Pentagon Asks Congress for $80 Billion for Iran Operations, Below Earlier $200 Billion Estimate

The Pentagon has told senators it needs roughly $80 billion, mostly to cover the cost of U.S. military operations against Iran. The figure exceeds the $29 billion war-cost estimate Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided to Congress last month and falls below the initial $200 billion cost estimate the Pentagon offered at the start of the operations.

The White House has requested $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon in the current fiscal year, a nearly 50 percent increase over existing funding levels. The Office of Management and Budget has not yet submitted a formal supplemental funding request to Congress for the Iran operations. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with senators on Capitol Hill on Monday evening, June 22, 2026.

Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg notified congressional committees last week that the $80 billion request had been sent to the Office of Management and Budget and spoke to several senators about the proposal in calls. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he expects a supplemental spending request and that the Senate will assess votes when it arrives.

“We need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to replenish, resupply a lot our munitions that have been depleted — not only just with what’s happening with Iran, but prior to that,” Thune said.

Sen. Brian Schatz said he expects the actual price tag could be much higher than $80 billion. Sen. Jim Banks said the request is less about the war and more about stockpiles, adding that he would present it to his state as an investment in the defense industrial base.

Sen. Jack Reed said funding for an Iran supplemental cannot be done in isolation and must follow agreement on total spending for defense and non-defense programs. Sen. John Hoeven said he has worked with the administration to broaden the package to include disaster aid for states hit by fires and weather problems as well as agricultural aid for farmers.