FIERY MOMENTS: Pete Hegseth GRILLED on Iran war funding, leadership — MS NOW Highlights

[0:00] Senator Peters is recognized. [0:06] Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to our witnesses here today. [0:10] I want to begin by first echoing my colleagues' comments that we've heard throughout the hearing here [0:16] and join them in mourning the loss of American service members who were killed in action these last few days. [0:24] My thoughts are with their families, with a service member who remains missing [0:29] and with all those injured during the strikes, and I will continue to pray for their families. [0:36] Secretary Hegssef, over the course of the war with Iran, [0:39] I have repeatedly expressed concerns regarding the administration's lack of a winning strategy [0:46] and repeated contradictions about the state of the war. [0:51] It, frankly, doesn't help that you and your president continues to mislead the American people. [0:57] You and the president have repeatedly said that the war, as we've heard over and over again, [1:02] is almost over or already won. [1:05] In fact, the president alone has said the war is almost over more than 30 times. [1:11] On March 1st, the president said we'll be done in four or five weeks. [1:15] On March 9th, he said the war was very complete. [1:17] On April 8th, he declared total and complete victory, 100 percent, no question about it. [1:24] On the same day you declared Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield, [1:30] a capital V military victory by any measure. [1:34] And yet today, July 21st, we have soldiers whose remains are sadly going to be returned [1:41] to their deeply grieving families tomorrow. [1:46] Clearly, the war is not over yet. [1:50] After months of conflict, our strategy to win remains unclear. [1:54] I have long said the United States has the strongest military in history in the world, [1:59] and I have no doubt that our brave service members can execute any mission and prevail in any battle. [2:05] But without a clear winning strategy, we're at risk of being in another forever war [2:10] that will put our service members in continued harm's way and continue to cost taxpayers billions of dollars. [2:18] Secretary Hague said, despite your failure to win this war, [2:22] you are back now before Congress asking for almost $70 billion in additional funding. [2:27] You're asking the American people for a blank check because, once again, [2:31] the Trump administration's efforts have been an utter and complete failure to win this war to this point. [2:38] So my question for you, sir, is how is your strategy different than what we've seen in the past? [2:45] So far, we have not seen a strategy that's been successful. [2:47] You mentioned nuclear material is the primary goal of the war. [2:51] It still exists. [2:52] We haven't dealt with that issue yet. [2:54] You talk about the destruction of missiles, [2:56] and yet the missiles that we saw hit recent targets are actually somehow more lethal, [3:01] more deadly, more maneuverable than what we have seen in the past. [3:04] So they're obviously improving their munitions. [3:09] The Strait of Hormuz is still closed, reminding everybody it was open before the war. [3:16] Prices were lower for everybody until the war, and it still remains closed. [3:20] And, of course, tragically, people, service members, or war fighters, [3:25] who we care deeply about, are still dying. [3:28] So what's different, Mr. Hegsif? [3:32] Secretary Hegsif? [3:33] I think your characterization of this incredible effort as a failure is reckless. [3:37] And I think it's irresponsible. [3:39] And I think it smears the sacrifice of the troops that are out there making on behalf of the American people [3:43] to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. [3:46] Shame on you and others who call this a quagmire and a failure, [3:49] and then you want to turn around and say you support the warfighter. [3:51] Either you do or you don't. [3:52] Is the nuclear material still there, sir? [3:54] I can get you a ticket out to CENTCOM and talk to what those Americans are doing, [3:57] how committed they are to this effort, [3:58] and how they want to ensure that Iran never threatens their families with a nuclear weapon. [4:03] That's the kind of intensity that our warfighters have about making sure that Iran isn't capable of doing that. [4:08] Secretary Hegsif, if you listen to my comments, [4:10] you would have heard me say how amazing our warfighters are. [4:14] I heard failure. [4:15] I heard exactly what you said. [4:16] I will tell you how I use the word failure. [4:18] Because I use the word failure to their leaders. [4:21] You, sir, are the failure. [4:23] Not the men and women who are on that front line. [4:25] Not the men and women who hold up their honor with distinction. [4:31] But if there's a lack of a winning strategy, [4:33] they're in harm's way. [4:34] Their leaders have failed them. [4:36] And that's what's happening. [4:37] We have political leadership. [4:38] You. [4:39] You don't have a strategy. [4:40] You don't have a long-term plan to actually win this