**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**DATELINE: WASHINGTON, D.C. | SEPTEMBER 15, 2024**
**HEADLINE: Congressional Budget Office Reveals Economic Strain of $18.7 Billion "Operation Epic Fury" Funding**
**WHO:** The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), in coordination with the Department of Defense Comptroller.
**WHAT:** Released a comprehensive financial assessment detailing the fiscal impact of "Operation Epic Fury," a large-scale military campaign.
**WHEN:** The analysis was published at 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time today, September 15, 2024. The operation itself was officially concluded on August 31, 2024.
**WHERE:** The report examines the operational expenditures across multiple theaters, with a primary focus on the Indo-Pacific region, as well as logistical hubs in Guam, Japan, and Diego Garcia.
**WHY:** The $18.7 billion expenditure—exceeding initial projections by 14%—was necessitated by sustained naval deployments, advanced munitions consumption, and emergency resupply chains. The CBO states that this funding requirement has created a significant fiscal displacement, leading to a 6% reduction in Non-Discretionary Domestic Project allocations for Fiscal Year 2025.
**HOW:** The funding was primarily sourced from the Defense Emergency Response Fund, with an additional supplemental draw from the Treasury's General Fund. The CBO warns that without targeted legislative reallocation, the debt-to-GDP ratio could see a marginal but notable increase by the fourth quarter of 2025. A joint session of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees has been scheduled for October 3, 2024, to debate a potential offset package.