Defense Secretary Wednesday from House lawmakers for the first time since President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration launched , which Democrats have contested as a costly conflict of choice waged without congressional approval. He鈥檒l return tomorrow to face the Senate.
Trump, meanwhile, told Axios that to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a lift of the U.S. blockade 鈥� a plan that would postpone discussions of Iran鈥檚 nuclear program.
Until now, Hegseth about the war, although he and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine have held televised Pentagon briefings. Hegseth has mostly taken questions from conservative journalists, while citing Bible passages to castigate mainstream outlets.
Democrats quickly pivoted to the ballooning , the huge drawdown of and . Some lawmakers have also questioned how prepared the military was to , some of which penetrated U.S. defenses and .
they will keep faith in Trump鈥檚 wartime leadership, for now, citing Iran鈥檚 nuclear program, the potential for talks to resume and the high stakes of withdrawal. Still, GOP lawmakers are eager for the conflict to end, and some are eyeing future votes that could become an important test for the president if the war drags on.
Here’s the Latest:
USS Ford aircraft carrier heading home after record-breaking deployment, AP sources say
The world鈥檚 largest aircraft carrier had been at sea for more than 300 days, including participating in the war against Iran and capture of former Venezuelan President Nicol谩s Maduro.
The Ford will be leaving the Middle East in the coming days and returning to its home port in Virginia in mid-May, according to two U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to detail sensitive military movements.
The ship broke the U.S. record this month for the longest post-Vietnam War deployment, a nearly 10-month span after leaving Naval Station Norfolk in June.
鈥� Konstantin Toropin and Ben Finley
Trump says US is weighing reducing American troop presence in Germany
The president leveled the new threat that he may reduce the U.S. military presence in Germany as tensions grow with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the Iran war.
鈥淭he United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time,鈥� Trump said in a social media post.
Merz on Monday said the U.S. was being 鈥渉umiliated鈥� by the Iranian leadership and criticized Washington鈥檚 lack of strategy in the war. Trump attacked Merz in a social media post Tuesday, saying the German chancellor 鈥渢hinks it鈥檚 OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon鈥� and 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 know what he鈥檚 talking about!鈥�
In his first term, Trump also moved to cut U.S. troops in Germany because he said it spent too little on defense.
Araghchi works the phones
In the absence of substantive negotiations, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been busy shoring up moral and rhetorical support in his country鈥檚 staring contest with America and Israel.
He spent Wednesday conducting a string of phone calls with the foreign ministers of India, Kenya and Poland, along with the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoljaric and Nabih Berri, the speaker of the Lebanese parliament.
Official reports of these chats contained few details, but the Iranian government account of the meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said Araghchi 鈥渋nformed his Indian counterpart about the situation in the region and the consequences of the continued illegal actions of the United States in threatening the freedom of international navigation, as well as the latest developments related to the negotiations to end the imposed war against Iran.鈥�
Earlier this week, Araghchi conducted a whirlwind diplomatic tour, visiting Oman and Pakistan on Sunday then Moscow on Monday for a sit-down with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Vance acknowledges he鈥檚 questioned missile stockpiles in the wake of the Iran war
The vice president, in an interview airing Wednesday on Fox News Channel, was responding to a report in The Atlantic that said he, in private, has repeatedly questioned the Pentagon鈥檚 depiction of the war and the depletion of U.S. missile stockpiles.
Vance was dismissive of the reporting but said, 鈥淥f course I鈥檓 concerned about, you know, our readiness because that鈥檚 my job to be concerned.鈥�
He praised the military, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, but said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 of course my job to ask these questions. It鈥檚 of course my job to make sure that we鈥檙e on top of every issue.鈥�
Hegseth hearing c
oncludes after nearly six hours
Hegseth is exiting the House Armed Services Committee after a nearly six-hour hearing.
The hearing showed the partisan divide on Capitol Hill over the war with Iran. As Democrats questioned him on the economic costs and strategy of the war, Hegseth fired back that lawmakers were being 鈥渇eckless鈥� in their questioning. Republicans mostly stood behind the defense secretary, although a few questioned his reasoning for removing several top officials.
鈥淎t the end of the day, the Iran war is the biggest issue that we face,鈥� said Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the committee.