war. [4:43] Win the war. [4:45] The men and women are going to be able to do it, [4:46] but they need to have leadership. [4:47] Of course we have leadership. [4:48] When will you show leadership? [4:49] Of course we have leadership. [4:49] When will you show leadership? [4:50] Why don't you show some leadership and stand up for your fellow Democrats [4:53] who won't fund the troops, [4:54] who stand and play partisan politics while you don't give us the money? [4:57] You want to stand up here and talk about the troops? [4:59] You won't show any political courage to actually fund our department [5:02] because you have Trump derangement syndrome [5:04] and can't actually commit to anything meaningful. [5:07] So I put this on you, Senator. [5:09] Secretary Hegsif, you have trillions. [5:11] You have over a trillion dollars. [5:12] You're asking for one and a half trillion dollars. [5:14] It's not a question of money. [5:16] It's a question of leadership [5:18] and understanding what it takes to actually win. [5:21] Political cowardice of Democrats who won't fund the troops. [5:27] Senator's time has expired this way. [5:31] Received a record $839 billion for fiscal year 2026, [5:36] more money than you asked for last year. [5:39] Combined, that is a trillion dollar budget for the year. [5:42] And as I already mentioned, your department has yet to spend half of the reconciliation funds. [5:48] And despite that, you are here today asking for tens of billions of dollars more [5:52] for things that you've already asked for in your FY27 request [5:56] or that have nothing to do with Iran. [5:59] This administration has tried to sell this as an emergency request, [6:03] but it may be better understood as an attempt to skirt the normal appropriations process. [6:09] Here are just a few of the things requested in this Iran supplemental. [6:14] $800 million for the National Guard to patrol D.C. even longer. [6:19] Over $1 billion for the Army to patrol the southern border, which is DHS's job. [6:24] $900 million to support the administration's illegal boat strikes in the Caribbean. [6:29] Over $18 billion for munitions, which you've already requested in your FY27 budget request. [6:35] And $1.7 billion to pay for your decision to recruit more people than the services need, [6:42] which was not contemplated by the FY26 funding bill Congress recently passed. [6:48] Now, you've already submitted a reprogramming request on this that our subcommittee is considering now, [6:54] which really underscores the point I made in my opening remarks [6:57] that the problem is not a lack of money, but poor planning. [7:00] So I'll be blunt, the truth is your request does not make a lot of sense. [7:05] So let me ask you a simple question. [7:07] Why exactly are billions of dollars more for the National Guard [7:11] and this administration's illegal strikes in the Caribbean urgently needed for the Iran war? [7:19] Well, Senator, I wouldn't, of course, agree with your characterization, [7:22] but why this kind of spending is needed is because of the gross negligence [7:25] and neglect of the Biden administration inside our department. [7:27] Ran it like a bureaucracy, abandoned our strength posture around the world, [7:34] so we're having to reestablish deterrence. [7:36] Just to, you mentioned the end strength numbers, [7:38] and I will acknowledge that we are ahead of schedule on end strength in recruiting. [7:42] 8,000 in the Navy, 6,000 in the Army, 4,000 in the Air Force. [7:47] Because under President Trump, there's been record and historic, [7:50] over 30-year recruiting records inside our department since he won the election [7:55] because the American people didn't want to sign up for what Joe Biden was providing our military. [7:59] And they want to sign up for what President Trump is doing in his leadership. [8:02] And so those are good problems to have that we need to fund and a reflection of momentum. [8:07] And this budget will allow us to continue the kind of momentum that gets us ahead. [8:10] My point is that a lot of this request does not feel like an emergency. [8:14] And let me move on. [8:15] Secretary Hague said, like most Americans, [8:17] I've had a lot of trouble following this administration's contradictory statements about the war. [8:23] On April 8th, you said, and I quote, [8:26] their missile program is functionally destroyed. [8:28] Launchers, production facilities, and existing stockpiles depleted and decimated [8:33] and almost completely ineffective. [8:36] Mr. Secretary, Iran has been firing at U.S. military bases in the region and its ships for the last week. [8:43] How is it possible if their capabilities were, quote, [8:47] functionally destroyed three months earlier, as she claimed, for them to be doing this now? [8:52] Senator, Iran is at the weakest point militarily it has ever been in in the past decade. [8:58] Certainly, maybe in 47 years as they've gathered effectively a terror army. [9:03] And that terror army was built to try to create conventional capabilities [9:06] to defend against a pursuit of nuclear weapons, [9:08] which meant thousands of ballistics missiles, many