Pentagon Seeks $80 Billion from Congress for Costs After Iran Conflict

The Pentagon has requested $80 billion in additional funding from the U.S. Congress to cover expenses from the military operation in Iran and other non-combat costs, according to The Wall Street Journal. Deputy Secretary of Defense Steven Fainberg informed lawmakers in telephone calls this week about the urgent financial needs, warning that funds could run out by summer if a new spending bill is not approved.

Lawmakers are demanding full transparency from the Trump administration regarding the operation's costs, which began on February 28. As of May 2026, the acting Pentagon financial comptroller Jay Hurst told the Senate Armed Services Committee that expenses had already reached $29 billion due to equipment repairs, replacements, and general operational costs. Reports from mid-May indicated total U.S. spending on the Iran operation had exceeded $85 billion over 79 days of combat.

Congressional concerns extend beyond immediate funding shortfalls. Legislators worry that the military has depleted valuable munitions needed to address threats in other parts of the world. Officials have cautioned that without new funding, the Pentagon may be forced to cut programs, including military exercises. Some lawmakers predict the administration could eventually request between $100 billion and $200 billion in additional war-related funding for 2026, according to Senator Jack Reed, the senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Separately, Bloomberg reported on June 18 that President Trump intends to propose licensing American defense companies to produce weapons in Europe and Ukraine, as U.S. stockpiles have been strained by the Iran conflict and production capacity requires time to expand. This follows earlier concerns that the U.S. industrial base has degraded due to billions of dollars in arms shipments to Ukraine, and that years may be needed to replenish inventories, as noted by former Pentagon senior advisor Dan Caldwell in July 2025.