Hegseth mandates significant reductions in Pentagon expenditures
Senate Democrats believe that Hegseth is struggling to manage the situation effectively.
TroibNews 
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is instructing Pentagon agencies and the military to implement budget reductions of 8 percent, aiming for a significant shift in defense spending to align with President Donald Trump’s priorities, which include border protection and nuclear modernization.
The Pentagon is set to reduce military commands in Europe and the Middle East, along with various long-established programs, while emphasizing an increase in funding for 17 priority areas, including border security, as outlined in a memo acquired by PMG.
With cuts amounting to $50 billion, this move signifies a considerable transformation in U.S. defense policy, likely resulting in conflict with Congress, particularly as Republicans had intended to augment Pentagon funding as part of a broader strategy to advance Trump’s agenda.
Hegseth’s memo details cuts that are double the severity of the sequestration budget reductions from 2013, which marked the last major reductions for the Defense Department, and correspond to twice the funding increase that congressional Republicans had proposed for the Pentagon budget.
Surprisingly, the memo does not safeguard key weapon systems that the Pentagon previously identified as essential, such as the Columbia-class submarines scheduled for the next decade, space systems, various manned aircraft, and troop deployments in places like Europe and the Middle East.
Hegseth indicated a desire for the cuts from future defense budgets, initially developed under the Biden administration, to be redirected towards Trump’s new priority areas within the Pentagon.
The comprehensive list of priorities shielded from cuts includes Virginia-class submarines, uncrewed systems, the Air Force’s upcoming uncrewed fighter jet program, surface ships, cybersecurity, munitions and energetics, as well as homeland missile defense, likely as a precursor to Trump’s ambition for a U.S. version of Israel's "Iron Dome" missile defense system.
This realignment highlights a notable change in funding priorities that is likely to encounter resistance on Capitol Hill. The memo was met with immediate criticism from Sen. Chris Coons, the ranking member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.
“Secretary Hegseth is in over his head, and the American people will be less safe as a result,” the Delaware Democrat stated. “These cuts are not just ‘low impact items’ — they will impact troop readiness, research and development into cutting-edge weapons systems, and even hang our special operations forces out to dry, all so that President Trump can fund his useless ‘Star Wars’ missile defense program. Republicans are slashing defense spending right to the bone, and [Vladimir] Putin and Xi [Jinping] are celebrating.”
A source familiar with Hegseth’s other directives revealed that Pentagon leadership has also requested military officials to propose lists of programs they wish to eliminate despite Congress’s insistence on funding certain initiatives. Lawmakers often oppose reductions for programs that may have local support due to associated jobs.
Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Salesses commented Wednesday that the list of cuts to finance new priorities was derived from the Biden administration’s draft budget for fiscal year 2026.
“To achieve our mandate from President Trump, we are guided by his priorities including securing our borders, building the Iron Dome for America, and ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing,” Salesses explained.
In his statement, Salesses highlighted border security, Trump’s Iron Dome initiative, and the discontinuation of diversity programs as the agency's primary concerns. He also emphasized the need to reduce funding for Pentagon programs addressing “so-called ‘climate change’ and other woke programs, as well as excessive bureaucracy.”
The focus on the southern border is notable since border operations typically fall under the Department of Homeland Security rather than the Department of Defense, indicating a significant pivot in military funding usage away from traditional defense tasks.
Additionally, “climate change” encompasses a wide range of contexts, including military construction efforts, especially shipyard modernization, which have been a focus in recent years.
Several geographic U.S. combatant commands are likely facing budget cuts. While U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and its goal to establish bases in that region seem to hold some protection, vital commands such as U.S. Central Command and U.S. European Command may not be spared from reductions.
Moreover, Hegseth’s memo does not prevent cuts to personnel levels across the military’s six branches.
The exemptions detailed in the memo are often vague, with terms like “munitions” encompassing a vast range of possible systems, and “Executable Surface Ships,” which the Navy may argue pertains to all ship classes currently in development.
A significant exclusion from the memo is the Navy’s Columbia-class submarine, which will carry the nation’s sea-based nuclear arsenal starting next decade and is prioritized by the Navy.
The memo also protects private-sector medical care from reductions, potentially leading to cutbacks at military hospitals and medical centers that serve millions of service members and veterans, according to a Senate Democratic aide.
The diversity, equity, and inclusion programs targeted by Hegseth are considered “budget dust” and unlikely to result in substantial savings, the aide noted.
As Congress continues to analyze the proposal, lawmakers are expected to defend their preferred military capabilities and projects.
Legislators have consistently blocked the Pentagon's attempts to achieve savings by divesting from outdated technologies; however, recent statements from key lawmakers suggest a readiness to replace older hardware with newer technology.
Additionally, Congress is scrutinizing the various programs and weapons that could face cuts. House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers and ranking Democrat Adam Smith have reached out to military services for input on lower-priority programs that may be eliminated, allowing funds to be reallocated to better align with U.S. defense strategies.
