US war on Iran has cost around $29bn, Pentagon says

US war on Iran has cost around $29bn, Pentagon says

The Guardian-May12th2026

As Hegseth started his opening statement, an anti-war protester stood up and pronounced “I am an Iranian American and against this war of aggression”.

The woman was removed by officers but continued to tell the Seante hearing room she opposed the war against Iran.

There were a handful more anti-war protesters wearing pink shirts with the message “no war on Iran” in the hearing but they remained silent. Several of them stood and walked out while Hegseth was talking, AP reported.

Democratic senator Chris Coons has told Pete Hegseth he feels the defence secretary has become “distracted” by culture wars and questioned his decision to remove senior military leaders in the middle of a war.

“Mr Secretary, it seems at times you’re more passionate about fighting culture wars than winning the real war,” he said at the Senate appropriations defence subcommittee, giving the examples of banning books and erasing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) content from websites.

“I’m stunned that you’ve fired the 44-year chief of staff of the army in the middle of a hot war, and dismissed the secretary of the navy in the middle of a naval blockade,” Coons added, referring to Randy George and John Phelan, who both stepped down last month.

“As dozens of senior flag rank officers have been dismissed, I am worried about what that does to focus and morale,” Coons said.