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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators Tuesday that the U.S. war with Iran has cost about $37.5 billion so far, opening a new congressional fight over how much more money the conflict will require.
CBS News reported that Hegseth gave the figure during testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee as the Trump administration asks Congress for tens of billions of dollars in additional Pentagon funding tied to the war. CBS also reported that two Democratic sources and a third source familiar with the matter said the real cost may be higher because the estimate does not include some expenses, including military construction for damaged U.S. bases.
The Associated Press, via CP24, reported that Hegseth faced questions and protests at the hearing, days after the Pentagon said three more American service members had died in the conflict. The AP said the deaths brought the U.S. toll to 17, with more than 100 service members injured since early July.
Al-Monitor reported that the $37.5 billion estimate covers military personnel pay and operations-and-maintenance costs through Sept. 30. It said the figure is up from the Pentagon’s mid-May estimate of $29 billion.
A new price tag lands as the war widens
The number matters because the Iran crisis is no longer only a battlefield story. It is now a budget fight, a readiness fight, and a political test for lawmakers being asked to approve more funding while U.S. forces continue nightly operations.
CBS reported that Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine detailed a supplemental request for $67 billion to help cover the Iran conflict and replenish military supplies. CBS said the administration is also asking for $1.5 trillion for the Defense Department in the next fiscal year.
Al-Monitor reported that Hegseth framed the supplemental funding as necessary so the United States and its allies can operate in the Strait of Hormuz and force Iran to meet U.S. objectives. Caine told senators Iran could remain a threat and that the U.S. would need to prepare militarily for the contest over the waterway.
That ties the hearing directly to the core pressure point in the crisis. Hormuz is still the route that turns U.S.-Iran fighting into a global energy problem. If Washington needs more money to keep forces in position, replace munitions, repair damage, and sustain operations, Congress is no longer debating an abstract contingency. It is being asked to fund an open-ended campaign around one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
Senators press for answers
The hearing also showed how thin the patience is getting on Capitol Hill. AP reported that Sen. Patty Murray warned of “another forever war” and said the conflict is spiraling out of control again. CBS reported that several Democrats questioned whether the administration had achieved its goals, especially after Iranian attacks on bases in Jordan and the Gulf region.
Hegseth argued that Iran’s military has been severely degraded, according to CBS, but also acknowledged that some Iranian ballistic missiles survived U.S. bombing because they were stored deep underground. That answer is important because it undercuts any simple claim that the campaign has already removed the threat.
AP reported that Republican Sen. John Kennedy pressed officials on whether Iran would impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz. Caine called that hypothetical and said he did not know the answer. Kennedy responded that lawmakers needed straight answers.
That exchange captures the problem facing the administration. The war has a growing price tag, a rising casualty count, and still-unsettled questions about whether Iran can impose new costs on maritime traffic. For a conflict built around reopening or securing Hormuz, uncertainty over future fees or control of the strait is not a small detail.
Why this update is different
List25 has already covered the Pentagon’s earlier $29 billion and $80 billion Iran-war funding estimates, as well as the latest U.S. troop injuries and regional attacks. This update is different because Hegseth gave senators a fresh public cost estimate during a live funding fight after the war resumed in force.
The $37.5 billion figure also comes with caveats. CBS reported that some sources believe the actual cost is higher. AP reported that lawmakers are being asked to move a broader Republican budget package while many Americans continue to disapprove of Trump’s handling of Iran.
For now, the hard news is simple: the Iran war is getting more expensive, Congress is being asked to cover the next round, and the administration still has not given senators a clean answer on what it will cost to secure the Strait of Hormuz if Iran keeps resisting.
Last Update: July 21, 2026
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About the Author
Anant Gupta Writer & Editor
Anant Gupta is an executive by profession and a passionate writer at heart. Pursuing his love for storytelling, he contributes part-time to List25, turning curiosity and knowledge into engaging, informative content.
