WASHINGTON - Officials from the administration provided senators with an estimate this week that the initial six days of military operations against Iran cost the United States at least $11.3 billion, according to a person familiar with the briefing. The figure was disclosed in a closed-door session for senators on Tuesday and does not reflect the total cost of the campaign.
Lawmakers have stepped up demands for information about the conflict as they consider whether to approve extra funding. Several congressional aides said they expect the White House to submit a formal request to Congress for supplemental war spending. Some within government have suggested a potential request around $50 billion, while other officials described that number as likely on the low side.
The administration has not released a public accounting of the war's expenses or offered a clear timeline for how long the operations are expected to continue. During a visit to Kentucky on Wednesday the president declared that "we won" the war but added that U.S. forces would remain engaged to "finish the job." The $11.3 billion figure was first reported on Wednesday by the New York Times.
The campaign began on February 28 with airstrikes by U.S. and Israeli forces. Officials told lawmakers that roughly $5.6 billion worth of munitions were expended in the first two days of strikes. The broader conflict has been deadly - killing around 2,000 people, mainly Iranians and Lebanese - and has expanded into Lebanon, creating turmoil for global energy markets and transport networks.
Members of Congress have flagged concerns that ongoing operations could significantly deplete U.S. military inventories at a moment when the defense sector is already grappling with capacity challenges. Congressional sources said the defense industry has struggled to keep pace with rising demand, elevating questions about how quickly stockpiles can be replenished.
In response to supply pressures, the president met last week with executives from seven defense contractors as the Pentagon sought to accelerate efforts to restore munitions and other materials. At the same time, Democratic lawmakers have demanded that administration officials provide sworn public testimony outlining strategic plans for the campaign, including estimates of its potential duration and objectives for post-conflict policy toward Iran.
As Congress evaluates possible supplemental funding, the closed-door estimate and the reported pace of munitions use underscore the fiscal and logistical pressures the conflict has already placed on defense readiness and on sectors sensitive to disruptions in global energy and transport.