Special Investigations

Press Freedom Defense Fund

Pentagon Claims It Needs Additional $200 Billion to Pay for War on Iran

“Obviously, it takes money to kill bad guys,” said Pete Hegseth, when asked about the funding request.

The Pentagon wants $200 billion in supplemental funds to pay for its war on Iran, a defense official told The Intercept. That sum is four times the amount originally floated by Pentagon officials. War Secretary Pete Hegseth said that number could even increase.

The request for the additional $200 billion has been sent to the White House, which normally reviews requests before they go to Congress, according to the defense official who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to speak freely about the pending proposal. The $200 billion ask, first reported by the Washington Post, is in addition to a record-setting $1.5 trillion War Department budget request for 2027.

“Obviously, it takes money to kill bad guys,” Hegseth said when asked about the request during a press conference on Thursday. “As far as the $200 billion, I think that number could move.”

Hegseth spoke only in terms of immediate costs of the war. “We’re going back to Congress and 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 is everything’s refilled, and not just refilled but above and beyond,” he explained.

Immediate war expenses will, however, be dwarfed by estimates offered by experts in the costs of war, lawmakers experienced with the Pentagon budget, and government officials briefed on Operation Epic Fury.

“Now, Secretary Hegseth wants $200 billion for a war that Congress never authorized?”

“Now, Secretary Hegseth wants $200 billion for a war that Congress never authorized?”

“Taxpayers haven’t gotten any clarity from the administration about the goals or costs of this war. To date, all we’ve seen are ballpark estimates, and........

© The Intercept