Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

DOGE Cuts Impacting America's Security?; Could Oil Hit $150 a Barrel?; Trump Administration's Mixed Messages on Iran War. Aired 1- 1:30p ET

Aired March 10, 2026 - 13:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[13:00:00]

LT. GEN. MARK HERTLING (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Those are our national values too, respect for one another, speaking kindly to one another, treating all people equally.

And I think those are the lessons that come out of the book. It's not just about war, as you know, because you have read it.

DANA BASH, CNN HOST: No. Yes.

HERTLING: It's about who you are...

BASH: Yes.

HERTLING: ... how you lead, what your character is all about, and then how you face crises, no matter what kind of crisis you're in.

BASH: Yes, I mean, it just happens to be set in a war zone.

HERTLING: Yes.

BASH: And the lessons that you impart here are universal, and I was telling you that I want my 14-year-old son to read this.

HERTLING: That's very kind. Thank you.

BASH: There's a lot of good lessons.

HERTLING: That's kind.

BASH: Thank you for being here.

Thank you for joining INSIDE POLITICS. "CNN NEWS CENTRAL" starts right now.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Mixed messages. The defense secretary vowing today will see the most intense strikes in the war with Iran and that it will go on until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated. That's just one day after President Trump said American goals are pretty well complete. The White House is set to brief reporters an hour from now. We will bring that to you live, and as the world's top oil exporter warns of catastrophic consequences if the war keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed. We're following the economic fallout there.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: And Iraq's soccer team has dreams of playing in the World Cup this summer, but the nightmare of war could make that impossible.

We're following these major developing stories and many more all coming in right here to CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

SANCHEZ: We begin with breaking news.

One day after President Trump said he thinks that the war with Iran is -- quote -- "very complete and could soon end," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says things are still ramping up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: We're crushing the enemy in an overwhelming display of technical skill and military force. We will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated. But we do so, we do so on our timeline and at our choosing.

For example, today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran, the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes, intelligence more refined and better than ever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: As the world faces the largest oil supply disruption in modern history, the Pentagon also says it's now looking at a -- quote -- "range of options" for escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

The vital waterway carries about 20 percent of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas, and it has been effectively closed since the war began.

Let's go live to the White House now with CNN's Alayna Treene.

Alayna, why is the administration giving these conflicting messages about the war?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, I think part of this is that they don't want to box themselves, Boris, into a definitive timeline. I think that's something we have seen reporters now ask repeatedly.

They have posed these questions to the president himself, as we saw yesterday at his press conference, and then again today at the Pentagon. And what we have heard continuously from this administration is varying accounts and conflicting accounts.

And we actually heard conflicting accounts from the president himself over the course of just three hours yesterday, at times, as you mentioned, Boris, essentially suggesting that the war could very much be nearing its end, that the U.S. objectives toward the war are almost complete, while then in another breath saying that it could go on much further.

I want you to listen to how we put it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're achieving major strides toward completing our military objective. And some people could say they're pretty well complete.

QUESTION: You have said the war is -- quote -- "very complete," but your defense secretary says "This is just the beginning."

So, which is it, and how long should Americans be prepared for this war to last for?

TRUMP: Well, I think you could say both. The beginning. It's the beginning of building a new country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TREENE: Questions there at the end, Boris, I'd say, when he says the beginning of building a new country, of what exactly that means as it is to the United States objectives toward regime change and the long- term goals of the U.S.

But all of this comes -- and I think we saw this on display with Hegseth this morning -- that the administration recognizes that many Americans are wary about this war, and particularly having this become a protracted military engagement. And they know they need to try and tamp down those concerns.

And so that's part of why I think you're hearing a lot of different Trump administration officials, Hegseth included, try to make the point that this isn't going to be a repeat of 2003, with the U.S. engaging in Iraq and Afghanistan, and trying to maintain that their objectives is to keep this contained, rather than far-reaching, even though they aren't offering a specific timeline for how long we should expect the United States to be involved.

SANCHEZ: Alayna, we also have some new reporting on how people in Trump's inner circle are advising him when it comes to the war. What are you hearing?

[13:05:02]

TREENE: Yes, look, I think there are a lot of people, and particularly a lot of people outside the administration, but there are certainly people inside the administration as well, who are telling the president and others when they're messaging on this to really emphasize that point that this is not going to be a drawn-out war, a drawn-out conflict.

