Washington, D.C. -- In response to the United States Army’s announced reduction of overall troop levels yesterday, Congressman Pearce issued the following statement:
“The Department of the Army’s (Army) announcement reducing its active duty forces by 40,000 troops is truly disturbing. The world is dangerous and we are responding by cutting the number of our soldiers,” said Pearce. “Since 2012, the Army has been forced to reduce its overall forces by over 20%, due to the White House’s priorities.”
“Since day one, I have opposed sequestration; balancing the budgets on the backs of our men and women in uniform during a time of global uncertainty and mounting hostility is unconscionable. Our military is already stretched thin; facing growing terrorist organizations in the Middle East and North Africa, belligerent countries in Asia and Eastern Europe, and nuclear-hungry states throughout, they cannot afford another reduction. Yet, the White House is forcing our military leaders to cut the number of soldiers, and forgo the new weapons, equipment, and technology that protect our troops overseas.
“In addition to announcing a 40,000 troop reduction, the Army warned that should sequestration not be resolved, another reduction of 30,000 troops will be forced on the Army. While Congress has insisted for years that our nation will not go through another base closure commission, known as BRAC, troop reductions and spending cuts this deep cannot sustain the facilities we currently have. As we have already seen, and we will now see more prevalently, the Department of Defense will be forced to complete de-facto base closures. Yesterday’s reduction announcement is a de-facto partial base closure.
“Although we must get control of our crippling national debt, it must not be done on the backs of those who sacrifice for our safety: the military. We not only risk the wellbeing of our country, but the effectiveness and safety of our young men and women in uniform.”