Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to visit Lockheed Martin’s F-35 production facility in Fort Worth on Monday afternoon as part of the Trump administration’s “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, which highlights military manufacturing priorities.
The January 12 stop comes amid efforts to streamline Pentagon procurement processes. Hegseth plans to address Lockheed Martin employees and local media on the administration’s defense agenda.
“For too long, Pentagon bureaucracy has hindered the speed and might of our manufacturing base, obstructing innovation and warfare solutions from companies like SpaceX and Lockheed Martin,” the Department of War said in a press release.
The department added, “Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, we are unleashing the full power of our Defense Industrial Base (DIB) to advance our Peace Through Strength agenda.”
Following Fort Worth, Hegseth will head to Brownsville to tour SpaceX facilities alongside founder Elon Musk. The Texas visits follow an earlier appearance at Rocket Lab’s manufacturing plant in Long Beach, California.
The tour underscores a renewed emphasis on military readiness, blending engagements with traditional contractors such as Lockheed Martin and emerging players such as SpaceX to advance defense modernization.
Hegseth will deliver his third major speech since taking office, offering remarks to the SpaceX workforce and leaders with Musk. He also plans to administer the oath of enlistment to new American warfighters.
The itinerary continues a call to action he issued to defense executives last fall at Fort McNair.
“These engagements underscore the urgent priority of this administration: ensuring our warfighters have the cutting-edge, American-made equipment they need to dominate any battlefield,” the department said. “American manufacturing is back.”
It praised the industry workforce, noting, “These patriots work tirelessly, not with rifles, but with hardhats and relentless dedication, to ensure our military remains the most lethal and capable fighting force in the world.”
The tour aims to revive the Defense Industrial Base for technologically superior products at the speed of relevance, guaranteeing dominance for generations.
“This is America’s Arsenal of Freedom,” the department said.
