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MilitarySpend estimates Iran campaign costs at $42.8 billion on September 13

Reporting and findings

  1. estimate

    CSIS estimated about $40 billion in additional Defense Department costs, with a $34–42 billion range, on June 23. It included munitions, operations, losses, base damage and fuel, including anticipated redeployment and replacement costs. It is an overlapping estimate with a different date and scope, not an amount to add to MilitarySpend or Pentagon figures.

  2. reported

    Trump authorized Operation Epic Fury against Iran.

  3. estimate

    MilitarySpend displayed an estimated $42.80 billion on September 13, 2026. Its model applies about $1.88 billion daily for six days, $500 million daily for days 7–39, and $95 million daily from April 8 during assumed ceasefire standby.

Summary and current status

A dated snapshot of a phased model, separate from Pentagon estimates and audited spending.

Attributed estimate; period and accounting scope stated in each measure

People and organizations

Money trail

  1. public costMilitarySpend retrospective model snapshot$42.8 billion
    Estimated public spending source
    United States government
    Loss or cost borne by
    U.S. taxpayers
    estimated · 2026-09-13 · observedRead source record
    Calculation detailsPopulation MilitarySpend modeled US taxpayer costs of Operation Epic FuryPeriod 2026-02-28 to 2026-09-13Basis The publisher's displayed September 13 snapshot in nominal USD: a retrospective modeled estimate held as an observation of that published estimate, not a future scenario or an audited outlay. The overlapping Pentagon and CSIS amounts are not added to it.Limits Daily rates are assumptions, not daily reported expenditures. The published model retains an April 8 standby phase despite later renewed fighting; its operational assumptions may understate resumed combat. The snapshot is not an automatically verified live spending feed.