{
  "id": 7576951,
  "title": "The US fired over $22 billion in munitions fighting Iran and created stockpile shortages in the process, watchdog finds",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/the-us-fired-over-22-billion-in-munitions-fighting-iran-and-created",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T15:17:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/us-fired-billions-in-weapons-fighting-iran-drained-stockpiles-report-2026-9"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Pentagon watchdog report has revealed that the United States spent more than $22 billion on weapons during its conflict with Iran, leading to shortages of strategic munitions. Operation Epic Fury, which began on February 28, was estimated to have cost $33.4 billion as of June 29, with $22.3 billion of that figure attributed to expended munitions. The high expenditure has created inventory shortfalls and highlighted industrial base bottlenecks that hinder munitions resupply, according to the report. The Pentagon is working to address these issues by streamlining procurement processes and increasing stockpiles of critical materials. Despite repeated denials from the White House and Pentagon leadership, experts warn that the US could face insufficient weaponry for future conflicts, particularly against near-peer adversaries like China or Russia.",
  "summary": "The Pentagon inspector general also found that the US lost $3.7 billion in equipment during the war.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/7576951.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Iran war munitions spending led to inventory problems, Pentagon inspector says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/iran-war-munitions-spending-led-to-inventory-problems-pentagon",
        "published": "2026-09-15T16:24:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "$33.4bn war cost, $22.3bn on munitions: What US lost in 6 months of Iran war",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/33-4bn-war-cost-22-3bn-on-munitions-what-us-lost-in-6-months-of-iran",
        "published": "2026-09-15T17:02:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Iran war cost hits $38 billion, forecast to rise $3 billion a month, CBO says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/iran-war-cost-hits-38-billion-forecast-to-rise-3-billion-a-month-cbo",
        "published": "2026-09-15T18:52:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CNBC World",
        "title": "Iran war has cost on average $246 million per day in its first five months, CBO finds",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/iran-war-has-cost-on-average-246-million-per-day-in-its-first-five",
        "published": "2026-09-15T19:19:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Maverick",
        "title": "Iran war cost hits $38 billion, forecast to rise $3 billion a month, CBO says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/iran-war-cost-hits-38-billion-forecast-to-rise-3-billion-a-month-cbo-7615906",
        "published": "2026-09-15T19:42:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "Iran war costs US military $38 billion as CBO warns of billions more in monthly expenses",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/iran-war-costs-us-military-38-billion-as-cbo-warns-of-billions-more",
        "published": "2026-09-15T20:15:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}