As US-Iran war ends, Pentagon seeks $80 billion to cover costs linked to the conflict: Details
The US Deputy Defence Secretary Stephen Feinberg told lawmakers in a phone call this week that the Department of Defence (DoD) reportedly needs $80 billion
The US Deputy Defence Secretary Stephen Feinberg told lawmakers in a phone call this week that the Department of Defence (DoD) reportedly needs $80 billion to cover costs from the US-Iran war, along with some other non-war-related bills. The Wall Street Journal on Friday reported the development, citing sources, which came on the heels of the lawmakers pressing US President Donald Trump's administration to provide a detailed price tag for the war, which started in late February. Also Read | US Iran Peace deal news LIVE: JD Vance defers Switzerland trip for Tehran talks Additionally, the lawmakers are concerned that the US military has depleted Washington's valuable munitions that could be needed to confront threats elsewhere around the world. Pentagon to run out of money? The report suggests that Pentagon leaders have said they could start running out of money to carry out operations this summer unless Congress passes a new wartime spending bill. They have also cautioned that ongoing operations linked to the US-Iran war, combined with troop deployments at the US-Mexico border, may force the armed services to scale back training activities and other key programs.
According to a WSJ report published in May, the US Army is reportedly witnessing a shortfall between $2 billion and $6 billion, not just from the Iran war, but also from the extended deployment of the Guard in Washington and on the border. The US military faces increasing costs The US military has been grappling with rising costs from several operations this year, including the Iran conflict, with the Pentagon predicting costs at $29 billion in mid-May, a figure that has likely risen since then. Additional costs have stemmed from the operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of the country's leader, as well as ongoing missions targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean. Reuters, citing a Pentagon official, in April said the US-Iran war has cost roughly $25 billion, which was the first official estimate of war costs. However, the full cost of the conflict, which began in late February, has remained an open question on Capitol Hill.
An initial $200 billion request for additional funding was previously met with sharp opposition from lawmakers. Earlier in May, acting Comptroller Jay Hurst told lawmakers that the Iran war has cost the Pentagon roughly $29 billion, marking a $4 billion jump in figures in less than two weeks. According to the WSJ, that estimate included operational costs, munitions expenditures, and aircraft damaged or destroyed. However, it didn't include damage caused to US facilities at its bases across the Middle East. Pentagon confident in DoD's plan? Pentagon is reportedly confident in the plan that Feinberg has briefed lawmakers on in recent days, the report noted, and added that the money will go to ship operations, personnel pay and munitions, among other things. Further, sources told WSJ that the Trump administration could submit a detailed additional funding proposal to Congress in the coming days. The package is expected to include additional resources for the Pentagon, along with funding for non-defence needs such as agricultural assistance and disaster recovery efforts.
The BriefWire