Pete Hegseth says it's a "manufactured story" that U.S. faces munitions stockpile shortage

Source: CBS News

Updated on: June 14, 2026 / 3:58 PM EDT


Washington — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday refuted the idea that the U.S. is facing a crisis with its munitions stockpile, despite testifying earlier this year that replenishing the stockpile could take "months and years.". "That is a manufactured story that the media wants to peddle and ultimately our stockpiles are great, and they're only getting stronger," Hegseth said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."

Weeks after the ceasefire began in the war with Iran, Hegseth testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the Pentagon's $1.5 trillion budget request. During the April 30 hearing, Hegseth estimated that it could take "months and years" to replenish the stockpile as the Iran war had stretched on for months. Hegseth called the timeline "fast," and he noted that the speed will depend on the weapon system.

Hegseth said at the time that "we're building new plants in real time," suggesting that production speed would increase, while citing depleted munitions levels left over from the Biden administration. Pressed by Margaret Brennan on Sunday about his previous comments, Hegseth said "I speculated some munitions take more time than others."

He added, "we've got lots of them.". The Defense Department has not disclosed how many munitions have been used so far in the Iran war. During an April Lockheed Martin earnings call, the defense contractor said it would take three to four years to scale up Patriot missile production from the current level of 650 per year to 2,000 per year.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pete-hegseth-stockpile-shortage-senate-armed-services-testimony-face-the-nation/