Sen. Kelly Calls US Munitions Depletion from Iran War Shocking, Slams $1.5 Trillion Defense Request

Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly said Sunday that Pentagon briefings show deep depletion of key US munitions from the war in Iran, leaving the country less safe in a potential conflict with China.

Kelly joined "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" from Austin, Texas. He said CBS reported the Iran war's cost at least $50 billion. Kelly has pressed the Pentagon on munitions used, including Tomahawks, ATACMS, SM-3, THAAD rounds, and Patriot rounds. "The numbers are, I think it's fair to say it's shocking how deep we have gone into these magazines," Kelly said, blaming President Trump for entering the war without a strategic goal, plan or timeline.

That depletion means replenishment will take years, Kelly said. He questioned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on the timeline during a hearing. Adm. Paparo, head of US Pacific Command, told Congress he saw no real cost to deterring China from Middle East diversions. Kelly disagreed. The US could defend Taiwan in a short conflict of days or weeks, he said, but a longer fight would leave it in a worse position without the Iran war.

Kelly called the White House's $1.5 trillion defense spending request outrageous. When he entered the Senate five and a half years ago, the defense budget was just over $700 billion, he noted—now nearly twice the amount the rest of the world spends on defense. The request includes the Golden Dome system, whose physics Kelly called really hard. "I'm very confident we're going to spend a lot of money, and we're going to get a system that doesn't work," he said.

The administration late Friday sanctioned four entities for providing satellite imagery to aid Iran's strikes on US forces and allies; three are in China. Kelly said China and Russia support Iran as adversaries and allies. He criticized the administration for not using sanctions power against Russia over Ukraine and for lifting some sanctions.

On a three-day Ukraine ceasefire for prisoner exchanges and Vladimir Putin's annual parade, Putin said Saturday the conflict may be coming to an end but remains serious. Kelly called it a positive statement. He plans to visit Ukraine in three weeks. He blamed Trump for not providing enough support to Ukraine, citing Trump's odd relationship with Putin, refusal to press him and backing off sanctions.

Kelly sued Defense Secretary Hegseth for violating his free speech rights over a video. The Justice Department claims it urged active-duty members to reject legal orders; Kelly said it called to resist illegal orders. The administration argues retired service members like Kelly and the other 2 million must give up pensions, healthcare and retired status to exercise First Amendment rights, he said. One judge noted Kelly's senator status gives him a bully pulpit. Kelly said his Armed Services Committee role requires him to hold the administration accountable. Retired service members attended his Thursday court hearing. Trump and Hegseth once called for his execution over the video, Kelly said, referencing their tweets.