"U.S. Soldiers Killed and Look What You Said?!" Defense Secretary Facing Heated Hearing for Budget... Full Recap of Dramatic Moments (Trump NOW)

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on the 21st (local time) that 37.5 billion dollars (approx. 55.5 trillion won) has been spent so far due to the war with Iran.

Attending a U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee hearing that day, Secretary Hegseth made the remarks and explained, "That figure partially includes additional projected operations and maintenance costs, military personnel pay, and other expenses through the end of the fiscal year."

He added that among the 37.5 billion dollars, "Some items represent actual costs incurred to date, while military pay, operations and maintenance, and other expenses include projected costs expected to accrue through September 30 (the end of the fiscal year)."

In response to a question asking whether 67 billion dollars of the 87.6 billion dollars in supplemental budget requested by President Donald Trump from Congress is allocated for defense-related matters, Secretary Hegseth answered, "That is largely correct."

Acknowledging criticisms that 75 billion dollars of the budget secured last year remains unexecuted, he stated, "It is scheduled to be allocated to plans and projects that must be pursued to rebuild our military."

When asked whether the U.S. military would be able to destroy the nuclear facility reportedly being built underground by Iran at 'Pickaxe Mountain' if bombed, Secretary Hegseth avoided a direct answer, saying, "Many of our capabilities are classified."

Asked if China and Russia are supporting Iran, Secretary Hegseth stated, "There is certainly a move among adversaries to cooperate, and we have various ways to deter this."

He said, "Some of those methods, as well as the depth and scope of cooperation [between China, Russia, and Iran], are classified," adding, "Both countries [China and Russia] have ways in which they enable some of Iran's activities at different levels."

Secretary Hegseth stated that the goal of the war with Iran—to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons—is consistent and clear, repeatedly comparing it to North Korea's nuclear development.

Secretary Hegseth pointed out, "In North Korea, the buildup of conventional forces was used to hide nuclear capabilities, and those nuclear capabilities have advanced to a point where they can no longer be deterred."

He emphasized, "What Iran tried to continue even after 'Midnight Hammer' [the U.S. military's bombing of Iranian underground nuclear facilities in June of last year] was the enhancement of conventional forces," adding, "Attacking their conventional capabilities—namely missile launchers, the defense industrial base, and the navy—is all part of that effort."

During his opening remarks at the hearing, Secretary Hegseth was interrupted four times as some audience members shouted slogans such as "No war."

Also, when Democratic Senator Gary Peters reprimanded him by saying, "You come to Congress asking for an additional 70 billion dollars after failing in the Iran war," and "You have neither strategy nor leadership," Secretary Hegseth fiercely fought back, telling the senator, "Instead of playing partisan political games, approve the budget support."

(Produced by JIN Sang-myeong | Video edited by Hong Jin-young | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.