Hegseth tells Senate war on Iran has so far cost $37.5bn at hearing to request more funds

The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth told the Senate on Tuesday that the US-Israel war on Iran had cost $37.5bn so far, as he faced lawmakers furious over the conflict's soaring price tag and the deaths last week of three American service members.

Patty Murray, the committee's Democratic vice-chair, demanded Hegseth explain what the war had actually achieved, accusing the administration of shifting its rationale by the week and warning the conflict risked becoming "another forever war."

"We hear a different rationale for this war every few days," Murray said in her opening remarks, noting the justification had moved from pre-empting threats that "did not exist" to regime change, then to dismantling Iran's nuclear programme and navy, and now, she said, to simply reopening the strait of Hormuz, a waterway that was "fully open, toll-free, before this war began."

"Here we are, five months later", she continued. "The strait is closed. The ceasefire hasn't just disintegrated -- this war is now spiraling out of control again."

Hegseth said the $21bn readiness portion of the request would cover military pay, replace equipment used in recent operations and stabilize fuel shortfalls, while the $46bn capability portion would expand production of "solid rocket motors, Jdams [joint direct attack munitions], hypersonics and counter-drone capabilities."

Without the funds, he warned, the department faced "critical shortfalls" that threaten its ability to pay troops and replenish munitions, and he cautioned that failing to fund the Pentagon at $1.5tn was "the greatest threat that our nation faces."

Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican of Louisiana, pressed the panelists on the situation in the strait of Hormuz.

"That's a hypothetical question," Caine replied, "and I don't know the answer to that."

"Guys, we need straight answers," Kennedy shot back.