President Donald Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act (DPA) to accelerate the production of munitions and strengthen military supply chains.
The move that comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urges Congress to approve an additional $350 billion in defense spending aimed at replenishing U.S. weapons stockpiles strained by ongoing military commitments.
The White House disclosed this week that Trump signed a memorandum on June 11 authorizing the Pentagon to use emergency powers under the Cold War-era law to address what the administration described as serious vulnerabilities in America's defense industrial base.
The directive cites limited production capacity, fragile supply chains, and manufacturing bottlenecks affecting critical components such as solid rocket motors, guidance systems, and missile igniters.
"I hereby find that conditions exist which may pose a direct threat to the national defense or its preparedness programs," Trump wrote in the memorandum.
The Defense Production Act allows the federal government to coordinate with private industry actors to prioritize contracts and expand production capacity during national emergencies. Under Trump's order, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is authorized to establish voluntary agreements with defense manufacturers and suppliers to accelerate weapons production and reduce supply chain constraints.
The action comes amid growing concern about the pace at which the United States can replace weapons used during recent military operations and ongoing support for allies abroad. Defense analysts have warned that replenishing some advanced missile inventories could take years under current production rates.
An analysis by the Center for Strategic & International Studies found that several key weapons systems used heavily in recent conflicts may require at least three years to restore to previous stockpile levels.
At the same time, Hegseth has been lobbying lawmakers to support a major increase in defense spending. The Pentagon's proposed fiscal 2027 budget envisions total defense funding approaching $1.5 trillion, including roughly $350 billion in additional resources that administration officials say are necessary to rebuild weapons inventories, expand industrial capacity, and prepare for future conflicts.
Giving congressional testimony earlier this year, Hegseth argued that the administration's budget request would significantly expand production capabilities across the defense sector. The Pentagon has said the budget would enable some portions of the defense industrial base to double, triple, or even quadruple manufacturing capacity while funding new facilities and production lines.
According to Pentagon budget documents, the administration is prioritizing investments in key munitions programs and plans to spend nearly $53 billion on critical weapons procurement as part of a broader effort to support sustained, high-intensity military operations.
The administration has already begun meeting with major defense contractors to discuss ways to increase production. Companies including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and RTX have participated in White House and Pentagon discussions focused on expanding output of weapons systems.
Industry is also exploring partnerships beyond the traditional defense sector. Recent reports indicate that General Motors and Lockheed Martin are discussing arrangements that could allow the automaker to manufacture components for weapons systems.
The Pentagon has publicly downplayed concerns about an immediate shortage of weapons. In recent television appearances, Hegseth rejected suggestions that the United States faces a stockpile crisis, insisting that American inventories remain strong.
