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2026-09-16 08:52:09
[Six-Month Bill of the Iran War: Costs Continue to Rise, US Operations Against Iran Require an Additional $3 Billion Per Month] 1. A report released Tuesday by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) states that the US war against Iran, now in its sixth month, has cost $38 billion to date, with an estimated additional $3 billion per month to come. The CBO's calculations show that the war is expected to increase the inflation rate by 0.5 percentage points in the first three months of 2027. This calculation includes expenditures up to August 1st and does not include the costs of recent attacks on merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz and US military facilities, nor the borrowing costs required for war financing. 2. The escalating war spending is putting pressure on US ammunition stocks and pushing up energy prices, raising concerns about the US's ability to respond to other potential conflicts. The CBO states that most of the costs come from the rapid depletion of ammunition stocks, estimating that it could take the US up to five years to replenish its reserves. Media reports in August indicated that the US had used "almost all" of its long-range precision-guided missiles in the war. 3. White House spokesman Kelly stated that Trump's attack on Iran was a "decisive action" to prevent Tehran from harming American personnel or interests, and that the U.S. military had "more than enough ammunition and stockpiles." Pentagon chief spokesman Parnell also disputed the report's conclusions regarding ammunition shortages, stating, "We have all the resources we need to launch an attack at the time and place chosen by the president." 4. The CBO stated that critical ammunition shortages could weaken the Pentagon's ability to respond to other major conflicts. The Pentagon Inspector General reported this week that Iran had damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings at U.S. military bases in the Middle East, as well as aircraft including fighter jets, refueling aircraft, and drones. 5. This investigation was conducted at the request of House Budget Committee senior Democrat Boyle. In a statement, Boyle said the war has claimed the lives of brave American service members and cost taxpayers tens of billions of dollars, with expenditures continuing to rise. Eighteen American service members have already died in the war against Iran. The CBO also noted that the Department of Defense has not cooperated with the work of congressional financial auditors.
