US Defense Budget · Developing story · 2 reports

Sen. Paul calls $1.5T defense request plus supplemental 'fiscally irresponsible' amid Iran war costs

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Sen. Paul calls $1.5T defense request plus supplemental 'fiscally irresponsible' amid Iran war costs

Jul 21, 2026

Bloomberg clip shows Sen. Rand Paul questioning Defense Secretary testimony on a $37.5 billion supplemental for Iran war costs through September and a proposed $1.5 trillion FY27 base defense budget. Paul calculates a roughly $500 billion increase over current spending plus the supplemental and labels it irresponsible. He argues national debt, not Iran, poses the greater threat, citing Adm. Mullen, and notes the absence of a congressional war authorization unlike the Bush-era AUMFs for Afghanistan and Iraq.

▶ Source: Bloomberg Television

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Murray questions Hegseth on $1 trillion DoD budget and Iran supplemental

Jul 21, 2026

PBS NewsHour aired Sen. Patty Murray questioning Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a funding hearing on an Iran supplemental request. Murray highlighted a combined $1 trillion DoD budget, unspent prior funds, and items like National Guard patrols, border support, Caribbean strikes, munitions, and recruiting that she argued were unrelated to Iran or already requested. Hegseth attributed needs to prior administration neglect, cited record recruiting numbers, and defended assessments of Iran's missile capabilities and control over the Strait of Hormuz, while Murray pointed to contradictory statements and the recent toll proposal.

▶ Source: PBS NewsHour