Congress should keep up oversight on defense spending

As President Donald Trump heads to China where he will likely ask for help in ending the conflict with Iran, Congress is finally awaking to its oversight abilities.

The effort came Tuesday when Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth faced bipartisan pushback at two hearings to vet the Pentagon's astronomical demand of $1.45 trillion in funding for 2027 — a more than 40% increase. But asking questions is not getting answers. Congress wants an accounting for the ongoing Iran operation before approving dollars for 2027. Hegseth refused to give a timeline of when Congress would get a detailed supplemental request for replacing munitions and how funding is needed, only saying it would be provided when "relevant and required." At a price tag expected to be a least $80 billion, Congress must let Hegseth know it's relevant right now. 

As of this week, the Pentagon said the cost of the Iran "incursion" has now reached $29 billion — that's $4 billion more than two weeks ago — and that doesn't include how much money will be needed to repair the damage incoming fire caused at over a dozen U.S. bases in the Middle East.

Hegseth's testimony also made clear that the U.S. military is still very much engaged in a Middle East conflict despite Trump's claim that a ceasefire is in place, nullifying any congressional role under the War Powers Act. The United States and Israel started the fight on Feb. 28 with no realistic strategy for achieving their goals. The current negotiations are pantomime.

Hegseth, notably less arrogant than in his previous congressional appearance, did not have any answers for when the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of the world's oil transverses, would open. The closure has spiked the cost of gasoline, electricity and food, igniting inflation.

The question of how many more billions to give the Pentagon comes at a time when the administration has foolishly halted military assistance to Ukraine. Congress had already appropriated $400 million in 2026 under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative for equipment to sustain its success repealing Russia's aggressive territorial efforts. 

Stopping that aid is wrong, especially at a time when Russia is accused of providing stealth assistance to Iran in the Middle East fight. Sen. Mitch McConnell, a longtime supporter of Ukraine, makes compelling arguments that assisting Ukraine is essential to U.S. national security and a boost for our defense industry. Congress should leverage the Iran funding to release the money for Ukraine.

Tuesday, McConnell grilled Hegseth not only on Ukraine but Trump's announcement that the United States will pull 5,000 troops off its military bases in Germany. Such lack of regard for our allies "only serves our adversaries' interests and limits our capacity and deterrent power globally," McConnell told Hegseth.

Regrettably, Trump heads to China with his avoidable mistakes in Iran on full display, few friends and a diminished hand of cards to play on the world stage.