WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-Wash.) led a letter Friday signed by all HASC Democrats and sent to Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) asking that a public hearing be immediately convened and the Department of Defense be brought in to testify on President Trump’s war against Iran.

In the letter, Smith and the HASC Democrats wrote, “We believe the military action against Iran necessitates that the Department of Defense immediately testify, in an open setting, before the House Armed Services Committee.

“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. 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. This conflict has already resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and an additional 290 wounded. It has also resulted in the deaths of over a thousand civilians and had sweeping impacts on the domestic and global economy as well as the stability of the Middle East. Additionally, our questions remain unanswered about the costs incurred, including daily operations, lost and damaged equipment, munitions expenditures, and reports that the administration plans to ask Congress for a $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. Given the complexity and gravity of this conflict, it is imperative that it receive its own hearing, separate and apart from the committee's posture hearing with the Commander of U.S. Central Command as well as the budget hearing with the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Those hearings will not allow the time and attention this issue requires.

“We appreciate your ongoing bipartisan work on behalf of this committee and your attention to this request as we work to enable the committee’s ability to carry out its oversight responsibilities.”

A pdf copy of the signed letter can be found here.

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