CNN: US War on Iran Could Cost Taxpayers $1 Trillion, Expert Warns
The Pentagon announced Tuesday that the war has so far cost $29 billion, an increase from the $25 billion figure reported to Congress two weeks ago. Officials said the updated total includes equipment repair and replacement, operational costs, and maintenance of personnel.
However, Linda Bilmes, a public policy expert at the Harvard Kennedy School, told CNN that the conflict, which began in late February, is likely to cost the US at least $1 trillion.
She noted that wars historically exceed their projected costs and durations, citing examples like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Iraq War, which far surpassed initial estimates.
Bilmes broke the costs into short-term and medium-to-long-term categories. Short-term expenses include munitions, maintenance of 2–3 carrier strike groups, personnel and combat pay, and replacement of destroyed equipment such as fighter jets and drones.
She emphasized that replacement costs often exceed historical inventory values—for instance, a Tomahawk missile valued at $2 million may cost $3.5 million to replace today.
Long-term costs include repairing military facilities over the next 4–5 years, restocking high-tech weapons systems, and care for 55,000 US soldiers potentially exposed to hazards in the region.
The ongoing conflict also affects global energy markets. The US Department of Energy warns oil prices may remain above $100 a barrel in the coming weeks, with some analysts predicting the national average for gasoline could reach $5 per gallon.
