The Pentagon is reportedly seeking $80 billion for Iran War expenses and other costs as lawmakers weigh depleted missile stockpiles, proposed Israel-related defense funding and a 2027 defense bill topping $1 trillion.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Pentagon could run short of operational funding this summer if Congress does not approve emergency wartime spending as costs from the Iran War continue to climb, according to a new report.
The Department of War needs $80 billion to cover expenses tied to the Iran War and other obligations, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the discussions.
Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg reportedly outlined the funding pressure during calls with lawmakers. The figure has not yet been submitted as a formal supplemental request to Congress. Any request would first need approval from the White House Office of Management and Budget before being sent to Capitol Hill.
The reported $80 billion need comes after earlier public estimates placed the cost of the conflict far lower.
“… we think it [spending on the Iran War] is closer to 29 [billion dollars],” Jules W. Hurst III, who formerly performed the duties of under secretary of war, comptroller and chief financial officer, said during a May 12 House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing.
That estimate has not been publicly updated, and the actual cost is expected to be significantly higher.
The White House, the Office of Management and Budget, the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Senate Armed Services Committee, the House GOP press office and the House Armed Services Committee majority staff did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation. The Department of War declined to comment.
The Iran War has also placed heavy strain on U.S. munitions inventories, particularly missile-defense systems used to protect Israel during Operation Epic Fury.
The U.S. military fired more than 200 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptors while defending Israel, roughly half of the Pentagon’s total THAAD inventory, The Washington Post reported, citing War Department assessments and U.S. officials who spoke anonymously about national security matters.
Israel, by comparison, fired fewer than 100 Arrow interceptors and about 90 David’s Sling interceptors, according to the report.
One U.S. government official told the Post that the United States fired about 120 more interceptors than Israel and engaged twice as many Iranian missiles.
The cost and scale of the U.S. role in Israel’s defense comes as Congress considers additional military support benefiting Israel.
The proposed 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, unveiled by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and ranking member Adam Smith, D-Wash., includes $670 million in potential outlays related to Israel. The final 2026 NDAA included about $500 million for Israel.
The 2027 proposal includes $20 million for Israel’s Iron Dome defense system, $300 million for Israeli cooperative programs, $150 million for Arrow 3 Upper Tier Systems, $100 million for the Israel Counter UXS Program and $100 million for Israel Subterranean Cooperation.
The full 2027 defense bill proposes $1.15 trillion in defense spending.
The House Armed Services Committee passed the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act on June 4 by a 44-12 vote. More than 900 amendments were proposed as the measure moved through committee, according to the House Armed Services Committee.
The bill still must pass the full House, clear the Senate, be reconciled into a final version approved by both chambers and either be signed by the president or enacted through a veto override before becoming law.
The Trump administration did not seek congressional authorization for the Iran War, which began Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran.
Beyond budget pressure, the conflict has sharply reduced U.S. missile stockpiles.
The U.S. military has used between 45% and 61% of its Patriot missiles since the Iran War began, according to a Center for Strategic and International Studies report. The report estimated that between 1,060 and 1,430 of the 2,330 Patriot missiles in the stockpile have been expended.
THAAD inventories have also been heavily depleted. Between 52% and 80% of THAAD munitions stockpiles have been used during the Iran War, according to CSIS, which estimated that between 190 and 290 of the 360 THAAD munitions in the stockpile have been depleted.
Replacing those interceptors could take years. CSIS said THAAD interceptors can take up to 53 months to produce, while Patriot interceptors have an average delivery time of 42 months.
The combination of rising war costs, depleted air-defense inventories and expanding defense spending proposals is intensifying pressure on Congress to decide whether to approve new emergency funding.
If the reported $80 billion request advances, lawmakers will be forced to weigh the cost of sustaining the Iran War against broader concerns about munitions readiness, U.S. support for Israel and the Pentagon’s ability to finance ongoing operations through the summer.
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