Iran war has cost $47 billion, U.S. military says
The U.S. military has reported that the war with Iran has cost at least $47.1 billion as of mid-October, according to a new estimate from U.S. Central Command.
The latest estimate, provided to lawmakers, breaks down the total cost into specific categories. Replacing expended munitions accounts for around $29 billion, while replacing lost equipment totals $6.1 billion. The remaining $11.9 billion covers incremental costs such as support for American service members.
This figure is notably higher than a previous estimate from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who told lawmakers three months ago that the war had cost around $37.5 billion, not including damaged U.S. bases. The new estimate also excludes the cost of damage to U.S. military bases in the Middle East, many of which were targeted by Iranian drones and missiles.
The Congressional Budget Office has projected that the war could cost $2 billion to $3 billion per month for as long as it continues. This projection is partly due to the need to replace interceptor missiles used to defend against Iranian attacks. The cost could rise during further tit-for-tat exchanges between the U.S. and Iran.
Strategic inventory shortfalls
The Pentagon's inspector general has reported that the U.S. is facing "strategic inventory shortfalls" due to the number of munitions expended during the war. This has led the Defense Department to work to speed up production. The Trump administration has argued that the military is not facing shortages, with the president stating in early September that "we have virtually unlimited amounts of Mid to High Grade Ammunition, far more than we could ever use."
The administration has asked Congress to approve tens of billions of dollars in supplemental military funding earlier this year, in part due to the Iran war. That request has not yet passed, and Democrats have pressed Hegseth for a more detailed accounting of the war's cost.
Future of the conflict
The Iran war will enter its ninth month this week, and the conflict's future remains unclear. President Trump has suggested he might restart hostilities with Iran after next month's midterm elections unless Iran agrees to a deal. "We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree," he told supporters during a rally in Florida last week.
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