Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed reports of a munitions stockpile crisis as a "manufactured story," asserting that U.S. stockpiles are strong and growing. His comments followed a reported ceasefire deal between the U.S. and Iran.
The denial of a munitions crisis by the Pentagon chief addresses concerns about military readiness and the financial implications of ongoing conflicts, particularly in light of reported aid to Ukraine and the cost of operations involving Iran.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday denied that the American military is facing a crisis in its munitions stockpiles, dismissing the notion as a "manufactured story" by the media. Hegseth asserted that stockpiles are strong and growing, stating that "we're building more than ever before." He attributed the need to refill supplies to aid provided to Ukraine by the Biden administration, claiming that President Trump has been replenishing them in real-time.
His remarks on CBS News’ Face the Nation came hours before the United States and Iran announced a ceasefire deal. Hegseth clarified earlier testimony where he had suggested it could take "months and years" to replenish certain munitions, explaining that he was speculating that "some munitions take more time than others" to refill.
The Pentagon recently reported that the cost of the war with Iran had climbed to nearly $29 billion. However, Democrats and other critics of the conflict have questioned these calculations, suggesting the actual cost could be significantly higher.
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