Pete Hegseth, heard in Congress about the war in Iran and the defense budget

Pete Hegseth, the American Secretary of Defense, will be heard on Wednesday in his first appearance in Congress since the beginning of the war in Iran, which started on February 28. This hearing comes in the context of criticisms from the Democratic opposition regarding the lack of information from the American administration, despite the fact that some members of Congress have access to classified information.

Hegseth, a controversial figure in Donald Trump's administration, will face questions related to the economic consequences of the conflict, including rising gasoline prices. Democratic Representative Maggie Goodlander emphasized the need to hold Hegseth accountable for the decisions made in the context of the war.

The hearing will also address the administration's request to increase the defense budget by 42%, reaching $1.5 trillion by 2027, equivalent to the GDP of Indonesia or the Netherlands.