Exclusive: Defense executives plan to meet at White House as strikes on Iran diminish stockpiles

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Wed Mar 4, 2026, 08:14 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: Reuters

March 3, 2026 8:04 PM EST Updated 7 hours ago


WASHINGTON, March 3 (Reuters) - The Trump administration plans ​to meet with executives from the biggest U.S. defense contractors at the White House on Friday to discuss ‌accelerating weapons production, as the Pentagon works to replenish supplies after strikes on Iran and several other recent military efforts, five people familiar with the plan told Reuters.

Companies including Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) and Raytheon parent RTX (RTX.N), along with other key suppliers, have been invited to ​attend the meeting, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private.

The meeting underscores ​the urgency felt in Washington to shore up weapons stocks after the Iran operation ⁠drew heavily on munitions. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and Israel began military operations in Gaza, the ​U.S. has drawn down billions of dollars' worth of weapons stockpiles, including artillery systems, ammunition and anti-tank missiles. The conflict in ​Iran has consumed longer-range missiles than those furnished to Kyiv.

At least one of the people said the gathering was expected to center on pressing weapons makers to move faster to boost output. Lockheed, the Pentagon and White House did not immediately respond to requests for ​comment. RTX declined to comment. In a social media post Monday, Trump said there was a "virtually unlimited ​supply" of U.S. munitions and that "wars can be fought "forever," and very successfully, using just these supplies."

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/defense-executives-plan-meet-white-house-strikes-iran-diminish-stockpiles-2026-03-04/

[Roy Rolling]

1. Of Course

War is good business.

Invest your children.

[Bluetus]

9. Money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money

money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money,
money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money,
money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money,
money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money,
money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money,
money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money.

We are here to serve, Mr. President. It is our honor and patriotic duty to take every last dollar from the taxxpayers.

[underpants]

2. How the hell are we low on munitions? I saw this a week ago

and was shocked. I knew Trump and his minions would blame supplying Ukraine and sure enough they are.

[Miguelito Loveless]

7. Child Rapist denied a shortage

just a few days ago.

[multigraincracker]

3. Overtime, 12 hour shifts and lots of new hires.

Doable, but not cheap.
Inflation?

[Timeflyer]

4. Cha-ching!

[Ray Bruns]

5. Bullshit!

Trump said himself that we have enough for an endless war. He wouldn’t have lied, would he?🤔

[Miguelito Loveless]

6. So, as usual

the Child Rapist's denial of a munition shortage was a lie.

[Bayard]

8. We already have enough weapons to kill everybody in the world many times over

These are joyous times for contractors. trump probably gets a cut.

I expect he'll go to Congress to wanting more money to pay for all these weapons. That should be the time to finally rein him in. If they would.

[Marcuse]

10. Defense executives plan to meet with the Epstein Administration as strikes on Iran diminish stockpiles.

[Deminpenn]

11. Raytheon and Lockheed Martin only

have so much capacity. No amount of money is going to change that, at least in the short term. Then there is the issue of component parts that may or may not be subcontracted out and what subcontractor capacity is. Then you have raw materials that may or may not be readily available in the US and competition for them from other US and non-US businesses. There's also a good possibility that if there is an ongoing production line, that those units are not DoD contracts, but from foreign governments. These countries might not be willing to give up their place in the delivery line. It's too bad Trump and company didn't bother to understand how the DoD procurement system actually works.