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Phelan: expand munitions production and use contracting reforms to boost capacity
Summary
Senators pressed John Phelan on U.S. munitions shortfalls and proposals to expand manufacturing capacity, use existing excess lines, and accelerate foreign military sales to signal demand; Phelan said he would review contracts and incentivize private sector investment if confirmed.
Senators used John Phelan's nomination hearing to press for action on munitions shortages revealed by recent conflicts. Phelan said the United States is at "a critical shortage" of munitions and that expanding production and using existing excess capacity are necessary.
Senator Sarah Fisher asked whether Phelan would follow statutory requirements to fund development of the nuclear sea‑launched cruise missile (referred to in the hearing by some witnesses) and whether he would consider establishing additional shipyards dedicated to nuclear warship construction, a recommendation from the Strategic Posture Commission. Phelan said he would follow statutory requirements and would be open to exploring additional shipyard capacity if confirmed.
On munitions specifically, Phelan told the committee he supports incentivizing private investment in munitions plants and making contracting decisions that provide the industry with clarity and demand signals: "ordering and giving them a contract to build, I think, will be critical," he said. He also said he would review existing munitions contracts to identify potential roadblocks to scaling production and would encourage using foreign military sales to create additional demand signals for industry.
Why it matters: munitions stock levels and production capacity underpin sustained operations. Committee members highlighted facilities with unused capacity and urged the nominee to prioritize funding and contracting changes so production lines can run at full rates.
Senators asked Phelan to review contracts across shipbuilding and munitions for terms that misallocate risk or hinder scalability; Phelan agreed to examine contract language and return to the committee with findings.
