Pete Hegseth Tours Midwest to Revitalize Defense Industrial Base

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited Nebraska and Wisconsin on August 25, 2026, as part of a nationwide "Arsenal of Freedom" tour. The initiative seeks to rebuild the American defense industrial base and establish a more agile, accountable ecosystem to ensure warfighters receive necessary tools more quickly.

During a visit to the U.S. Strategic Command headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Hegseth toured the battle deck and viewed missile defense demonstrations. He emphasized the necessity of nuclear deterrence and called for a return to a "warrior ethos," arguing that military formations must be merit-based and free from "social engineering and DEI."

In Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Hegseth addressed leaders and employees at Oshkosh Corporation to discuss revitalizing American manufacturing. He stated that the Trump administration is seeking a $1.5 trillion investment in defense capabilities to allow the military to operate at the "speed of business," aligning with the administration's broader "peace through strength" agenda.