of which we have destroyed, [9:13] others of which they have put inside facilities and hidden in underground facilities. [9:16] That's what terror regimes would do. [9:19] So I acknowledge they still have capabilities, no doubt. [9:21] But the amount of damage that we've done to them over the course of these series of operations [9:27] has put them in the worst place they've ever been. [9:29] Okay, well, let me move on. [9:30] On May 5th, you claimed that Iran doesn't control the strait, [9:33] and you said that there was a, quote, [9:35] powerful red, white, and blue dome over the strait. [9:38] If that was true, how did Iran shrink ship traffic in the strait to a trickle again last week? [9:46] We pushed almost, I believe, between 400 and 500 million bearers of oil under the nose of Iran [9:51] over the course of Project Freedom, which went underground, [9:53] which I acknowledged after we did so covertly, [9:57] because it was more effective to do so quietly than to do so publicly. [10:00] So we've been in control of moving traffic through there for quite some time. [10:04] Will they retain the ability to recklessly shoot at commercial shipping? [10:07] And that's what happened. We had a ceasefire, and then they shot at commercial shipping. [10:11] Well, you also said at that same press conference, and I'm going to quote you, [10:16] you urged Iran to, quote, let innocent ships pass freely. [10:20] These international waters belong to all nations, not to Iran to tax toll or control. [10:26] Last week, President Trump said the U.S. would charge a 20% toll to each ship to pass through the state. [10:31] So based on your opposition to tolls, did you talk to the president out of that idea, or did someone else? [10:40] Iran's not charging tolls, and they're shooting at ships right now. [10:44] But Trump said that he wanted to charge a 20% toll. [10:49] We have a blockade right now of all Iranian ships and Iranian ports, and it's effective. [10:54] My time is out. [10:57] Asha. [10:57] I'll yield my time to Senator Austin. [10:59] Thank you. [11:00] Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you all for your testimony. [11:05] And General Cain, let me just begin by expressing on behalf of all Georgians [11:09] our immense gratitude and admiration for the service members who are making tremendous sacrifices [11:17] and conducting themselves with extraordinary selflessness and professionalism on behalf of [11:21] the United States and our state's unified condolences and grief for the families of the four killed [11:28] in action, and our hope for a swift recovery for the nearly 100 wounded over the last two weeks. [11:34] And thank you to you for your service to the nation. [11:36] Mr. Hegseth, you're requesting roughly $68 billion for the department through the supplemental, [11:45] correct? [11:47] 67, yes. [11:50] And yesterday, your department stated publicly, quote, [11:53] U.S. forces struck Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone [12:00] launch sites, and air defense systems to degrade Iran's ability to continue attacking commercial [12:06] vessels. [12:06] That was a press release from your department. [12:09] Is that a broadly accurate characterization of ongoing operations? [12:13] That sounds broadly accurate, yes. [12:16] On day 14 of this conflict, Mr. Secretary, day 14, nearly five months ago, [12:22] you stated that Iran's military had been, quote, destroyed and, quote, made combat ineffective. [12:27] That was on day 14 of the war. [12:29] Was that an accurate statement? [12:30] They didn't have a Navy any longer. [12:34] It was completely sunk. [12:35] Their missiles were buried underneath a lot of their underground facilities, and their [12:39] defense industrial base has been almost completely destroyed. [12:42] So as far as a military assessment of Iran's capabilities, it doesn't, didn't mean by any [12:47] stretch of the imagination, absolute zero. [12:49] But their capabilities at the lowest level they've been in a very long time. [12:52] On day 14 of this conflict, in the second week of the conflict, you stated that Iran's military [12:57] had been, quote, destroyed and, quote, made combat ineffective. [13:02] Was that an accurate statement? [13:04] Yes or no? [13:06] Iran's ability to challenge the United States of America at the level at which we're capable of. [13:10] That's not what I asked you, Mr. Secretary. [13:11] You said on day 14, Iran's military had been, quote, destroyed and, quote, made combat ineffective. [13:19] Yes or no? [13:20] Was that an accurate statement? [13:23] What the American military has done to the Iranian military is a historic military defeat. [13:27] Will you answer the question, Under Oph? [13:28] And they're ineffective in that context. [13:30] Three weeks later, you declared victory. [13:34] That was now nearly four months ago. [13:36] Three weeks after you'd already said Iran's military was destroyed and combat ineffective, [13:43] you said, quote, Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory. [13:48] You said Iran's military had been rendered, quote, combat ineffective for years to come. [13:54] And