Pete Hegseth puts cost of Iran war at $37.5 billion as the Pentagon seeks more money from Congress

Iran warPete Hegseth puts cost of Iran war at $37.5 billion as the Pentagon seeks more money from CongressThe defense secretary’s estimate is up from the $25 billion Pentagon officials gave in late April. NBC News has reported the amount is much higher.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00Add NBC News to GooglePete Hegseth grilled over growing cost of war with Iran01:56Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJuly 21, 2026, 8:22 PM EDTBy Kyla GuilfoilDefense 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 a...