Yesterday and today, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought refused, multiple times, to provide members of Congress with any answer on how much the war in Iran costs the American taxpayer each day.
“This administration is ripping away benefits from the most vulnerable Americans while writing a blank check for war in the Middle East, and they won’t even tell the public what it costs. The American people deserve answers before the bombs start dropping, not after the bill comes due,” said American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson Brandon Weathersby. “Trump knows Congressional Republicans will rubber-stamp whatever he asks for, and vulnerable families will pay the price while he plays warlord.”
Experts estimate the Trump administration is spending at least $1 billion a day on the war with Iran. Here’s what that could do for the American people instead:
- Health care subsidies for 1.9 million Americans, the same subsidies Republicans refused to fully fund, leaving millions at risk of losing coverage.
- Food assistance for 5.7 million families in need, the same families receiving fewer resources due to Republican cuts.
- Child care for more than 1.2 million children, instead of steep cuts to child care resources as Trump’s FY2026 budget proposes.
- Disability benefits for nearly 500,000 veterans who earned every cent, instead of freezing and downsizing services like Trump has allowed over the past year.
Published: Apr 16, 2026 | Last Modified: Apr 17, 2026