US spending on first week of Iran war raises stark questions about priorities

The US spent $11.3 billion in the first week of its military campaign against Iran following a joint US-Israeli attack on February 28, according to budget analysis cited by the Trump administration's critics. The expenditure exceeds the annual budgets of major federal agencies including the EPA and National Cancer Institute, both of which the Trump administration has proposed cutting. The disparity underscores a fundamental tension in how the White House is allocating resources—pouring unprecedented sums into military operations while slashing funding for public health and scientific research. The spending figures have intensified debate over government priorities, particularly among lawmakers and advocates who argue the same money could address domestic health crises and scientific research. The comparison raises questions about the administration's budgetary philosophy as it pursues military objectives abroad while reducing investments in agencies focused on environmental protection and disease research.