Hegseth to testify on Iran war; impeachment filed

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will appear before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday for his first congressional testimony since the Trump administration launched the war against Iran on February 28, 2026, a conflict that Democrats have condemned as an unauthorized "war of choice." The hearing was convened primarily to examine the administration's proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027, which would represent a historic increase in military spending. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine is also expected to testify at the session, which comes as both parties have expressed frustration over the lack of transparency in classified briefings about the conflict. The hearing is expected to feature intense questioning about the ongoing conflict, which has resulted in 13 American troops killed and 400 wounded. Iran responded to the U.S. and Israeli offensive by closing the vital Strait of Hormuz, a major global oil shipping corridor, causing fuel prices to skyrocket. The United States responded with a naval blockade of Iranian ports and has deployed three aircraft carriers in the Middle East for the first time in more than two decades. While President Trump has indefinitely extended what began as a two-week ceasefire, negotiations have yet to produce a breakthrough, with Iran demanding an end to the sea blockade and war before reopening the strait. Beyond the war itself, Hegseth is likely to face questions about his leadership of the Pentagon, including the recent ouster of Navy Secretary John Phelan and Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, moves that have drawn criticism even from some Republicans. Democrats have introduced six articles of impeachment against Hegseth, accusing him of high crimes and misdemeanors for waging war without congressional authorization, while a group of Democratic lawmakers also demanded an investigation into the deaths of six U.S. troops in Kuwait during an Iranian attack on March 1. Hegseth will face additional testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.