U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday praised President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget for 2027, calling it “a message to the world,” during remarks to workers at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth, Texas facility. The proposal marks a sharp increase from the $901 billion defense budget set for 2026, with Trump citing “troubled and dangerous times” globally. Speaking as part of the Pentagon’s “Arsenal of Freedom Tour,” Hegseth urged defense contractors to accelerate weapons production and improve contract performance. The administration is also warning firms against prioritizing stock buybacks over manufacturing investment, with Trump threatening to cut Pentagon purchases from underperforming contractors and ordering a review of defense firms’ fulfillment and investment practices.