Mike Waltz says weapons stockpile can support Iran campaign
Mike Waltz rejected reports of strained U.S. weapons supplies as Pete Hegseth seeks $67 billion to expand production.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
Mike Waltz said the U.S. weapons stockpile is sufficient for the military campaign against Iran, pushing back Sunday on NBC News reporting that commanders are conserving some defenses as supplies come under strain.
Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, made the comments on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where he said the military has what it needs for current operations.
“I want to be crystal clear: The U.S. military, and I’ve verified this every which way, has everything that it needs to conduct this campaign as effectively as it needs to be,” Waltz said. He added that “the people that are leaking this nonsense deserve to be in jail.”
The exchange followed an NBC News report, citing two senior U.S. officials, that U.S. military commanders are allowing some Iranian projectiles to get through American defenses in an effort to preserve Pentagon weapons supplies.
NBC News has also reported that U.S. weapons stocks have been declining as the war with Iran continues.
Does the U.S. have enough weapons for Iran operations?
Waltz said yes, stating that the military has “everything that it needs” for the Iran campaign. NBC News reporting, citing senior U.S. officials, has raised concerns that some weapons supplies are being preserved during operations.
In this debate, the weapons stockpile refers to the supply of munitions and defensive systems available to the Pentagon for military use. The question has become sharper as U.S. forces continue operations tied to Iran while officials seek more money to produce and deliver weapons faster.
Waltz argued that any depletion in supplies began before the current administration. He blamed arms sent to Ukraine during the Biden administration’s response to Russia’s invasion, as well as U.S. strikes against Iranian-aligned Houthis under President Joe Biden.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Waltz said, “inherited a depleted situation from not only Ukraine, but also the ongoing fight with the Houthis under the Biden administration and a depleted military under the Biden administration.”
Waltz also said the Trump administration’s military plans include using different kinds of munitions, cheaper weapons and new technologies, along with defense budgets aimed at rebuilding the armed forces.
Hegseth asks Congress for more weapons money
The dispute over supplies comes as Hegseth went to lawmakers last week seeking $67 billion in supplemental funding, according to NBC News. The money would be used to expand production and speed up weapons deliveries.
In an April Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Hegseth acknowledged during questioning by Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., that rebuilding the weapons stockpile could take “months and years,” NBC News reported.
Kelly, also appearing on “Meet the Press” with moderator Kristen Welker, pointed back to that exchange and blamed the administration for the current pressure on supplies.
“They’re not keeping track,” Kelly said. “They, at this point, this president and the people around him are incompetent.”
Kelly said he had not reached a final decision on whether he would support the supplemental funding request. He argued that the Pentagon should be able to give troops what they need within a reasonable budget if it were run by “competent people.”
“What they’re asking for is not reasonable,” Kelly said.
NBC News reported that the White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.