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United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Cain will face questions in public for a second day, this time before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Thursday’s hearing came a day after Hegseth and Caine appeared before the House committee, for the first time that the two have been questioned by lawmakers since the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on February 28.
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In sometimes bellicose language, Hegseth repeatedly criticized the war’s opponents, including lawmakers, accusing them of “disingenuous” support for US enemies.
On Thursday, he also offered military protection, which Pentagon officials revealed yesterday that cost the US at least $25bn, and provide some clarity on the next course of action amid the pause in hostilities and suspension of negotiations with Iran.
Here are the most important moments.
Hegseth says US stocks ‘do well’
By removing the main opposition to the war, Hegseth concluded that the US weapons of war he remained “in good shape”.
This comes amid several reports suggesting that may not be the case. Some lawmakers have said the depleted weapons have made the US vulnerable in other theaters.
The New York Times reported last week that the proliferation of cheap anti-aircraft missiles and Patriot interceptor missiles that the US has been using in the war has forced the military to use weapons and equipment from other sources.
Yesterday, Pentagon officials told lawmakers that the US has spent $25bn since the start of the war, but they do not know if this includes the damage to the US economy in the Middle East.
Caine says Russia has helped Iran in the war
A senior US official admitted that Russia had helped Iran in the current war, but did not elaborate.
“There’s something going on there,” he said, adding that he could not divulge details publicly.
Russia and Iran have long traded weapons, and Moscow has provided diplomatic support to Tehran during the war. However, there has been little information that supports sustainability throughout this period.
Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his support for Iran during the war meeting in St Petersburg with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Abbas Aragchi.
Hegseth says War Powers deadline ‘pause’
Friday marks 60 days since Trump notified Congress of the US attack on Iran. Under the 1973 War Powers Act, the President is legally required suspend the project or receive congressional approval to continue.
But on Thursday, Hegseth offered a new interpretation of the law, saying “the 60-day clock stops, or will stop” on the ceasefire. The US and Iran have largely suspended hostilities since April 8 ahead of ceasefire talks, which have stalled.
The US continued to impose a maritime blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, with Trump repeatedly threatening to resume it.
The language of the War Powers Act does not specifically refer to a change in the 60-day period due to a cessation of hostilities.
Responding to Hegseth’s comments, Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat, was cautious.
“I don’t believe the law is going to deal with that,” he said.
The return of civilian supervision is requested
Before the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran, the Pentagon had already moved to eliminate some of the offices responsible for harming civilians in war.
This includes staffing the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence, which was created to analyze and draw lessons from the greatest civilian casualties of the US’s “global war”.
Questions were also asked about civilian deaths in Iran, including a The US strike at the girls’ school in Minab.
On Thursday, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand asked Hegseth, “What’s your response to looking at the destruction of schools, hospitals, public places?
Republican Mike Rounds also followed up with questions, asking whether the Pentagon still has resources to protect civilians.
Hegseth confirmed that the department still has “all the necessary resources” to do so.
Democrat asks if Hegseth is telling Trump ‘what he wants to hear’
Some of the tough questions came from Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the committee.
Mr Hegseth is said to be one of the biggest aides in the pre-war campaign, which Reed said has raised questions about the advice he gives the president.
“I’m concerned that you’ve been telling the president what he wants to hear, instead of what he needs to hear,” Reed said at one point.
At one point, Reed said he believed Hegseth was “hurting the troops”.
Hegseth, meanwhile, has also targeted lawmakers, especially Democrats, who question the war and its intentions.
“As I said yesterday, and I’ll say it again today, the biggest enemy we face right now is the recklessness and hyperbole of some Democrats and Republicans,” Hegseth said in his opening remarks.
