Hegseth addressed lawmakers on the Senate Appropriations Committee alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, testifying on a supplemental budget request for the Pentagon.
"As you know, we live in a dangerous world that demands bold and quick action. That is why we are requesting this fiscal year 2026 supplemental allocation," Hegseth said, describing the budget package as an essential and urgent resource booster to meet the Department of Defense's immediate requirements.
Emphasizing that the supplemental request is not a substitute for standard base funding, Hegseth highlighted the rapid evolution of modern warfare.
"We are also in a different era. If we do not make critical investments right now in technology, processing power, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and space, we do not have the luxury of standing still," Hegseth said. "Our adversaries, who are already making these investments, could leave us behind."
Under questioning from Democratic Senator Dick Durbin regarding the financial toll of the conflict with Iran, the Defense Secretary put the price tag at "$37.5 billion as of today."
Hegseth warned that failure to secure the requested funds could leave service members unpaid. He further cautioned that the U.S. military would face critical shortfalls that "would threaten our ability to rapidly replenish equipment and munitions and seamlessly sustain vital operations."