Chairman says he supports initial action but wants an exit strategy as Pentagon projects early Iran war costs

A participant asked whether the Chairman supports continued funding at the level of Pentagon projections—approximately $25 billion in the first 60 days—and whether the United States should sustain that pace of spending. The Chairman said he wanted to review the full costs and insisted on an exit strategy: "I want to know how much more we're going to spend. ... I want to see an exit strategy," he said.

The Chairman characterized the military action as a necessary response to threats and applauded the conduct of U.S. commanders, but he also said that "nobody wants to stay forever" and that allies in Europe should take a stronger role over time. He framed future funding decisions as contingent on clearer planning for how long and at what cost U.S. forces would remain involved.

A concern raised in the exchange was fiscal: a participant said fiscal conservatives were raising alarms about the scale of likely spending. The Chairman said he shared the need for limits and transparency on expenditures.

The discussion also explored domestic ripple effects from the conflict. The Chairman acknowledged that higher fuel and fertilizer costs could hit farmers and producers and might offset local economic gains from other events, saying those price impacts are "a takeaway" that could reduce net benefits.

The exchange concluded without any formal votes or policy decisions; the Chairman emphasized he would seek more detail on spending plans and an exit strategy before committing to sustained funding at projected levels.