DID Press: Following reports of declining US weapons and interceptor missile stockpiles, Donald Trump is reportedly planning a meeting with senior executives of major defense contractors to accelerate arms production.
According to Al Jazeera, citing Reuters, the meeting is scheduled for Friday at the White House and will focus on urgently strengthening U.S. military reserves after significant depletion. Companies such as Lockheed Martin and RTX Corporation (company of Raytheon), along with other major defense suppliers, are expected to attend.
Meanwhile, Stephen Feinberg, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense, announced that the United States Department of Defense (Pentagon) has requested approximately $50 billion in supplemental funding to offset war-related losses.
A report by the Center for a New American Security estimates that the operational cost of a carrier strike group such as the USS Gerald R. Ford is about $6.5 million per day — a figure that, combined with equipment losses, adds significant financial pressure.
The Times also noted that despite the projected $1 trillion U.S. defense budget for 2026, prolonged conflicts remain extremely costly even for Washington. A primary concern is ensuring sufficient weapons stockpiles for a short- to medium-term conflict.
Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, alongside the Israel Hamas war, the United States has expended billions of dollars’ worth of military supplies, including artillery systems, ammunition, and anti-tank missiles — intensifying the urgency to rebuild its defense capabilities.