Hegseth spars with lawmakers as Iran war’s price tag hits $25 billion - The Washington Post

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sparred with lawmakers over the U.S. campaign against Iran as reporting placed the cost at about $25 billion. He rejected labeling the campaign a 'quagmire' and emphasized a positive outcome, even as fact-checks and military leaders caution the conflict may not be decisively won and a ceasefire could be only a pause. The rising price tag has amplified Republican concern about war spending and highlighted tensions between political messaging and the campaign’s financial, strategic, and human costs.