WATCH: Baldwin Questions Hegseth on Disastrous Impacts of Iran War

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) pressed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on the disastrous impacts of Trump's illegal war in Iran that's raising costs on Wisconsin families and farmers. During a hearing in front of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Baldwin demanded answers from Secretary Hegseth on why soldiers in the Middle East were denied drone and air defense systems, only to then be hit by an Iranian drone strike killing six soldiers and injuring more than 30 others, including soldiers from Wisconsin. The hearing comes as President Trump has requested nearly $70 billion in additional funding to further his war in Iran.

"This supplemental request is another example of this Administration's backwards priorities. Instead of spending tens of billions of dollars more for the President's war in Iran, we should be meeting the needs of American families," Baldwin opened her questioning with. "We could invest this money to accelerate new cures and treatments for cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Or we could use it to help more families with rising home energy costs. We could use this funding to help more families afford quality childcare. We could use this funding to help more kids get free school lunch. We could use this funding to restore healthcare for working families. We could use this funding to support our public schools and special education. This was a misguided war of choice, and every dollar spent on this war is a dollar not spent helping families afford housing, health care, childcare or groceries at home."

Senator Baldwin pressed Secretary Hegseth on his continued failures to protect American troops, including 17 servicemembers who have been killed and hundreds more injured. Baldwin questioned Hegseth about reports that the Army facility at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait did not have adequate air defense capabilities when it was attacked by Iran on March 1^st and pushed for answers on why requests for additional medical and drone defense systems were denied prior to the conflict with Iran beginning. Earlier this year, Senator Baldwin demanded action from the Administration after servicemembers reported they were not receiving care for traumatic brain injuries.

Senator Baldwin has been an outspoken critic of President Trump's illegal war with Iran and has repeatedly forced votes in the Senate to end Trump's war of choice that is hurting Wisconsin farmers, families, and servicemembers. Senator Baldwin has traveled across Wisconsin, hearing directly from farmers about how President Trump's war of choice is jacking up the cost of fertilizer and fuel and hurting their operations.

A full recording of Senator Baldwin's questioning of Secretary Hegseth is available here.

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