Hegseth turns tables on Dems as sparks fly during hearing clash: 'I put this on you' - Fox News

What the report says

Fox News reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sharply confronted Democratic senators during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, as lawmakers questioned the Trump administration’s handling of the war with Iran and reviewed the Pentagon’s spending needs. The exchange centered on Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., who pressed Hegseth on whether the administration had a credible plan to end the conflict and argued that U.S. forces needed stronger leadership.

According to Fox, Hegseth responded by accusing Democrats of undermining the military through funding disputes and partisan opposition to the administration. He argued that Democratic resistance to Trump-era border enforcement had spilled into defense spending debates, and he placed responsibility on Peters and his party for delays or opposition affecting the department. Hegseth also criticized the Biden administration’s Pentagon leadership, including former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and said prior officials had neglected areas such as hypersonic weapons development.

Fox reported that the hearing came as the U.S. remained engaged against Iran following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, with tensions focused in part on control of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important route for global oil shipments. The article said the administration had earlier promised a shorter conflict and had tried to pursue a peace deal, but the war had continued.

The budget context is central: Fox said the administration is seeking a record $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027, compared with about $900 billion allocated by Congress for 2026. The confrontation highlights the broader fight over war powers, military strategy and how much Congress should spend on defense under the current administration.