Republicans in the House and Senate vented their frustrations with the Pentagon on Tuesday, using a pair of back-to-back hearings to press Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the Iran war, President Trump’s unusual plan to fund the Defense Department,

Chuck Schumer (D-NY), joined by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and fellow congressional Democrats, speaks at a press conference on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding at the US Capitol on February 04, 2026 in Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Lawmakers who typically back the Trump administration on defense matters question how and why a top Army leader was removed.

Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & NatSec newsletter{beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Hegseth in the hotseatHouse and

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said Tuesday he does not trust Pakistan and questioned the country's role as a mediator in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran after a recent report suggested the Pakistanis are working closely with Iran.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tried to avoid giving a clear answer about the cost of the Iran War while appearing before lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday morning.

Pete Hegseth will face a high-stakes House hearing on the Pentagon's unprecedented $1.5 trillion request amid bipartisan concerns over the proposed budget and Iran War.