Washington – The U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has instructed military branches to pinpoint $50 billion in expenditures that could be eliminated in the upcoming fiscal year. The intention behind this directive is to reallocate these funds to support key initiatives emphasized by President Donald Trump.
Hegseth is dedicated to adjusting Pentagon allocations to better assist military personnel directly. In a recent statement, Robert Salesses, acting deputy secretary of defense, indicated that the stage of preparation has concluded, highlighting intentions to cut down on “excessive bureaucracy.” Salesses specifically pointed out programs focused on climate change and others viewed as “woke,” including diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which are likely to face scrutiny.
“To fulfill the directive from President Trump, our efforts will be driven by his focal points, such as strengthening border security, developing the Iron Dome for the United States, and abolishing unnecessary and costly DEI programs,” Salesses remarked. The Iron Dome is proposed as a comprehensive air defense system intended for the U.S., with aspirations, as mentioned by Trump, to intercept incoming missiles originating from space.
The proposed cuts, amounting to around $50 billion, account for roughly 8% of the military’s overall budget. It remains uncertain which specific areas within the Pentagon’s funding for diversity and equity initiatives or climate change mitigation efforts—such as alternative fuel purchases for aircraft or enhancing bases to withstand severe weather events—will be identified for budget reductions to meet this target.
This call for spending cuts arrives as the military hastens to formulate its budget request for fiscal year 2026. Often, the budgetary process can lag during the transition period between different presidential administrations. Hegseth has requested the Pentagon to locate opportunities for budget offsets—areas that could be reduced to free up resources elsewhere—before the fiscal year 2026 commences on October 1.
Should these cuts be implemented, they could mirror the extensive budget reductions enacted during the 2013 sequestration, a measure that compelled the government to agree on budget deficit plans while leading military services to slash $56 billion quickly.
Given the structure of the military budget, long-term procurement programs were largely shielded at that time, just as entitlements like military retirement and healthcare benefits were also safeguarded. Consequently, the areas easiest to trim were found in operations, maintenance, and personnel sectors. This resulted in the loss of skilled noncommissioned officers and training opportunities, such as flight hours, leading to a noticeable rise in military training incidents soon after.
Since the sequester, additional measures have been enacted by Congress and military leadership to ensure greater protection for operational and maintenance funding. This ongoing process reflects the ongoing challenges of balancing military funding with evolving priorities and operational needs.
