Iran war has cost US $37.5bn so far, Defense Secretary says

U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth revealed that the ongoing conflict in Iran has incurred costs of $37.5 billion to date. Speaking before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hegseth emphasized the dangerous global landscape and the necessity for swift, bold action to maintain U.S. military superiority.

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we live in a dangerous world

He presented a funding request, stressing that critical investments are needed to prevent adversaries from gaining an advantage. Hegseth warned that without these funds, the U.S. military faces significant shortfalls, jeopardizing its ability to pay service members, replenish equipment and munitions, and sustain vital operations without interruption. He asserted that all appropriated funds would enhance the "lethality" of U.S. forces and "reinforce peace through strength."

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Without these funds, we face critical shortfalls that threaten our ability to also simply pay our service members, rapidly replenish equipment and munitions, and sustain vital operations without disruption

Committee members raised concerns about the consequences of unmet budget needs. Hegseth indicated that military training programs would likely face cuts. He also repeatedly blamed the previous administration for what he described as an underfunded military. Conversely, Senator Patty Murray questioned the funding request's rationale, accusing the Trump administration of attempting to bypass the standard appropriations process.

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does not make a lot of sense

The timeline for potential funding approval is uncertain, as Congress is currently in recess and will not reconvene until September. This delay means that even if sufficient votes are gathered, the Pentagon may not receive the necessary funds for several months. The hearing occurred shortly after the announcement of the deaths of two U.S. service members in Jordan and one active-duty soldier supporting operations in Iraq.

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18 had died in the US war with Iran, which began on 28 February.