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.
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War Powers Resolution
After exploring Iran war’s cost to American taxpayers grows to an estimated $47.1 billion - Federal News Network, the law that is supposed to give Congress a say is the War Powers Resolution.
The federal law meant to check a president's power to commit U.S. forces to armed conflict without Congress's consent, allowing it only with statutory authorization or in a national emergency created by an attack on the United States.
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