Pentagon Arsenal Questioned as WH Eyes Weapons Surge

President Donald Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth are pressing ahead with an ambitious expansion of U.S. weapons production as the ongoing conflict with Iran exposes strains on American stockpiles and deep divisions in Congress that could tie up funding.

The administration has spent months urging defense contractors to rapidly scale up output of key systems, including Patriot air defense interceptors and Tomahawk cruise missiles, after heavy use in the conflict that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.

Following a White House meeting with industry leaders in March, Trump described the effort on social media as focused on producing "Exquisite Class Weaponry," while companies such as Lockheed Martin proposed sharply increasing production levels.

Some plans include boosting Patriot interceptor output to as many as 2,000 annually, according to industry proposals tied to Pentagon efforts to replenish munitions expended during the war.

But those proposals depend heavily on congressional approval of a roughly $1.45 trillion defense budget request now facing a contentious path on Capitol Hill — where lawmakers from both parties are raising concerns about costs, strategy, and oversight.

The urgency behind the production push has grown as the Iran conflict, now in its second month, continues to consume large quantities of precision munitions and missile defenses.

Defense analysts and lawmakers say the pace of operations is highlighting long-standing concerns about the size of U.S. stockpiles, which were already under pressure from prior commitments, including military aid linked to the war in Ukraine.

The Pentagon has diverted some weapons shipments from allies to meet immediate operational needs, raising concerns among partners in areas such as Europe and Indo-Pacific regions about reduced readiness in the face of threats from Russia and China.

"If we're running low after a few weeks of fighting Iran, we're nowhere near where we need to be for Russia and China," American Enterprise Institute defense expert Todd Harrison told The New York Times.

"We've never built up our stockpile of munitions to what they need to be for war plans, especially if you're thinking about being able to fight a major war," he added.

Hegseth has sought to reassure lawmakers that the United States can sustain operations, while also pressing Congress to approve increased funding to rebuild the defense industrial base.

Appearing before the House Armed Services Committee this week, he struck a firm tone as lawmakers questioned the administration's approach.

"The biggest challenge — the biggest adversary — we face at this point are the reckless, feckless, and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans," Hegseth told the panel.

The remarks drew immediate pushback from lawmakers, underscoring the political hurdles facing the administration's funding request.

"It takes 218 votes to get something across the floor of the House of Representatives," Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., said during the hearing. "We're going to lose some Republican votes, and we're going to have to have some Dem votes to do the things that we have to do to fund the Department of Defense."

The debate is unfolding as Congress remains divided over the broader Iran conflict, including questions about its cost, legal authorization, and long-term objectives under the War Powers Resolution.

The conflict has already cost an estimated $25 billion and triggered economic ripple effects, including rising energy prices tied to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite administration assurances that U.S. forces have sufficient munitions for current operations, defense experts warn that rebuilding depleted stockpiles and expanding production capacity could take years, leaving the United States vulnerable if another major conflict emerges.