US May Invoke Defense Production Act to Fill Weapons Stocks Depleted by Ukraine Donations

by | Mar 23, 2022

US May Invoke Defense Production Act to Fill Weapons Stocks Depleted by Ukraine Donations

by | Mar 23, 2022

The Pentagon is considering whether to use the Defense Production Act to help replace thousands of missiles shipped to Ukraine in recent months, as US stocks begin to run low following a long line of arms transfers.

Defense Department spokesperson Jessica Maxwell told Politico on Tuesday that no decision has yet been made to invoke the DPA, or if it would be “applicable or prudent” to the missile shortage, but confirmed that the Pentagon leadership is discussing the measure as one way to boost production of Javelin and Stinger munitions.

The military is now “rushing” to churn out shoulder-fired anti-armor and anti-aircraft missiles “pulled from European and American stockpiles for use in Ukraine,” the outlet reported. Some of the weapons’ components have become scarce, however, creating a bottleneck for production.

A Korean War-era law, the DPA allows the White House to direct private firms to fulfill the needs of the government, a massive and direct market intervention which also vests the president with the power to dole out loans and sweetheart contracts to favored companies. For the present shortage, the act would presumably be invoked to force manufacturers to produce the parts needed.

Congress and the White House have poured billions into military hardware for Ukraine, with the latest aid package alone carrying an $800 million price tag. That transfer included 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems and 2,000 tank-killing Javelins, among other gear, and followed a number of similar shipments both before and after Russia invaded the country in late February.

Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter

Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter

Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com and news editor of the Libertarian Institute.

Will Porter is the assistant news editor of the Libertarian Institute and a staff writer and editor at RT.

Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter host Conflicts of Interest along with Connor Freeman.

View all posts

Our Books

Shop books published by the Libertarian Institute.

libetarian institute longsleeve shirt

Our Books

15 books

Recent Articles

Recent

News Roundup 1/22/2025

News Roundup 1/22/2025

US News Trump Places Cuba Back on ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’ List AWC Trump Says He Will Designate Mexican Cartels as ‘Terrorist Organizations,’ Vows To ‘Take Back’ Panama Canal AWC Trump Orders 50 Former Intel Officials Stripped of Security Clearance Over Election...

read more
News Roundup 1/20/2025

News Roundup 1/20/2025

Russia Biden Admin Adds New Sanctions on Russia, China The Institute  US Made Significant Investment Into Ukraine’s Drone Program AWC China Incoming Trump Officials Name China as the ‘Biggest Threat’ Facing the US AWC Trump Says He Had ‘Very Good’ Phone Call With...

read more
News Roundup 1/16/2025

News Roundup 1/16/2025

Cuba Biden Administration To Remove Cuba From ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’ List AWC Ukraine Zelensky, Macron Discuss the Idea of French Troops Deploying to Ukraine AWC Ukraine Claims to Barrage Russia With Largest Missile and Drone Attack Since Start of War The...

read more

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This