Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Pentagon to draft plans for 8% annual defense budget cuts over the next five years, according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post.
💸 Key Highlights:
- 🔻 8% budget reduction annually: Could amount to tens of billions of dollars in cuts each year.
- 📅 Deadline: Proposed reductions due by February 24.
- 💵 Current defense budget: ~$850 billion (2025).
🔒 Exemptions from cuts (17 categories):
✅ US-Mexico border operations
✅ Nuclear weapons modernization
✅ Missile defense programs
✅ One-way attack drones & munitions procurement
🌎 Commands protected from budget cuts:
✅ Indo-Pacific Command
✅ Northern Command
✅ Space Command
❌ Not exempt:
- European Command (leading role in Ukraine conflict)
- Central Command (Middle East operations)
- Africa Command (operations across the continent)
💬 Hegseth’s Memo Excerpt:
“President Trump’s charge to DoD is clear: achieve Peace through Strength. We must urgently revive the warrior ethos, rebuild our military, and reestablish deterrence.”
⚠️ Potential Impacts:
- 📉 Largest Pentagon cuts since 2013: Prior reductions were criticized for harming military readiness and training.
- 🏛️ Expected pushback: Bipartisan opposition likely in Congress, where many believe the current spending is vital to counter threats from China and Russia.
📊 Context:
🔹 The Trump administration emphasizes reducing bureaucracy and unnecessary spending while focusing on military deterrence.
🔹 Audit reforms and efficient resource allocation are top priorities.
🚨 Next Steps:
✅ Pentagon submits proposed reductions by Feb 24.
✅ Congressional review and anticipated debate.