Hegseth Begins Nationwide Tour to Strengthen US Defense Industry
Tour Launches in Virginia Shipyard
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Sunday launched a nationwide tour aimed at strengthening the United States defense industrial base, beginning with a visit to shipyard workers in Newport News, Virginia.
The monthlong initiative, titled the “Arsenal of Freedom Tour,” focuses on one of the War Department’s top priorities: rebuilding US military strength by engaging directly with defense manufacturers and industrial partners across the country.
Speaking to workers at the shipyard, Hegseth said the tour would span from coastal shipyards to inland factories, highlighting the role of American manufacturing in national defense.
Emphasis on Peace Through Strength
Hegseth told the audience that the goal is to usher in a renewed era of “peace through strength” by reviving the nation’s industrial capacity.
He said the country’s freedoms depend on the strength of its defense arsenal and stressed that protecting those freedoms remains a top national priority.
The secretary thanked workers involved in designing and building military equipment, saying future generations would rely on their efforts to ensure the nation’s security and stability.
Shift in Strategic Thinking
During his remarks, Hegseth criticized what he described as decades of bipartisan thinking that downplayed the importance of defense manufacturing. He said past leaders wrongly assumed that major global conflicts were over and that competitors such as China no longer posed a serious challenge.
“That era is over,” Hegseth said, adding that the United States has entered a new period of great power competition that demands renewed focus and action.
Pentagon Pushes Industrial Revival
Hegseth said the War Department is implementing a department-wide revival that prioritizes action over policy debates and paperwork.
He explained that the Pentagon is deploying advanced technologies at a pace not seen in generations while making long-term investments in future military capabilities. According to Hegseth, these efforts are delivering equipment to service members faster than at any time since World War II.
New Expectations for Defense Contractors
Turning to the defense industrial base, Hegseth said the new industrial strategy would no longer tolerate delays, cost overruns, or programs that fall years behind schedule.
Instead, he said the department will promote competition and efficiency. Companies that fail to adapt to faster and more accountable standards, he added, will lose opportunities to more responsive partners.
“We will work with those who can move at speed, invest in their people, and deliver at scale,” Hegseth said.
Tribute to Service and Sacrifice
As he concluded his speech, Hegseth praised everyone contributing to national defense, whether in uniform or civilian roles. He described their work as patriotic, essential, and honorable.
Earlier in the day, Hegseth administered the oath of enlistment to 30 new military recruits at a Newport News recruiting station. Addressing the recruits and their families, he noted that fewer than one percent of Americans volunteer to serve in the armed forces.
He thanked the families for raising what he called “the real men and women who do the real work for the American people.”
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