Trump meets with Lebanese president
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is requesting billions in additional funding for the ongoing war with Iran, citing rising costs and operational shortfalls. The request has faced intense scrutiny from Democrats, who questioned the administration's lack of a clear exit strategy.
Why it matters
The escalating financial and human cost of the conflict, combined with political friction in Congress, highlights the instability of the current U.S. military engagement in the region.
WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday said the United States has spent an estimated $37.5 billion so far on the war with Iran as the Pentagon asks Congress to authorize billions more in taxpayer dollars.
Hegseth revealed the updated figure to the Senate Appropriations Committee as President Donald Trump seeks approval for $67 billion in emergency funding to continue the war as part of a larger $87.6 billion supplemental budget request for the Defense Department.
The updated cost of the Iran war marks a nearly $9 billion increase since mid-May , when the Pentagon reported spending $29 billion on the conflict.
Hegseth called the budget request "an urgent, necessary injection of resources to address the immediate needs of our department." In addition to the wartime needs, he said the Pentagon faces shortfalls that threaten the ability to pay service members, replenish equipment and sustain vital operations without disruption.
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