Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited a space technology company in Los Angeles County on Friday, delivering a direct message to the nation's defense contractors: the current pace of innovation is not enough. The stop was a key part of his new "Arsenal of Freedom" campaign, a nationwide tour designed to engage directly with the defense industrial base.
Addressing employees and industry leaders, Hegseth emphasized the administration's goal of rebuilding the military and asserted the need for a more aggressive and rapid approach to developing space capabilities, framing it as essential for national security and maintaining global leadership.
Key Takeaways
- Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is touring the country as part of the "Arsenal of Freedom" campaign to engage the defense industrial base.
- During a visit to a California space company, he called for disrupting the "insufficient" status quo in defense manufacturing.
- Hegseth highlighted the administration's goal to command the "ultimate high ground of space" with American-made technology.
- He invoked President John F. Kennedy's 1962 moonshot speech, urging a return to a spirit of tackling difficult challenges with urgency.
A Push for Unprecedented Speed
During his address, Secretary Hegseth spoke in strong terms about what he and President Donald J. Trump perceive as a sluggishness within the defense industrial base (DIB) in recent years. He argued that the familiar, comfortable processes of the past are no longer adequate to meet modern geopolitical challenges, especially in the domain of space.
"Our job is to disrupt the 'status quo,' which is insufficient," Hegseth stated plainly to the assembled crowd. He stressed that this disruption is necessary to ensure the U.S. has the manufacturing capacity required to sustain its position as a global superpower.
The visit to Southern California marks the second major stop in the Secretary's monthlong campaign. The initiative aims to reinforce one of the War Department's primary objectives: strengthening the military by revitalizing its foundational industrial partners.
Campaign Focus: "Arsenal of Freedom"
The "Arsenal of Freedom" tour is a multi-state initiative by the War Department. Its stated goal is to promote direct engagement with defense manufacturers, streamline acquisition processes, and accelerate the development of critical military technologies across all domains, with a special emphasis on space and cyber capabilities.
Commanding the 'Ultimate High Ground'
A central theme of Hegseth's speech was the strategic importance of space. He articulated a clear vision for American preeminence in this critical arena, leaving no room for ambiguity about the administration's intentions.
"The United States is deadly serious about commanding the ultimate high ground of space," Hegseth declared. He described this vision as involving "a larger, more modern and more capable constellation of American satellites launched by American rockets from American soil, built by American engineers."
This commitment, he explained, is not just about technological superiority but also about economic strength and national pride. By ensuring the entire supply chain for space technology is American-based, the administration hopes to foster a new era of domestic manufacturing and engineering excellence.
Hegseth positioned the workers and engineers in the audience as the critical engine for this national project. "You are the foundation of our defense industrial base — the foundation of great American manufacturers — who we trust to usher in that new golden age of peace through strength under President Trump," he told them.
Reviving a Moonshot Mentality
To underscore the urgency and ambition of his message, Hegseth drew a powerful historical parallel. He referenced President John F. Kennedy's iconic 1962 speech at Rice University, where Kennedy committed the nation to landing a man on the moon within the decade.
Kennedy's 1962 Challenge
On September 12, 1962, President Kennedy declared, "We choose to go to the moon." This speech galvanized national effort, funneling resources and talent into the Apollo program. It is often cited as a benchmark for ambitious, large-scale national projects that require immense political will and industrial collaboration.
Quoting the famous line, Hegseth reminded the audience of Kennedy's reasoning: "'We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do other things; not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills.'"
Hegseth suggested that this spirit of embracing difficult challenges had faded in recent years, replaced by a preference for easier, more familiar processes. "This is the spirit that you are in the process of reviving," he said, directly connecting their work to that historic national effort.
The War Department, he added, is actively working to "flip the script" on old habits. The goal is to move away from slow, bureaucratic norms and foster an environment where rapid innovation is the standard, not the exception.
A Partnership for National Strength
Concluding his remarks, Secretary Hegseth offered a message of partnership and mutual support between the government and the private defense sector. He assured the industry that the War Department is committed to removing obstacles and providing the necessary backing for them to succeed.
"We have your back, and we know that you have ours as well," he affirmed. This collaborative effort, he argued, is the key to ensuring the nation's security for the foreseeable future.
The ultimate objective, as Hegseth framed it, is to create a military and industrial base so strong that it deters potential adversaries from conflict. "Together, we will restore our nation's strength and guarantee peace for generations to come," he concluded.