The U.S. War Department is preparing to request more than $200 billion in additional funding to support ongoing military operations in Iran, signaling a sharp escalation in the financial scope of the conflict.

According to a report published Wednesday by The Washington Post, the Pentagon has asked the White House to approve a supplemental budget request that would be submitted to Congress, significantly increasing the cost of the joint U.S.-Israel campaign.

The proposed funding would extend well beyond the initial phase of airstrikes, with a major focus on replenishing depleted munitions and ramping up weapons production after weeks of intensive strikes against Iranian targets.

Officials familiar with the planning said U.S. and allied forces have already carried out thousands of strikes in just three weeks, rapidly draining key weapons reserves.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the proposed figure during a Thursday morning briefing, indicating that the total could still change.

“I think that number could move,” Hegseth said. “Obviously, it takes money to kill bad guys. So we’re going back to Congress and folks there to ensure that we’re properly funded for what’s been done, for what we may have to do in the future, ensure that our ammunition is, everything’s refilled, and not just refilled, but above and beyond.”

Inside the administration, multiple approaches to funding are reportedly under consideration, and some officials have expressed doubt about whether Congress would agree to such a large request.

If formally submitted, the proposal is expected to ignite a significant political battle in Washington.

Democratic lawmakers have already voiced opposition to the war, while Republicans have generally backed maintaining U.S. military strength, though they have yet to unite around a clear legislative strategy to secure approval for the funding.

The projected cost of more than $200 billion would place the Iran conflict on par with—or even above—U.S. expenditures on the war in Ukraine, which reached roughly $188 billion by the end of last year.

The rising price tag highlights the rapid pace at which the conflict has intensified.

Early briefings to Congress estimated that the first week alone cost more than $11 billion. Analysts now suggest the war could be costing as much as $1 billion per day, depending on operational tempo.

Defense officials argue that the funding is critical not only to continue current missions but also to maintain long-term military readiness.

They have warned that precision-guided munitions are being used at a rate that could strain the U.S. defense industrial base, which has faced ongoing challenges in quickly increasing production capacity.

Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg has been leading efforts within the department to speed up manufacturing and address supply chain constraints, though officials acknowledge that additional funding alone may not immediately resolve shortages in workforce, materials, and production infrastructure.

The debate over the funding request also reflects broader concerns about government spending.

With federal deficits growing and interest payments taking up a larger portion of the budget, some lawmakers are hesitant to approve another large supplemental package without a comprehensive long-term plan.

Supporters of the request, however, maintain that national security considerations must come first, particularly as instability in the Middle East poses risks to global markets and key energy corridors.

President Donald Trump, who has consistently emphasized the importance of a strong military while criticizing previous foreign spending, has indicated that the conflict could be resolved relatively quickly, though officials caution that the duration of the war remains uncertain.

{Matzav.com}