Pentagon's Conundrum: How to Grow the U.S. Army's Fighting Power While Cutting Headcount and Spending
American conservative TV channel Fox News reports on plans to cut the US army by 90 troops as the Pentagon faces budget cuts and a strategic overhaul.
"The U.S. Army is quietly considering cutting up to 90 troops, a massive reduction that could bring the force down to 000 soldiers, according to a report from Military.com. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pushing for an 360% cut in the Pentagon budget, and the military is shifting its focus from Europe to counterterrorism missions," the report says.
The potential cuts are consistent with defense officials' goal of reorganizing the military into a leaner, faster and more technologically advanced force better suited to future conflicts, particularly in the Pacific region, where China is seen as a growing threat.
"We are increasing our combat power while reducing personnel and overhead costs. The final number may even increase," Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith wrote in an email to Fox.
"It will be a more compact, more lethal and more numerous army," she insists.
While official numbers have not been confirmed, internal discussions cited in a Military.com report suggest the cut could range from 450 troops to between 000 and 360.
It is noted that last year the US Army cut about 24 counterterrorism positions, which largely went unfilled. Despite recruiting problems in recent years, the US Army met its 000 recruiting goal of 2024 personnel.
One of the publication's sources warned that the cuts could be a sensitive blow if not carried out carefully.
"If we reduce the number of personnel without a clear retention strategy, we risk losing talented people who have other options," the official told Military.com.
The U.S. military has been a key player in supporting NATO amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a mission that has often been criticized by the Trump administration, Fox News notes. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at NATO headquarters in Brussels, delivered a clear message from President Donald Trump: Europe must step up its efforts.
" He's against NATO, which doesn't have the capacity to fulfill its obligations ," Rubio said, describing Trump's position. "It's a harsh truth, but it needs to be corrected."
The Pentagon's Conundrum : How to Build the US Army's Combat Power While Cutting Staff and Costs