As of September 3, the ongoing war in Iran has cost the U.S. military $43.6 billion, according to an update provided by U.S. Central Command to congressional national security committees. This figure is widely considered an undercount, as it excludes the expenses required to repair U.S. bases throughout the Middle East that were damaged or destroyed during the conflict, including the U.S. Navy’s logistics hub in Bahrain.
Since the initiation of joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on February 28, the Pentagon has spent $28.1 billion on replacing expended munitions, such as bombs and air defense interceptors. The prolonged nature of the fighting has led to critical shortages of these munitions, raising concerns that the U.S. could be left vulnerable in other regions, including the Indo-Pacific. A breakdown of costs by branch shows $6.6 billion spent by the Air Force, which has lost dozens of aircraft, $2.2 billion by the Navy to operate aircraft carriers and over 20 warships, and $1.6 billion by the Army.
The human toll of the conflict remains significant, with more than 50,000 American service members deployed to the Central Command area of responsibility. Since the start of the war, at least 18 Americans have died and over 800 have been wounded. While the Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment, the financial and strategic impact has drawn sharp political criticism. Senator Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, described Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as the most incompetent in the nation's history during a September 16 interview, arguing that his leadership continues to damage national security and burden taxpayers with billions in costs.
Legislative activity related to the administration has also been affected by the broader political climate. On September 17, House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled scheduled votes and sent lawmakers home to avoid addressing an impeachment effort led by Representative Thomas Massie.
