Hegseth says Iran war has cost US $37.5 billion

The U.S. war with Iran has cost $37.5 billion so far, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators Tuesday as he urged Congress to approve tens of billions of dollars in additional Pentagon funding and warned that military training could be cut without it.

Hegseth disclosed the figure during his first appearance before the Senate Appropriations Committee since hostilities between the United States and Iran resumed. The estimate is nearly $8 billion higher than the last official figure in May, when a senior Pentagon official put the cost at $29 billion. The Pentagon had previously told lawmakers the war cost about $11.3 billion in its first week.

“The estimate we have as of today is $37.5bn,” Hegseth said in response to a question from Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin. According to Al Jazeera, Hegseth said the estimate includes some operations and maintenance costs through the end of September, but he did not provide details.

Hegseth is seeking $87 billion in congressional funding for the Defense Department, with $67 billion intended for operations in the Middle East. He and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine appeared before the committee as the administration asks Congress for a $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget for the next fiscal year, a level that would bring U.S. military spending to an all-time high in the modern era.

The hearing came after the United States launched a 10th consecutive day of strikes on Monday and Iran retaliated against U.S. and allied targets in the Middle East. Iran and the United States had agreed to a ceasefire in April, but the truce broke down and fighting resumed last week. Al Jazeera reported that a memorandum of understanding that had halted attacks since June 17 collapsed last week.

“We live in a dangerous world,” Hegseth said at the start of his testimony, arguing that the moment required bold and swift action. He said the Pentagon needs money to prevent adversaries from outpacing the United States and to “rapidly replenish equipment and munitions.”

“Without these funds, we face critical shortfalls that threaten our ability to also simply pay our service members, rapidly replenish equipment and munitions, and sustain vital operations without disruption,” he said.

Hegseth said the money would expand production and speed delivery of high-demand munitions, including solid rocket motors, JDAMs, hypersonics and counter-drone capabilities. He said current and future military training would have to be curtailed if the department’s budget needs were not met urgently.

The hearing was interrupted several times by anti-war protesters, some of whom shouted, “stop bombing our children in Iran and Palestine.”

Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who chairs the committee, asked Hegseth what would happen if Congress did not meet the Pentagon’s request. Hegseth said training would be cut and repeatedly blamed former President Joe Biden’s administration for what he described as an underfunded military.

Democrats questioned both the scale and the process of the request. Sen. Patty Murray, the committee’s top Democrat, said it “does not make a lot of sense” and accused the Trump administration of trying to “skirt the normal appropriations process.” Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand accused the administration of seeking “unlimited money for bombs” while Americans struggle to “feed their families.”

Asked why he needed tens of billions for a war President Donald Trump said had already been won, Hegseth replied: “I’m asking for the right bombs at the right time.”

The Defense Department on Tuesday announced the death of Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, an active-duty soldier supporting overseas operations in Iraq. A day earlier, the military identified two service members killed in action in Jordan as Pfc. Isabella Gonzales, 19, and 1st Lt. Tyler Feehan, 25. During the hearing, Trump wrote on social media that 18 U.S. service members had died in the war with Iran, which began Feb. 28.

Most Democrats oppose the supplemental funding request, and some Republicans want spending cuts elsewhere to offset it. The House is scheduled to leave town Thursday, and both chambers are not expected to be back in session together until September, meaning Pentagon funding could still be months away even if Republicans can secure enough votes.