Pentagon wants record $1.5 trillion, cost of Iran war not included
The Pentagon's record request of $1.5 trillion for its budget next year doesn't include the cost of the Iran war, which could add hundreds of billions more to taxpayers' load.
The Pentagon's bottom line represents a 50% increase from last year's ask, according to Pentagon officials. But that number doesn't include the cost of lost infrastructure, expended weapons munitions and damage to equipment.
"This budget was formulated, honestly, before we went into conflict with Iran," Jules Hurst III, the Pentagon's acting chief financial officer, told reporters at a briefing April 21.
In addition, the Trump administration separately plans to ask Congress for more than $200 billion in supplemental funding for the Iran war, according to reports.
Administration officials have not said how much the estimated total will be. Pressed by lawmakers at a congressional hearing last week about the price tag of the war, White House budget director Russell Vought said he did not have a "ballpark" estimate to share.
"We're not ready to come to you with a request. We're still working on it," he said.
Additional costs from the Iran war could also add up significantly. USA TODAY reported in mid-March that munitions used in the first six days of the war alone cost $11.3 billion, according to estimates the Pentagon shared with Congress.
The only overlap between the annual budget request and the extra Iran funding would be an increase to replenish weapons or changes in the construction of Middle East bases based on lessons learned from the war, Hurst said.
"We might change how we build bases in the Middle East based on this conflict," Hurst said.
The Pentagon wants $31.8 billion for next year to produce new munitions, according to slides shown to reporters, including expensive air defense systems such as the Patriot and THAAD missiles, which the U.S. military has spent at a rapid clip in the war.
The Pentagon is "obviously having those conversations" about reconstituting the supplies, Hurst said.
"It's reflected not just in this budget request, but in any supplement we would or may send over to the Hill."