you stated we had, quote, achieved every single objective. [13:58] Were those accurate statements? [14:00] It certainly was on behalf of the men and women in uniform, a historic military victory over Iran. [14:05] Had Iran's military been rendered, quote, combat ineffective for years to come? [14:10] That was a statement that you made four months ago. [14:12] They had 160 naval vessels in the Blue Water Navy, and they're gone. [14:16] Their air force is completely combat ineffective, and they don't have a defense industrial base. [14:21] Excuse me, Mr. Secretary. [14:21] So describe to me a country that doesn't have an air force, a navy, or a defense industrial base, [14:25] and I will describe to you a country that does not have an effective military. [14:29] It can lob missiles. [14:30] Mr. Secretary, you stated four months ago that Iran's military had been rendered, quote, [14:36] combat ineffective for years to come. [14:40] Has Iran's military been, for the last four months, combat ineffective? [14:44] It's been set back not just years, but likely decades. [14:47] You stated we had, quote, you stated we had, quote, [14:48] You stated we had, quote, it doesn't mean it doesn't have capabilities. [14:52] Mr. Secretary, you stated we had, quote, achieved every single objective. [14:57] Was that an accurate statement four months ago? [14:59] The main objective of this was to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. [15:03] Their main sites were obliterated. [15:05] We're watching over them, and we're holding that issue. [15:07] If they don't give them up at the table, there's other ways we can take it away. [15:10] Early in the conflict on day three, Mr. Secretary, early in the conflict day three, [15:15] you said one of those core objectives was to, quote, destroy the missile threat, [15:19] and as you restated on day five, to, quote, obliterate Iran's missiles and drones. [15:24] Those were clearly and repeatedly stated core objectives of the campaign, [15:28] which four months ago you declared had been completed victoriously with every single objective achieved. [15:35] Were those objectives achieved four months ago? [15:38] No one ever stated that every single missile was gone. [15:41] Ultimately, combat ineffective means they're not able to dig them out of their UGFs and shoot at us. [15:45] Had the missile threat been defeated four months ago. [15:46] It doesn't mean they don't have underground facilities where they put missiles in them and hold on to them [15:50] because they're the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism. [15:52] So we never expected they would stop having capabilities to shoot. [15:56] The question is at scale against an opponent like the United States of America, [16:00] which went toe-to-toe with them and Iran couldn't and cannot handle it. [16:02] You stated on March 8th, day nine of the war on 60 Minutes, [16:06] you assured the American people of Iranians surrender. [16:09] Does that remain your prediction? [16:12] Ultimately, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon to threaten the United States of America. [16:16] That has been the objective and it remains so. [16:18] So just to review, you will not answer whether your statement made on the 14th day of the war [16:25] that Iran's military had been, quote, destroyed and made combat ineffective [16:29] was a truthful statement to the American people [16:32] as you sit here and ask for tens of billions more for the conflict. [16:35] But Senator's time has expired. [16:36] That historic and effective military campaign against the largest state sponsor of terrorism. [16:41] Won't answer the question. [16:41] Senator Peters is recognized. [16:44] Thank you, Madam Chair. [16:46] Thank you all for being here today. [16:49] General, in the war between Russia and Ukraine, who do we want to win? [17:00] Sir, I want Ukraine to win. [17:04] Is Russia America's friend? [17:06] I'm sorry, sir. [17:07] I couldn't quite hear your question. [17:09] Is Russia America's friend? [17:12] I think that depends on your definition of friend. [17:15] I think it's a complicated relationship. [17:20] But no, I don't think they're our friends. [17:24] Thank you. [17:24] If we could cut off Russia's cash flow, which depends substantially on its sale of oil, [17:41] would that help Ukraine win? [17:43] Sir, I think militarily, any time you can restrict resources and cash flows against an adversary. [17:51] General, I have so much respect for you. [17:54] Yes, sir. [17:54] But I have so little time. [17:56] Yes, sir. [17:57] I'll try to be briefer. [17:58] Just give me succinct answers. [18:00] Yes, sir. [18:01] It would assist a... [18:03] Would help, wouldn't it? [18:03] Yes, sir. [18:04] Yes, sir. [18:04] Okay. [18:07] If we could stop people, entities, [18:12] and countries from buying Russia's oil, that would help cut off its cash flow, wouldn't it? [18:20] Yes, sir. [18:20] We have a bill to do that, as I'm sure you're aware. [18:26] We have the votes today to pass it overwhelmingly. [18:35] I have also have enormous respect and admiration for our majority leader, Senator Thune. [18:45] But