During a segment on CBS's "Face the Nation," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) provided differing views on the status of U.S. munitions stockpiles. Hegseth dismissed claims of a crisis, stating, "that is a manufactured story that the media wants to peddle, and ultimately our stockpiles are great and are only getting stronger." In contrast, Kelly acknowledged a munitions issue, noting the extensive use of munitions in military operations, particularly in Iran, and emphasized that the U.S. does not have an endless supply.
The discussion occurred shortly before President Donald Trump announced a peace deal with Iran, which may influence ongoing debates about military readiness. Hegseth mentioned that replenishing certain stockpiles could take "months and years" depending on the weapon type, while Kelly highlighted the significant use of advanced weapons in recent strikes. Hegseth attributed some of the depletion to actions taken under the Biden administration, particularly regarding military aid to Ukraine.
The tensions between Hegseth and Kelly have been ongoing, stemming from previous conflicts regarding military orders and accusations of disclosing classified information.