The war with Iran has cost the United States an estimated 25 billion dollars so far, according to figures presented during a tense congressional hearing on the Pentagon’s proposed defence budget for 2027.
The estimate was given by Deputy Secretary Jules W. Hurst, marking the first time the Pentagon has publicly stated a figure for the cost of the conflict. The disclosure came as lawmakers examined the Trump administration’s request for a 1.7 trillion-dollar military budget for 2027.
The six-hour hearing also featured testimony from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who defended the administration’s spending plans and the wider military strategy toward Iran. However, he declined to say how much more the operation could cost in the coming months.
The hearing quickly became contentious. Democratic lawmaker Adam Smith challenged the administration’s justification for launching the war, questioning how Iran could have been described as an immediate nuclear threat if officials now claim its nuclear capacity has been destroyed.
Hegseth responded that Iran had not abandoned its nuclear ambitions and argued that military pressure remained necessary to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
Lawmakers from both parties raised concerns over the growing cost of the operation and its impact on American taxpayers. Despite those concerns, Hegseth insisted that the central issue was not simply the price of the war, but the cost of allowing Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.
He also rejected criticism of the operation, suggesting that opposition to the military campaign weakened US interests. At one point, he accused some members of Congress of repeating “enemy propaganda.”
The proposed Pentagon budget, which would represent an increase of nearly 40 percent, has drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. Hegseth indicated that the administration could seek to use the budget reconciliation process to avoid the need for broader bipartisan support, arguing that President Trump considers national security a top priority.
