WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Jason Crow said he will oppose the Pentagon's $1.5 trillion budget request and called for a clearer U.S. strategy in the Middle East during congressional discussions in Washington last week. The announcement came as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before congressional committees on the budget request.

Crow argued that the broader policy debate had been narrowed to operational questions. "We have confused, as a nation, tactics versus strategy. Most of the conversation around Iran is about tactics — Should we blockade? How do we counter drones?" he said. "We are not good at having off ramps and accomplishing large strategic decisions in the Middle East."

He said the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will remain in effect until a deal can be reached to end the war, and noted that Iran is blocking the Strait while the United States is blockading their blockade. He criticized the absence of a defined administration strategy for the region and linked his budget opposition to past U.S. military engagements abroad.

"The real question that we should all be asking is, does America really want to continue to have conflict in the Middle East for another 5, 10, 20 years?" he said. "So let's actually talk strategy and what it is we're trying to accomplish here, instead of having a constant discussion around blockades."

A ceasefire was brokered in early April between the United States and Iran. The United States has also enforced a naval blockade on Iranian ports and has threatened to imminently restart strikes against Iran. President Donald Trump told congressional leaders late last week that "hostilities" with Iran have "terminated" as the war reached the 60-day mark. On Saturday, Trump said he was reviewing a new peace proposal from Iran but was unlikely to accept it because "they have not yet paid a big enough price."