USA Today: Pentagon Says Iran War Costs $25 Billion. See How It Measures Up
Pentagon faces scrutiny over Iran war cost estimate, with accusations of misleading Congress as independent figures suggest expenses exceed $72 billion.
- Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth and Acting Comptroller Jules Hurst testified to Congress on April 29 that the Iran War cost $25 billion through 60 days, though experts and lawmakers immediately questioned the figure.
- Stephen Semler, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, argued Wednesday that the $25 billion estimate ignores damaged assets and munitions replacement costs, calculating the actual total at $71.8 billion.
- Munitions account for roughly $15 billion to $20 billion of total expenses, with the Pentagon's $25 billion figure nearly eight times the $3.3 billion Congress allocated to the National Park Service in 2025.
- During the hearing, Rep. Ro Khanna challenged Hegseth, telling him 'your $25 billion number is totally off,' while the Pentagon has not detailed its calculation despite signaling a need for additional funding.
- President Trump warned Wednesday that if Iran refuses U.S. terms, bombing will increase in 'level and intensity,' as officials may seek funds beyond the current $1.5 trillion budget request for next year.
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5 Articles
Expert's math lesson catches Pete Hegseth in $71 billion lie
The Pentagon’s official estimate of the direct financial cost of the US war on Iran is a nearly threefold undercount of the actual price tag of the war, according to an expert analysis published Wednesday.Stephen Semler, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, produced the new cost e...
The Pentagon has officially named the amount of military spending on this conflict, which is already equal to our annual budget.Key figures and details of the report:First official estimate: According to the Pentagon, the war in Iran has already cost American taxpayers $25 billion. The lion's share of that money went to munitions.Conflicting data: Reuters analysts point out that this figure may be an underestimate. Last month, sources reported t…
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