WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act to accelerate domestic weapons manufacturing, directing the Pentagon to work with private industry to address supply-chain constraints and expand production capacity amid growing concerns about U.S. munitions stockpiles, according to a presidential memorandum made public this week.
The June 11 memorandum, released on June 16, authorizes the Department of Defense to pursue voluntary agreements with manufacturers to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base. Trump said production bottlenecks and supply-chain weaknesses could affect the country's ability to maintain and expand supplies of missiles, munitions and related military equipment.
“I hereby find that conditions exist which may pose a direct threat to the national defense or its preparedness programs,” Trump wrote in the memorandum to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The document cited “limited production capacity, fragile supply chains, long-lead dependencies, and related production bottlenecks” affecting weapons manufacturing.
The move follows concerns within Washington about the ability of defense contractors to meet current and future demand. Solid rocket motors, igniters and guidance systems were identified in the memorandum as among the most capacity-constrained components needed for weapons production and modernization programs.
The Defense Production Act, enacted during the Korean War, grants the president authority to direct industrial resources toward national defense needs under specific circumstances. Administration officials said the measure is intended to improve coordination among manufacturers and reduce delays in critical supply chains.
The White House has also been meeting with executives from major defense companies to discuss increasing production. Reuters reported earlier this month that administration officials planned discussions with leading contractors about accelerating output as military operations and security commitments placed pressure on inventories.
Industry has already begun responding. This week, General Motors and Lockheed Martin announced a collaboration aimed at supporting defense manufacturing capacity. The companies said they would focus on production readiness, supply-chain resilience and advanced manufacturing techniques, though they did not disclose specific projects.
Defense firms including Lockheed Martin, RTX and L3Harris have also announced or discussed investments designed to expand production of missiles, munitions and related components, according to company statements and industry reports.
Some lawmakers have backed efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity, while others have sought additional details about the scope of the administration’s plans and the condition of U.S. stockpiles. Details regarding future production targets and funding levels remain unclear.
As of June 20, the Pentagon had begun implementing the directive, and discussions with industry participants were continuing. The administration has not announced a timetable for completing the planned expansion of munitions production.
