{"id":13284,"date":"2026-07-22T06:00:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T01:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=13284"},"modified":"2026-07-22T06:00:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T01:00:25","slug":"pete-hegseth-puts-iran-war-estimate-at-37-5-billion-as-the-pentagon-seeks-more-money-from-congress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=13284","title":{"rendered":"Pete Hegseth puts Iran war estimate at $37.5 billion as the Pentagon seeks more money from Congress"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p id=\"anchor-690f13\" class=\"body-graf\">Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth put the cost of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/iran-war\" target=\"_blank\">the Iran war<\/a> so far at $37.5 billion Tuesday at a contentious hearing where he told lawmakers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/trump-administration\" target=\"_blank\">the Trump administration<\/a> needs nearly twice that much to continue military operations in the coming months.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"styles_subscriptionCTA__LOUeY\" id=\"subscriptionCTA\" type=\"button\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" alt=\"NBC News Icon\" class=\"styles_icon__wRwWv\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"styles_textWrapper__vxvko\">\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB styles_textLarge__qlzwu\">Subscribe to read this story ad-free<\/p>\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB\">Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/rockcms\/2026-01\/arrow-f55fa5.svg\" alt=\"arrow\" class=\"styles_arrow__tnruW\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/button><\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-89f246\" class=\"body-graf\">The new estimate from Hegseth, revealed at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, is up from the roughly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/congress\/iran-war-cost-25-billion-dollars-us-munitions-hegseth-armed-services-rcna342714\" target=\"_blank\">$30 billion figure<\/a> presented to lawmakers earlier this month. The Defense Department is asking Congress for $67 billion in supplemental funding.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-1f6101\" class=\"body-graf\">NBC News reported this month that the Defense Department\u2019s internal overall cost for the war so far is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/national-security\/iran-war-cost-much-100-billion-rcna587362\" target=\"_blank\">$80 billion to $100 billion<\/a>, including the cost of repairing damaged U.S. military bases, replacing destroyed aircraft and fully replenishing American weaponry, according to three U.S. officials.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-b63d16\" class=\"body-graf\">The Pentagon\u2019s acting comptroller told lawmakers that the estimate, which had not been updated since April, included the cost of replenishing munitions but not rebuilding bases.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-a7e7fd\" class=\"body-graf\">Hegseth said his estimate included payroll, operation, maintenance and other \u201canticipated\u201d costs through the end of the budget year.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-91d949\" class=\"body-graf\">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<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/now\/video\/u-s-service-member-killed-in-northern-iraq-says-u-s-central-command-266920517563\" target=\"_blank\"> three U.S. service members <\/a>were killed recently.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-a807fd\" class=\"body-graf\">Increasing strikes by Iranian forces and the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz have also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/iran\/iran-war-hormuz-blockade-yemen-houthis-saudi-arabia-bab-el-mandeb-rcna588493\" target=\"_blank\">forced shipping to a near standstill<\/a>, according to data Tuesday, as the two countries continue to battle for control of the critical trade route.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-edb703\" class=\"body-graf\">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.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-fe4ac1\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cYou\u2019re asking the American people for a blank check because, once again, the Trump administration\u2019s efforts have been an utter and complete failure to win this war to this point,\u201d said Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. \u201cSo my question for you, sir, is: How is your strategy different than what we\u2019ve seen in the past?\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-423289\" class=\"body-graf\">Hegseth pushed back, saying, \u201cYour characterization of this incredible effort as a failure is reckless, and I think it\u2019s irresponsible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-e15ee6\" class=\"body-graf\">The administration is requesting more money after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/national-security\/pentagon-running-money-rcna352232\" target=\"_blank\">$891 billion<\/a> was approved to carry the Pentagon through Sept. 30. Trump is separately <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/trump-administration\/live-blog\/trump-blanche-bondi-doj-dhs-shutdown-congress-elections-live-updates-rcna266472\/rcrd106598?canonicalCard=true\" target=\"_blank\">requesting $1.5 trillion<\/a> for the 2027 fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-1cade1\" class=\"body-graf\">Trump\u2019s and Hegseth\u2019s descriptions of the war diverged Tuesday, with Hegseth finding himself in the awkward position of asking for more money to fight an adversary that Trump has said on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/donald-trump\/32-times-trump-suggested-iran-war-was-almost-over-rcna385846\" target=\"_blank\">numerous occasions is<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/donald-trump\/32-times-trump-suggested-iran-war-was-almost-over-rcna385846\" target=\"_blank\"> militarily defeated<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-bea551\" class=\"endmark body-graf\">\u201cI acknowledge they still have capabilities, no doubt,\u201d Hegseth said in an exchange with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. \u201cBut the amount of damage that we\u2019ve done to them over the course of<strong> <\/strong>these series of operations has put them in the worst place they\u2019ve ever been.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13285,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_nbcnews-fp-1200-630,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260721-pete-hegseth-ew-557p-ff14ff.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13284"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13284\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13285"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}