Hegseth confronted with contradictory statements about Iran’s capabilities
Murray pointed to Hegseth’s statements in April, when he said Iran’s missile program was “functionally destroyed.”
She also pointed to his statement in May claiming that Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz, despite traffic through the critical waterway shrinking and attacks increasing.
“Iran is at the weakest point militarily it has ever been in in the past decade,” Hegseth insisted Tuesday.
“So I acknowledge they still have capabilities, no doubt. But the amount of damage that we’ve done to them over the course of of these series of operations has put them in the worst place they’ve ever been,” he added.
Alex Woodward21 July 2026 20:48
Murray: ‘The truth is your request does not make a lot of sense’
Sen. Patty Murray listed several items in the funding request that have no relation to the Iran war, including $800 million for the National Guard to patrol D.C., $1 billion for troops on the U.S-Mexico border and $900 million for boat strikes of suspected drug traffickers.
“The truth is your request does not make a lot of sense,” she said. “Why is the urgently needed for the Iran war?”
Hegseth has repeatedly said throughout the hearing that the Defense Department is now struggling due to “gross negligence and neglect” under the Biden administration, which “abandoned” the U.S. “strength posture around the world.”
Alex Woodward21 July 2026 20:42
Hegseth doesn’t mention 3 dead service members as Caine honors them
Hegseth did not mention the war in Iran let alone the deaths of at least three U.S. service members in recent days as he addressed the committee in his opening remarks.
Gen. Dan Caine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who is testifying alongside Hegseth, opened his remarks recognizing the service members.
Caine expressed his “deep condolences and the condolences of the Joint Force” to the families of the fallen soldiers.
Alex Woodward21 July 2026 20:38
Hegseth says not supporting funding request ‘is the greatest threat our nation faces’
The Department of Defense is seeking a $1.5 trillion overall budget, which includes $67 billion in supplemental funding.
That includes $21 billion for military pay, replacing equipment, sustaining forces, and addressing “mission critical fuel shortfalls,” Hegseth said.
Another $46 billions will “expand production” as well as munitions, including counter-drone capabilities, and for “digital and space dominance,” he said.
“Not fully funding this department I believe is the greatest threat our nation faces,” he said. “Either invest in our warriors … or this is all just talk.”
(Getty)
Alex Woodward21 July 2026 20:19
Protesters interrupt Hegseth testimony moments into opening statements
At least four protesters have interrupted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s opening remarks as he urges the committee to approve billions of dollars in taxpayer funding for the Iran war.
“This is against the Iranian people,” one person said.
“Stop bombing our children in Iran and Palestine. This is illegal,” another protester shouted.
(AFP/Getty)
Alex Woodward21 July 2026 20:14
Top Republican blasts Hegseth and Caine for sidelining women and Black officers for promotions
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly blocked at least two women, two Black men and three white men from promotions as the Pentagon allegedly violates the U.S. military’s apolitical and merit-based promotion rules.
Hegseth also allegedly tried to prevent several one-star admirals from advancing in rank.
Sen. Susan Collins, the top Republican on the Appropriations Committee, said the reports are “deeply troubling.”
“The United States is one of the greatest meritocracies. We need to make sure that it stays that way,” she said.
(Getty)
Alex Woodward21 July 2026 19:52
Sen. Murray: Trump has ‘blundered’ US into ‘disastrous war’
Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, blasted the “astronomical” costs of the “disastrous” Iran war in her opening remarks.
Tens of billions of Americans’ tax dollars have been spent as Trump “blundered us into a disastrous war,” she said.
“What has actually been achieved?” she asked.
The way the administration has “blissfully operated with no plan of success is disrespectful to our men and women in uniform,” she said.
Four months after the star of the war, Trump is now “threatening escalation and war crimes” after saying the conflict would be ending more than 40 times, she said.
The administration is “now asking for $70 billion more and to just trust him that it will work out fine,” she said.
Alex Woodward21 July 2026 19:48
Trump’s meeting with Aoun ‘went very well,’ White House adviser says
Massad Boulos, a senior adviser to Trump on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs, told reporters that the president’s meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun “went very well.”
“There was a very good chemistry between the two presidents,” Boulos said. “It went very well. It was very productive.”
Asked whether the U.S. has any leverage over Hezbollah, Boulos said “there are always options.”
There are always tools that the president has at his disposal that he can employ at any time,” he said.
“There are many, many tools,” Boulos added. “You have seen already some of them by the Treasury Department, by other departments. The president and Secretary of State have always said they have tools at their disposal that they may choose to take up at any time.”
(Getty)
Alex Woodward21 July 2026 19:18
Pentagon names North Carolina soldier killed in Iraq by downed Iranian drone
Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was killed in action during a controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone in Iraq on July 19.
Sgt. Swinton was assigned to D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Swinton was among at least three service members who were killed in recent days. At least two other service members were killed during a strike in Jordan, and remains that were recovered are believed to belong to a third service member who was missing after that attack.
Alex Woodward21 July 2026 19:02
Dignified transfer of service members has been postponed, White House says
The dignified transfer of the remains of at least one U.S. service member killed in the Middle East has been postponed, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Donald Trump was expected to attend the ceremony with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as the remains returned to the U.S. on Tuesday night at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
“The exact day and time are still being finalized,” Leavitt said.
The reason for the postponement was not immediately clear.
Alex Woodward21 July 2026 18:45