US War with Iran Drains Finances, Pentagon Seeks IDR 1,400 Trillion Injection

The Pentagon is reportedly set to request that Congress approve a budget of US$80 billion, equivalent to approximately Rp 1,423 trillion, to cover the costs of the war against Iran and other defence expenditures. The report, as cited by AFP on Friday (19/6/2026), was delivered by the prominent US media outlet Wall Street Journal (WSJ), quoting several individuals familiar with the budget discussions. US President Donald Trump is facing criticism from citizens and Washington officials who accuse him of spending billions of dollars of American taxpayer money on the Middle East conflict, whilst oil prices and inflation soar in the US. US Deputy Defence Minister Stephen Feinberg, according to the WSJ, submitted the budget request to members of the US Congress this week. The WSJ reported that Pentagon leaders have stated they risk running out of funding for operations within the coming months unless Congress approves a new wartime budget plan. As a consequence of this situation, the WSJ report added, the US military may need to reduce training and troop deployments along the US-Mexico border as part of Trump’s crackdown on immigration. The Pentagon stated last month that the cost of the war against Iran had risen by nearly US$29 billion, equivalent to Rp 516 trillion. However, the Democratic Party and other critics claim the actual cost—including damage caused by retaliatory Iranian attacks—could be far higher. Concerns about the war straining US weapons supplies are also deepening, after Acting US Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao cited the conflict as a reason to temporarily halt arms sales to Taiwan. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth strongly denied a crisis in ammunition supplies when questioned in an interview. However, according to the WSJ report, a portion of the US$80 billion, if approved by Congress, will be allocated for ammunition, personnel salaries, and the operation of military vessels. The war initiated by the US and Israel in the Middle East at the end of February has triggered global repercussions. An agreement to end the war was reached by Washington and Tehran, but it faces pressure after Tel Aviv continued to bombard Lebanon and talks in Switzerland were postponed. Several members of the US Congress have stated they will not vote to support additional war funding unless the conflict receives formal congressional authorisation. The Democratic Party has accused Trump of violating the US Constitution by initiating a war without Congressional support.