Defense Supply Crunch: The Pentagon’s inspector general says the Iran war has driven a U.S. ammunition shortfall, with $33.4B spent on Operation Epic Fury and “strategic inventory shortfalls” tied to munitions bottlenecks. Grid & Critical Components: A new executive order flags a national emergency over foreign bulk-power equipment, covering transformers, generators, inverters, battery storage and related controls—aimed at protecting the grid as AI and data centers surge. AI Data Center Power Demand: Hyosung Heavy Industries won $277M in U.S. ultra-high-voltage transformer orders for Big Tech AI data centers, underscoring how power infrastructure is becoming a manufacturing battleground. Trade War Hits Cross-Border Industry: Canada’s counter-tariffs doubled steel and aluminum surtaxes to 50% and expanded to other goods, raising pressure on North American supply chains. Auto Tech Decoupling: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy demanded Ford cut ties with Chinese battery partner CATL over national security and jobs concerns. Energy Policy Rollback: EPA is poised to repeal Biden-era carbon rules for fossil power plants, a major swing for industrial emissions compliance. Manufacturing Innovation: MIT-backed Atlas Building Composites says it can turn waste plastic into durable building components using AI robotics and large-scale 3D printing. Local Permitting Friction: Alachua, Fla. leaders debated a data center pause after confusion over a site’s status, showing how permitting uncertainty can slow industrial buildouts.