Pentagon seeks $87 billion as Iran conflict costs mount
Iran war has cost US $37.5bn so far, Hegseth says, as Pentagon seeks billions more
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate Appropriations Committee that ongoing hostilities with Iran have cost the U.S. $37.5 billion to date, an $8 billion increase since May estimates. Hegseth requested an additional $87 billion in congressional funding for the Pentagon, with $67 billion allocated for Middle East operations. The request comes after three American soldiers were confirmed killed in the region and marks Hegseth's first Capitol Hill appearance since hostilities restarted last week. The hearing was disrupted by anti-war protesters and concluded with a contentious exchange between the defense secretary and a senator. The White House separately requested $1.5 trillion in overall Pentagon funding for the next fiscal year, which would represent the highest military spending in the modern era.
