War Secretary Pete Hegseth heads to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to defend the administration’s Iran war strategy and the proposed $1.5T defense budget for 2027, as lawmakers press for answers on a conflict that continues to grind forward without a defined conclusion.
Hegseth will testify alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine before the House Armed Services Committee, marking the first of two days of high-stakes hearings.
The U.S. military campaign tied to Iran has reached the 60-day mark, with tensions still simmering in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and no immediate resolution on the horizon.
In prepared remarks, Hegseth is set to draw a sharp contrast with past U.S. conflicts.
“For a generation, the United States was largely distracted by open-ended wars, regime change, and nation building,” he plans to tell lawmakers.
“These costly diversions lacked clearly defined goals and were not tied to vital and core American interests. President Donald Trump is changing that.”
Watch live above. Clips to follow below.
NOW: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth arrives at Capitol Hill, where he’s met with questions from reporters and a barrage of insults from protesters. pic.twitter.com/qcx9TTWTrQ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 29, 2026
Sec. Of War Pete Hegseth: This budget "will ensure the United States continues to maintain the world’s most powerful and capable military as we grapple with a complex threat environment across multiple theaters… this budget also includes a historic troop pay increase—7% for… pic.twitter.com/w9xjYvIqLQ
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 29, 2026
NEW: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth blasts the Obama-era Iran deal, calling it a "very bad deal" that directly funded regional terrorism and proxy wars:
“It gave them a bunch of money up front. The future, the fund you talked about, negotiated deals funded, allowed them to fund… pic.twitter.com/dBizmktTog
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 29, 2026
🚨 HOLY SMOKES. SecWar Pete Hegseth GOES BERSERK on traitor Dem Rep. Garamendi for trashing our troops on CNN, "handing PROPAGANDA to our ENEMIES"
Hegseth is so good 🔥
"SHAME ON YOU!"
"You SIT THERE and go on TV for your CLICKBAIT about 'quagmires.' It undermines the… https://t.co/onfWguOS6Y pic.twitter.com/kL2bYVAVpe
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 29, 2026
