Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Senate committee on Thursday that dissent from the "cheap seats" in Congress sought to undermine the military's efforts in its war in Iran only two months into the campaign.
"Defeatists from the cheap seats who, two months in, seek to undermine the incredible efforts that have been undertaken and the historic nature of taking on a 47-year threat," Hegseth said in his opening statement.
The statement was similar to what hetold the House Armed Services Committeeon Wednesday in the first of two hearings on the Pentagon's 2027 budget plan in which he faced questions on the war in his first public appearances before Congress since the war started in February.
In both hearings, Hegseth asserted the the U.S.'s "biggest adversary" in the war is from within.
Hegseth battles with Democrats -- and some Republicans -- over the Iran war and top officials' firings
"Unfortunately, as I said yesterday, and I'll say it again today, the biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless naysayers and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans," he said.
Hegseth later told Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, "It's defeatist Democrats like you that cloud the mind of the American people" and "otherwise fully support" not preventing Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon.
The hearings were scheduled to discuss the Pentagon's request for a $1.5 trillion budget for 2027, the most the Pentagon has ever requested. In Wednesday's hearing, Jules Hurst III, the Pentagon comptroller, testified the war has so far cost $25 billion. The Pentagon has said it willask for $200 billion in supplemental fundingfor the campaign, though on Thursday Hegseth denied the request would be that much.
In both hearings, Hegseth asserted the the U.S.'s "biggest adversary" in the war is from within.
"Unfortunately, as I said yesterday, and I'll say it again today, the biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless naysayers and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans," he said.
Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan pushed back against Hegseth's assertion on Wednesday, telling him, "Mr. Secretary, you reserved more words and more time and more vitriol to condemn Democrats than you did for [Chinese President Xi Jinping] and for [Russian Federation President Vladimir] Putin combined. It's pretty telling to me that you decided to use your words and your time for that."
Leaving Thursday's hearing, Blumenthal told reporters, "Secretary Hegseth seems to feel that by attacking the committee, he somehow is persuading the American people. "It's exactly the opposite -- his antagonism and seeming reluctance to tell the truth, I think, is doing this administration and the country a tremendous disfavor. And by refusing to come clean, give us precise numbers on costs, when we know that the true figures are higher than what has been told us, I think just undermines his credibility."
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Democrats and some Republicans in Congress have questioned the rationale behind launching the campaign against Iran, its endgame and the strains it has put on the economy and alliances with U.S. partners.
Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand challenged Hegseth over the Trump administration's premise that an attack on the U.S. by Iran was imminent.
"There's no evidence that we are safer because of this war. We did not have any evidence that Iran intended to imminently attack this country in any way, shape or form. So, I disagree with your assessment that we are under threat," she said.
"Do you not believe them when they say 'Death to America'?" Hegseth asked.
"Listen, our adversaries use rhetoric all the time. What I'm concerned about is we are not safer," she responded.
The war's impact on Iran and the U.S.
Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said that the war has put the U.S. "in a worse strategic position," pointing out that the Strait of Hormuz had closed because of the war and Iran's nuclear material remained unaddressed and telling Hegseth his declaration of victory on April 8 was premature.
"Mr. Secretary, I am concerned that you have been telling the president what he wants to hear, instead of what he needs to hear," Reed said. "Bold assurances of success are a disservice to both the commander-in-chief and the troops who risk their lives based on them. Our military has performed heroically. But military force without a sound strategy is a path to long-term defeat."
Reed also said cultural erosion has taken place in the military and would lead to "lasting harm." He pointed toKid Rock's recent "joy ride" with Hegsethin Army attack helicopters, the firing of several senior officers, and "troubling" statements he said the secretary had made about the conduct of the war.
"You have made troubling statements about showing 'no mercy' and 'no quarter' to the Iranians: orders that would constitute war crimes," Reed said.
He later revealed some figures from unclassified assessments, saying, "Iran retains more than 40% of its drone arsenal and 60% of its ballistic missile launches, compared with prewar levels.
