Pentagon Faces Massive Budget Cuts

The White House has asked the Pentagon to freeze spending growth—meaning the Army and Marine Corps will shrink for the first time since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Defense Secretary Robert Gates seeks $78 billion in cuts over the next five years due to “extreme fiscal duress.” Although there will be a reduction of up to 47,000 troops from the Army and Marine Corps, Gates unveiled his budget to Congress the same day as he announced that he’ll be adding some 1,400 Marines in the coming months in Afghanistan. The Pentagon’s operating budget—which is separate from the fund that pays for the military’s activities in Iraq and Afghanistan—is expected to be at $553 billion, $13 billion less than expected.