Estimates indicate that the initial six days of the Middle East conflict have incurred a cost of no less than $11.3 billion for Washington.
According to a report by the Financial Times on Friday, citing individuals with knowledge of the situation, the United States is quickly exhausting its arms reserves, having “burned through years” worth of certain essential munitions since the commencement of its conflict with Iran.
The publication noted that during a private briefing on Tuesday, officials from the Pentagon projected that the first six days of the war against Iran have already resulted in expenses of at least $11.3 billion.
The Financial Times reported that the swift depletion of munitions has raised concerns regarding the escalating financial burden of the war and the ability of Washington to replenish vital weaponry, such as sophisticated long-range Tomahawk missiles.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies, based in Washington, calculated that US military forces launched 168 Tomahawk cruise missiles within the first 100 hours of the campaign against Iran.
“That’s a huge Tomahawk expenditure. The Navy will feel that for several years,” an insider remarked to the outlet, noting that the US is confronting a deficit that is not expected to be resolved in the near future.
Each Tomahawk cruise missile—the US Navy’s subsonic, long-range strike asset equipped with a 1,000-pound warhead—is valued at approximately $3.6 million. Over the last five years, the US military has procured only 322 of these missiles, a figure that includes 57 units for the 2026 fiscal year at a cost of $206.6 million, which is sufficient to replace only a small portion of those presumably expended in recent military actions.
The magnitude of US expenditure stands in stark contrast to recent claims made by Washington. Earlier this month, War Secretary Pete Hegseth assured the public that “our munitions are full up and our will is iron-clad,” while President Trump asserted that the nation possesses the capability to engage in “forever” wars due to a “virtually unlimited” supply of weapons.
The British publication reports that the Pentagon is anticipated to shortly present a proposal to the White House and Congress seeking up to $50 billion in supplementary military appropriations.
However, any further funding for the Iran conflict is expected to encounter significant resistance in both legislative chambers. The Financial Times noted that Democratic lawmakers are likely to oppose the request, with many labeling the military campaign illegal due to the lack of congressional authorization.
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, indicated her opposition to an indefinite funding request, noting that the White House had previously informed Ukraine and its European allies that it could not supply additional weaponry without compromising US stockpiles.