US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing questioning from lawmakers for the first time since President Donald Trump launched the war against Iran. Democrats have contested the war as a costly conflict of choice waged without congressional approval. Today’s hearing before the House Armed Services Committee is being held to discuss the administration’s 2027 military budget proposal, which would boost defense spending to a historic 1.5 trillion dollars. Pete Hegseth and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, are expected to stress the need for more drones, missile defense systems and warships.

Meanwhile, talks on ending the war appear stalled. President Trump has warned of tougher action against Iran, criticising Tehran’s inability to strike a deal and referencing earlier threats linked to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. His latest remarks on Iran come as the US presses Tehran to accept a stricter non-nuclear deal that would curb uranium enrichment and prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.