GM, Ford Eye Potential Pivot to Weapons Production as Pentagon Seeks Munitions Backstop

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Trump administration asked Ford and General Motors to explore producing weapons and other military supplies, with CEO discussions to assess the automakers' capacity to rapidly shift from civilian to defense production to backstop traditional defense contractors amid munitions shortages. The talks, led by Mary Barra and Jim Farley, examined barriers to bidding and contract requirements, and come as the Pentagon urges expanding the defense industrial base and pursues a large munition and drone budget. It's unclear whether such manufacturing shifts would take place or when.