Trump Administration Estimates Iran War Has Cost Over $11 Billion in Six Days

Pentagon officials told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing that the United States spent at least $11.3 billion in the first six days of the Iran war, a figure presented to Congress that several outlets described as preliminary and incomplete.

“The administration has not provided a public assessment of the cost of the conflict or a clear idea of its expected duration”

Al Jazeera

Economic Times reported that “The war on Iran has cost the U.S. at least $11.3 billion in its first six days,” while Red Lake Nation News said “Officials from ​President Donald Trump's administration estimated … the ‌first six days of the war on Iran had cost the United States at least $11.3 billion.”

Al Jazeera

NBC News similarly noted that “Defense Department officials told senators in a closed-door briefing Tuesday that they estimate the first six days of the war in Iran cost more than $11.3 billion,” and Anadolu Ajansı described the estimate as “the most 'comprehensive assessment' lawmakers have received so far.”

Officials and multiple reports cautioned that the $11.3 billion figure excludes numerous related expenses and therefore understates the total, with outlets noting that the Pentagon’s estimate left out pre-deployment and other operational costs.

The New York Times said the dollar figure “did not include many of the expenses associated with the operation,” and International Business Times UK added that the estimate “does not include all operational expenses, such as the pre‑deployment of forces and the logistics of sustaining military operations across the Middle East.”

Anadolu Ajansı

Anadolu Ajansı echoed that “the figure does not include 'many of the costs' associated with the operation,” and Firstpost reported that lawmakers believe the tally “might go up” once omitted items—including buildup costs—are counted.

A headline driver of the early price tag was heavy munitions use: multiple outlets reported that roughly $5.6 billion worth of munitions were expended in the first two days alone.

““Commanders need agile, independent, dead-on legal advice that enables decisive action, not endless process or turf wars,” Hegseth said in a video posted to X”

Associated Press News

International Business Times UK said “about $5.6 billion worth of munitions ... were used in the first two days of the campaign,” Türkiye Today reported “the U.S. military used $5.6 billion in munitions in the first two days of the war,” and Anadolu Ajansı likewise wrote that “earlier congressional briefings indicated that the US military used up $5.6 billion of munitions in the first two days of the war.”

Firstpost carried a similar point, noting earlier reporting that defence officials had described $5.6 billion of munitions used in the opening 48 hours.

Lawmakers pressed for more information and some aides said the White House will seek substantial additional funding, with several reports saying a supplemental request could reach roughly $50 billion.

Economic Times noted that “Some officials have said the request could be for $50 billion,” Al Jazeera wrote that “Some officials have said they expect the White House to soon submit a request to Congress for additional funding for the war. Some officials have said the request could be for $50bn,” and Caspian Post reported lawmakers “expect the White House to submit a request for additional war funding soon.”

Caspian Post

Red Lake Nation News also said senators received the closed briefing amid lawmakers’ “clamor[ing] for more information about the conflict.”

Reports underscored the broader human and economic consequences of the campaign and showed why the cost figures matter politically: outlets cited thousands of fatalities, market shocks and President Trump’s public remarks declaring victory as the conflict continued.

“CSIS noted in its study published March 5 that part of these costs is already budgeted, but the major part ($3”

DHnet

Economic Times said the campaign “has killed approximately 2,000 people and disrupted global markets,” Caspian Post reported “the conflict has reportedly claimed around 2,000 lives, mostly in Iran and Lebanon,” and The New York Times described how “Airstrikes were shaking Beirut and Tehran, and the price of oil surged past $100 a barrel.”

DHnet

Multiple sources also recorded Trump’s on-the-record comment: Economic Times noted “Trump said during a trip to Kentucky on Wednesday that 'we won' the war but that the United States will stay in the fight to finish the job.”

Analysts and trackers warned the $11.3 billion snapshot likely understates the financial toll as replacement, longer-term and indirect costs mount, and some independent counters showed higher running totals.

DHnet cited the Iran War Cost Tracker, noting it “was showing nearly $17.5 billion on its counter” and that “the United States is spending $1 billion per day,” while The Deep Dive wrote that “Replacement costs for munitions alone have already surpassed $10 billion.”

Mint and other outlets reiterated that the Pentagon’s figure “does not account for additional expenses such as the deployment of troops and military equipment prior to the initial strikes,” and Caspian Post said members of Congress have warned the war “could drain U.S. weapons stockpiles.”

Collectively, those details underline why lawmakers are pressing for fuller accounting and why most outlets treat the $11.3 billion as a lower-bound estimate.