Pete Hegseth walked into today’s Senate Appropriations Committee hearing thinking he’d easily get approval for a regular budget request.But instead, he got stuck in tough questions, and by the end, he was shouting about “Trump derangement syndrome” at a sitting U.S.senator.
Senator Jon Ossoff started by thanking American service members for their sacrifices, expressing deep respect and sadness for the four who were killed in action and hope for those who were injured.
He noted this happened just over two weeks ago—right in the middle of the war, not at the start, as Trump had promised it would be short.
Ossoff then moved to the budget numbers.
Hegseth is asking for $67 billion in extra funding to keep the war going—way more than expected for a conflict that Trump claimed would last only “four to five weeks.”
Ossoff’s strongest moment came when he read Hegseth’s own earlier statements back to him.
On day 14 of the war, nearly five months ago, Hegseth had said Iran’s military had been “destroyed” and “made combat ineffective.” When confronted with that claim, Hegseth had no choice but to backtrack, saying Iran’s military is only at “the lowest level they’ve been in a very long time”—not destroyed.
But it was Senator Gary Peters who really made things heated.
Peters pointed out that Iran’s missiles are now more powerful and harder to hit, the Strait of Hormuz—once open—is still closed, driving up prices for everyone, and that American soldiers are still dying.He asked simply, “So what’s different, Secretary Hegseth?”
Hegseth didn’t answer.
He went on the offensive, accusing Peters of “smearing the sacrifice of the troops” and shouted, “Shame on you.” When Peters asked plainly if Iran’s nuclear materials are still there, Hegseth shifted to talking about troop “intensity.”
Peters then said the line of the day: “You, sir, are the failure.
Not the men and women on the front line… if there’s no winning strategy, their leaders have failed them.You don’t have a strategy.When will you show leadership?”
Hegseth’s response was to deflect: “Why don’t you show some leadership and stand up for your fellow Democrats who won’t fund the troops… you have Trump derangement syndrome and can’t actually commit to anything meaningful.”
Peters wasn’t done: “You have over a trillion dollars.
It’s not a question of money.It’s a question of leadership.”
Chair Susan Collins had to end the hearing before Hegseth could say anything more.
Five months into a war that Trump said would last five weeks.$67 billion requested.American troops still dying.And when asked tough questions, the Secretary of Defense chose to shout insults rather than take responsibility for his own mistakes.
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