{"id":39200,"date":"2026-08-11T19:50:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T14:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=39200"},"modified":"2026-08-11T19:50:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T14:50:09","slug":"warren-credits-trump-policy-as-defense-buybacks-drop-by-2-billion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=39200","title":{"rendered":"Warren credits Trump policy as defense buybacks drop by $2 billion"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div data-layout-index=\"4\" class=\"featured featured-video video-ct\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\"><!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"contain\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\">  <!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"info\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\">\n<div class=\"caption\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\">\n<h4 class=\"title\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/video\/6399291034112\" data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_featured-video_5_1\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\">Trump presses defense contractors on production after Iran war exposes US supply chain weaknesses<\/a><\/h4>\n<p data-v-7b1896ea=\"\">Jennifer Griffin reports on President Trump&#8217;s White House meeting with key defense contractors, pressing them to accelerate munitions production due to the ongoing Iran war. She highlights concerns from Senator Elizabeth Warren regarding Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg&#8217;s alleged conflicts of interest with former firm Cerberus Capital Management and the escalating costs of the war.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\"><strong>FIRST ON FOX: <\/strong>Progressive Sen. <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_1274575\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/person\/elizabeth-warren\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Elizabeth Warren<\/a>, D-Mass., issued extremely rare credit to President Donald Trump for pressuring defense companies to put more money back into building weapons and expanding production rather than returning it to investors and lining stakeholders&#8217; pockets.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Warren and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, are urging War Secretary Pete Hegseth to make Trump&#8217;s restrictions on stock buybacks for defense contractors permanent, according to a letter obtained by Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The bipartisan duo argue the policy is already changing how major defense companies spend their money and bolstering national security and military readiness.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/343\/192\/elizabeth-warren-kevin-warsh-fed-hearing.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/686\/384\/elizabeth-warren-kevin-warsh-fed-hearing.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/672\/378\/elizabeth-warren-kevin-warsh-fed-hearing.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1344\/756\/elizabeth-warren-kevin-warsh-fed-hearing.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/931\/523\/elizabeth-warren-kevin-warsh-fed-hearing.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1862\/1046\/elizabeth-warren-kevin-warsh-fed-hearing.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/720\/405\/elizabeth-warren-kevin-warsh-fed-hearing.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1440\/810\/elizabeth-warren-kevin-warsh-fed-hearing.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1200\/675\/elizabeth-warren-kevin-warsh-fed-hearing.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Senator Elizabeth Warren is seen asking questions of Kevin Warsh during his confirmation hearing.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Ranking member Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., questions Kevin Warsh, nominee to chairman of the Federal Reserve, during his Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee confirmation hearing on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.<\/span> <span>(Tom Williams\/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_1274576\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/opinion\/trump-proving-way-better-military-secure-supply-chains\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>TRUMP IS PROVING THAT THE WAY TO BETTER OUR MILITARY IS TO SECURE OUR SUPPLY CHAINS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;<a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_1274577\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/pentagon-races-buy-10x-missiles-iran-war-dwindles-arsenal-threatens-readiness-china-aggression\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Pentagon<\/a> is handing companies billions \u2013 and now potentially trillions \u2013 of taxpayer dollars,&#8221; the senators wrote in their letter. &#8220;Congress and the Administration must work together to ensure they fulfill their contractual obligations and enhance national security.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">They are asking Hegseth to support their Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting Act, which would codify central provisions included in Trump&#8217;s January <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_1274578\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/executive-policy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">executive order<\/a>, like executive incentives being tied to on-time delivery and production improvements rather than short-term financial metrics.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">A keystone of the executive action also allows the Pentagon, where law permits, to cap the base salaries of executives at underperforming contractors.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Staff for Warren and Lee reviewed recent earnings calls and financial reports from the top 20 publicly traded U.S. defense contractors.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The offices found that the companies cut buybacks and dividends by $2 billion in the first quarter of 2026, compared with the same period a year earlier, while capital spending rose by $1.2 billion. Capital spending is money companies put into long-term needs such as factories, equipment and new production lines.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Trump\u2019s order directs the Pentagon to identify contractors falling behind on performance, investment or production and, in future contracts, restrict stock buybacks and corporate distributions during periods of underperformance.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_1274579\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/pentagon-races-buy-10x-missiles-iran-war-dwindles-arsenal-threatens-readiness-china-aggression\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>PENTAGON RACES TO BUY 10X MORE MISSILES AS IRAN WAR DWINDLES ARSENAL, THREATENS READINESS FOR CHINA AGGRESSION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/343\/192\/rts178b1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/686\/384\/rts178b1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/672\/378\/rts178b1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/1344\/756\/rts178b1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/931\/523\/rts178b1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/1862\/1046\/rts178b1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/720\/405\/rts178b1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/1440\/810\/rts178b1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/1200\/675\/rts178b1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order at the White House in Washington, U.S. June 15, 2017. REUTERS\/Eric Thayer - RTS178B1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order at the White House in Washington, U.S. June 15, 2017. REUTERS\/Eric Thayer &#8211; RTS178B1<\/span> <span>(\u00a0)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The senators\u2019 analysis does not prove that every dollar withheld from shareholders went into those investments, but Warren and Lee argue the trend shows Trump\u2019s policy is pushing defense firms to focus more on building weapons and expanding capacity.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The push comes after years of cost overruns and delays across major Pentagon weapons programs, even as defense contractors reported strong profits and returned billions of dollars to shareholders.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Among four top defense contractors \u2014 Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics \u2014 the firms combined buybacks and dividends fell from about $4.2 billion in the first quarter of 2025 to about $2.7 billion in the first quarter of 2026, according to the letter. The reductions were not uniform: RTX\u2019s reported payouts rose slightly year over year, while Lockheed, Northrop and General Dynamics reported declines. This means stakeholders at the top of these firms saw $1.5 billion less, and instead those funds were freed up for ramping up weapon production.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Warren and Lee also pointed to GE Aerospace, which increased its stock buybacks, as evidence that an <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_1274580\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/executive-policy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">executive order<\/a> alone is not enough to stop companies from directing more money to shareholders.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_1274581\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/pentagon-races-buy-10x-missiles-iran-war-dwindles-arsenal-threatens-readiness-china-aggression\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong><u>PENTAGON RACES TO BUY 10X MORE MISSILES AS IRAN WAR DWINDLES ARSENAL<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The senators said key elements of their legislation were included in the Senate\u2019s version of the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Fox News Digital reached out to the War Department, Lockheed Martin, RTX, General Dynamics and GE Aerospace for comment, but did not hear back at time of publication.<\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump presses defense contractors on production after Iran war exposes US supply chain weaknesses Jennifer Griffin reports on President Trump&#8217;s White House meeting with key defense contractors, pressing them to accelerate munitions production due to the ongoing Iran war. She highlights concerns from Senator Elizabeth Warren regarding Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg&#8217;s alleged conflicts of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/elizabeth-warren-january-12-2026.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=39200"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39200\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/39201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=39200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=39200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=39200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}