The Wall Street Journal reported on 18/6, citing sources familiar with the matter, that the figure was presented by US Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg during a meeting with lawmakers.

Many US lawmakers have pressured the administration of President Donald Trump to provide a comprehensive cost breakdown for the campaign against Iran. A key concern is that the US military has depleted valuable weapons, which are necessary to counter potential threats elsewhere in the world.

According to Pentagon leaders, the agency could run out of operational funds this summer if the US Congress does not pass a new wartime spending bill. The US military also faces the risk of cutting training exercises and other priorities due to the conflict with Iran and the deployment of troops along the southern border.

US F-35B fighter jet operating in the Middle East waters, shown in an image released on 13/6. *Photo: CENTCOM*

All additional budget requests from the Pentagon must be approved by the White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) before being submitted to the US Congress. The Pentagon's allocated funds for fiscal year 2026 amount to approximately 1 trillion USD.

A source stated that a portion of the 80 billion USD budget would be allocated for warship operations, soldier salaries, ammunition procurement, and various other expenditures. The full supplemental budget request from the US government, which includes Pentagon spending and other non-defense priorities such as agriculture and disaster relief, is expected to reach lawmakers in the coming days.

The White House and OMB declined to comment on the matter. The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment regarding Deputy Secretary Feinberg's discussion.

The US military is currently addressing rising costs for several operations this year, including the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, conflicts in the Middle East, and interdictions of suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific regions.

In May, the Pentagon estimated that the conflict with Iran had cost 29 billion USD, though the actual figure could be higher.

Aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, shown in an image released on 2/6. *Photo: CENTCOM*

Senator John Barrasso, a Republican, stated that he discussed with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during a 16/6 meeting about ensuring the US military has sufficient resources. "The US military's weapons inventory has dwindled; we need to ensure it is fully replenished," he said.