Hegseth Seeks Additional $80 Billion from Senate to Cover Cost of New Strikes on Iran

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Kane will testify before the Senate about the Trump administration’s strategy in the war with Iran and are expected to request additional funding.

The Pentagon is seeking about $80 billion to cover operational costs and replenish depleted weapons stockpiles. The ceasefire between Washington and Tehran collapsed on July 8, resulting in renewed hostilities and further casualties among U.S. forces.

An Iranian attack on a U.S. base in Jordan killed two American soldiers, while another is missing. It was the fourth attack against U.S. forces in the region in five days.

Media reports say the attacks show that Iran still has substantial missile reserves and has improved its ability to bypass U.S. air defense systems. At the same time, dozens of military personnel were wounded and helicopters were damaged.

The U.S. government is considering expanding strikes to Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, bridges and energy infrastructure, which is expected to raise questions in Congress about the legality of the operations.

Reopening the Strait of Hormuz remains a central issue. Its closure has caused another increase in fuel prices, while it remains unclear whether the U.S. can restore freedom of navigation without deploying ground forces.