Credit: Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP via Getty Images

(CNN)-- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared before the Senate Tuesday for the first time since the renewed escalation in the US-Iran conflict this month.

The hearing was held before the Senate Appropriations Committee to consider a request for additional funding, as the administration of US President Donald Trump seeks to rally congressional support for tens of billions of dollars to fund the ongoing war on Iran.

The session witnessed verbal exchanges between Hegseth and lawmakers, as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand pressed him on the Trump administration's justification for the war, with the Democratic senator challenging the defense secretary over his previous claims about Iran's nuclear program.

Gillibrand said: 'The words you used earlier do not match reality. You said we destroyed Iran's ability to make nuclear weapons... Yet, after 8 months, in April 2026, the president launched an actual war claiming Iran was two weeks away from having a nuclear weapon.'

Hegseth responded that the nuclear sites targeted in Operation 'Midnight Hammer' in June 2025 'were destroyed, but the Iranians recklessly continued trying to acquire nuclear capabilities.'

During their exchange, Gillibrand accused Hegseth of 'misleading the public about the destruction of Iran's missile launch capabilities,' while Hegseth accused her of 'trying to make campaign ads.'

There was also a heated exchange between the defense secretary and Democratic Senator Gary Peters, who sharply criticized Hegseth's performance, calling him a 'failure,' and expressed concerns about the Trump administration's strategy in the war so far.

Peters said: 'I have no doubt about the ability of our brave service members to accomplish any mission and achieve victory in any battle, but in the absence of a clear strategy for victory, we risk slipping into another endless war that endangers our troops' lives and continues to cost taxpayers billions of dollars,' before asking Hegseth what had been accomplished since the start of the conflict.

Peters also questioned Hegseth's request for additional funding for the Department of Defense (Pentagon) of approximately $70 billion, noting that the request comes 'despite your failure to win this war.'

Hegseth responded sharply, considering Peters' remarks 'an insult to the members of the armed forces,' and said: 'I think your description of this enormous effort as a failure is reckless and irresponsible, and it disrespects the sacrifices of the troops in the field on behalf of the American people to ensure Iran never possesses a nuclear weapon.'

Peters responded, clarifying that he was criticizing the military leaders and not the soldiers themselves, saying: 'Their leaders have let them down,' due to 'the absence of a strategy to achieve victory,' and told Hegseth: 'You, sir, represent the failure, not the men and women on the front lines, nor those who uphold their honor with distinction and competence.'