Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth engaged in a heated exchange with Democratic senators on Tuesday, pushing back against accusations of failed U.S. leadership regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran and broader defense funding.
During testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Garry Peters, D-Mich., questioned Hegseth's strategy for concluding the protracted war with Iran, asserting that the administration lacked a long-term plan to achieve victory and calling for greater leadership. "You — you don’t have a strategy, you don’t have a long-term plan to actually win this war. Win the war! The men and women are going to be able to do it, but they need leadership. When will you show leadership?" Peters asked.
The conflict with Iran, initiated by joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28 that resulted in the death of Ayatollah Ali Kahmenei, has centered on control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil trade. Despite initial promises to resolve the conflict within 60 days, the U.S. remains engaged in the struggle.
Hegseth countered Peters' criticisms by pointing to what he described as Democratic hesitation in funding the military, linking it to broader political opposition to the administration's policies, including border enforcement. "When will you show leadership and stand up to your fellow Democrats who won’t fund the troop, who play partisan politics while you don’t give us the money? You want to stand up here and talk about the troops?" Hegseth retorted. He further accused opponents of having "Trump derangement syndrome" that prevented meaningful commitment to defense.
Hegseth also criticized past administrations, including the Biden administration, for perceived neglect in military technological development, citing a delay in investing in hypersonics, a technology China reportedly achieved in 2019. He expressed concern over the period under former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, stating, "I don’t know what Lloyd Austin did for four years. I really don’t. The amount of neglect, the amount of stale thinking and bureaucracy; it was staggering when we took over."
The hearing took place as lawmakers deliberate on the Department of Defense's budget needs for 2027. The administration has proposed a budget of $1.5 trillion, a significant increase from the approximately $900 billion allocated for 2026.