Secretary of War Pete Hegseth put weapons manufacturers on notice Thursday as the Trump administration pushes to cut Pentagon red tape, expand competition and accelerate American weapons production as part of its "Arsenal of Freedom" initiative. In a video shared on X, Hegseth highlighted Washington's drive to overhaul defense procurement, expand private-sector competition and speed up production of advanced weapons systems. "The Arsenal of Freedom has been UNLEASHED," Hegseth posted.
AMERICA FACES A CRISIS IN OUR MILITARY ARSENAL THAT TRUMP IS RACING TO FIX The video features missile launches, naval weapons systems firing, ammunition production lines and workers signing munitions for U.S. forces. Hegseth also stressed that performance, not a contractor's name, should determine which companies supply America's military. "I don’t care what company is on the side of the rocket.
The only thing we ask ourselves is, is it the best?" Hegseth said in the video. "The technology that you build for our missiles, interceptors and hypersonic weapons is what allows the War Department to achieve peace through strength," Hegseth continued. "And that mission comes with a non-negotiable mandate straight from the Resolute Desk and President Trump: build more and build faster." MORE THAN HALF OF SOME US WEAPONS STOCKPILES USED IN IRAN WAR, RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT CHINA THREAT Hegseth framed the manufacturing push as central to strengthening American military readiness and deterring foreign adversaries.
"When we unleash industry—when we at long last unleash the raw, competitive, and patriotic spirit—the United States of America always wins," he said. "When we compete, we win. When we innovate, we win.
We're equipping our warriors for the future right here and right now, made in the United States of America, and we're doing it at light speed." The "Arsenal of Freedom" campaign echoes America's World War II-era "Arsenal of Democracy," when U.S. factories dramatically expanded weapons production to supply American and Allied forces. TRUMP TURNS TO EMERGING TECH GIANT IN MULTI-BILLION BID TO RAMP UP US SUBMARINE PRODUCTION The administration's defense industrial strategy is to streamline Pentagon procurement, reduce bureaucratic barriers and bring more private companies and technology startups into the military supply chain. The effort emphasizes commercial technology, faster production and greater competition among defense contractors and manufacturers.
Hegseth launched the nationwide tour earlier this year with a stop at a shipyard in Newport News, Virginia, and has since visited defense manufacturing facilities across the country. On Oct. 20, Hegseth toured Riverside Machine and Engineering in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, alongside Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler and local lawmakers. KEY AMERICAN INDUSTRY SEEING BLUE-COLLAR JOBS BOOM AS TRUMP'S RE-SHORING POLICIES PAY OFF There, he touted what he called a "golden age of American manufacturing," highlighting domestic supply chains and defense industry jobs.
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