Pentagon faces budget deficit of around €5.1 billion

The U.S. Department of Defense is being forced to cut spending to offset a budget deficit estimated at between around €3.4 billion and around €5.1 billion.

This was reported by ABC News.

The cuts have primarily affected spending on combat training — both at specialized training institutions and within the unit training system.

Among specific formations, the U.S. Army’s III Armored Corps, which has 70,000 service members — nearly half the combat strength of that branch — will suffer the most significant losses. The corps’ aviation units will be deployed in a “reduced readiness state” next year. Approximately half of the unit’s budget is expected to be cut, and pilots’ flight time will be reduced to the minimum mandatory level.

The Pentagon was unable to comment on whether similar training cuts apply to all branches of the military or primarily affect ground forces.

According to ABC News sources, the main causes of the budget deficit were costs related to the war with Iran, as well as the expansion of the mission to secure the U.S. southern border. Additional strain was created by spending on National Guard missions to maintain order in Washington.