Are we entering Rosie the Riveter territory? That’s a World War II reference, when women were pushed into factory jobs while men were sent off to war, and the entire economy was reorganized around military production. Food was rationed, industry was redirected, and civilian life took a back seat to the war effort.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Pentagon is quietly approaching major American companies like Ford and General Motors about shifting factory capacity toward weapons production. The goal is to put the U.S. on what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calls a “wartime footing.”
“Wartime footing” doesn’t quite square with what President Trump said in his inaugural address, promising that success would be measured not just by the wars we win, but “the wars we end — and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.”
If we’re not getting into new wars, why do we need a wartime footing?
The WSJ frames this as a request from the Pentagon, but they don’t actually have to ask. The Defense Production Act allows the federal government to require companies to prioritize and accept government contracts, effectively compelling production if needed. During World War II, this effort turned the U.S. into what was called the “Arsenal of Democracy.”
And it’s already beginning. GM is reportedly working on a new infantry vehicle to replace the Humvee. This may be an early sign that American industry may once again be shifting toward war production.
And who ultimately pays for all of this? The American taxpayer.
The post Rosie the Riveter 2.0? Pentagon Courts U.S. Industry appeared first on Redacted.
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