Hegseth will be back on Capitol Hill tomorrow for a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Hegseth says he ordered officers removed from promotion list
Hegseth told lawmakers that he ordered the names of two female and two Black officers from a promotion list.
Hegseth was asked the question because Army Secretary Dan Driscoll previously testified before a congressional committee that he refused to strike the officers鈥� names because of their exemplary service.
Hegseth, who has been criticized for the firings of top military leaders, said that he did it.
鈥淓very officer serves at the pleasure of the president,鈥� Hegseth said. 鈥淎nd when they need to be removed in order to ensure we have the right leadership in those services, I will make those calls, regardless of what you might say from the dais.鈥�
Hegseth says Pentagon released Ukraine aid funds
Hegseth told lawmakers that, as of yesterday, the Pentagon is allowing $400 million of Ukraine aid to be spent after months of delay.
The admission comes a day after Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell called out the Pentagon for withholding the funds in an editorial with the Washington Post.
鈥淭he Ukraine aid we passed months ago is now collecting dust at the Pentagon,鈥� McConnell wrote in the Post.
Jay Hurst, the Pentagon comptroller, told lawmakers the funds can now be spent, but when the aid will actually reach Ukraine 鈥渄epends on what they buy with the money.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to take the advice of the (European Command) commander鈥� on how to use the funds best, Hurst added.
Iran鈥揑ndia diplomatic call follows Araghchi鈥檚 Russia visit
Iran鈥檚 Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held a telephone conversation discussing rising regional tensions and diplomatic efforts, Araghchi鈥檚 official Telegram channel said in a post.
Araghchi said insecurity in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz stems from what he described as aggressive actions by the United States and Israel, adding they should be held accountable for global security and economic consequences. He also warned of the impact of U.S. actions on freedom of international navigation.
During his recent Moscow visit, Araghchi said Washington was seeking talks after failing to achieve its objectives. His regional tour included Pakistan and Oman, amid attempts to revive stalled negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
2 people killed in a clash with police in Iran
An armed group in the Gach Berin area in the city of Iranshahr opened fire upon encountering a police patrol, prompting officers to respond with heavy gunfire that stopped the group鈥檚 vehicle and killed two people, according to provincial police, as reported by the semi-official news agencies, Tasnim News Agency and Fars News Agency. Both Iranian outlets are close to state institutions.
Two others were wounded in the exchange, the police said.
The police added that a Kalashnikov rifle and ammunition were recovered from the vehicle after it was searched.
Iranshahr is in southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province, bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan. The province has been the site of occasional deadly clashes involving militant groups, armed drug smugglers and Iranian security forces. It is one of the least developed provinces of Iran.
Hegseth deflects questions on cost of gas by pointing to California
Americans saw the largest monthly jump in gas prices in six decades during the war with Iran. Yet, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth refused to engage on that issue and instead pointed to typically higher gas prices in California.
Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee have asked Hegseth several times about the rise in gas prices. When Rep. Maggie Goodlander asked whether Hegseth knew the current nationwide average price for a gallon of gas, he responded that it鈥檚 鈥渕uch higher in California.鈥�
Republicans routinely lambast California鈥檚 higher gas prices that result from higher state taxes and environmental regulations in the Democratic-led state.
Goodlander responded that the current average is $4.23 a gallon and argued the defense secretary is ignoring the 鈥渋mpacts of this war on the American taxpayer.鈥�
Trump cheers UAE plan to exit OPEC as 鈥榞reat鈥�
The president said the oil-rich nation鈥檚 decision to leave OPEC and OPEC+ on May 1 could help calm the volatile oil market shaken by the Iran war.
鈥淚 think ultimately it鈥檚 a good thing for getting the price of gas down, getting oil down, getting everything down,鈥� Trump said in an exchange with reporters in the Oval Office.
Trump says Putin offered to help US handle Iran鈥檚 enriched uranium as part of potential nuclear deal
Trump said Putin, during a phone call Wednesday, renewed his offer for Russia to serve as a third country that could deal with Iran鈥檚 970 pounds of enriched uranium that the U.S. leader is demanding Tehran must surrender.
鈥淗e told me he鈥檇 like to be involved with the enrichment 鈥� if he can help us get it,鈥� Trump said Putin told him. 鈥淚 said, 鈥業鈥檇 much rather have you be involved with ending the war with Ukraine.鈥� To me, that would be more important.鈥�
Top military advisor for Trump says troops should always follow lawful orders
The House Armed Services Committee hearing touched on a debate over how U.S. military members should evaluate whether orders they have received are lawful and should be followed under military protocol, especially as the military has carried out strikes on boats allegedly carrying narcotics.
