Hegseth defends to Congress Pentagon’s ‘fiscally responsible’ request of $1.5 trillion budget

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is testifying before House and Senate subcommittees to justify President Trump’s $1.5 trillion budget request for the U.S. military.
• The testimony, which will include General Dan Caine, will focus on the significant defense investment, with potential discussions on the war with Iran, troop drawdowns in Europe, and support for Ukraine.
• Hegseth described the budget as “historic” but “fiscally responsible,” following a previous combative testimony where he accused lawmakers of being 'the biggest adversary.'
• Democratic Representative Pete Aguilar pressed Hegseth on the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, questioning its effectiveness and whether actions aimed to bypass the War Powers Act.
• Hegseth affirmed the core objective is to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, stating the Department of War is prepared for kinetic and military action if required.

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Pete Hegseth faces Congress over Pentagon’s $1.5 trillion budget: Live updates