We had heard that repeatedly, Boris, in the lead-up to the U.S. getting involved with Israel and actually striking around, that any sort of action would not be this prolonged involvement with many U.S. troops on the ground for years to come. But that's something they want the president to be emphasizing, particularly at a time when they're looking at this polling.

They're seeing the same polls that we do about how a lot of Americans are not necessarily excited about this U.S. involvement in Iran, and noting as well these concerns around gas prices and oil prices spiking. We have heard the president acknowledge that. We have heard the White House try to message this better, saying that this is only temporary, but it's not really abating some of these concerns.

And I do think all of this is likely going to be posed directly to the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, when she gives a briefing at 2:00 p.m.

SANCHEZ: Alayna Treene live at the White House for us, thank you so much.

We will bring that briefing to you live, by the way -- Brianna.

KEILAR: As the U.S. military ramps up its attacks on Iran, the Pentagon releasing this new video that it says shows American forces destroying Iranian missile launchers.

The Pentagon also says the U.S. military recently dropped dozens of 2,000-pound penetrating bombs on Iranian missile sites buried deep underground. Iran continuing firing back, launching a fresh round of attacks on countries in the Gulf region. New video from Northern Iraq shows a large fire burning near the UAE consulate.

The Foreign Ministry says the strike caused material damage, but no injuries. And this new video in from Dubai over a beach shows a fighter jet firing a missile at what appears to be an Iranian drone. The video ends before we see whether the missile made impact there.

But 11 days into the war with Iran, more than 1,700 people have been killed across the region, with hundreds of thousands more displaced.

CNN anchor Erin Burnett is live in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Erin, what's the latest where you are?

ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: Well, Brianna, you heard the secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, talking about how this is the most intense day.

And he rightfully points out that he said that other days before. But that just gives a sense of the onslaught and the number of targets that we're seeing hit in Iran. Our team there are forced to seek shelter, Fred Pleitgen and Claudia Otto, who have done such incredible reporting there, with that onslaught.

And on the other side, I will say -- and I'm here with Jeremy Diamond.

Jeremy, yesterday, we had a very, very active day of incoming missiles from Iran, today, less so. But the real question, of course, is, how long is this going to last? And, frankly, I know the United States likes to say it's their discretion. It's actually not, because Iran can continue to strike Gulf states and keep the Strait of Hormuz shut, and that will control how long the war lasts, which is important. But when you talk about the types of missiles they're using, what they

have left, there is some insight on that, that you're learning.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right.

We have just learned that, according to an Israeli military official, about half of the ballistic missiles that Iran is firing are outfitted with these cluster munitions, meaning instead of it being a half-ton or a ton of explosives packed into one single warhead, you're having multiple little bomblets is what they're called, small bombs that have up to kind of 11 pounds of explosives in each one of them.

And each of those can land separately. They're much more difficult for the Israeli military to intercept. They're obviously not going to have the same kind of destructive impact, but they have killed two people so far. We saw this was a result of people who were at a construction site that was struck a few days ago. I think you visited that site, actually.

BURNETT: Yes, we went there. It's amazing because it's a big site.

But then you realize, to your point, that those small warhead parts come in...

(CROSSTALK)

BURNETT: ... shrapnel.

DIAMOND: You know, the shrapnel comes out of that with such a force that it can tear through -- I have been to a couple of sites today as well. You can see it tears through metal. It goes through buildings.

BURNETT: Yes.

DIAMOND: It can break down a wall of a building as well.

So they do have a powerful impact. And I think the Israeli military is putting more information out about it because they want the public here to be aware of that danger, that it's not just about as soon, as the alarm ends, you can go right outside. No, these bomblets could still be dropping.

And so that's why they're asking people to stay inside for 10 minutes as those -- to make sure that the area is clear.

BURNETT: And people do obey. I mean, it's very -- it's obviously a war time and a war zone and it's quiet. But to the extent that people are out, they move immediately when they get those alerts. So they do.

But as we talk about this -- when this -- quote, unquote -- "war" ends, OK, that just -- that term just seems so bizarre in this moment that we're sitting in. But you look at what Iran is known to still have, right? The enriched uranium is still in Iran in a perhaps unknown location or locations, right?

You have hypersonic missiles, which we haven't heard any update for from either Israeli or U.S. forces. You have, yes, severe damage done to ability -- Iran's ability to launch, but they still have some. Maybe half their missiles, they say are gone, but it's unclear, right? I mean, so a lot has been done.

