US War Costs Iran Conflict $37.5 Billion, Hegseth Tells Senate
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth cited a mounting war bill as the Pentagon sought additional funds, even as Democrats questioned the conflict's endpoint
Synopsis
The US military operation against Iran has cost $37.5 billion, significantly higher than previous estimates, and Washington is asking for $67 billion in additional funding, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate Appropriations Committee. The revelations coincided with growing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and growing political opposition from Senate Democrats, six months before the US midterm elections.
AdvertisementThe increasing costs of an open-ended war
In front of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hegseth told the lawmakers that the price of the Iran war is currently about $37.5 billion, a figure that keeps increasing as the war drags on without end. That's a significant increase over the $30 billion that's been proposed to Congress so far this month and from a mid-May quote from a Pentagon official that had been $29 billion.
The supplemental request is a big one, as it refers to emergency funding that is looked to beyond the annual budget cycle. The request includes $21 billion set aside for readiness, which includes replacing equipment used in recent operations, Hegseth said.
AdvertisementDemocrats Push Back
Things turned ugly at the hearing. Senator Gary Peters told Hegseth the administration had a "blank check" following what he said was an "abandonment of the opportunity to end the war they say they've already won.
The actual tally is likely to be even higher, though, according to other officials who told CBS News the official number doesn't account for everything, such as the reconstruction of damaged U.S. bases, independent estimates put the cost at the Pentagon at about $40 billion.
Escalation on the Ground
The funding battle plays out in an increasingly precarious security environment. The truce agreed with Tehran has effectively broken down and fighting resumed in recent days between Washington and Tehran.
US Central Command confirmed that it had finished an 11th consecutive night of strikes in Iran and regional countries have also been struck: Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan reported intercepting aerial attacks targeting their lands.
AdvertisementWhy It Matters
The new estimates of costs for American taxpayers raise questions about fiscal discipline for an active war. It makes it more challenging for the Trump administration, which is facing public war-weariness in a midterm campaign. For the broader Gulf, the continued conflict could wreak havoc on shipping and energy markets beyond the US borders, as evidenced by the Iraq shipping disruption of Indian oil imports.
