US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provides updates on military operations in Iran during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, on March 19, 2026. WIN MCNAMEE / AFP
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday, March 19, that it "takes money to kill bad guys" when asked if the Pentagon had requested $200 billion in funding for the Iran war.
Exactly how much the war has cost so far has yet to be publicly disclosed, and the final bill will depend on how long the US-Israeli campaign against Iran launched on February 28 lasts.
Hegseth indirectly confirmed the approximate value of the Pentagon's request for additional funding, saying: "As far as $200 billion, I think that number could move."
"We're going back to Congress and our folks there to ensure that we're properly funded for what's been done, for what we may have to do in the future, ensure that our ammunition is, everything's refilled," Hegseth said.
