Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth endured a barrage of sharp questions and criticisms from Republican senators during a heated hearing Wednesday before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on armed forces. The session laid bare deep ideological divisions within the GOP, particularly concerning the U.S. approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and defense spending.
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who chairs the subcommittee and had opposed Hegseth’s confirmation, set the tone early, lambasting the Trump administration’s “flat baseline defense budget.”
He then pressed Hegseth intensely on the Russia-Ukraine war, expressing concerns that Washington’s allies were “wondering whether we’re in the middle of brokering what appears to be allowing the Russians to define victory.” McConnell directly asked Hegseth which side he wanted to win the war, to which the Defense chief responded the administration sought an end to the killing but would not pick a side.
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“America’s reputation is on the line,” McConnell declared, questioning whether the U.S. would “defend Democratic allies against authoritarian aggressors?”
The theme of Russian aggression was amplified by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who asked Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine if Russian President Vladimir Putin would stop at Ukraine. While Caine stated he didn’t believe Putin would stop, Hegseth replied it “remains to be seen.” Graham fired back, evoking historical parallels: “Well, he says he’s not. This is the ’30s all over. It doesn’t remain to be seen.”
This line of questioning highlighted the chasm between defense hawks, who view Russia as a global threat requiring robust military support for Ukraine, and those in the Trump administration, including Hegseth, who advocate for an “America First” approach. This strategy could see reduced American troop presence in Europe and an end to military aid for Kyiv. “We don’t want a headline at the end of this conflict that says Russia wins and America loses,” McConnell told Hegseth.
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The hearing’s adversarial nature contrasted sharply with Hegseth’s largely un-scathed appearance before the House Appropriations defense subcommittee the previous day.
Beyond foreign policy, Hegseth faced bipartisan condemnation over delays in providing detailed budget information. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), the top Senate appropriator, scolded the Pentagon for being “unacceptably slow” in submitting its detailed spending request for fiscal year 2026.
She also noted that Trump’s budget request, when adjusted for inflation, represented a reduction in military buying power. McConnell echoed this criticism, dismissing Hegseth’s argument of a significant military investment through Trump’s reconciliation package as a potential “shell game” to avoid substantial annual investments in the regular budget.
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Democrats also delivered pointed critiques. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) slammed the Pentagon for cutting military medical research while allocating $45 million for a military parade. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) berated Hegseth for the administration’s decision to deploy National Guard troops and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles in response to protests, calling the actions “unprecedented; it is unconstitutional, and it is downright un-American.”
Finally, Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) pressed Hegseth for details on the cost and timeline of refurbishing Trump’s luxury jet from the Qatari government to become Air Force One. Hegseth’s refusal to disclose the information, stating it “cannot be revealed in this setting,” drew a sharp rebuke from Reed, who asserted the Senate Appropriations Committee’s right to such information as they appropriate the funds.
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