Congress confronts new questions about US stockpiles, Iran firepower
Key takeaways
- Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday remained dubious of Hegseth s claims that the U.S.
- Hegseth on Tuesday in back-to-back hearings in the House and Senate dismissed concerns of strained stockpiles, accusing the press and lawmakers of overblowing the issue.
- First of all, the munitions issue has been foolishly and unhelpfully overstated, Hegseth told House appropriators.
Why this matters: political developments that affect policy direction and public trust.
Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday remained dubious of Hegseth s claims that the U.S. military s weapons stockpiles remain strong more than two months into the war, with the Pentagon chief this week on the attack to refute anyone who says otherwise.
Likewise, the Trump administration s public insistence that Iran s missile capability is all but obliterated was thrown into doubt following assessments from the intelligence community that Iran still has roughly 70 percent of its mobile launchers and 70 percent of its prewar missile stockpile — first reported by The New York Times on Tuesday.
Hegseth on Tuesday in back-to-back hearings in the House and Senate dismissed concerns of strained stockpiles, accusing the press and lawmakers of overblowing the issue.