The price tag for Operation Epic Fury keeps climbing, and House Republicans are now moving to approve the latest installment. The White House formally requested $87.6 billion in supplemental spending from Congress on June 24, with roughly $67-70 billion earmarked for Defense Department operational costs and munitions procurement.
That’s a significant number on its own. It’s even more significant when you consider the $150 billion already appropriated through last year’s tax bill, plus the estimated $29 billion in cumulative war costs tallied by May 2026, excluding damage repairs.
From $200 billion to $87.6 billion, and still a tough sell
Here’s the thing about the current request: it’s actually the scaled-down version. Back in March, the Pentagon floated a supplemental funding ask north of $200 billion. That number landed in Congress like a brick through a window.
Republican leadership took one look at that figure and realized it would fracture their already slim majority. Fiscal hawks within the caucus balked. Members in competitive districts started doing mental math on how a vote for $200 billion in war spending would play with voters back home.
