An increasingly visible dispute has emerged in Washington over the depletion of U.S. military stockpiles, particularly precision-guided munitions and missile defense systems, after nearly five months of conflict with Iran.
اضافة اعلان
According to multiple U.S. media reports, the issue reached a peak during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David last week, where President Donald Trump reportedly confronted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the growing shortage of critical weapons.
The reports describe a heated exchange inside the administration, despite firm denials from both the White House and the Pentagon.
Camp David Confrontation
According to The Washington Post, citing informed sources, Trump demanded explanations from Hegseth over the severe depletion of missile stockpiles, believing the issue had already been resolved.
Other U.S. media reports claim the confrontation occurred during the July 31 Cabinet meeting, with Trump questioning Hegseth directly about shortages that were allegedly limiting the military's ability to conduct further large-scale operations.
Sources said Hegseth defended himself by blaming Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg for failing to fully brief the president on the deteriorating state of U.S. weapons inventories.
The incident reportedly reflects growing tensions between Trump and his defense chief, who had strongly supported military escalation against Iran and previously assured the president that the conflict would be relatively short.
Another account suggests the dispute intensified after an angry phone call between Trump and Feinberg, prompting an emergency late-night meeting with senior Pentagon officials and procurement leaders to address the situation.
Reports also claim Trump linked his decision not to expand military operations directly to the shortage of munitions and threatened to dismiss Feinberg unless a solution was found quickly.
White House and Pentagon Deny Reports
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the reports as "completely false," insisting Trump has full confidence in Hegseth.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell also denied that Hegseth misled the president or blamed his deputy, describing reports of depleted stockpiles and internal disputes as unfounded speculation.
Hegseth had previously defended his handling of the issue during a Senate hearing in July, declining to discuss private conversations with Trump while blaming the Biden administration for any shortages.
Alarming Depletion Figures
According to The Washington Post, the U.S. military fired more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles, over 1,000 Patriot and THAAD interceptor missiles, and more than 1,300 tactical ballistic missiles during the first month of fighting alone.
Reuters, citing military sources, reported that the U.S. has nearly exhausted its global inventories of ATACMS tactical missiles and the newer Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), each costing more than $1 million.
The report also stated that roughly half of the U.S. Tomahawk missile inventory has been used since the conflict began.
Analysts warn that dwindling supplies of long-range precision weapons could force the U.S. to rely more heavily on manned airstrikes if military operations against Iran resume.
Regarding air defense systems, estimates vary. CNN, cited by The Washington Post, reported that around 80% of THAAD interceptors and roughly half of Patriot interceptor inventories have been consumed.
Meanwhile, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated that approximately 65% of Patriot interceptors and at least 38% of THAAD interceptors have been depleted since the war began.
A later CSIS assessment suggested Patriot missile inventories had fallen below 1,000 interceptors, while THAAD stocks had dropped to around 250 missiles.
The think tank warned that the depletion could weaken U.S. readiness for potential future conflicts, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, and noted that the Trump administration has requested $95 billion for munitions procurement in the 2027 defense budget, along with an additional $21 billion in supplemental funding.
Slow Industrial Recovery
Although Washington has announced expanded production agreements for key weapons systems, including Patriot missiles, manufacturing replacement missiles may take up to two years.
Defense analysts argue that rebuilding inventories will be slow due to structural limitations in the Western defense industry, including complex supply chains and limited production capacity for advanced missile systems.
Raytheon, the manufacturer of Tomahawk missiles and Patriot interceptors, announced a multi-year agreement with the Pentagon aimed at significantly increasing production.
Trump's Response
Trump strongly rejected claims that the U.S. faces a serious weapons shortage.
In comments to The Wall Street Journal and on his Truth Social platform, he insisted that the United States possesses more ammunition than any other country and that defense companies are producing record quantities while expanding manufacturing capacity.
Trump also condemned those leaking information about military stockpiles, calling the disclosures "treason" and vowing to pursue lengthy prison sentences if those responsible are identified.
Other U.S. officials maintained that despite heavy consumption of precision munitions, the military remains capable of replenishing supplies through global stockpiles and denied that Trump's decision to avoid broader military action against Iran was driven by ammunition shortages.
Budget Battle in Congress
Defense Secretary Hegseth, Deputy Secretary Feinberg, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine have requested an additional $67 billion from Congress to fund military operations related to Iran.
The request forms part of a record $1.5 trillion defense budget proposal that includes significant increases in missile production and more than doubles funding for drones and autonomous systems.
However, the proposal has faced opposition from Democratic lawmakers, leaving the Pentagon without a finalized funding plan to replenish critical weapons inventories.
Regional and Global Implications
The reported depletion of U.S. missile stockpiles has raised concerns among Washington's allies, who fear reduced availability of American missile defense systems could weaken regional security if tensions with Iran escalate further.
Ukraine is also closely monitoring developments, as it relies heavily on Western air defense systems to counter Russian attacks. Reports suggest U.S. shortages could eventually affect military assistance to Kyiv.
On the economic front, reduced prospects for expanded U.S. military action against Iran have helped stabilize global oil markets, although energy-importing and exporting countries continue to monitor developments closely.
Despite official denials, the series of reports highlights growing questions about U.S. military readiness after months of intensive operations and underscores the challenges Washington faces in rebuilding its advanced weapons stockpiles, a process that analysts say could take years.
