Missing missiles: Senators move to replace weapons used in Trump admin's Houthi attacks
Concerns about U.S. weapons stocks rose in July after the Pentagon paused deliveries to Ukraine for weeks during a "capability review" to ensure it had enough weapons for U.S. needs.
WASHINGTON – Senators moved to swiftly replenish the Pentagon's ammunition stockpiles, citing concerns they've been severely depleted by the Ukraine war and the Trump administration's two-month bombing campaign against the Houthis in Yemen.
The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 26-3 on July 31 to approve a version of next year's defense policy bill that jacks up the Pentagon's $9 billion request to buy and produce ammunition by another $7.3 billion.
"Recent operations in the Middle East illustrate how quickly modern warfare can exhaust our arsenal of critical munitions," Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, the committee's chairman, said on July 31. "The administration’s request did not fully maximize production capacity for certain critical munitions."
Sen. Chris Coons, the defense subcommittee's top Democrat, told reporters it was one of the main areas that lawmakers want to fund far beyond what the Trump administration requested.
"Recent experiences like the counter-Houthi campaign in the Red Sea, for example, demonstrates how quickly we're going through advanced munitions," Coons said.
"Keeping pace with resupply to Ukraine has been a challenge," he added.
Concerns about U.S. weapons stocks arose in July after the Pentagon paused deliveries to Ukraine for weeks during a "capability review" to ensure it had enough weapons for U.S. needs. Some lawmakers have said worries over U.S. stockpiles running low don't justify cutting off Ukraine's weapons.
The Pentagon keeps its inventory of munitions classified. Its initial budget request included $2.5 billion to expand missiles and munitions production, and another $1.3 billion for "supply chain improvements," the Defense Department said.
The Department "has robust air defense capabilities to protect American personnel and interests around the globe," it said in a statement. "We will not go into our inventory due to operational security, however I can tell you that the DOD [Defense Department] remains postured to respond to any threat."
Houthi attacks burned through munitions
President Donald Trump's bombing campaign against Houthi militants in Yemen – dubbed Operation Rough Rider – put a dent in U.S. stockpiles.
In less than two months, the Pentagon spent at least $500 million on weapons on the operation, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly. Add in the cost of operations and the loss of several aircraft, and the bill tops $1 billion. It also attacked Houthi targets with some of the U.S. military's most sophisticated weapons, said the official who was not authorized to speak publicly.
A Senate aide who spoke on condition of anonymity also said the operation had burned through hundreds of millions of dollars in weapons.
The Defense Department has not informed Congress of how much the operation expended, the aide said.
Over the course of the operation, two F/A-18E planes, valued at around $60 million apiece, accidentally slipped off aircraft carriers and sank into the Red Sea. The Houthis also downed nine MQ-9 Reaper drones, according to reports. Those cost $270 million in total.
Trump abruptly cut off the operation on May 6, claiming that the Houthis "say they will not be blowing up ships anymore."
That isn't how the conflict played out. The Houthis attacked and sank a Greek cargo ship in the past week and claimed responsibility for a missile launched towards the Israeli city of Jaffa.
The Iran-backed group reiterated on July 27 its vow to attack any commercial ships destined for Israeli ports, no matter their country of origin, to pressure Israel to lift its blockade and siege of Gaza.
Senators zero in on air defense
Out of the $7.3 billion funding increase, the Senate Appropriations Committee wants $5.2 billion to buy more of those weapons.
The remaining $2.1 billion would cover the cost of boosting production lines for advanced air defense, chief among them coveted air defense interceptors, including Patriot and THAAD missile systems, which can take out ballistic missiles.
Patriots play an increasingly important role for Ukraine as Russia's missile and drone attacks have increased in recent months to their highest intensity in three-plus years of war.
Trump said on July 13 he would send Ukraine "Patriots, which they desperately need." European allies have also offered to finance the weapons systems for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on July 25 that Germany would pay for two systems, and Norway for one.
Israel has used THAAD batteries provided by the United States to defend against volleys of Iranian missiles, including during the 12-day aerial war between the two countries in June.