Pentagon requests $200 billion for Iran war, WaPo reports

(SeaPRwire) –   Lawmakers are resisting a proposed funding package that would amount to more than half of Iran’s yearly GDP

According to the Washington Post, the Pentagon is requesting over $200 billion from Congress to finance the war with Iran, citing a senior administration official and informed sources.

The outlet reported on Wednesday that if approved, this amount would be significantly higher than the cost of US President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran so far, and is intended to swiftly increase the output of essential weapons that were heavily used in the US-Israeli strikes.

On February 28, the US and Israel initiated a military operation against Iran without provocation, which resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking officials and commanders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The United States expended over $11 billion in just the first week, and when added to the new funding request, the total expenditure could surpass half of Iran’s annual GDP, which stood at $356.5 billion in 2025.

The publication stated that the proposal is expected to spark a political conflict in Congress, “as public support for the effort remains tepid and Democrats have been sharply critical.”

While Republicans have indicated support for the supplemental funding package, they have not yet detailed a legislative plan or explained how to obtain the 60 votes required in the Senate.

The anticipated debate over the funding is poised to gauge support for the war, as several senators have voiced opposition or significant hesitation about authorizing more spending.

“$200 BILLION for a war of choice that Americans don’t want and that isn’t making us safer. This should be an absolute nonstarter,” Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen posted on X on Wednesday, noting that “the best way to end this war… is to ‘cut off funding.’”

Other legislators have expressed doubt. “The Iran War will cost $200B. Prices in the U.S. are spiking. The Middle East is on fire. A dozen soldiers are dead, more to come,” stated Senator Chris Murphy.

Senator Dick Durbin said Republicans voted “for the SECOND time” against mandating congressional authorization for additional military operations after reducing “$1 trillion from Medicaid,” while supporting “nearly $2 billion a day” in war expenditures.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the conflict as a “war of choice” forced upon both the Iranian and American populations, cautioning that the reported $200 billion request is merely “the tip of the iceberg.” He added that “ordinary Americans” would be subjected to a “trillion-dollar ‘Israel First tax.’”

Trump ran for office on a platform of withdrawing US military forces from foreign engagements and has frequently criticized former President Joe Biden’s administration for its spending on the conflict in Ukraine. By December, Congress had allocated approximately $188 billion for that conflict.

Last week, the Financial Times reported that since starting its war with Iran, the US has depleted “burned through years” worth of munitions, including expensive Tomahawk missiles, sparking worries about an increasing deficit that will be difficult to replace rapidly.

Russia has denounced the war on Iran. President Vladimir Putin reiterated Moscow’s “principled position” advocating for rapid de-escalation during a March 10 telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.