White House summons top defense contractors to speed weapons output after Iran strikes

The White House has invited executives from the largest U.S. defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin and Raytheon parent RTX, to a meeting scheduled for Friday to press them to accelerate weapons production as the Pentagon works to replenish stockpiles drawn down by strikes on Iran and other recent operations. Five people familiar with the plan, speaking on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private, said the gathering is intended to push manufacturers to move faster to boost output.

Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg has been leading Pentagon work in recent days on a supplemental budget request of around $50 billion that could be released as soon as Friday, one of the people said. The money, described as preliminary and subject to change, would be aimed at replacing weapons used in recent conflicts, including those in the Middle East.

Officials and industry executives have framed the meeting as a response to an acute drop in munitions and long-range strike capabilities. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and Israel began military operations in Gaza, the United States has drawn down billions of dollars' worth of weapons stockpiles, including artillery systems, ammunition and anti-tank missiles, the people said. The most recent Iran strikes consumed longer-range missiles than those furnished to Kyiv, underscoring Washington's concern about replenishing specialized inventories quickly.

President Donald Trump posted on social media that there was a "virtually unlimited supply" of U.S. munitions and that "wars can be fought 'forever,' and very successfully, using just these supplies." The remark highlights the political backdrop for the White House push and the pressure on the industrial base to demonstrate rapid results.

Industry analysts say the White House pressure is already nudging defense firms to accelerate capital investments. Analysts at Melius Research project defense companies will increase capital spending to more than $10 billion this year, a 38 percent rise from 2025 levels, and several prime contractors are signaling changes to their financial policies. Northrop Grumman has said it will pause share buybacks and L3Harris has said it will limit buybacks this year, while most companies continue to issue quarterly dividends. Company statements and investor moves suggest the administration's demands on pay practices, buybacks and factory upgrades are reshaping corporate plans.

Lockheed, the Pentagon and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment; RTX declined to comment. The full list of invitees has not been disclosed and it is unclear whether the meeting will produce concrete new procurement schedules, production deadlines or firm commitments from the primes to accelerate deliveries.

The White House meeting and the possible supplemental spending request pose near-term choices for U.S. defense policy and allied burden-sharing. Faster production will require factories to scale shifts, prioritize supply chains and invest in tooling and workforce training. If accelerations fail to materialize, the United States could face tighter timelines for supplying partners in Europe and the Middle East, and pressure to reallocate limited inventories among competing theaters.

Officials have not confirmed the size or timing of any final supplemental request to Congress, nor offered an official readout of Friday’s meeting. Reporters have requested on-the-record statements from the White House, Pentagon and invited companies.