California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) criticized U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over the cost of the Iran war after a report said internal estimates put the war’s price tag closer to $50 billion, roughly double the figure the Pentagon publicly gave Congress this week.
Newsom Says Americans Pay At The Pump
Newsom, a Democrat and frequent critic of President Donald Trump, posted on X, “Trump has no plan in Iran. Hegseth doesn’t even know the cost. The American people are paying for their incompetence — every day at the pump.” His post quoted a CBS News report saying U.S. officials familiar with internal assessments believe the true cost is closer to $50 billion.
A Pentagon official testified Wednesday that Operation Epic Fury had cost about $25 billion so far. The report stated that the figure did not fully account for damaged or destroyed equipment or military installations, while CNN first reported that the real estimate was closer to $40 billion to $50 billion.
Drone Losses And Munitions Drive Costs
Much of the gap stems from munitions that have been used and must be replaced. CBS notes that the Pentagon has lost 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones, aircraft that can cost $30 million or more apiece, highlighting how the cost of attrition has mounted beyond headline spending figures.
Pentagon acting Comptroller Jules Hurst told senators on Thursday that military construction costs were difficult to estimate because the department does not yet know its future posture or base needs.
Khanna Presses Hegseth On Household Costs
The pocketbook fallout has also become a political flashpoint. At a House hearing on Wednesday, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) asked Hegseth whether he knew how much the war would cost Americans through higher gas and food prices. Hegseth did not answer directly, instead asking, “What is the cost of an Iranian nuclear bomb?” and accusing Khanna of “playing gotcha questions about domestic things.”
The Trump administration and Iranian officials have held talks since hostilities paused in April, seeking a broader agreement to end the conflict and curb Iran’s nuclear program. Those talks remain stalled, though Trump told reporters Thursday that Iranian officials “want to make a deal badly.”
Photo courtesy: Joshua Sukoff on Shutterstock.com
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