US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General Dan Caine, conduct a press briefing in the Pentagon’s press briefing room on April 8. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine will appear before lawmakers on Capitol Hill today for a hearing concentrating on their department’s budget proposal amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The hearing of the House Armed Services Committee is set for 10 am ET. This is the first occasion for lawmakers to question the officials since the war started.
Xenix News reported earlier this month that the White House is requesting about $1.5 trillion for defense in the fiscal 2027 budget — a plan that would elevate military spending to its highest level in contemporary history.
The White House’s plan — primarily a symbolic representation of the president’s priorities — would boost government defense expenditures by over 40% compared to the previous year.
Hegseth praised the $1.5 trillion proposal, stating last week, “Amidst one of the most intricate threat landscapes in this nation’s 250-year history, the President’s landmark FY27 Budget guarantees our readiness to confront adversaries across air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace domains.”