Hegseth defends $1.5 trillion budget request as Iran war cost climbs

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the Pentagon’s proposed FY2027 budget request this week as lawmakers in both chambers pressed him on the rising cost of the Iran war and the state of U.S. munitions stockpiles.

House and Senate appropriations defense subcommittees held hearings on May 12, 2026, with Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine appearing before lawmakers. The Pentagon is seeking about $1.5 trillion for the next fiscal year’s defense budget proposal.

According to reporting from AP and CBS News, members of both parties questioned Hegseth about what the administration describes as the Iran war’s mounting expense and about whether the U.S. has enough weapons on hand after months of fighting. Pentagon officials have said the war’s cost has climbed to nearly $29 billion.

The hearings came during the first major congressional review of the administration’s defense request. Official committee hearing pages show the budget sessions were scheduled in both the House and Senate appropriations committees on May 12.

What happens next

The defense budget will now move deeper into the appropriations process, where lawmakers can press for changes to funding levels, weapons procurement and war-related spending. The available reporting does not indicate whether the topline request will remain intact through negotiations.