Pete Hegseth refuses to disclose U.S. missile stockpile levels

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rebuked a reporter in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, regarding questions about United States munitions supplies. Hegseth declined to provide specifics on missile inventories, labeling the inquiry “foolish” and stating that revealing information about “classified, exquisite systems” would compromise operational security.

The confrontation occurred amid reports suggesting that the U.S. Army has expended “virtually all” of its long-range ATACMS missiles and next-generation Precision Strike Missiles (PrSMs) during the Iran war. These weapons are critical for striking command centers and air-defense networks from a distance, a capability deemed essential for potential future conflicts in the Pacific.

While the Pentagon has disputed characterizations of a shortage, analysts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) have noted that heavy use of Patriot and THAAD interceptors has also reduced stocks of defensive systems. Hegseth maintained that the United States has “plenty” of munitions for current and future operations, though specific inventory figures remain classified.