Hegseth said Trump seized "an opportunity" to attack Iran in a weak position.
"Our military objectives have been stunningly effective," he said. "So we've put the president in a very strong position to ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. That's, that's the takeaway, that's been underneath every single aspect of this."
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Firings of Pentagon officials
Reed also pressed Hegseth on the firings of a number of senior military leaders. Nearly two dozen have been fired or sidelined under Hegseth, by ABC News' count.
"Did the president direct you to single out female and Black officers to be dismissed?" Reed asked.
"Senator, of course not. And as we've emphasized at this department from the beginning, the only metric is merit," Hegseth fired back.
Reed said he thought Hegseth's personnel decisions reflected bigotry and followed a religious- instead of merit-based interest.
"I think that direction from your behavior is an intense interest in Christianity, in nationalism and in not recognizing the talents of women and nonwhite gentlemen. And that's the wrong direction," Reed said.
"I don't know what you're insinuating, Senator, but I am not ashamed of my faith in Jesus Christ," Hegseth said.
Reed agreed he "shouldn't be" ashamed, but was skeptical whether the secretary was "neutral" about faith-based decisions.
"I am a believer. I'm quite open in that," Hegseth responded. "And our department allows for a multitude of faiths, so I don't, I don't know what you're suggesting. I've heard the likes of things that people like you suggest to try to smear my character and I won't give in to it."
Sen. Joni Ernst, one of a small number of Republicans who have expressed frustration with the dismissals, told Hegseth "I was disappointed that their retirements were hastened by you and the administration," pointing to the departures of former Army chief of staff Gen. Randy George and former Army vice chiff of staff Gen. James Mingus.
Threats from others
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared to agree with Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker's assertion that Russia has tried to to undermine the U.S. operation in Iran.
"General Caine, there's no question that Vladimir Putin's Russia is taking serious action to undermine our efforts for success in Iran. Is there any question about that?" Wicker asked.
"I think there's actions and activities. [I'm] mindful of the hearing room we're in, but there's, there's, there's definitely some action there," Caine said. Wicker described the war against Iran as a success.
Iran live updates
Wicker said Iran was part of an axis of aggressors with China, Russia and North Korea.
"This growing alliance cannot be denied," the chairman said, adding later that "ties have never been closer among these fou. ... dictatorships."
War Powers Resolution
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine invoked the War Powers Resolution, which holds that the administration has 60 days to conduct military operations then must either inform Congress it needs an additional 30 days to wind down operations, or begin bringing forces home.
Hegseth indicated that was not applicable because the clock stopped during the current ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.
"We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire," the secretary said.
Kaine said that was dubious.
"I do not believe the statute would support that. I think the 60 days runs, maybe tomorrow, and it's going to pose a really important legal question for the administration ... we have serious constitutional concerns and we don't want to layer those with additional statutory concerns," he said.
The 1973 War Powers Resolution gives the president latitude to conduct military strikes for a 60-day window, which closes Friday. The law allows for a one-time 30-day extension for the president to act without the consent of lawmakers.
For the sixth time, the Senate on Thursday failed to advance an Iran War Powers Resolution by a vote of 50-47, though in a sign that more Republicans could start to flip as the marker is surpassed, GOP Sen. Susan Collins for the first time voted with Democrats in favor of advancing the legislation.
Strikes on alleged drug-carrying boats
Kaine also said he'd seen classified legal rationales for strikes on boats allegedly smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean and the facts of nearly 50 of those operations. He said there was a "profound mismatch" between the targeting criteria and the military actions taken.
Kaine encouraged his colleagues to read targeting criteria and get briefed about it, and at the files of all the strikes that have taken place.
"I've done that with the first 46 strikes or so, and I think there's a profound mismatch between what is occurring and the underlying assumptions in the legal opinion. And I would just encourage my colleagues to dig into this."
Hegseth said the targeting was not "willy-nilly," likening the alleged drug traffickers to al Qaeda.
