The senior uniformed leaders advising on military policy
The Senate Appropriations Committee is hearing urgent requests for $87.6 billion to support ongoing military operations, with the Pentagon citing threats in the Middle East and ongoing hostilities with Iran. Witnesses warn that without funds, military training and operations will face shortfalls while lawmakers consider broader budget implications amid public debate about the war.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has testified twice before Congress this week about the U.S. war with Iran and a proposed $1.45–$1.5tn Pentagon budget, with officials publicly putting the conflictcost at $25bn. Lawmakers have pressed for a strategy, probed civilian casualties and stockpile depletion, and challenged Hegseth on troop use at US polls and senior officer dismissals.
Trump is rallying defense leaders and investors in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to spotlight a robust defense budget and U.S. industrial ties amid concerns over war funding, inflation, and a volatile security landscape. The event features top defense officials and corporate leaders as Republicans push for greater investment while critics warn of deficits.