Elliot Ackerman on CBS News

Elliot Ackerman joined CBS News to discuss Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, the proposed $1.5 trillion defenseForeign Policy budget, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and the strategic questions facing U.S. policymakers.

The CBS News segment focuses on defense spending, the changing nature of warfare, Iran strategy, regime stability, nuclear deterrence, and the challenge of defining an end state in modern conflict.

Note: Elliot’s commentary begins at approximately the 9:25 mark.

Defense Spending and the Changing Nature of War

In the segment, Ackerman discusses how the proposed defense budget reflects broader changes in warfare and the modernization challenges facing the U.S. military. He also addresses how congressional questioning is moving along two tracks: defense spending and the strategic implications of conflict with Iran.

Iran, Nuclear Ambitions, and Strategic End State

Ackerman explains that Iran’s nuclear ambitions remain central to U.S. strategy and that the administration faces a difficult challenge in defining what the long-term outcome should be. He notes that if the Iranian regime remains in power, questions about nuclear capability, deterrence, and future escalation are likely to persist.

About Elliot Ackerman

Elliot Ackerman is a New York Times bestselling author, journalist, CBS News contributor, former Marine officer, and former CIA special operations officer. His work focuses on war, foreign policy, national security, geopolitics, democracy, and the human consequences of conflict.

Explore more media appearances, interviews, essays, and commentary from Elliot Ackerman on the Media page.

Original CBS News segment: Hegseth defends $1.5 trillion defense budget proposal.