The hearing, which was nominally about the Pentagon's 2027 budget request, quickly turned into something far more charged. Democrats, who described it as their best opportunity yet to hold the administration publicly accountable, came armed with sharp questions about a war that began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran — without congressional authorisation. Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton directly pressed Hegseth on whether he had advised the president to take the country to war. Hegseth largely deflected the question, instead framing the conflict as an unqualified military success and calling critics "reckless, feckless, and defeatist." The Pentagon chief also defended a jaw-dropping budget request of $1.5 trillion — a 42% increase over the previous year — to sustain the war effort. For the first time, the Pentagon publicly put a price tag on the conflict — $25 billion so far, with the bulk of that going toward munitions and the cost of surging military assets to the Middle East. Reports suggest the administration may soon ask Congress for an additional $200 billion. Democrats were relentless. One lawmaker accused Hegseth outright of lying to the American public about the war's aims and progress, pointing to what he called ever-shifting justifications — first the nuclear programme, then regime change, then Iran's navy. Another confronted Hegseth over a past statement about showing "no quarter, no mercy" to enemies — language that critics say describes a war crime under international law. Hegseth pushed back hard throughout, accusing opponents of handing propaganda to America's enemies and questioning their patriotism. The hearing ended as it began — combative, unresolved, and with the clock ticking. This Friday marks 60 days since Trump launched military operations against Iran without congressional approval — the threshold under the War Powers Resolution at which presidents are legally required to seek legislative authorisation to continue.Sonnet 4.6