Pete Hegseth won't rule out boots on the ground in Iran, stirring worries from Long Island's congressional delegation

WASHINGTON — The prospect of deploying American ground troops to Iran was received Monday by Long Island’s members of Congress with stark opposition or unreadiness to support such a move.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday refused at a Pentagon news  conference to rule out boots on the ground, saying the U.S. “would go as far as we need to go." He said there are no ground troops there now, but “we’re not going to go into the exercise of what we will or will not do.”

The conflict is projected to last four to five weeks, President Donald Trump said during a White House medal ceremony, “but we have the capability to go far longer than that.” He echoed that U.S. military will do “whatever it takes” to carry out the mission’s objectives. Earlier Monday, Trump reportedly said  he would not rule out boots on the ground but said they “probably” weren’t required.

Not even the Island’s two Republican members of the U.S. House said they were ready to support sending in ground troops to the conflict that has claimed at least four American lives.

“While I support President Trump’s ordering air strikes against the world’s largest state sponsor of terror, most Americans, myself included, remain unconvinced that kinetic ground operations would offer more national security benefit than risk,” Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) said in a statement Monday.

Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, similarly reminded that he “strongly” supports the military action launched Saturday. But he, too, stopped short of committing to backing the administration if it decides there is a need for ground troops.

“Congress will be fully briefed on the situation in Iran this week,” Garbarino said, as the House is expected to reconvene in Washington on Tuesday. “As we receive more information, we will determine what additional steps are necessary to protect American lives and defend our allies in the region.”

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), a Democrat who said he supported the military air strikes launched against Iran, said Monday, “Any deployment of U.S. boots on the ground is completely unacceptable.”

“This is precisely why congressional hearings and debate are essential,” Suozzi said.

“The administration briefing Congress tomorrow can’t come soon enough,” he added, referring to Tuesday’s planned information sessions from the administration to lawmakers.

Freshman Rep. Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre) said that while the death of Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei may bring greater security to the U.S. and the Middle East, “Iran must not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon or continue his brutal legacy.”

But on the idea of the U.S. sending in ground troops, Gillen said, “Any major military action that could further risk the lives of our service members requires consultation with Congress."

Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-Brooklyn) did not immediately provide a response through a spokesman. He and other congressional leaders were set to receive a classified briefing from the administration on Iran developments later Monday.

An aide to New York’s junior senator, Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, pointed to the senator’s comments from Saturday, as her response also to the possibility of ground troops.

“Congress should return to session immediately to vote on a war powers resolution,” she had said, adding, “The president lacks the constitutional authority — and in my opinion, the temperament and judgment — to act in such a reckless fashion.”

“I came to Congress in opposition to endless wars,” Gillibrand said, adding that Trump’s military action against Iran risks exactly that.