Hegseth on $200B Iran war funding request: ‘It takes money to kill bad guys’

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the Pentagon’s $200 billion funding request, which was sent to the White House for the ongoing war against Iran, saying it “takes money to kill bad guys.” 

“I think that number could move. Obviously, it takes money to kill bad guys,” Hegseth told reporters during a Thursday morning briefing at the Pentagon. 

“So we’re going back to Congress and our folks there to ensure that we’re properly funded for what’s been done, for what we may have to do in the future, ensure that our ammunition ––everything’s refilled, and not just refilled, but above and beyond,” Hegseth said when asked about the request from the Pentagon, which was first reported by The Washington Post. 

It is unclear how much the White House will ultimately ask Congress to approve in the supplemental proposal, prospects of which have drawn opposition from Democrats in both chambers, while Republicans have indicated support for the upcoming funding request.  

“At the height of combat the Iraq War cost around $140 Billion per year. If the Pentagon is asking for $200 billion they are asking for a long war. The answer is a simple no,” Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), an Iraq War veteran, said Thursday night on social platform X. 

The ask from the Pentagon comes as the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran is well into its third week, with both militaries continuing to hit thousands of Iranian targets, including ballistic missile launch sites and drone manufacturing posts.

Hegseth said Thursday morning that all 11 of the Iranian submarines have been destroyed and that the U.S. military damaged or sunk more than 120 of Iran’s ships. 

The cost of the war has spiked, with Pentagon officials telling lawmakers last week the price tag for the conflict came out to more than $11.3 billion in the first six days of action, The Hill previously reported. 

In early January, President Trump called on Congress to increase the U.S. defense budget from $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion, saying it would allow the country to build its “dream military.”

Hegseth praised Trump on Thursday for supporting the U.S. military and chastised his predecessor, former President Biden, arguing the previous administration depleted U.S. stockpiles by transferring some arms to Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia.

“Which is when every time we reach back and look at any sort of a challenge we have, it goes back to well, send it to Ukraine,” Hegseth said. “Ultimately, we think these munitions are better spent in our own interests at this point.” 

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