Pete Hegseth requests $67 billion in supplemental funding for the Iran war during a contentious Senate hearing.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed lawmakers that the Iran war has cost $37.5 billion so far, and the administration announced a request for $67 billion in supplemental funding to continue military operations. The new estimate, presented during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, rose from a $30 billion figure provided earlier this month. While the Defense Department’s internal costs are estimated between $80 billion and $100 billion, Hegseth’s figure includes payroll, maintenance, and anticipated costs through the end of the budget year. The hearing highlighted a divide between the administration and Democratic lawmakers. While President Trump has repeatedly claimed the U.S. has already won the conflict, Democrats criticized the lack of a clear exit strategy and the high cost of a war that many Americans currently oppose. Hegseth defended the effort, stating that the goal is to ensure Iran never possesses a nuclear weapon. Meanwhile, the war continues to disrupt global trade, with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz reaching a near standstill.