Numbers Are In: Secretary Of War Pete Hegseth Reveals How Much The Iran War Has Cost So Far

Hegseth interrupted by protester: Stop bombing children in Iran and Palestine. This is illegal pic.twitter.com/UJtzAnzeQg

— Acyn (@Acyn) July 21, 2026

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the U.S. war against Iran has cost $37.5 billion, so far, as he is facing questions and protests at a Senate hearing ahead of a $95 billion GOP budget package to fund the military, along with aid to farmers and voting law changes that are top White House priorities.

Hegseth provided the new estimate, up from earlier accounts, during testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee. Several times, protesters interrupted Hegseth’s opening remarks, which come days after the Pentagon announced that three more American service members have died in the conflict, bringing the death toll to 17, and that more than 100 have been injured since early July.

Hegseth said the supplemental war funding is an “urgent, necessary” injection of funds, and with President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget a generational investment in the military.

“Without these funds, we face critical shortfalls,” Hegseth testified.

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.@SecWar: "Iran is at the weakest point militarily it has ever been in… I acknowledge they still have capabilities, no doubt, but the amount of damage that we have done to them over the course of these series of operations has put them in the worst place they've ever been." pic.twitter.com/9oFSfnfzCB

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 21, 2026

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Caine opened his testimony honoring the three service members killed over the weekend, while framing the funding request as needed to address global threats.

“I’ve come to you today to request the necessary funds while in the window of opportunity, while time is still on our side,” Caine told senators. “The United States of America faces a global list of military challenges — in the Middle East, in Europe, in the Pacific. Both nuclear and nonnuclear challenges, and the continued threat of terrorism.”

Hegseth and Caine last testified about the war at hearings in May, not long after the pair delivered their most recent public briefing to the press.

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Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: "Today, we remember 1st Lt. Tyler Feehan, Sgt. Michael Swinton, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales."

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— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 21, 2026

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