Topline
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth didn’t deny Thursday that the Pentagon is seeking $200 billion in additional funding for the war in Iran, telling lawmakers the figure “could move,” teeing up a potential partisan battle in Congress as the war has become increasingly complex and politically risky for President Donald Trump.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth provides updates on military operations in Iran during a press briefing at the Pentagon on March 19, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
Hegseth said, “I think that number could move, obviously,” when asked by a reporter about the report for the funding request in The Washington Post a day earlier, adding, “it takes money to kill bad guys.”
The Pentagon has reportedly asked the White House to seek $200 billion to fund the war, unnamed sources told The Washington Post.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
