Pete Hegseth Revises Previous Comments About Depleted US Munitions Stockpiles, Now Says It Was a ‘Manufactured Story’
Both Trump and Hegseth insist the United States have plenty of missiles remaining, despite widespread reporting saying otherwise.
The word on the street for a while has been that the United States’ ammunition stockpile is rapidly depleting as a result of its ongoing conflict with Iran. Sources such as Al Jazeera reported on it in a March 2026 article, noting that leaks from the Pentagon suggested that if the US continued its strikes on Iran for over 10 days, the stocks of “some critical missiles could start to run low.”
The Donald Trump administration has repeatedly refuted such claims. However, Pete Hegseth, during his April 30, 2026, Senate Armed Services Committee hearing over the request of a $1.5 trillion budget for the Pentagon, took a slight departure from this narrative and said that it could take “months and years” to replenish the munitions stockpile that was depleted due to the US’s ongoing war with Iran.
In a currently circulating social media video, however, Hegseth is telling a slightly different story. Taken from his CBS News interview with host Margaret Brennan on ‘Face the Nation,’ the clip features Hegseth denying that the US’s ammunition supply is being drained. “That is a manufactured story that the media wants to peddle, and ultimately our stockpiles are great, and they’re only getting stronger,” he said, refuting the claims.
Pete Hegseth assured that the US had “lots of” ammunition
During his CBS News appearance, when Pete Hegseth was questioned by Brennan about the status of ammunition, he assured that “we’ve got lots of them.” He also added, saying, “We’re building more than ever before,” before criticizing the Biden administration for giving away “hundreds of billions to Ukraine,” prompting President Trump to “refill,” in “real time.”
Hegseth emphasized that no one besides the United States produces “better and more munitions,” adding that they are open to co-production whenever possible. “And because of this administration, we’re supercharging our arsenal of freedom, building more, building faster, opening up the Pentagon, ripping through the Pentagon bureaucracy to force industry to move faster,” Hegseth said before adding, “Our stockpiles are strong and will only get stronger in the future.”
An article on The Hill published Saturday reports that Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth disagreed last week at Camp David regarding the depletion of U.S. military munition stockpiles during the Iran war. However, it noted that on Thursday, Trump defended Hegseth, putting to rest rumors of an alleged feud between them.
Speaking on the matter, in a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “The Fake News, as usual, is spreading false and completely unfounded rumors. I am extremely happy with the job that Pete Hegseth is doing.”
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