US draws down weapons stockpiles as Iran conflict tests budget ahead of midterms
Two weeks into the conflict with Iran, the Financial Times reports that the United States has drawn down what it would typically keep in reserve for years, raising questions about costs and weapon stockpiles as the war drags on.
Long-range missiles have been consumed particularly quickly. Tomahawk cruise missiles run about $3.6 million each, and the Pentagon has bought only about 370 of them over the past five years. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that 168 Tomahawks were used in the first 100 hours after hostilities began.
The rapid depletion of core weapons, alongside soaring war expenses, could become a political burden for President Donald Trump. Iran’s actions have also disrupted global energy flows: the Hormuz Strait, a critical artery for oil shipments, has effectively been blocked, pushing global crude prices above $100 per barrel and sending U.S. pump prices higher.
With November midterm elections approaching, U.S. voters are weighing whether Washington is locked into another protracted Middle East conflict. The White House and Congress are preparing to consider a request for up to $50 billion in additional military spending in the coming days, a package that would face a rocky path in a closely divided Congress.
Senate and House Republicans hold a narrow majority, complicating any large-scale appropriation. Fiscal conservative lawmakers are likely to push back, especially if the request is paired with other spending items. Representative Lisa Murkowski warned that the Defense Department must brief Congress and justify expenditures, not be treated as a blank check.
Democrats have criticized the unilateral nature of the war and are expected to resist a rapid, large-funding response without clearer oversight. The defense budget discussion follows a costs update the Pentagon gave lawmakers: about $11.3 billion was spent in the first six days after Iran’s strikes, with the majority attributed to weapon usage.
A key contrast highlighted in the reporting is the cost disparity between intercepting drones and using high-priced missiles. Iran’s Shahed drones, which can be produced for tens of thousands of dollars, are met with expensive U.S. interceptors, underscoring a difficult cost-versus-coverage dilemma for the U.S. military.
Beyond the battlefield, experts have long warned that U.S. ammunition production could lag if a wider conflict with major powers such as Russia or China were to intensify. The administration has sought to reassure the public, with officials stating that the United States is not in a shortage of ammunition and that stockpiles for defense and attack remain sufficient for the current operation, while emphasizing the goal of accelerating domestic production of weapons.