White House Budget Director Testifies on Ongoing Work to Estimate Iran War Costs

# White House Budget Director States Inability to Estimate Iran War Costs WASHINGTON (Substrate) -- Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, told lawmakers on Wednesday that he could not estimate the total cost of the Iran war.

The Trump administration had not yet come up with a supplemental funding request to send to Congress for the Iran war. Vought testified before the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, asked Russell Vought during the hearing, "Do you have a ballpark? " Vought responded to Rep. " Vought told members of the House Budget Committee, "We're not ready to come to you with a request; we're still working on it.

Testimony Focuses on Fiscal 2027 Budget Request Vought was testifying on President Donald Trump's fiscal 2027 budget request.

5 trillion in defense spending. The request calls for a 44% increase in defense spending. President Donald Trump's fiscal 2027 budget request also calls for a 10% cut to nondefense spending. The testimony occurred as the Iran war is more than a month into its duration.

Analysis Estimates $1 Trillion War Cost Professor Linda Bilmes published an analysis this month that found the Iran war could cost taxpayers $1 trillion.

Professor Linda Bilmes is a public policy professor at Harvard University's Kennedy School. CNBC reported on the analysis and Vought's statements. The hearing addressed funding needs amid ongoing military operations.

Vought's responses highlighted the administration's ongoing work on budget details for the conflict.