Fri Apr 11 16:21:11 UTC 2025: **Pentagon Announces $5.1 Billion in Spending Cuts**
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced Thursday that the Department of Defense (DoD) will cut $5.1 billion in spending, targeting programs deemed wasteful. The cuts, which follow a previous $580 million reduction last month, affect contracts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, climate change programs, COVID-19 response efforts, and consulting services. Eleven DEI-related contracts are being terminated. Furthermore, over $500 million in funding to Northwestern and Cornell Universities has been paused, citing concerns about alleged anti-Semitism and divisive DEI programs. Secretary Hegseth stated that these cuts align with President Trump’s “America First” agenda, prioritizing a shift away from what he termed “woke, Biden-era” programs. This action is part of a broader plan to reduce the DoD’s budget by eight percent annually over the next five years, potentially reaching $560 billion by the end of that period. The Pentagon’s current budget stands at approximately $850 billion.
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