五角大楼寻求国会至少2000亿美元用于对伊战争

Pentagon seeks at least $200B from Congress for Iran war

‘It takes money to kill bad guys,’ War Secretary Pete Hegseth says

By Ashley Carnahan, Chad Pergram
Fox News

Published March 19, 2026 11:28am EDT

NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday the Pentagon will ask Congress for additional funding related to the Iran war as Operation Epic Fury continues into its third week.

Speaking at a Pentagon press briefing, Hegseth said the supplemental request would help cover the costs of operations and replenish U.S. weapons stockpiles.

“As far as $200 billion, I think that number could move, obviously. It takes money to kill bad guys,” he told reporters, confirming reporting from The Washington Post that the Department of War is seeking that level of funding.

“We’re going back to Congress and our folks there to ensure that we’re properly funded for what’s been done, for what we may have to do in the future, ensure that our ammunition is – everything’s refilled, and not just refilled, but above and beyond,” Hegseth added.

TRUMP RALLIES DEFENSE TITANS TO SURGE WEAPONS OUTPUT AS IRAN WAR RAGES

War Secretary Pete Hegseth (L) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine speak during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on Mar. 19, 2026.(Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

In December, Congress authorized about $856 billion for the Pentagon in fiscal year 2026 as part of a broader $891 billion national defense budget.

Fox News confirmed Thursday that the War Department is seeking funding “north of $200 billion,” with replenishing ammunition stockpiles expected to be the biggest challenge.

A senior House Republican source also told Fox News the price tag “will be whatever it will be.”

HEGSETH WARNS ‘MORE CASUALTIES’ EXPECTED IN OPERATION EPIC FURY AGAINST IRAN

President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Nov. 10, 2025, in Washington, D.C.(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The multibillion-dollar ask could face significant hurdles in Congress, where some lawmakers are expected to demand spending offsets that may be difficult to secure following recent budget cuts.

Democratic support also appears unlikely amid ongoing concerns about the lack of congressional authorization for the conflict.

The narrow Republican majority in the House adds another challenge, while any measure in the Senate would likely need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.

Lawmakers have discussed using the budget reconciliation process to bypass the Senate threshold, but some Republicans remain wary of pursuing another reconciliation bill.

NEW IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER ‘LIKELY DISFIGURED,’ HEGSETH SAYS

USS Gerald R. Ford conducts flight operations in support of Operation Epic Fury attack on Iran from an unidentified location, released March 9, 2026.(DVIDS/Reuters)

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the U.S. will continue pursuing its military objectives and expand strikes deeper into Iranian territory.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

He told reporters the U.S. military recently dropped 5,000-pound penetrator munitions on underground storage facilities housing coastal defense cruise missiles and other support equipment.

“These weapons are bespokely designed to get through concrete and or rocks and function after penetrating those barriers,” he said. “We continue to hunt and kill mine storage facilities and naval ammunition depots. We continue to hunt and kill afloat assets, including more than 120 vessels and 44 minelayers and the pressure will continue.”

Ashley Carnahan is a writer at Fox News Digital.