As reported by Military.com, the U.S. Army is quietly contemplating a significant reduction of up to 90,000 active-duty troops, potentially decreasing the force to as few as 360,000 soldiers.
This proposed cut aligns with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s advocacy for an 8% decrease in the Pentagon’s budget, coinciding with a strategic shift in focus away from Europe and counterterrorism operations.
The envisioned downsizing reflects the objective of defense officials to transform the Army into a more agile, technologically advanced, and smaller military force that is better prepared for future confrontations, particularly in the Pacific region where the perceived threat from China is on the rise.
The proposed Army cuts come in the wake of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s call for increased European NATO spending during a visit to Brussels on Thursday. (JACQUELYN MARTIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
One official warned the cuts could hit hard if not managed carefully. “If we reduce the force without a clear retention strategy, we risk losing talented people who have other options,” the official told Military.com.
The U.S. Army has been a key player in supporting NATO amid Russia’s war in Ukraine, a mission the Trump administration has often criticized.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, delivered a clear message from President Donald Trump: Europe must step up.
“He’s against a NATO that lacks the capabilities needed to fulfill its obligations,” Rubio said. “This is a hard truth, but one that must be addressed.”
US Army equipment and military vehicles are pictured during preparations for loading on cargo ships for repatriation from the Esbjerg Harbor during Operation Raven Assistor in Esbjerg, western Denmark, on April 3, 2025. (BO AMSTRUP/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)
The Army cut around 24,000 positions tied to counterterrorism last year, but those roles were mostly unfilled.
Despite recruiting challenges in recent years, the Army met its 2024 enlistment goal of 55,000 by the end of the fiscal year in September.
