The U.S. military campaign against Iran has cost $25 billion through its first 60 days, according to testimony from the Pentagon's acting comptroller on Wednesday, marking the first comprehensive accounting of expenses since combat operations began.
Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst III disclosed the figure during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, telling lawmakers that the bulk of spending went toward munitions, operational expenses, maintenance, and equipment replacements. The estimate came roughly three months after Pentagon officials first reported to Congress that the initial six days of conflict cost $11.3 billion, suggesting the pace of expenditures has slowed considerably as the operation entered its later phase.
The timing of the cost disclosure carries political weight. The 1973 War Powers Resolution limits unilateral presidential military action to 60 days, after which the president must request a 30-day extension or submit to a congressional vote. The Senate has already rejected multiple efforts to force an end to the Iran conflict, and a House measure to compel withdrawal failed by a single vote earlier this month.
Rep. Adam Smith, the committee's top Democrat, pressed Hurst on whether the Pentagon plans to seek supplemental funding from Congress. Hurst responded that the Defense Department would prepare a request "through the White House" once officials complete a full assessment of war costs.
The conflict's financial toll arrives as energy prices surge globally following Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane for oil tankers. On Tuesday, Trump met with energy industry executives to discuss the administration's strategy for maintaining port blockades while limiting damage to American consumers at the pump. Hours later, Trump declared that Iran "better get smart soon" as diplomatic efforts stalled.
Behind the public cost figures, U.S. military installations in the Middle East have sustained damage far more severe than officially acknowledged, according to several officials and congressional aides who spoke to NBC News. Repairs could add billions to the eventual bill, though specific numbers remain classified.
The $25 billion expenditure underscores the escalating financial burden of sustained military operations. For perspective, the amount roughly equals the annual defense budgets of mid-sized allied nations and represents a significant drain on Pentagon resources as Hurst and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth navigate competing demands across the military's global commitments.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Congress has ceded the power to decide here, and now it's getting the budget bill to match."
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