Hegseth Tells Senators the Iran War Has Cost $37.5 Billion So Far

Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee on July 21, 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the renewed war with Iran — Operation Epic Fury, which began February 28 — had cost about $37.5 billion so far, up from a $29 billion estimate the Pentagon gave Congress in May. He and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine made the case for an $87.6 billion supplemental funding request, of which $67.1 billion is for the Pentagon, as the conflict entered its fifth month. The figure projects costs through the September 30 end of the fiscal year.

The hearing underscored mounting congressional scrutiny of the war's cost and direction. Democrats pressed Hegseth on why the department needed new funds while roughly $75 billion in prior appropriations remained, and the committee's top Democrat said the hearing did little to show an exit strategy. Reporting and outside experts suggested the true cost is likely higher than the figure cited. The testimony came amid an escalation in which multiple U.S. service members were killed.

The supplemental request is pending before Congress.