President Donald Trump reportedly confronted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about significant munitions shortages that could impede U.S. military operations, particularly concerning Iran, according to two individuals who spoke with The Washington Post.
During a Cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, Trump allegedly expressed that he believed the munitions issue had been resolved. Sources indicated that the dwindling supply of long-range guided missiles and air defense interceptors has been a factor in the President's decision to withhold further large-scale strikes against Iran in recent days.
When questioned by Trump about the depleted weapons stockpiles, Hegseth reportedly blamed his deputy, Stephen Feinberg, for the shortages and for not keeping the President fully informed. However, the White House has vehemently denied that any such clash occurred. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, "This is 100% fake news. Literally never happened. And President Trump has the utmost confidence in Secretary Hegseth."
Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell echoed these denials, asserting, "Secretary Hegseth did not mislead anyone about our munitions posture, and he did not blame Deputy Secretary Feinberg. These claims about depleted stockpiles, internal disagreements, the Secretary’s position on Iran … are equally fictional." He added, "Secretary Hegseth isn’t going anywhere, and he’s going to continue to work side by side with Deputy Secretary Feinberg to execute President Trump’s agenda."
Sources familiar with the matter reported that the U.S. Army has utilized a substantial portion of its stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles during a five-month conflict with Iran. Three officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, informed Reuters that the supply of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) has reached critically low levels, with two officials stating that the U.S. has used "virtually all" of these missiles in its inventory. These sources expressed concern that these low stockpiles could compromise Washington's ability to counter adversaries like Russia and China.
President Trump, however, denied these reports on Thursday via his Truth Social platform, stating, "The US has massive amounts of "munitions," especially of certain types. Additionally, large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the US as needed. Defense companies are building the largest number of plants and factories in our country's history. The 'leakers' of these treasonous statements are being hunted down. Long term jail sentences will be sought! President DJT."
Munitions and Military Readiness
Both ATACMS, with a range of approximately 185 miles, and the newer PrSM system, with a range around 300 miles, are surface-to-surface missile systems that enable long-range strikes without risking U.S. pilots. These systems are crucial for attacking targets at distances that would otherwise require manned aircraft, keeping pilots away from heavily defended areas. The cost for each missile exceeds £1 million, with prices potentially higher based on specific configurations.
In addition to offensive missiles, concerns have also been raised regarding defensive weapon systems. The supply of Patriot interceptor missiles and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems, used to counter incoming threats, has reportedly diminished. A report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that 65 percent of Patriot interceptors have been expended since the conflict began, and THAAD interceptor stockpiles are at least 38 percent lower than pre-conflict levels.
Secretary Hegseth, Deputy Secretary Feinberg, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine have requested an additional $67 billion in military funding from Congress to help offset the costs of the ongoing conflict with Iran and replenish depleted weapons stockpiles. Testifying before lawmakers last month, Hegseth emphasized the necessity of this funding.
ATACMS missiles have also been supplied to Ukrainian forces, further straining global supplies of the munition. The increasing demand for munitions has led President Trump to meet with executives from major defense contractors like Lockheed, who are reportedly expanding production at record levels.