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Pentagon tells Congress the Iran war has cost $47.1 billion, with munitions over 60% of the bill

AP's breakdown shows where the money went and what the estimate leaves out, a week before an election where the war is a major issue.

A U.S. Central Command estimate given to Congress puts the cost of the Iran war at $47.1 billion as of October 16, AP reported on October 28, up about $3.5 billion since early September. About $29 billion is for replacing munitions, especially air-defense interceptors such as Patriot and THAAD; about $11.9 billion covers operations and $6 billion equipment losses. The New York Times, which also obtained the figures, reports that congressional officials call the numbers almost certainly low: they leave out $1.5 billion for fuel and other costs, and the repair of U.S. bases damaged by Iranian strikes, which a Pentagon inspector general report released in September said damaged or destroyed hundreds of structures across eight countries.

The Pentagon lists 21 service members killed and 865 wounded. The war began in late February; the White House is asking Congress for a $95 billion package that would help fund it. AP notes most voters in a recent AP-NORC poll want Congress to prioritize ending the conflict, and Trump has said new strikes are an option after the midterms.

From each bank
Across the spectrum 3

Democrat

Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader: In a news release cited by AP, Schumer said "Trump and his ego led us into this war with no plan, no authority, and no exit strategy" and that Senate Democrats "will continue to do everything in our power to end this disaster of a war."

Federal News Network (AP) ↗

Libertarian

Gene Healy, Reason: In an October 2 column, Healy argues Congress can end the war by refusing the supplemental funding request rather than relying on the War Powers Resolution: "It doesn't take a supermajority to defund a war."

Reason ↗

Republican

Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense: Testifying to senators on July 21, 2026, when he put the cost at $37.5 billion, Hegseth said "every dollar appropriated to the Department of War will be focused on building the lethality of our joint force" and told critics, "Shame on you and others who call this a quagmire and a failure."

CBS News ↗
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