Pentagon Seeks $200 Billion Boost for Iran War Effort

March 20, 2026 | 05:38 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) has submitted an additional budget of around $200 billion (Rp3.386 trillion) after nearly three weeks of conflict with Iran. According to NPR report, the latest escalation occurred when Iran attacked several energy facilities in the Gulf region. The targets of the attacks included the world's largest liquefied natural gas complex in Qatar, gas fields and energy facilities in the United Arab Emirates, as well as oil refineries in Saudi Arabia and two gas units in Kuwait.

The request for additional budget was first reported by The Washington Post and will still be reviewed by the White House before being submitted to Congress. President Donald Trump stated that the request is not only related to the Iran conflict. "We're asking for a lot of reasons, beyond even what we're talking about in Iran, when this is a very volatile world," said Trump.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not directly refute the figure. He mentioned that the amount could still change. "As far as $200 billion, I think that number could move, obviously. It takes money to kill bad guys," said Hegseth, as quoted from Al Jazeera.

According to the U.S. military statement, more than 7,800 targets have been attacked in Iran since the war began on February 28. In addition, more than 120 Iranian navy ships were reported damaged or sunk. The military also deployed many interception systems to shoot down Iranian drones.

Hegseth said the government will seek approval from Congress again to ensure logistical needs are met. "We're going back to Congress and 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 and not just refilled, but above and beyond," he said.

He also emphasized that the government does not set a specific timeframe for military operations. "We wouldn’t want to set a definitive timeframe," he said. He says that the president has the final decision on whether to end the operation.

As of now, Congress has not given official approval for the war. Several members of parliament, including those from the Republican Party, have expressed doubts about the additional budget, which is nearly a quarter of the total annual Pentagon budget, exceeding $800 billion.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the U.S. has spent around $16.5 billion in the first 12 days of the war. The increase in costs occurred amidst the spike in global energy prices.

Democratic Party DPR member, Betty McCollum, emphasized strict oversight of the request. "This is not going to be a rubber stamp for the president of the United States," said McCollum.

On the other hand, Chairman of the DPR Mike Johnson expressed his support. "I support what’s needed to ensure that the American people remain safe," he said.

Read: Iran Claims Strike on US F-35 Fighter Jet

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