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Hegseth seeks more money
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate on Tuesday that the US-Israel war on Iran has cost $37.5bn so far and defended the Trump administration’s roughly $88bn supplemental funding request as “urgent, necessary”.
NBC News reported Hegseth put the cost of the Iran war so far at $37.5 billion at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing and said the Trump administration needs nearly twice that much to continue military operations in the coming months.
NBC News added that the Defense Department is asking Congress for $67 billion in supplemental funding, and that the estimate is up from the roughly $30 billion figure presented earlier this month.
The Guardian reported that Hegseth warned that without the funds the Pentagon would face critical shortfalls that would threaten its ability to “pay our service members, rapidly replenish equipment and munitions, and sustain vital operations without disruption”.
The Guardian also said Hegseth argued the Pentagon was running low on cash alongside Gen Dan Caine, as the ceasefire collapsed and the war “roared back to life” after an April ceasefire deal fell apart.
Lawmakers clash over strategy
Senate Democrats clashed with Hegseth over the lack of progress, with Sen Gary Peters saying, “You’re asking the American people for a blank check because, once again, the Trump administration’s efforts have been an utter and complete failure to win this war to this point,” at the hearing.
Hegseth pushed back, telling Peters, “Your characterization of this incredible effort as a failure is reckless, and I think it’s irresponsible.”
The Guardian reported that Patty Murray demanded Hegseth explain what the war had actually achieved and warned the conflict risked becoming “another forever war”.
The Guardian also quoted Murray saying, “We hear a different rationale for this war every few days,” as she described shifting justifications from pre-empting threats to regime change, dismantling Iran’s nuclear programme and navy, and reopening the strait of Hormuz.
In the same hearing, Hegseth told the Senate panel, “Without these funds, we face critical shortfalls,” linking the request to pay, replenishment, and sustaining operations without disruption.
War funding and escalation
The Guardian said Hegseth warned that without the supplemental request the Pentagon would face “critical shortfalls” that threaten its ability to pay troops and replenish munitions, and it described the request as including a $21bn readiness portion and a $46bn capability portion.
Al Jazeera reported that Hegseth asked for an additional $67bn to keep up the war effort and said the months-long US-led war on Iran was estimated to have cost about $37.5bn so far.
Al Jazeera also reported that the testimony came as a June agreement between Tehran and Washington broke down and as the US launched 11 consecutive nights of attacks on Iran.
Iran’s response to Trump’s threats included a warning from Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi that “Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response.”
As the dispute over funding and outcomes continued, NBC News said Trump pledged continued retaliation after three U.S. service members were killed recently, while the Guardian reported that the American death toll since February had reached 17 and that nearly 100 troops had been wounded.
