America's arsenal is dwindling fast as wars abroad drain resources and domestic production struggles to keep pace.
As reported by The Daily Caller, the U.S. is grappling with severe weapons shortages due to ongoing support for Ukraine and past commitments to Israel, compounded by labor disputes at home that halt critical defense manufacturing. This perfect storm threatens our ability to respond to unforeseen threats while stretching thin the stockpiles needed for our own defense.
The issue came into sharp focus during a recent White House meeting on Oct. 17, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pressed President Donald Trump for Tomahawk missile transfers to counter Russia. Trump declined, pointing out the broader implications with a candid remark: "It's beyond the money," signaling a need to preserve American resources for potential domestic crises.
Foreign Wars Deplete Critical Ammunition Reserves
Trump's hesitation reflects a sobering reality about our ammunition reserves, as detailed by the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) in a recent October report. A single Ukrainian artillery battery can expend more U.S.-made 155mm shells in one day than some American units used throughout the entire Iraq War, highlighting the unsustainable pace of consumption.
Even with production currently at 40,000 shells per month, the output falls far short of Ukraine's demands, with the Army targeting a tripling to 100,000 rounds monthly by summer 2026. FPRI cautions that Ukraine could burn through that amount in mere weeks, leaving little for other contingencies or our own forces.
Before a peace deal in the Middle East, Iran's 12-day missile barrage on Israel further drained U.S. resources, consuming 15 to 20 percent of our global stockpile of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptors. This rapid depletion underscores how quickly our reserves can vanish when allies face direct threats, pulling us into a cycle of constant resupply.
Domestic Strikes Compound Production Challenges
Closer to home, the crisis isn't just about foreign demand but also about production bottlenecks fueled by labor unrest among defense workers. Nearly 1,000 Lockheed Martin employees, crucial to assembling missile components and surveillance systems, walked off the job in May after rejecting a modest 3 to 4 percent pay raise, demanding hikes in the double digits to match inflation.
Politico reports that the unrest spread, with around 3,000 additional defense workers joining the strike and another 2,500 submarine builders nearly walking out before a last-minute agreement. A separate seven-week strike last fall involving 33,000 workers ended with a hefty 38 percent pay increase, showing how labor demands can grind production to a halt.
Lockheed's CEO tried to frame the issue as a balance of interests, stating, "We are taking the shareholders' interest into account and all the things we talked about, which should help improve our margins," as reported by Politico. Such corporate speak sidesteps the reality that these delays directly weaken our national defense, leaving us vulnerable while workers and executives haggle over dollars and cents.
Long-Term Recovery Looks Bleak Without Action
The Center for Strategic and International Studies warned in 2023 that if the Ukraine conflict persists into 2025, as it has, rebuilding U.S. ammunition stockpiles to normal peacetime levels could take six years. This timeline doesn't even account for preparing for another major conflict, a scenario that seems less hypothetical by the day.
Trump echoed this concern in his discussion with Zelenskyy, stressing, "I have an obligation also, though, to make sure that we're completely stocked up as a country because you never know what's going to happen in war and peace, right?" His words cut to the heart of the matter: endless foreign commitments risk leaving America unprepared for its own battles.
This isn't about turning our back on allies but recognizing that charity starts at home, especially when our own security hangs in the balance. The progressive push to fund every global cause often ignores the hard math of limited resources, a lesson we're learning the hard way with each depleted stockpile.
Prioritizing National Security Over Global Overreach
Ultimately, the weapons shortage reveals a deeper flaw in prioritizing endless overseas entanglements over domestic strength. A machinist quoted by Politico voiced a grounded hope, saying, "Supposedly, by the end of this year I'll be making close to $23 an hour," yet added a skeptical "we'll see," reflecting the uncertainty workers face even after striking for better pay.
That uncertainty mirrors the larger national dilemma: can we afford to keep pouring resources outward while production lags and workers battle for fair wages? It's time to rethink a foreign policy that treats America's arsenal as a bottomless well, especially when our own readiness is at stake.
The path forward demands a hard look at where our weapons go and why, ensuring we don't sacrifice our safety for the sake of global applause. Let's hope leaders heed Trump's call to end conflicts swiftly, because a nation running on empty can't defend anyone, least of all itself.
