$38 Billion War Becomes Election Issue as Trump's Iran Policy Comes Under Fire

A $38 billion war has become a contentious issue in the US presidential election. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the US war with Iran has cost the Pentagon more than $38 billion through August 1. If fighting continues at its current intensity, the cost could rise by another $2 billion to $3 billion every month.

The CBO also warns that the war could add 0.5 percentage points to US inflation in the first quarter of 2027 due to disruptions to oil and natural-gas shipments. This has led to a shift in the political debate from 'Is the war necessary?' to 'How much is it costing?'

Democrats have seized on the CBO figures to criticize the administration's Iran policy, while Trump and his administration continue to defend the military operation as necessary for US national security. The Pentagon disputes some concerns about ammunition shortages raised in recent assessments.