White House to Convene Defense Chiefs as Global Conflicts Strain U.S. Arsenal

By Mike Stone

WASHINGTON, March 3 (Reuters) – The White House has summoned leaders of America’s largest defense contractors for a high-stakes meeting this Friday, according to five sources familiar with the plans. The urgent gathering aims to accelerate weapons production as the U.S. military faces dwindling stockpiles after recent strikes against Iran and other global commitments.

Invitations have been extended to major contractors including Lockheed Martin Corp and RTX, the parent company of Raytheon, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the private nature of the discussions.

The meeting highlights a growing crisis in U.S. military readiness. A series of global engagements—from the war in Ukraine to Israel’s campaign in Gaza, and now direct U.S. action against Iran—has severely depleted stores of critical munitions, including artillery shells, anti-tank missiles, and long-range precision weapons. Pentagon planners note that operations against Iran have consumed more advanced, longer-range missiles than those typically supplied to Kyiv, putting unprecedented strain on logistics.

"The cupboard is not bare, but the shelves are getting thin in key categories," said a former senior Pentagon official not involved in the meeting. "This isn't just about replenishing what was sent to Ukraine; it's about a multi-theater demand spike that the industrial base wasn't sized for."

The White House and Lockheed Martin did not immediately respond to requests for comment. RTX declined to comment. In a social media post Monday, former President Donald Trump claimed the U.S. possessed a "virtually unlimited supply" of munitions, adding that "wars can be fought 'forever,' and very successfully, using just these supplies"—a statement at odds with current internal assessments.

The push comes as Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg leads efforts on a supplemental budget request of approximately $50 billion, which could be finalized as soon as Friday, one source indicated. The funds are earmarked to replace weapons expended across recent conflicts, though the figure remains preliminary.

Pressure on contractors has intensified since Saturday's U.S. strikes on Iran, which involved Tomahawk cruise missiles, F-35 fighters, and attack drones. Raytheon, maker of the Tomahawk, recently inked a new Pentagon agreement to eventually ramp annual production to 1,000 units, up from a planned purchase of just 57 missiles in 2026.

The administration has steadily increased pressure on the defense sector to prioritize production and delivery over shareholder returns. An executive order signed by President Trump in January empowers the government to identify contractors deemed to be underperforming while distributing profits. The Pentagon is expected to soon release a list of such companies, giving them 15 days to submit corrective plans or face potential contract termination.

Reaction & Analysis:

Sarah Chen, Defense Analyst at the Global Security Institute: "This meeting is long overdue. The 'just-in-time' peacetime production model has collided with the reality of concurrent, high-intensity conflicts. We need a national industrial strategy, not just ad-hoc meetings."

General (Ret.) Mark Tolbert, former head of U.S. Central Command: "The data is clear. Our strategic depth in munitions has eroded. Friday's discussion must move beyond talk to concrete incentives and, if necessary, mandates to expand production lines."

Rep. David Alvarez (D-Calif.), House Armed Services Committee: "This is a self-inflicted crisis. For years, Congress and successive administrations have prioritized stock buybacks and dividends over resilient supply chains. Now we're scrambling, and taxpayers will foot the bill for the panic."

Janice Poole, shareholder advocacy group 'Investors for Accountability': "It's outrageous! These companies have posted record profits while failing their fundamental national security mission. The Pentagon should claw back every dollar paid out in bonuses until backorders are filled."

(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Chris Sanders and Lisa Shumaker)