Watch Live: Hegseth, Caine testify before Senate panel amid escalating Iran war

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine are set to testify before a Senate committee Tuesday as tensions with Iran continue to escalate. The hearing follows a series of attacks attributed to Iran, resulting in the deaths of at least two U.S. soldiers this weekend. Another service member was killed in Iraq during a controlled detonation meant to neutralize an Iranian drone. These incidents mark the 17th American fatalities since the war began in February, with nearly 100 service members wounded in Iranian strikes across the Middle East this month. The testimony comes just days after the U.S. launched its 10th consecutive night of airstrikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure, following the collapse of a brief ceasefire. Hegseth and Caine will defend the administration’s $67 billion supplemental funding request, which aims to cover the ongoing costs of the war. This figure represents a reduction from the initial $88 billion request made last month, which included allocations for munitions, operational expenses, classified programs, and unrelated initiatives such as combating the Ebola outbreak and providing farm aid. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins will join Hegseth and Caine during the session, as they advocate for the additional funding. The hearing marks the second time the duo have appeared before the committee this year, having previously addressed the war in May. At that time, they were still in the early stages of presenting their case to lawmakers, following a public briefing earlier that month. In May, Hegseth and Caine also testified before House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees regarding the broader $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2027 budget proposal. A defense official had estimated the war’s cost at around $25 billion up to that point. During the current hearing, lawmakers are likely to scrutinize these updated figures, particularly as Senator Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the committee, plans to emphasize the financial burden of the conflict. She intends to highlight the funds already allocated under the GOP’s “one big, beautiful bill” passed last year, arguing that the American public deserves a swift resolution rather than continued spending. Republican lawmakers, however, remain divided on the issue. While some, including Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, have supported bipartisan efforts to limit President Trump’s war powers, others are pushing for the Pentagon’s funding through the budget reconciliation process. This method would allow the majority party to pass legislation without requiring bipartisan support. However, several key GOP senators, including Collins and Murkowski, have expressed skepticism about the viability of a third reconciliation bill. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota has yet to commit to the approach, stating that reconciliation differs significantly between the House and Senate. He noted that GOP senators would prefer to have a say in shaping the final package, citing concerns over the overall budget figures, potential offsets, and the Senate’s strict rules on what can be included in a reconciliation measure. Thune acknowledged the possibility of using reconciliation but stressed that it is not the sole path forward.