Pentagon Provides First Official Cost Estimate for U.S. Military Campaign in Iran

The U.S. Department of Defense has spent approximately $25 billion on its military operations against Iran since the conflict began in late February, according to the Pentagon’s acting comptroller.

Jules Hurst III, performing the duties of the department’s chief financial officer, disclosed the figure during testimony before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday. He noted that the bulk of the expenditure has gone toward munitions used in the campaign, officially named Operation Epic Fury.

The eight-week-old conflict has involved extensive air and naval operations, including strikes on Iranian targets and the maintenance of a naval presence in the region. The $25 billion total reflects direct spending on weapons, operational support, and related logistics up to this point.

Lawmakers pressed for clarity on the numbers, with some expressing surprise that a precise figure had finally been provided after weeks of requests. Hurst described the estimate as current “to this day,” though questions remain about whether it fully accounts for all indirect expenses, such as force deployments, equipment replenishment, or repairs to U.S. facilities in the region.

The disclosure comes as the administration continues to defend the operation amid mixed domestic support and broader concerns about its impact on U.S. military readiness and long-term budgets. For context, the amount is roughly equivalent to NASA’s entire annual budget.

Pentagon officials have not yet detailed plans for a potential supplemental funding request from Congress to cover ongoing costs and restock depleted munitions inventories.