A $150 billion military spending debate was overshadowed Tuesday when House Armed Services Committee Democrats attempted to hold Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accountable for numerous Pentagon scandals, efforts that were blocked by their Republican colleagues.

During the markup of the $150 billion Pentagon spending measure — part of the GOP’s massive reconciliation legislation — Democrats offered several amendments to address Hegseth’s use of the Signal messaging app to relay sensitive military plans, as well as the reported chaos in the Defense Department under his leadership.

“They have not even begun to prove that there is a chance in hell that they will spend this money intelligently, efficiently and effectively,” committee ranking member Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said at the top of the meeting, referring to President Trump and his Pentagon chief. "Secretary Hegseth has proven himself to be completely incapable of doing the job of secretary of Defense."

Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.), said the fact that Hegseth is still in his role “is a joke,”........

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