Pete Hegseth puts cost of Iran war at $37.5 billion as the Pentagon seeks more money from Congress

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth put the cost of the Iran war so far at $37.5 billion Tuesday at a contentious hearing where he told lawmakers the Trump administration needs nearly twice that much to continue military operations in the coming months.

The new estimate from Hegseth, revealed at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, is up from the roughly $30 billion figure presented to lawmakers earlier this month. The Defense Department is asking Congress for $67 billion in supplemental funding.

NBC News reported this month that the Defense Department's internal overall cost for the war so far is $80 billion to $100 billion, including the cost of repairing damaged U.S. military bases, replacing destroyed aircraft and fully replenishing American weaponry, according to three U.S. officials.

The Pentagon's acting comptroller told lawmakers that the estimate, which had not been updated since April, included the cost of replenishing munitions but not rebuilding bases.

"You're asking the American people for a blank check because, once again, the Trump administration's efforts have been an utter and complete failure to win this war to this point," said Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich.

Hegseth pushed back, saying, "Your characterization of this incredible effort as a failure is reckless, and I think it's irresponsible."