Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hegseth said the estimate includes both operations to date and anticipated costs through September 30, but the Pentagon has not publicly disclosed the exact methodology or breakdown for the figure.
Hegseth warned that unless Congress approves an emergency supplemental funding package soon, troop training and readiness preparations would have to be curtailed in order to prioritise resources for operations in Iran.
This was his first major congressional hearing since US forces resumed military operations against Iran earlier this month. With less than four months until the November 3, 2026 US midterm elections, the intensifying conflict in the Middle East has emerged as a central flashpoint.
