(FILE) An aerial photograph taken with a drone shows an oil collection station near Refugio, Texas. The U.S. Department of War has given defense contractors a 21‑day deadline to submit plans for rapidly accelerating weapons and ammunition production, with Deputy Secretary Steve Feinberg declaring that multi‑year development cycles are no longer acceptable. The memorandum, sent Wednesday, directs industry leaders to propose specific capital investments and facility expansions to support sustained higher‑volume orders, according to local media. RELATED: US Strategic Petroleum Reserve: 304.81 Million Barrels in Alarming DropThe directive comes amid reported shortages of armaments in the Middle East, which have allegedly caused a disagreement between President Donald Trump and his Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth. President Trump has acknowledged that the U.S. faces shortages of certain weaponry but has maintained that sufficient ammunition exists to sustain the war against Iran.