Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced the first round of intense questioning on Capitol Hill on April 29 as lawmakers scrutinized the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, launched without formal congressional approval. The hearing, Hegseth's first since the conflict began in late February, quickly shifted gears when a Democratic lawmaker used Hegseth's own past statement to challenge his stance on military obedience. Lawmaker uses Hegseth's past words against him Rep. Maggie Goodlander pressed Pete Hegseth on whether U.S. troops are obligated to refuse unlawful orders.