[13:10:06]

But there's a lot that appears to be unknown or, I mean, certainly Jeremy crucial to the endgame of the war when it comes to the uranium.

DIAMOND: Yes.

And I think you heard it kind of from Pete Hegseth today, but I'm certainly hearing it from Israeli officials that they are not done yet.

BURNETT: Yes. Yes.

DIAMOND: They feel like there's a lot more targets that they can and want to strike in Iran. Israeli officials are constantly talking to us about more surprises down the road.

BURNETT: Yes.

DIAMOND: And we should note that those surprises could potentially involve special operations forces on the ground, something that we understand that President Trump is indeed considering at this moment.

I think Israeli officials in recent days have been trying to read the tea leaves of President Trump's mixed messaging on when this war is going to end, how much longer he's really in it for.

BURNETT: Yes.

DIAMOND: Last night, I think they got some reassurance that the president is at least committed to going further, but how much further, how much more time?

BURNETT: Yes.

DIAMOND: And I think every single day, Israeli officials are waking up wondering whether they're still going to have the support and the strike power of the United States...

BURNETT: Yes.

DIAMOND: ... which is carrying out the majority of the strikes in Iran. That's important to note here.

BURNETT: Hugely important detail that the U.S. is carrying out the majority of the strikes.

But, Brianna, also just crucial when you think about it. The Israelis had goals that very clearly included things that have not happened, for example, regime change, right? So at what point do you see more of a split or coming back together of the U.S. and Israel in terms of those end goals? It's a crucial question -- Brianna, back to you. KEILAR: Yes, mixed messages here, but one of them is that there is

much more to do.

Still to come, sources telling CNN the Trump administration is scrambling to address rising oil prices and, of course, gas prices after being caught off guard by the market's reaction. We're going to take a look at what can be done, what cannot be done.

Plus: the DOGE effect. Federal officials say President Trump and Elon Musk's spending cuts have hobbled the government's ability to prepare for emergencies, to monitor terror threats and help Americans abroad during this war.

And, later, the big request from Iraq's men's soccer team ahead of the World Cup.

We will have that much more coming up on CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:16:13]

SANCHEZ: The average cost of gas today is at its highest in a year- and-a-half. AAA has it at $3.54 a gallon.

And sources say the Trump administration has started to panic about the spiking price of oil caused by the war with Iran. Those sources say the president's top aides are now seeking policy options to limit the impact of the spike. The price of a barrel of crude has dropped from yesterday's surge, which at one point hit $120.

Industry experts, though, are warning that if oil tankers do not start moving through the critical Strait of Hormuz, crude oil could soar to $150 a barrel by the end of this month.

CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich is tracking this story.

So, Vanessa, how do the oil markets look today? It looks like they're down considerably, but there is major concern still.

VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. We don't know what's going to happen with this situation with Iran, but the messaging from the White House and from the president is that there is potentially an end in sight.

And that is why you see on your screen there U.S. crude -- that's WTI and Brent crude -- that's the international benchmark for oil -- both falling pretty dramatically from those highs of nearly $120 a barrel that we saw just 24 hours ago. Those are prices we haven't seen in nearly four years' time, since the war broke out between Russia and Ukraine.

However, oil prices still up almost 30 percent from just a month ago. But, yes, oil prices are falling. That is good news right now. But for people filling up at the gas tank, you have actually seen the price of gas rise just in the last day. So, according to AAA, the average price today $3.54. Look at that

compared to a week ago. And then look at that right before the war started. I mean, you were sub-$3 for gasoline. What could change this game? What could change things?

Well, obviously, if there was a cease-fire, we had those vessels carrying oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz. But really anything other than that is kind of slim in terms of what can be done. Yes, the U.S. and European nations could coordinate a release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserves, which would certainly bring down prices.

But that has just been talked about. It hasn't been done quite yet. But if things stayed the way they are, elevated oil prices and elevated gas prices, what does that mean for the overall economy? Well, if you're paying more at the pump, you're going to be pulling back elsewhere. So you're dealing with depressed consumer spending.

Also, you're talking about sell-offs in the markets, which we have seen in the past couple of days. Usually, there's a sell-off in the market, so in the red, when oil prices go higher, and then a reduction in hiring at businesses because they are having to absorb more energy and fuel costs.

And that, of course, means that businesses have to decide if they're going to pass that extra charge down to the consumer, which could fuel inflation. So, yes, Boris, we're talking about a situation in the region of the Middle East. But just look at the global effects of this war, Boris.