The question, which came as the hearing reached over four hours, was asked by Rep. Chris Deluzio, a Democrat who was part of a group of lawmakers investigated by the FBI last year after releasing a video reminding U.S. military members to defy illegal orders. Deluzio asked the Joint Chiefs of Staff what commanding officers should do if an enemy is trying to surrender.
Caine declined to discuss the issue in detail, saying that it would take him into a 鈥減artisan place,鈥� but added that 鈥渙fficers and enlisted service members always follow lawful orders. There鈥檚 a checklist for them to do that.鈥�
Life of imprisoned Iranian human rights activist in 鈥榠mminent danger,鈥� foundation says
Dangerously high blood pressure and losing about 44 pounds (20 kilograms) rapidly have placed Narges Mohammadi鈥檚 life in 鈥渋mminent danger,鈥� according to a report by her foundation.
Mohammadi, an Iranian human rights activist and Nobel laureate, has been imprisoned for several periods since 2016 over her opposition to the death penalty and compulsory veiling. She is back in prison after being sentenced on Feb. 8 to 7 1/2 years on charges including collusion against state security and propaganda. The foundation said she suffers from persistent chest pain. She also experienced high blood pressure over the past three days, without responding to medication.
Despite confirmation from Iran鈥檚 medical examiner that she needs at least one month of specialized cardiac care, Tehran prosecutors have refused to grant a temporary suspension of her sentence, the report said. It added that her legal team, after a recent visit, said her condition has reached a critical point.
Congressman blasts Hegseth over troop deaths, says secretary should resign
Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan criticized Hegseth over the deaths of six American soldiers who were stationed in Kuwait and killed by an Iranian drone.
Ryan pressed Hegseth on whether intelligence showed the location was high on Iran鈥檚 target list and was indefensible from aerial attack.
鈥淵et you sent our soldiers from the 103d Sustainment Command there anyway. Is that true or false?鈥� Ryan asked.
Hegseth said the military took proactive measures to protect American forces and that the soldiers who died are remembered every day.
Ryan quoted survivors of the attack who told CBS that they weren鈥檛 prepared to defend against a drone attack. The congressman also accused Hegseth of downplaying what happened and said he should resign.
Ultra-orthodox protests against draft law ripple across Israel
Ultra-orthodox Jews are protesting Israel鈥檚 draft law throughout Israel this week, including in Jerusalem, where police used stun grenades to disperse demonstrations on Wednesday.
The draft remains a political powder keg in Israel. The Ultra-Orthodox make up 13% of the population and oppose enlistment because they believe studying full-time in seminaries is their most important duty. Courts have demanded the government enforce a law mandating conscription. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 鈥� facing elections this year 鈥� relies on ultra-Orthodox parties to maintain his coalition.
The arrest of yeshiva students accused of draft dodging kindled this week鈥檚 demonstrations, including in Ashkelon, where ultra-Orthodox protesters broke into a military commander鈥檚 yard Tuesday, prompting condemnation from Netanyahu.
鈥淚t is unacceptable what they are doing to yeshiva students as if they were the worst criminals,鈥� protestor Menahem Adri said in Jerusalem. 鈥淎ll we want is to sit and study Torah.鈥�
Kremlin warns of 鈥榙ire consequences鈥� if hostilities against Iran resume
Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the Iran war in a phone call with Trump on Wednesday, with the Kremlin stressing the 鈥渄ire consequences鈥� if hostilities resumed.
Speaking to journalists, presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov said that Putin had told the U.S. president that a ground operation on Iranian territory would be completely 鈥渦nacceptable and dangerous.鈥�
Hegseth refuses to say why Army general was fired in tense exchange
Houlahan pressed Hegseth on why he fired the Army鈥檚 top uniformed officer, Gen. Randy George.
Hegseth refused to answer and didn鈥檛 deny the Democratic representative鈥檚 suggestion that he fired George via text.
Hegseth said he wouldn鈥檛 talk about the removal out of respect.
