Days into the war with Iran and with no clear end in sight, questions have emerged about just how much Operation Epic Fury will cost US taxpayers.
Days into the war with Iran and with no clear end in sight, questions have emerged about just how much Operation Epic Fury will cost US taxpayers. The Pentagon hasn't shared an estimate, and it has yet to ask Congress for a supplemental spending bill for the operation.
"This is highly unpredictable and so we won't know the cost of it until it's over." said Lindsay Koshgarian, program director of the National Priorities Project at the Institute of Policy Studies, who said the conflict is "not necessary" and is taking away from other policies that could "make life more affordable for Americans." "The cost of the war in Iraq ended up being almost $3 trillion," Koshgarian said. "So this could, this could be astronomical, easily." CNN has talked to think tanks and experts on government spending. Here's a breakdown of what they told us:The war is costing about $891.4 million per day, according to a think tank based in Washington, DC, that analyzed the information the Pentagon has shared about targets it struck and the assets involved in the operation. The Center for Strategic and International Studies predicts that the cost will decrease as the US shifts to "less expensive munitions" and as the drones and missiles launched by Iran declines. "However, future costs will depend mostly on the intensity of operations and the effectiveness of Iranian retaliation," CSIS added in its report.Air, naval and ground operations will be the biggest expenses, according to the CSIS analysis. Air operations are expected to cost $30 million per day, and the price tag for daily naval operations is around $15 million. Meanwhile, ground operations will cost $1.6 million each day.The US' strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities in June 2025, called Operation Midnight Hammer, cost less than the first 100 hours of military operations that began when the US struck Iran early Saturday morning. Though last year's operation lasted only about two-and-a-half hours. According to CSIS, the first 100 hours of this war has cost $3.7 billion. Meanwhile, Costs of War at Brown University estimated that last year's strikes cost between $2.04 to $2.26 billion. The project publishes research on US military spending and operations. The major expenses during Midnight Hammer were the use of 40 MOP 30,000-pound bombs ; 7 B2 stealth bombers and 24 Tomahawks , according to a report from Costs of War.It is unclear how long the operation will go on for, with the Trump administration offering shifting timelines - two weeks, four weeks, six weeks. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday, "We are just getting started," and added that US forces will be "accelerating." Kent Smetters, faculty director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model, told CNN that a two-month war could cost between $40 and $95 billion, depending on whether the US puts boots on the ground and how quickly munitions are replenished. The group at the University of Pennsylvania says it provides non-partisan research on the fiscal impact of public policy. "The type of investment we're talking about today pales in comparison to" the cost of Iran obtaining and using a nuclear weapon, Smetters told CNN on Wednesday, which he said would be "trillions upon trillions of dollars of damage."Chicago woman devastated after cemetery removed mother's headstone
Iran War Cost Iran War Iran News Cost Of Iran War Us Iran War War In Iran Trump Iran Iran War News Cost Of War In Iran Israel Iran Attack 2026 Iran War War Iran Iran Us Operation Epic Fury 18684961
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
U.S. Declares Decisive Victory in Early Days of Operation Epic Fury Against IranWar Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the United States is rapidly achieving dominance in Operation Epic Fury against Iran, with Iranian military capabilities 'evaporating.' The campaign's initial phase involves rapid control of Iranian airspace and the use of precision strikes, with U.S. forces operating under broad authorities.
Read more »
House votes to let Trump's Operation Epic Fury continue in IranFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
Operation Epic Fury destroys Iran's navy and cuts missile attacks by 90% in ongoing campaignFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
U.S. Military Prepares for Operation Epic Fury, Says Not 'Holding Back' Against IranThe U.S. military is significantly building up its presence in the Middle East, including warships and aircraft, in preparation for Operation Epic Fury. Central Command and the Department of War Secretary emphasize a decisive approach and dismiss any Iranian hopes of the U.S. not sustaining the effort. Additionally, brief news of other incidents in the US are mentioned.
Read more »
U.S. Forces Inflict Devastating Blows on Iran's Military in Operation Epic FurySecretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that U.S. forces have launched Operation Epic Fury, delivering devastating strikes against Iran's military. The operation targets key naval and missile capabilities, signaling a sustained campaign to degrade Iran's ability to threaten U.S. forces and regional partners. Over 30 Iranian ships have been destroyed, along with significant reductions in missile and drone attacks. The U.S. is committed to preventing Iran from rebuilding its military strength.
Read more »
**Livewire** Operation Epic Fury Day Seven: The Latest News From Iran and the Middle EastSource of breaking news and analysis, insightful commentary and original reporting, curated and written specifically for the new generation of independent and conservative thinkers.
Read more »