US to cut $50B from Pentagon, may fire generals

The administration of President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to cut $50 billion from the Pentagon budget and reallocate it to priority areas, including border security and missile defense.

According to Military Times, Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Salesses has instructed defense officials to identify budget reductions that align with Trump’s policy objectives. Reports indicate that the Indo-Pacific region’s allocations will remain untouched.

Additionally, NBC News revealed that a list of generals and admirals slated for dismissal has been circulated among Republican lawmakers. The targeted officials are said to be those closely linked to former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, involved in minority-focused programs, or those whose views were seen as misaligned with Trump’s agenda.

While it remains unclear if Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff CQ Brown is among those considered for removal, the administration has already dismissed Coast Guard Admiral Linda Fagan, the highest-ranking woman in US military history.

The budget realignment reportedly exempts certain areas from cuts, including operations on the US-Mexico border, missile defense, and autonomous weapons development.

Salesses emphasized that Trump’s budget priorities include strengthening the Iron Dome missile defense system, enhancing border security, and eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the Department of Defense.

This restructuring follows broader efforts by the administration to streamline government headcount, with several Defense Department employees receiving termination notices in recent weeks.