WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – The rising cost of the war in Iran has sparked debate on Capitol Hill, as the Pentagon prepares to ask Congress for billions more to continue the fight.
In a news briefing Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. military leaders plan to request about $200 billion in additional funding for “Operation Epic Fury.”
“It takes money to kill bad guys,” Hegseth said. “So we’re going back to Congress and folks there to ensure that we’re properly funded for what’s been done, and what we may have to do in the future.”
The request now sets up a political showdown, as lawmakers weigh the growing cost of the war against economic pressure at home, including higher gas prices.
On Thursday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries pushed back on the forthcoming request.
“End this reckless war of choice,” he said. “End the fact that billions of dollars have already been spent. Perhaps up to $2 billion a day to drop bombs in the Middle East.”
Jeffries also raised concerns about unverified reports the administration may consider deploying U.S. ground troops.
“We have a responsibility to make sure that public policymakers within this administration aren’t recklessly sending our troops into harm’s way,” he said.
An estimate from the Center for Strategic and International Studies puts the cost of the first 12 days of the conflict at roughly $16.5 billion. Before the war began, President Donald Trump had already proposed a historic $1.5 trillion budget for the Department of Defense.
The funding request will likely need bipartisan support to pass the Senate, where it must clear a 60-vote threshold.
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