Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth repeatedly crashed out during an appearance before the Senate Appropriations Committee to request about $70 billion more to fund the Iran war and replenish depleted weapons stocks.
Over and over, Hegseth tap danced around questions about his previous characterizations that the war had been “won” several times over the past four months.
Along the way, Hegseth said the latest estimate of the cost of the war was $37.5 billion, up from around $29 billion as of early May. And now he wants nearly $70 billion more.
In one heated exchange, Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) asked Hegseth about his repeated exaggerations about the “complete destruction” of Iran’s military abilities early in the conflict, asking if those statements were accurate given the conflict continues today. Hegseth couldn’t answer…
OSSOFF: You stated on the 14th day of this conflict that Iran’s military was ‘destroyed.’ Was that an accurate statement — yes or no?
HEGSETH: Iran’s ability to challenge the US–
OSSOFF: That’s not what I asked. Yes or no?
HEGSETH: What the milit—
OSSOFF: Will you answer… pic.twitter.com/V4b6b5ekZm
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 21, 2026
OSSOFF: When you declared victory, were those accurate statements?
HEGSETH: It certainly was a historic military victory over Iran
OSSOFF: Had Iran’s military been rendered ‘combat ineffective for years to come?’
HEGSETH: They had 160 naval vessels—
OSSOFF: You need to… pic.twitter.com/GRRImmzLbT
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 21, 2026
OSSOFF: On day 9 of the war, on 60 Minutes you assured the American people of Iranian surrender. Does that remain your prediction?
HEGSETH: Ultimately Iran will never have a nuclear weapon
OSSOFF: So to review, you will not answer whether your statement made on the 14th day of… pic.twitter.com/tBFB759N0M
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 21, 2026
There were several similar exchanges throughout the hearing. Check them out below thanks to journalist Aaron Rupar.
😳 Hegseth snaps at Peters: “Your characterization of this incredible effort as a failure if reckless and irresponsible and smear the sacrifice of the troops. Shame on you.”
Peters responds: “You, sir, are the failure!” pic.twitter.com/WdS8Xxz1z8
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 21, 2026
Hegseth acknowledges that Russia and China are helping Iran pic.twitter.com/cokuMhXjEO
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 21, 2026
HEGSETH: We had US boats that surrendered to Iranian ships during the Biden administration–
REED: Listen — we’re talking about the war you started. Not a situation in which oil was flowing freely, there was no conflict, we weren’t losing personnel. So your fallback to the… pic.twitter.com/o08lXFBVyO
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 21, 2026
HEGSETH: President Trump deserves the kind of praise he should get for undertaking this effort
REED: Excuse me. So he should be praised for starting a war without authority and creating a situation in which the world economy is suffering tremendously? pic.twitter.com/3LvuNxAN4D
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 21, 2026
HEGSETH: I don’t know what Lloyd Austin did for four years
DURBIN: I’m sure he has questions about what you’re doing now pic.twitter.com/pFWB3MMoW2
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 21, 2026
MURRAY: How it is possible if Iran’s capabilities were ‘functionally destroyed’ 3 months ago for them to be bombing us now?
HEGSETH: Iran is at the weakest point militarily it has ever been in pic.twitter.com/uiCOwbOq0N
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 21, 2026
Murray: “He has told us over 40 times now that a deal is near and the war will be over soon. But now he’s asking for $70 billion more and for us to just trust him it’ll work out.” pic.twitter.com/putFEtsbAe
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 21, 2026
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