Bloomberg and the Washington Post initially reported on Hegseth’s memo.
Daniel Lippman contributed to this report.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
The Pentagon is set to reduce military commands in Europe and the Middle East, along with various long-established programs, while emphasizing an increase in funding for 17 priority areas, including border security, as outlined in a memo acquired by PMG.
With cuts amounting to $50 billion, this move signifies a considerable transformation in U.S. defense policy, likely resulting in conflict with Congress, particularly as Republicans had intended to augment Pentagon funding as part of a broader strategy to advance Trump’s agenda.
Hegseth’s memo details cuts that are double the severity of the sequestration budget reductions from 2013, which marked the last major reductions for the Defense Department, and correspond to twice the funding increase that congressional Republicans had proposed for the Pentagon budget.
Surprisingly, the memo does not safeguard key weapon systems that the Pentagon previously identified as essential, such as the Columbia-class submarines scheduled for the next decade, space systems, various manned aircraft, and troop deployments in places like Europe and the Middle East.
Hegseth indicated a desire for the cuts from future defense budgets, initially developed under the Biden administration, to be redirected towards Trump’s new priority areas within the Pentagon.
The comprehensive list of priorities shielded from cuts includes Virginia-class submarines, uncrewed systems, the Air Force’s upcoming uncrewed fighter jet program, surface ships, cybersecurity, munitions and energetics, as well as homeland missile defense, likely as a precursor to Trump’s ambition for a U.S. version of Israel's "Iron Dome" missile defense system.
This realignment highlights a notable change in funding priorities that is likely to encounter resistance on Capitol Hill. The memo was met with immediate criticism from Sen. Chris Coons, the ranking member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.
“Secretary Hegseth is in over his head, and the American people will be less safe as a result,” the Delaware Democrat stated. “These cuts are not just ‘low impact items’ — they will impact troop readiness, research and development into cutting-edge weapons systems, and even hang our special operations forces out to dry, all so that President Trump can fund his useless ‘Star Wars’ missile defense program. Republicans are slashing defense spending right to the bone, and [Vladimir] Putin and Xi [Jinping] are celebrating.”
A source familiar with Hegseth’s other directives revealed that Pentagon leadership has also requested military officials to propose lists of programs they wish to eliminate despite Congress’s insistence on funding certain initiatives. Lawmakers often oppose reductions for programs that may have local support due to associated jobs.
Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Salesses commented Wednesday that the list of cuts to finance new priorities was derived from the Biden administration’s draft budget for fiscal year 2026.
“To achieve our mandate from President Trump, we are guided by his priorities including securing our borders, building the Iron Dome for America, and ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing,” Salesses explained.
In his statement, Salesses highlighted border security, Trump’s Iron Dome initiative, and the discontinuation of diversity programs as the agency's primary concerns. He also emphasized the need to reduce funding for Pentagon programs addressing “so-called ‘climate change’ and other woke programs, as well as excessive bureaucracy.”
The focus on the southern border is notable since border operations typically fall under the Department of Homeland Security rather than the Department of Defense, indicating a significant pivot in military funding usage away from traditional defense tasks.
Additionally, “climate change” encompasses a wide range of contexts, including military construction efforts, especially shipyard modernization, which have been a focus in recent years.
Several geographic U.S. combatant commands are likely facing budget cuts. While U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and its goal to establish bases in that region seem to hold some protection, vital commands such as U.S. Central Command and U.S. European Command may not be spared from reductions.
Moreover, Hegseth’s memo does not prevent cuts to personnel levels across the military’s six branches.
The exemptions detailed in the memo are often vague, with terms like “munitions” encompassing a vast range of possible systems, and “Executable Surface Ships,” which the Navy may argue pertains to all ship classes currently in development.
A significant exclusion from the memo is the Navy’s Columbia-class submarine, which will carry the nation’s sea-based nuclear arsenal starting next decade and is prioritized by the Navy.
The memo also protects private-sector medical care from reductions, potentially leading to cutbacks at military hospitals and medical centers that serve millions of service members and veterans, according to a Senate Democratic aide.
The diversity, equity, and inclusion programs targeted by Hegseth are considered “budget dust” and unlikely to result in substantial savings, the aide noted.
As Congress continues to analyze the proposal, lawmakers are expected to defend their preferred military capabilities and projects.
Legislators have consistently blocked the Pentagon's attempts to achieve savings by divesting from outdated technologies; however, recent statements from key lawmakers suggest a readiness to replace older hardware with newer technology.
Additionally, Congress is scrutinizing the various programs and weapons that could face cuts. House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers and ranking Democrat Adam Smith have reached out to military services for input on lower-priority programs that may be eliminated, allowing funds to be reallocated to better align with U.S. defense strategies.
Bloomberg and the Washington Post initially reported on Hegseth’s memo.
Daniel Lippman contributed to this report.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
