Lawmakers Felt Fine About the United States’ Munitions Stockpile — Until They Didn’t

Hegseth’s munitions pause came as the Army plans on changing the munitions acquisition system in a way that’s raising eyebrows on Capitol Hill.

Pete Hegseth
Mark Schiefelbein/AP

Ever since Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth unilaterally paused some weapons shipments to Ukraine to “assess existing stockpiles,” lawmakers and administration officials have been contending with the same question: Does the United States actually have enough munitions, or not?

On Capitol Hill, lawmakers have long been under the impression that U.S. military aid to Ukraine has been manageable, while also backing an increase in production.

“We have been assured that we’re OK,” Sen. Mike Rounds told NOTUS earlier this month when asked about the stockpile after Hegseth’s pause, “but that we have to be looking to the future, and in doing so, we’re going to increase our ability to manufacture and maintain a larger store.”