Trump invokes Defense Production Act to increase U.S. weapons output after Iran war

President Donald Trump issued a memorandum invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA), citing “systemic constraints” in the U.S. munitions industrial base and warning that conditions exist that could threaten national defense preparedness. The order follows the recent war with Iran, during which U.S. analyses indicate the United States expended about 45% of its Precision Strike Missile inventory and roughly half of its Patriot and THAAD missile stockpiles. Trump said the final two days of the conflict were “brutal” and cost around $200 million in bombs, remarks he made while speaking at the G7 summit in France.

The DPA authorizes the president to direct private defense firms to prioritize government contracts, expand production capacity, and address supply‑chain bottlenecks. The memo tasks Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with arranging voluntary agreements and plans of action to boost production of missiles, munitions and related equipment within 18 months. While Hegseth publicly denied a crisis, internal Pentagon officials have expressed concern about depleted stocks.

The act, first used in the Korean War era, has previously been invoked by both Trump and Biden for pandemic medical equipment and domestic critical‑minerals production. The current invocation signals a renewed focus on strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base amid heightened geopolitical tensions.