Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) have called on Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) to immediately convene a public hearing with Pentagon officials on the Trump administration’s ongoing military campaign against Iran.
“We are deeply troubled by the lack of transparency from the Trump Administration and the Department of Defense and its failure to keep the Congress and the American people informed,” HASC Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-Wash.) wrote March 27 in a letter signed by all Democrats on the committee.
The letter came before Trump’s Wednesday April 1 televised address expressing optimism that U.S. military objectives can be met within two to three weeks.
For the past couple of weeks, there have been reports the Donald Trump administration is considering deploying troops to secure the speculated 440 kilograms, or near 1,000 pounds, of highly enriched uranium (HEU) the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says remains in Iran after strikes from June 2025’s Midnight Hammer strike on Iran’s key nuclear facilities. “We remain concerned by the ever-shifting strategic and operational objectives of the conflict and lack of clarity regarding the possible use of U.S. ground forces in the region,” the letter continued.
Notably, Trump’s address did not confirm whether a ground operation would be in the cards in the next couple of weeks.
Democrats on other committees are also demanding public hearings on the military campaign in Iran. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs committee, scolded committee chairman Brian Mast (R-Fla.) last week, in his opening remarks to a committee hearing, on not holding a public hearing on what’s happening in Iran.
“I think you can understand my frustration that this committee is expected to address all of these matters in one single hearing, all while Chairman Mast has yet to hold a single hearing, not one, on the most urgent matter of international security before us today,” Meeks said. “Even as [the administration] prepares to ask American taxpayers to foot our $200 billion bill, the American people have not had the opportunity to hear public testimony at this minute… the American people deserve transparency and accountability on a conflict of this magnitude, and this committee has the responsibility to provide it.”
Mast responded that there had been plenty of classified hearings on the war in Iran.
The letter also pressured for answers on the costs of the operation to date, details on munitions expenditures and more clarity on the department’s plans to ask Congress for a potential $200 billion supplemental.
“There is no question that the Iranian regime is guilty of horrific crimes against its own people, conducts destabilization activities throughout the region, and should not be permitted to develop a nuclear weapon,” the letter continued. “Given the complexity and gravity of this conflict, it is imperative that it receive its own hearing.”