Defense official estimates '05 war budget will top $50 billion

Wolfowitz also seemed to open the door to compromise over the White House's unusual request for full control over the first $25 billion for the wars. Congress is expected to provide the money, but members of the Senate Armed Services Committee lambasted the administration's request for unfettered flexibility.

"Our forefathers would have scorned such arrogance as has been demonstrated by this administration in this request," said Senator Robert C. Byrd, Democrat of West Virginia.

The committee chairman -- Senator John W. Warner, Republican of Virginia -- said lawmakers must "maintain our oversight" of the money.

With monthly war expenditures approaching $5 billion, next year's total cost "is $50 billion to $60 billion," Wolfowitz told the panel.

On Wednesday, President Bush formally proposed an initial $25 billion for next year's military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wolfowitz told senators that the next request for funds will come early next year and that "it will surely be much larger than $25 billion."

The war spending is on top of the $402 billion Bush has proposed for the Defense Department for 2005.

Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Congress has provided $165 billion to the Pentagon for Iraq, Afghanistan, and antiterrorism efforts at home and abroad, excluding what Bush wants for next year.

Democrats on the House Budget Committee have calculated that the price tag will range between $67 billion and $79 billion.

The $25 billion request from the White House has scant detail, but says the president could transfer funds to any defense or classified accounts by telling lawmakers five days in advance.

Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, said he will support the $25 billion request.