U.S. Munitions Strong
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Refutes Claims of U.S. Munitions Stockpile Shortage
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back hard on Sunday against reports that the U.S. is running low on weapons. "Our stockpiles are great, and they're only getting stronger," Hegseth said during an appearance on CBS News. He blamed the Biden administration for depleting reserves by sending "hundreds of billions" to Ukraine, and said President Trump has since been refilling them.
The denial comes just hours after President Trump announced on June 14 that a peace deal with Iran is "now complete," ending roughly 100 days of U.S. military operations. The war, known informally as the "100-Day War," cost at least $29 billion by the Pentagon's own count and burned through more than 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles, according to news4sanantonio.com.
Hegseth's Contradiction on Weapons Readiness
Hegseth's "strong stockpiles" claim clashes with his own earlier words. In April, he told the Senate Armed Services Committee that replenishing depleted stockpiles could take "months and years." Then in May, he shifted, telling House lawmakers that fears of depletion were "foolishly and unhealthily overstated," according to Responsible Statecraft.
CBS anchor Margaret Brennan pressed Hegseth on that gap during Sunday's interview. He did not directly address the contradiction. Instead, he framed the shortage narrative as a "media peddled" fabrication designed to undercut a historic peace deal, according to CBS News.
Independent Analysts Warn of a Weapons Gap
Outside experts paint a more alarming picture. A May 27 report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that the U.S. burned through roughly 50% of its Precision Strike Missiles and 80% of its THAAD interceptors during the Iran campaign. THAAD is a missile defense system designed to shoot down incoming enemy rockets, according to the Associated Press.
Lockheed Martin executives said in April that tripling Patriot missile output — from 650 to 2,000 units per year — would take three to four years. That timeline directly contradicts the administration's claim that production plants have been "supercharged," according to CBS News. Analysts warn the gap leaves the U.S. exposed to any new conflict, particularly in the Pacific, until at least 2029.
The Iran Peace Deal and What It Actually Settles
Trump announced the agreement late on June 14 via Truth Social, writing "Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!" The deal aims to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane that carries roughly 20% of global oil. Oil prices dropped immediately after the announcement, according to WXXI News.
A formal signing ceremony is set for June 19 in Switzerland. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed the Memorandum of Understanding is finalized, according to the Kyiv Post. Key questions remain about Iran's 440.9 kilograms of 60%-enriched uranium — a level close to weapons-grade — and what the deal actually requires Iran to do with it.
Allies and Critics Reject the Deal's Terms
Not everyone is celebrating. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Trump the agreement is "bad for the entire free world" and said Israel would not pull back from Lebanon regardless of the U.S.-Iran deal, according to The Guardian. Democratic lawmakers also accused the Pentagon of undercounting the war's true cost, arguing the real price tag is far above the official $29 billion figure.
An AP-NORC poll found 60% of Americans believe the military campaign was "excessive." Yet 45% say their top concern is still gas prices — a fact the Trump administration is leaning on heavily as it touts the deal's promise to restore oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz, according to komonews.com.
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