Defense Department warns military training could face reductions without swift congressional approval
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Pentagon has increased its estimated cost of the ongoing Iran conflict to $37.5 billion, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned lawmakers that military training programs could be scaled back if Congress does not approve an emergency defense spending package.
The revised estimate was presented during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on July 21, where senior Pentagon officials defended the White House’s request for additional defense funding amid growing operational demands across the Middle East.
Hegseth appeared before lawmakers alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine to seek approval for $67.1 billion in emergency defense funding, part of a broader $87.6 billion supplemental spending request intended to support ongoing military operations and related national security priorities.
Although the conflict has significantly expanded U.S. military activity in the region, the hearing focused exclusively on defense funding and military readiness. It did not involve commercial aviation or airport operations.
Pentagon Raises Iran War Cost Estimate Again
Spending climbs as military operations expand across the Middle East
Hegseth told senators that the Pentagon’s updated $37.5 billion estimate covers military pay, operational expenses, maintenance, and projected costs through the end of the current fiscal year on Sept. 30.
The estimate does not appear to include future reconstruction costs or repairs to military infrastructure that may result from the conflict.
The latest figure represents another significant increase in the Pentagon’s projections over recent months. Defense officials had estimated the conflict would cost approximately $25 billion in April before revising the figure to $29 billion in May and $30 billion in June. Continued military operations have now pushed the projected total to $37.5 billion.
Rising costs have been driven by sustained U.S. military activity in the region. U.S. Central Command has intensified strikes following renewed Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. Air Force has deployed additional fighter aircraft and support assets to strengthen its regional presence, increasing operational expenditures.
Emergency Funding Request Focuses on Readiness
Pentagon says delayed funding could affect current and future training
During the hearing, Hegseth emphasized that prompt congressional action is necessary to maintain military readiness.
He warned senators that without supplemental funding, the Pentagon would be forced to reduce current and future military training activities, potentially affecting force preparedness as operations continue.
His remarks align with recent reports indicating that some military exercises have already been postponed or canceled as defense officials redirect existing resources toward active combat operations.
Under the White House proposal, $21 billion would be allocated for munitions, $17.3 billion for operational expenses, and $1.5 billion for fuel. The package also includes funding for cybersecurity capabilities, drone programs, Space Force initiatives, and other military modernization efforts intended to strengthen long-term defense capabilities.
Senate Lawmakers Split Over Supplemental Spending
The funding request prompted sharp debate among members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, highlighting broader disagreements over defense spending priorities.
Several Democratic senators argued that portions of the proposal fund long-term Pentagon initiatives rather than immediate wartime needs. They contended that those programs should instead be considered through the standard appropriations process rather than included in an emergency supplemental package.
Republican lawmakers defended the proposal, arguing that rapid approval is necessary to maintain military readiness, replenish munitions, and replace equipment consumed during ongoing combat operations.
Committee leaders from both parties also stressed the importance of ensuring that U.S. service members continue to receive the training, equipment, and logistical support required to sustain operations in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, congressional Republicans are pursuing additional defense funding through the budget reconciliation process, which would allow legislation to advance with a simple Senate majority instead of the 60 votes typically required.
Current proposals under consideration would direct approximately $60 billion toward Iran war expenses, replenishing military stockpiles, and other defense priorities as Pentagon officials prepare for the possibility of an extended conflict.
