China is the world\u2019s biggest buyer of Iranian oil, which remains trapped in the strait. <\/p>\n
\u201cA global recession, which would come from a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, would dramatically affect both China and the United States,\u201d explained Philip Luck, economics director for The Center for Strategic and International Studies. <\/p>\n
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared before U.S. senators<\/a>, trying to justify a $1.5 trillion defense budget to help pay for a war the administration has yet to justify before Congress. <\/p>\n Read more: Hegseth gets bipartisan grilling on rising costs of the Iran war and Trump\u2019s end game<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cEvery policy we pursue, every budgetary item we request serves to ensure that this department remains laser-focused on increasing the lethality and survivability of our fighting forces from the front lines to the factory floor,\u201d Hegseth said<\/a>. \u201cWe truly believe this is a historic budget. And at every level we have made it a fiscally responsible budget. This is also a war fighting budget.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cI remember when we invaded Iraq we debated it for weeks,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cWe made a decision to bring it to a vote. The American people knew just what was coming if we voted for war.\u201d<\/p>\n Questions over Rock Island Arsenal cuts<\/p>\n Congressman Eric Sorensen says the Trump administration has not provided answers about the war\u2019s end. <\/p>\n \u201cFirst thing first is the Strait of Hormuz should have been protected on day one,\u201d said Sorensen. \u201cAnd here we are on day 60-some and 20% of the world\u2019s energy cannot get through that 20-mile narrow Strait of Hormuz.\u201d<\/p>\n During an Armed Services Committee Hearing on April 29, Sorensen questioned Hegseth about cuts to Joint Munitions Command at Rock Island Arsenal. <\/p>\n Below is part of that exchange:<\/p>\n Sorensen: \u201cCan you tell me why you\u2019re firing the people at Joint Munitions Command for no cause other than just telling them they are overhired or their surplus employees?\u201d<\/p>\n Hegseth: \u201cI would have to look into the particular circumstances of that, but there have been places where we haven\u2019t been moving fast enough, with munitions. And when people don\u2019t move fast enough in the Department of War, we find someone else who will run fast.\u201d<\/p>\n Sorensen: \u201cBut this is Joint Munitions Command. I mean your department says that you\u2019re prioritizing munitions, yet you cut 58% of Joint Munitions Command at Rock Island.\u201d<\/p>\n Hegseth: \u201cBecause, as I\u2019ve stated, the status quo at this department before the Trump Administration was unacceptable,\u201d<\/p>\n Sorensen: \u201cYou testified that if you work hard, you do the work, you keep your job. But that\u2019s not what\u2019s happening. And you allege that\u2019s being done to maximize efficiency, explain that.\u201d<\/p>\n Hegseth: \u201cYes, thank you for asking that question. I\u2019d love to clarify. I fundamentally believe that the Department of War should not be subject to collective bargaining. Full stop.\u201d<\/p>\n Sorensen: \u201cSo people shouldn\u2019t be able to fight for good wages and being treated well?\u201d<\/p>\n Hegseth: \u201cI think our department does a great job evaluating, providing pay and benefits for folks across the spectrum.\u201d<\/p>\n Sorensen: \u201cI would love to invite you to the Rock Island Aresenal so you can look these patriots in the eye and tell them that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoint Munitions Command is in charge of building our munitions capability,\u201d said Sorensen. \u201cWhat is this administration and what is Pete Hegseth doing? They\u2019re firing the people there. Firing the people when we need to rebuild our munitions. That should be our canary in a coal mine. That should be our red flag that the people need to understand that this administration is not doing what\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n Economic impacts<\/p>\n One of the most talked about impacts of the conflict is gas prices. <\/p>\n \u201cWe have gasoline hitting $4.89, $4.99 a gallon,\u201d Durbin said. \u201cI saw it as I drove from Chicago to Rockford. I see it in my hometown of Springfield. And the bottom line is the American people are paying the price. Outrageous gasoline prices because the president does not know how to get out of this war. He predicts every day that he\u2019s either going to get out of it or get into it. He can\u2019t keep up with it.\u201d<\/p>\n Gas prices aren\u2019t the only source of pain for Americans\u2019 wallets. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports<\/a> that in April, U.S. grocery prices are up nearly 3% compared to the same time last year. Wholesale inflation is up 6% since April of 2025<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cThe people, my constituents have been asking please fight for us to be connected to affordable health care,\u201d said Sorensen. \u201cPlease fight to lower prescription drug costs. Please fight to lower grocery costs. Please fight to make sure gas prices aren\u2019t at $5 a gallon,\u201d Sorensen said. \u201cWhere are we today? In committee and in Congress we are asking and demanding questions all the time. The demands that we are asking are not just because we want an opinion. No, we are asking because of our constituents. They need help. The people in Rockford and Freeport, they need to know going forward the costs are going to come down. But as we go forward, I can\u2019t tell them that yet, because this administration isn\u2019t listening yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think about American\u2019s financial situation,\u201d said President Trump to pool reporters Tuesday before departing for China<\/a>. \u201cI don\u2019t think about anybody. I think about one thing. We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI want to make sure the price of oil goes down, that people can afford to fill up their tanks, because everything\u2019s going on a credit card that has a 25 percent interest rate on it, said Sorensen. \u201dThat\u2019s not fair. It\u2019s especially not fair because this administration is giving the tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires while everyone else has to live off a credit card. That\u2019s not how you make America great again.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"17th](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ZCBAQTWISNEUJCA4N43ETSXT6Y.png\")
17th District U.S. Congressman from Illinois Eric Sorensen talks about the War in Iran and his April 29 exchange with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during testimony before the House Armed Services Committee(wifr)<\/p>\n![\"Defense](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/5SASIFJB6BESDH57BHYI7TOLSU.png\")
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was questioned April 29 by Illinois 17th District Rep. Eric Sorensen.(Pool)<\/p>\n![\"Dick](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/BBNEI4MWFRDZLELN2SLSDHU2IY.png\")
Dick Durbin speaks with WIFR in Rockford.(WIFR)<\/p>\n
![\"Dillan](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26BBPHCIGFCP3N3G5EDUOAJEXE.png\")
Dillan Vancil, the Republican challenger in Illinois’ 17th District Congressional race, shares his take on the war in Iran.(WIFR)<\/p>\n