The US Department of Defense has requested approximately $80 billion from Congress to cover expenses related to the Iran war as well as other non-war costs. Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg informed lawmakers of the funding need during phone calls in mid-June 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4].
The supplemental funding request is expected to include a mix of Pentagon priorities and nondefense items such as farm and disaster relief aid. Officials warn that without this funding, military operations could run out of money in summer 2026 [1, 4]. Some of the $80 billion would be allocated for munitions, personnel pay, and ship operations [2, 3, 4]. The Pentagon’s overall fiscal year 2026 budget stands at around $1 trillion [4].
The Iran war began on February 28, 2026, after US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets triggered the conflict [2, 3]. The Pentagon estimated the war’s cost at about $25 billion in April 2026, rising to nearly $29 billion by May [1, 2, 3]. However, total costs may be higher when factoring in damage caused by Iran [1, 2, 3]. Fighting escalated again on June 19 when Israel clashed with Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, complicating ongoing peace talks in Switzerland [2, 3].
Some lawmakers have refused to approve additional war funding without explicit congressional authorization. Democrats accused President Trump of violating the Constitution by initiating the war without Congress’s approval, pointing out that the 60-day War Powers Act limit has passed. They said, "Trump is now breaking the law by starting the war without Congress’s backing after the War Powers Act 60-day limit passed weeks ago" [1, 2, 3].
Concerns exist about the war’s strain on US munitions stockpiles. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied a crisis, saying, "There is no crisis in munitions stockpiles despite concerns related to the Iran war" [2, 3]. Funding constraints may force the military to cut training and reduce troop deployments on the US-Mexico border [2, 3]. Feinberg’s discussions with lawmakers coincided with Hegseth meeting senior Republican senators in mid-June 2026 [4].
The Pentagon plans to send the full supplemental funding request to Congress in the coming days to avoid operational shortfalls. Lawmakers face a deadline this summer to pass the necessary wartime spending bill to continue US military operations without disruption [1, 2, 3, 4].
