Hegseth is scheduled to testify in the House as pressure mounts on the Iran war, sources said
Washington – Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth He is expected to testify publicly before the House Armed Services Committee on April 29, according to two sources familiar with the plans, in what will mark his first sworn appearance on Capitol Hill since US conflict with Iran he started.
The timing of the hearing has not been finalized and is subject to change, sources said. The session will come under the committee’s regular oversight of the Defense Department and its annual budget request.
MS NOW first reported on the trial plans.
If it goes ahead as planned, the hearing will give lawmakers their first chance to question Hegseth publicly, under oath, about the administration’s handling of the war since the Trump administration ordered the strikes to begin in Feb. 28. There have been calls on Capitol Hill for more detailed answers as the war rages on, leading to market damage and rising gas prices.
This pressure intensified following the meeting of the House Armed Services Committee last Wednesday, after which members of both parties said they did not understand the administration’s strategy. Rep. Mike Rogers, the committee’s chairman, told reporters after the briefing that officials were “very tight-lipped” and “tight-lipped,” adding that lawmakers “deserve more answers than we’re getting.”
Rogers said members sought clarity on planning and possible troop movements but “got no answers,” describing the briefing as part of a broader pattern of limited information sharing and warning that there could be “repercussions” for Congressional support if it continues.
The chief executive officer of this committee is a Democrat, Rep. Adam Smith, raised similar concerns, saying that lawmakers still have a clear path to how the administration intends to achieve its goals in Iran. He said there was no detailed plan “from here to there,” and noted discussions about possible military deployments did not yield “concrete answers.”
Some lawmakers have echoed these concerns about military strategy and safety. Democratic Representative Jason Crow of Colorado said his priority is protecting US troops in what he described as a “very tense situation,” warning that there are “more questions than answers” about how the administration plans to protect the roughly 50,000 troops in the region.
Push responses are also now legal. In a letter sent on Friday, all the Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee, led by Smith, called for an immediate hearing from the public and Pentagon officials, citing a “lack of transparency” and raising concerns about the changing objectives, unanswered questions about the cost and the addition of about 200 billion, and the possible use of American ground troops.
Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden reiterated his opposition to sending ground troops, saying he is “100% clear” on that position, as he has expressed support for ensuring the military has the necessary resources to operate in the region.
But House Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday dismissed concerns about the flow of information, telling reporters that he is “always briefed” before and during operations and is in regular contact with senior administration officials, including the president. He added that he will work to make sure Rogers gets any additional information he needs.
The expected evidence comes as the conflict enters a second month without a clear solution. Hegseth said Tuesday that “the coming days will be an important decision,” as US officials continue to express confidence on the campaign trail.
The war also has wide-ranging economic destabilizing effects. US gas prices have rose above $4 a gallon for the first time in almost four years, as instability related to the conflict and ongoing disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz weigh on global energy markets.
