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The war with Iran has cost the United States an estimated $37.5billion (£28billion), according to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who has urged Congress to approve an additional $87billion (£65billion) in emergency Pentagon funding as the Middle East conflict continues.
Appearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday, Mr Hegseth said the conflict had become increasingly expensive, with costs climbing nearly $8billion (£6billion) since the Pentagon's last estimate in May.
Of the request for funding to near triple, $67billion (£50billion) would be allocated directly to military operations in the Middle East, while the remainder would support "broader defence priorities".
"We live in a dangerous world," Mr Hegseth told lawmakers, arguing the funding was essential to sustain military operations, replenish weapons and equipment, and ensure service members continued to receive pay.
He warned failure to approve the package would force cuts to military training and readiness at a time of heightened global tensions.
The hearing, Mr Hegseth's first appearance on Capitol Hill since fighting with the Islamic Republic resumed last week, was repeatedly interrupted by anti-war protesters and concluded with a heated exchange between the War Secretary and Democratic Senator Gary Peters.
Mr Peters accused the Trump administration of creating another "forever war", prompting Mr Hegseth to respond "shame on you" while accusing the senator of suffering from "Trump derangement syndrome".
The renewed conflict follows the collapse of a ceasefire agreed between Washington and Tehran in April.
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