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Defense Industry · Defense Production Act · Munitions · Supply Chain
President Donald Trump invoked the Cold War-era Defense Production Act (DPA) on June 11, 2026, to accelerate weapons deliveries and rebuild the US munitions industrial base after stockpiles were depleted by the war with Iran and other conflicts, directing Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth to form voluntary agreements with defense firms.
This action addresses "systemic constraints" and "nasty issues in the supply chain," as stated by industrial base policy chief Michael Cadenazzi, by allowing consultations with defense firms like Lockheed Martin and RTX without breaching antitrust rules. The move prioritizes domestic capacity, signaling tighter limits on supplies to allies such as war-torn Ukraine.
This DPA invocation, a result of a nine-month effort, marks a significant escalation in administration efforts to replenish weapon stockpiles, despite previous assurances from Hegseth that "the munitions issue has been foolishly and unhelpfully overstated." The Iran conflict, which began on February 28, further strained resources, particularly critical interceptor missiles.
