Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine testify before Senate panel on budget — 4/30/26

Summary

This is a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the FY2027 defense budget request. Secretary Pete Hegseth, General Dan Caine, and comptroller Jules Hurst testify. The hearing focuses on the $1.5 trillion budget, the ongoing war with Iran, the state of the defense industrial base, and geopolitical threats from China, Russia, and North Korea. Lawmakers from both parties debate the cost and strategy of the Iran war, with Democrats criticizing the administration's approach and Republicans defending it.

• Hearing on President Trump's $1.5 trillion FY2027 defense budget request.
• Secretary Hegseth defends the budget as necessary to counter China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
• Democrats criticize the Iran war as costly and stalemated, with no clear exit strategy.
• Republicans argue the war is preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and has weakened its military.
• The budget emphasizes drone warfare, missile defense, nuclear triad modernization, and rebuilding the defense industrial base.
• Comptroller Hurst confirms the Iran war has cost $25 billion so far.
• Lawmakers question the administration's handling of aid to Ukraine and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
• General Caine stresses the need for sustained investment to maintain military advantage.