Iran · 15 September, 2026 · 3 min read
Pentagon Tells Congress Iran War Cost Reaches US$45.1 Billion
Pentagon told Congress the Iran war cost 45.1 billion dollars (43.6b through Sept 3, plus 1.5b fuel). CBO projects monthly costs could grow by 2–3 billion if hostilities continue.
Whether Pentagon disputes munitions-shortage claims.
9 of 11 outlets skipped it: CBO estimate excludes repairing damaged U.S. bases.
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Reuters
“Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell disputed the report's findings of munitions shortages”Read the original ↗
ABC News
“depleted weapon stocks could take a half decade or longer to rebuild, crippling the Pentagon's ability to respond”Read the original ↗
Reuters emphasises Pentagon pushing back on shortages, while ABC foregrounds CBO warnings about multi-year rebuilding.
Pentagon cost figures
The Pentagon told Congress the U.S. war with Iran has cost US$45.1 billion, with war costs of US$43.6 billion as of September 3 plus an additional US$1.5 billion for extra fuel, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The estimate was presented as not a full accounting because it does not include an assessment of the cost to repair damaged bases or buildings and did not provide Congress with detailed breakdowns of indirect costs of military operations as lawmakers had asked for, one source said. The Pentagon’s US$45.1 billion figure also surpassed the US$38 billion price tag the Congressional Budget Office projected for war costs through August 1, and came after the Pentagon estimated US$37.5 billion as the bill for the war in July.
The CBO estimated the war will continue to cost the U.S. approximately US$2 billion to US$3 billion per month past August 1, with higher costs estimated during periods of escalated fighting, and also told Congress the war is expected to increase inflation for the first quarter of 2027. In a separate estimate delivered to lawmakers this week, the Pentagon told Congress’ defence oversight panels the war had cost US$43.6 billion as of this month, with the figure comprising US$11.2 billion already obliged for operating expenses and US$32.4 billion in unfunded replacement costs for munitions, damaged aircraft and other assets, according to a Pentagon document submitted to Congress.
What the estimate does not cover
The Pentagon’s estimate provided to lawmakers was described as incomplete because it does not include the cost of addressing potentially billions of dollars in damages to U.S. military facilities in eight Middle East countries, according to a report that said the figure does not include those costs.
A separate breakdown described munitions as the largest component, with the Pentagon’s assessment shared with Congress saying bombs, missiles, and other munitions used in the war account for more than 60 percent of the costs.
That same report said the cost of munitions expended by U.S. forces through September 3 reached 28.1 billion dollars, while the Congressional Budget Office had previously estimated munitions costs through August 1 at 21.7 billion dollars.
The report also said costs for repairing or replacing damaged or destroyed U.S. military facilities in Iran’s strikes, including the U.S. Navy base in Manama, Bahrain, were not included in the data sent to Congress, and it quoted a senior U.S. military official saying repairing damage would take “decades.”
It further stated that the Pentagon’s Inspector General report found the conflict cost about 33.4 billion dollars to the United States between February 28 and June 30, and that the CBO released a 19-page estimate indicating the war cost 38 billion dollars through August 1.
Casualties, politics, and opposition
Alongside the cost estimates, the Pentagon’s public database system known as the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) listed 18 U.S. service members killed in the war with Iran, with 14 listed under “Heritage of Heroic Fury” and four under “Overseas Operations,” according to one report.
That same report said the Washington Post reported on Friday, citing six U.S. officials familiar with internal Pentagon data, that the number of American service members killed is higher than the official Pentagon figure, with at least 22 Americans killed and a sixth official putting the toll at 23.
The Associated Press reported that the U.S. military’s one-page breakdown to Congress includes costs for operating warships, planes and bases as well as equipment losses and medical support for troops, and it said the political costs will be calculated in November’s midterm congressional elections.
In a separate account of public reaction, a Fox News survey published on Thursday found 71 percent of voters believe the Trump administration “lacks a clear strategy” for ending the hostilities, and it said the survey found a new high of more than 60 percent of voters believe the U.S. taking military action against Iran was the “wrong decision.”
The same survey report said 47 percent of registered voters said the conflict would make the U.S. less safe long term, up from 39 percent in April, and it added that early voting in the mid-terms will last six weeks and include votes for the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate.