Kate Lamb a.o.
The Guardian / May 13, 2026
The Pentagon revealed on 29 April that the US war on Iran had cost about $25bn for roughly two months of spending. Asked if there are any updated costs associated with the war as of today, Jules Hurst III, chief financial official for the Pentagon, said:
“At the time of testimony… it was $25 billion dollars. But the joint staff team and the comptroller are constantly looking at estimates and now we think it is closer to 29.”
“And that is because of updated repair and replacement of equipment costs and also just general operational costs to keep people in theatre,” he added.
The US defense secretary Pete Hegseth then said “we will share what we can” when it is “relevant and required” after being pressed on when more “formal accounting” on the costs of the war will be shared with Congress and the House appropriations committee’s defense subcommittee.
Kate Lamb is The Guardian’s UK/US site editor
