The U.S. Department of Defense is seeking $80 billion from Congress to pay for costs stemming from the Iran war along with other unrelated expenses, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing sources with knowledge of the discussions.
Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg made the request known to lawmakers during phone calls earlier this week, according to the newspaper’s sources.
A broader supplemental funding request — one that would include not just Pentagon needs but also priorities like farm assistance and disaster relief — could be submitted to Congress within the next few days, the Journal added.
Reuters, which first reported on the story, was unable to independently confirm the details. Neither the White House nor the Pentagon responded to requests for comment outside of normal business hours.
Back in April, a Pentagon official gave Reuters the first official estimate of what the Iran war has cost so far — approximately $25 billion. That conflict, which began on February 28 when Trump launched military action alongside Israel, has left Congress wrestling with questions about its total price tag.
An earlier White House request for $200 billion in additional war funding ran into significant pushback from lawmakers. At an April hearing before the House of Representatives Budget Committee, White House budget director Russell Vought said he had no cost estimate for the war while defending Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion annual military budget.
The budget proposal reflects Republican priorities as the party looks to hold onto its congressional majority in the upcoming November midterm elections. Republicans are navigating growing public concern over rising living costs, high energy prices, and the financial strain of the ongoing Iran conflict.
