Shafaqna Pakistan: A US Defence Department nominee told lawmakers on Tuesday that the war with Iran had cost an estimated $29 billion as of late May, while acknowledging the figure did not include damage to military bases and other infrastructure.
Jules Hurst, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Under Secretary of Defence (Comptroller), disclosed the estimate during his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing.
Senator Angus King questioned Hurst over the absence of a more up-to-date assessment, noting that he had served as the Pentagon’s acting comptroller and chief financial officer until May 20.
King criticised Hurst’s inability to provide a current estimate, arguing that, given his previous role overseeing the Pentagon’s finances, he should have been prepared to answer questions about the cost of the conflict.
“I will give you the same answer I gave you during the posture hearing, that it was $29 billion at the time I left the position. If confirmed, I’m going to work,” Hurston replied.
Asked whether that estimate included damage to US military facilities and assets in the region, Hurst said it did not.
“No, senator. That estimate did not include military construction,” he said, adding that the conflict underscored the need for the US to invest more in “hardened and deeply buried” military facilities.
King noted that the $29b estimate reflected primarily the direct costs of military operations rather than the broader financial effect of the conflict.
“So, that’s not part of the estimate,” said King. “The estimate that you gave of $29 billion was simply essentially munitions and expenditures as a direct result of the conflict.”
Hurst agreed, saying the figure consisted largely of weapons expenditures.
“I would characterise that estimate as largely munitions,” he said. “From memory, it was over $20 billion in munitions, and most of the rest of that was operational cost, whether that’s fuel.”
King also asked whether Hurst sought updated cost figures while preparing for the hearing.
Hurst said he had not, explaining that he no longer serves in a role responsible for compiling the figures.
“I felt it would be inappropriate to do so because that’s not in my current role in the department,” he said.
The senator replied: “Well, I think it’s very frustrating to the American people that we can’t get a straight answer on what this war is costing.”
Source: Express Tribune
