Iran War Has Cost US About $38 Billion, CBO Says

Washington, September 16, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

The US military campaign against Iran has cost the Pentagon about $38.1 billion so far, with the conflict potentially requiring another $2 billion to $3 billion every month, according to a new assessment by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

The CBO said the spending has also depleted US stocks of missile-defence interceptors and other munitions, while disruptions to energy supplies have pushed up prices and contributed to inflation. Its report, released on September 15, assessed the Department of Defense’s costs as well as the broader economic and budgetary effects of the conflict.

The assessment puts the total cost at about $38 billion through the period covered by the report. The largest component was the replacement of missiles and other munitions, estimated at $21.7 billion. This included $13.1 billion for missile-defence interceptors and $7.3 billion for land-attack cruise missiles.

Other costs included about $10.4 billion in additional flying hours, $2.7 billion in higher military fuel expenses, $1.9 billion for equipment lost in combat and $1.5 billion in other operational costs.

The CBO cautioned that its estimates carry considerable uncertainty because the Pentagon did not provide all the information requested by the agency. It therefore relied on government databases and publicly available reports.

The agency also warned that US missile-defence stocks have been significantly depleted. Based on reported interceptor expenditures and the number of such munitions purchased to date, CBO estimated that the US may have used between one-half and two-thirds of its missile-defence interceptor inventory since June 2025. Replenishing those stocks could take at least five years.

CBO further said higher energy costs resulting from disruptions to oil and natural gas shipments contributed to inflation, while prolonged fighting could continue to increase pressure on the US economy.

The assessment also noted that the White House has sought additional funding for the conflict, including substantial funding for the Pentagon.