Leaner, lethal, smaller? US army may slash force by 90,000 troops amid budget squeeze, pacific pivot

No official figures have been finalised, but internal discussions suggest the target range could be between 360,000 and 420,000.

The US Army is considering a dramatic reduction in its active-duty force—up to 90,000 soldiers—as part of a broader strategy to reshape its military posture, according to a Fox News report citing Military.com.

If implemented, the cuts could bring troop strength down from the current 450,000 to as low as 360,000, the report said, marking one of the largest drawdowns in recent history. No official figures have been finalised, but internal discussions suggest the target range could be between 360,000 and 420,000.

The move comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is reportedly pushing for an 8% reduction in the Pentagon's budget, while the military recalibrates its focus away from Europe and counterterrorism missions and toward future conflicts in the Pacific, where China is viewed as a primary strategic rival.

“We are building more combat power while reducing staff and overhead. End strength might even go up,” Army spokesperson Cynthia Smith told Fox News Digital in an email. “This is going to be a leaner, more lethal and larger Army.”

However, concerns have been raised over the impact of a reduction without a clear retention plan. “If we reduce the force without a clear retention strategy, we risk losing talented people who have other options,” one official told Military.com, as cited by Fox News.

The Army already eliminated around 24,000 unfilled counterterrorism-related positions last year. Despite persistent recruitment challenges, it met its 2024 enlistment target of 55,000 new soldiers by the end of the fiscal year in September.

Meanwhile, tensions remain high over NATO’s military preparedness amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Speaking from NATO headquarters in Brussels, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio conveyed a blunt message from President Donald Trump: European allies must do more.

“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.”