President Donald Trump invoked the defense production act of 1950 on June 16, 2026 to address constraints in munitions production. The memo points to fragile supply chains and bottlenecks that may limit the United States' ability to expand munitions, missiles and equipment for national defense.
The presidential memo also delegates Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to use the law. It was scheduled to be formally published on Wednesday, giving the department a direct tool to pursue voluntary agreements and plans of action with private firms.
Trump Memo And Munitions
The section Trump invoked lets the government and private companies forge voluntary agreements to support national defense. In practice, that means the administration is trying to pull more of the defense industrial base into the same room to work through production limits that have slowed output.
Michael Cadenazzi, the assistant secretary of defense for industrial base policy, said he has been working since around September to launch a voluntary agreement through the law. He said the effort can bring companies from around the defense industry into conversations over how to address “nasty issues in the supply chain or industrial base.”
Iran War And Stockpiles
The memo said the war against Iran has highlighted concerns over munitions stockpiles and rates of production. An April analysis by the Center of Strategic and International Studies found the United States may have expended more than half of its inventory of four critical munitions, including Tomahawk missiles, during the campaign against Iran.
Hegseth told reporters on Sunday that the United States is not facing a crisis with its munitions stockpile, saying: “That is a manufactured story that the media wants to peddle and ultimately our stockpiles are great, and they're only getting stronger.” In April, he testified that it could take months to years to replenish what has been used against Iran.
Cornyn And Funding
Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said on Tuesday that the Defense Department is running short of funding it needs to acquire weapons and related items to protect the nation. He said: “They are running short of funding they need in order to acquire the weapons and messages and things like that that they need to protect the nation.”
The administration is making the case for additional funding to bring the Defense Department's budget to a record $1.5 trillion through reconciliation. Republican leaders of the appropriations committee have cast doubt on whether a third reconciliation bill is possible, leaving the memo tied to a broader fight over how quickly money can reach production lines.
