Defense Secretary Hegseth Faces Backlash Over $1.5 Trillion Budget Plan

Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hegseth defended the massive spending hike, which would mark a 50% increase over 2025 levels. Economist Dean Baker quickly countered the administration's narrative, noting that the U.S. managed defense operations on an $860 billion budget—a figure already exceeding the combined military spending of China, Russia, Germany, India, and the U.K.—before the current administration took office.

Democratic lawmakers met the proposal with sharp resistance. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand confronted Hegseth during the hearing, characterizing the request as a demand for "unlimited money for bombs" while families struggle with basic costs like food and gasoline. Rep. Yassamin Ansari signaled that House Democrats are poised to reject the supplemental funding for the ongoing conflict in Iran, while Rep. Salud Carbajal condemned the administration for pushing to fund what he described as a "disastrous, illegal war."