Donald Trump turns to Silicon Valley startups to fix U.S. weapons shortage

President Donald Trump is confronting a critical shortage of munitions as the United States continues its war with Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arranged an urgent meeting with several defense‑technology startups, including Shield AI, Anduril, cruise‑missile firm CoAspire and low‑cost munitions maker Castelion, to explore ways to improve the military’s operational efficiency and replenish stockpiles.

The administration hopes that rapid innovation from these firms can offset losses from Iranian drone attacks, but experts warn that moving from prototype to mass production may be difficult. Jerry McGinn of the Center for Strategic and International Studies questioned the plan, asking, “Can they deliver?”