The cost of the United States’ war in Iran has reached US$37.5 billion so far, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers during a hearing in Washington on Tuesday, July 21st, 2026. This figure includes certain aspects of the war as well as anticipated costs through September 30.
Hegseth faced skeptical lawmakers for the first time since heavy bombings resumed in the conflict, seeking urgent funding for the unpopular war. The hearing comes with just six months before the midterm elections, where US President Donald Trump’s Republicans may struggle to maintain their majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate. Democrats are leveraging public opinion polls that link the costly Iran war with broader affordability concerns.
A source told Reuters in March that the Trump administration estimated the first six days of the war had cost at least US$11.3 billion. Last month, Trump requested nearly US$90 billion in additional funding from Congress, most of it related to the Iran conflict, setting the stage for another contentious budget battle amid lawmakers' frustration.
Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of information from Trump and his team since the US and Israel began bombing Iran on February 28. The conflict also involves strategic considerations around the vital Red Sea shipping lane, which may be emerging as a new frontline.
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