Pentagon gives defense firms 21 days to accelerate weapons production as Iran war depletes U.S. stockpiles

Feinberg's 21-day ultimatum

Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg wrote to U.S. defense industry leaders on Wednesday, giving them no more than 21 days to submit plans to "drive significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities," according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post. The directive targets munitions and weapons systems depleted by the five-month-old conflict with Iran, where recent fighting consumed more of the U.S. military's already diminished stockpiles of advanced missile interceptors.

Years-long development cycles are not acceptable. We must dramatically accelerate our program schedules and expand our production capacity now.

Depleted interceptor inventories

A new analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, warns that shrunken inventories of Patriot and THAAD interceptors may force the U.S. and its Middle Eastern allies to take more risks to conserve air defenses. American forces may launch fewer missiles against incoming Iranian drones and missiles, raising the chance of one getting through, the analysis said. The shortage has been a source of tension between President Donald Trump and the Defense Department, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to the Washington Post.

Trump bristled at public reports of a munitions shortage, posting on Truth Social on Thursday that the U.S. has "massive amounts" and that "large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the U.S. as needed." Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement on Saturday that the department was actively focused on boosting munitions acquisitions to provide "the weapons our warfighters need at the pace the threat demands." Parnell confirmed the Feinberg memo is "real" and said it "will inform the fiscal year 2028 budget submitted to Congress for funding."

Congressional gridlock and White House lobbying

A defense spending bill is currently stalled in Congress, with lawmakers fuming over Trump's military action against Iran and resisting the White House request to substantially increase Pentagon funding. Industry experts told the Washington Post the weapons shortage may largely remain unsolved until a gridlocked Congress releases additional defense spending.

In late July, the White House summoned legacy defense contractors and Silicon Valley weapons start-ups to meet with Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, and White House Legislative Affairs Director James Braid, according to three people familiar with the event who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The meeting included firms such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, autonomous weapons firm Anduril, and data analytics company Palantir. Executives were asked to directly lobby lawmakers to increase defense spending through congressional reconciliation. Fox News earlier reported the meeting.

Broader modernization effort

Parnell insisted the push to accelerate production was part of a broader modernization effort that predated the five-month-old conflict. The Pentagon has in recent months announced several "framework agreements" with the largest U.S. defense contractors and emerging start-ups to increase its supply of both low-cost and advanced munitions. Feinberg's memo, however, conveys urgency that goes beyond routine procurement, framing the production gap as a problem requiring immediate industry action rather than long-term budget cycles.