Pentagon Requests Additional War Budget of Over Rp1,300 Trillion for Iran
The United States Department of Defense (Pentagon) reportedly requires additional funding of US$80 billion (approximately Rp1,312 trillion) to cover the costs of the war in Iran and other non-war operational bills. This was conveyed by Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg to members of parliament via a telephone call this week.
This request for a supplemental budget comes amid intense pressure from Congress on the Donald Trump administration to provide a comprehensive cost breakdown of the war that began on 28 February. Lawmakers are concerned about the depletion of valuable ammunition stockpiles that should be reserved to face threats in other parts of the world.
Pentagon leadership warned that the military could begin to run out of operational funds this summer if Congress does not immediately pass a new wartime spending bill. Without this injection of funds, the US military would be forced to cut readiness exercises and other priorities, including the deployment of troops along the US southern border.
For context, the Pentagon’s base budget for fiscal year 2026 currently stands at around US$1 trillion. However, soaring operational costs have forced Feinberg to conduct intensive lobbying. The additional funds are planned to be allocated for various operational needs.
The budget proposal is predicted to trigger fierce debate on Capitol Hill. A number of lawmakers, particularly from the Democratic Party, are questioning the legality of the war in Iran because the Trump administration never requested official authorisation from Congress (AUMF), unlike the procedures followed for the Gulf War or the Afghanistan War.
Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat, asserted that support in the Senate remains very weak. “There are not 60 votes in the Senate for this supplemental budget. They [the administration] did not involve Congress and they know this war is very unpopular,” Murphy said.
On the other side, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth met with senior Republican senators to ensure the military has sufficient resources. Senator John Barrasso stressed the importance of replenishing weaponry that has been withdrawn for combat operations.
Beyond the war in Iran, which is estimated to have cost US$29 billion through May, the US military is also handling operational costs in Venezuela as well as counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
As of now, the White House and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) remain reluctant to provide official comment regarding the final details of the supplemental budget request, which is also planned to include disaster aid and agricultural sector support.