Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday that the U.S. war against Iran has cost $37.5 billion so far. This updated figure comes as the Pentagon announced three more American service members have died in the conflict, raising the death toll to 17, with over 100 injured since early July. Hegseth is seeking approval for a $95 billion GOP budget package to fund the military and other priorities, according to fortune.com.
During the hearing, Hegseth described the supplemental war funding as an "urgent, necessary" injection to avoid critical shortfalls, emphasizing that President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget represents a generational investment in the military. The session was marked by interruptions from protesters, and Democratic Senator Patty Murray warned against what she called "another forever war," criticizing the request for an additional $70 billion and questioning the administration’s assurances that the conflict would soon end, per fortune.com.
The rising costs and casualties underscore the escalating nature of the conflict, which has drawn bipartisan scrutiny in Congress. The $37.5 billion figure surpasses earlier estimates and highlights the financial and human toll of the war. The debate over supplemental funding reflects broader concerns about U.S. military engagements abroad and the sustainability of defense spending amid competing domestic priorities, according to fortune.com.
The Senate Appropriations Committee hearing included testimony from General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. The committee’s decisions on the $95 billion budget package will influence the Pentagon’s ability to sustain operations and address the growing demands of the conflict in the near term, as detailed by fortune.com.