US Army may cut up to 90,000 active-duty troops, officials say

• The U.S. Army may reportedly cut 90,000 active-duty troops. The potential move comes after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered each branch of the armed services to reallocate 8% of its budget each year for the next few years for presidential priorities.
• As a result of the budget reallocation, the nation’s largest service branch will need to make some hard decisions as the Pentagon shifts its strategy away from Europe and counterterrorism operations.
• The cuts would be the largest military reduction in years.

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The U.S. Army may reduce its active-duty forces by up to 90,000 troops as it comes under pressure from the Trump administration to make budget cuts and the Pentagon shifts its strategy away from Europe and counterterrorism operations, according to three defense officials who spoke Military.com on the condition of anonymity.

Where do current numbers stand and where would they go?

The sources tell Military.com that in confidential meetings army planner are talking about reducing forces to between 360,000-to-420,000 troops, which would be down from its current state of 450,000 troops.

So far, it’s unknown if the reductions involve the Army Reserve or the U.S. National Guard.

The cuts, however, would be the largest force reduction in years and would in theory seek to make the Army a more lean, agile and specialized unit for future warfare.

Why is this a discussion?

The talks come as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the Pentagon to draw up a plan to reduce the budget by 8%. However, Army officials said where the Trump administration wants to cut spending, like on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Climate Change initiatives, won’t get them to that percentage. They say the only way they see it possible to get to 8% will likely involve reducing troop levels.

The news comes as the Army is stretched thin across the globe form operations in Africa to the helping bolster NATO’s frontlines as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues.

What are critics saying?

Some Army officials voiced concerns about the potential trimming of forces and argued the branch risks pushing away talented recruits with the move.

The talks are also occurring as the Army reaches its highest recruitment level in 15 years, just years after it missed its highest recruitment goal by 15,000, as Straight Arrow News reported in February.

Some officials warn a major reduction in service members could hurt an already difficult recruiting environment when it just seemed to be hitting its stride.