Secretary Hegseth tells Democratic senator to have ‘some perspective’ on conflict with Iran

O. MUCH. >> SENATOR? >> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR, SECRETARY HEGSETH SINCE YOU LAST. TESTIFIED BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE, WE FINALLY RECEIVED THE SPEND. PLAN FOR THE 400 MILLION FY26. APPROPRIATION FOR UKRAINE. SECURITY ASSISTANCE, THE. SPENDING WAS PASSED BACK IN. JANUARY, AND NOW THERE IS ONLY. THREE MONTHS LEFT IN THIS. FISCAL YEAR. AND WHILE I APPRECIATE THAT WE. NOW SEE WHAT MOST OF THE FUNDING.

IS INTENDED FOR, I JUST HEARD. FROM THE CEO, ONE OF THE. MANUFACTURERS OF THE DEFENSE. ARTICLES THAT ARE CONTAINED IN. THE SPEND PLAN, THAT THEY NOT. ONLY HAVEN'T RECEIVED FUNDING, BUT THEY HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN A. CONTRACT. SO WHEN ARE WE GOING TO SEE A. CONTRACT FOR THOSE DEFENSE. ARTICLES THAT ARE CONTAINED IN. THE SPEND PLAN FOR IRAQ? SORRY, FOR UKRAINE. >> SENATOR I HAVE TO GET BACK TO. YOU ON THE SPECIFICS OF THE. TIMELINE, I WILL TALK TO OUR.

POLICY ADVISORS. >> WILL YOU TELL THIS COMMITTEE. THAT YOU BARELY SPENT HALF OF. THE 150 BILLION IN. RECONCILIATION FUNDING, IF YOU. STILL HAVE 75 BILLION AVAILABLE, WHY ARE YOU ASKING THE AMERICAN. PEOPLE TO ABSORB THE COST OF THE. WAR THEY DON'T SUPPORT, INSTEAD. OF ASKING FOR TRANSFER. AUTHORITIES FOR UNSPENT. RECONCILIATION FUNDING? ESPECIALLY IF YOU CAN'T EVEN GET. A $400 MILLION IN UKRAINE. FUNDING OUT THE DOOR? >> AS I MENTIONED EARLIER.

SENATOR, THAT MONEY FROM THE. ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL IS. OTHERWISE ALLOCATED TO THE. REBUILDING OF OUR MILITARY WITH. PRIORITIES LIKE THE GOLDEN DOME. FOR AMERICAN HYPERSONICS AND. OTHER MUNITIONS INVESTMENTS WE. MADE OUT FRONT, AS WE TRIED TO. ADDRESS THE BIDEN BUDGET INTO. THE AMERICA FIRST BUDGET, SO. REALLOCATING THAT AND MAKING. THOSE PRIORITIES -- THOSE ARE. ALLOCATED TO REBUILD --. >> MY POINT, IF YOU CAN'T SPEND. IT ON A TIMELINE THAT MAKE. SENSE, WHY DO YOU NEED TO COME. BACK AND ASK FOR MORE MONEY?

WOULDN'T IT BE BETTER TO SPEND. MONEY YOU ALREADY HAVE? ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTED, OR AT. LEAST I THINK THE SUPPLEMENTAL. DOESN'T INCLUDE FUNDING TO. REPAIR DAMAGE TO OUR BASES OR TO. OUR MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE IN. THE REGION, AND I HAVE NOT HEARD. THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE FULL. EXTENT OF ANY OF THOSE DAMAGE. ESTIMATES. SHOULD WE EXPECT ANOTHER REQUEST. TO ADDRESS THAT MILITARY. CONSTRUCTION COST? AND AT WHAT POINT DO YOU STOP. ASKING AMERICANS TO FOOT THE.

BILL FOR A WAR THEY DON'T. SUPPORT ON TOP OF AN INFLATED. BUDGET REQUEST, AND BILLIONS IN. RECONCILIATION THAT YOU HAVEN'T. SPENT? >> SENATOR I OBVIOUSLY DON'T. AGREE WITH YOUR CHARACTERIZATION. OF THAT -- --. >> I APPRECIATE THAT BUT I WANT. YOU TO ANSWER MY QUESTION, I. KNOW YOU DON'T AGREE WITH MY. CHARACTERIZATION, I DON'T AGREE. WITH YOURS EITHER. >> WELL --. [CHUCKLING]. ONE OF THE REASON I TAKE ISSUE. WITH THAT CHARACTERIZATION IS. SOMETHING THAT SENATOR DURBIN. SAID WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT.

UKRAINE, HE TALKED ABOUT. WINNING. AND I APPRECIATE IT AS MUCH AS. ANYBODY WINNING A WAR. BUT I SIT IN FRONT OF A. COMMITTEE THAT WANTS TO TALK. ABOUT WINNING OR THAT HAS BEEN. GOING ON FOR FOUR YEARS AND. TALKS ABOUT STRATEGIC DEFEAT OF. A CONFLICT GOING ON FOR FOUR. MONTHS TO PREVENT IRAN FROM. GETTING A NUCLEAR BOMB. I WOULD HOPE FOR SOME. PERSPECTIVE IN THIS TOWN, OF THE. HISTORIC NATURE OF WHAT. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS UNDERTAKEN. YOU WANT RADICAL ISLAMISTS --. >> I HAVE LIMITED TI.