Trump orders tightening of defense supply-chain waiver rules

The Pentagon has been pushing defense contractors like Lockheed Martin LMT.N and Boeing BA.N to rapidly expand weapons production while trying to identify and eliminate vulnerabilities buried deep inside the military supply chain.

Many critical minerals and processed materials used in missiles, aircraft and other advanced systems still rely on Chinese suppliers, leaving companies caught between demands to reduce dependence on Beijing and the urgent need to keep weapons flowing to U.S. forces and allies.

China has gradually restricted access to critical minerals and used supply chains as leverage.

The Trump administration is seeking to pull back the curtain on a defense supply chain that can stretch through dozens of suppliers before reaching the company that builds the final weapon.