Photo: John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV | CC BY 2.0 | Wikimedia Commons
OMB Chief Again Refuses Iran War Cost Estimate as Senators Demand Even Rough Range
OMB Director Russell Vought refused to provide even a rough estimate of Iran war costs at a Senate Budget hearing April 16, 2026. Sen. Patty Murray pressed him for a range and called the refusal "outrageous," while Sen. Jeff Merkley also sought clarity on cumulative spending. Vought told senators "We don't have that figures right now" and said costs were "fluctuating on a day-in, day-out basis" when asked to quantify spending. His testimony came as the White House's FY2027 budget seeks nearly a 50% increase in defense spending to about $1.5 trillion.
Early coverage emphasized Vought's blanket refusal to give figures. Later reporting, notably from MS NOW, added sourcing that early internal estimates put Iran war costs at about $1 billion per day, later revised to roughly $1.6 billion per day. That deeper reporting fed accusations from senators that the administration was hiding politically toxic numbers and resisting congressional oversight.
Vought also warned at the hearing that the Department of Homeland Security was "disintegrating" amid a funding lapse, and Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham said there was "no money" for DHS. On social media critics argued Vought was seeking a blank check for military action while others blamed congressional shutdown politics for DHS problems. Reporters and commentators, including a Reuters national security correspondent, noted Vought's failure to provide even a ballpark figure while defending a $1.5 trillion defense request.
Federal Budget and Fiscal Policy
Donald Trump Administration
Defense Spending and Domestic Programs
Trump Federal Budget 2027
Congressional Oversight and Separation of Powers
This story is compiled from 6 sources using AI-assisted curation and analysis. Original reporting is attributed below. Learn about our methodology.
📌 Key Facts
- OMB Director Russell Vought testified before the House Budget Committee on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, and before the Senate Budget Committee on Thursday, April 16, 2026 (Senate appearance at 10 a.m. EDT); he had skipped House testimony last year.
- At the April 16 Senate Budget Committee hearing Vought refused to say how much the federal government has spent on the war with Iran and declined to provide even a rough range, saying “We don’t have that figures right now… it’s fluctuating” and explicitly telling Sen. Patty Murray, “No, I'm not gonna give you a range.”
- Senators including Patty Murray, Jeff Merkley, Tim Kaine and Sheldon Whitehouse pressed Vought for war‑cost figures; Merkley asked whether roughly $50 billion had already been spent, later accusing Vought of trying to “hide” the cost for political reasons, and Murray called the refusal “outrageous,” saying it is OMB’s job to know.
- Congressional sources and early internal estimates reported to MS NOW placed Iran war costs at roughly $1 billion per day initially, later revised in private briefings to about $1.6 billion per day.
- Vought testified that the Department of Homeland Security is “disintegrating” amid a funding lapse, saying he and DHS leadership are improvising ways to temporarily fund paychecks to keep staff from quitting; Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham warned the department is effectively shut down.
- The hearings took place against the backdrop of President Trump’s FY2027 budget request, which seeks nearly a 50% increase in defense spending to about $1.5 trillion to build a so‑called “dream military,” while proposing deep non‑defense cuts (targeting Biden‑era green programs, billions from K‑12 education and a proposed 54% cut to the National Science Foundation); Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins criticized shortcomings and stressed Congress controls the purse.
- House Democrats say Vought ignored months of written questions on Iran war costs and other issues, prompting Ranking Member Brendan Boyle to publicly mock his absence (displaying a 'missing child' milk‑carton image), after which Vought agreed to testify; Boyle plans legislation to legally require OMB directors to testify before the House Budget Committee and respond to members’ questions.
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
April 17, 2026
3:37 PM
Seven weeks into the war with Iran, the White House doesn’t want to talk about the price tag
New information:
- MS NOW recounts congressional sources saying early internal estimates put Iran war costs at $1 billion per day, later revised to $1.6 billion per day in private briefings.
