Defense chiefs defend Iran war before Senate as costs rise and civilian oversight draws scrutiny

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Cain defended the Iran war during a Senate Armed Forces Committee hearing, arguing the U.S. stockpile remains in good shape and signaling a pause in fighting while officials provide limited details on next steps. They noted possible Russian assistance to Iran and discussed a reinterpretation of the War Powers Act’s 60‑day clock during the pause, as civilian-harm concerns and rollbacks of civilian-oversight offices were raised by lawmakers amid questions about the roughly $25 billion spent and stalled ceasefire talks.