Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed Pentagon agencies and the military to reduce their budgets by 8 percent as part of a significant realignment of defense spending to align with President Donald Trump's priorities, such as border protection and nuclear force modernization.
Challenging Cuts and New Priorities
The Pentagon plans to slash military commands in Europe and the Middle East, along with several longstanding critical programs. However, funding will be preserved or increased in 17 priority areas, notably border security, according to a leaked memo obtained by POLITICO.
Hegseth's memo outlines cuts that are twice as severe as the sequestration budget reductions in 2013 and double the amount that congressional Republicans had proposed to add to the Pentagon budget.
Notably, the memo does not shield weapons systems previously considered critical by the Pentagon, including the Columbia-class submarines, space-based systems, various manned aircraft, and troop deployments in regions like Europe and the Middle East.
Reinvestment and Resistance
Hegseth emphasizes that the cuts from future defense budgets drafted under the Biden administration should be reinvested in the Pentagon's new priority areas under Trump's leadership.
The exempted priorities from cuts include Virginia-class submarines, unmanned systems, the Air Force's emerging unmanned fighter jet program, surface ships, cybersecurity, munitions, and homeland missile defense, aligning with Trump's vision for a national missile defense system akin to Israel's 'Iron Dome'.
This realignment signals a significant shift in spending priorities that is expected to encounter resistance on Capitol Hill, with Sen. Chris Coons criticizing the cuts as detrimental to troop readiness, research into advanced weapons systems, and special operations forces.
Congressional Challenges and Priorities
Hegseth's directives also include soliciting input from military leaders on programs they wish to cut but that Congress insists on funding. Lawmakers often resist curtailing programs even when the services no longer require them due to local interests and job preservation.
Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Salesses states that the list of cuts to fund new priorities is derived from the Biden administration's draft budget for fiscal year 2026, focusing on border security, an American 'Iron Dome,' and ending certain government diversity programs and preferences.
Implications and Controversies
The emphasis on border security, especially under the Department of Homeland Security, marks a notable shift in military funding away from traditional defense missions. Additionally, reductions in areas like climate change programs and excess bureaucracy reflect the Pentagon's evolving priorities.
The proposed cuts to combatant commands, including U.S. Central Command and U.S. European Command, raise concerns about operational capabilities in key regions. However, the memo notably does not safeguard headcounts for the military's branches, leaving room for potential personnel reductions.
In conclusion, Hegseth's memo outlines a bold restructuring of Pentagon spending that will likely face scrutiny and pushback from Congress, highlighting the complexities of aligning defense budgets with shifting national priorities and strategic imperatives.
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