Pete Hegseth puts Iran war estimate at $37.5 billion as the Pentagon seeks more money from Congress

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth put the cost of the Iran war so far at $37.5 billion Tuesday at a contentious hearing where he told lawmakers the Trump administration needs nearly twice that much to continue military operations in the coming months.

The new estimate from Hegseth, revealed at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, is up from the roughly $30 billion figure presented to lawmakers earlier this month. The Defense Department is asking Congress for $67 billion in supplemental funding.

NBC News reported this month that the Defense Department’s internal overall cost for the war so far is $80 billion to $100 billion, including the cost of repairing damaged U.S. military bases, replacing destroyed aircraft and fully replenishing American weaponry, according to three U.S. officials.

The Pentagon’s acting comptroller told lawmakers that the estimate, which had not been updated since April, included the cost of replenishing munitions but not rebuilding bases.

Hegseth said his estimate included payroll, operation, maintenance and other “anticipated” costs through the end of the budget year.

He appeared before lawmakers as the war in Iran is intensifying again after an April ceasefire deal fell apart. President Donald Trump has pledged continued retaliation after three U.S. service members were killed recently.

Increasing strikes by Iranian forces and the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz have also forced shipping to a near standstill, according to data Tuesday, as the two countries continue to battle for control of the critical trade route.

Senate Democrats clashed with Hegseth on Tuesday over the lack of progress in a war that Trump has repeatedly claimed the U.S. has already won.

“You’re asking the American people for a blank check because, once again, the Trump administration’s efforts have been an utter and complete failure to win this war to this point,” said Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. “So my question for you, sir, is: How is your strategy different than what we’ve seen in the past?”

Hegseth pushed back, saying, “Your characterization of this incredible effort as a failure is reckless, and I think it’s irresponsible.”

The administration is requesting more money after $891 billion was approved to carry the Pentagon through Sept. 30. Trump is separately requesting $1.5 trillion for the 2027 fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1.

Trump’s and Hegseth’s descriptions of the war diverged Tuesday, with Hegseth finding himself in the awkward position of asking for more money to fight an adversary that Trump has said on numerous occasions is militarily defeated.

“I acknowledge they still have capabilities, no doubt,” Hegseth said in an exchange with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. “But the amount of damage that we’ve done to them over the course of these series of operations has put them in the worst place they’ve ever been.”

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