U.S. munitions shortfalls have been well-publicized for several years, as have their implications for the credibility of deterrence. 5) Epic Fury caused the munitions shortfall. Epic Fury exacerbated but did not cause the U.S. munitions shortfall, which had been evident for more than a decade before the operation began in February 2026. President Biden did not cause the munitions shortfall, but his administration did not do enough to alleviate munitions shortfalls. The U.S. munitions shortfall is a bipartisan failure of both the executive and legislative branches that has been decades in the making.