Pentagon requests $21B in emergency funds to replenish munitions expended in Iran war

Washington — As the United States continues expending offensive and defensive munitions in the conflict with Iran, the Pentagon's top leaders are testifying before the Senate today to address war funding, including the replacement of $21 billion in strike weapons and air defense interceptors already used.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine appear before the Senate Appropriations Committee as resumed hostilities enter their 11th day. Their testimony comes as President Donald Trump renewed threats to attack Iran's deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain facility.

$90 Billion Supplemental Budget Request

Hegseth and Caine are explaining why additional funding is needed as part of a nearly $90 billion supplemental budget request made by the White House last month. According to the White House, the administration is seeking:

• $67.1 billion to address "operational costs incurred by the Department of War (DoW) during OEF [Operation Epic Fury], including funding for military personnel and readiness expenses, operational costs to rebuild stocks expended by DOW, classified programs, and other key expenses"
• $21 billion specifically for munitions fired during the conflict — the largest line item in the request

The Pentagon is seeking emergency funds to replenish munitions including Patriot air defense interceptors expended in the war with Iran.

Stockpile Concerns

An official told The Washington Post that "the expansion of U.S. operations will be limited by dwindling stockpiles of air defense and long-range munitions and constraints on the ability to surge more troops and aircraft into the area because of battle damage."

The funding crunch is already having downstream effects on the U.S. military. According to The Washington Post, citing four current and former officials, "the funding crunch is already leading the Pentagon to limit training and maintenance that help maintain military readiness."

Ongoing Iranian Attacks

As Hegseth and Caine head to Congress, Iran continues to strike targets in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain, as well as ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Jordan

Jordanian air defense systems "intercepted and shot down three Iranian missiles targeting the Kingdom's territories," the Jordanian military stated on X. "The interception and downing operation resulted in no human injuries or material damage, and that Royal Engineering Corps teams handled the shrapnel impact sites, securing them in accordance with established procedures."

Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base (MSAB) has been particularly hard hit, including an attack that killed three U.S. troops and wounded many others. Two of the fallen have been identified:

• 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii
• Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas

Officials are awaiting identification of the remains of a third service member.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, President Trump appeared to blame Jordan for the casualties at MSAB.

"They did slip something through in Jordan and if we had other operators, you know, it would have — would not have happened, unfortunately," Trump said during a press conference with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. "But we, because we have the best equipment in the world, you know, we've stopped almost everything. But when you let other people do your job with the United States, we let other people do the job, and sometimes it doesn't work out so well."

Kuwait

"Kuwaiti air defenses are currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks, following the sinful Iranian aggression," the Kuwaiti Army announced on X. "The General Staff of the Army notes that if explosion sounds are heard, they are the result of the air defense systems intercepting the hostile attacks."

Kuwaiti officials report that Iran has been specifically targeting the country's water and power infrastructure for days.

"In light of the continued Iranian aggression against the State of Kuwait, several power and water desalination plants were attacked yesterday evening – for the fourth consecutive day – resulting in fires breaking out in a number of their facilities," the Kuwaiti government announced on X Tuesday.

Additional Casualty

The Pentagon also announced that Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was killed in action during a controlled detonation of a downed One-Way Unmanned Aerial System on July 19, 2026, at Erbil Air Base, Iraq. The incident remains under investigation.