Pentagon chief to visit Arkansas on defense industry tour

WASHINGTON

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will travel Friday to the state of Arkansas as part of a nationwide effort to promote the revitalization of US defense manufacturing and workforce development, the Pentagon said Thursday.

Hegseth is scheduled to meet defense industry leaders and tour facilities tied to the nation’s defense supply chain.

He will also administer the oath of enlistment to new military recruits at a recruiting station, it said in a statement.

"The tour's message will emphasize that our national security and the peace of the world move at the speed of our Defense Industrial Base (DIB) and rely on the hard work of our American workforce," it added.

The tour will also promote changes to defense acquisition practices, calling for a shift toward faster procurement, greater innovation and a “commercial-first” mindset.