WASHINGTON — The U.S. military is confronting critical shortfalls in key munitions and advanced weaponry following months of intense operations in Iran, according to a newly released Pentagon inspector general report.
Between February 28 and June 30, total conflict expenditures reached an estimated $33.4 billion (€29 billion), with nearly $20 billion spent directly on replenishing and deploying munitions.
The evaluation highlights “strategic inventory shortfalls” driven by unprecedented consumption rates, exposing major production bottlenecks across the U.S. defense industrial base.
Defense analysts warn it could take up to three years to restore stockpiles of advanced precision missiles and air-defense interceptors to pre-war levels.
President Donald Trump pushed back against the findings, maintaining that national ammunition reserves remain “virtually unlimited.”
Additionally, the report details widespread structural damage to U.S. regional installations resulting from Iranian retaliatory strikes. Repair costs for hundreds of impacted facilities were not factored into the initial $33.4 billion figure.
