Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers that the war with Iran has cost the United States $37.5 billion so far, as he urged Congress to approve additional military funding to sustain ongoing operations.
Speaking before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hegseth described the request for more funding as “urgent and necessary,” warning that the Pentagon would face “critical shortfalls” without it. He said the proposal is part of President Donald Trump’s broader $1.5 trillion defense budget, which the administration has described as a long-term investment in the U.S. military.
The hearing came days after the Pentagon announced that three more U.S. service members had been killed in the conflict, bringing the number of American military fatalities since early July to 17, with more than 100 troops wounded.
Democratic senators sharply questioned the administration’s request. Sen. Patty Murray warned that the United States risked becoming involved in “another endless war” and criticized the White House for seeking additional funds while maintaining that a negotiated end to the conflict remains possible.
The Republican-backed funding package includes $60 billion for war-related expenses, $12 billion for national security needs, and additional funding for agriculture and election-related measures.
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During the hearing, Hegseth defended the administration’s military strategy, while Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said it was impossible to predict the conflict’s final cost, noting that “the enemy also has a say in this.”
