US Media: Iran War is Draining Pentagon Funds, Possibly Raising Defense Spending to $80 Billion

BlockBeats News, June 21 — According to U.S. media reports, ongoing military operations against Iran are putting significant pressure on the U.S. defense budget and ammunition stockpiles. Citing sources familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reports that internal estimates within the Department of Defense suggest that the war and related expenses may have already reached or approached $80 billion, and warn that if spending continues to grow, the Pentagon could face operational funding shortages this summer, requiring Congress to approve emergency additional appropriations.

The report notes that this funding gap has not yet resulted in an official budget request but has been mentioned in high-level communications between the Department of Defense and Congress. A former Department of Defense financial official stated that early estimates were around $29 billion, but actual costs could be far higher.

Meanwhile, the conflict is also said to be significantly depleting key U.S. ammunition stocks, including the "THAAD" and "Patriot" interceptors. Several research institutions analyze that the U.S. has consumed a considerable portion of these stocks, with some models taking years to replenish, raising concerns about military supply capabilities.

Additionally, the new round of defense authorization bills currently advancing in Congress is expected to total over $1 trillion, including billions of dollars allocated for Israel-related defense systems and cooperative projects, sparking ongoing discussions about the structure of U.S. global military spending and resource allocation.