On the eve of the funerals for two American soldiers killed in an Iranian strike on a U.S.-used airbase in Kuwait, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers that the war in Iran has cost the United States $37.5 billion to date. The estimate, delivered Tuesday before the Senate Appropriations Committee, was immediately met with skepticism from both sides of the aisle, with critics calling it a vast underestimate and questioning an urgent request for tens of billions in new funding.
“The estimate we have to date is $37.5 billion,” Hegseth stated, clarifying that the figure included certain anticipated costs through the end of September. This marks a significant jump from the $25 billion figure he cited in late April, just before a temporary ceasefire with Iran was enacted.
An ‘Urgent’ $67 Billion Request Amid a $1.5 Trillion Budget
The core of the contentious hearing was the Trump administration’s demand for a $67 billion supplemental budget increase for the Pentagon. Hegseth, alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, insisted the additional funds were “urgent” and “necessary.”
Of that sum, $46 billion is earmarked to expand production lines and accelerate delivery of high-demand munitions, including precision bombs, hypersonic missiles, and naval drones. “This is a new request, based on the new realities of a world we face, and a necessity to meet this challenge,” Hegseth asserted.
However, the plea for emergency cash drew sharp criticism from senators who noted the Pentagon is already seeking a budget exceeding $1.5 trillion. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen pointed out that the Defense Secretary still has $75 billion in unspent, previously appropriated funds.
“Why are you asking the American people to foot the bill for a war they do not support, instead of seeking a transfer of funds that have already been voted on but not spent?” Shaheen demanded.
Lawmakers Accuse Pentagon of Bypassing Congress
Her colleague, Senator Patty Murray, delivered a scathing rebuke, suggesting the emergency framing was a tactic to circumvent Congress’s power of the purse. “This administration has tried to present this as an emergency request, but it might be more accurate to understand it as an attempt to bypass the normal appropriations process,” Murray said. “The problem is not a lack of money, but poor planning. Your request is not very judicious.”
Others argued that the $67 billion should have been part of the standard, massive budget request. Hegseth defended the separate appeal by blaming the “flagrant negligence and lack of attention from the Biden administration,” claiming the funds are needed for urgent modernization to adapt to new warfare realities—a category of spending typically handled in the regular budget.
The Secretary further explained that the $75 billion in unspent funds had been reallocated to other Trump administration projects, such as the “Golden Dome for America,” and noted that the new request did not account for the cost of rebuilding U.S. military bases in Middle East.
Republican Senator John Kennedy also voiced frustration, demanding a clearer strategy for victory. “We need clear answers and a frank discussion,” he said.
A Colossal Daily Price Tag
The official estimates stand in stark contrast to assessments from independent experts, who have pegged the daily cost of the U.S.-Israeli offensive, launched on February 28, at $2 billion per day. That staggering figure does not account for the repair, accelerated wear, and replacement of equipment.
