By Shelby Holliday and Marcus Weisgerber
The Pentagon will ask Congress to approve funding to pay for the war in Iran, however the exact amount is still being determined, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said. "Obviously, it takes money to kill bad guys," Hegseth said during a briefing at the Pentagon.
Hegseth was specifically asked about a Washington Post report that said the Pentagon would request $200 billion for the war. "As far as $200 billion, I think that number could move," he said.
The money, which would be in addition to the Pentagon's annual budget for 2026 already approved by Congress, would "ensure that we're properly funded for what's been done, for what we may have to do in the future," he said. The first six days of strikes cost roughly $11.3 billion, according to the acting Pentagon comptroller.
The request is sure to meet resistance on Capitol Hill. The Trump administration has largely bypassed Congress in attacking Iran, and Democrats have questioned Trump's strategy and demanded more congressional oversight of the war.
"The Iran War will cost $200B. Prices in the U.S. are spiking. The Middle East is on fire. A dozen soldiers are dead, more to come. And for what? Iran's new leaders are worse than the old ones, and they will keep their missile, drone and nuclear programs," Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.) said on X.
Republicans have largely supported the operation, though some have raised concerns about how long it will last and the impact on energy prices. Some have also expressed nervousness about the potential to put boots on the ground in Iran.
This item is part of a Wall Street Journal live coverage event. The full stream can be found by searching P/WSJL (WSJ Live Coverage).
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 19, 2026 10:49 ET (14:49 GMT)
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