Witnesses say U.S. industrial mobilization is limited; urge DPA reauthorization and renewed mobilization planning

At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on defense mobilization, witnesses from government and industry testified that the United States remains ill-prepared to rapidly scale production for a prolonged or large-scale conflict and recommended immediate policy and planning changes.

The testimony focused on the Defense Production Act (DPA), industrial planning authorities, production scaling, and allied cooperation. Dr. Gerry McGinn said DPA reauthorization is essential and urged keeping DPA focused on national security uses; she highlighted Title 3 for purchase commitments and noted unused Title 7 authorities (sections 708 and 710) that could enable voluntary government‑industry agreements and a National Defense Executive Reserve. "DPA has had tremendous impact on rebuilding and reshoring industrial based capacity," McGinn said.

The concern matters because recent crises, especially the war in Ukraine, exposed U.S. shortfalls in producing artillery, precision munitions and other supplies…