Republican lawmakers are now openly attacking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a bad sign for an Iran war that is draining money, ships, and troops with no end in sight.

• Senator Tom Tillis called Hegseth's management of the military the worst he has seen and urged Trump to replace him, with pointed hints about Hegseth's drinking.
• Most of the Republicans speaking up are retiring or ex-military, which makes it safe for them to say what colleagues will not.
• The Iran war has already cost the Pentagon tens of billions, and the Navy is short billions, moving money out of payroll to cover combat costs.
• Congress passed a stopgap spending bill without the extra war money, and a $95 billion package is stuck in the Senate.
• Troop deployments in the Middle East have been extended into 2027, including ground forces, even as military leaders warn it leaves the US exposed elsewhere.

Outlook: Hegseth looks set up to take the blame before the midterms, and the buildup of ground troops points to a bigger escalation after them.