The United States government has ample funds to sustain its war effort against Iran, but has sought additional support from Congress to secure future military supplies, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday.
Speaking on NBC News’ “Meet the Press”, Bessent ruled out any proposal for tax increases to finance the conflict.
A request by the US military for an additional $200 billion for the Iran war has encountered firm resistance in Congress. Democrats, along with some Republicans, have questioned the necessity of further funding following substantial defence allocations last year.
Bessent defended the proposal, though he did not confirm the amount.
President Donald Trump has yet to submit a formal request to the Senate and the House of Representatives for approval of the sum, and officials have indicated that the figure remains subject to change.
“We have plenty of money to fund this war,” Mr Bessent said. “This is supplemental. President Trump has built up the military, as he did in his first term, as he is now doing in his second term, and he wants to ensure that the military is well supplied going forward.”
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week that the additional funding was required to ensure adequate provision for present and future military needs.
He dismissed suggestions of tax increases as “ridiculous”, adding that such measures were not under consideration.
Initial estimates indicate that the conflict may become the most costly for the United States since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Administration officials told lawmakers that the first six days of operations against Iran had cost more than $11 billion.
The Republican-led Congress has already approved record military funding since Trump began his second term in January 2025. Last month, he signed into law the Fiscal 2026 Defence Appropriations Act, providing approximately $840 billion.
In addition, last summer Congress passed a broad tax cut and spending measure, despite Democratic opposition, which included $156 billion for defence.
Bessent also defended recent moves by the administration to ease sanctions on Iranian and Russian oil. He said the step would enable countries other than China, including Japan and South Korea, to purchase oil, while preventing a surge in prices and limiting overall revenues to Iran and Russia.
He added that Treasury analysis indicated Russia could gain no more than $2 billion in additional oil revenue.
