Estimated Costs of U.S. Operations in Iraq under Two Specified Scenarios
Abstract
At the request of the Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated the funding provided for military and diplomatic operations in Iraq through June 30, 2006, as well as the related costs incurred by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for medical care, disability compensation, and survivor benefits. CBO also has projected the costs of those activities over the next 10 years under two scenarios. According to CBO's estimates, from the time U.S. forces invaded Iraq in March 2003, $290 billion has been allocated for activities in Iraq, of which $254 billion has gone to the DoD and other defense agencies for military operations. In the first scenario, the number of forces deployed in and around Iraq would be reduced from the current level of approximately 190,000 to 140,000 in 2007 and would continue to decline rapidly until all troops were withdrawn from the Iraq theater of operations by the end of 2009. By CBO's estimates, that scenario would require additional appropriations totaling $166 billion for military operations over the 2007-2016 period. In the second scenario, the number of troops deployed to the Iraq theater of operations would decline less rapidly, from 170,000 in 2007 to 40,000 by the end of 2010 and would remain at that lower level through 2016. That scenario would require the appropriation of $368 billion for military operations over the 2007-2016 period. CBO assumes that the costs of establishing Iraqi security forces, conducting diplomatic and consular operations, and providing foreign aid would be roughly the same under both scenarios. Thus, funding for Iraqi security forces could total approximately $15 billion over the next 10 years, and funding for diplomatic operations and foreign aid could cost another $15 billion over the same period. Additional costs for the VA over the 2007-2016 period would sum to approximately $6 billion under the first scenario and $8 billion under the second one.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 13, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA460384
Entities
People
- Allison Percy
- David Newman
- Sam Papenfuss
Organizations
- Congressional Budget Office