SANCHEZ: And, Vanessa, this reads like a recipe for a recession. In fact, some experts are warning that one may come. How serious is that concern?

YURKEVICH: It is a significant concern in the long term. So most economists believe we're not there yet. But there are kind of three critical things that folks like to look at.

According to RSM consulting, there's three things that they look at. They want to make sure that oil doesn't jump above $125 a barrel, because that's when you start to get a little risky with a recession. Gas prices, if they climb above $4.25, that makes people nervous.

And then if inflation heats up on an annual basis to 4 percent, that's when recessionary fears really start to come into play. Of course, there's so much unknown, and that is why people are fearing that could be a possibility. But we are not there quite yet, Boris.

[13:20:08]

SANCHEZ: Yurkevich, thank you so much for the update on that important aspect of this.

Next: Several former federal officials tell CNN the Iran war has laid bare the true cost of President Trump and Elon Musk's DOGE cuts. We will talk about their warnings after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:25:00]

KEILAR: DOGE's attempt to save federal cash a year ago may be costing the U.S. as the war with Iran escalates.

Current and former officials tell CNN all of those cuts to federal agencies have hampered the government's ability to prepare for emergencies and monitor threats. The Trump administration disputes that, and they say that Democrats' refusal to fund the Department of Homeland Security is the real issue.

CNN's Jennifer Hansler is part of the team behind this new reporting.

Jennifer, what have you found?

JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTER: Well, Brianna, what we have heard from across the board from a number of different agencies is that these cuts, these overall overhauls of the agencies and the loss of institutional knowledge really played a role in their ability to respond to the crisis and the war that we're seeing play out across the Middle East now.

For example, the FBI laid off some dozen staffers that were monitoring Iranian threats. This is something Kash Patel did and we reported on last month. They have made cuts at the Department of Homeland Security to monitor potential cyberattacks and intrusions on critical infrastructure here in the United States.

Current and former officials at FEMA say that they have had changes that would impact their ability to respond to a potential attack here on U.S. soil. And here at the State Department, we have heard from former officials that the cuts were made last year may have impacted how they were messaging two Americans stuck in the Middle East at the outset of that war.

For example, although they had stood up this 24/7 call line in the early days -- in the early hours, I should say, of the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, when people would call into that number, they were told, don't rely on U.S. assistance for evacuation. That message was up until Tuesday, Brianna, even after the U.S. said that they were going to be working on charter flights.

This is something that a former official said it was abysmal messaging and it really caused a lot of chaos, concern and confusion among those Americans who were stuck in the Middle East. That message has been updated and they have updated their responses, but this was something that was really, really impacting those who were experiencing this fear of being stuck in this area where they were seeing strikes by Iran on U.S. facilities and as U.S. facilities were warning people to shelter in place.

Now, the Trump administration has pushed back on the idea that any of these cuts have made us more vulnerable here in the United States, and they have blamed Democrats for holding up funding for the Department of Homeland Security, Brianna. KEILAR: Yes, those issues with the State Department, though, very

perplexing considering President Trump was so critical of the Biden administration during its drawdown and its shortcomings for being able to evacuate people from Afghanistan.

A different situation here. There are some commercial options, but it certainly was something that was very curious here and continues to be.

And I know that you also have some new reporting from State there about most of the Middle East charter flights that they have been able to secure actually being less than half full? What's up with that?

HANSLER: Yes, so we heard today, Brianna, from a top State Department official in a statement saying that most of their flights have operated with less than 40 percent occupancy on board.

They say a lot of people are turning down options to take seats on these charter flights. They are choosing instead to book their own travel out of the region now that we have seen more of these commercial flight options open up again, or they are choosing to stay in those countries.

I should note, Brianna, however, we have not heard specific numbers. They have said there have been more than two dozen flights out of the region for thousands of Americans, but we don't know exactly what countries these flights have taken off from and how many people exactly have been on board.

Of course, this is something we are continuing to watch. The State Department says they are continuing to offer these charter options and they are encouraging Americans to reach out using this crisis form or to call that hot line,Brianna.

KEILAR: All right, Jennifer Hansler, we know that you're working to get more details on that. Thank you so much for the reporting from the State Department.

And the U.S. intel community now urging American companies and government agencies to stay vigilant, to harden their defenses against cyberattacks by Iran.

We will talk about that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)