Trump invokes Defense Production Act to boost weapons output

President Donald Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act to accelerate weapons manufacturing, a move that highlights concerns over depleted military stockpiles and strained supply chains following months of conflict with Iran. The White House announced the action on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, authorizing the Defense Department to use emergency powers to address production bottlenecks for critical munitions and weapons systems.

The presidential memorandum, dated June 11 and set for formal publication on Wednesday, states that systemic constraints in the industrial base, including limited production capacity and fragile supply chains, may impair the nation's ability to produce and sustain necessary munitions, missiles, and equipment. The order delegates authority to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to establish voluntary agreements with private industry to expand manufacturing capacity.

This push to bolster the defense industrial base comes even as the administration pursues a diplomatic resolution with Iran. Speaking at the G7 summit in France on Wednesday, Trump said a memorandum of understanding with Tehran will be released publicly in the coming days, with a signing ceremony...