CBO Report: Iran Conflict Costs U.S. Defense Department $38 Billion, Depletes Interceptors

Salt Lake City, UT, September 21, 2026 — A recent analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the ongoing conflict with Iran has incurred costs of approximately $38 billion for the U.S. Department of Defense. This figure represents the financial expenditure associated with the conflict to date.

The CBO report also pointed to significant depletion of U.S. missile defense interceptors as a direct consequence of the conflict. This expenditure of interceptors creates what the report terms an “opportunity cost.” This opportunity cost is identified as a potential factor that could impact national security, especially if the United States were to face a conflict with a more formidable adversary, such as China.

Beyond military hardware and preparedness, the CBO’s assessment noted broader economic implications. The conflict’s impact on U.S. oil prices and interest rates was also highlighted in the analysis.

However, the report also indicates that defense officials have contested claims suggesting a dwindling of munitions stockpiles. Specific details regarding the extent of munitions stockpiles or the precise nature of the dispute were not provided in the summary.

The financial figure of $38 billion reflects the costs incurred by the Defense Department. The analysis does not specify a timeline for this expenditure beyond “to date.” Information regarding the specific types or quantities of missile defense interceptors depleted was not available in the summary.

The CBO’s findings emphasize a dual impact: direct financial costs and a strategic depletion of defensive assets, alongside broader economic effects on oil prices and interest rates. The report also suggests a divergence in perspective between the CBO’s findings and statements from defense officials concerning munition levels.

Story summarized from the original created by Jason Swensen on www.deseret.com, see more information here.

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