Hegseth defends 'proud' Iran mission as Pentagon reveals $25B spent, 13 troops killed
WASHINGTON, DC: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sharply defended the Trump administration’s military campaign against Iran on Wednesday, April 29, accusing critics in Congress of undermining the war effort as the Pentagon disclosed that the US had spent roughly $25 billion since hostilities began in late February.
Appearing before lawmakers for the first time since the war started, Hegseth used his testimony to push back against bipartisan criticism over the conflict’s costs, duration and objectives.
The remarks came as Congress debated President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027 and sought greater clarity on the financial and strategic costs of the war.
Pete Hegseth defends war and criticizes bipartisan opposition
During testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, Hegseth dismissed criticism from lawmakers and framed political opposition as a major obstacle to the military campaign.
“The biggest challenge, the biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless, feckless and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans,” Hegseth told lawmakers.
He argued that the war, now at the two-month mark, should not be compared to longer US military engagements such as Iraq, Afghanistan, or Vietnam. “We are proud of this undertaking,” Hegseth said.
🚨Hegseth: "The biggest adversary we face at this point is the reckless, feckless, and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans... two months in... Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb. We are proud of this undertaking."pic.twitter.com/U7A5fguoDQ
— Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) April 29, 2026
The defense secretary also directly confronted Rep John Garamendi, D-Calif, after the congressman described the war as a “quagmire.”
Hegseth replied, “The way you stain the troops when you tell them, two months in ... congressman, you should know better. Shame on you, calling this a quagmire, two months in the effort.”
Other lawmakers also challenged Hegseth’s framing. Rep Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa, urged the defense secretary to address the war without partisan rhetoric and questioned whether the conflict risked becoming another prolonged US military engagement.
Pentagon details the cost of war
At the same hearing, the Pentagon’s top financial officer disclosed that the US military has spent approximately $25 billion on the Iran conflict so far.
Jules “Jay” Hurst, the Pentagon comptroller, said the majority of the spending has gone toward munitions, with additional costs tied to maintenance and replacing military equipment.
U.S. burns $25 billion in just two months of Iran war
— Washington Eye (@washington_EY) April 29, 2026
A senior Pentagon official says the United States has already spent around $25 billion on the conflict with Iran with most of the cost driven by munitions, deployments, and ongoing military operations as the war continues to… pic.twitter.com/7RqmkgvBF4
The figure marks the first official estimate publicly shared with lawmakers since the conflict began.
Rep Adam Smith, the ranking Democrat on the committee, welcomed the disclosure after weeks of seeking clarity from the administration. “I’m glad you answered that question, because we’ve been asking for a hell of a long time, and no one’s given us the number,” Smith said.
The cost of the war has become an increasingly central issue in congressional budget negotiations, particularly as lawmakers consider Trump’s broader defense spending request.
The Pentagon also confirmed that 13 US service members have been killed since the start of the conflict, underscoring the human cost alongside the financial burden.
Despite the ceasefire currently in place, US military operations in the region remain active, and administration officials have warned that hostilities could resume if Iran fails to meet US conditions in ongoing diplomatic talks.
