Boosting arms production capacity: The U.S. Department of Defense "targets" the automotive industry.

According to the Wall Street Journal on the 15th, the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have been depleting the US military's arsenal, prompting the Trump administration to contact car manufacturers and other producers with the intention of increasing weapon production. The report quoted sources familiar with the matter as saying that senior US defense officials have held discussions with several corporate executives about ramping up arms production, including Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, and Jim Farley, CEO of Ford. In addition, General Electric- Aviation and Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Corporation have also participated in talks with US defense officials. The report stated that the US Department of Defense intends to enlist these companies to utilize their personnel and factory capacity to increase production of ammunition and other equipment, reminiscent of the United States' actions during World War II. Sources indicated that the discussions are preliminary and wide-ranging. US defense officials noted that these manufacturers may be needed to support traditional defense contractors and inquired whether these companies could quickly pivot towards defense work.