鈥淗owever, I will note it鈥檚 very difficult to change the culture of a department that鈥檚 been destroyed by the wrong perspectives,鈥� Hegseth said.
鈥淪o, Gen. George destroyed a culture?鈥� Houlahan asked.
Hegseth said the department 鈥渘eeded new leadership.鈥�
The congresswoman responded: 鈥淵ou have no way of explaining why you fired one of the most decorated and remarkable men who鈥檚 ever served this nation?鈥�
鈥淲e needed new leadership,鈥� Hegseth said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 my answer.鈥�
鈥淎nd so your answer is a very immature way of responding to my request,鈥� Houlahan said.
Hegseth hearing takes a 10-minute break
The testimony before the House Armed Services Committee has been going on for about three hours.
Democrats who urged troops to defy illegal orders face Hegseth
Four House Democrats are getting their first opportunity to publicly question Hegseth after they were part of a group of Democratic lawmakers who the FBI investigated after releasing a social media video last year that urged U.S. service members to follow military protocol and defy any illegal orders.
Reps. Chrissy Houlahan, Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio and Maggie Goodlander, who all previously served in the military or intelligence agencies, now sit on the House Armed Services Committee.
Houlahan, who was the first Democrat in the group to question Hegseth, reminded the defense secretary that 鈥淒emocrats, even Democrats in Congress, are patriots as well鈥� and 鈥渁dmire and love our uniformed services.鈥�
Still, they confronted Hegseth with tough questions about how long the U.S. would be at war with Iran and how he has led the Pentagon.
Hegseth refuses to say how much longer the Iran war could last or cost
Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan asked Hegseth, 鈥淗ow many more months, just by order of magnitude, do you think that you鈥檙e going to need to be able to conclude operations successfully? And how many more billions of dollars do you think you鈥檙e going to ask this body for?鈥�
Hegseth refused to answer the question, saying that the U.S. military would never tip its hand to an adversary about how long it would be committed to the mission.
Trump says he鈥檚 rejecting Iran鈥檚 latest proposal, keeping blockade in place
The president told Axios on Wednesday that he鈥檚 rejecting Iran鈥檚 proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a lift of the U.S. blockade. Iran鈥檚 proposal, shared with U.S. leaders this week, sought to postpone discussions around Iran鈥檚 nuclear program.
Trump told Axios he doesn鈥檛 want to lift the blockade until Iran addresses its nuclear ambitions.
鈥淭he blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淎nd it is going to be worse for them. They can鈥檛 have a nuclear weapon.鈥�
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hegseth faces criticism over firings of US military leaders
Republican Congressman Don Bacon criticized the defense secretary over his ousting of admirals, generals and other top Pentagon officials. They鈥檝e included Navy Secretary John Phelan and the Army鈥檚 top uniformed officer, Gen. Randy George, and several others.
鈥淲e had a huge bipartisan majority in here that had confidence in the Army chief of staff and the Secretary of Navy,鈥� Bacon said. 鈥淎nd I would just point out 鈥� you may have the constitutional right to do these things, but it doesn鈥檛 make it right or wise.鈥�
Deadly Iran school strike still under investigation
Hegseth says that two months after a deadly strike on an Iranian elementary school killed more than 165 people, including many children, the incident remains under investigation.
That answer came after California Democrat Ro Khanna pressed the defense secretary on the costs associated with the strike.
Hegseth replied that 鈥渢hat unfortunate situation remains under investigation鈥� but that he 鈥渨ouldn鈥檛 tie a cost to that.鈥�
Hegseth told reporters last month that the military assigned a general from outside of U.S. Central Command to investigate the strike. Still, he refused questions about what led to it while arguing that the U.S. does not target civilians.
Those comments came just days after that there was that pointed to U.S. culpability for the Feb. 28 strike, which hit a school adjacent to a Revolutionary Guard base in Minab, Iran.
Hegseth responds to economic costs of war with Iran
The defense secretary faced intense questions from Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, about what American households would have to pay due to the economic repercussions of the war with Iran.
鈥淒o you know how much it will cost Americans in terms of their increased cost in gas and food over the next year because of the Iran war?鈥� Khanna asked.
Pete Hegseth retorted, 鈥淚 would simply ask you what the cost is of an Iranian nuclear bomb.鈥�
Khanna then accused Hegseth and the Trump administration of failing to live up to the president鈥檚 campaign promises of lowering the cost of living for Americans. He argued that Iran鈥檚 blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would cause American households to pay thousands more dollars for gas and food.
