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Story summary
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced a hearing before the House and Senate Armed Services committees that mixed a budget push with criticism of the Iran war.
- He defended the $25 billion war as necessary, while Democrats noted 13 U.S. deaths and more than 165 civilian casualties.
- The Pentagon’s 2027 budget request seeks $1.5 trillion, a 44 percent increase to fund drones, missile-defense systems and expand the defense industrial base.
