The Iran war is draining the rest of the defense budget, while the bill for the war is rising. Since May, costs have increased from 29 billion to 37.5 billion, according to Pete Hegseth.
In a Senate committee hearing, where he is defending why the White House has requested an additional $67 billion to cover the costs of the war, he said that without new money, training new soldiers will have to be suspended. On the other hand, if the money comes through, it would be an investment in the future to keep the United States safe, he argued.
Hegseth was forced to interrupt his opening speech several times by people protesting against the war.
Attack on nuclear energy?
He reiterated earlier statements that Iran's military capabilities have been largely destroyed and said the primary goal remains to ensure that Iran can never develop nuclear weapons. However, he declined to answer questions about a possible strike on Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, also known as Pickaxe Mountain, which is located near Iran's Natanz nuclear facility.
While Hegseth referred to military secrecy, President Donald Trump said earlier Tuesday that "we will be striking that area very likely quite soon."
Ahead of the hearing, The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has begun to see the bottom of its coffers and that the money will run out within a few weeks, despite the Pentagon saving elsewhere.
Have to wait for the money
According to sources, both the Air Force and Navy are believed to have used up their entire annual budget by the end of this month, and the Pentagon is reportedly already moving spending items to other accounts. At the same time, more war-preparatory exercises are being curtailed, while others are being canceled altogether.
But Trump and Hegseth will probably have to wait for more money for the military and, by extension, the war.
Even if Republicans were to muster enough votes to pass the desired $87 billion in funding - $67 billion of which would go to the war effort - the House of Representatives goes on a month-long recess on Thursday, and when it returns, the Senate will be off. So a funding boost could not come until September at the earliest.
