Pentagon Prepares for $400 Billion Cut to US Military Budget

The US Department of War, known as the "Pentagon," is preparing for the possibility of cutting the American military budget by $400 billion, amid officials' realization that Trump's request to Congress - which was the largest in history - has effectively died.

Politico reported that the US administration sought a massive investment in the military sector worth $1.5 trillion from Congress, the largest of its kind ever.

These funds were supposed to be allocated for updating weapons arsenals, starting with the creation of a wide-ranging missile shield and extending to building a fleet of nuclear-powered warships.

However, according to a defense sector official, former officials, and another person familiar with the matter, the Pentagon and congressional spending committees are currently drafting a smaller defense budget of $1.1 trillion.

Evaluating Defense Programs
One of these officials - who all preferred not to be named due to the sensitivity of internal discussions - said: "The Pentagon cannot acknowledge this."

Sources stated that Pentagon planners are currently evaluating defense programs they will need to prioritize under limited funding.

These cuts could hinder the Department of War's efforts to purchase new weapons platforms, sign new agreements with the defense industry, or even continue current programs.

These reductions may also affect the speed at which the United States can rebuild weapon stocks severely depleted by the war with Iran.

The latest Pentagon estimates show costs of no less than $47 billion related to this conflict, with replacing vital munitions accounting for the bulk of this bill, valued at $29 billion.

Lawmakers will return to Washington next month after the midterm elections, leaving them with less than five legislative weeks to accomplish a wide range of goals before the end of the year.

If Democrats win control of one or both chambers next week, Republicans will have less than two months left to push their priorities.