The United States’ war in Iran has cost $25 billion so far, a senior Pentagon official told Congress on Wednesday, offering the first official estimate of the conflict’s price tag.
The figure comes as President Donald Trump’s administration faces growing political pressure over the war, rising prices and public frustration just six months before the midterm elections.
Jules “Jay” Hurst III, who is performing the duties of the Pentagon comptroller, told lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee that most of the $25 billion had been spent on munitions.
Hurst did not provide a detailed breakdown of the estimate. He also did not clarify whether the figure included projected costs for rebuilding and repairing US military infrastructure in the Middle East damaged during the conflict.
Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, welcomed the disclosure after weeks of pressure for answers.
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“I’m glad you answered that question,” Smith told Hurst. “Because we’ve been asking for a hell of a long time, and no one’s given us the number.”
The $25 billion figure is roughly equal to the entire annual budget of NASA.
Questions grow over $25bn figure
The estimate has raised questions because a source told Reuters last month that the Trump administration had calculated the first six days of the Iran war alone had cost the United States at least $11.3 billion.
It remains unclear how the Pentagon reached the $25 billion total, especially with US forces continuing operations and maintaining a large presence across the Middle East.
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According to the report, the Pentagon has sent tens of thousands of additional troops to the region since the conflict began. The US has also kept three aircraft carriers deployed in the area.
The United States began carrying out strikes against Iran on February 28, and both sides are currently holding a fragile ceasefire.
Hegseth defends Iran war cost
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the cost of the war during the hearing, arguing that the spending was justified by the US goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“What would you pay to ensure Iran does not get a nuclear bomb? What would you pay?” Hegseth asked lawmakers.
Hegseth also pushed back strongly against Democratic criticism of the war. He rejected claims that the conflict had become a quagmire and accused Democrats of weakening the US position.
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“You call it a quagmire, handing propaganda to our enemies? Shame on you for that statement,” Hegseth said in response to Rep. John Garamendi.
He also criticized Congressional Democrats as “reckless, feckless, and defeatist.”
Iran war linked to affordability crisis
The war’s growing cost has become a major political issue ahead of the midterm elections, where Trump’s Republicans may face a difficult fight to hold their House majority.
Democrats are gaining ground in public opinion polls and are trying to link the unpopular Iran war with rising costs for American families.
Few issues are as politically sensitive for US voters as price increases. The latest inflationary pressure is worrying Republican insiders who are concerned about the party’s chances in November, when control of the House and possibly the Senate will be decided.
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The conflict has disrupted shipments of oil and natural gas, contributing to higher prices in the United States.
Gasoline prices have climbed sharply, while agricultural products such as fertilizers have also become more expensive. These increases are adding to a long list of high consumer prices already affecting American households.
According to data from the American Automobile Association, the average US gasoline price on Tuesday rose to its highest level in nearly four years.
Trump’s approval takes a hit over
Trump’s popularity has fallen since the US and Israel launched the war against Iran.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 34% of Americans approve of the US conflict with Iran. That is down from 36% in mid-April and 38% in mid-March.
The declining approval numbers suggest the war is becoming a growing political liability for the Trump administration as the election season approaches.
US casualties mount
The conflict has also carried a heavy human cost. According to the report, 13 US troops have been killed in the war, while hundreds more have been wounded.
The casualties have intensified scrutiny of the administration’s strategy, especially as the ceasefire with Iran remains fragile.
While the Pentagon’s official estimate stands at $25 billion, three people familiar with the matter told CNN that the figure is likely a lowball estimate.
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According to those sources, the $25 billion number does not include the cost of repairing extensive damage suffered by US bases in the region.
One source said the real cost estimate is closer to $40 billion to $50 billion when accounting for rebuilding US military installations and replacing destroyed assets.
Iranian strikes damaged US sites
Iranian strikes across the Gulf in the early days of the war caused significant damage to US military infrastructure.
CNN has reported that at least nine US military sites were damaged in just 48 hours. The strikes hit facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Several critical US radar systems and other pieces of equipment across the Middle East were also apparently destroyed. These included the radar system for an American THAAD missile battery in Jordan and buildings housing similar radar systems at two locations in the United Arab Emirates.
A US Air Force E-3 Sentry aircraft was also destroyed in an Iranian strike on a Saudi Arabian air base.
Pentagon has not finalised damage estimate
During Wednesday’s hearing, Hurst said most of the $25 billion cited by the Pentagon had gone toward munitions. However, Defense Secretary Hegseth declined to say whether the figure included the cost of repairing damage to US bases.
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna expressed skepticism over the official number, calling the $25 billion estimate “totally off” during the hearing.
Also Read: Hegseth backs $1.5T Iran war budget as ‘wartime footing’ shift
Pentagon officials had previously told Congress that the war cost around $11 billion in just the first six days. CNN has also reported that the Defense Department asked the White House last month to approve a request to Congress for more than $200 billion in additional military funding for the ongoing war.
Repairs not included in 2027 Pentagon budget request
During budget briefings with reporters last week, Hurst said the Pentagon does not yet have a final number for damage to US installations overseas. He said the cost depends on how the Pentagon chooses to rebuild those facilities, or whether it rebuilds them at all.
Hurst also said the repair costs are “not reflected” in the Pentagon’s $1.5 trillion budget request for fiscal year 2027, partly because the department is still assessing what it wants to construct in the future.
“Our partners also might contribute a share for that construction,” Hurst said. “So we don’t have a great estimate for what it would take to reconstitute those facilities.”
Officials said last week that the requested $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027 would represent a 42% increase in Defense Department funding.
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