I hope everybody on this panel will today contact Senator Thune and ask him to bring that [18:58] bill to the floor. [18:59] We should vote on it at a minimum of next week. [19:06] Some of my colleagues, General, want America to just stop in Iran, end the blockade, bring [19:20] all of our warriors home. [19:23] What would be the consequences of that, in your estimation? [19:32] Sir, I think termination criteria is always a political decision. [19:36] However, I assess that Iran will continue to be a challenge moving forward. [19:42] So we have to be thoughtful about that. [19:45] We have to put tolls on the straight. [19:47] I don't know, sir. [19:48] That's a decision that's a hypothetical and will depend on what happens in the future. [19:51] It's not hypothetical. [19:53] We've got a blockade to stop them. [19:55] We do, sir. [19:56] That's putting economic pressure on them. [19:58] I'm not asking you for, I'm not trying to get you in trouble. [20:01] I know your advice to the president is private. [20:08] But this is serious as four heart attacks and a stroke. [20:11] Now, what happens if we come home and end the blockade to the world? [20:22] Sir, Iran has the potential to continue to be a threat, and we will need to prepare military [20:29] options to do that. [20:30] Will they toll the straight? [20:31] Sir, that's a hypothetical question, and I don't know the answer to that. [20:35] Oh, it's not hypothetical. [20:37] You come home, we come home. [20:39] It's not going to be hypothetical. [20:40] You know that, General, and I do, too. [20:43] And I appreciate your discretion, but we're down to it. [20:49] We need some hard answers and some straight talk. [20:53] What will happen, Pete? [20:57] Senator, I would agree with the chairman, but the likely outcome is they would try to impose [21:01] their will on the waterways in ways that the world would not like. [21:05] Call it a toll, call it a fee, call it an exchange, call it control. [21:09] They would do something that they would try to hold to that issue. [21:11] Yes, sir. [21:12] Would they try to commence development again of a nuclear warhead? [21:21] Part of the reason President Trump had to have the courage to do what he did after Midnight [21:24] Hammer is that they didn't give up their ambitions, even though their nuclear sites had been obliterated. [21:29] So this is a regime hell-bent on nuclear ambitions, and President Trump's been willing to go after. [21:33] We need straight answers. [21:39] Do we have the ability to destroy whatever is underneath Pickaxe Mountain? [21:49] Senator, a lot of our capabilities are classified, but if anybody in the world can reach anything [21:53] on God's green earth, it's the United States military, the most powerful military in the world. [21:58] It's all about options and trade-offs. [21:59] I'm going to take a little extra time, because others got it, Madam Chair. [22:03] I won't abuse it. [22:04] Secretary, are shrimpers farmers? [22:09] Absolutely, yes. [22:11] They're farmers of the sea. [22:12] Are oyster harvesters farmers? [22:14] Yes. [22:15] In this USDA, yes. [22:16] Are they having to compete with other countries who grow oysters and shrimp in a ditch and shoot [22:22] them full of antibiotics? [22:25] 100 percent, yes. [22:26] And if you eat too much of that foreign shrimp and oysters, you'll grow an extra ear, won't [22:33] you? [22:34] I'm not sure about that, but I know it is not good, and I also know we import 90 percent [22:39] of our shrimp. [22:39] Why aren't we inspecting the shrimp and the oysters from abroad? [22:43] Well, it goes much larger than that. [22:44] Why are we importing so much from abroad, which goes to the President's trade agenda? [22:48] I'm in big trouble. [22:49] Yes, you are. [22:52] Guys, look, we need straight answers now. [22:54] We're down to it. [22:56] Senator Gillibrand. [23:02] Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. [23:04] Secretary Hexeth, you're requesting billions of dollars in supplemental funding for a war [23:11] that you said would last for weeks and that the President has no plan or ability to end. [23:17] At the same time, this still unauthorized and extremely unpopular war has caused gas, diesel, [23:25] fertilizer, and other essentials that New Yorkers and our farmers need across the country and [23:33] has become much more expensive. [23:36] So how do I go back to New York and what would you say to them who are seeing their health [23:42] care bills rise because massive cuts to Medicaid? [23:47] They've seen their grocery and gas bills rise. [23:51] And this unpopular and unauthorized war abroad is a higher priority to this administration [23:57] than their ability to feed their families and provide health care to their loved ones who [24:02] are sick. [24:03] Well, Senator, you're talking about political tradeoffs and our job is to deliver for the [24:10] United States military and the President of the United States. [24:12] And we look at the cost of a nuclear Iran and we want to prevent that for future generations. [24:17] And that requires funding and supplementals and this budget and next