SerpApi.Org
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has estimated that the costs of the war in Iran have reached $37.5 billion to date, as Republicans craft a $95 billion appropriations bill to support the military alongside additional White House initiatives.
Hegseth faced intense questioning and demonstrations on Tuesday over the U.S. conflict with Iran as he delivered an updated figure that was higher than previous estimates. At one point, he accused Democrats of suffering from "Trump Derangement Syndrome".
The contentious Senate Appropriations Committee session occurred days after the Pentagon revealed that three additional American service members had perished in the conflict, raising the fatalities to 17, with over 100 wounded since early July. His opening statement was disrupted multiple times by demonstrators.
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Hegseth characterized the supplemental war appropriations as an "urgent, necessary" capital infusion, and together with President Donald Trump's proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget, a generational commitment to the armed forces.
"Without these funds, we face critical shortfalls," Hegseth testified. However, Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat on the committee, cautioned against "another forever war.
"This war is now spiraling out of control again," Murray said.
Iran War costs spiraling
President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that "a deal is near, and the war will be over soon," she said. "But now, he's asking for $70 billion more - and for us to just trust him, it'll all work out fine."
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins also appeared before the committee. The proposed appropriations package includes $60 billion and $12 billion for additional national security needs, along with $10 billion for farm aid and $10 billion for voting law changes.
Prior to the hearing, the White House released a statement calling for support of the budget resolution "without modification - immediately."
War funding constitutes the bulk of the GOP's new budget proposal - a final priority package Republicans are eager to push through before lawmakers break for the midterm election campaign trail. The package is designed to support farmers struggling under Trump's tariffs and to finance changes to voter laws, with none of the spending offset by cuts elsewhere.
A majority of Americans continue to disapprove of Trump's handling of the Iran situation, according to an AP-NORC poll. Gas prices have surged as Iran moves to control oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. munitions are being depleted by the relentless American missile strikes, and Trump has distanced himself from his own campaign pledge to keep the U.S. out of prolonged military engagements.
Despite mounting pressure, Trump has shown no indication of stepping back from the conflict, and Republicans have largely declined to challenge his strategy or leverage Congress's budgetary and war powers authority to bring the fighting to a halt.
Tough questions for Hegseth
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire challenged why Hegseth is requesting additional funding when the department has yet to allocate roughly half of the $150 billion Republicans allocated to the Pentagon in last year's major budget bill.
"Why are you asking the American people to absorb the cost of a war they don't support?" Shaheen asked.
As Hegseth began discussing the "historic nature" of Trump's military strategy, she interrupted him. Hegseth subsequently clarified that the remainder of last year's budget package would be allocated by September.
When GOP Sen. Mike Rounds inquired whether this funding request would be sufficient to "get the job done," the general hesitated.
"I can't answer the question on what it will cost, because the enemy has a vote," Caine said.
Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana was among several senators pressing for clarity on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, questioning whether Iran will impose tolls on what has traditionally been an open waterway critical to oil transportation.
Caine responded: "That's a hypothetical question, and I don't know the answer to that."
Kennedy shot back: "Guys, we need straight answers."
Tensions intensified near the conclusion of the more than three-hour hearing. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., told Hegseth directly that his war claims don't add up.
Has the U.S. completely destroyed Iran's nuclear capabilities or not? she pressed.
"We're staying laser-focused on the objective," Hegseth responded, "and you're trying to make campaign commercials."
Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga. , questioned Hegseth on his previous assessments of the conflict, including the secretary's assertions regarding Iran's surrender.
When Democratic Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan characterized the administration's war strategy as an outright "failure," Hegseth fired back forcefully.
"Shame on you and others who call this a quagmire and a failure," Hegseth said.
Peters shot back at the secretary: "You, sir, are the failure."
The senator clarified that it is not U.S. troops who are falling short, but their commanders. "You don't have a strategy," Peters said.
"You don't have a long-term plan to actually win this war."
Hegseth accused Democrats of suffering from "Trump Derangement Syndrome" and alleged they were withholding necessary funding. Peters countered that the issue isn't financial, "but a question of leadership."
