US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers on Tuesday that the Iran war has cost an estimated $37.5 billion (£28 billion) so far.

He provided the updated figure while appearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee, which is reviewing the Defence Department's request for $87.6 billion in additional funding.

Hegseth said the proposed funding would be used to "reinforce peace through strength".

Funding request under scrutiny

The hearing focused on the Pentagon's budget request as senators questioned senior defence officials on military spending and ongoing operations.

Hegseth was joined by other senior officials, including Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen Dan Caine, who also appeared before the committee.

Conflict intensifies

The hearing came after three US soldiers were killed in the Middle East and President Donald Trump ordered fresh military strikes against Iran, amid continuing hostilities in the region.

Lawmakers questioned defence leaders as the conflict and its financial cost continue to grow.

Protesters interrupt hearing

Hegseth's opening remarks were repeatedly interrupted by protesters shortly after he began speaking to the committee.

Despite the disruptions, the hearing continued as senators examined the Pentagon's funding request and military operations.

Join the discussion?

22 July 2026

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The spend on this war was $40 billion before the latest week and a half bombing spree. More lies from the Trump administration. Active bombing is about a billion a day.

$89 billion here, and the yearly budget they want to upgrade the cost from $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion. They need money invade Cuba, Greenland, Canada etc.

37.5 billion burned in Iran already, and now they want another $87.6 billion to “reinforce peace through strength”!

That’s not doctrine, that’s army intelligence — an oxymoron fed by a moron.

Spend more to lose more. Three US soldiers dead already, others wounded, strikes escalating, protesters shouting it down, and world economies in turmoil - yet the Department of War still calls this peace.

If that’s strength, the only thing being reinforced is their budget line.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers on Tuesday that the Iran war has cost an estimated $37.5 billion (£28 billion) so far.

Americans probably love their Grand Dad.

He's worth every single Dollar of

37.500.000.000 ❗

In my country we would t(e)ar and feather him 🤡

Pentagon Not Just Running Out of Weapons—but Also Money

Kash Patel's liquor cabinet budget is obviously out of control, sir 🫡

zzzzzzzzz

Iran knows the longer they drag this out, the more it costs the US plus they know that US doesn't want boots on the ground.

And the US cannot win this using air power only.

4 minutes ago, koolkarl said:

Iran knows the longer they drag this out, the more it costs the US plus they know that US doesn't want boots on the ground.

And the US cannot win this using air power only.

They cannot win at all.

Since 1945 they never won any war,

but were kicked out and/or left a devastated country then.

3 minutes ago, koolkarl said:

Iran knows the longer they drag this out, the more it costs the US plus they know that US doesn't want boots on the ground.

And the US cannot win this using air power only.

Of course everyone knew this for decades so they told Nutty Yahoo NO, but none of them were playing with underaged Epstein honeypots like his man The Don Old, so spanking him with the Kompromat does wonders for Israeli war lust

Sir, I don't know how much longer we can distract from the Epstein Trump files showing you were involved up to your eyeballs because we're running out of weapons...

zzzzzzzzzzz

Since everything little Petie says is a lie, it's likely at least double that if not more. With no end in sight with regard to the war president's forever war.

And what will be accomplished in the end?

None of the government cost accounts for the money lost by consumers, which is estimated to be well beyond $100 billion dollars and counting.

Don the Destroyer continues his rampage on a daily basis. Darkest Don deepens devastating destruction each depressing day.

Already spent $37 B. Asking Congress for an additional $87 B.

Almost two and a half times in additional funds?

“the proposed funding would be used to "reinforce peace through strength”

That is the lamest justification for defense funding I have ever, ever heard.

Cuba, are you ready?

It will help his portfolio of shares tied with military industry. Additionally improves his chance of employment by them when he leaves government. Now that’s what matters to him the most.

The White House asked Congress in April for $1.5tn for the Pentagon over the next fiscal year, which would raise American military spending to an all-time high in the modern era.

Well, we live in a dangerous world, thanks to Donald Trump and his friend Netanyahu. 😏

shame if anything were to happen to your beautiful country

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

They cannot win at all.

Since 1945 they never won any war,

but were kicked out and/or left a devastated country then.

