U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tells lawmakers that the U.S. war against Iran has cost about $37.5 billion so far, providing the latest official estimate during congressional testimony on Tuesday. Multiple outlets report that Hegseth’s figure reflects an updated calculation that includes certain aspects of the conflict and projected costs through September 30, according to coverage summarizing his remarks to senators. Several reports also say the estimate is higher than the last publicly reported figure, which was just under $29 billion in mid-May, implying an increase of nearly $8 billion. CBS and other outlets describe senators grilling Hegseth alongside Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine about the war’s status and funding needs. Coverage also links the testimony to broader budget discussions, including requests for emergency supplemental spending for the Pentagon related to the Iran conflict. Al Jazeera and the New York Times report that the funding request is part of a wider budget effort, with one report citing a request that includes substantial spending earmarked for the Iran war. Some international outlets publish dollar conversions in local currency but attribute the same underlying U.S. figure to Hegseth.