鈥淚鈥檓 sad for all the people who voted for Trump. I鈥檓 sad for them because you betrayed them,鈥� Khanna said.
Hegseth says it鈥檚 unfair to call Iran war a quagmire
The defense secretary pushed back on Democratic criticisms that the Trump administration has led Americans into a 鈥渜uagmire,鈥� pointing out that the conflict is only two months old and asserting it has had great success against the Islamic Republic. The U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan dragged on for years, he said.
Trump that operations are likely to last four to five weeks but that he was prepared 鈥渢o go far longer than that.鈥�
The U.S. and Iran do . Trump seems unlikely to accept Tehran鈥檚 latest offer to reopen the strait if the U.S. ends the war, lifts its sea blockade and postpones nuclear talks. The Iranians seem unwilling to give up their nuclear ambitions before ending the conflict.
Hegseth says US military considered that Iran might close the Strait of Hormuz
He said the Pentagon 鈥渓ooked at all aspects鈥� of the risk that Iran would blockade the strait. The claim came after Rep. Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts, asked Hegseth if he considered 鈥淚ran closing the Strait of Hormuz winning.鈥�
鈥淚 would say the blockade that we hold that doesn鈥檛 allow anything to come in or out of Iranian ports,鈥� Hegseth replied.
So 鈥渨e鈥檝e blockaded their blockade,鈥� Moulton said 鈥� that鈥檚 鈥渓ike saying tag, you鈥檙e it.鈥�
Caine declined to say if the risk of Iran closing the critical waterway was considered, but said the military always offers 鈥渁 full range of military options that are carefully considered with the associated risks.鈥�
The heated exchange was the latest between Hegseth and Democrats who have used the hearing to ask broader questions on the strategy behind the war in Iran and the Trump administration鈥檚 use of the military. Meanwhile, House Republicans have largely used their time asking very specific or detailed questions about the Pentagon鈥檚 budget and spending.
As TotalEnergies reports huge profits, protesters call for windfall taxes on fossil fuel companies
Climate activists protested outside a TotalEnergies petrol station in Paris on Wednesday after the French energy giant reported $5.4 billion in adjusted first-quarter profit, up 29% from a year earlier, as it 鈥渃aptured higher prices鈥� despite production challenges due to the war in Iran.
The 350.org group said about 30 activists from several environmental organizations unfurled a banner reading, 鈥淭otalEnergies profits, we foot the bill.鈥�
The group said war-related price spikes have cost French consumers and businesses more than $2.3 billion so far, urging the French government to 鈥渟how political courage鈥� by permanently taxing excess fossil fuel profits.
鈥淲hile families watch their bills skyrocket, TotalEnergies posts some of its best financial results without even paying its fair share of taxes,鈥� 350.org country manager Fanny Petitbon said in a statement. 鈥淲e are witnessing an obscene transfer of wealth: the war enriches shareholders as it impoverishes citizens.鈥�
Hegseth claims Americans support Iran war despite polling
The hearing has resumed, with a heated exchange between Democratic Rep. John Garamendi and Hegseth.
The secretary said the American people have supported the war鈥檚 mission of depriving Iran of a nuclear weapon, 鈥渄espite your loose talk and words like quagmire.鈥�
While an AP-NORC poll from March found that about two-thirds of U.S. adults said it鈥檚 鈥渆xtremely鈥� or 鈥渧ery鈥� important to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, other polling suggests that most Americans disapprove of how Trump is handling the issue of Iran more broadly.
Garamendi had lambasted Hegseth and Trump for the Iran war, calling it 鈥渁 political and economic disaster at every level.鈥�
1.24 million projected to face acute insecurity in Lebanon, UN report says
That鈥檚 nearly one in four of the population analyzed, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis released by Lebanon鈥檚 Agriculture Ministry with the UN鈥檚 Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Program.
The figures are projections and it remains unclear how the estimates were reached. The report notes that the current crisis follows seven years of compounded economic collapse and conflict.
鈥淐ompounded shocks are undermining agricultural livelihoods and impacting food security, highlighting the urgent need for emergency agricultural assistance to support farmers,鈥� said Nora Ourabah Haddad, FAO Representative in Lebanon.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
