Pentagon seeks $80 billion to cover Iran war costs — WSJ
Photo: Pentagon (Getty Images)
The US Department of Defense needs $80 billion to cover costs related to the war in Iran, as well as other expenses unrelated to the conflict, according to US Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Fienberg.
The agency adds that the full US supplemental request, which will include funding for the Pentagon as well as non-defense priorities such as agriculture and disaster relief, may be sent to lawmakers in the coming days.
Reuters was unable to confirm this information immediately. The White House and the Pentagon were not immediately available for comment outside of business hours when reporters contacted them.
The war with Iran cost about $25 billion, a Pentagon spokesperson told Reuters in April, providing the first official estimate of military spending.
However, the full cost of the conflict, which the US launched alongside Israel on February 28, remains an open question on Capitol Hill, and the initial request for $200 billion in additional funding has met with stiff resistance from lawmakers.
White House Budget Director Russell Vought stated at a House Budget Committee hearing in April that he did not have an estimate of the war’s cost, while defending the US President’s request for an annual military budget of $1.5 trillion.
The proposed budget reflects Republican priorities ahead of the November midterm elections, in which the party is seeking to retain control of Congress but faces growing voter concerns about the rising cost of living, high energy prices, and the financial burden of the war in Iran.
It was previously reported that the Pentagon was seeking funding to replace its long-range radar detection aircraft.
Back in April, US Navy Chief Daryl Caudle stated that if Congress did not allocate additional funds for the war with Iran by July, the Navy would be forced to cut back on training and other activities.