generation capabilities. [24:21] And that's why we're here today to request some of that to ensure we can ensure that [24:25] Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. [24:26] So you're essentially saying you're asking for literally $1.5 trillion for a war that President [24:32] Trump said he already won. [24:34] You're asking for $1.5 trillion, unlimited money for bombs, but insufficient money in the [24:40] American for the American people, for their health care, their food, their housing, and [24:45] our farmers, Secretary Rollins, who we have cut SNAP program. [24:52] We are not funding the losses from emergencies that have happened in blue states, particularly [25:00] when we had cross. [25:01] That's not true. [25:02] False. [25:03] False. [25:04] You're not funding it. [25:05] But back to you, Secretary Hegseth. [25:06] And I would like to respond to the fertilizer and the gas. [25:08] You continue to have your chance, Secretary Hegseth. [25:11] There's no reason to be rude. [25:12] You are asking for unlimited money for bombs when people can't feed their families. [25:17] And I don't know how this administration intends to defend those decisions to the American [25:21] people. [25:23] Not unlimited bombs, Senator. [25:24] I'm asking for the right bombs at the right time to ensure we can deter our adversaries [25:28] into the future. [25:28] And that's why this is a generational investment. [25:30] And it was the previous administration that didn't fund this department. [25:34] The reason why they are so upset with you and this administration is because the words [25:40] you have used in the past don't add up about Iran specifically. [25:45] You said that we had obliterated, quote, unquote, Iran's ability to create nuclear weapons. [25:50] The president made the same claim. [25:52] Yet eight months later, in February of 2026, the president launched an act of war claiming [25:57] Iran was within two weeks of having a weapon. [25:59] So when you say two very different things, the American people don't know who to believe [26:04] or what to believe. [26:05] They just know they can't afford their health care, they can't afford their food, they can't [26:10] afford housing, and our farmers are continuing to suffer. [26:13] So, which is true, was it obliterated or wasn't it? [26:17] What's the status? [26:18] The nuclear sites under Midnight Hammer were obliterated, but Iranians foolishly continued [26:24] to attempt to pursue nuclear capabilities, which is why we destroyed their defense industrial [26:28] base and so many of the other capabilities to ensure they can't get to a nuclear weapon. [26:33] See, we're staying laser focused on the objective, and you're trying to make campaign commercials. [26:37] No, we're not. [26:38] And that's fine. [26:39] You also say that you made the missile program, quote, destroyed and made combat ineffective, [26:46] quote, Iran's entire ballistic missile production capacity. [26:50] Every company that builds every component of those missiles has been functionally defeated [26:54] and destroyed, and that the missile program, existing stockpiles were depleted and decimated [26:58] almost completely ineffective. [27:00] So why are there missiles left to hit Jordan and result in the loss of life of our brave men [27:06] and women? [27:07] Well, as we stated from the beginning, the Iranian defense industrial base is effectively [27:11] gone, but they do have underground facilities because they're the world's leading state [27:16] sponsor of terrorism, and they've spent 47 years trying to hide their missiles under [27:20] mountains just like their nuclear capabilities because they would like to get a nuclear weapon [27:25] to wield it against us. [27:26] We just don't know what version of the war to believe because it's either over or it's [27:29] not over. [27:30] It's within two weeks or it's not two weeks. [27:32] We have no missiles or we have missiles. [27:34] And that consternation is why so many New Yorkers are perplexed, stressed out, and find this [27:40] war to be incredibly unpopular because they don't understand the choices that the president's [27:45] making. [27:46] They don't agree with those choices. [27:47] Secretary Rollins, so you have cut over 160,000 New Yorkers have been kicked off snap. [27:54] What do you have against hardworking New Yorkers, children who need snap, and seniors who need [27:59] snap? [28:00] Well, first of all, diesel is down under Biden versus today, 581 versus 480. [28:06] Gas is down from Biden today from 484 to 386 today. [28:11] Fertilizer is down 56 percent from Biden highs. [28:14] All of those prices are higher than when you took office. [28:16] All of those prices are higher than when you took office. [28:19] So you are not making life better for New York farmers. [28:21] That is not true. [28:22] That is not true, Senator. [28:23] And let me tell you what New York is stressed out about is the fact that your state is taking [28:26] prime farmland and turning it into a solar farms. [28:30] That is absolutely inexcusable. [28:32] For you to stay- [28:33] I have visited the New York farmers two