The Pentagon has asked the White House to submit a request to Congress for up to $200 billion in emergency funding, as the war with Iran enters its third week and military costs continue to rise. The move signals a potential expansion of operations and growing pressure on US defense resources.
The proposed funding would cover a broad range of military needs, including weapons procurement, ammunition replenishment and operational costs. According to a report by The Washington Post, the amount significantly exceeds the cost of airstrikes carried out so far, suggesting a focus on scaling up high-value weapons systems.
In the past three weeks, the United States and Israel have struck thousands of targets across Iran, increasing demand for advanced weaponry. Officials say the funding could support the next phase of the conflict, including expanded operations and reinforcement of military infrastructure.
The request is expected to face resistance in Congress, where divisions remain over both the scale of spending and the broader strategy. While some Republicans have expressed support for additional funding, there is no clear legislative path forward, and it remains uncertain whether the proposal could reach the 60-vote threshold required in the Senate.
The funding push comes after the war’s early costs surged, with more than $11 billion spent in the first week alone. The joint US-Israel operation, launched late last month, has placed significant strain on stockpiles of precision-guided munitions, prompting urgent efforts to boost production.
Steven Feinberg has been tasked with overseeing the financing effort, with a focus on accelerating the production of precision weapons depleted during sustained operations. Officials warn that without additional funding, maintaining the current pace of military activity could prove difficult.
The scale of the request underscores how quickly the conflict is shifting from a limited campaign to a more resource-intensive war, with implications not only for US defense planning but also for global security dynamics.