Washington’s latest budget battle just got a new front: the U.S. military.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed senior military leaders to propose an 8% reduction in defense spending—a significant cut that could reshape America’s military footprint for years. The Pentagon’s marching orders, outlined in a memo obtained by The Washington Post, require officials to find savings by February 24.
Seventeen areas—including border operations, nuclear weapons, missile defense, and certain munitions programs—are off-limits. But with defense spending topping $850 billion in 2024, the remaining cuts could still be deep.
The Politics of Military Spending
The proposal comes as a surprise, particularly on Capitol Hill, where Republican lawmakers have been pushing for more defense spending, not less. Just last month, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) floated the idea of adding $200 billion to address threats from China, Iran, and other global adversaries.
Yet, the proposed reductions align with President Donald Trump’s broader push to rein in federal spending. That effort has already included the dismissal of thousands of federal employees, and now, the Pentagon is next in line for belt-tightening.
Hegseth’s plan has already drawn scrutiny from lawmakers who will ultimately have the final say. With Republicans holding the majority in the House, any defense budget overhaul will face months of negotiation—and likely some heated debates.
What’s Next?
According to The Washington Post, the 8% reduction could stretch over five years, slashing nearly $300 billion from military budgets by 2030. However, a Pentagon memo sent Wednesday night clarified that officials are also looking for $50 billion in reallocations toward White House priorities.
Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Salesses framed the effort as a return to warfighting fundamentals. “The time for preparation is over,” he wrote, signaling an end to spending on initiatives like climate programs and bureaucratic expansion.
Congress Holds the Purse Strings
Ultimately, lawmakers will decide whether the cuts move forward. The Republican-controlled House is already in the middle of hearings on the fiscal 2026 budget, a process that will unfold over the next several months.
But before that, Congress has an even bigger deadline looming: If lawmakers can’t agree on a short-term or long-term funding extension by mid-March, a partial government shutdown could be on the table.
With military funding at the heart of national security debates, expect this battle to intensify in the months ahead. Whether an 8% cut sticks—or gets sidelined in favor of more spending—remains to be seen.
