The Trump Administration wants a partnership with the auto industry and it is relying heavily on carmakers' manufacturing expertise for help in U.S. military efforts to grow the inventory of the military's
equipment.
In an interview with the Detroit Free Press, Michael Duffey, under secretary of the Department of War, formerly the Department of Defense, said his department continues discussions with Ford Motor, General Motors and other companies beyond automotive "about opportunities" to bring "manufacturing expertise" that the companies have built over generations, as well as their modern technologies, to use in the nation's defense industrial base.
Duffey spoke to the Detroit Free Press on Sept. 30 on the sidelines of the Ford Accelerate conference at Michigan Central Station in Detroit. He said any partnerships with GM, Ford or others might just mean borrowing on the carmaker's manufacturing expertise.
Ford did not have a comment to add. GM spokesman Jim Cain said in an email, "We have been acting on those conversations, with GM contributing to increased production of the Patriot PAC-3 system just one example." The PAC-3 is an advanced land-based air defense system used to intercept and destroy missiles and advanced aircraft.
"We have a program at the department called Business Operators for National Defense, where we have recruited former executives from Ford and General Motors and Tesla and others who have a proven track record," Duffey said.
He did not provide names of former executive members, but he said the former auto execs were often head of their departments, head of global manufacturing or supply chain. The Trump administration started Business Operators for National Defense in the middle of last year and now has more than 200 executives in it, Duffey said.
"They are now working for the department, applying that expertise in advice to our department leadership, but also directly embedding with our defense industrial base, helping ensure that we have modern manufacturing techniques so that we can really optimize the production of our munitions and our aircraft and everything else that we're producing," Duffey said. "Every day they're in there helping us find efficiencies and building the capacity."
As the Detroit Free Press reported in April, GM CEO Mary Barra and Ford CEO Jim Farley were both approached — separately — by senior defense officials in the Trump administration who were seeking the automakers' help to increase the nation's supply of military equipment. The Pentagon sought to use the automakers' workforce and factory capacity to help it produce parts for weapons and other equipment as the war in Ukraine has depleted inventory, and now the war on Iran is also taking a toll.
The automakers do not make weapons, but both have made military equipment in the past to help the U.S. government during war times and some of Ford's current trucks are used by police and military for security. Likewise, GM Defense, a subsidiary of GM, makes Infantry Squad Vehicles for the U.S. Army.
Earlier this year, the Army awarded GM Defense an $18.8 million firm fixed-price contract to supply its Infantry Squad Vehicle and related equipment. The award is part of a broader contract valued at approximately $458.4 million, according to www.govconwire.com.
In May, Ford confirmed it was in conversations with various European and North American governments on supplying them with vehicles for military use.
Duffey said he agreed to speak on a panel at Ford Accelerate, a conference dedicated to finding solutions to the nation's growing shortage of people to do skilled trades jobs, because those jobs are essential to the nation's defense industrial base.
"I've been with the Secretary of War as we've toured the country on the Arsenal Freedom Tour recognizing and motivating the men and women who are essential to building the submarines, the aircraft and the missiles and everything that our war efforts are dependent on," Duffey said. "The secretary says, 'There's no helmets without hard hats, there's no warriors without workers.' "
In other words, soldiers need tools, weapons and equipment made by the workers in the U.S. industrial system to remain competitive. Duffey said Michigan can play a vital role in helping in that effort.
"We're eager to explore, and in fact, the Army has some of our vehicle manufacturing centers here in Michigan," Duffey said.
As an example, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center is located at Detroit Arsenal in Warren. It is the nation’s laboratory for advanced military automotive technology. In 2023, the Army opened the Advanced Manufacturing Commercialization Center (AMCC) in Sterling Heights. The center houses the Army's hybrid metal additive manufacturing equipment.
"As we're pursuing partnerships with automotive industry, and some of the best manufacturers that America has to offer, it's natural that we would come to Detroit and Michigan to help explore those opportunities, enable the defense industrial base and create jobs for Americans."
When asked if he anticipates the Army vehicle centers to generate new jobs, Duffey said, "hopefully," but did not provide further details or a figure.
"We're all about growth in the defense industrial base," Duffey said. "We need to make sure we've got the weapons to, to deter, defeat the threats that we face and that requires industrial might, and that means jobs."
Jamie L. LaReau is the senior autos writer at USA TODAY Co. who covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Defense under secretary in Detroit renews calls for help from Ford, GM