times. [28:36] Two times in upstate New York. [28:39] Senator Murphy. [28:42] Thank you all for being here today. [28:46] Secretary Hegseth, the American people either didn't want this war from the start or were [28:51] deeply skeptical of this war because they have seen this country make the same mistake over [28:57] and over again in wars in the Middle East, and that is to create either unrealistic or [29:03] open-ended objectives. [29:05] You said in March that the United States was, quote, on plan to defeat, destroy, and disable [29:12] all of Iran's meaningful military capabilities at a pace that the world has never seen before. [29:19] Obviously, as we have discussed here today, that objective has not been achieved and is [29:24] not going to be achieved. [29:27] Iran is adept, more adept than even at the start of the war, at hiding their capabilities [29:33] or repairing after damage we have done. [29:37] There's an open report that, when it comes to their missile sites along the Strait of [29:42] Hormuz, 30 of 33 are still operational. [29:45] I wouldn't believe all the open reports, Senator. [29:48] But I've also heard you say in this hearing that the objectives now seem to be more limited [29:55] than they were at the outset of the war, that this is about reopening the Strait and this [30:00] is about dismantling their nuclear capability. [30:03] And the President, of course, has said himself that he thinks Iran has a right to a missile [30:08] program. [30:10] So my question is pretty simple. [30:12] Is it correct that it is no longer a war objective to destroy all of their military capacities? [30:20] This is what the President has said. [30:22] Have our goals been simplified to reopening the Strait and to getting into a negotiation [30:28] over a nuclear program? [30:30] Now, I don't think you have a realistic plan to do either of those things. [30:34] But I think it's important for us to know what we're funding. [30:36] Are the objectives much more limited today than they were when you made that statement in March? [30:41] So I think the objectives have been consistent and clear from the beginning. [30:45] And I would contrast it to North Korea, where a conventional buildup was used to hide a nuclear [30:51] capability that eventually evolved to a point where it couldn't be contested. [30:55] And what Iran continued to do, even after Midnight Hammer, was trying to build that conventional [30:59] capability to dare anyone to stop them from pursuing nuclear weapons. [31:02] So getting after their conventional capabilities, missile launchers, defense industrial base, [31:07] their Navy, was all part of ensuring they can't blackmail us into pursuing a nuclear [31:12] capability. [31:13] The laser focused on Iran will never have a nuclear capability. [31:16] That's the promise the President has made and that he will keep in every way. [31:19] I think it's important. [31:20] It is still a war objective, either through military action or through a diplomatic agreement, [31:26] to destroy and disable all of Iran's meaningful military capacities, including their missile [31:33] program. [31:34] As far as all, when we talked about that from the podium at the outset of this, we were talking [31:39] about their defense industrial base. [31:41] And if you look at the metrics of their ability to make more, that it's been overwhelmingly destroyed. [31:48] Not everything, but overwhelmingly. [31:49] Now, do they have missiles in underground bunkers because they're a terror state? [31:54] Sure they do. [31:55] And we've acknowledged that from the beginning. [31:56] Their capacity is less today than it's ever been as a nation. [31:59] They obviously have significant capacity to effectively disrupt the entirety of the Middle [32:05] East and oil flows out of the Middle East, and that's not going to change. [32:08] Let me ask you one more question. [32:09] And this is a request for supplemental funding because you don't have the funding in your [32:14] base budget to do what you need to do, which makes questions about the base budget relevant. [32:19] There's been a lot of attention, Mr. Secretary, on the modernization of a luxury jet that was [32:24] gifted to the President by the government of Qatar. [32:27] Reports suggest that maybe as much as $1 billion in your base funding, an extraordinary amount [32:31] of money has been used for an upgrade, and the plane is back in the shop for a second upgrade. [32:37] As far as I can tell, never before has an administration not made public the amount of money for an upgrade [32:43] or a construction contract on a presidential airplane. [32:45] Obviously, we don't need or want to disclose the details of that upgrade, but never before have you withheld [32:52] from Congress and the public the total amount of money. [32:56] I think there are two really important questions here. [32:58] One, will you make public the amount of money that you are spending to upgrade this plane? [33:04] And two, can you commit to this Congress and this committee that the President isn't going [33:09] to take this plane with him when he leaves office? [33:13] The only thing