White House offers no hint of Iran war cost as it seeks military funding surge

WASHINGTON — White House budget director Russell Vought said on Wednesday he could not estimate the cost of the Iran war, as he defended President Donald Trump's request for a massive $1.5 trillion annual military budget against bipartisan criticism from U.S. lawmakers who cited the Pentagon's historic lack of financial accountability. "We're not ready to come to you with a request. We're still working on it. We're working through to figure out what's needed," Vought told a hearing of the House of Representatives Budget Committee. "I don't have a ballpark." The cost of the war with Iran, which Trump began alongside Israel on February 28, has remained an open question on Capitol Hill. An initial $200 billion request for additional funding for the war met with stiff opposition in Congress last month. Vought appeared before the panel to discuss Trump's proposed budget for fiscal year 2027, with its $500 billion increase in military spending and 10 percent reduction for non-defense programs. The request is intended to reflect Republican priorities heading into the November midterm electi

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