What Will Trump Cut? Pentagon Ordered to Draft Plans for Major Budget Cuts

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has instructed senior Pentagon leaders to develop plans for cutting 8% from the US defence budget annually over the next five years, according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post. The directive aims to realign military spending with President Donald Trump’s priorities, identifying savings from “low-impact and low-priority Biden-legacy programs,” a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.

Focus on Trump’s Key Defence Priorities

Hegseth has set a deadline of 24 February for the Pentagon to submit proposed cuts. However, certain areas are exempt from reductions, including operations at the southern US border, nuclear weapons modernisation, missile defence, and the procurement of attack drones and munitions.

If fully implemented, the proposed reductions could amount to tens of billions of dollars over the next five years. The memo suggests reallocating the saved funds towards Trump’s defence initiatives, including the “Iron Dome for America”— a large-scale missile defence system inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome.

Cuts to Pentagon Bureaucracy and “Woke” Programmes

Pentagon spokesperson Robert Salesses stated that the cost-cutting effort is part of a broader strategy to streamline military spending and eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies.

“The time for preparation is over,” Hegseth wrote in the memo. “We must act urgently to revive the warrior ethos, rebuild our military, and re-establish deterrence.”

The initiative also includes scaling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes, climate change initiatives, and other expenditures the administration deems unnecessary.

Potential Impact on Global Military Operations and Defence

The memo lists Indo-Pacific Command, Northern Command, and Space Command among those receiving continued funding. However, European Command, Central Command, and Africa Command are notably absent from the list. These commands oversee US military operations in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, respectively, raising questions about future engagement in these regions.

Pentagon Layoffs and Budget Overhaul

In a separate move, the Trump administration has ordered mass layoffs of federal employees, including thousands of Department of Defence personnel. This effort is being overseen by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk.

Salesses explained the budget review, stating:

“The Department of Defence is conducting this review to ensure we are making the best use of taxpayers’ dollars in a way that delivers on President Trump’s defence priorities efficiently and effectively.”

The cuts aim to halt unnecessary spending under the Biden administration, with a focus on strengthening border security, missile defence, and operational efficiency.