Well, to be fair, Bush #I won the first Gulf War, as we achieved our objective of expelling Saddam from Kuwait. Also, we managed to beat Grenada and also Panama, at least achieving stated objectives. The Korean War is still technically ongoing, though the armistice of 1953 pretty much restored the status quo, so you can maybe call that one a draw.

 

As for all the others -- yeah, total humiliation and loss --

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Iran war has cost an estimated $37.5 billion

This is for direct military operations and munitions replacement so far.

"The Pentagon is requesting an additional $70 billion to sustain operations, as the cost can reach upward of $1 billion per day during active, high-intensity strikes.

Including disability and healthcare costs for thousands of injured service members—will push the long-term price tag toward $1 trillion."

This "Trump's Golden Age of America" if you own US defense stocks?

Iran was not going to have a nuclear weapon until Trump canceled the agreement made during Obama administration.

• That agreement had an upper limit of 3.67% pure Uranium.

• Restricted the total enriched uranium stockpile to 300 kilograms

• Limited operational centrifuges and required heavy-water reactors to be redesigned.

• Provided intensive monitoring by international inspectors.

The agreement was torn by Trump. Iran took the purity of Uranium to 80% closer to weapon level. Now that is buried under a mountain with US bombing. It's not hard to predict that when the US leaves, the Strait will be under Iranian control and their nuclear ambitions will remain. A total waste of innocent lives, time, and money.

If it's cost the US $37.5 billion so far and personally I would take that with a pinch of salt I wouldn't be surprised if it's not a lot more.

Just how much has it cost the rest of the world and how much has it cost the US reputation wise or how many potential adversary's now are beginning to see the US as a paper tiger.

The US has a lot of very powerful very accurate weapons they are also very expensive and take a long time to manufacture so by definition will take a long time probably many years to replace.

There will come a time when the Pentagon will call a halt as they must retain enough of an inventory to protect the US mainland which is it first priority and it commitments around the world.

As for the lives lost and destroyed no amount of money can compensate for that especially if it happens to be your own family no matter what country or religion they belong to.

Operation Epic Fury: Estimated Taxpayer spending:

https://iran-cost-ticker.com/

I think $37,5 billion is an extremely optimistic estimate. Won’t be very long before it will be much closer to $375 billion.

10 hours ago, koolkarl said:

Iran knows the longer they drag this out, the more it costs the US plus they know that US doesn't want boots on the ground.

And the US cannot win this using air power only.

Absolutely the case. Most of the US strikes are probably simply making the rubble bounce.

Once again the USA deploys massive high tech firepower against an enemy who simply keep out of the way. Vast amounts of money, simply wasted.

Oh well!

Did anyone notice how angry Kegsbreath became when asked about specific expenditures? He has no clue, no clue on how to end the war or in future actions… just give me more money. The whole administration sucks. No reason to start a war. Nut In yahoo suckered Trump into it being the gullible guy he is. We will win a a week. Hello it’s July now loser

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Donald Trump due to a combination of an extraordinary level of arrogance, combined with stunning ignorance, a lack of intelligence and an extreme lack of planning is up against the weight of history right now.

The economy is always a big deal when it comes to elections and the American economy is suffering right now with a far greater inflation than the government goons are willing to admit. Unfortunately Trump has inflicted that pain upon the world also.

Since he never reads and he likely never listens to his briefings, the goon is probably blissfully unaware of the fact that since World War I there has never been a war fought anywhere in the world, and won, without boots on the ground. Never ever.

So that means that likely within the next week Trump (or more likely the Deep State that's running him like a puppet) has a big choice to make. Do the Americans put boots on the ground inside Iran? This type of escalation would likely require tens of thousands of troops and it could lead to the slaughter of thousands upon thousands of American soldiers. That would not only mean annihilation during the midterms, but I could also mean that nothing is accomplished after thousands of American lives are lost. Being the psychopath he is, I doubt that means anything to Trump personally, other than as a political calculus.

There's no question that both Don and Little Pete have been off way more than they can do and they never expected this kind of staying power from Iran much less this kind of fight. It is completely in character for them to underestimate their adversary, while thumping their chests like lost forest apes.

How this is going to turn out is anybody's guess, but I don't think it's going to be a pretty picture for America, and it would appear humiliation has arrived, and massive amounts of humble pie are about to be consumed.

No problem at all as long as "the fools of this world" keep buying US treasury bonds.

