Hegseth Grilled on Iran War Costs; Trump Reviews German Troop Presence

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced intense questioning from the House Armed Services Committee regarding the escalating financial and strategic costs of the conflict with Iran. During testimony for the FY2027 budget request, Hegseth confirmed that the war, which began on February 28, has cost $25 billion to date. Lawmakers, led by Rep. Adam Smith, highlighted discrepancies in the administration's justifications, questioning how an "imminent nuclear threat" prompted the war months after the U.S. reportedly neutralized Iran's nuclear facilities in 2025. Hegseth defended the mission, labeling critics of the administration’s strategy as "defeatist." Simultaneously, President Trump signaled a potential shift in the transatlantic alliance, announcing a review of U.S. troop deployments in Germany. Trump linked the possible reductions to ongoing disagreements with European allies concerning Iran. On the regional front, the President urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to limit military actions in Lebanon to "surgical" strikes, seeking to maintain a fragile U.S.-brokered pause in hostilities despite ongoing IDF operations against Hezbollah targets. While the Pentagon prepares a supplemental budget request to address depleted munitions and carrier operation expenses, diplomatic channels remain stalled. Iranian officials have voiced continued skepticism regarding U.S. claims of military success, and no significant breakthroughs were reported in negotiations or humanitarian efforts over the last 24 hours.