Steve Feinberg

The Pentagon is pressuring the U.S. defense industry to accelerate weapons production to help replenish diminished stockpiles of munitions, including those depleted during conflict with Iran. Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg issued a memo requiring companies to submit plans for significantly faster delivery schedules and increased production capacity. These concerns stem from an analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies detailing reduced inventories of interceptors.

The Pentagon is urging the U.S. defense industry to accelerate weapon production to replenish diminished munition stockpiles, especially those used during fighting with Iran. Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg issued a memo demanding that companies submit plans for aggressive delivery schedules and increased production within 21 days. The article notes that stocks of interceptors like Patriot and THAAD have fallen significantly since the conflict began.

President Trump's $87.6 billion Iran war funding request faces skepticism from both parties in Congress. Democrats like Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Sen. Jack Reed criticize the proposal, while some Democrats remain open to parts of it. Republicans also express concerns, including Rep. Chip Roy opposing ethanol provisions and Sen. Susan Collins planning a hearing due to discrepancies in the request.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the end of the Pentagon's mandatory flu vaccine requirement for U.S. troops, framing the policy shift as a restoration of personal freedom and a rollback of Biden-era mandates. The decision reverses a long-standing requirement, allowing service members to choose whether to receive the annual flu shot, and follows a 2025 memo that had already begun scaling back the mandate for some personnel.

Pete Hegseth, the War Secretary, announced the end of the Pentagon's mandatory flu vaccine requirement for U.S. troops, framing it as a restoration of personal freedom and a rollback of Biden-era mandates. The policy shift allows service members to choose whether to receive the annual flu shot, emphasizing liberty and military readiness.