President Trump has denied reports suggesting a significant depletion of U.S. munitions, particularly long-range precision missiles, and vowed to pursue "long term jail sentences" for individuals he described as "leakers" of sensitive information. The White House has maintained that U.S. missile stockpiles remain robust, despite reports citing unnamed sources suggesting otherwise.
CBS News, citing two sources with direct knowledge, reported that the U.S. has utilized a substantial portion of its global stockpile of long-range precision missiles during recent combat operations. Concurrently, The Washington Post reported that Trump had confronted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding a possible weapons shortfall, a report the BBC has not independently confirmed. Trump addressed these reports on social media platform Truth Social, stating, "The 'leakers' of these treasonous statements are being hunted down."
Information regarding U.S. missile inventories is classified. Since assuming his role, Hegseth has reportedly implemented stricter controls on the information accessible to reporters from the Pentagon.
Assessing Stockpiles
Analysis of publicly available data by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a national security think tank, indicates a notable decrease in certain missile stocks. The CSIS estimates that by the end of July, the U.S. had between 759 and 827 Patriot missiles remaining, a significant drop from the 2,330 estimated before the conflict began. Additionally, it is estimated that approximately 60% of the U.S. stockpile of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missiles, used for intercepting strikes, has been expended, according to Mark Cancian, a retired Marine Corps colonel and senior adviser at CSIS.
The demand for U.S. weaponry extends beyond the current conflict. The U.S. has supplied Ukraine with a considerable number of Patriot missiles since Russia's invasion in 2022. However, as U.S. domestic stocks diminish, the Pentagon is expected to prioritize retaining existing supplies. Trump indicated at a recent cabinet meeting that fulfilling Ukraine's latest request for additional Patriot missiles would represent a "big step," adding that discussions were ongoing.
Many modern weapon systems have extended timelines for funding, ordering, production, and delivery, making rapid replenishment of expended munitions challenging. Despite these factors, the administration has consistently affirmed the adequacy of its current stockpile. Trump told The Wall Street Journal last month, "We have far more munitions than anyone in the world, and far more than we need."
Hegseth, in a June 14 appearance on CBS' Face the Nation, characterized reports of a stockpile shortage as a "manufactured story." He also stated that the U.S. is actively working to accelerate weapon production. In a request to the U.S. Senate last month, Hegseth sought emergency funds totaling $87 billion to support service members and "rapidly replenish equipment and munitions."