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Democratic senators request Pentagon provide ‘bare minimum’ on cost of Iran war
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Forty-six Democratic senators, led by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, have demanded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provide a full accounting of the Iran war's costs and related budget requests, citing Pentagon's lack of transparency.
- The senators criticized the Pentagon for not detailing expenses such as repairs to military bases, replacement of destroyed assets, and refurbishment of equipment, despite a $67 billion supplemental funding request.
- Reports estimate the war's cost between $33 billion and $38 billion, excluding some expenses, but critics argue these figures underestimate the true financial impact.
- The letter contrasts current Pentagon briefings with those during the Iraq War, highlighting fewer briefings and less detailed information provided to Congress and the public.
- Only Sen. John Fetterman declined to sign the letter, affirming his support for confronting Iran, while the Pentagon has not yet commented on the senators' demands.
