The U.S. Department of Defense has urged defense industry companies to accelerate weapons and ammunition production and delivery, citing a noticeable decline in U.S. stockpiles attributed to the ongoing conflict with Iran. In a Saturday statement, Department spokesman Sean Parnel explained
that the Pentagon is focusing on expediting ammunition procurement to provide "the weapons fighters need at the pace dictated by current threats." He added that the department took decisive steps last week to speed up production and supply. Parnel clarified
these measures are part of broader efforts to modernize the armed forces and rebuild the American defense industrial base, initiatives that predated the war with Iran. A memo, obtained by The Washington Post, revealed that Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg
gave defense industry leaders 21 days to submit action plans to significantly accelerate delivery schedules and increase critical military capabilities production. In the memo, Feinberg stressed that "years-long development cycles are no longer acceptable," urging a radical acceleration of military
programs and an immediate expansion of production capacity. This move follows reports indicating the United States had depleted most of its global inventory of long-range precision missiles during the conflict with Iran. Conversely, former U.S. President Donald Trump had previously denied
any severe ammunition shortage, asserting the U.S. possesses "massive quantities" and that large amounts are manufactured and shipped as needed. Parnel confirmed Feinberg's memo's authenticity, noting it will be considered when preparing the draft fiscal year 2028 budget, slated for submission
to Congress, and aligns with the department's ongoing efforts to rebuild the American defense industrial base.
