Pentagon’s Training and Maintenance Programs Stretched by Iran War Costs

U.S. military leaders told Congress that the 2026 budget does not account for the expenses of Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing campaign against Iran. The shortfall is forcing the Pentagon to curtail routine training, flight hours, and recruit-transition funding across the Navy, Army and Air Force. Uniformed officials warned that without supplemental appropriations, the service’s ability to maintain readiness could deteriorate before the fiscal year ends in September.

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Early in the Iran campaign, Trump-era officials floated a supplemental request of roughly $200 billion to cover war costs. Subsequent administration statements have labeled that figure “too high,” yet no concrete supplemental proposal has reached Congress. The Pentagon’s latest cost estimate, presented by comptroller Jules “Jay” Hurst III, places the conflict’s direct expense at about $29 billion, excluding reconstruction of bases. Unnamed sources suggest the full price may be $40-50 billion.

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• Training budget cut: III Armored Corps (?70,000 troops) lost nearly $292 million in April.

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• Navy recruiting impact: Admiral Daryl Caudle warned that record recruiting “will be thwarted” without extra funds for boot-camp transitions and enlistment bonuses.

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• Operation Epic Fury cost estimates: $29 billion (official), $40-50 billion (source-based), $200 billion (initial discussion).

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• Operations & Maintenance (O&M) account: Used for training, fuel, travel, equipment repair and some civilian payroll; now under strain from war spending.

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• Adm. Daryl Caudle (U.S. Navy): Stated the 2026 budget “didn’t bake in Operation Epic Fury,” leading to limits on training exercises and flight hours.

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• Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach (U.S. Air Force): Testified that the Iran conflict “has exacerbated existing readiness troubles.”

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• Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Defense Subpanel: Urged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to accelerate a supplemental request, noting the need to “repay those O&M accounts” used for the operation.

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• Jules “Jay” Hurst III (Pentagon Comptroller): Reported the conflict’s cost at approximately $29 billion, acknowledging the figure excludes base-rebuilding expenses.

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Defense-budget analyst Todd Harrison (American Enterprise Institute) warned that the hidden cost of the war will emerge over time as “increased wear and tear on equipment leads to increased maintenance problems.” He argued that without supplemental funds, the Pentagon may be forced to cancel “unessential travel or cancel training.”

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• Cost estimates diverge: Official $29 billion figure versus source-based $40-50 billion range.

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• Congressional action: No supplemental funding request has been formally submitted, and lawmakers have not indicated imminent approval.

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• Transparency: Real-time tracking of O&M expenditures remains “impossible” for external observers, limiting public insight into the precise budget reallocations.

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The funding squeeze threatens the military’s ability to train new personnel, maintain aircraft and vehicle fleets, and sustain recruitment incentives. Prolonged underfunding could degrade combat readiness, increase equipment downtime, and force the Pentagon to prioritize immediate operational demands over long-term force development.

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Defense officials are expected to present a supplemental funding request to Congress in the coming weeks. Lawmakers, including Rep. Calvert, will likely scrutinize the request amid ongoing debates about the war’s true cost and the Pentagon’s capacity to absorb additional expenses without compromising other defense priorities.

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