Hegseth spars with lawmakers over Iran war objectives and rising cost

Added: 2026-05-01

[00:00:00]Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is insisting pain at the pump, which we just talked about, is worth it to stop Iran from pursuing or obtaining nuclear weapons.

[00:00:10]Speaking to lawmakers, Hegseth asked repeatedly, was asked repeatedly about the overall economic impact of this conflict and the rising price tag at the Pentagon. The Pentagon, by the way, is asking for billions more.

[00:00:23]Nicole Killian reports.

[00:00:26]Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. The battle lines were drawn early as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified to Congress for the first time since the Iran war began. The biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless, feckless, and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans 2 months in. For nearly 6 hours, the secretary sparred with several lawmakers over the objectives of the war. Do you think we're winning?

[00:00:55]Militarily on the battlefield, it's been an astounding military success.

[00:00:59]>> No, but are we winning the war?

[00:01:00]Absolutely.

[00:01:01]>> Okay, so do you call Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz winning? And the cost.

[00:01:06]Do you know how much it will cost Americans in terms of their increased cost in gas and food over the next year because of the Iran war? I would simply ask you what the cost is of an Iranian nuclear bomb.

[00:01:17]>> to give you that opportunity.

[00:01:19]>> ask you what the You're playing gotcha questions about domestic things. During the hearing, a top defense official confirmed the war's price tag has reached at least $25 billion. You have the constitutional right to do these things, but it doesn't make it right or wise. Many members pressed the secretary on the endgame. The president has got himself and America stuck in the quagmire of another war in the Middle East. He's desperately trying to extricate himself from his own mistakes.

[00:01:45]And you call it a quagmire, handing propaganda to our enemies? Shame on you for that statement.

[00:01:51]Pentagon leaders say they are still working with the White House on a funding request for the Iran war, so the total cost could go up, but the president has already requested a substantial increase in defense spending next year of $1.5 trillion. That is a key focus of these hearings, Gail.

[00:02:09]All right, thank you very much, Nicole.