Defense Department Seeks $80 Billion for Iran Conflict and Other Bills

The U.S. Department of Defense requires $80 billion to cover costs from the Iran conflict and other non-war-related bills, Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg informed lawmakers this week, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing sources.

A full U.S. supplemental request, including funding for the Pentagon and non-defense priorities such as farm and disaster relief, could be sent to lawmakers soon.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report; the White House and Pentagon were unavailable for comment outside business hours.

The Iran conflict has cost an estimated $25 billion so far, according to a Pentagon official who spoke to Reuters in April, providing the first official estimate of the war's price tag.

However, the full cost of the conflict, which President Donald Trump entered alongside Israel on February 28, remains unclear.

An initial request for an additional $200 billion in funding faced significant opposition, raising questions about how future military and reconstruction costs will be covered.

White House budget director Russell Vought told a House Budget Committee hearing in April that he had no estimate for the war's cost, as he defended Trump's $1.5 trillion annual military budget request.

The proposed budget reflects Republican priorities ahead of November’s midterm elections, when the party seeks to retain control of Congress but faces voter anxiety over rising living costs, high energy prices, and the financial burden of the Iran conflict.