Hegseth says US military training will suffer without funding boost,as war costs reach $37.5bn

Hegseth says US military training will suffer without funding boost,as war costs reach $37.5bn US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told lawmakers on Tuesday that military training would need to be curtailed without an urgent funding boost, as Republican Senator Susan Collins said that some military branches were facing a near-term solvency crisis.

“There is training right now and training in the future that would have to be curtailed if we do not get our budget needs met and met urgently,” Hegseth said in response to a question by Collins about the impact of the funding shortfall.

Hegseth added that the US war on Iran has cost $37.5bn so far, an increase of nearly $8bn since the last public estimate.

US lawmakers are conducting a hearing to examine a review of US President Donald Trump's supplemental funding request from June 2026.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth testifies during a Senate Committee on Appropriations hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on 21 July 2026 (Alex Wroblewski/AFP)