Hagel Announces Pentagon Staff Reductions

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel directed a 20-percent reduction in funding for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and service headquarters as part of broader plans to reduce the US military’s costs, announced the Pentagon. This reduction is targeted for implementation between Fiscal 2015 and Fiscal 2019 and could save the Defense Department between $1.5 billion and $2 billion based on early estimates, said Pentagon Press Secretary George Little on July 16, the same day as the announcement. DOD officials will determine the personnel reductions associated with these changes during the development of detailed execution plans, said Little. “Secretary Hagel’s announcement is based on the work of the Strategic Choices and Management Review, which scrutinized the department’s spending priorities and determined that these headquarters reductions should be pursued now, regardless of future fiscal circumstances,” stated Little. He said DOD will implement the reduction “even if Congress lifts sequester-level budget caps.” (See also Hagel Directs Strategy Review and AFPS report by Karin Parrish)