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.Subscribe to read this story ad-freeGet unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.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 t...