Summary
The House Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on President Trump's $1.5 trillion FY27 defense budget. Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine testify on the need to reverse defense underinvestment, modernize the military, and support ongoing operations in Iran, while facing sharp partisan criticism over the war's cost and strategy.
- Secretary Hegseth presents a $1.5 trillion budget focused on defense industrial base revitalization, troop pay, and modernization.
- The hearing features heated exchanges over the Iran war, including its cost, the Strait of Hormuz blockade, and rising gas prices.
- Hegseth highlights $50 billion in private defense investments and multi-year procurement deals as evidence of success.
- General Caine emphasizes the need for sustained investment to maintain military superiority amid evolving threats.
- Several members question the administration's strategy, accountability, and the impact on military readiness and allied relations.
- Hegseth endorses Bitcoin as a strategic national security asset and confirms the department is leveraging it.