Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to face tough questioning from members of Congress on Wednesday when he appears before the House Armed Services Committee for the first time since the start of Operation Epic Fury.
According to an early review of his prepared remarks, Mr. Hegseth will expand and confirm key points of the Trump administration’s national defense strategy, including the $1.5 trillion military budget request.
Defending the homeland is the priority of the White House and Pentagon. Deterring China in the Indo-Pacific will happen through “flexible realism” that doesn’t try to choke off Beijing’s national aspirations. Mr. Hegseth will say the U.S. seeks a “balanced relationship” with China.
He will also stress the need for increased burden-sharing with U.S. allies and partners, along with ramping up the U.S. defense industrial base.
Mr. Hegseth’s report to Congress comes amid Trump administration criticism of NATO’s refusal to take part in U.S.-led operations against Iran.
