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Live updates: Hegseth faces Senate heat; Voting Rights Act ruling sparks midterm worries

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by The Hill Staff - 04/30/26 8:44 AM ET

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by The Hill Staff - 04/30/26 8:44 AM ET

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will be back in the hot seat on Thursday, facing questions from senators over the ongoing Iran war and President Trump’s $1.5 trillion defense budget request.

Hegseth gave fiery testimony in the House on Wednesday, where he clashed with Democrats and was grilled over recent Pentagon leadership firings and $400 million in withheld funds for Ukraine. The defense chief said the aid has been released.

Following Wednesday’s landmark Supreme Court decision weakening a central provision of the Voting Rights Act, Republicans and Democrats in Congress worry about its potential impact on November’s midterm elections. Both the House and Senate are in session Thursday.

Late Wednesday, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) also cleared a key hurdle for reconciliation, adopting a budget blueprint for a second reconciliation bill that would fund immigration enforcement.

Senate Democrats are also poised for another war powers vote as the conflict in Iran nears the 60-day mark.

Trump on Thursday will host a farewell event for King Charles III and Queen Camilla before attending policy meetings.

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