Trump Meets Munitions Makers to Expedite U.S. Weapon Stockpiles

President Donald Trump met with munitions makers at the White House on Wednesday to expedite the replenishment of U.S. weapon stockpiles. These reserves were depleted by military operations in Iran and supplies provided to international allies. The administration is urging contractors to prioritize production over shareholder payouts, a move supported by a January executive order targeting underperforming firms.

During the meeting, Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg challenged industry assertions regarding production progress, specifically citing delays in key programs. In a related effort to increase capacity, the Pentagon awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $35 billion to boost production of THAAD interceptors. Lockheed Martin also agreed to triple the production of Patriot interceptors, while RTX Corporation signed framework agreements to increase the output of Tomahawk cruise missiles and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.

Industry executives expressed support for the framework agreements but stated that Congress must appropriate funding to prevent negative impacts on free cash flow. To address these financial requirements, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved a version of the National Defense Authorization Act totaling $1.15 trillion to support procurement efforts.