Pete Hegseth defends Pentagon spending as 'generational investment' following negligence of Biden admin

Pete Hegseth testified before a Senate panel on Tuesday as relations between the U.S. and Iran continue to deteriorate, where he warned against underfunding the Department of War and blasted former President Joe Biden for four years of "negligence."

"There is training and training in the future that has to be curtailed if we do not get our budget needs met urgently," Hegseth warned. "Yes, some of that has to do with the current budget cycle and how things come together, but we are a department that for four years met funding shortfalls under the previous administration. It was not a priority to fund the Department of Defense under Joe Biden."

"There were threats that were ignored around the world. You're looking at a lot of negligence and a lot of deferred maintenance."

Democratic lawmakers repeatedly pressed Hegseth over the administration's justification for the conflict. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., accused the administration of offering contradictory statements about Iran's nuclear program, News Nation reports.

"You said that we had obliterated, quote-unquote, Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons,” said Gillibrand.

“The president made the same claim, yet eight months later, in February of 2026, the president launched an active war claiming Iran was within two weeks of having a weapon. So when you say two very different things, the American people don’t know who to believe or what to believe.”

Hegseth responded by maintaining that U.S. strikes had successfully destroyed the targeted nuclear facilities but argued Iranian leaders continued pursuing nuclear capabilities afterward.

"We're staying laser-focused on the objective," Hegseth said. "And you're trying to make campaign commercials."

When asked about the financial cost of the conflict by Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, Hegseth estimated military operations would total around $37.5 billion through Sept. 30.

Gillibrand also questioned Hegseth about asking Congress for additional funding while many Americans struggle with rising household costs. Hegseth defended the request, arguing the long-term cost of allowing Iran to develop a nuclear weapon would be far greater. The New York Senator continued by pressing him on the President saying the U.S. has "already won."

"We look at the cost of a nuclear Iran, and we want to prevent that for future generations," Hegseth said. "That requires funding and supplementals and this budget and next-generation capabilities, and that's why we're here today."