The United States has spent approximately $37.5 billion on its military campaign against Iran, according to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who warned lawmakers that additional funding will be needed to sustain operations as fighting continues across the region.

Speaking before Congress, Hegseth said the figure includes both current expenditures and projected costs through the end of the current fiscal period. The Pentagon has requested nearly $90 billion in supplemental funding, arguing that without additional appropriations it could face cuts to military training, maintenance, and readiness programs.

The latest estimate represents a sharp increase in the financial burden of the conflict, reflecting the escalating pace of military operations following the collapse of earlier ceasefire efforts. U.S. forces have resumed daily strikes against Iranian targets while continuing efforts to protect regional shipping lanes and strategic assets.

Military leaders told lawmakers that although troop salaries and immediate operational requirements remain funded, prolonged fighting could begin affecting long-term investments in weapons systems, equipment maintenance, and force modernization if Congress does not approve additional funding.

The hearing exposed growing political divisions in Washington, with lawmakers from both parties questioning the administration’s strategy, the rising financial cost of the conflict, and the lack of a clearly defined path toward ending the war. Critics have also raised concerns about the impact of the conflict on the U.S. budget as well as broader economic pressures facing American taxpayers.

According to Pentagon officials, the conflict has also resulted in increasing U.S. military casualties and hundreds of service members being wounded since hostilities intensified. The continuing war has placed additional strain on the Pentagon’s roughly $1 trillion annual defense budget, with officials warning that further escalation would require sustained congressional support.

As Congress debates the administration’s funding request, the financial and strategic costs of the Iran conflict are expected to remain a central issue in U.S. political discussions, particularly ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

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