The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11

With the December 2009 enactment of the FY2010 Defense Appropriations Act H.R. 3326P.L. 111- 118 and the FY2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act H.R. 3288P.L. 111-117, Congress has approved a total of 1.086 trillion for military operations, base security, reconstruction, foreign aid, embassy costs, and veterans health care for the three operations initiated since the 911 attacks Operation Enduring Freedom OEF Afghanistan and other counter terror operations Operation Noble Eagle ONE, providing enhanced security at military bases and Operation Iraqi Freedom OIF. Of this 1.086 trillion total, CRS estimates that Iraq will receive about 748 billion 69, OEF about 304 billion 28 and enhanced base security about 29 billion 3, with about 5 billion that CRS cannot allocate 1. About 94 of the funds are for DOD, 5 for foreign aid programs and embassy operations, and 1 for medical care for veterans. As of April, 2010, more than halfway through FY2010, monthly spending, or obligations for contracts and military and civilian pay, averaged 10.9 billion, including 5.4 billion for Iraq and 5.5 billion for Afghanistan. While this years average to date is 11 below last years 12.3 billion average, average spending may grow as troop levels rise to 98,000 in Afghanistan and fall to 50,000 in Iraq because higher costs in Afghanistan may more than offset decreases in Iraq. Congress is currently considering the FY2010 Supplemental request for an additional 36.6 billion for DOD and the State Department, largely to cover the cost of deploying 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan that President Obama announced on December 1, 2009. Most recently, the House adopted an amended version on June 30th and the Senate passed its version on May 27th, 2010. Instead of a formal conference, the Senate is expected to revise the House version and send it back to the House, in a ping pong process, sometime in July.