It needs $80 billion to cover it from , as well as other non-warfare spending, Deputy Defense Secretary Steven Feinberg said in phone calls with lawmakers this week, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Lawmakers are pressing the Trump administration to present a total cost of the war, which began on February 28. Among their concerns is that the military has run out of valuable ammunition that may be needed to counter threats in other areas.
Senior Pentagon officials have said they may begin to run out of money for operations by the summer unless Congress approves a new emergency war funding package. They also warn that if this is not done, the armed forces will have to reduce exercises and other priorities because of the war in Iran and the deployment of troops on the US border with Mexico.
Any emergency funding request from the Pentagon must first be approved by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) before being submitted to Congress. The Pentagon’s budget for the current fiscal year 2026 is about $1 trillion.
However, the Pentagon appears fairly confident about the plan, with Feinberg already briefing lawmakers in recent days, according to the same sources. Some of the money will go toward Navy operations, personnel payroll and ammunition, among other things.
A full US emergency funding package, which would include funds for the Pentagon as well as non-defense needs such as agriculture and disaster relief, may be sent to Congress in the coming days, the same sources said.
The White House and OMB declined to answer questions about a possible wartime emergency package. The Pentagon also did not respond to a request for comment about Feinberg’s conversations with lawmakers.
The motions of Feinberg and Hegseth
Feinberg’s calls to lawmakers came as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with senior Republican senators on Capitol Hill this week, where requests for additional funding were raised, according to lawmakers.
The military is facing mounting costs from its many operations this year, including the war in Iran — the Pentagon estimated its cost at $29 billion in mid-May, now likely higher — the attack on Venezuela that led to the capture of the country’s leader, and strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
How a request is expected to be accepted
Any emergency funding request that reaches Congress is expected to spark a heated debate over Trump’s decision to take the US to war.
Some lawmakers have warned that they will not approve additional funding for the war unless Congress gives formal authorization for military operations, as happened in the Gulf War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Trump administration never sought such authorization for the Iran war, and Democrats argue that makes it illegal.
Most legislation usually requires 60 votes in the Senate, which means Republicans will also need Democratic votes. However, the “budget reconciliation” process can also be used, allowing the 60-vote limit to be bypassed and approved by a simple majority, although several Republicans disagree with this option.
A simple majority is required in the House of Representatives. Republicans hold marginal majorities in both chambers.
“There are not 60 votes in the Senate for such a package. That’s pretty clear and it’s not going to change anytime soon,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). “They have made no effort to inform Congress and they know the war is extremely unpopular,” he added.
For his part, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), one of the senators who met with Hegseth, said they discussed the need to ensure the military has the necessary resources. “There has been a reduction, as you know, in equipment. We have to make sure it is replaced,” he said.
