Pentagon Reports Iran War Expenses Now Exceed $45 Billion
WHO:
USA Today - U.S. Central Command, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky), Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois)
WHAT:
USA Today - The Pentagon's cost estimate for the war is now $45.1 billion, which includes an additional $1.5 billion for extra fuel.
CNN - The Congressional Budget Office reported that the war will continue to incur expenses of around $3 billion a month.
CNN - The Pentagon's cost estimate for the war is projected to continue at approximately $2 billion to $3 billion per month past August 1.
CNN - The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the war will increase inflation for the first quarter of 2027.
USA Today - The war in Iran has cost the U.S. military $43.6 billion as of September 3.
CNN - The Pentagon informed Congress that the total cost of the war is $45.1 billion, which includes an additional $1.5 billion for extra fuel.
USA Today - The Pentagon has spent $28.1 billion to replace expended munitions since airstrikes on Iran began on February 28.
USA Today - More than 50,000 American service members have been deployed in support of the war.
USA Today - At least 18 Americans have died and more than 800 have been wounded since the start of the conflict.
USA Today - The Navy has incurred costs of $2.2 billion, the Air Force $6.6 billion, and the Army $1.6 billion related to the war.
WHERE:
USA Today - U.S. bases across the Middle East, including the U.S. Navy’s logistics hub in Bahrain.
WHEN:
USA Today - The cost update was shared with congressional national security committees on September 18.
CNN - The Pentagon's cost estimate was provided to Congress on a Friday, with previous estimates of $37.5 billion in July and $38 billion projected by the Congressional Budget Office through August 1.
WHY:
USA Today - Sen. Tammy Duckworth stated that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is “the most incompetent secretary of defense we’ve had in our nation's history,” criticizing his handling of military operations in Iran.
USA Today - Rep. Thomas Massie introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of violating the Constitution by continuing military operations in Iran without congressional approval.
CNN - The war is expected to increase inflation for the first quarter of 2027, raising costs amid growing economic concerns among Americans.
HOW:
CNN - The Pentagon's cost estimates do not include costs to repair damaged bases or buildings, nor do they provide detailed breakdowns of indirect costs of military operations as requested by Congress.
USA Today - The Pentagon's cost estimates do not include costs to repair damaged buildings or bases, nor do they provide detailed breakdowns of indirect costs of military operations.
(UPDATED September 19, 2026 14:56 UTC)
The Pentagon's cost estimate for the ongoing war has reached $45.1 billion, which includes an additional $1.5 billion allocated for extra fuel. Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office has indicated that expenses will continue at around $3 billion a month. Senator Tammy Duckworth has criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, calling him “the most incompetent secretary of defense we’ve had in our nation's history” due to his handling of military operations in Iran.
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(UPDATED September 19, 2026 09:57 UTC)
The Pentagon's cost estimate for the ongoing war is projected to remain between $2 billion and $3 billion per month beyond August 1, and the Congressional Budget Office has indicated that this conflict will likely contribute to inflation in the first quarter of 2027. In a significant political move, Representative Thomas Massie has introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, claiming he has violated the Constitution by continuing military operations in Iran without congressional approval. It's important to note that the Pentagon's cost estimates do not account for expenses related to repairing damaged bases or buildings, nor do they provide the detailed breakdowns of indirect costs that Congress has requested.
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(UPDATED September 19, 2026 07:04 UTC)
The Pentagon has reported that the war in Iran has now cost the U.S. military $45.1 billion, which includes an additional $1.5 billion for extra fuel, and this update was shared with congressional national security committees on September 18. Since airstrikes began on February 28, the Pentagon has spent $28.1 billion to replace expended munitions, while over 50,000 American service members have been deployed, resulting in at least 18 American deaths and more than 800 injuries. As the conflict continues, it is expected to contribute to rising inflation in the first quarter of 2027, adding to the economic concerns facing Americans.