Hegseth to Testify on $1.5 Trillion 2027 Defense Budget

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to testify before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, marking his first appearance before lawmakers since the U.S. and Israel launched military action against Iran on February 28.

The hearing focuses on the Trump administration's proposed 2027 defense budget of $1.5 trillion, the highest in history. Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, plan to highlight investments in drones, missile defense systems, warships and other capabilities. The proposal includes $750 billion for the Golden Dome missile defense system, $102 billion for aircraft procurement and research, nearly $75 billion for drones and counter-drone technologies, and $65 billion for 18 Navy warships and 16 support vessels. It also requests funding for 85 F-35 aircraft annually, along with development of next-generation systems such as the B-21 bomber and F-47 fighter.

Lawmakers from both parties expect questions to extend beyond the budget to the ongoing conflict with Iran, now under a ceasefire. The operation began without congressional authorization, prompting Democrats in the House and Senate to introduce unsuccessful war powers...