Overview
- Independent analyst Linda Bilmes now pegs the burn rate near $2 billion per day and says the total price tag could reach $1 trillion.
- Competing tallies highlight the uncertainty, with the Iran Cost Ticker near $51 billion to date and a senior Pentagon budget official citing $25–$35 billion.
- Bilmes argues early Pentagon figures, including the $11.3 billion for the first six days, undercount because they use historical inventory values instead of current replacement prices.
- Cost drivers include rapid use of expensive U.S. interceptors and reported losses of high‑value aircraft, while Iranian drones are far cheaper to produce.
- The administration is seeking major funds, with a roughly $200 billion Pentagon request for the conflict and a push to lift the defense budget toward $1.5 trillion, as gas prices jump and long‑term veteran care costs grow.