The cost of the United States' military operations against Iran has reached $37.5 billion, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a congressional hearing, where he requested emergency funding to support the continuation of the conflict. Hegseth said the figure includes the costs of the war so far, as well as the costs projected through September 30. He did not provide details on how this figure was calculated, while the Trump administration had previously estimated that the first six days of the conflict alone had cost more than $11 billion.
President Donald Trump has asked Congress for an additional nearly $90 billion in spending, much of it for military operations against Iran. The request comes just months before the midterm elections, making the war a hot political topic in Washington. Democrats have criticized the Trump administration for a lack of transparency about its military strategy and the costs of the conflict.
“The president is threatening escalation and leading the country toward an endless war,” Democratic Senator Patty Murray said during the hearing. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand also accused the administration of conflicting messages on the progress of the war. Hegseth warned that if Congress does not approve additional funds, the Pentagon will be forced to limit military exercises and some maintenance programs. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Kane, also acknowledged that the conflict is putting significant pressure on the defense budget, jeopardizing investments in future military capabilities.
The Secretary of Defense also called on lawmakers to support a $1.5 trillion budget proposal for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2027. "Failing to fund this department at this level is the greatest threat to national security," Hegseth said.
The conflict continues to escalate.
A ceasefire previously reached between the US and Iran collapsed earlier this month, and both sides have continued daily attacks. According to the Pentagon, the number of US soldiers killed in the conflict has reached 18, while about 430 soldiers have been injured. US authorities say that most of the wounded have now returned to duty. Meanwhile, President Trump has warned of expanding military operations, including strategic targets such as power plants, bridges and the underground nuclear complex known as Pickaxe Mountain, which he said the US will “dismantle very quickly.”
