The Military Faces a Make-or-Break Moment

Your editorial “Trump and a New ‘Arsenal of Freedom’” (Nov. 17) provides an insightful assessment of Secretary Pete Hegseth’s acquisition-reform agenda. It is premised on something many in the defense community have understood for years: The U.S. can’t deter peer adversaries with a procurement system that is slow, costly and unable to keep pace with modern threats.

Mr. Hegseth rightly notes that the Pentagon is at a make-or-break moment. Empowering program leaders, accelerating contracting authorities and tapping private-sector innovation are the right priorities. Longer-term and predictable procurement is also essential. Industry can’t expand production of critical munitions and systems when both demand and funding fluctuate yearly. America’s defense industrial base, including traditional and emerging firms, has the capacity and talent to deliver unmatched capability if given the stability and direction that long-term commitment requires.