US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clashed with American lawmakers over the cost of the war on Iran during his first appearance on Capitol Hill since the conflict entered its third month. The Pentagon told a House Armed Services Committee hearing that the US had spent $25 billion on the war, largely on munitions and equipment maintenance.

However, Democratic leaders and several economists believe this figure is a significant underestimate. They argue the actual cost to the US economy and its 330 million people could range from $630 billion to $1 trillion.

Hegseth lashed out at lawmakers questioning President Donald Trump's handling of the Middle East conflict, stating: "The biggest challenge, the biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless, feckless and defeatist words of Congressional Democrats and some Republicans."

As the US-Israel war on Iran drags on with no agreement in sight, the Trump administration has requested a $1.5 trillion defense budget for next year—a 42 percent increase, the largest expansion in military spending since World War II.

Acting Pentagon comptroller Jay Hurst, testifying alongside Hegseth, said the $25 billion figure only reflects "the costs of the war," including munitions and operational costs. He promised a supplemental funding request would be sent to Congress after a full assessment.

In March, Pentagon officials had told Congress the war cost $11.3 billion in the first six days. The current estimate is also significantly smaller than the $200 billion initially requested by the Trump administration.

Since February 28, US-Israeli attacks on Iran have killed at least 3,375 people, according to Iran's Health Ministry. The US military has confirmed 14 combat-related deaths and over 200 injuries.

Democratic Representative Ro Khanna challenged Hegseth, asking: "Do you know how much it will cost Americans in terms of their increased cost in gas and food over the next year because of Iran?" He claimed the war would cost the US economy about $631 billion, or roughly $5,000 per household.

Due to the US blockade of Iranian ports and Tehran's control of the Strait of Hormuz, US gas prices have hit a new high of $4.23 per gallon—the highest since 2022. Brent crude has been trading above $120.

The 40 percent rise in gas prices compared to before the war has driven President Trump's approval rating to a record low in his second term, with only 22 percent of Americans approving his handling of the cost of living, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.

Harvard economist Linda Bilmes has predicted the total cost of the war could reach $1 trillion. She noted the war is costing about $2 billion a day in short-term upfront costs, which she called "the tip of the iceberg."

The US claimed it struck more than 13,000 targets in the first 39 days of fighting. For context, the US fired more Patriot missiles in the first four days of the Iran war than it supplied to Ukraine over the past four years. Each Patriot missile costs $4 million.

NBC News reported that Iran damaged US military bases and equipment in the Middle East far worse than publicly acknowledged, with repairs potentially costing billions. The New York Times estimated repairs to the US Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain alone could cost $200 million.

Hegseth declined to say whether the $25 billion figure includes repairing damage to US bases. Hurst stated that the Pentagon does not yet have a final number for damage to overseas installations and that partners might contribute to reconstruction.

Bilmes, who accurately predicted the Iraq war would cost $3 trillion, emphasized that wars always cost more than expected. She concluded: "I am certain we will reach one trillion dollars for the Iran war," factoring in long-term expenses like veterans' care and restocking weapons.

Source: www.aljazeera.com