White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought testifies before the House Budget Committee at the U.S. Capitol on April 15, 2026.
Andrew Harnik | getty images
White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought told lawmakers that he could not estimate the total cost of the Iran war and that the Trump administration had not yet come up with a supplemental funding request to send to Congress.
“We’re not ready to come to you with a request; we’re still working on it. We’re working to figure out what’s needed this fiscal year versus the next fiscal year,” Watt told members. House Budget Committee On Wednesday.
“Do you have a ballpark? Will it be more than $50 billion?” Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, asked.
Watt said, “I don’t have a chance for you, Congresswoman.”
Professor Linda Bilmes, a public policy professor at Harvard University’s Kennedy School, published an analysis this month that found the war could cost taxpayers $1 trillion.