Hegseth admits Pentagon has been ‘bad customer’ as he aims to revitalize manufacturing relationship

Published February 10, 2026 12:38pm ET



Secretary of War Pete Hegseth acknowledged on Monday the department’s culpability in the shortcomings of the defense industrial base it is trying to revitalize.

Hegseth has traveled to different defense industrial company manufacturing facilities in recent weeks to highlight the importance of the changes the department is implementing. He spoke at General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works in Maine on Monday.

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