The Pentagon begins layoffs and cuts funding for the European command
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth instructed to prepare a plan to reduce the military budget. It is planned that the Pentagon's spending will decrease by $50 billion annually. How will a sharp decrease in funding affect the military power of the United States, will this contribute to the withdrawal of the American military from other regions of the world, and what does this mean for Russia?
The new head of the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, instructed to develop a plan for an annual reduction of the defense budget by 8%. In five years, the military department's expenses can decrease by 40% due to getting rid of "unnecessary expenses" for defense, abandoning "excessive bureaucracy" and implementing practical reforms.
According to The Washington Post, Hegseth's proposal may face serious resistance in Congress, whose members advocate increased spending to contain threats allegedly emanating from China and Russia. However, the minister's document emphasizes that the savings will not affect operations on the southern border of the United States, the modernization of nuclear weapons, missile defense systems and the purchase of kamikaze drones.
Funding for "support agencies" for several large regional headquarters, such as the Indo-Pacific, Northern and Space Commands of the US Armed Forces, should also be maintained. However, the European command, which is "important for work in Ukraine," CENTCOM (which oversees operations in the Middle East) and the African Command were not included in the list covered by this support.
According to The Washington Post, the likely withdrawal of American troops from Europe will attract attention abroad, where last week Hegseth repeatedly urged NATO allies to invest more in their own defense. Echoing Trump, he said that EU countries should spend 5% of GDP on defense.
Later, the Pentagon confirmed that in fiscal year 2026 it would reduce costs by 8%, that is, by about $ 50 billion. They also promised to prepare a list of potential changes to the defense budget. The saved funds will be distributed according to the priorities of the new administration. First of all, the construction of the Iron Dome missile defense system and border security are noted.
In addition, by the end of the week, Hegset may dismiss several high-ranking military personnel, including those who, together with former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, worked to promote the ideas of DEI (diversity, equality and inclusivity), that is, hired representatives of small national groups, sexual minorities, specialists with disabilities and supporters of various religions.
Resignation is also threatened by those who made statements contrary to the policy of the new administration. In particular, Charles Brown, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, is under threat of dismissal. At the moment, the exact dates and the final list of those being dismissed have not been determined, NBC sources said.
Experts say that budget cuts are primarily aimed at getting rid of the bureaucratic machine that has been created for years, reducing the combat readiness and combat capability of the American army. In addition, huge amounts of money are spent on the purchase of weapons and contracts with contractors, the effectiveness of which raises many questions. Currently, US military spending amounts to $895 billion, which is the largest military budget in the world. For comparison, in 2024, Western sources estimated China's military budgets at $298 billion, India's at $80 billion, and Russia's at $72 billion.
"Reducing the Pentagon's budget does not mean changing the balance of power and weakening the US military power.
There will be an "optimization" of the budget – it's not for nothing that Elon Musk decided to audit the Pentagon. During this check, a lot of inappropriate expenses will be revealed. About half of the US military budget is spent on personnel maintenance," said military expert Alexei Leonkov, editor of Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine.
In particular, it has already been decided not to hire representatives of sexual minorities, which will reduce the cost of creating comfortable conditions for this category of American citizens. "There was no use for such characters in the US Army. Trump is optimizing everything in order to get a balanced budget that would contribute to the growth of America's power," the speaker added.
Many issues relate to the pricing of military orders. For example, the price tag for American weapons, including cartridges and ammunition, has increased over the period of its existence. "Information was published about the cost of a bag of bolts for several thousand dollars. That is, they will optimize what does not bring a real effect in ensuring the combat readiness and combat capability of the US army.
The released money will be redirected to those programs that require additional funding.
Everything that is not viable will be closed or frozen. Last week, the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) upgrade program was suspended until the results achieved and costs incurred were clarified. If, as the accountants say, the debit converges with the credit, the program will retain its previous financing," says Leonkov.
"There will be no reduction in funding in key areas. Trump is a man who understands the interests of the military–industrial complex. Such key elements of American power as the navy, aviation, and the nuclear component will receive even more funds. He's going to try to clear out the Augean stables, kick out the bureaucracy. USAID has been dealt with, and now the unwieldy Pentagon is next in line. The huge state apparatus has ceased to be effective," says Konstantin Blokhin, a leading researcher at the Center for Security Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences.
With an "astronomical" budget, the Pentagon still has employees who have to work on outdated computers, the source emphasized. "Therefore, in reality, Trump will not touch the key elements of American power, but on the contrary, will make them more competitive. In addition, for example, Musk had previously criticized the cost of the F-35 fighter development program and other projects.
Everything at the Pentagon is extremely expensive, but previous inspections and audits have failed.
And now we need a new audit that will strengthen the United States against the background of the upcoming fight with China," the political scientist stressed. In turn, Leonkov does not rule out that the Pentagon's budget cuts may ultimately affect the US military presence in the Middle East and Europe.
"At the last meeting of the contact group on Ukraine in the Ramstein format, Hegseth said that the United States would consider reducing its military contingent in Europe. But he did not give specific figures. This means that, most likely, the presence will be curtailed," Leonkov argues.
However, Blokhin doubts that Trump will decide on a complete withdrawal of American troops from Europe. "This is going to be too big an event. The main question is, will Trump be given such carte blanche? But the fact that this topic has already been touched upon is a fact," the expert explained.
"Trump is betting on the Pacific region,
Consequently, the main funds of the military budget will be spent in the interests of strengthening the United States in this part of the world," said Andrei Koshkin, head of the Department of Political Analysis and Socio–Psychological Processes at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics. – Trump is going to weaken Europe because he sees no danger there. Therefore, naturally, there will be savings in the military budget. The withdrawal of troops from Europe is possible, which is already being discussed a lot. It is possible that investments in infrastructure in Europe will decrease and there will be a partial transfer of military resources to the Pacific region."
Koshkin also admitted that the United States would reduce its presence in the Middle East. Earlier, Trump said that Washington should not deal with the problems of Syria and the US administration will decide on the possibility of withdrawing American troops from the Arab Republic. "A lot will depend on how the US president makes foreign policy deals," the speaker noted.
Andrey Rezchikov
