The U.S. is considering a significant reduction in the size of its army, potentially bringing the total number of personnel down to 360,000, with a target of 90,000 troops. This was reported by Military.com, citing internal sources.
The decision is driven by budget constraints and a strategic overhaul aimed at adapting the armed forces to new challenges, particularly in the Pacific region, where China is viewed as the main adversary.
It is noted that reductions have already begun, with around 24,000 positions related to counterterrorism operations eliminated last year. A senior Pentagon official expressed concern that the lack of a retention strategy could lead to a loss of skilled personnel, especially as many may seek alternatives outside the military.
Fox News reports that U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, is pushing for an 8% reduction in the Pentagon’s budget. At the same time, the army is shifting its focus from European operations to counterterrorism tasks. The Pentagon expects the army to become “more compact, high-tech, and mobile.”
