Overview
- Multiple reports say U.S. forces have expended large shares of key long‑range weapons such as ATACMS and PrSM and major proportions of Patriot and THAAD interceptors during months of fighting with Iran.
- The Pentagon has formally asked Congress for roughly $67 billion in emergency supplemental funds to begin rebuilding stocks and has opened production agreements with industry, but officials and analysts say manufacturing and delivery will take years.
- Officials report the shortages have changed operational choices in theater by making commanders more selective about using interceptors and by limiting options for large long‑range strikes.
- The White House and Pentagon have denied published accounts that President Trump confronted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the shortages, while Mr. Trump has publicly denied any strategic shortfall and threatened legal action against leakers.
- Analysts note the crisis builds on prewar shortfalls in U.S. inventories, reduces the pool of weapons available to allies such as Ukraine, and creates near‑term risks that rebuilding production capacity and contractual approvals may not keep pace with demand.