Pentagon Seeks $80 Billion to Cover Iran War Costs
Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Photo: Reuters
The Pentagon needs $80 billion to cover the costs of the war with Iran as well as other non-war expenses. Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg informed US lawmakers of this during a phone call this week, according to people familiar with the matter reported by the Wall Street Journal.
This massive figure surfaced as lawmakers have been pressuring the Trump administration to provide the total cost of the war, which began on February 28. A supplemental funding request for the Pentagon, including other expenses, could be sent to lawmakers very soon.
Previously, in April, a Pentagon official said that the war in Iran had cost approximately $25 billion. White House Budget Director Russell Vought said during a House Budget Committee hearing in April that he did not have an estimate for the cost of the war. At the time, he supported Trump's request to increase the US military's annual budget to $1.5 trillion.
