US spent $11.3B in 1st week of Iran war: Pentagon
What's the story
The Pentagon has revealed that the US spent an estimated $11.3 billion in the first week of its war against Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury. The figure was shared during a closed-door briefing to lawmakers, according to AP News. It does not include the total cost of the war and comes after reports that America spent $5 billion on munitions alone over the opening weekend of this conflict in West Asia.
Funding request
White House to ask Congress for more money
The White House is expected to soon ask Congress for more money for the Iran war. Senior officials in the Trump administration had hinted that a supplemental funding request could be on its way. Some have suggested this request could be as high as $50 billion, while others think that estimate is too low.
Contract concerns
Trump's sons partly own drone company vying for Pentagon contracts
The Pentagon's future contracts are also under scrutiny. Among many companies vying for Pentagon contracts to provide attack drones, one stands out: Powerus. The company is partly owned by President Donald Trump's two eldest sons. Critics have raised concerns over the potential conflict of interest with federal contractors providing everything from rocket parts to AI chips and computer hardware.
Company growth
Powerus is rapidly expanding to provide armed drones
Founded by US Army Special Operations veterans, Powerus mainly makes drones for commercial uses. However, it is rapidly expanding to provide the Defense Department with armed drones like those used by Ukraine and Russia. The company has acquired three rivals in the past six months and plans to acquire more. Despite potential conflicts of interest, Trump Organization's Eric Trump said he is proud to invest in companies he believes in.