‘Wartime Footing’: Trump Turns to Automakers for High-Stakes WWII-Style Weapons Surge

The Pentagon is reportedly in preliminary talks with major automakers about rapidly expanding defense production as weapons stockpiles deplete amid the ongoing conflict in Iran and the war in Ukraine.

If the talks are successful, then production of munitions and other war-related materials is expected to increase multifold.

The discussions echo a strategy used during World War II, in which civilian manufacturers were enlisted to produce military equipment.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump administration officials are holding talks with automakers and urging them to play a bigger role in the Iran war.

An insider reportedly revealed that senior defense officials have spoken with numerous companies, including Mary Barra, chief executive officer of General Motors, and Jim Farley, chief executive officer of Ford Motor.

Sources familiar with the discussions said the talks were preliminary and wide-ranging.

The Pentagon is keen on enlisting automakers to use their factories to increase production of weapons and other military supplies, as equipment stocks continue to decline as a result of the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran.

Defense officials have claimed that American automakers may need to pause regular vehicle production and shift to defense manufacturing.

An anonymous Pentagon official said that the Defense Department is committed to rapidly expanding the defense industrial base.

The department reportedly wants to achieve it by "leveraging all available commercial solutions and technologies to ensure our warfighters maintain a decisive advantage."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the administration's approach as a "wartime footing."

Interestingly, sources claimed that the discussions began long before Operation Epic Fury commenced in Iran.

Officials also asked whether companies could help "shore up domestic manufacturing capacity" and identify obstacles to taking on additional defense work, including challenges related to contracts and the bidding process.

The Wall Street Journal report also noted that lawmakers and the Pentagon have expressed concern about production capacity for arms and ammunition, a worry that intensified after North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies began shipping large quantities of munitions to Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

Additionally, the Pentagon recently requested a $1.5 trillion budget, representing a major investment in arms and drone manufacturing.

Logan Jones, chief growth officer of Oshkosh, said the discussions centered on "where could we bring that capacity in a way that matches our core capability."

Jones added, “We’ve been out looking at capabilities that we think fit their needs, just proactively. We’ve heard it loud and clear that this is important.”

While no agreements have been finalized, automakers are expected to compete for contracts to build a larger infantry squad vehicle to replace the Humvee in the U.S. Army.