US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion military budget before House and Senate lawmakers on Tuesday, as Congress pressed the Pentagon on the rising costs of the Iran war, arms stockpiles and the administration’s long-term strategy in the conflict.The hearings come as the Trump administration faces growing pressure from the economic impact of Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping corridor through which about 20% of the world’s oil typically flows.Hegseth told lawmakers that the ceasefire with Iran remains in effect despite the recent firing. After testifying in the Senate he appeared before Congress, where a Democrat warned that “You have achieved many strategic successes but you are on the brink of strategic loss.”While Hegseth adopted a softer tone than previous hearings, lawmakers from both parties raised concerns about the rising costs of the war and its impact on military readiness.Pentagon officials tell Congress that the cost of the Iran war now stands at about $29 billion, up from the $25 billion estimate provided about two weeks ago. Pentagon Comptroller Jay Hurst said about $24 billion of the total is spent on munition replacement and equipment repairs, while the remainder covers operational costs for deployed forces. The estimate does not include the cost of repairing or rebuilding damaged US military sites in the area.Lawmakers also questioned whether the conflict was putting pressure on US arms supplies, a suggestion Hegseth rejected.At the same time, Hegseth acknowledged that the administration is moving toward increasing arms production to support the conflict and prepare for future military operations.The administration’s proposed 2027 defense budget includes $750 billion for the “Golden Dome” missile defense system, $102 billion for aircraft procurement and research and development, about $75 billion for drones and counter-drone technologies, and $65 billion for the construction of 18 Navy warships and 16 support ships.In January, Trump said he wanted to increase the US military budget by half to $1.5 trillion next year.“I have decided that, for the good of our country, especially in these extremely troubled and dangerous times, our military budget for the year 2027 should be not $1 trillion, but $1.5 trillion,” Trump said on Truth Social.The President said, “It will allow us to build the ‘Dream Military’ we have long deserved and, more importantly, it will keep us safe regardless of the enemy.”Trump said the increase would be supported by revenue generated from tariffs introduced since his return to office.The administration plans to allocate about $1.1 trillion to defense through the regular appropriations process, with $350 billion expected through budget reconciliation, which would allow Republicans to pass the measure without Democratic support.The proposal comes as the United States faces an annual deficit of nearly $2 trillion and a national debt of more than $39 trillion.