Defense Secretary Hegseth Denies US Munitions Shortage

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed concerns about U.S. munitions stockpiles as a "manufactured story" during a tense interview on CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday, June 14, 2026. The exchange with host Margaret Brennan centered on the state of American military supplies and a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the ability to produce Patriot missile interceptors domestically.

Hegseth asserted that U.S. stockpiles are strong and growing stronger. He stated that the United States is open to co-production with allies and that the Trump administration is accelerating production by cutting through Pentagon bureaucracy. When Brennan cited reports of a crisis in private industry and reminded Hegseth of his own congressional testimony, he pushed back forcefully. He acknowledged that some complex munitions take longer to produce but insisted supplies are ample and replenishment efforts are ahead of schedule.

The secretary attributed current challenges to the previous administration, claiming the Biden administration had given away "hundreds of billions" in munitions to Ukraine, leaving the Trump administration to refill stockpiles, which he said is happening...