US Iran war cost $37.5B

The United States' war in Iran has cost $37.5 billion so far, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee on July 22, 2026, seeking urgent funding. The Pentagon requested nearly $90 billion in supplemental funding and a $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027. A fragile ceasefire collapsed earlier in July, and both sides continue daily strikes. US troop casualties have reached 18 killed and 430 injured. President Donald Trump has threatened to expand targets to include energy plants, bridges, Iran — Kharg Island, and a nuclear-linked site called Pickaxe Mountain. Lawmakers from both parties expressed frustration over lack of transparency and the financial burden, with midterm elections approaching in November.