OAN Staff Jenna Lee
1:54 PM – Wednesday, April 29, 2026
During a high-stakes House Armed Services Committee hearing, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth faced questioning from lawmakers as tensions flared over the escalating costs of the conflict with Iran.
Central to the confrontation was the Pentagon’s 2027 military budget proposal, which seeks to increase defense spending to $1.5 trillion. Committee members scrutinized the efficacy of this investment, citing official Pentagon data which revealed that the conflict has already cost taxpayers $25 billion.
Additionally the friction continued as Democrats grilled Hegseth over his recent purge of military leadership, expressing skepticism that such a shake-up is sustainable during an active multi-billion dollar conflict.
Democrat lawmakers argued that removing seasoned officials while simultaneously managing a record-breaking budget expansion creates a level of instability the Pentagon cannot afford.
“The biggest challenge, the biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless, feckless and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans,” said Hegseth.
The hearing spanned over four hours as Hegseth faced bipartisan inquiry, with both Democrats and select Republicans asking for more transparency regarding the ongoing conflict’s trajectory and the sudden dismissal of senior military leaders.
One notable exchange occurred when Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) further challenged the administration’s fiscal transparency, specifically targeting the economic toll of the conflict. Khanna argued that the true financial burden likely exceeds the $25 billion estimate provided by the Pentagon’s comptroller, suggesting that the official figures may not fully account for the total scale of military expenditures.
“Do you know how much it will cost Americans in terms of their increased cost in gas and food over the next year because of Iran?” asked Khanna.
“What would you pay to ensure Iran does not get a nuclear bomb?” responded Hegseth.
Khanna then cited estimates that the Iran war could cost $631 billion to the American economy, or $5,000 per household.
“Will you acknowledge that there is an economic cost to the American people for doing what you believe is necessary to make Iran denuclear?” asked Khanna.
“We have an incredible economic team that’s managing this better than what the previous administration,” replied Hegseth, when Khanna cut him off.
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), a former Air Force officer and a member of the Armed Services Committee, reportedly focused on Hegseth’s firing of Gen. Randy George, the former Army chief of staff.
“Why did he get fired?” asked Houlahan. “First of all, I thank them for their service, and ultimately —” replied Hegseth before Houlahan cut him off.
“My impression is you thanked him by a text or a phone call. You didn’t even do it to his face,” Houlahan added.
Hegseth defended the recent dismissal of high-ranking officials as a necessary step in a broader departmental overhaul aimed at restoring what he characterizes as a “warrior culture” within the Pentagon. He argued that these personnel changes are essential to refocusing the military on its core mission of lethality and combat readiness, moving away from distracting social engineering and bureaucratic bloat.
By installing a new tier of leadership, Hegseth intends to purge “woke” and DEI influences from the ranks and ensure that the Department of War is led by commanders who prioritize traditional military excellence and decisive victory above all else.
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