LEILA FADEL, HOST:
Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut was one of the members of Congress questioning Pentagon officials. She's the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, and she is with me now. Good morning, and thanks for being on the program.
ROSA DELAURO: Good to be with you.
FADEL: Were you satisfied by the administration's accounting of what went into that $29 billion figure for their cost of war that they shared?
DELAURO: No, not at all, but that is really just representative of the consistent lack of transparency since the president started this war with Iran. So, you know, as was stated in your report, you've got - it was, I guess, in March, they talked about $11 billion. And the end of April, we're at 25. And now, just almost two weeks later, it's $29 billion. The Congress does not have a written request or a breakdown of the dollar amount that they talked about at any point, and yesterday at the $29 billion number.
FADEL: So you're saying you have no understanding of how this money was spent?
DELAURO: We have not a clue as to how this money was spent. There's conjecture, which you've seen in reports, but - from the administration. But, you know, there's no clear or coherent strategy with regard to the war that the president has presented to the Congress. We're week to week, day by day, hour to hour, and the rationale shifts.
FADEL: The Pentagon is requesting $1.5 trillion for 2027, up from a trillion for this year's budget. Has Secretary Hegseth explained how the Pentagon intends to spend that money and why the increase?
DELAURO: No. The administration has not presented any information as to a definitive amount of money. You heard Senator Reid ask about the facilities - the estimate on the damage to facilities - and what that will cost. There is no answer. We have no answer to when they will come appropriations. You heard of Congresswoman McCollum, from Chairman Calvert - Republican and Democrat - is that we need to know the numbers before we can try to move forward.
FADEL: Unfortunately, you're cutting in and out here, but I just want to make sure I understand. So you're referring to the questions around Iran's attacks on U.S. facilities in the region. There's no estimate.
DELAURO: That's right.
FADEL: OK.
DELAURO: There was no estimate on what that damage would cost us.
FADEL: Now, some Republicans in yesterday's hearing seem to indicate that they were also dissatisfied with the level of transparency from the White House, from the administration. Do you see an opportunity for bipartisan pressure to get the transparency you're looking for?
DELAURO: Well, that's what my hope is. And I think yesterday in the hearing, both Republicans and Democrats asked specific questions about what are the costs so far? What does that include? When will there be a supplemental? When will that - will that be included? And I said yesterday, if the administration intends to ask Congress for supplemental funding, you need to come back to Congress to testify on that request specifically so that we and the American people can understand what the administration has gotten us into and how it plans to get us out of this. Every single day - every additional day this war goes on - brings with it additional costs. And we have no clear or coherent strategy from the administration or cost estimates.
FADEL: To make the $29 billion figure, do you feel it's an underestimate?
DELAURO: Yes, it is an underestimate. It is an underestimate.
FADEL: Are you concerned about how long the U.S. weapons stockpile will last as this war continues?
DELAURO: Yes. There have been conflicting views about a stockpile of munitions. There are a number of reports that say that we need to be thinking very seriously about that and what we need to be doing to replenish the munitions. However, yesterday, I think I heard Secretary Hegseth say that, in fact - that they have what they need. So that is really the conflicting views.
FADEL: And really quickly, do you think the administration has underestimated Iran's military power?
DELAURO: I have. Look, the question is here - and this is the question that has to be answered - at the end of this crisis, what have we accomplished and at what cost? The American people need to know that, especially at this time when there's a cost-of-living crisis and costs are going up every day for them.
FADEL: Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut is a - is ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee. Thank you so much.
DELAURO: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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