0
Aerial view of the Pentagon (U.S. Department of Defense) in Washington, D.C., captured on March 3, 2022 (local time). / Reuters Yonhap

The Wall Street Journal reported on the 18th (local time) that the U.S. Department of Defense recently informed Congress that it requires 80 billion dollars (about 122 trillion won) to cover costs incurred by the war with Iran and other operations.

Officials familiar with the discussions stated that U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg shared this total figure—which includes the war with Iran as well as other related matters—during a recent phone call with lawmakers.

Congress has been pressuring the administration to present the comprehensive costs incurred since the war with Iran began on February 28.

Lawmakers expressed concern that the war has depleted munitions needed for the U.S. military to counter threats in other regions around the globe.

Pentagon leadership warned that operational funds could run dry starting this summer if Congress fails to pass a new wartime budget bill.

They also cautioned that the war with Iran and the deployment of troops to the southern U.S. border would force the U.S. military to scale back training and other projects.

The Pentagon must obtain approval from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) before requesting a supplemental budget from Congress. The Pentagon's existing budget set for fiscal year 2026 (October 2025 to September 2026) is approximately 1 trillion dollars (about 1,526 trillion won).

The Pentagon is reportedly confident in securing the additional budget. Sources said that Deputy Secretary Feinberg briefed lawmakers in recent days, and the funds are slated to be used for ship operations, service members' pay, and ammunition procurement.

Sources added that the overall U.S. supplemental budget request, which includes non-defense priorities such as farm aid and disaster relief in addition to defense spending, could be submitted to Congress within a few days.

                                                                                                            Kim Hyun-min