The prolongation of the war between the United States and Iran is beginning to generate fissures within the Republican Party, where several senators express growing doubts about the leadership of Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, and question the strategy of President Donald Trump's administration to conduct the conflict.

According to The Hill, Republican lawmakers maintain that confidence in Hegseth has deteriorated as the costs of the war rise and the prospect of a quick resolution recedes. Some even warn that an eventual “massive attack” against Iran could become the decisive factor in regaining political support for an intervention that is facing increasing criticism.

One of the most frequent questions revolves around the Pentagon's inability to anticipate the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important maritime routes for the global transportation of oil, as well as the expansion of the conflict to other strategic points in the Middle East.

Senator Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina, launched one of the harshest criticisms against the defense secretary. "I no longer have any confidence in him. I think he's completely disoriented: he's either accelerating the retirement or forcing out some of the most distinguished leaders we have in the Department of Defense," he told The Hill.

Tillis added that Hegseth "has a huge insecurity complex, lacks experience in large organizations and exercises excessive control. He has lost my trust."

Criticism grows over military strategy

Concerns also center on Washington's response to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the offensive by Iran-backed Houthi groups, which have intensified attacks on ships in the Red Sea and oil shipments from Saudi Arabia.

A Republican senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that within the Defense Department itself there is a loss of confidence in Hegseth's leadership. "I've heard at the Pentagon that there is a loss of trust within the Pentagon itself. And, of course, everyone here on Capitol Hill is hearing the same concerns," he said.

Meanwhile, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins expressed concern about the departure of top military leaders, including Gen. Chris Donahue, the top commander of the U.S. Army in Europe until earlier this month.

“I find it deeply concerning,” Collins said during a hearing in which Hegseth appeared to defend the request for additional resources for Defense. He later indicated that he is still waiting for “more information” about the strategy and the expected outcome of the conflict.

Pressure over the cost of war and the budget

The conflict has also opened a debate about its financial impact. According to Hegseth, the war has cost around $37.5 billion, while independent estimates, such as those by Moody's Analytics, raise the figure to $132 billion.

Senator Joni Ernst, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called for greater transparency about military spending. “Those of us in Congress are concerned about the costs associated with the War Department and transparency,” he said.

At the same time, some hardline Republicans believe the administration should intensify the offensive. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker has urged Trump to “finish the job,” while Senator John Cornyn maintained that the United States has enough military capability to force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“I think we simply need to demonstrate our decisive military superiority and reopen the Strait of Hormuz because we cannot depend on the Iranian regime,” Cornyn said. However, other lawmakers acknowledge that support within the Republican Party to approve a new $73 billion package to finance the war remains insufficient.

The absence of Senator Mitch McConnell for health reasons and increasing political fatigue complicate the White House's aspirations to obtain additional resources to sustain a military campaign whose outcome remains uncertain.

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