| |
Hegseth Facing New Round of Questioning05/12 06:28
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will face a new round of questioning from
lawmakers over the Iran war Tuesday, including some Republicans who have
expressed concerns over the length of the conflict and its lack of
congressional approval.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will face a new round of
questioning from lawmakers over the Iran war Tuesday, including some
Republicans who have expressed concerns over the length of the conflict and its
lack of congressional approval.
The powerful House and Senate subcommittees that oversee defense spending
are holding back-to-back hearings to review the Trump administration's 2027
military budget proposal, which calls for a historic allocation of $1.5
trillion. But the discussions are expected to veer into the handling of a war
that appears locked in a stalemate as higher fuel prices pose political
problems for Republicans in the midterm congressional elections.
President Donald Trump is facing increasing pressure from the economic
shocks of Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping
corridor where 20% of the world's oil normally flows. The U.S. military in turn
has blockaded Iranian ports and the two sides have traded fire, with American
forces thwarting attacks on their warships and disabling Tehran-linked oil
tankers.
Trump said Monday that the ceasefire is on "massive life support" and
criticized Iran for its latest proposal, pointing to his demands that Iran
significantly limit its nuclear program.
"I would call it the weakest right now after reading that piece of garbage
they sent us," Trump said.
The Republican president also said he wanted to suspend the federal gas tax
to help Americans shoulder surging fuel prices. He has previously said higher
costs are worth it to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.
Tuesday's hearings will give a mostly new group of lawmakers the chance to
grill or applaud Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, on the planning and execution of the war.
That includes Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a Republican whose reelection
this year is far from guaranteed. She voted with Democrats on an effort to halt
the conflict late last month, saying she wants to see a defined strategy for
bringing the war to a close.
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, another Republican on the Senate Appropriations
defense subcommittee, has voted against the string of unsuccessful war powers
resolutions but spoken of the need for congressional authorization so Americans
will know the war's limits and objectives.
Hegseth and Caine had faced marathon hearings two weeks ago before the House
and Senate Armed Services committees, which mostly traced the well-worn
positions of both parties.
In the previous hearings, Hegseth notably said the ceasefire paused a 60-day
deadline for congressional approval of the war, which is required under the
1973 War Powers Act. The U.S. and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28, while the
fragile truce began April 8.
Hegseth's reasoning faced pushback from Democrats and will likely encounter
similar criticism Tuesday. But he will face plenty of friendly Republicans,
including the Senate subcommittee's chair, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky,
and perhaps the Iran war's biggest booster in Congress, Sen. Lindsey Graham of
South Carolina.
Hegseth and Caine are expected to outline the proposed defense budget and
stress the need for more drones, warships and missile defense systems whose
stocks have been drawn down during the conflict.
|
|
