Trump Searches US Cabinet for Those Responsible for Ammunition Shortages

According to sources close to the White House, the search for a responsible party is also being conducted within the cabinet. At the center of this are Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg. Both belong to the Pentagon's closest leadership circle.

Figures at the Center of Criticism

The "Washington Post" and the broadcaster "CNN" had previously reported on a dispute within the government over the causes of the shortages. According to this, there are said to be disagreements about whether existing ammunition production is sufficient, whether supply chains kick in in time, and what role past decisions play.

In his Truth Social post, Trump also portrayed the situation as manageable. He pointed to existing contracts with arms companies and to production capacities that could be ramped up at short notice. The emphasis was on the formulation that deliveries would be made if needed – not on an acknowledgment of shortcomings.

Trump received support from members of his own party, among others, who classified the handling of ammunition stockpiles as a matter of national security. They pointed out that deliveries to Ukraine were also putting a strain on reserves and that an overall strategy was needed.

Reactions from Politics and the Military

Critics from Congress as well as former employees of the Department of Defense called for an independent investigation. They see the attribution of blame within the cabinet as an attempt to distract from structural problems in defense procurement.

The discussion comes at a time when the Pentagon is preparing its budget planning for the coming fiscal year. If the bottleneck is confirmed, renegotiations with manufacturers and a prioritization of certain types of ammunition could become necessary. Individual items in the budget are considered particularly contested.

It remains unclear whether Trump will draw consequences within the cabinet. White House spokespeople initially made no statement on Thursday regarding possible personnel decisions. Hegseth and Feinberg have also not yet publicly responded to the allegations.

Open Questions and Next Steps

The reporting by the "Washington Post" and "CNN" is likely to continue shaping the debate in the coming days. Both media outlets announced further research into the role of the Pentagon and the communication between the White House and the Department of Defense.

Among observers in Washington, the dispute is also seen as a stress test for the already tense relationship between the president and parts of his national security cabinet. The question of who bears responsibility could, according to analysts, influence the government's ability to act in the ongoing crisis.