Iran war has cost $25 billion to date, defense official says
The acting comptroller of the Department of Defense, Jules Hurst, estimated the cost of the conflict in Iran at $25 billion during a congressional testimony, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and military leaders faced questions about war strategy and budget priorities. Lawmakers from both parties expressed skepticism about the administration's claims and the true cost of the war, with some arguing the $25 billion figure does not reflect the full financial burden. Hegseth defended the administration's approach, blaming political opposition for undermining the effort and emphasizing the need for increased munitions production.
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Politics Iran war has cost $25 billion to date, defense official says, as Hegseth faces questions about war strategy By Eleanor Watson Eleanor Watson CBS News Reporter Eleanor Watson is a CBS News multi-platform reporter and producer covering the Pentagon. Read Full Bio Eleanor Watson Updated on: April 29, 2026 / 7:30 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google The cost of the conflict in Iran is about $25 billion at this point, according to an estimate from the acting comptroller Jules Hurst, who revealed the number in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday. Hurst is appearing alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine regarding the Defense Department's $1.5 trillion budget request.
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