Hegseth takes heat over military options amid escalating tensions with Iran

In the United States on June 18, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced intense questioning during a Senate Armed Forces Committee hearing, amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran. The committee meeting originally aimed to address the proposed $961.6 billion Fiscal Year 2026 defense budget; however, the growing tension in the Middle East quickly shifted the focus. Hegseth was directly asked about military options for addressing the conflict, which included discussions of potential military strikes against Iran, something President Donald Trump is reportedly considering. He mentioned the availability of substantial military resources such as a 30,000-pound bunker buster bomb carried by a B-2 stealth bomber as part of the options being provided to the President. The hearing saw various senators, including Democrats and Republicans, express concerns over congressional war powers, U.S. troop protection, and strategies for the withdrawal of American citizens from Israel. The Senate's questioning turned particularly heated over Hegseth's deployment of 4,700 military troops in Los Angeles, where concerns about local protests had emerged. Senator Elise Slotkin enquired specifically whether Hegseth had authorized troops to detain or arrest protesters amidst the unrest. Hegseth defended the deployment as a matter of public record, arguing that the intent was to support law enforcement rather than to engage in crowd control. He emphasized that while troops could temporarily detain protesters in self-defense if necessary, no arrests were made. The Senate hearing also included claims from Slotkin about past orders related to unarmed protests, referencing a book authored by former Defense Secretary Mark Esper regarding orders he allegedly rejected from Trump in 2020. Hegseth dismissed those claims, urging caution when interpreting historical accounts from books. Senator Tammy Duckworth also criticized Hegseth, questioning the wisdom of military deployments and expressing concern regarding discussions that included potential strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen through Signal chats. Duckworth accused Hegseth of politically motivated actions regarding the troop presence in California, a point of contention amidst ongoing national debates about militarization in domestic issues. Hegseth maintained that he planned to adhere to the legalities surrounding the deployments, outlining that he respected the judicial process surrounding federal court decisions. In a notable exchange, Hegseth refused to divulge confidential details regarding any military orders linked to the Israel-Iran conflict when pressed by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, illustrating the delicate nature of military and defense discussions during such a charged time. The hearing concluded with a sharp discussion surrounding anti-Semitism and remarks attributed to Defense Department personnel, with senators reiterating the need for sensitivity and action within the Department of Defense. Overall, the hearing underscored ongoing tensions between U.S. military operations and the political landscape, revealing the challenges in balancing domestic and international military obligations.