The Administration Wants More Blank Checks for a War It Already Said Is Over

Somewhere between eking out crappy push-ups and obsessing over the testosterone levels of American soldiers, War Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth found time in his fudgeling-packed schedule this week to appear before Congress—and request even MORE funds for a war that, on any given day, is one we’ve lost, won, and/or that’s still going on. Cool! 

The hearing, which took place Wednesday, took three long hours—and was scheduled so Hegseth could testify about the clearly ongoing U.S. war in Iran, provide some clarity on the Pentagon’s budget, and ask after more supplemental funding. It was with the Senate Appropriations Committee, and scheduled after three more American soldiers died in the conflict over the weekend, thus bringing the U.S. military death toll to 17. Speaking with Hegseth was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, as well as Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins—aka Ms. MAGA Girl Dinner herself.

During his testimony, Hegseth claimed that the cost of the war so far has been $37.5 billion—a jump up from the administration’s previous estimate of $29 bil., which was another jump up from $25 bil. Three sources familiar with matters also told CBS News that these are likely underestimates, a sentiment that’s been underscored by the fact the Pentagon’s apparently been scrambling with a cash-shortage crisis. Looks like someone ordered a few crab leg buckets too many. 

GIllibrand: So essentially you’re asking for literally $1.5 trillion for a war that President Trump said he already won? pic.twitter.com/K7IFu8z6LS

— Acyn (@Acyn) July 21, 2026

 

Which is why, on Wednesday, Hegseth told lawmakers the administration is asking for nearly double $37.5 billion to continue what it’s doing—demanding an additional 67 bil., and bringing the defense budget-hopeful to a whopping $1.5 trillion. All for a war that started (not-so) randomly, cruelly, and without any congressional authority.  

“Without these funds, we face critical shortfalls,” Hegseth said. But several Dem. lawmakers were quick to point at the hypocrisy of seeking out a taxpayer-backed windfall over a war that Trump said was already “won” back in March.

“This war is now spiraling out of control again,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said. “The president is threatening escalation and war crimes and suggesting this could be another forever war. He has told us over 40 times now that a deal is near and the war will be over soon. But now he is asking for $70 billion more and for us to just trust him, it’ll work out fine.”

“You are asking for unlimited money for bombs, when people can’t feed their families, and I don’t know how this administration intends to defend those decisions to the American people,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) added. “The reason why people are so upset, the reason why they are so upset with you and this administration is because the words you have used in the past don’t add up.”

Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) also called the administration’s efforts to win the war have been an “utter and complete failure.” “You’re asking the American people for a blank check,” Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) said. “How is your strategy different than what we’ve seen in the past?” 

“Your characterization of this incredible effort as a failure is reckless, and I think it’s irresponsible,” Hegseth shot back.

Still, if there was anyone who drove the biggest point home on Wednesday, it was the crowd of protesters that repeatedly interrupted Hegseth’s opening remarks—stopping him from talking several times. Now… if only that were a viable long-term approach.