{"id":35738,"date":"2026-05-13T10:12:44","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T07:12:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=35738"},"modified":"2026-05-13T10:12:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T07:12:54","slug":"pentagon-seeks-additional-funding-as-cost-of-iran-war-increases-to-29-billion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/pentagon-seeks-additional-funding-as-cost-of-iran-war-increases-to-29-billion\/","title":{"rendered":"Pentagon seeks additional funding as cost of Iran War increases to $29 billion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

5 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pentagon said May 12, 2026, that the United States has spent an estimated $29 billion on the ongoing war against Iran, as senior defense officials appeared before Congress to defend the administration\u2019s military spending plans and broader strategy in the Middle East.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The updated figure marks a sharp increase from the $25 billion estimate given just two weeks ago. Pentagon acting comptroller Jules Hurst III said the higher cost reflects updated calculations tied to equipment repair and replacement, as well as the growing operational expenses of maintaining US forces across the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hurst noted that the estimate still does not include the cost of repairing damaged American military installations in the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have a lot of unknowns there,\u201d Hurst told lawmakers. \u201cWe don\u2019t know what our future posture is going to be. We don\u2019t know how we construct those bases, and we don\u2019t know what part our allies or partners could pay into our MILCON costs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hearings came as tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high despite a fragile ceasefire that has largely held for the past month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed Iran\u2019s latest peace proposal as \u201cgarbage,\u201d raising fears that fighting could resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shortly afterward, the speaker of Iran\u2019s parliament warned that Tehran was prepared to deliver a \u201clesson-teaching response\u201d to any future attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"U.S.<\/a>
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth meets with service members executing Operation Epic Fury while in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, on March 28, 2026. (Image Credit: U.S. Air Force\/Tech. Sgt. Milton Hamilton)<\/sup><\/em>

<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n


US-Iran Ceasefire Under Pressure<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although both sides officially agreed to halt large-scale military operations in April, limited clashes have continued around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world\u2019s most important shipping routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran has reportedly launched missiles, drones, and small boats toward U.S. naval vessels operating in the area. In response, American forces carried out strikes on Iranian military targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth acknowledged that the situation remains unstable and said the Pentagon is preparing for multiple scenarios. \u201cAs you know, for the most part, a ceasefire means fire is ceasing,\u201d Hegseth said during testimony before Congress. \u201cWe have a plan to escalate, if necessary. We have a plan to retrograde, if necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hegseth also confirmed that Project Freedom, a temporary U.S. naval operation designed to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, has been paused for now. \u201cIt\u2019s an option we could always recommence, should the commander in chief want the U.S. to,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conflict has significantly increased concerns about global energy security and shipping stability, especially after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz pushed fuel prices higher in international markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Questions Over the Real Cost<\/strong> of War<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several analysts and lawmakers have questioned whether the Pentagon\u2019s official estimate fully reflects the war\u2019s broader economic impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some economists argue that rising fuel prices, supply chain disruptions, and inflation linked to instability in the Gulf could ultimately push the total economic burden far beyond the Pentagon\u2019s direct military spending figures.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"U.S.<\/a>
U.S. Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine participate in a press briefing at the Pentagon on June 22, 2025. (Image Credit: U.S. Air Force)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

U.S. Representative Ro Khanna previously estimated that the conflict could cost the American economy roughly $631 billion when indirect effects are included. Harvard economist Linda Bilmes warned that the overall long-term cost could eventually approach $1 trillion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Economic pressure is becoming an increasingly sensitive political issue in the United States ahead of the midterm elections later this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Tuesday, the U.S. Labor Department reported that consumer prices rose 3.8 percent compared to April 2025, marking the highest annual inflation increase since 2023. Gasoline prices alone rose 5.4 percent in April. The growing economic pressure has fueled criticism from both political parties over the financial sustainability of the conflict.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pentagon Rejects Munitions Shortage Claims<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the hearings, Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine pushed back against claims that the war has seriously weakened America\u2019s weapons stockpiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI take issue with the characterization that munitions are depleted in a public forum; that\u2019s not true,\u201d Hegseth said. \u201cUltimately, we have all the munitions needed to execute what we need to execute.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caine echoed the same position, saying the U.S. military currently has enough weapons to meet operational requirements. \u201cWe have sufficient munitions for what we\u2019re tasked to do right now,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re always going to want more munitions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"U.S.<\/a>
U.S. Army Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) launching station preparing to load onto a 4th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III at Fort Bliss, Texas, on Feb. 23, 2019. (Image Credit: Cory D. Payne\/U.S. Air Force)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

However, outside assessments have raised concerns about long-term readiness. A recent study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies said the conflict had consumed large portions of several key U.S. missile stockpiles, including Patriot interceptors, THAAD systems, and Precision Strike Missiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report warned that while the U.S. can sustain current operations, future conflicts could place significant strain on military inventories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


China as Top Priority<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the ongoing conflict with Iran, Pentagon officials stressed that countering China remains America\u2019s main strategic focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking during discussions surrounding the Pentagon\u2019s proposed $1.5 trillion budget request, Gen. Caine said the United States continues to prioritize deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the Pentagon aims to maintain \u201ca range and mix of capabilities\u201d that create \u201coutsized dilemmas\u201d for Chinese President Xi Jinping and help preserve long-term deterrence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue is expected to remain central during President Trump\u2019s visit to China this week, even as Washington continues to manage tensions in the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For now, the future of the ceasefire with Iran remains uncertain. While both Washington and Tehran continue to avoid full-scale escalation, officials on both sides are openly preparing for the possibility that the fighting could resume at any moment.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"What<\/a>
What could $25 billion do for the U.S. if not spent on the Iran war? (Image Credit: IRIA)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Pentagon said May 12, 2026, that the United States has spent an estimated $29 billion on the ongoing war against Iran, as senior defense officials appeared before Congress to defend the administration\u2019s military spending plans and broader strategy in the Middle East.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35749,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[44,1,125],"tags":[218,75,6,30,356,5,205,7,471,128],"class_list":["post-35738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east","category-news","category-united-states","tag-army","tag-conflict","tag-defense","tag-iran","tag-middle-east","tag-military","tag-pentagon","tag-u-s","tag-u-s-army","tag-war"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/US-FA-18-jet-aboard-USS-Gerald-Ford.jpg?fit=690%2C370&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7jJWb-9iq","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35738"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35738\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35750,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35738\/revisions\/35750"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}