED 4:27 p.m. ET 7/21/26: This story was updated with additional information from the hearing.
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