The Congressional Budget Office said the prolonged military campaign will hit $2 billion to $3 billion a month.
09/15/2026 6:12 PM UTC |Updated: 09/15/2026 7:27 PM UTC
The first five months of the Iran war cost the U.S. $38 billion, according to Congress’ nonpartisan scorekeeper, the most comprehensive look at the extended military conflict ahead of the midterm elections.
The Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday that the conflict — which has cost more than half of the Trump administration’s total war spending request — would reach about $2 billion to $3 billion a month. The agency also confirmed that the war has depleted U.S. weapons stockpiles, including critical interceptors for air defenses.
The independent estimate — the latest to reflect the financial ramifications of the war on taxpayers — will likely add to the political firestorm over the conflict as November elections near.
CBO said its $38.1 billion estimate for the war, which the U.S. launched alongside Israel in February, reflects munitions and equipment, an increased rate of military operations and higher fuel prices.