Iran war has cost US $37.5bn so far, Hegseth says - Asks for More

What the report says

Nile Post, citing BBC reporting, says US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate Appropriations Committee that the war with Iran has cost the United States about $37.5 billion so far. That figure is nearly $8 billion above a May estimate. Hegseth appeared before senators after hostilities between the US and Iran resumed last week and after several American service members were reported killed in the region.

Hegseth urged Congress to approve an additional $87 billion for the Pentagon, including $67 billion for Middle East operations. He argued that without the money, the military could face gaps in pay, training, equipment replacement, munitions and ongoing operations. The broader White House request, made in April, seeks $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon in the next fiscal year, which the report says would push US military spending to a modern-era high.

The hearing was repeatedly interrupted by anti-war protesters and became sharply partisan. Republican committee chair Susan Collins asked about the consequences of failing to meet the request, while Democratic senators Patty Murray, Dick Durbin, Kirsten Gillibrand and Gary Peters questioned the scale, logic and direction of the spending. Hegseth clashed with Peters near the end of the session.

The report also notes that some sources familiar with the matter believe the real cost may be higher because some expenses, such as repairs or construction at damaged American bases, may not be included. Congressional timing could slow any approval, with the House leaving town and both chambers not jointly returning until September.