more insulting to the taxpayers of spending money on a jet they don't need would [33:18] be for the President to take it with him, to take it out of our military inventory when [33:23] he leaves office. [33:24] I would say the Air Force has done an incredible job making that a capable jet that ultimately, [33:32] but its capabilities and investment are classified and shouldn't be talked about in public [33:37] settings. [33:38] That's not what I'm asking. [33:39] Considering the security of the President of the United States. [33:40] Will you disclose the amount of money publicly? [33:41] I would imagine, as part of the regular budget process, that's something that we would look [33:47] at. [33:48] But you have to look at the classification level of certain things that are not devolved [33:53] for reasons of national security. [33:54] Will you commit that the President will not take this jet with him out of federal inventory [33:59] when he leaves office? [34:00] That's not a decision for necessarily me to make. [34:03] Ultimately, we're grateful to have it in the fleet for the Air Force to protect the President [34:06] of the United States. [34:07] Senator Peters. [34:08] That's a deeply unsatisfactory answer to the American public. [34:10] Senator Peters. [34:12] Regardless of our differing views, the fact remains that there are must-pay bills and urgent [34:20] requirements facing the Department that affect the ability of our military to deter and defend [34:28] against potential aggression worldwide. [34:32] Portions of the supplemental requests go toward paying these bills and are necessary to restore [34:42] readiness, repair or replace battle damage to aircraft, ships or bases and address urgent munitions [34:52] challenges. [34:53] I understand and am told that some military services face near-term solvency challenges. [35:03] What will be the impact on our troops if additional funding is not provided? [35:11] Are there military exercises, for example, that are at risk of cancellation? [35:19] What message would we be sending to the world? [35:22] Secretary Hegseth, either you or Senator or General Kane. [35:27] Secretary Hegseth, Chairwoman, I very much appreciate that question. [35:31] And it's because it it's connected to the real world realities of this budget cycle. [35:36] There is training training right now and training in the future that would have to be curtailed if [35:41] we do not get our budget needs met and met urgently. [35:45] And yes, some of that has to do with the current budget cycle and how things how things come together. [35:51] But we are a department that for four years met funding shortfalls under the previous administration. [35:56] It was not a priority to fund the Department of Defense under under Joe Biden. [36:00] It also took the munitions and a lot of the the there were five supplementals out of this committee that took munitions one for one and sent them to Ukraine [36:09] and had tried to replace them with the same bureaucratic process that was too slow and didn't replace them in real time. [36:14] And then there were threats that were ignored around the world. [36:17] So you're looking at a lot of negligence and a lot of deferred maintenance that this department is having to catch up on. [36:23] And so that's why I call this a generational investment. [36:26] It truly is. [36:27] This is one point five trillion dollar budget with this supplemental being part of it is how we catch up and get ahead and ensure in the process. [36:35] We're putting soldiers and sailors and airmen first Marines first guardians that their pay increases that the end strength increases that have gone up because recruiting is that historic levels are fully funded. [36:46] So rather than trying to play catch up and make sure we're not losing training, we should be ahead of that curve. [36:51] And that's where we think one point five trillion can get us. [36:55] Thank you. [36:56] Senator Cain, Senator, I keep calling you Senator General Cain. [37:00] I'm going to ask you to respond for the record because in my remaining time, I do want to ask Secretary Rollins a question. [37:11] Secretary Rollins, as we heard from the previous panel, our country has many outstanding recovery needs from disasters and other related weather related events over the past two years. [37:27] As this chart shows, and this is a chart from your department, many have unmet weather related agricultural losses. [37:38] In Maine, many of our producers are struggling admit a combination of market volatility and disaster conditions last year, which excluded included excessive rainfall in the spring, followed by a severe drought. [37:54] They need relief. [37:56] Yet the administration's supplemental request does not include funding to address these recovery needs. [38:04] It does have one point one billion to help Florida agricultural producers rebound from a severe freeze this past winter, but nothing for prior disasters in other states. [38:19] Can you explain USDA's thinking behind focusing your request just on the 2026 freeze rather than on the 2025? [38:34] Okay, folks? [38:35] Who can you explain