US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed Congress on Tuesday evening that the latest estimate for the cost of the war with Iran is $37.5 billion.

This comes as Hegseth faces questions and protests during a Senate hearing, ahead of a discussion on a $95 billion budget package proposed by Republicans to fund the armed forces, along with providing aid to farmers and making changes to voting laws, which are among the White House's top priorities.

Hegseth presented the new estimate, which exceeds previous estimates, during his testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee. Protesters repeatedly interrupted his opening remarks, days after the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced the deaths of three additional US servicemembers in the conflict, bringing the death toll to 17, while more than 100 others have been injured since early July.

Hegseth said the additional war funding represents an 'urgent and necessary funding boost,' and that along with the $1.5 trillion defense budget proposed by President Donald Trump, it constitutes a historic investment in the armed forces.

He added in his Senate testimony: 'Without this money, we will face a critical shortfall.'

Hegseth warned senators that training for troops would have to be reduced if the Pentagon does not receive the additional $67 billion in funding it is requesting from Congress.

He expressed concerns about military pay and funding for weapons used to counter enemy drones and missiles.