White House Budget Director Russell Vought Testifies on Iran War Costs Without Estimates
Russell Vought, the Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, testified before the House Budget Committee, stating that he could not provide an estimate for the cost of the ongoing war with Iran. During the testimony, Vought mentioned that the Trump administration had not yet formulated a supplemental funding request to present to Congress. The administration is still determining the financial needs for the current and upcoming fiscal years. Despite inquiries from lawmakers, including Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, Vought did not provide a ballpark figure, even when asked if the cost would exceed $50 billion. Meanwhile, a Harvard University analysis by Professor Linda Bilmes suggests that the war could potentially cost U.S. taxpayers $1 trillion. The testimony was part of discussions on President Trump's fiscal 2027 budget proposal, which includes a $1.5 trillion defense budget and a 10% reduction in non-defense spending. 
