Newspaper: Pentagon Needs $80 Billion for Iran War Expenses and Other Costs

SadaNews - The Wall Street Journal reported from informed sources that U.S. Deputy Secretary of War Stephen Feinberg informed lawmakers in phone calls this week that the Department of War needs $80 billion to cover the costs of the war on Iran, in addition to other non-war related expenses.

The newspaper added that a complete supplemental funding request, including funding for the Pentagon as well as non-defense priorities like agricultural assistance and disaster relief, might be sent to lawmakers in the coming days. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. No comment was available from the White House or the Pentagon outside of official working hours when Reuters reached out to them.

A Pentagon official told Reuters in April that the Iran war has cost about $25 billion, providing the first official estimate of the war's costs. The total cost of the conflict, sparked by Trump in collaboration with Israel on February 28, remains in question in Congress.

An initial request for $200 billion in additional funding met with strong opposition from lawmakers. In April, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought stated during a House Budget Committee hearing that he had no estimates for the cost of the war, as part of his defense for Trump's annual military budget request of $1.5 trillion.

The proposed budget reflects the priorities of the Republican Party ahead of the upcoming midterm elections in November as the party seeks to maintain control of Congress but faces increasing voter concern over rising living costs, energy prices, and the financial burden of the Iran war.