Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told the Daily Caller on Thursday that former President Joe Biden depleted America’s military stockpiles to back Ukraine against Russia when asked about Iran war spending.
The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that the Pentagon is asking for over $200 billion to finance the Iran war, something that is likely to be a tough sell to Congress. Making a case for why the funding is needed, Hegseth told the Caller that the Pentagon partly needs the money to restock stockpiles which Biden had drained under his administration. (RELATED: Trump Claims US ‘Knew Nothing’ About Israeli Strike On Qatari Gas Field)
“There was a report last night that the Pentagon asked the White House for 200 billion for Iran war supplemental. Can you confirm this? And can you explain why a package this large is necessary?” Daily Caller White House correspondent Reagan Reese asked during a Pentagon briefing.
“As far as $200 billion, I think that number could move. Obviously. It takes, it takes money to kill bad guys. So we’re going back to Congress and folks there to ensure that we’re properly funded for what’s been done, for what we may have to do in the future, ensure that our ammunition is — everything’s refilled, and not just refilled, but above and beyond,” Hegseth told the Caller.
“I think, you know, we’re also still dealing with the environment that Joe Biden created, which was, which was depleting those stock holes and not sending them to our own military, but to Ukraine, which is when — every time we reach back and look at any sort of a challenge we have, it goes back to, well, send it to Ukraine,” Hegseth continued.
On the Pentagon’s request for an additional $200 billion, @PeteHegseth tells me that “it takes money to kill bad guys” and that the number could change.
He adds that the Pentagon needs the funds to ensure they are properly funded for what is being done and what might need to be… https://t.co/apsjy8Jigw pic.twitter.com/ygxnwOuB4u
— Reagan Reese (@reaganreese_) March 19, 2026
The U.S. government estimated in January 2025 that the United States had committed over $66.5 billion to Ukraine since Biden entered office, according to a fact sheet.
Three Patriot air defense batteries and munitions and various other air defense materials were sent over during the administration, the fact sheet reads. As Operation Epic Fury nears its fourth week, it has been reported that the U.S. is low on interceptors, specifically Patriot missiles and other air defense platforms.
12 National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and munitions, HAWK air defense platforms and munitions, Avenger air defense platforms and more than 3,000 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and more were sent over to Ukraine during the Biden administration to help with air defense, according to the fact sheet.
It was estimated that the U.S. only had roughly 25% of the Patriot missile interceptors it required after using stockpiles in the Middle East, The Guardian reported in June 2025. This reportedly caused the Trump administration to freeze sending Patriot missile interceptors to Ukraine.
“That has been a central, continuous concern,” a defense official told Politico. “It would also give fodder to those in the building that say we need to be more constrained with what we give Ukraine.”
Under the Biden administration, the U.S. sent various ground materials like infantry fighting vehicles, tanks, tactical vehicles and medical vehicles, according to the fact sheet.
In 2022, the U.S. was low on various other key munitions, like Javelin anti-armor systems and stinger anti-aircraft missiles, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Under the Biden administration, over 3,000 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and more than 10,000 Javelin anti-armor systems were sent to Ukraine.
WATCH: Daily Caller’s @reaganreese_ asks whether Iran could outlast U.S. missile intercept capabilities.
HEGSETH: “Iran cannot outlast us… Ultimately, we set the pace and the tempo.” pic.twitter.com/hOJ13t8EqA
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) March 4, 2026
Hegseth previously told the Caller “Iran cannot outlast” the U.S. in response to reports of the American military running low on missile interceptors.
“Iran cannot outlast us. We’re going to ensure through violence of action and our offensive capabilities and our defensive capabilities, as I said, that we set the tone and the tempo of this fight,” Hegseth told the Caller.
The president recently indicated that the conflict with Iran could wrap up soon. Hegseth told the Caller that when it comes to post-war plans, the U.S. will make sure the aftermath is in its best interest.
“Ultimately, the aftermath is going to be in America’s interests, our interests. We won’t live under a nuclear blackmail scenario of conventional missiles that can target our people, which is why the objectives have been scoped from the beginning — missiles, missile production, defense industrial base, navy — all in service of ensuring they don’t have nuclear power projection capabilities,” Hegseth told the Caller.
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