Frequently Asked Questions
19 questions covering our data sources, methodology, the Iran War 2026, our perspective, and how to use the site. Can't find your answer? See our Methodology and Sources pages.
Data & Sources
Where does your data come from?
We compile data from official government sources (Department of Defense, Congressional Research Service, SIPRI, USAID, OMB, Bureau of Labor Statistics), peer-reviewed academic research (Brown University Costs of War Project), and established investigative organizations (Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Iraq Body Count, Airwars). Every figure on the site can be traced to a primary source. See our Sources page for the complete list.
Are civilian casualty numbers accurate?
Civilian casualty estimates are inherently uncertain and almost certainly undercount the true toll. Our figures are generally conservative — they come from credible organizations that use documented, verifiable cases. The Brown University Costs of War Project estimates 940,000+ directly killed in post-9/11 wars, with 3.8 million indirect deaths from disease, displacement, and infrastructure destruction. We note uncertainty ranges where available and err toward conservative estimates.
How often is data updated?
Update frequency varies by dataset: Iran War 2026 data is updated daily as new Pentagon briefings and casualty reports come in. Annual military spending data updates when SIPRI publishes in April and when the federal budget is released. Historical conflict data updates as new research is published by Brown University, CRS, and other sources. Country profiles and arms sales update quarterly.
Can I use your data?
Yes! All our aggregated data is freely available for download on the Downloads page in JSON format. We ask for attribution ("Source: WarCosts.org") if you use it in published work. Academic researchers, journalists, students, and developers are especially welcome. The raw source data belongs to the original publishers (CRS, SIPRI, Brown University, etc.). All data is CORS-enabled for direct API access.
Methodology
How do you calculate war costs?
Direct war-fighting costs (what the Pentagon reports) are only about 36% of total war costs. We follow the Brown University Costs of War methodology, which includes: direct appropriations, DOD base budget increases attributable to war, veteran care (current and projected through 2050), interest on war borrowing, Homeland Security costs attributable to 9/11, and State Department war-related spending. This produces the $8 trillion figure for the War on Terror. All figures are inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars using BLS CPI-U.
Why are costs in "2024 dollars"?
Adjusting for inflation allows fair comparison across centuries. The $2.4 billion nominal cost of the Revolutionary War would be misleading compared to the $2.3 trillion Afghanistan war without accounting for 240 years of inflation. We use the BLS CPI-U (Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers) to convert all figures to 2024 dollars. For each conflict, we use the midpoint year or year of peak spending as the base.
Why do you include VA spending as a "military cost"?
Because it is. The $325 billion VA budget exists because wars create veterans who need care. Without wars, the VA would be a fraction of its current size. Including VA costs in the true cost of war is essential for honest accounting — it's the deferred cost of sending people into combat. The Brown University methodology includes projected VA costs through 2050 ($2.2-2.5 trillion for post-9/11 veterans).
How is the $1.4 trillion "true" national security budget calculated?
Start with the DOD base budget ($886B). Add: Veterans Affairs ($325B), intelligence community ($90B+), Homeland Security ($62B), DOE nuclear weapons ($50B), interest on war debt ($100B+), State Dept military programs ($18B), and other military-related spending ($10B+). Total: approximately $1.4-1.5 trillion. This methodology is used by the National Priorities Project, War Resisters League, and other budget analysts.
Iran War 2026
How much has the Iran war cost?
As of late March 2026, the Pentagon has confirmed $11.3 billion in direct costs over the first 6 days of operations. This includes Tomahawk cruise missiles ($2M each), JASSM-ER strikes, B-2 bomber sorties, carrier strike group operations, and initial troop deployments. Projected costs exceed $50 billion for the first month based on sortie rates and munitions expenditure. These figures do not include long-term costs like veteran care, equipment replacement, or economic disruption — the true cost will be far higher.
How many people have died in the Iran war?
Casualty tracking in the Iran conflict is ongoing and figures change daily. The Pentagon reports US military casualties through official briefings, while Iranian civilian and military casualties are harder to verify due to restricted media access and conflicting government claims. We track figures from DoD press briefings, Airwars, and credible media reports, updating daily. Check our Iran War 2026 analysis page for the latest numbers.
Did Congress authorize the Iran war?
No. The strikes on Iran began without a formal declaration of war or new Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). The administration has cited Article II commander-in-chief powers and argued the 2001 AUMF covers Iranian-backed forces. This follows the pattern of 26 of 36 major US conflicts since 1776 being fought without formal congressional declaration. The War Powers Resolution requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours and withdraw forces within 60 days without authorization.
Perspective
Is this site politically biased?
WarCosts is data-driven and source-cited. Every number links to a primary source — government reports, academic research, or established monitoring organizations. Our editorial perspective values constitutional governance, fiscal responsibility, and transparency in military spending. Some call this libertarian; we call it common sense. We believe citizens deserve the full picture regardless of which party is in the White House. We've been equally critical of Republican and Democratic administrations' military adventures.
What is your political perspective?
WarCosts approaches military policy from a perspective of constitutional governance, individual liberty, and fiscal responsibility — values rooted in classical liberalism and shared across the political spectrum. We believe: (1) the power to wage war belongs to Congress per the Constitution; (2) citizens deserve full transparency about military spending; (3) every dollar spent on war is a dollar not spent on something else; (4) the human cost of war should be counted honestly. These are not partisan positions.
Are you against all military spending?
No. National defense is a legitimate function of government. The question is not whether to have a military, but how large it should be, what it should do, and whether it should cost more than the next 10 countries combined while failing every financial audit. A military sufficient for genuine defense — protecting the homeland, not policing the globe — would cost far less than $886 billion.
About
Who runs this site?
WarCosts is independently operated by TheDataProject.ai — a portfolio of free, data-driven transparency sites. We have no defense industry sponsors, no political party funding, no government grants, and no think-tank affiliations. The site is completely free: no ads, no paywall, no login required. Our mission is to make military spending data accessible to every citizen.
How does WarCosts relate to TheDataProject.ai?
WarCosts is the first platform in TheDataProject.ai portfolio — a collection of free, data-driven transparency sites covering topics where public access to clear, sourced data can improve democratic accountability. Future platforms will cover healthcare costs, government spending, immigration data, and more.
What about the jobs created by military spending?
Military spending does create jobs — but fewer per dollar than any other major category of government spending. Research by UMass Amherst PERI found that $1 billion in military spending creates about 5,000 jobs vs. 13,000 in education, 9,000 in healthcare, and 8,000 in clean energy. The "jobs" argument is the defense industry's most effective lobbying tool, but the economics don't support it. Try our Jobs Calculator.
What is the 2001 AUMF and why does it matter?
The Authorization for Use of Military Force, passed September 14, 2001, is a 60-word resolution that authorized the president to use force against those responsible for 9/11 and associated forces. It has been used to justify military operations in 22+ countries against groups (like ISIS) that didn't exist when it was passed. It's been active for 25 years with no sunset clause and has become a blank check for presidential war-making.
How can I help or contribute?
Found an error? Have a data source we should include? Want to contribute analysis? We welcome corrections, suggestions, and contributions from researchers, veterans, journalists, and concerned citizens. All data is available on our Downloads page for your own projects.