美国国防部长Pete Hegseth在参议院拨款委员会听证会上表示，美国与伊朗的战争迄今已耗资37.5亿美元[1][2][3]，并为特朗普政府的追加拨款请求进行辩护。关于拨款规模，三家媒体报道存在差异：共和党提议的方案包括950亿美元军事预算[1]，其中700亿用于战争资金；特朗普政府的请求为约880亿美元[2]；五角大楼另一报道提及的追加拨款为870亿美元，其中670亿美元用于中东行动[3]。
Hegseth称这笔资金为"紧急、必要的"[1][2]。他表示，"没有这些资金，我们面临威胁我们支付军人工资、快速补充装备弹药和维持关键行动的严重短缺"[3]。五角大楼宣布了新的伤亡情况，上周三名美国军人阵亡[1]，另据报道总死亡人数达17人至18人[1][3]，100多人自7月初以来受伤[1]。五角大楼确认的阵亡人员包括中士Michael Emmanuel Swinton（30岁，在伊拉克阵亡）、中士Angel Rampersad（28岁，在约旦阵亡）、下士Isabella Gonzales（19岁，在约旦阵亡）和中尉Tyler Feehan（25岁，在约旦阵亡）[3]。
听证会进行了三个多小时，期间遭反战抗议者多次打断[3]。民主党议员对战争支出提出激烈质疑。参议员Pat Murray称"这场战争再次螺旋式失控"[1]，参议员Kirsten Gillibrand批评政府寻求"无限制的炸弹资金"，而美国民众无法养家糊口[3]。听证会最后以Hegseth与民主党参议员Gary Peters的激烈争执结束，Hegseth指责Peters患有"特朗普谵妄综合征"[3]。
背景方面，伊朗与美国于4月同意停火，但上周敌对行动重启[3]。去年提供给五角大楼的1500亿美元预算仍有约一半未花费[1]。白宫请求的五角大楼年度预算为1.5万亿美元，创现代军事支出历史新高[3]。参议院本周将再次考虑战争权力决议案，已投票近十二次试图阻止冲突[1]。
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee to defend emergency funding requests for ongoing military operations, estimating that the war with Iran has cost $37.5 billion to date [1][2][3]. The Trump administration is seeking approximately $87-95 billion in additional Pentagon funding, with varying amounts allocated for Middle East operations [1][2][3].
During the heated hearing, which lasted over three hours, Hegseth characterized the funding as "urgent" and "necessary" [1][2][3]. He argued that without the additional resources, the military faces critical shortfalls that would threaten its ability to pay service members, replenish equipment and munitions, and sustain operations [3]. According to Pentagon announcements, the conflict has resulted in 17-18 military deaths as of late February [1][3], with recently identified casualties including Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, killed in Iraq; Sergeant Angel Rampersad, 28, killed in Jordan; Private First Class Isabella Gonzales, 19, killed in Jordan; and First Lieutenant Tyler Feehan, 25, also killed in Jordan [3]. More than 100 service members have been wounded since early July [1].
The hearing drew sharp criticism from Democratic senators questioning the escalating war costs and strategy. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand criticized what she characterized as seeking "unlimited money for bombs" while Americans struggle to afford basic necessities [3]. Senator Pat Murray stated that "this war has spiraled out of control once again" [1]. The hearing was repeatedly interrupted by anti-war protesters [3].
The contentious exchange culminated in an animated dispute between Hegseth and Democratic Senator Gary Peters, during which Hegseth told Peters "shame on you" and accused him of having "Trump derangement syndrome" [3]. The Senate plans to consider war powers resolutions again this week and has voted nearly twelve times to attempt to stop the conflict [1]. The Pentagon announced that Iran and the United States had agreed to a ceasefire in April, though hostile actions resumed the following week [3]. Meanwhile, approximately half of the $150 billion in Pentagon funding provided last year remains unspent [1].