Editing M1 Abrams (section)

===Proposed production shutdown===
Serial production of the M1 Abrams for the U.S. Army ended in 1995, though production for exports continued until 2000.{{sfn|Zaloga|2019|p=16}}

[[File:M1 Abrams hull at Joint Systems Manufacturing Center-Lima in 2021.webp|thumb|right|An M1 Abrams hull undergoing work on the suspension system at the [[Joint Systems Manufacturing Center]] in Lima, 2021]]
The U.S. Army planned to end operations at Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (formerly Lima Army Tank Plant)<ref name= "nationaldefensemagazine.org"/> from 2013 to 2016 to save over $1 billion; it would be restarted in 2017 to upgrade existing tanks. General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), which operates the factory, opposed the move, arguing that suspension of operations would increase long-term costs and reduce flexibility.<ref name="DODbuzz">{{cite web |first=Philip |last=Ewing |url= http://www.dodbuzz.com/2011/04/21/the-tank-at-the-end-of-history/ |title=The tank at the end of history |work=DoD Buzz |publisher= Military |date=21 April 2011 |access-date= 23 April 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110425023027/http://www.dodbuzz.com/2011/04/21/the-tank-at-the-end-of-history/ |archive-date=25 April 2011}}</ref><ref name="Support Abrams">{{cite web |url= http://www.supportabrams.com/ |title=Support Abrams |publisher= General Dynamic Land Systems |access-date=23 April 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110410010850/http://www.supportabrams.com/ |archive-date=10 April 2011}}</ref> Specifically, GDLS estimated that closing the plant would cost $380 million and restarting production would cost $1.3 billion.<ref name= "re-opening">{{cite news |title=Lighter, Yet Deadlier |work=Defense News |publisher=Gannett Government Media Corporation |url= http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=7184244&c=FEA&s=TEC |access-date=24 July 2011 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130110190447/http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=7184244&c=FEA&s=TEC |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 January 2013}}</ref>

By August 2013, Congress had allocated $181 million for buying parts and upgrading Abrams systems to mitigate industrial base risks and sustain development and production capability. Congress and General Dynamics were criticized for redirecting money to keep production lines open and accused of "forcing the Army to buy tanks it didn't need." General Dynamics asserted that a four-year shutdown would cost $1.1–1.6 billion to reopen the line, depending on the length of the shutdown, whether machinery would be kept operating, and whether the plant's components would be completely removed.<ref name= "nationaldefensemagazine.org">{{cite news |last1=Magnuson |first1=Stew |title=Over Army Objections, Industry and Congress Partner to Keep Abrams Tank Production 'Hot' |url=https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2013/10/1/2013october-over-army-objections-industry-and-congress-partner-to-keep-abrams-tank-production-hot |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=www.nationaldefensemagazine.org |date=1 October 2013 |language=en}}</ref>

They contended that the move was to upgrade Army National Guard units to expand a "pure fleet" and maintain production of identified "irreplaceable" subcomponents. A prolonged shutdown could cause their makers to lose their ability to produce them and foreign tank sales were not guaranteed to keep production lines open. There is still a risk of production gaps even with production extended through 2015. With funds awarded before recapitalization is needed, budgetary pressures may push planned new upgrades for the Abrams from 2017 to 2019.<ref name="nationaldefensemagazine.org"/>

In December 2014, Congress again allocated $120 million, against the wishes of the Army, for Abrams upgrades.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sisk |first1=Richard |title=Congress Again Buys Abrams Tanks the Army Doesn't Want |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/12/18/congress-again-buys-abrams-tanks-the-army-doesnt-want.html?comp=7000023435630&rank=8 |access-date=7 January 2024 |work=Military.com |date=18 December 2014 |language=en}}</ref>

In late 2016, tank production and refurbishment had fallen to a rate of one per month with fewer than 100 workers on site. In 2017, the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Presidency of Donald Trump]] ordered military production to increase, including Abrams production and employment. In 2018, it was reported that the Army had ordered 135 tanks rebuilt to new standards, with employment at over 500 workers and expected to rise to 1,000.<ref>{{cite web|first=Loren|last=Thompson|title=How President Trump Saved The Last Tank Plant In America |url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2018/11/02/how-president-trump-saved-the-last-tank-plant-in-america/ |work=Forbes|date=2 November 2018|access-date=30 October 2020|archive-date=21 January 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210121043840/https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2018/11/02/how-president-trump-saved-the-last-tank-plant-in-america/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Marine Corps pursued a force restructuring plan named [[Force Design 2030]]. Under this program, all U.S. Marine tank battalions were deactivated and their M1A1 tanks transferred to the Army by the end of 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/mar/30/marine-corps-cuts-helicopters-tanks-possible-china/ |title=Marine Corps cuts helicopters, tanks for possible China conflict |work=The Washington Times |last=Wolfgang |first=Ben |date=30 March 2020 |access-date=30 August 2021 |archive-date=18 June 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210618191042/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/mar/30/marine-corps-cuts-helicopters-tanks-possible-china/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/flashpoints/2020/03/26/the-marines-want-to-get-rid-of-their-tanks-heres-why/ |title=The Marines want to get rid of their tanks. Here's why. |work=Marine Corps Times |last=Snow |first=Shaun |date=26 March 2020 |access-date=30 August 2021 |archive-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210913160716/https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/flashpoints/2020/03/26/the-marines-want-to-get-rid-of-their-tanks-heres-why/ |url-status=live}}</ref>