Pentagon’s $11.3 Billion First‑Week Iran War Cost Estimate Spurs Talk of Large Supplemental
Pentagon officials told lawmakers in a closed‑door briefing that the Iran war cost roughly $11.3 billion in the first six days (widely reported as the first week), a low‑end figure that excludes pre‑war buildup and other expenses and is expected to rise — munitions alone were reported to cost about $5.6 billion in the first two days while CSIS estimated roughly $3.7 billion for the first 100 hours. Lawmakers including Sen. Chris Coons and Rep. Tom Cole signaled a substantial supplemental funding request is likely as fighting continues, oil tops $100 a barrel and market disruptions and Iranian strikes persist, prompting policy decisions such as delaying Strait of Hormuz escorts.
📌 Key Facts
- Pentagon officials told lawmakers in a closed‑door briefing that the Iran war cost was more than $11.3 billion in the initial days (reported as a six‑day window by some outlets and as the first week by others); Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent publicly said the war has cost about $11 billion so far.
- Officials described the $11.3 billion figure as a low‑end estimate that omits many costs — including pre‑strike buildup such as shifting carrier strike groups and movement of assets and personnel — and Pentagon briefers acknowledged other aspects of the operation were excluded.
- Estimates for munitions and equipment replenishment vary but indicate large near‑term outlays: a U.S. official told CBS munitions cost about $5.6 billion in the first two days; the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated the first 100 hours cost about $3.7 billion (roughly $891 million per day), including more than $3 billion to replenish munitions and hundreds of millions to replace three lost F‑15s.
- Lawmakers signaled pressure for more detailed accounting and additional funds: House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole expects a 'very robust' supplemental request, Speaker Mike Johnson said the scope is not yet known, Sen. Chris Coons called the $11.3 billion figure 'roughly accurate' but said total costs are 'significantly above that' (estimating daily costs well over $1.5 billion), and Senate Democrats pressed for detailed cost data (including a letter from Sen. Jack Reed).
- CBS reported a higher human toll than previously disclosed, noting more serious injuries to U.S. forces from a March 1 Iranian attack, while Iran continues missile and drone strikes against U.S. allies and attacks on tankers and oil facilities — factors that are likely to keep military and economic costs rising.
- The conflict is already producing economic ripple effects: oil has topped $100 a barrel, global markets have been disrupted and stock markets pressured, some Citi and HSBC offices in the Gulf temporarily closed after Iranian threats, and commentators tied the war costs to domestic fiscal stress (with U.S. national debt approaching $39 trillion and rising gas prices).
- Strategic decisions have been influenced by the threat environment and cost assessments: Treasury Secretary Bessent linked the roughly $11 billion cost to the decision to delay naval escorts in the Strait of Hormuz until U.S. forces have greater airspace control and Iran’s missile capabilities are degraded.
- The war’s stated nuclear objective remains in dispute: President Trump refused to say whether the U.S. would stop its campaign if Iran retains enriched‑uranium stockpiles and publicly claimed Iran 'doesn’t have nuclear potential,' even as an internal IAEA report says the agency has 'lost continuity of knowledge' over Iran’s stockpile; diplomats say options like downblending or exporting uranium remain on the table but the U.S. has not reengaged in talks after strikes, and a senior White House official said 'Operation Epic Fury continues unabated.'
📊 Relevant Data
Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are pushing global fertilizer prices higher due to reduced shipments of natural gas and petrochemicals used in fertilizer production, which could lead to increased global food prices.
In 2024, food insecurity rates in the US were 31% for Black non-Hispanic households with children and similarly elevated for Hispanic households, compared to the overall rate of about 14.3% for all households; Black individuals make up approximately 12.1% of the US population, Hispanics 18.7%, and non-Hispanic Whites 57.8%.
Statement on the 'Household Food Security in the United States in 2024' Report — Children's HealthWatch
📰 Source Timeline (8)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 13, 2026
5:58 AM
Ship escorts to start in Strait of Hormuz "soon," Trump officials say
New information:
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tells Sky News the Iran war has cost the U.S. $11 billion so far, a public figure that roughly aligns with but slightly refines prior internal Pentagon estimates for the first days of the conflict.
- Bessent links that cost and the broader war effort directly to the decision to delay naval escorts in the Strait of Hormuz until U.S. forces have greater control of the airspace and Iran’s missile capabilities are degraded.
