$200 billion could fund the National Science Foundation for 20 years.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/03/18/iran-cost-budget-pentagon/

Pentagon seeks more than $200 billion in budget request for Iran war

That figure would far surpass the costs of the U.S. airstrike campaign to date and aims to boost production of critical weapons depleted in the conflict, people familiar with the matter said.

The Washington Post

@davidho interesting... #China already spends triple that yearly on #science! The #US & #EU are going to be left so far behind... 🔬

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00770-y

China pledges billion-dollar spending boost for science

Funding for national laboratories and important research projects would increase under the government’s plans.