by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Worthy News) – The Pentagon is turning to the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to accelerate missile manufacturing and rebuild U.S. weapons stockpiles strained by months of combat operations and years of military assistance to American allies, according to a Washington Times exclusive.
The 1950 law gives the federal government extraordinary authority to prioritize defense orders, invest directly in manufacturing capacity and remove industrial bottlenecks considered vital to national security. President Donald Trump invoked the law earlier this year as concerns mounted over America’s ability to replace sophisticated missiles as quickly as they are being used.
The effort goes beyond simply ordering more weapons. Pentagon officials are using Defense Production Act authorities to expand the underlying industrial base — including solid rocket motors, critical chemicals, missile components and other supply-chain chokepoints that can take years to develop. Defense Department budget documents have identified hundreds of millions of dollars in planned investments aimed specifically at correcting missile and munitions production shortfalls.
The rebuilding drive comes as demand for Patriot, THAAD, Tomahawk and other advanced weapons has surged. The administration has sought major production increases while encouraging new manufacturers and commercial companies to enter a defense industry that officials say must regain the ability to rapidly expand during wartime. The Pentagon has increasingly described the goal as rebuilding an American “arsenal of freedom” capable of sustaining U.S. forces while deterring China, Russia and other adversaries.
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