Guest Opinion | Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater: The Cost of Forever War—And What We Lose at Home

America has been here before.

After the attacks of September 11, we entered wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that were supposed to be swift and decisive. Instead, they stretched on for decades—what we now call “forever wars.” And the price tag? Staggering. Estimates show the United States has spent between $4 trillion and $6 trillion on those conflicts, with total post-9/11 war costs reaching roughly $8 trillion when long-term obligations are included.

Now, as tensions with Iran risk escalating into another prolonged conflict, we should be asking a simple question: What are we giving up at home to pay for war abroad?

Even in its early stages, analysts estimate the war against Iran could cost $1–2 billion per day. That is not abstract. That is real money—public money—leaving our communities every single day.

On the campaign trail, President Trump criticized the trillions spent in the Middle East instead of investing in “roads, bridges, education.” The opportunity cost of war is not theoretical—it is visible in every underfunded school, every crumbling bridge, every social service forced to do more with less. And yet, he is now engaging in the kind of war he decried. Even worse, he is cutting taxes for the wealthy and taking away healthcare for millions of Americans. Sadly, but not at all surprising, he is doing the opposite of what he said he believed.

This kind of betrayal is happening in cities across the country. I see it here in Pasadena.

We are trying to get people off the streets—real people, our neighbors—into stable housing. We are exploring practical solutions, like purchasing a local motel for transitional housing. These are not radical ideas; they are proven strategies. And yet, funding keeps getting cut or delayed.

Now consider this: according to respected organizations like the National Alliance to End Homelessness and Homeless Hub, here is a quick breakdown of the rough estimated costs to address homelessness and housing on an ongoing basis, nationwide:

An additional $9.6 billion annually could provide rapid re-housing or permanent supportive housing for every household currently in a homeless shelter.

Tripling the current federal voucher budget to roughly $100 billion per year would ensure that every eligible low-income household receives rental assistance, potentially preventing homelessness before it starts.

Estimates for simply paying the median rent for every person experiencing homelessness sit at roughly $11 billion per year, while high-support models (similar to the cost of incarceration) could reach $30 billion.

Even if the true cost is higher, as some analyses suggest, it is still a fraction of what we spend on war.

Think about that contrast. A single year of war spending could fund housing solutions nationwide. A few weeks of military operations could transform communities like Pasadena.

This is not an argument about isolationism or ignoring global threats. This is not a comment at all about not supporting our troops, but actually the opposite, since we know that so many veterans struggle with lack of housing and resources. It is an argument about priorities—and about learning from our own history. We have seen what happens when wars stretch on without clear endpoints: budget deficits balloon, needs at home are deferred, and the promise of “nation-building abroad” comes at the expense of stability at home.

The moral question is unavoidable.

If we have the resources to spend trillions overseas, do we not also have the responsibility to ensure that every American has a roof over their head?

Forever wars are not just fought on distant battlefields. They are also fought quietly in our cities—in the form of missed opportunities, underfunded programs, and lives left in limbo.

We cannot afford another one.

Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater is the CEO of Friends In Deed and the board president of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. The opinions expressed here are solely his own.