US President Donald Trump has dismissed reports suggesting the United States is facing a shortage of military munitions, insisting the country’s arsenal remains strong while warning that officials responsible for leaking classified information could face lengthy prison sentences.
In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump rejected claims that the US military was running low on weapons, saying the country possesses substantial stockpiles of munitions and continues to increase production to meet operational demands.
“The U.S. has massive amounts of munitions, especially of certain types,” Trump wrote, adding that additional supplies are being manufactured and delivered as required.
The president’s remarks come as the conflict between the United States and Iran enters its sixth month, with both sides continuing to exchange military strikes despite several temporary pauses in fighting. Efforts to negotiate a comprehensive ceasefire have yet to produce a lasting agreement.
Trump also responded sharply to recent media reports citing anonymous sources who claimed the Pentagon’s stockpile of advanced missiles had been significantly depleted during the ongoing conflict. He accused those responsible for leaking the information of undermining national security and said authorities were actively searching for them.
“The leakers of these treasonous statements are being hunted down,” Trump said, adding that his administration would seek long-term jail sentences for anyone found responsible.
Questions over America’s weapons reserves have intensified following reports from CBS News, citing unnamed officials, that the US has consumed a large portion of its global inventory of long-range precision missiles during Operation Epic Fury and subsequent military operations against Iran.
The Washington Post also reported that Trump recently questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about the possibility of declining weapons stockpiles, although the report has not been independently confirmed.
Precise figures on US missile inventories remain classified. However, independent estimates by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) suggest that by the end of July the United States retained between 759 and 827 Patriot air defence missiles, compared with an estimated 2,330 before the conflict began.
CSIS also estimates that approximately 60% of America’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile inventory has been used, reflecting the heavy operational demands of defending against missile attacks during the conflict.
The war has also complicated US commitments elsewhere. Washington has supplied significant numbers of Patriot missiles to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. As inventories tighten, analysts believe the Pentagon may become increasingly cautious about approving additional transfers.
Speaking at a Cabinet meeting last week, Trump acknowledged Ukraine’s request for more Patriot systems, describing any future decision as significant while confirming discussions with Kyiv were continuing.
Military experts note that replenishing advanced missile stockpiles is a lengthy process because of complex manufacturing timelines, procurement procedures and production capacity. According to CSIS projections, restoring inventories of some precision-guided weapons, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, could take several years.
Despite those assessments, the Trump administration continues to insist that the country’s military readiness has not been compromised. Trump recently told the Wall Street Journal that the United States possesses more munitions than any other nation and significantly more than it currently requires.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also rejected reports of a weapons shortage, describing them as misleading while confirming that the administration is accelerating defence production. Last month, he requested $87 billion (£68 billion) in emergency funding from Congress to support military personnel and rapidly replenish equipment and munitions used during ongoing operations.
