Maine U.S Senator Susan Collins is questioning the government on a failure to anticipate the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has led to skyrocketing fuel prices.
Collins posed the question to Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Caine on Tuesday in a Capitol Hill hearing over spending on the war with Iran.
“It seems to me that there’s been a different plan almost daily with dealing with this problem, which is why I ask,” said Collins.
Caine said he would not comment on private advice he gave to the President.
“You should rest assured, as should the American people, that we cover and consider the full range of things all the time in our careful consideration of military actions and the advice, and or options that we present our civilian leaders,” said Caine.
Collins is facing criticism from Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner for supporting a “forever war.” Platner is the presumptive nominee to face Collins, who is seeking a sixth term in the Senate in November.
Collins did not quiz Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who appeared at the same hearing, over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Hegseth largely dealt with questions from Democrats over the justification of the war.
Hegseth did receive a rebuke from Collins for the Defense Department’s choice to only order one new Navy destroyer ship to be constructed at Maine’s Bath Iron Works.
