Pete Hegseth Faces Senate Grilling Over Pentagon Cuts and Civilian Deaths in Iran War

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismantled a Pentagon oversight office designed to minimize civilian deaths in war, ignoring military officials’ warnings. The move coincided with a U.S. military campaign in Iran that resulted in thousands of civilian casualties, leaving Hegseth unable to justify his actions during a Senate hearing on Thursday.

The Senate Armed Services Committee grilled Hegseth over his decision to slash the critical department by 90%, a move that occurred amid a devastating conflict with Tehran. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand pressed him on the consequences of his actions, highlighting the destruction of schools, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure.

"Let’s talk about how you’re prosecuting the war. What is your response to targeting that has resulted in the destruction of schools, hospitals, civilian places? Why did you cut—by 90 percent—the division that’s supposed to help you not target civilians? And do you know the impact of a strategic failure in a war when you have so many civilian casualties?"

Gillibrand emphasized the broader strategic failure of the war, noting that excessive civilian casualties undermine military objectives.

"You may have tactically completed a mission well, but strategically is not meeting your goals because of the casualties," she said. "What is the cost of that?"

Hegseth failed to provide a substantive response. Instead, he deflected by reiterating a vague commitment to civilian protection.

"No military, no country, works harder at every echelon to ensure they protect civilian lives than the United States military. And that is an ironclad commitment that we make, no matter what systems we use."

Gillibrand pressed further: "Well then why did you cut the department by 90 percent?" Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, the committee’s Republican chairman, interrupted before Hegseth could respond.

Hegseth’s silence on the matter was highlighted in a viral tweet by journalist Aaron Rupar:

Hegseth has no response to Gillibrand's question about why he cut the Pentagon division that's supposed to help the US military avoid targeting civilians pic.twitter.com/Vq04GEA2vp

The war has already claimed at least 1,701 civilian lives in Iran, according to an analysis by the Human Rights Activists News Agency. The death toll is even higher in Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 2,496 people, per the Lebanese health ministry. The conflict has also resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. servicemembers across the region.

Beyond the human toll, the war has triggered a global energy crisis by blockading the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for Middle Eastern oil trade. In the U.S., delayed oil and gas deliveries have driven up transportation costs, inflating prices for virtually every commodity. As of publication, the national average for a gallon of gas exceeded $4.30, with some California cities—including San Francisco, Napa, and San Jose—seeing prices above $6 per gallon.

The economic fallout has alarmed Republicans and White House officials, who fear the unpopular war could jeopardize conservative gains in Washington ahead of the November elections.