- Article details that at a Senate Appropriations hearing, Sen. Patty Murray asked for even a general range of war costs and Russell Vought explicitly replied, 'No, I'm not gonna give you a range.'
- Reports that Sen. Jeff Merkley asked whether about $50 billion had already been spent on the conflict, and Vought declined to 'make a characterization' despite being in a position to know.
- Merkley is quoted telling The Hill that Vought is trying to 'hide' the cost of the war for political reasons, calling it a big number that would disturb Americans.
- Murray is quoted during the hearing calling Vought's refusal 'outrageous' and stressing Congress's responsibility to know war costs to prepare budgets and appropriations.
April 16, 2026
8:37 PM
WATCH: Vought won't say how much Trump has spent on Iran war so far
New information:
- In an April 16, 2026 Senate Budget Committee hearing, OMB Director Russell Vought declined to tell Sen. Patty Murray how much the federal government has spent on the Iran war so far, saying, “We don’t have that figures right now… it’s fluctuating on a day‑in, day‑out basis.”
- Vought also refused to provide even a range of Iran war costs when pressed, prompting Murray to call his stance “outrageous” and say, “It’s your job to know.”
- The PBS clip ties that exchange directly to Trump’s FY 2027 budget request, which includes a nearly 50% increase in defense spending to $1.5 trillion to build what Trump calls a “dream military.”
7:51 PM
WATCH: OMB chief Vought says Homeland Security is 'disintegrating' during shutdown
New information:
- At an April 16, 2026 Senate Budget Committee hearing, OMB Director Russell Vought said DHS is 'disintegrating' because Congress has not funded it.
- Vought told senators he and the DHS secretary are improvising ways to temporarily fund paychecks to prevent staff from quitting and seeking new careers.
- Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham stated on the record that there is currently 'no money for the Department of Homeland Security' due to congressional deadlock and said 'the whole damn thing is shut down,' warning that if there is another 9/11, 'don't blame me.'
- The article reaffirms that Trump’s FY2027 budget request seeks a nearly 50% increase in defense spending to about $1.5 trillion to build his 'dream military,' positioning that ask against the backdrop of the ongoing DHS funding lapse.
April 15, 2026
8:55 PM
WATCH LIVE: OMB Director Vought testifies before Senate panel on Trump's 2027 budget request
New information:
- Confirms the specific timing of Vought’s Senate Budget Committee appearance: 10 a.m. EDT on Thursday, April 16, 2026, with live coverage.
- PBS recaps that the Trump FY 2027 budget proposes a nearly 50% increase in defense spending to $1.5 trillion to build his so‑called “dream military.”
- Details additional non‑defense cuts, including targeting Biden‑era green energy and infrastructure programs, billions from K‑12 education, and a proposed 54% cut to the National Science Foundation.
- Notes that Vought already testified before a House panel on Wednesday, adding sequencing to the Hill budget hearings.
- Quotes Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins calling out “shortcomings” in the proposal and reiterating that Congress, not the White House, holds the power of the purse.
12:50 AM
Democrats to confront Trump budget director Russ Vought about his ‘stone cold silence’
New information:
- Russell Vought is scheduled to testify before the House Budget Committee on Wednesday and the Senate Budget Committee on Thursday, after skipping House testimony last year.
- House Budget Committee ranking Democrat Brendan Boyle says Vought has ignored months of written questions from Democrats, providing “stone cold silence” on issues including Iran war costs, health‑care plans, impoundment of funds, nutrition aid during the last shutdown, and planned federal layoffs.
- Boyle plans to introduce legislation that would legally require OMB directors to testify before the House Budget Committee and to respond to members’ questions.
- Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Tim Kaine and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse each outline specific lines of questioning for Vought, including whether he will distribute funds appropriated by Congress, the impact of layoffs on the federal workforce, and alleged ties to the fossil‑fuel industry.
- Democrats say they did not get confirmation of Vought’s appearance until after Boyle publicly mocked his absence by displaying a 'missing child' milk‑carton image of Vought, prompting Vought to reply on X that he would testify April 15.
April 14, 2026