Pentagon Seeks $80bn for Iran War and Other Costs

The US Department of Defense needs $80bn to cover costs arising from the Iran war and other expenses unrelated to the conflict, Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg told lawmakers in phone calls this week, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

A full supplemental funding request, which will include money for the Pentagon as well as non-defense priorities such as farm and disaster relief, could be submitted to Congress in the coming days, the newspaper added.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The White House and Pentagon were not available for comment outside business hours.

The Iran war has cost around $25bn, according to figures provided to Reuters by a Pentagon official in April. It was the first official estimate of the cost of the conflict.

However, the total cost of the war remains an open question. An initial request for $200bn in additional funding met with strong resistance from lawmakers.

White House Budget Director Russell Vought told a House of Representatives Budget Committee hearing in April that he had no estimate for the cost of the war. He made the admission while defending Trump’s request for an annual military budget of $1.5tn.

The proposed budget reflects Republican priorities ahead of November’s midterm elections. The party is seeking to retain control of Congress but faces growing voter concern over the cost of living, high energy prices and the financial burden of the Iran war.

(Reuters, Max)