The Pentagon is requesting an additional $200 billion from Congress to support the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, an issue that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says lacks a defined end date.
When asked about the funding request on Thursday, Hegseth didn’t confirm the figure but suggested it could fluctuate. “As for the $200 billion, that number might change. Obviously, financial resources are necessary for combat operations,” he stated. “We’re approaching Congress to ensure we are adequately funded for what’s already occurred and for future actions.”
According to reports from the Associated Press and Washington Post, the U.S. Department of Defense has submitted this request to the White House. This substantial amount would be in addition to prior funding awarded to the Defense Department last year under President Donald Trump’s tax cuts. Such a proposal still requires Congressional approval, raising questions about its political viability.
While Congress anticipates a new spending request, it remains unclear whether the White House has formally submitted the proposal for a conflict that Hegseth declined to specify a timeline for. “We wouldn’t want to impose a rigid timeline,” he mentioned at a press conference, affirming that President Trump will ultimately decide when to conclude military operations.
He also noted that the U.S. has targeted over 7,000 sites in Iran and that Thursday marks the largest strike yet. Despite this escalation, Congress has not formally authorized the war and is increasingly uneasy with the scale and strategy of military operations.
Although Congress is controlled by Trump’s Republican Party, many conservative members are fiscal hawks hesitant about extensive military spending. Most Democrats are likely to resist the request and seek more clarity on military strategies and objectives. Betty McCollum, the ranking Democrat on the House subcommittee that oversees defense spending, stated she would demand thorough information regarding the war efforts before considering additional funding.
The requested amount would significantly enhance the Pentagon’s budget, which has already been set at over $800 billion for the current fiscal year. This is in addition to roughly $150 billion that Congress allocated in last year’s tax cuts for specific projects and upgrades to the military. During a Thursday press conference with Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Trump defended the request as vital, asserting that it arises from broader defense needs beyond Iran. He criticized previous military allocations and downplayed the impact of the Iran conflict on U.S. military supplies while emphasizing the necessity for substantial ammunition.
