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Hegseth seeks more funds
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers the U.S. war against Iran has cost an estimated $37.5 billion so far, and he urged Congress to approve additional emergency Pentagon funding as the conflict continues to escalate with no clear end in sight.
“Hegseth estimates Iran war has cost $37”
Hegseth disclosed the updated figure during testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee while President Donald Trump’s administration sought an additional $67 billion in defense funding, with the hearing focused on Trump’s request for an additional $67 billion in defense funding.
In the same period, Trump posted on TruthSocial that if the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran.
The dispute over strategy and costs played out as the hearing was repeatedly interrupted by anti-war protesters, and Hegseth warned that any delay in approving the funding request could have serious operational consequences for the U.S. military.
Hegseth also said, "Without these funds, we face critical shortfalls that threaten our ability to also simply pay our service members, rapidly replenish equipment and munitions, and sustain vital operations without disruption."
Strikes, shipping, and threats
As the U.S. continued its 11th consecutive day of strikes, U.S. Central Command said it completed another round of strikes against Iran at 9 p.m. ET, July 20, targeting Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems.
Iran responded by launching drones towards U.S. military facilities in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, with Iran’s military saying it struck "ammunition depots" and "ground forces command logistics equipment" at Camp Doha in western Kuwait in response to the U.S. "repeated aggression."
DW reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi threatened reprisals in a statement that said, "Our defense doctrine is clear: eye for an eye," and warned that any aggression against Iran, including its infrastructure, would compel a powerful and decisive response.
Shipping disruptions continued as only three commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, down from four on Monday, according to Kpler, while Kpler said traffic in both straits had fallen sharply.
The economic pressure was reflected in fuel and oil markets, with the AAA price of a gallon of gasoline in the US reaching $4.06 and WTI crude trading at $87.05, up $2.70 on the day after reaching an intraday high of $88.61.
Congressional fight over escalation
In Congress, House Republicans passed $1.1 trillion in funding for the military on Wednesday in the National Defense Authorization Act, with the vote recorded as 216 to 212 and six Democrats joining Republicans to support the bill.
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NPR reported that the NDAA debate came as the war had already cost taxpayers $37.5 billion, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and it said at least four U.S. service members had been killed in recent days, bringing the nation’s death toll from the conflict to 18.
The House also advanced a $95 billion budget blueprint, with NPR saying it outlined more than $70 billion for the Iran war and that the vote was 216 to 214, while Democrats and GOP fiscal hardliners clashed over funding levels and whether the spending would be paid for.
At the same time, DW described Iran’s foreign minister warning that those who contribute to aggression would also be considered legitimate targets, and it reported that Iran’s chief negotiator and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf wrote, "In a region where we do not sell oil, no one will sell oil."
The stakes for the Pentagon were framed in terms of readiness and continuity, as the Guardian said Hegseth warned that without the funds the Pentagon would face "critical shortfalls" that threaten its ability to pay troops, replenish munitions, and sustain vital operations without disruption.
