President Donald Trump’s America First Arms Transfer Strategy is reshaping U.S. defense policy by pairing national security priorities with industrial revitalization, as record-breaking arms sales fuel expanded manufacturing capacity and job creation across the country. Announced through a February 6, 2026 executive order, the strategy places a clear emphasis on strengthening America’s defense industrial base while ensuring U.S. allies remain equipped with the most advanced and lethal military systems in the world.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth outlined the policy during a Pentagon press event, describing it as a decisive shift away from bureaucratic delays and toward rapid, reliable delivery of American weapons to trusted, high-spending allies. According to Hegseth, demand for U.S. systems continues to surge as partners seek proven platforms backed by American technology, training, and sustainment. He emphasized that when allies choose American weapons, the benefits extend beyond deterrence to include factory expansion, skilled labor growth, and long-term industrial resilience at home.

A key component of the strategy is organizational reform aimed at accelerating the arms transfer process without compromising U.S. technological superiority. The administration announced the merger of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and the Defense Technology Security Administration under the leadership of Undersecretary Mike Duffy. The consolidation is intended to streamline approvals, reduce duplication, and move critical systems to allies faster while maintaining strict safeguards over sensitive technologies.

Supporters of the initiative argue that the strategy reinforces U.S. global leadership by ensuring allied militaries are interoperable with American forces and capable of deterring shared threats. They also view the policy as a direct response to growing competition from adversarial powers that aggressively market lower-quality alternatives while undermining regional stability. By contrast, the Trump administration’s approach centers on quality, reliability, and strategic alignment.

Critics have raised concerns about the pace of arms transfers and oversight, but administration officials counter that the reforms maintain accountability while correcting inefficiencies that previously weakened both U.S. industry and allied readiness. For the White House, the message is clear: American weapons remain the global gold standard, and under the America First Arms Transfer Strategy, those weapons will be built faster, sold smarter, and produced in ways that strengthen the United States economically and militarily.