Media reports suggest that a list of generals and admirals slated for potential dismissal has been circulated among Republican members of Congress…reports Asian Lite News
President Donald Trump’s administration is reportedly planning to redirect $50 billion from the Pentagon budget toward programmes that align with the administration’s priorities, such as border security and combating illegal migration.
According to Military Times, Acting Deputy Secretary of Defence Robert Salesses has instructed defence officials to identify areas where $50 billion in cuts can be made and reallocated. These adjustments are reportedly part of Trump’s broader effort to reshape government spending to reflect his agenda.
Media reports suggest that a list of generals and admirals slated for potential dismissal has been circulated among Republican members of Congress. NBC News stated that the list includes officials closely tied to former Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, those involved in diversity-focused initiatives, or individuals whose views have been seen as politically misaligned with Trump’s goals. It remains unclear whether the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General CQ Brown, is among those targeted.
Meanwhile, according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has instructed top Pentagon and US military officials to prepare plans to reduce the defence budget by 8 per cent annually over the next five years.
Notably, some areas of the Pentagon’s budget are expected to remain untouched. Allocations for the Indo-Pacific region, border operations aimed at preventing illegal migration, missile defence systems, and the development of autonomous weapons have been exempt from the planned cuts. Salesses highlighted key priorities such as building the Iron Dome missile defence system and eliminating “radical” Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programmes.
In line with the administration’s ongoing efforts to streamline government staffing, several Defence Department employees have received termination notices. Trump has also already dismissed Admiral Linda Fagan, the highest-ranking woman in the military and former Coast Guard chief.
These changes come as the defence budget, currently set at $849.8 billion, faces an 8 per cent reduction in selected areas to facilitate the reallocation.
If implemented, the proposed cuts would represent the most significant attempt to reduce Pentagon spending since 2013.
At that time, these cuts were seen as a crisis within the Pentagon and became increasingly unpopular among both Republicans and Democrats as the negative impact on the military’s training and readiness for combat became evident.
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