President Trump used a June 11 memorandum to invoke the Defense Production Act to tackle bottlenecks in munitions production and defense supply chains. Officials identified solid rocket motors, igniters and guidance systems as especially constrained. The memo authorizes the Pentagon to pursue voluntary agreements with industry to bolster the defense industrial base. The move aims to address limited production capacity, fragile supply chains and long-lead dependencies.
Trump Invokes Defense Production Act to Shore Up Munitions Supply Chains
The Pentagon building is seen in Arlington, Virginia, U.S, April 6, 2023. REUTERS/Tom Brenner
WASHINGTON, June 16 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on June 11 invoked the Defense Production Act in a memorandum directing the Pentagon to address growing bottlenecks in munitions production and related defense supply chains.
The administration warned that U.S. weapons manufacturers face capacity constraints that could limit their ability to meet rising demand. Officials singled out solid rocket motors, igniters and guidance systems as among the most critical and capacity-constrained subsystems for both legacy weapons and future modernization programs.
"I hereby find that conditions exist which may pose a direct threat to the national defense or its preparedness programs," Trump wrote in the memorandum to the defense secretary.
The memo cites "limited production capacity, fragile supply chains, long-lead dependencies, and related production bottlenecks" as drivers of the shortfalls. It grants the defense secretary authority to pursue voluntary agreements with private industry intended to strengthen the defense industrial base.
Under the Defense Production Act, the president—or officials delegated authority—may consult with industry, business and other stakeholders to establish voluntary arrangements to help provide for the national defense when conditions pose a direct threat to preparedness.
The move comes amid heightened attention in Washington to whether U.S. defense contractors can scale up manufacturing quickly enough for current and future needs.
(Reporting by Ryan Patrick Jones, Mike Stone and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Rod Nickel)
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