War Secretary Pete Hegseth heads to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to defend the administration’s Iran war strategy and the proposed $1.5T defense budget for 2027, as lawmakers press for answers on a conflict that continues to grind forward without a defined conclusion.
Hegseth will testify alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine before the House Armed Services Committee, marking the first of two days of high-stakes hearings.
The U.S. military campaign tied to Iran has reached the 60-day mark, with tensions still simmering in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and no immediate resolution on the horizon.
Don’t miss the stories that matter.
Get Sean’s breaking news alerts — free, direct to your inbox.
In prepared remarks, Hegseth is set to draw a sharp contrast with past U.S. conflicts.
“For a generation, the United States was largely distracted by open-ended wars, regime change, and nation building,” he plans to tell lawmakers.
“These costly diversions lacked clearly defined goals and were not tied to vital and core American interests. President Donald Trump is changing that.”
Watch live above. Clips to follow below.
NOW: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth arrives at Capitol Hill, where he’s met with questions from reporters and a barrage of insults from protesters. pic.twitter.com/qcx9TTWTrQ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 29, 2026
