Pentagon Requests Huge Budget for Iran War, Democrats Push Back

The United States Department of Defense has requested an additional US$67 billion (approximately Rp1,199 trillion) to support ongoing military operations against Iran, bringing the total cost of the conflict to over US$100 billion in the past five months. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed the figures during a Senate hearing on Tuesday, stating that the US had already spent US$37.5 billion on the campaign. Hegseth claimed the operations had significantly degraded Iran’s military capabilities, including the destruction of thousands of ballistic missiles, and confirmed that the US was capable of maintaining logistical operations in the Strait of Hormuz. However, the budget request has faced sharp criticism from Democratic senators, who argue the conflict is a politically motivated ‘war of choice’ rather than a necessity. They are questioning the administration’s strategy, particularly after a previous ceasefire collapsed, and are calling for the funds to be redirected to domestic priorities such as healthcare and childcare. The debate highlights growing political friction over the extended military engagement, with public support appearing limited even among some supporters of President Donald Trump.