The "Arsenal of Freedom" tour is a month‑long, nationwide outreach by Secretary Pete Hegseth to highlight and strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base — showcasing American manufacturing, shipyards, space and weapons firms, and promoting faster delivery of equipment and reforms in acquisition to rebuild military capabilities.
The Secretary of War (the Department’s senior civilian leader) serves as the principal defense policy advisor to the President, oversees the department’s policy, planning, resource management and program execution, and leads engagement with military services, industry and Congress on acquisition and readiness.
Bath Iron Works (a General Dynamics company) builds naval surface combatants — especially Arleigh Burke–class destroyers and other surface warships — and its primary customers are the U.S. Navy and other U.S. government defense customers.
The War Department visits private shipyards like Bath Iron Works to inspect production, reassure and coordinate with the defense industrial base, promote faster acquisition and industrial capacity, and highlight government support for rebuilding military readiness and supply chains.
The War Department’s brief notice about the Bath visit contains no new contract awards or policy decisions — it describes a tour stop; there are no public announcements of contracts or new policies tied to this visit in the official post.
Official text, photos and video for Hegseth’s visits are published on the War Department site and its press/press-products pages; the Bath visit page (and related Arsenal of Freedom posts) include at least one official photo and link to the story.