Pete Hegseth says it’s a “manufactured story” that U.S. faces munitions stockpile shortage

Pete Hegseth Disputes Claims of U.S. Munitions Stockpile Crisis

Pete Hegseth says it s a manufactured - During an interview on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth challenged the narrative that the United States is experiencing a critical shortage of military supplies. He asserted that the issue is not a genuine crisis but rather a "manufactured story" designed to exaggerate the situation.

Earlier this year, Hegseth had testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee regarding the Pentagon’s $1.5 trillion budget proposal. At that hearing, he acknowledged that replenishing the stockpile might require "months and years" due to the prolonged conflict with Iran. However, he emphasized that the production timeline varies depending on the specific weapon system.

"I speculated some munitions take more time than others," Hegseth noted, adding, "we've got lots of them."

Hegseth highlighted the ongoing efforts to boost production, citing the establishment of new manufacturing facilities. He attributed the current stockpile levels to the previous administration’s decisions, suggesting that the current government is working to restore and enhance capabilities.

Regional officials had previously raised concerns in March about Gulf nations facing dwindling supplies of missile interceptors. In response, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine stated that there are enough precision munitions to meet operational needs, both offensively and defensively.

Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona cited Hegseth’s earlier remarks during his Sunday appearance on the same show. Kelly pointed out, "I think it's widely understood that when you attack over 10,000 targets from the air using cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and bombs, you are using a lot of munitions, and we do not have an endless supply of these things."

Kelly emphasized the need for caution, stating, "So now we're in a posture where we've got to be incredibly careful." Hegseth, however, defended the current state of U.S. military readiness, claiming that the nation’s arsenal is being accelerated through streamlined Pentagon operations and collaboration with industry partners.

"Nobody makes better and more munitions than the United States of America," Hegseth argued. "And because of this administration, we're supercharging our arsenal of freedom — building more, building faster, opening up the Pentagon, ripping through the Pentagon bureaucracy, to force industry to move faster."

Lockheed Martin, a major defense contractor, had earlier noted that scaling up Patriot missile production from 650 units annually to 2,000 would take three to four years. Hegseth referenced this, suggesting that the current production pace is already being increased to address prior shortages.