On 7/22/2026 at 11:42 AM, Cory1848 said:

Well, to be fair, Bush #I won the first Gulf War, as we achieved our objective of expelling Saddam from Kuwait. Also, we managed to beat Grenada and also Panama, at least achieving stated objectives. The Korean War is still technically ongoing, though the armistice of 1953 pretty much restored the status quo, so you can maybe call that one a draw.

 

As for all the others -- yeah, total humiliation and loss --

Don't forget murdering Qaddafi and bin Laden!

On 7/22/2026 at 7:26 AM, Schoggibueb said:

Iran was not going to have a nuclear weapon until Trump canceled the agreement made during Obama administration.

• That agreement had an upper limit of 3.67% pure Uranium.

• Restricted the total enriched uranium stockpile to 300 kilograms

• Limited operational centrifuges and required heavy-water reactors to be redesigned.

• Provided intensive monitoring by international inspectors.

The agreement was torn by Trump. Iran took the purity of Uranium to 80% closer to weapon level. Now that is buried under a mountain with US bombing. It's not hard to predict that when the US leaves, the Strait will be under Iranian control and their nuclear ambitions will remain. A total waste of innocent lives, time, and money.

And who would have been controlling the "Obama agreement" ? The Red Cross or some NGO's, them wearing flowers in their hair ?

16 minutes ago, swissie said:

And who would have been controlling the "Obama agreement" ? The Red Cross or some NGO's, them wearing flowers in their hair ?

JCPOA in 2015

3 minutes ago, Schoggibueb said:

JCPOA in 2015

Great. During this time, massage parlors in Europe charged credit cards with similar codes.

22 minutes ago, Schoggibueb said:

JCPOA in 2015

Unfortunately (or fortunately) the rest of the world does not know what JCPOA is. Probably a Vitamin additive that promotes "longivity".

43 minutes ago, swissie said:

Great. During this time, massage parlors in Europe charged credit cards with similar codes.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) the rest of the world does not know what JCPOA is. Probably a Vitamin additive that promotes "longivity".

You got quite an oppinion of yourself with your title "the rest of the world".

You can find out using your preferred search engine:

JCPOA

On 7/22/2026 at 12:12 AM, gargamon said:

The spend on this war was $40 billion before the latest week and a half bombing spree. More lies from the Trump administration. Active bombing is about a billion a day.

$89 billion here, and the yearly budget they want to upgrade the cost from $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion. They need money invade Cuba, Greenland, Canada etc.

The $37.5 billion is only the US estimate of the costs they are willing to include and share publicly. It says little about the full military cost, and even less about the cost to the rest of the world.

Higher energy prices, disrupted shipping, insurance, inflation, lost trade and slower growth mean the cost to world society is already likely in the hundreds of billions, and could eventually reach trillions. Ordinary people will pay most of that bill.

22 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Donald Trump due to a combination of an extraordinary level of arrogance, combined with stunning ignorance, a lack of intelligence and an extreme lack of planning is up against the weight of history right now.

The economy is always a big deal when it comes to elections and the American economy is suffering right now with a far greater inflation than the government goons are willing to admit. Unfortunately Trump has inflicted that pain upon the world also.

Since he never reads and he likely never listens to his briefings, the goon is probably blissfully unaware of the fact that since World War I there has never been a war fought anywhere in the world, and won, without boots on the ground. Never ever.

So that means that likely within the next week Trump (or more likely the Deep State that's running him like a puppet) has a big choice to make. Do the Americans put boots on the ground inside Iran? This type of escalation would likely require tens of thousands of troops and it could lead to the slaughter of thousands upon thousands of American soldiers. That would not only mean annihilation during the midterms, but I could also mean that nothing is accomplished after thousands of American lives are lost. Being the psychopath he is, I doubt that means anything to Trump personally, other than as a political calculus.

There's no question that both Don and Little Pete have been off way more than they can do and they never expected this kind of staying power from Iran much less this kind of fight. It is completely in character for them to underestimate their adversary, while thumping their chests like lost forest apes.

How this is going to turn out is anybody's guess, but I don't think it's going to be a pretty picture for America, and it would appear humiliation has arrived, and massive amounts of humble pie are about to be consumed.

Mike — you are always spot on and I enjoy reading your posts brother!