According to The Washington Post, members of Congress also approved an additional $73 billion, most of which will go toward covering expenses related to the U.S. military campaign against Iran. This decision was supported exclusively by Republicans—not a single Democrat voted in favor of it.
The budget debate largely centered on the conflict with Iran. According to Defense Secretary Pete Hegset, the military operation has already cost Washington $37.5 billion. Just a month ago, the White House estimated the costs at approximately $30 billion; however, that figure did not account for the restoration of U.S. bases in the Middle East that were damaged by Iranian strikes. The Washington Post previously reported on this.
Due to rising costs, the Pentagon is facing a funding shortfall. The administration had previously asked Congress to urgently allocate an additional $67 billion, warning that without additional funding, the Department of Defense would have to cut programs and postpone some procurements.
It should be noted that the U.S. defense budget for this year totals approximately $1 trillion. It includes $150 billion in one-time funding approved by Congress last year for a number of priority goals—ranging from the development of advanced weapons systems to stimulating the U.S. defense industry. For 2027, President Donald Trump’s administration has requested $1.5 trillion.
