CBO Puts Iran War Cost at $38 Billion as Pentagon Faces Questions
The Congressional Budget Office estimated the Iran war had cost $38 billion through Aug. 1 and noted that the Pentagon declined to answer its questions. The report said the conflict used at least half of the U.S. missile interceptors reserved for a possible fight with China, and replacing them would take at least five years. Active-duty service members gave CBS News photos of a destroyed radar plane in Saudi Arabia and burned-out barracks in Kuwait that the Pentagon had not released, while Trump had described the war as minor.
The Congressional Budget Office calculated the conflict's price tag at $38 billion by Aug. 1, with costs climbing as much as $3 billion monthly. It also linked the war to a 2.3-point rise in second-quarter inflation. The Pentagon would not respond to the budget office's inquiries, the report noted.
The fighting consumed at least half of the U.S. interceptor stockpile intended for a potential China conflict, and replenishing it could take five years or more. Service members separately provided CBS News images of a wrecked radar aircraft in Saudi Arabia and gutted housing in Kuwait, material the Defense Department had not made public.
The disclosure may intensify scrutiny of war costs and readiness, affecting taxpayers who fund operations and service members whose safety and housing are at issue. Depleted interceptors could leave the U.S. less prepared for other contingencies, while unanswered questions may erode congressional and public confidence. The debate may shape oversight, future defense spending, and how voters assess leaders' handling of national security.