March 12, 2026
7:14 PM
Pentagon estimates Iran war cost $11.3B in the first six days in closed-door congressional hearing: report
New information:
- Fox cites New York Times reporting that Pentagon officials told legislators in a closed‑door briefing the Iran war cost estimate for the initial six days was "more than $11.3 billion," clarifying the narrower six‑day window versus a full week.
- The article notes the estimate explicitly excludes many pre‑strike buildup expenses such as movement of assets and personnel.
- A Senate Armed Services Committee minority staffer pointed Fox to Sen. Jack Reed’s March 10 letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding detailed cost data, highlighting oversight pressure from the Democratic ranking member.
- The piece ties the early cost estimate to the broader context of a U.S. national debt approaching $39 trillion and notes rising domestic gas prices alongside Trump’s public justification of the war on Truth Social.
1:36 PM
Iran hits tankers and Gulf nations as U.S., Israel continue attacks
New information:
- CBS repeats for a mass TV audience that lawmakers briefed by the Pentagon were told the Iran war cost more than $11 billion in its first week, aligning with the previously reported $11.3 billion figure.
- Connects that early‑cost estimate directly to concurrent Iranian attacks on tankers and oil facilities and to ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes, underlining that those costs are being incurred while shipping and energy infrastructure are under fire.
1:22 PM
First week of Iran war cost U.S. over $11 billion, military told lawmakers
New information:
- Article clarifies that military officials told lawmakers the roughly $11.3 billion figure for the first week is a low‑end estimate that excludes pre‑war buildup costs such as shifting two carrier strike groups to the region.
- Sen. Chris Coons publicly says the $11.3 billion figure is 'roughly accurate' but believes the total operating number is 'significantly above that' and estimates daily war costs are likely well over $1.5 billion.
- A U.S. official briefed on Pentagon estimates tells CBS that munitions alone cost about $5.6 billion in the first two days of the war.
- The Center for Strategic and International Studies provides an independent estimate that the first 100 hours cost about $3.7 billion, or roughly $891 million per day, including over $3 billion to replenish munitions and hundreds of millions to replace three lost F‑15s.
- House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole says he expects a 'very robust request' for a supplemental war‑funding package, while Speaker Mike Johnson says 'we don't know the scope of it yet,' and Coons says he is not satisfied with the administration’s accounting so far.
10:11 AM
Iran's relentless strikes send oil prices back up, stock markets down
New information:
- Reiterates that military officials told Congress the war cost about $11.3 billion in the first week, while placing that figure in the new context of continuing, widespread Iranian strikes across the Gulf and fresh U.S. market turmoil.
- Reports that CBS has learned of more serious injuries to U.S. forces from a March 1 Iranian attack in Kuwait than were previously disclosed, suggesting a higher human toll alongside the financial one.
- Shows that, nearly two weeks into the war, Iran is still launching missile and drone attacks against U.S. allies, illustrating why costs are likely to keep climbing.
6:43 AM
Iran War Live Updates: Oil Tops $100 a Barrel as Attacks Spread Across Middle East
New information:
- Clarifies that the $11.3 billion‑plus cost estimate was delivered by Pentagon officials in a closed‑door briefing to lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
- Notes that Pentagon officials acknowledged the estimate omitted several aspects of the operation, so lawmakers expect significantly higher total costs.
- Places the cost figure in the context of oil rising above $100 and global market disruption, underscoring dual fiscal and economic pressures.
- Adds that this discussion occurred amid Iranian threats to U.S. and Israeli banks in the Gulf and the resulting temporary closure of some Citi and HSBC offices.
March 11, 2026
11:52 PM
Trump won’t say what happens if Iran keeps its uranium stockpiles
New information:
- Trump refused to say whether the U.S. will end its military campaign if Iran retains its enriched‑uranium stockpile, despite eliminating Iran’s nuclear threat being a stated war objective.
- Trump claimed in a Kentucky speech that Iran now 'doesn’t have nuclear potential,' even as Iran is believed to retain about 1,000 pounds of enriched uranium buried in tunnels at several sites including Isfahan.
- An internal IAEA report, quoted via AP, says the agency has 'lost continuity of knowledge' and cannot state the size, composition or location of Iran’s enriched‑uranium stockpile.
- A senior White House official declined to say whether the U.S. plans to re‑engage in nuclear talks or try to seize the stockpiles by force, saying only that 'Operation Epic Fury continues unabated.'
- A senior Middle East diplomat said options like downblending or exporting Iran’s uranium to a third country (as under the 2015 deal) remain on the table, but the U.S. has not reached out to restart talks, despite Iran’s earlier offer to relinquish stockpiles being cut off when Trump ordered strikes.