July 14, 2026 · Foreign Policy, War & National Security

Developing

Internal Pentagon Estimates Put the Iran War Cost Near $100 Billion

According to NBC News reporting on July 14, 2026 — citing six people familiar with internal estimates, including three U.S. officials — the Pentagon's internal estimate of the cost of the U.S. war with Iran is $80...

July 1, 2026 · Personnel, Competence & Administrative Failure

Well supported

DOGE's Mandate Ends With No Final Accounting of Its Cuts

As the Department of Government Efficiency approached the July 4, 2026 termination date set by President Trump's January 2025 executive order, OMB Director Russell Vought told a House Appropriations subcommittee on June...

June 30, 2026 · Information Integrity, Press & Democratic Norms

Well supported

OMB Says It Will Not Produce a Closing Report on DOGE

At a June 30, 2026 House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought said the administration has "no plans to do kind of a closing DOGE report," responding to a request...