The Cost of Operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Enhanced Security
Publication Date: March 2005
Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Author(s):
Research Area: Military and defense
Type:
Coverage: Afghanistan Iraq
Abstract:
Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, CRS estimates that the Department of Defense (DOD) has received over $201 billion for combat operations, occupation, and support for military personnel deployed or supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and for enhanced security at military installations, collectively called the "global war on terrorism." That includes $25 billion to cover some of DOD's FY2005 costs. On January 25, 2005, the White House announced it would request $80 billion more for these operations in its FY2005 Supplemental, including about $75 billion for DOD. If Congress approves that amount, DOD's funding through FY2005 for these missions will exceed $275 billion. Much of the debate about the new supplemental may focus on the cost and duration of U.S. involvement in Iraq and the global war on terrorism. CBO recently estimated that military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan could cost $458 billion from FY2005 through FY2014 in addition to amounts already received.
While the Defense Department has provided various data to the Congress, it has not given Congress a full allocation of funding for Iraq, Afghanistan, and enhanced security. Based on data from DOD, CRS estimates that DOD expected to spend about $100 billion for Iraq, $50 billion for Afghanistan, and $23 billion for enhanced security through the end of FY2004. Between FY2002 and FY2005, Congress appropriated about $27 billion to other agencies for reconstruction and embassy operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. With those costs, total funding would be about $148 billion for Iraq and $58 billion for Afghanistan as of the end of the 108th Congress. If Congress approves the $75 billion requested and if the cost for Afghanistan remains steady, CRS estimates that DOD's contractual costs could total about $192 billion for Iraq, about $58 billion for Afghanistan, and about $20 billion for enhanced security by the end of FY2005.