Hegseth Faces Democrats Over $25 Billion Iran War

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth faced his first congressional grilling from Democrats since the United States went to war with Iran, a conflict that has so far cost $25 billion. Lawmakers pressed Hegseth directly on the decision to engage militarily, making the hearing one of the first formal opportunities for opposition members to challenge the administration's war rationale on the record. Hegseth pushed back hard, calling Democratic criticism "reckless, feckless and defeatist." He offered no ground on the administration's position. The exchange signals that the $25 billion price tag and the broader strategic case for the Iran war will become central political battlegrounds in Congress. Defence spending at that scale, in a short period, raises questions about supplemental budget requests, Pentagon resource allocation, and the long-term fiscal path of the conflict. Observers should watch for formal budget requests, further congressional hearings, and any shift in Democratic strategy to use spending oversight as leverage against the administration's war policy.