REINDUSTRIALIZING AMERICA THROUGH ARMS TRANSFERS:
Today, President Donald J. Trump unveiled an Executive Order launching the America First Arms Transfer Strategy. This initiative aims to solidify the American industrial base as the Arsenal of Freedom, not just for the United States, but also for its partners and allies.
- The America First Arms Transfer Strategy mandates that U.S. arms transfers must: (1) enhance production capacity for weapons that are crucial for the National Security Strategy; (2) promote domestic reindustrialization and bolster the resilience of our defense industrial base; (3) fortify critical supply chains; and (4) prioritize allies who are actively investing in their own self-defense and hold strategic importance in executing the National Security Strategy.
- The Order instructs the Secretaries of War, State, and Commerce to: (1) create a prioritized catalog of platforms and systems that align with the America First Arms Transfer Strategy; (2) intensify advocacy for U.S. arms transfers in accordance with the Strategy’s objectives; and (3) collaborate closely with industry stakeholders to ensure robust coordination.
- A new Promoting American Military Sales Task Force will oversee the implementation of this Strategy and track the progress of major defense sales.
- To streamline operations and cut through red tape, the Order calls for the Secretaries of War, State, and Commerce to seek efficiencies in the Enhanced End Use Monitoring criteria, the Third-Party Transfer process, and the Congressional Notification process.
- In a bid to bolster transparency, the Order mandates the Secretaries of War, State, and Commerce to publish aggregate quarterly performance metrics regarding the execution of defense sales cases.
- This pioneering Strategy aims to leverage America’s record-setting defense sales to rejuvenate the defense industrial base, swiftly deliver American-made weapons to enable our partners and allies to take charge of their regional security, and cultivate a more deliberate and transparent arms transfer ecosystem.
PUTTING AMERICA FIRST IN ARMS TRANSFERS:
Under President Trump’s stewardship, the United States is achieving unprecedented levels of defense equipment sales.
- The previous paradigm of arms transfers neglected to strategically link our industrial capacity with these sales.
- Instead of using foreign defense sales to actively enhance our manufacturing capabilities, past practices were dictated by the preferences of our partners. This misalignment has resulted in an industrial base that is less effective in ensuring the security of the American populace.
- This partner-centric sales model represented a significant missed opportunity to amplify our own manufacturing strengths in a way that prioritizes American interests.
- This flawed approach led to production backlogs, budget overruns, and extensive delays for our partners and allies in acquiring essential weapons and systems, as demand often outstripped production capabilities.
- The America First Arms Transfer Strategy will now harness over $300 billion in annual defense sales to strategically reindustrialize the United States and ensure prompt delivery of American-made weapons, empowering our partners and allies to establish deterrence and self-defense.
- Thanks to President Trump’s initiatives, our partners and allies are increasingly shouldering more responsibility for their own regional security. To facilitate this transition, the U.S. must reliably and swiftly provide them with the finest military equipment available.
- The America First Arms Transfer Strategy signals a transformative shift in the U.S. Government’s approach to arms transfers, benefiting not just America but also our industrial base and international allies.
ACCELERATING SALES OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURED EQUIPMENT:
President Trump is dedicated to ensuring that America retains its position as home to the world’s most formidable and technologically advanced military, supported by a network of capable partners and allies.
- In January 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order aimed at modernizing defense acquisitions and fostering innovation within the defense industrial base, eliminating bureaucratic hurdles that could hinder timely responses to emerging global threats and basic requirements.
- In April 2025, a subsequent Executive Order was signed to enhance speed and accountability within the foreign defense sales system. The America First Arms Transfer Strategy announced today builds on the successes of that April initiative.
- By January 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order to prevent defense contractors from prioritizing stock buybacks and excessive corporate payouts over production capacity, innovation, and timely delivery for America’s military.
