The US Department of Defense Inspector General has reported that the war with Iran has caused a munitions shortage and a “bottleneck” in replenishing stockpiles—contradicting statements by US President Donald Trump, who regularly denies the existence of supply issues, the BBC reports.
Trump has previously claimed that US munitions reserves are virtually unlimited and that anyone saying otherwise is spreading fake news. However, the independent watchdog reported that between February and June, the US expended munitions worth over 22 billion dollars, resulting in a shortage of strategic equipment. When asked about the watchdog’s report, the White House responded that there is more than enough ammunition.
The report provides the first independent insight into typically classified information regarding US weapons stockpiles.
Previous estimates had already painted a grim picture. During the conflict, US forces expended large quantities of ammunition for long-range systems, as well as vast numbers of missiles and air-defense munitions, to repel Iranian strikes. In late July, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) concluded that stockpiles of ammunition for certain missile interception systems—such as Patriot and THAAD—had been significantly depleted, with inventories in some cases cut by as much as half.
The Inspector General’s report does not disclose the exact quantity of remaining weaponry;
however, it indicates that equipment is running low and reveals bottlenecks in the ammunition replenishment supply chain. The report adds that the Department of Defense is working to accelerate procurement processes and production capacity to address the ammunition shortage.
The White House has rejected the watchdog’s assessment; on the 15th of September, spokesperson Anna Kelly stated that the United States possesses more than enough ammunition to achieve all its strategic objectives—and then some. Trump and other US administration officials have also sought to portray reports of weapons shortages as a betrayal of the country.
In a post on X on the 4th of August, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth dismissed reports of weapons shortages as false. Meanwhile, in a lengthy post on Truth Social on the 3rd of September, Trump emphasized that the US holds virtually unlimited stockpiles of weapons and continues to build up its inventory to prepare for any contingency. When the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, Trump stated that the conflict would be over within a few weeks. In September, he said that the war in Iran would end after the midterm elections scheduled for the 3rd of November.
Polls show that the war in Iran is highly unpopular among Americans. A survey conducted in early September indicates that only 23% of Americans (and just half of Republican voters) believe the US is in a better position regarding Iran than it was at the start of the war.
Read also: Gulf states cancel meeting with Iran; Houthis attack Saudi Arabia