Iran Conflict Has Cost Pentagon $38.1 Billion in Five Months, CBO Report Finds

The ongoing conflict with Iran has cost the U.S. Department of Defense an estimated $38.1 billion through August 1, averaging approximately $246 million per day over its first five months, according to a report released Tuesday by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The nonpartisan agency also projected that each additional month of fighting could add between $2 billion and $3 billion to the total bill.

More than half of the accumulated costs stem from replacing missiles and other munitions expended during hostilities. Increased flight operations accounted for another $10.4 billion, while rising fuel prices contributed an additional $2.7 billion. The CBO noted that global fuel costs have climbed since President Donald Trump initiated the conflict on February 28.

A significant concern raised by the report involves the depletion of missile-defense interceptors. Since June 2025, the U.S. has utilized roughly two-thirds of its stockpile, primarily to support Israel against Iranian attacks. The CBO warned that replenishing these inventories would likely require at least five years, even if production rates were accelerated.

The report was commissioned by Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., the senior Democrat on the House Budget Committee. Its findings align closely with a separate assessment released late Monday by the Defense Department’s inspector general, which provided the first comprehensive accounting of the war’s financial and military toll.

These emerging figures are expected to intensify political debate regarding the conflict’s value, particularly as Democrats mobilize opposition ahead of the November 3 election. Critics point to elevated prices for gasoline, food, and other goods linked to the war, while the Trump administration maintains the operations are necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.