Hegseth Says Iran War Cost $37.5B, Pentagon Seeks More Funding

The $37.5 billion tally

375억 달러의 집계

Hegseth, a former Army officer and current Fox News host, delivered the cost estimate during testimony before lawmakers. The $37.5 billion figure is cumulative, covering expenses from the start of hostilities through the present. It remains unclear whether that number includes previously budgeted amounts or represents entirely new outlays. The Pentagon has not independently confirmed the figure, and official cost breakdowns are often classified or disputed.

📊 Market Data Snapshot

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Pentagon's request for more

국방부의 추가 요청

Beyond the cumulative cost, the Pentagon is seeking additional billions to sustain operations. The request signals that military planners expect the conflict to continue and potentially escalate. That means more deficit spending, which could fuel inflation expectations and put pressure on risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. Markets are already in a fearful state — the Fear & Greed Index sits at 29 — and any negative macro news can amplify selling pressure.

Hearing disrupted by protests

항의 시위로 중단된 청문회

The hearing was interrupted by protesters and devolved into a shouting match at several points. The disruption underscored the deep political divisions over the war's cost and direction. Lawmakers from both parties pressed Hegseth on the sustainability of the spending, but no clear path to a ceasefire or budget compromise emerged.

What this means for crypto

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While the news is not directly crypto-related, it adds to the macro uncertainty that has kept Bitcoin rangebound between $62,000 and $64,000. Some traders see the endless cycle of military spending as a reaffirmation of Bitcoin's long-term thesis as a non-sovereign, hard-capped asset. Each dollar spent on war is a dollar that could have been used to reduce the national debt — a reminder of the unsustainability of fiat-based expenditures. In the short term, though, the immediate market reaction tends to be risk-off during geopolitical shocks, especially when sentiment is already fearful.

The next concrete milestone is the Pentagon's formal budget request, expected in the coming weeks. That document will reveal whether the additional billions are earmarked for new operations or simply to cover existing commitments. Until then, the $37.5 billion figure will hang over markets as another reminder of the fiscal toll of the conflict.